Femi Adesina
Cerebral journalist and Deputy Managing Director of the Sun publishing limited, Mr. Femi Adesina, has emerged the new president of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE).
At the end of its two-day convention held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. Adesina was elected head of the 16-man executive, to spearhead the affairs of the over 250 member strong body for the next two years. Kulikuli, as his teeming readers would call him polled 149 votes to defeat his opponent Tukur AbdulRahmen who polled 57 votes.
Others elected were Hajiya Aishatu Sule of Radio Kano who defeated Mr. Ken Njoku to become the guild’s deputy president, while Alhaji Suleiman Uba Gaya, polled 102 votes to defeat Peoples Daily’s chief operating officer, Mallam Ali M. Ali who scored 62 votes to become the vice-president,north.
Mr. Victor Aguisiobo and Steve Ayorinde were returned unopposed as vice-president for east and west respectively, while Mr. Isaac Ighure emerged as secretary and Mustapha Isa as his assistant. Ogbang Akwaji and Funke Egbemode were returned as treasurer and social/publicity secretary respectively.
Ms. Mary Atolagbe, Charles Kalu, Ray Echebiri, Fred Fabor, Chooks Okoh, Sebastin Abu and Ali Hakeem emerged as the new members of the NGE’s standing committee.
The chairman of the electoral committee, Mallam Mohammed Haruna, who announced the results commended the voters for their good conduct and explained that the election was free and fair.
Adesina who dedicated his victory to his colleagues, said he broke away from primordial , tribal and religious sentiments as reflected in the pattern of voting and wished such could be emulated and transposed into the Nigeria national politics.
His words: “I want to thank my colleagues for the confidence they reposed in me. I salute the Nigeria editors for rising above primordial sentiments, because as you can see this is a pan-Nigerian mandate, there is no question of this is my kinsman, this is brother. How I wish this could be translated into Nigeria national politics.
The Sun boss stated the he would uphold the dignity, probity, accountability, stature integrity, and mark of service that Nigerian editors enjoy and stand for.
The new President, while addressing newsmen after he was sworn in, promised that the Guild would leverage on its contact to erect for it a secretariat during his two year term on a land that is currently being searched for. Praising the maturity and fairness with which the NGE election was conducted, he urged Nigerian leaders to take a cue from the election, affirming that a new Nigeria was already taking shape as far as the election was concerned.
Meanwhile, Chairman, Northern states Governors’ Forum and governor of Niger State, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu has congratulated Adesina, urging him to uphold the spirit of professionalism and political non-partisanship which are the core values of Nigerian Editors.
A statement signed by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Danladi Ndayebo in Minna, Aliyu described the emergence of Mr. Adesina as a clear indicator of extreme confidence reposed in him by his colleagues. “At this time of the nation’s political development, what Nigeria, and indeed Nigerians need is a guild that transcends political partisanship and one that will leave politics to politicians and only play the traditional role of mediating between the leader and the led” he said.
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