The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has demanded an apology from The Nation newspaper over an editorial accusing the union of “failing journalism” at the guild’s conference in Enugu.
The guild said the editorial, titled “Journalists Failed
Journalism”, fell short of professional standards because it reached a
conclusion about the 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) without
establishing what it described as the full facts surrounding the event.
The Nation’s editorial had criticised the NGE over the
participation of Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic
Congress (NDC), and Pat Utomi, a chieftain of the party, at the conference.
It questioned why Obi, one of several presidential
aspirants, was allowed to address editors when other candidates were not
similarly represented.
The newspaper argued that Obi’s appearance could give the
impression that the guild was aligned with a political party, particularly with
the 2027 elections approaching.
It also said the appearance of Obi and Utomi was not listed
in the programme and described it as an “ambush”.
The editorial argued that allowing Obi to speak amounted to
providing him with a campaign platform.
It further criticised the conduct of some attendees who,
according to the newspaper, “booed and shouted down” some journalists who posed
questions to the presidential candidate.
The Nation described the event as an example of when “top
journalists failed journalism”, and said the NGE had not publicly explained or
apologised for what it considered an inappropriate decision.
NGE DEMANDS APOLOGY
However, in a statement issued on Thursday and signed by Eze
Anaba, NGE president, and Onuoha Ukeh, general secretary, the guild rejected
the newspaper’s characterisation of the conference and demanded an apology from
its editorial board.
The NGE said the conference was designed as a professional
forum for editors and stakeholders to discuss issues, including democracy,
elections, journalism, artificial intelligence (AI), disinformation and the
future of Nigeria.
It said the programme provided for an “executive session” on
the second day, involving governors, political party chairmen, heads of
government agencies and other stakeholders in the political and public space.
The guild argued that Obi’s participation should therefore
be viewed within the broader context of the conference and not as evidence that
it endorsed the NDC or any political candidate.
The NGE said it had invited representatives of major
political parties, including Nentawe Yelwatda, chairman of the All Progressives
Congress (APC); David Mark, chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC);
and Cleopas Moses Zuwoghe, chairman of the NDC.
It said the invitations were followed up with reminders and
personal engagements by its leadership to secure broader participation.
According to the guild, Anaba spoke with Yelwatda and
Chibuike Amaechi, ADC vice-presidential candidate, about participating in the
conference.
It added that Ukeh also followed up with Paul Ibe, media
aide to Atiku Abubakar, ADC presidential candidate, to encourage the
participation of the party and its leaders.
The guild questioned why it should be blamed when invited
political parties or their representatives did not attend.
The NGE said it would have been inappropriate to prevent a
political candidate who was available and willing to participate simply because
other invited candidates or parties chose not to attend.
The NGE also pointed to the participation of government
officials and representatives at the conference.
It said Tunde Rahman, senior media assistant to President
Bola Tinubu, addressed the editors on the administration, while Mohammed Idris,
minister of information and national orientation, was represented by Ali M.
Ali, managing director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
The guild added that Vice-President Kashim Shettima
addressed the conference virtually from the United States.
It said the participation of the various political and
government representatives showed that the conference was intended as a broad
platform for engagement rather than one designed to favour a particular party
or candidate.
The NGE consequently rejected The Nation’s description of
Obi’s appearance as an “ambush”, saying he attended an open professional
gathering involving editors, journalists and other stakeholders.
It maintained that providing a platform for political
engagement was different from endorsing a political position.
The guild also took exception to the editorial’s reference
to an “impunity of silence”, describing the characterisation as unfortunate.
“It is The Nation Newspaper’s Editorial Board that failed
journalism,” the guild said.
It accused the editorial board of reaching “a sweeping
conclusion without establishing the full facts” concerning the invitations
extended to political parties and the efforts made by the guild to secure their
participation.
The NGE reaffirmed its commitment to accuracy, fairness,
balance, objectivity, independence and accountability, which it described as
cardinal principles of journalism.
It said it would continue to provide platforms for
engagement among political actors, public officials, civil society
organisations, electoral institutions and other stakeholders “without fear or
favour”.
“That is not partisanship. That is journalism,” the guild
said.
The NGE called on The Nation’s editorial board to
acknowledge what it described as omissions in the editorial and apologise to
the guild and its leadership.
“Now that the facts have been placed on record, the NGE
expects The Nation newspaper’s Editorial Board, made up of responsible members
of Nigeria’s media community, to acknowledge the omissions in its editorial and
offer an apology to the guild and its leadership,” the guild said.
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