From: This Day Live (Nigeria)

At the eighth edition of the All Nigerian Editors’ Conference held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, last week, which attracted senior media practitioners and top ranking government officials, issues bordering on the role of media and national security topped the agenda, reports Okon Bassey

For four days Nigeria editors numbering more than 250 drawn from the print, electronic and online media converged in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital to brainstorm on issue affecting the media profession and refocus the media for national development. It was the first time such a huge number of editors would be meeting in a single assembly where three state governors including those of Akwa Ibom, Delta, and Plateau states and representatives of three other state governors, Rivers, Edo and Borno states attended.

The gathering was the 8th edition of All Nigerian Editors Conference packaged by the Nigerian Guild of Editors. It ended yesterday at the Banquet Hall of the Akwa Ibom State Government House after a gala night and a facility visit of projects in the state. The Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), and many others institutions sent in their good will messages to the conference which had as its theme “The Nigerian Editors and National Security”.

David Mark on Editors The Senate President, Senator David Mark, who declared the gathering open noted that the theme of the conference was apt as there can be no other time to discuss such a theme than now. He said the role of the media in the continued evolution of the society cannot be over emphasised as besides the traditional role of informing, entertaining and educating, the media has become important tool in the modern era.

However, he said the editor as the gatekeeper has the role to decide what the public should know and what would attract the readers and those to maximise profit for the proprietors of media. “I think the problem you have is the balance between what will keep you in business and what are national security issues”.

“Besides the traditional role of informing, entertaining and educating the public, the media have are an important tool of the state craft in the modern era. However the dynamics of the media are quite different, they vary in different countries.

National Security “National security dwells on national survival, as well as the preservation of our ways of life. I must quickly add that I am a firm believer in the standard definition of the national security, which includes food security, infrastructure security, environmental security, health security, and even the welfare of  reporters, because these things are important and they add to national security.

“I am never a reporter and honestly I sympathise with you. I understand the difficulty in which you find yourself when you have to make a differentiation between what to publish to sell and what constitute national security”. Another top government functionary who graced the occasion was the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, who said the choice of the theme of the conference showed that the editors were well aware of the most urgent problems facing the country.

Tambuwal, who was represented by his deputy, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, equally acknowledged that the challenge in the media had always been between balancing the constitutional duty to inform and educate the people and the question of national security.

“If the editor publishes all information at his disposal on every issue, the security and well being of the people and indeed the state may be jeopardised.

“Indeed there are publications that could harm the very people you are trying to inform. In the age of terrorism, the dilemma of the editor becomes even more pronounced. “I must say that you have exercised your editorial judgment on this issue admirably. You have shown restraint when it is necessary. You have also been bold and defended the public interest and the right of the people to be informed when duty permits,” he stated.

On its part, he said the National Assembly had passed the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011 to assist in the fight against terrorism in the country and tasked the Nigerian Guild of Editors to make further recommendations on improving national security legislation in Nigeria.

He said it was heroic display of will and unbowed strength when media owners, editors and all strata of journalists rose in one voice to condemn the attack on THISDAY Newspapers and others in Abuja and Kaduna by members of a terror group.

On the media and constitutional reforms, the Speaker urged the conference to exhaustively confront the issues like objective-minded gate-keepers.

He reiterated the resolve of the leadership of the House of Representatives to allow Nigerians decide the kind of amendments desired on the issues identified.

“As elected representatives of the people, we will never impose our will on the people from whom we derive our mandate. We will pander to the well-articulated interests of the people as far as the constitution amendment process is concerned”, he said.

National Interest The Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, said the media remains the platform for the citizens to exist and called on the Nigerian editors to define national interest and not be guided by the business side of the profession. He recalled the role played by the fore fathers of the journalism profession in the country who fought hard to achieve independence and democracy for the nation. “If there is any sector that has stood firm to fight for this nation, it is the media, from independence till now; the media in Nigeria have continued in the forefront of working for Nigeria and nobody has been able to cow it”.

The Information Minister pointed out that  President Goodluck Jonathan has, despite his criticisms, challenges and writings in the media about him and the security challenges of the nation never doubted the media as an island. He said the President’s position on issues should not be seen as a sign of a weakness.

Governor Godswill Akpabio noted that the meeting came at a critical time in the country when sound of bombs rent the air leaving in its wake the mangled bodies of the citizens who died without knowing the reason for their death.

“We are meeting when some people will stop questioning whether the foundation of our nationhood is strong to keep us together as one nation bound in freedom, peace and unity. The Guild is meeting at a time when democracy that you fought for is on trial.

“I am excited also that you have decided to choose the topic ‘The Nigeria Editor and the National Security’, this is true that the spirit of our ancestors to use journalism to win independence for all us is still alive in you. It will be hard for you to kill the baby you fought for. It will amount to the highest level of treachery and betrayal for any of use to kill democracy that a lot of your colleagues paid their lives for because you water it with your blood”.

Akpabio condemned development in the social media and advocated the constitution of a Cyber Crime Department in the Nigeria Police Force. “This should be composed of men highly trained to use the internet and ICT to trace fraudsters and respond to complaints by people defrauded by using the internet”.

NPAN’s Endorsement In a goodwill message to the gathering the President of the NPAN, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena said there was no better theme for the conference considering the security challenges the country is passing through but stressed that the public is entitled to get a balanced report for fairness.

The NPAN boss who spoke through his Deputy, Comfort Obi said the Editors should remember that in all their endeavours, there is no other country than Nigeria. He said the fact that Nigeria has security challenge does not mean that it is worse than any other country.

President, Nigerian Guild of Editors, Gbenga Adefaye said this year’s theme of the conference was justifiable because the global attention has been shifted to Nigeria not for giant strides but negative reasons such as insecurity, suicide bombings, sectarian terrorism which have affected economic well being of Nigerians. He said the accusation by the insurgents that the media was their enemy because of their perception of media bias was wrong.

“They claimed that we do not understand their grievances but report their affairs with prejudice. They are wrong. It is a mistake to attack and destroy the medium of dialogue, which they will need ultimately to resolve their grievances. There can never be justification for bombing media houses and killing journalists, no matter your grudges”.

The NGE President also raised a number of questions and issues for the conference to tackle on security challenge in the course of interactions with security experts.