By Ibrahim Ramalan
Abuja
Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has condemned the recent divisive, hate speeches emanating from different sections of the country and called for restraint and tolerance among Nigerians.
According to the Guild, the country remains stronger together.
The editors also condemned the “overzealousness of operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other security agencies against the media,” stressing that “at all times, duties come with deep responsibilities that must be upheld.”
These were contained In a Communiqué issued at the second quarterly meeting of the Standing Committee of the NGE and jointly signed recently by its President, Funke Egbemode and his General Secretary, Victoria Ibanga.
The communiqué read in part: “Those sowing seeds of discord should realise that they are not just destroying the dreams of the nation’s founding fathers but the progress we have made over the years as a nation; their actions have the capacity to alter the destiny of Nigeria negatively.
“The Guild reminds the hate agents that as major stakeholders in the Nigerian Project, editors and other journalists fought for the enthronement of the current democratic dispensation, with some paying the supreme price, to birth a constitutional government.”
The Guild, therefore, urged Nigerians to ignore those agitating for the dismemberment of the country and to go about their businesses without fear or let, and focus more on repositioning the country for present and future generations.
Also, in the communiqué, the Guild appreciated the firm and decisive intervention of the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, which had calmed the situation and urged the government to do more.
Worried that no commensurate action has been taken as regards the arrest order severally issued by the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to get those persons arrested, the Guild urged the Police to be more responsive and pragmatic.
The Guild, however, commended the Nigeria Police Force for the arrest of the kidnap kingpin, Chukwudi Dumeme Onuamadike, and other kidnappers and urged them to do more to ensure the release of the abducted pupils of Igbonla Model College, Epe, in Lagos state, who had been missing since the past three weeks.
