LAGOS—THE Nigerian Guild of Editors has adopted a new constitution at its convention which was held at the Airport Hotel, Lagos, weekend.

Declaring the convention open, Lagos State governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, who tasked editors to have a more positive view of the country, was chaired by a former Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, Dr. Tonnie Iredia; and was attended by the founding President of the Guild, Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande and Mr. Labaran Maku, Minister of Information and Communication, among other dignitaries.

At the end of the convention which also produced a new executive to manage the affairs of the Guild for the next two years, the editors, in a  statement by Mr Gbenga Adefaye and Mr Isaac Igbure, President and Secretary respectively, resolved as follows: That editors should seize the initiative from  politicians by setting the national agenda and move the nation away from divisive issues that retard our progress.

That editors pay more attention to issues of educational development, health and infrastructure instead of divisive partisan issues that do not benefit the generality of the people.

The editors regretted the failure of the National Assembly to appreciate the importance of openness in governance and democracy through its non-passage of the Freedom of Information Bill (FOI) after a decade of introduction to the Assembly.

The editors welcome the pledge of the new Minister of Information and Communication, Mr. Labaran Maku, to drive a new initiative, working with the Guild, NPAN, NUJ and other stakeholders to achieve the passage of the Bill by the current National Assembly.

The Guild, however, asked  all the political parties seeking power now to incorporate the pursuit of passage of the FOI bill into their manifestoes, if, indeed, they were committed to a transparent, accountable government and  development of the the country for the good of the majority.

The Guild asked the mass media to explore partnership with relevant stakeholders in providing adequate awareness on deadly ailments such as cancer, HIV/AIDS and whatever progress the nation was making to abate their scourges.

The editors  acknowledged the resilience of the media and its critical role in deepening democratic culture. It urged the media not to relent in the mass mobilization of the people for positive development in the nation’s political life, such as the current registration of voters.

As the watchdogs, the  convention asked the media to continue to be critical of public policies without necessarily creating a cynical populace, noting this could be achieved by always suggesting solutions to policymakers when criticising bad public policies and programmes.

A new executive of  the Nigerian Guild of Editors, led by Gbenga Adefaye, president; Hajia Aishatu Sule, deputy president; Mallam Ahmed Shekarau, vice president (North), Mrs. Funke Egbemode, vice president, West; Victor Agosiobu, vice president

(East), Isaac Ighure, general sectretary; Steve Ayorinde, assistant general secretary; Abdulhamid Majia, (treasurer) and Sam Egbala, social and publicity secretary and  Standing Committe members were also elected.