TELL IT

By Tonnie Iredia The 2003 All Nigerian Editors’ Conference (ANEC) has ended in Asaba, the Delta State Capital. The Conference which had as its theme “Nigeria Beyond Oil: Role of the Editor”, was relevant and apt for the times and also fell in line with the universal role of the media to set the national agenda of its country. Indeed, the Conference underscored the all-important role of journalists to serve as the mirror and gatekeeper of society to point out danger signals in the horizon to avert a woeful end. From the tone of the welcome address entitled, “Diversify or Die”; the President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr. Femi Adesina left no one in doubt of the grave consequences awaiting the country in the face of dwindling oil revenue. At the end of the Conference, enlightenment on the subject was virtually overwhelming as ample light was shed on the state of our economy and the evils of over-reliance on a single product. The Conference opined that Nigeria needs to wean itself ...

By Tonnie Iredia On Saturday June 29, 2013, an election was held in Oguta constituency of Imo State. The umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, says it could not declare a winner because the contest was inconclusive. This time around, those who are usually fast at commending the Jega led INEC have been a bit cautious. The truth however is that INEC has never performed above average. As one newspaper aptly opined the other day, those who praise our elections are “those who lower standards to accommodate mediocrity”. It was thus a relief to hear that President Goodluck Jonathan has himself showed disgust over the outcome of the Oguta election - an event which in reality was not in any way different from our other elections. Against this backdrop, we agree with the President that those who made the rerun election in Oguta to be inconclusive must be brought to book. History tells us that we have never been able to bring our political thugs and their sponsors to book. ...