By Dada Ahmed in Abuja.
The President,Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, Mustapha, has urged editors to ensure that their reporters develop critical mind and adequate professional capacity to focus more on the happenings in the states and local government areas of the country to ensure that leadership at the two levels of governnent is accountable to the people and democratic culture strengthened.
He gave the advice in Abuja at the North Central Townhall Meeting/ Capacity Building for Editors in Abuja,NGE organised for its members with the theme: “Agenda Setting For Sustainable Democratic Culture”.
Isah described action of some state governors as become unbecoming, a development he noted, made them demi gods, pointing out that editors needed to manage information at their disposal effectively to change the narrative with a view for the leaders to know that they were accountable to the people in their public function.
The NGE President, who expressed concern that some governors could travel out of their states for some months without clear reason for that, added that such negative development ran contrary to the principle of democracy and good governance.
He said the workshop,supported by the US Government, was aimed at equipping the editors with necessary tools to perform their role as critical stakeholders in information dissemination in enhancing democratic culture in Nigeria.
Isah paid glowing tribute to the heroic role of editors in the talk walk towards the attainment of Nigeria independent in 1960 and entrenchment of democracy.
He commended the US Government for supporting the programme which he disclosed would be organised for members of the Guild in Enugu and Portharcourt.
Our Correspondent reports that no fever than 50 Editors, drawn from public and private media houses attended the event.
