Guild of Editors elects Garba-Deen as president, Ayorinde, Egbemode too

By Our Reporter on August 29, 2015 National

FROM FEMI FOLARANMI, YENAGOA
The Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) has elected the Editor-at Large of The Sun News­papers, Malam Garba Deen Mohammed, as the substantive presi­dent of the Guild.
Mohammed who was the deputy president has been acting as president when the former President, Mr Femi Adesina resigned his position after his appointment as the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Me­dia and Publicity.
Also elected, through voice affirmation,were the duo of the former Editor of The Punch Newspapers, Mr. Steve Ayorinde from the position of the vice president(West) to the position of deputy president, and the Managing Director of the New Telegraph, Mrs. Funke Egbemode from the position of Social/Publicity Secretary to the posi­tion of the Vice President(West).
The election of Mohammed and other executives was preceded by the announcement by the Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, Rich­ard Akinola on the need for the editors to support the review of two key areas of Article 11 and 18 respectively of the Constitution.
According to Akinola, the proposed amendment to the Constitution would stipulate that a bye-election be con­ducted to fill the vacant position of the president and others.
But the majority of the members agreed that the bye-election needed would be conducted at a later date on the next convention and that Malam Garba- Deen, as deputy president be nominated and affirmed to occupy the seat of Presi­dency vacated by the Mr. Femi Adesina.
According to the resolution, the depu­ty president should be elevated to serve out the tenure of the former president and an election organised after the ten­ure.
The members of the Guild also re­solved that the Constitution Review Committee should ensure that all mem­bers are allowed to make input into the proposed review exercise.
The Editor of the Daily Trust, Idang Alibi moved the motion for the nomina­tion and affirmation of Malam Moham­med as president and was seconded by the Editor of the Triumph Newspapers, Murphy Ibrahim.
In his acceptance speech, the newly elected president, Mohammed said he was speechless by the decision of the Guild to elect him to serve.
“I will do everything within my power not to allow you all regret the decision taken here today. I thank God that the election was done without acri­mony and with usual rigorous action it is known for.”