Guild of Editors’ Election Gave Me Enormous Hope On Nigeria’s Unity, Says Eze Anaba

By Frank Oshanugor

The newly elected President, Nigerian Guild of Editors(NGE), Mr. Eze Anaba has described the election that brought him to power as a landmark event that left him with no choice but a belief in a more united Nigeria in the years to come.

The NGE chieftain who spoke on Wednesday at a reception organised in his honour by the staff of Vanguard Media Limited, publishers of Vanguard Newspapers where he is the Editor-in-Chief, pointed out that in spite of the ethnic and religious fault lines that have over time created some division in the political space, there is enormous hope that Nigerians shall outlive such tendencies in the nearest future.

According to Anaba, the fact that Nigerian editors of various ethnic extractions could downplay every mundane interest and decided to go for competence and national interest in the choice of who would become the Guild’s president at the election showed the maturity of this class of Nigerians.

The election which held during the recent Biennial Conference of NGE in Owerri, Imo State saw Anaba polling 250 votes while his only opponent Bolaji Adebiyi, formerly of Thisday Newspapers scored 81 votes.

While expressing appreciation to the Chairman of Vanguard Media Limited, Mr. Sam Amuka and his management for giving him the opportunity to practice journalism over the years, he paid special tribute to the company’s General Manager, Mr. Gbenga Adefuye for inspiring him and offering the best advice during the electioneering campaigns.

In his words, Adefuye had advised him against positioning himself as an Igbo candidate for the election since such tendency would narrow his chances of winning.

Smartly, Anaba latched on the advice and went out during his campaigns to convince more of his supporters that he was contesting as Nigerian Guild of Editors candidate and not an Igbo candidate. “The advice paid off” he remarked.

While promising to work as President of all Nigerian editors irrespective of tribe or religion, Anaba sued for the cooperation of everyone so that the Guild during his tenure could be taken to a higher height in line with the aspiration of its founding fathers.

Earlier in his speech as Chairman of the occasion, Gbenga Adefuye praised the effort of Eze Anaba in pursuing what he believed in, adding that he (Adefuye) was never in doubt of his ability and competence to deliver as President of the Guild.

While recalling the early days of the new President of NGE as a young reporter with the Vanguard, Adefuye described Anaba’s trajectory in journalism as worthy of emulation even as he wished him a successful tenure of office as the Guild’s new president

Prior to his present position, Anaba had held the position of Social and Publicity Secretary of the Guild. He now succeeds the immediate past President, Mustapha Isa of the Silverbird Group.

At various times, Eze Anaba who holds a Master’s degree in Communications from Leicester University, United Kingdom was the Deputy Editor, Saturday Editor, Senior Deputy News Editor and The Law and Human Rights Editor.

The reception to celebrate one of their own who has brought honour to them was well attended by Anaba’s colleagues at the VANGUARD. Both editorial and non-editorial staffers of the organization were well represented.

Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Chairman of the Organising Committee and Vanguard’s Senior Crime Editor, Mr. Emma Nnadozie described Anaba’s victory at the NGE’s Election as victory for the Vanguard Media Limited which called for celebration.

He commended the Vanguard publisher and elder statesman Mr. Sam Amuka for providing the platform for all of them to thrive, emphasising that the stability in the organization has made it possible for many of them including Eze Anaba to actualise their journalism ambition.

Nnadozie also used the opportunity to pay tribute to all the past editors of the Vanguard Newspapers for making the brand a robust one even as he deeply appreciated the company’s General Manager Mr. Gbenga Adefuye who was once Vanguard Editor and President of Nigerian Guild of Editors.