After The Ballot: A Time For Healing And Unity In The Nigerian Guild Of Editors
By SADIQ ABDULLATEEF
The 2025 Biennial Convention of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) in Enugu has come and gone. The ballots have been cast, counted, and concluded. Victories have been recorded, and losses acknowledged. In its wake, a new leadership has emerged to steer the affairs of our beloved Guild for the next term. It was a spirited contest of ideas, personalities, and loyalties – one that has tested our values and our brotherhood.
Now is the time to heal.
Eze Anaba was returned unopposed as President—a clear testament to the confidence reposed in his leadership. Sabaastine Abu won the Deputy President seat in a closely watched contest against Muhammad Sanusi Jibrin. The position of National Secretary saw a competitive race with Onuoha Ukeh emerging victorious over Oluwole Sogunle and Akinreti Qassim.
Iyobosa Uwugiaren became Treasurer after a contested race against Boma Nwuke, while some others, like Hamza Idris (VP North), Gabriel Akinadewo (Assistant Secretary), and Charles Kalu (Publicity Secretary), were elected unopposed—a rare display of unanimous confidence and mutual respect. Roses Moses, Umoru Ibrahim, and Paulyn Ugbodaga were also successfully elected to the standing committees representing different zones.
These outcomes, however, tell only part of the story. What is more important now is not who won or lost, but what we do next.
As I sat quietly at the old Government Lodge during the gala night, reflecting on the ceremony and the swearing-in of our new Exco members, one truth rang clear: The Nigerian Guild of Editors is first and foremost a community—a family. The election is just a democratic mechanism. It should never become a wedge that divides us.
Our loyalty must not be to electoral ventures but to the enduring spirit of camaraderie that binds us together as editors and custodians of journalistic integrity. Our calling demands more. It demands unity even in diversity, and mutual respect even in competition.
I have supported friends I knew wouldn’t win elections. I’ve stood with colleagues out of loyalty, honesty, and shared values, and told them the truth about their chances. My dear friend and former colleague, Catherine Agbo – fondly called Gimbiya—stands as a perfect example. I’ve voted for her and told her she’d lose. I’ve also voted for her and told her she would win. In both cases, my prediction came to pass. But my vote was never about certainty of success; it was about friendship, conviction, and authenticity.
To me, loyalty to friends and to the Guild comes before politics.
To those who emerged victorious, I offer my heartfelt congratulations. Your success is not just a personal achievement – it’s a call to service. I urge you to lead with grace, magnanimity, and inclusion. Please, carry everyone along, whether or not they supported or voted for you. Leadership is not about rewarding loyalty or punishing dissent – it’s about unity and vision. Remember, the next election is just around the corner, and how you govern today determines how you are remembered tomorrow.
This Guild needs healing, not exclusion. Extend your hands across the divide and bring everyone onboard. There are no “them” and “us” here. We are all one.
And to those who were not declared winners—know this: You did not lose. You simply participated in a democratic process whose outcomes were determined not by fate or failure, but by choice and timing. Ultimately, power and position come from God. His will is sovereign, and His plans always exceed our immediate understanding.
You are still valued. Your contributions to the Guild remain vital. And your voice matters – perhaps even more now than before.
I must also acknowledge, with deep appreciation, Steve Nwosu and Gabriel Akinadewo. You both know why. The side talks we had before the elections were genuine, heartfelt, and lasting. I meant every word I said to you, and I continue to hold those moments close.
Let us never forget: Before the elections, we were friends and colleagues. After the elections, let us remain so.
As we move forward, I make a passionate appeal to every member of the Guild: Let us put the election behind us. Let’s embrace each other once more with mutual respect, with laughter, with the love of our craft and profession. Let no bitterness fester. Let no rift linger.
We are the conscience of the nation’s media. If we cannot heal and unite ourselves, how can we help a fractured society do the same?
Let us rise above our personal differences and march forward together—for the sake of our Guild, our profession, and our country.
Congratulations once again to the winners. Respect and strength to the other contenders. May the Nigerian Guild of Editors continue to thrive, united in purpose and in spirit.
Sadiq Abdullateef
is the Publisher/CEO
News Point Nigeria
