THISDAY Publisher, Obaigbena, Ends Tenure as NPAN President, Becomes Life Patron

• Association gets new executives, warns against attack on press freedom, free speech

By Emmanuel Addeh

The Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) on Tuesday elected a new executive with its immediate past President, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, Chairman/Editor-in-Chief of THISDAY Newspapers joining the league of the association’s life patrons.

 Obaigbena, who is also the Chairman, THISDAY Newspapers,   joined  Chairman,  VANGUARD Newspapers,  Chief Sam Amuka and former Ogun State Governor,  Chief Segun Osoba, as patrons.

The association also  kicked against what it described as the steady attack on the freedom of the press as well as the  right of Nigerians to free speech.

Rising from its Annual General Meetings  (AGM) at its new secretariat in Lagos during which the new executive was elected, the association also restated the view that citizens hold the right to peaceful protests as clearly guaranteed under the nation’s constitution.

In a statement by its new President, Mallam Kabiru Yusuf, who is the Chairman,  Trust Media Limited and Secretary, Mr Mohammed Idris, Chairman Blueprint Newspapers, the group urged all stakeholders to resist through all lawful means, any attempt to curb press freedom and free speech.

“The NPAN views seriously the steady encroachment on freedom of the press and free speech, especially by state actors and urges resistance through all legitimate means to any infringement on press freedom and free speech.

 “Likewise, the NPAN holds that the right to protest is a fundamental human right that must be guaranteed by the Nigerian state in such  a way as to stave off violence,” it stated.

During the meeting, which also saw the emergence of Chairman Guardian Press Limited, Lady Maiden Ibru, as Deputy President;  Mr. Wale Edun,  Chairman, The Nations Press Limited as Treasurer and Mrs. Nwaduito Iheakanwa, Managing Director, Champion Newspapers as Publicity Secretary, NPAN  urged the federal government to rise to its responsibility of protecting lives and property.

Other members of the new executive include Chairman Daily Times of Nigeria, Mr.  Fidelis Anosike, who was elected as the Assistant General Secretary while  Ray Ekpu, Sam Nda-Isaiah and  Dennis Sami emerged as Ex-Officio members.

Deliberating on the state of the  media,  nation and the economy, NPAN  urged the federal government to rev up its COVID-19 containment measures and procure vaccines anywhere they are available.

“The federal government should rise up to its responsibilities of protecting of life and property by stamping out terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.

“And that the federal government revs its response to the COVID-19 pandemic by making aggressive effort to procure the vaccines from whatever sources as may be available  and vaccinate our citizens against the deadly disease.”

On the state of the Nigerian media, the group said it reflected on the absence of paper culture on the newspaper industry in particular and the Nigerian economy in general.