NPAN: polls must hold

The Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) yesterday asked the Federal Government to ensure that the general elections hold on March 28 and April 11.

It also said the polls must be  free and  fair,  with an outcome which will deepen the nation’s democracy.

It pleaded with Nigerians to eschew any form of violence during and after the polls.

The newspaper proprietors made their position known in a communique  after deliberations at the Extra- Ordinary Meeting of NPAN in Abuja, which was hosted by Media Trust Limited.

The communique, signed by NPAN President, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena, reads: “The Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria( NPAN) on March 17th , 2015 held an Extra-Ordinary Meeting in Abuja. After exhaustive deliberations, and review of the political situation in Nigeria, the NPAN unanimously agreed as follows:

“The general election must hold on March 28th and April 11th as scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC).

“The election must produce an outcome and Nigerians must rally around whoever emerges the winner.”

NPAN advised the government to ensure the conduct of the general election in such a way that it will deepen the nation’s democracy.

The association added: “These elections are for and by the Nigerian people and they must be free, fair and held in such a way that they will deepen the nation’s democracy such that at the end of the electoral process, Nigeria must be the winner.

“We call on the people of Nigeria, especially political leaders across the nation, to eschew every form of violence.

“The prevalent do-or-die attitude is unnecessary, unhelpful and unhealthy for our system of democracy. We must all say no to violence before, during and after the elections.”

Those at the meeting also included the Deputy President of NPAN, Mallam Kabiru Yusuf, the Publisher of Vanguard Press Limited, Sir, Sam Amuka Pemu, a former President of NPAN, Ray Ekpu; the representative of The GuardianPublisher, Toke Ibru; the Publisher of Blueprint Newspaper, Alh. Idris Mohammed; a former President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Gbenga Adefaye; John Osadolor( Business Day) the Editor-In-Chief of Media Trust Limited, Mallam Mannir and the representative of the publisher of The Nation, Yusuf Alli among others