Mace-whisking incident brigandage, hooliganism -Guild of Editors

By Ali Alkali

Nigerian Guild of Editors has condemned the snatching of the mace at Senate chambers of the National Assembly on Wednesday, describing it as “brigandage and acts akin to hooliganism”.
In a statement signed by the President of the Guild, Funke Egbemode, the editors condemn in very strong terms, the act and “every act that constitutes an affront to or assault on our fledgling democracy”
According to the guild, “Such brigandage and acts akin to hooliganism, as was witnessed on Wednesday, run contrary to the concepts and tenets of the democracy that the Fourth Estate of the Realm struggled to enshrine in our country!
“The NGE, like other law-abiding organisations, agencies and persons across all strata, demand that the perpetrators be tracked, arrested and tried in accordance with the country’s constitutional provisions.”
It, however, commends the Nigeria Police “for swiftly responding to the emergent crisis” adding that “all security agencies are again enjoined to, as a matter of urgency, renew their commitment and re-strategize to forestall a recurrence, not only in the National Assembly but throughout the country.
“The NGE also reminds all officials, elected or appointed and across all tiers of government, to remember their oath of office, as well as the confidence and trust reposed in them by the Nigerian people. At all times, their words and deeds must exemplify the highest level of decency, decorum, responsibility and stewardship, in order to remain worthy of the people’s faith and trust.
“The NGE restates its commitment to promote issues that will deepen sustainable democracy in Nigeria. In this regard, NGE calls on all other constitutional realms to diligently and selflessly play their parts to achieve this goal for our fatherland.”