By Thompson ABISOLA
The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, is expected to declare open the 14th All Nigerian Editors Conference on Thursday in Asaba, says the Delta Commissioner for Information. Chief Patrick Ukah.
Ukah told newsmen on Wednesday in Asaba that the state government had put necessary arrangements in place to ensure that the editors had a blissful and fruitful conference.
According to Ukah, the state is set to host the Guild of Editors Conference and adequate arrangements have been made for a successful hosting.
“Vice President Osinbanjo will be in Asaba on Thursday to declare the conference open and adequate security arrangement is in place to ensure a peaceful and successful hosting of the editors conference.
“There will also be a guided tour of some of the projects executed by the Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa-led administration,” the commissioner said.
Also, Asaba Airport Project Manager, Mr Asutine Ayomidejor, said that the Airport was ready to receive the vice president for a second time.
According to him, the airport is fully operational and could take any kind of aircraft since its upgrade and the full rehabilitation of the runway.
According to Ken Ogbechie, NGE Publicity Secretary, the conference will provide the platform for stakeholders to discuss the 2019 elections.
He said that the theme of the conference “Credible Elections, Sustainable Democracy and the Nigerian Media” was apt as the country’s general elections would hold next year.
He said that the conference would engage all the stakeholders, the politicians, security agents, civil society organisations, INEC, media and others to discuss how the country’s democracy could keep evolving.
“The Vice President, state governors and other stakeholders, INEC, security agents will all be here from Thursday to discuss this all-important issue,” he said.
“What we are going to be having from Thursday is a cross breeding of ideas and this is so because we are in a democracy and the worst democracy is still better than the best military regime.
“This is because under the military we don’t have that environment to discuss who govern us, how we are governed and the way we want to be governed.
“I am happy that as journalists we have been able to bring people together to talk about our democracy and the elections.
“We are expecting close to 400 editors, we have never had less than 300 editors from year-to-year and from today’s registrations, we are already seeing over subscription.
“This surge is because Delta is central and there is an airport and people can take flight to Asaba and or drive down with ease,” Ogbechie said.
The four-day conference will end on Saturday.
