Gombe (Nigeria) — Gombe State Government in northern Nigeria has shunned a faith based organisation, United Nigerian Chaplaincy, organisers of a rally, calling for the unity of Nigeria.
After staging a rally in Gombe, the group visited government house for an audience with the government. The group after staying for a period of time with no government representative to receive them, left the Government House to their office.
Speaking to journalists, the State Commandant of the Group, Reverend Philip Chiroma said, the rally was mandatory for the group nationwide to sensitize and educate the public on the need to stay in peace with one another.
He said, peace was the back bone of this country and without peace no development can be achieved.
Reverend Chiroma said, the country has been experiencing some misunderstandings within the ethnic communities, therefore appealed to Nigerians to love one another irrespective of religion or ethnicity for the betterment of the country.
“Even the issue of dividing Nigeria is not the solution, Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba we are all one, if you go to some countries you can not stage a rally like this because there is no peace”.
We read a press statement purportedly made by some self-styled Arewa Youth Forum in Abuja on Friday, July 14, 2017, under the leadership of one Gambo Gujungu wherein they accused the Ekiti State governor, Dr Ayodele Peter Fayose and former minister of aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, of being used by southwest leaders to destabilize the country and pitching the rest of the country against President Muhammadu Buhari and the north.
While we normally do not respond to the antics of juvenile delinquents exhibiting a regrettably deep sense of flippancy and nonchalance in a desperate attempt to warm themselves into public spotlight, we find it highly imperative to put the record straight this time round because we know that the macabre dance of these misguided youths is a response to the drumbeat of their elders hiding in the bush.
First, let it be clearly told that Gujungu cannot claim to be “the National President of AYF the umbrella body of all youths in the north” as he brazenly put it in that statement as a good number of reasonable northerners, including the youth, have since realized the evil antics of such contraption which is only used for electoral purposes after which people of the middle belt, northern Christians and other minorities are treated like scum by the same Arewa that is quick to mouth a non-existent “One North” during elections or as elections approach.
One wonders where these youths who claim to be speaking for the entire north were when Buhari whom they profess so much love for today watched while his army killed about a thousand innocent, harmless, armless, helpless and hapless Shiites, many of them youths, in December of 2015?
Where has Gujungu and his co-travellers been while their cousins, the Fulani herdsmen terrorists, have been moving through the length and breadth of Benue, Plateau, Niger, Adamawa, Taraba, Kogi etc leaving in their trails tears, sorrow and blood of farmers whose only offence has always been asking the marauding herdsmen not to destroy their farms, their only sources of livelihood, with their cattle?
Or are these innocent victims from these states not also part of Arewa?
We did not even hear anything from these emergency Arewa activists when the same Fulani herdsmen terrorists killed more than a thousand people over a stretch of time in Southern Kaduna. Or are Southern Kaduna people not supposed to be part of this expired contraption called Arewa? Or are they simply ignored because they are Christians and belong to the minorities in that part of the country?
The fact is that the Arewa Empire has since collapsed. Buhari’s ascendancy to power ensured its final cremation.
If these same Arewa Youths and their elders would see nothing against the evils being perpetrated against the many innocents not only in the north but in all parts of the country under the watch of Buhari, good men like Fayose and Fani-Kayode will not keep quiet because if they do they would ultimately share in the consequences that befall evil people.
The path this duo walks is not one they chose for themselves, it is one which destiny has bestowed on them. To shy away from such a noble but tough and unenviable task divinely placed on their shoulders is to offend God. And who would want to do that? Despite the toughness and risks of confronting Pharaoh, Moses still had to go deliver his divine mandate to the wicked king.
Let it be stated that Fayose and Fani-Kayode’s criticism of Buhari has nothing to do with where he comes from. If it does, then this duo would not be defending the Shiites, people of Southern Kaduna or victims of Fulani herdsmen terrorists who all come from the same north as Buhari. Nigerians will also remember very well that Fayose is one of Obasanjo’s ardent critics. Is Obasanjo also from the north?
Their criticism of Buhari is because the president has proved, with his words and actions, that he has the qualities of tyrannical Pinochet, despotic Stalin and totalitarian Sese Seko all rolled into one. If there is anyone who has pitched almost the entire country against the president, it is Buhari himself!
And if there is anyone peddling lies and falsehood to gullible Nigerians, even kindergartens will jubilantly tell you that it is the APC and their officials.
Rather than focus on Fayose and Fani-Kayode, the so-called Arewa youths will do well to help the president by telling him to be more humane in dealing with citizens according to the laws of the land he swore to uphold.
Those who are egging the president on despite his obvious critical ill health are those who actually hate him. Isn’t it amusing that these youths from the north claim to have gone to see the president, yet, top government officials within the ruling party do not even have an inkling of how bad the president’s case is? This goes a long way to confirm that this president is a president of only a section of this country!
Fortunately, Fayose and Fani-Kayode will not keep quiet. Nobody can silence them. We all own this country together. These two highly placed men of the country are too big for anyone or any group to use to achieve an agenda. They have minds of their own and until there is absence of official tyranny and gross abuse of presidential powers, they will continue to speak no matter whose ox is gored!
Jude Ndukwe is a media aide to Chief Femi Fani-Kayode
Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, northern Nigeria
By Amos Tauna
The headquarters of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, has expressed dismay by the remanding in prison for the second time of a Kaduna based journalist, Luka Binniyat, and issued a stern warning to governor Nasir El-Rufai to desist from harassing journalists in the state.
In a statement by its National Secretary, Shuaibu Usman Leman, NUJ said the governor was harsh with the media because he cannot tolerate criticism.
“The government of Kaduna State in its further drive to cage the media and muffle freedom of expression, had this week arraigned a Kaduna based Journalist, Luka Binniyat before a Kaduna State High Court charged with injurious falsehood and incitement.
He was earlier charged to a Magistrate Court for the same allegations, remanded in Prison custody before being granted bail.
“The High Court had equally remanded Luka Binniyat in Prison custody pending the hearing of his bail application next week.
“It will be recalled that Kaduna State government had issued a stern warning to Journalists on the 28th of January this year, threatening of dire consequences if they file any story considered false by the State Governor,” it said.
NUJ pointed out that recently, some other journalists were taken to court by governor Nasiru El Rufai, prominent of which included Midat Joseph of Leadership Newspapers who was detained and charged to court for alleged injurious falsehood, plan for mass demonstration that will shut down Kaduna and public incitement.
“Others being hounded are Dickson Onjewu of New Nigerian Newspapers and Gabriel Idibia of Union Newspapers.
“EL Rufai’s numerous actions are clearly aimed at his perceived political opponents which ridiculously include the media. As a result of his intolerance for criticisms and aversion for the media many Journalists in the State are now being persecuted by the government.
“We are terrified by the remanding of Binniyat in prison custody because of his health challenges. He had an accident and came to court on crutches to answer the summons but instead of being in hospital, he is now behind bars.
“The NUJ will hold governor Nasiru El-Rufai fully responsible if anything mysterious happens to Binniyat in prison.
“This development calls for concern, because the government of El-Rufai rode to power on the formidable use of the media and therefore it cannot now turn round to want to instruct journalists on how to do their jobs. Certainly the Governor cannot make untoward rules for journalists outside their extant code of practice. Journalists should not be used as scapegoats to cover up for his numerous gaffes.
“We advise the governor to desist from having journalists arrested, detained and taken to court for writing stories and reports on the crisis in Southern Kaduna which he feels do not reflect the thinking of the State government.
“The problems of Southern Kaduna can never be resolved through threats and intimidation by the Kaduna State government on journalists. Rather, we suggest that he should appeal to the media to help mobilise citizens to appreciate the benefits of peace and peaceful coexistence,” it lamented.
Merck Foundation says it has committed itself to long term partnership with the government of Tanzania.
In a meeting between Vice President, Samia Suluhu Hassan and Rasha Kelej, the CEO of Merck Foundation, the foundation says it commits to building healthcare capacity and improve access to innovative and equitable healthcare solutions across the country as part of its Corporate Social responsibility (CSR) programs across Africa.
A statement says Merck Foundation would focus on providing one year and two years surgical and paediatric oncology fellowship program in India, Europe and University of Nairobi for Tanzanian doctors to improve the cancer care in the country.
It adds that the foundation would also focus on empowering infertile women through access to information, awareness, health, change of mind set and economic empowerment across the country through the ‘Merck more than a Mother’ campaign.
“The prevalence of infertility is so high in Africa, one every four couple in reproductive age suffers from infertility and yet around 85% of those cases are due to untreated infectious disease which could be prevented, hence raising awareness about prevention through local media and social media is very critical,” Rasha Kelej says.
“Raising awareness about male infertility as the infertility affects women and men equally and yet women are the one who been solely blamed, discriminated and mistreated in their communities.
“The campaign will address this topic and encourage men to discuss openly their infertility and share the journey of infertility diagnosis and treatment with their wives,” Kelej adds.
Vice President, Samia Suluhu Hassan commended the role Merck Foundation plays in healthcare capacity building in Africa and welcomes them to Tanzania.
She added: “Tanzania welcomes Merck Foundation to the country, we are happy to partner with such reputable and serious organization top empower women and you, healthcare and science.
“I will personally work with you to empower these underprivileged women socially and economically across Tanzania and the rest of the world to create a culture shift needed to respect and appreciate women as productive members in society weather they are mother or not.”
Gombe (Nigeria) — Fadama III World Bank Additional Financing (AF) Program, has begun distribution of farming inputs to 820 households of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Host communities in Gombe state, Northeast Nigeria.
Communication officer, Fadama III Additional Financing program in Gombe Malam Mohammed who disclosed this while Speaking to news men in Gombe Friday, said there are also 159 dry season farmers who will be receiving the inputs soon.
He said the items were 10 Kg bag of maize for each household, two herbicides and two insecticides.
Mohammed said, some of the beneficiaries that requested for rice were equally given 50 kg bag of rice — each household, two herbicides and two insecticides.
He said, in a week time, they will start distributing fertilizers, urging the beneficiaries to utilize the farming inputs they received.
The communication officer, said there were 2,080 IDPS and host communities households earmarked to benefits from Fadama programme.
According to him, those that indicated interest in rain fed farming were the ones receiving now and subsequently dry season farmers.
He said those that indicated interest in livestock rearing and poultry would be given livestock’s and chickens soon.
Commending the Federal Government through the Fadama project, District Head of Kindiyo in Balanga Local Government, Nathaniel Kiki, said the intervention will go a long way in transforming the lives of the IDPs.
‘Fadama has brought hope to IDPs by giving them a means of livelihood” he said.
Speaking on behalf of Nyuwar/Jesu IDPs Mr. Amfani Hazel commended the Federal Government for the wonderful initiative aimed at making their lives better.
He assured Fadama that they will make use of the items given to them judiciously.
Also speaking Abba Jato, Chairman IDPs Gombe commended Fadama for fulfilling their promise as well as the state coordinator, Habiba Mohammed for keeping to her word.
World Population Day is a day established by the United Nations in 1989 to raise awareness on global population issues and for every country, including Nigeria, to focus more attention on the need to harness their populations productively to achieve demographic dividends, economic growth and sustainable development.
The theme to mark this year’s World Population Day, ‘Family Planning, Child Spacing: Empowering People, Developing Nations’ emphases on Family Planning as a key strategy to economic growth and sustainable development.
This therefore means that when access to quality family planning services are provided as a right, it empowers couples, women and individuals to space the births of their children and to achieve their desired family size in a sustainable way.
Family planning and/or child spacing is therefore a voluntary informed personal decision but its profound implications on health, economic and social well being of the society are far reaching. That is why simple individual rights and choices have become a developmental agenda that must be addressed and integrated on sustainable basis into national, state and local development agenda.
As the theme of the 2017 World Population Day suggests, family planning/child spacing is not only about saving lives of mothers and their children; it’s also about empowering the people, improving the quality of their lives and achieving sustainable development.
According to the UNFPA and the 2013 National Demography and Health Survey report, Nigeria has continued to report very high maternal deaths arising from complications of pregnancies and child birth. Currently, 576 women per 100,000 lives birth die every year from complications of pregnancy and childbirth. This figure translates to 111 women dying daily.
Evidence also shows that more than 16 percent of women who seek to use family planning services fail to gain access to such services that would have enabled them space or limit their pregnancies. So a large proportion of Nigerian women as a result face high risk pregnancies and child births. These situations demand urgent attention.
Evidences from research studies show that successful family planning programmes contribute to 33 percent reduction of maternal mortality. Consequently, meeting the unmet need for family planning can help Nigeria reduce maternal mortality, and also child mortality by 20 percent. In addition giving women the right to access the voluntary family planning services will go a long way in fulfilling unmet need for Family Planning and consequently save more lives.
Women who choose family planning are healthier and face lower risks of maternal death. Children born to women who space their pregnancies tend to be healthier and face less risk of death in the first five years of live. Women with choices and greater reproductive health are better empowered to seek and keep better jobs and contribute more to their families’ and nation’s prosperity. Their families are better-off financially and their children receive better education, helping trigger a cycle of prosperity that carries well into future generations. This produces demographic dividends and enhances global prosperity.
Voluntary family planning as a human right is central towards poverty reduction; it’s indeed central to gender equality and cannot be easily wished away. Family Planning as a life saving intervention is not only crucial in normal situations, it is also critical during humanitarian crises which are often characterised by sexual violence, intimate-partner violence, child marriage and high risk behaviours such as survival, transactional and commercial sex.
Universal access to modern family methods is therefore imperative for all women of reproductive age. Yet, over six million women who want to avoid pregnancy are currently not using safe and effective family planning methods. Meeting the demand for modern contraceptives for all six million women in Nigeria would cost, only, $11 per contraceptive user for a whole year of supplies and services.
If adequate funding is provided for the health sector, investment in family planning could consequently receive a boost. In this regard, if married women who desire family planning would have their needs met, Nigeria’s modern contraceptive prevalence rate would rise from the current 10 percent to the stipulated national target of 36 percent by 2018.
Investing in family planning is investing in the health and rights of women and couples worldwide. Investing in family planning as a right is the right and very positive thing to do. Nigeria has a rapidly growing population with a large pool of young people. When the size of the dependent population shrinks relative to the size of those of working age, it creates an economic advantage.
From the combination of increased wage earners, decreased dependency and implementation of the right policies we can fuel major economic growth. On 25 September 2015, Nigeria was among the 193 member states of the United Nations to unanimously adopt the 2030 Agenda for the 17 Sustainable Development Goals that aim to transform the world. These goals are designed to eliminate poverty, discrimination, abuse and preventable deaths, address environmental destruction, and usher in an era of development for all people everywhere. Family Planning is included in the SDGs as Target 3.7 to achieve universal access to sexual and reproductive health services.
Development Communication Networks (DevComs), is a Lagos-Based Media Development Organisation
The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Thursday approved the immediate suspension of the Baale of Shangisha in Magodo, Chief Yusuf Ogundare for faking his kidnap which allegedly took place on July 5 along Center for Management Development (CMD) Road in Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of the State – southwest Nigeria.
In a memo with reference number OLGAS.83/S./Vol.1 dated July 13, 2017 addressed to the Sole Administrator of Ikosi-Isheri LCDA and signed by the State’s Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Hon Teslim Folami, Governor Ambode directed Ogundare to stop parading himself henceforth as the Baale of the community till further notice.
According to the memo, Folami said: “I am directed to convey the approval of His Excellency, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of the suspension of Chief Yusuf Ogundare, Baale of Shangisha with immediate effect in accordance with Section 38 subsection 1 of the Obas and Chiefs Laws of Lagos State which states that “the Governor may suspend or depose any Oba or chief whether appointed or after commencement of this law, if he is satisfied that such suspension of disposition is required according to customary law or is necessary in the interest of peace and good government.
“You are to communicate the decision to the chieftain to stop parading himself as Baale of Shangisha with immediate effect,” Folami said.
Spokesperson of Governor Ambode, Habib Aruna, in a statement noted that Ogundare’s suspension was approved by the Governor moments after the Lagos State Police Command paraded him alongside his younger brother, Mohammed Adams for conspiring to fake the alleged kidnap. Adams, on the fateful day, reported the alleged kidnap incidence to the police.
Speaking while parading the two suspects, the State’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni said the Command on July 5 received the report of Ogundare’s alleged kidnap, and immediately swung into action in collaboration with other security agencies especially the Department of State Service (DSS).
Owoseni said luck however ran out on Ogundare when he was apprehended by men of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Alausa area of the State on July 11 after he was dropped in a suspicious manner by a car which sped off immediately.
Giving details of how Ogundare was apprehended, Owoseni said: “On July 11 at about 10pm, a team of RRS patrol officers working around Alausa had sighted a vehicle drop a male adult in a suspicious manner close by Shoprite along the Secretariat road. The speed with which that car drove off attracted them to that spot and fortunately before they got to the spot, the car had taken off and a quick enquiry revealed that it was the Baale that was allegedly kidnapped.
“Immediately after while Ogundare was being debriefed, he sold a dummy that the kidnappers dropped him off but unknowingly to him, it had been found out that on the 5th of July, the day he was allegedly kidnapped in Lagos, investigation had revealed that he was driving around in Ibadan around Ashi; he went to Ilorin, he went to Iwo, he was just on a frolic.
“And unknowingly to him as well that because of information that had gotten to security services that his younger brother and his wife were being questioned and were actually in custody because of some discrepancies that were noticed in the interaction they had with security agencies, and in furtherance of the synergy existing between the Police and DSS, we jointly compared notes and our findings were such that the act of the chief was despicable and amounted to crying wolf where there is none,” Owoseni said.
He said while making reports, Adams had told security agencies that he was with the Baale at CMD Hotel when some people who claimed they wanted to buy land whisked them away and later dropped him, but investigation revealed that he (Adams) was not at any time in the hotel with the Baale but was only at the restaurant of the hotel, and after some minutes, he left, and the wife of the Baale actually drove the Venza car allegedly used to abduct the supposed victim into the hotel. The CP added that after the suspects were confronted with the indisputable facts, they had no choice than to confess faking the kidnap.
The CP said immediately after Ogundare was allegedly kidnapped, Adams went to the community and called the town crier to order the whole community to close shops and markets should not open, an action aimed at inciting members of the community against the State Government. He said the objective of the suspects was to falsely accuse the Oba of Shangisha as the brain behind the kidnapping, which they indeed did, as a vengeance to him being installed the Oba instead of Ogundare, and also embarrassed the State Government and as well as security agencies for arresting him (Ogundare) when he falsely displayed the plate number of Oba of Shangisha on his car.
Also speaking, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem also demanded the unconditional release of the six children kidnapped from Igbonla Model College since May 25. He said it was disheartening that while the State Government and security agencies were working round the clock to secure the release of the children, some unscrupulous persons deemed it fit to raise false alarm.
He said it was situations as this that prompted the Governor to sign the Anti-Kidnapping bill into law, assuring that the Government would not hesitate to prosecute anyone who runs fowl of the law. He said just as the law prescribes life imprisonment for kidnapping in the State, same also applies for any person who fakes their own kidnap. “Nothing can be more despicable and heinous than to raise false alarm where there is none. This is even more despicable when we consider the plight of these children that were recently kidnapped and are still being held by the kidnappers.
“Let me sound a very serious note of warning that we have zero tolerance for crimes against the State. No matter how high or low you may be in the society, you can be assured that we will bring you to justice if you commit a crime,” Kazeem stressed.
The Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Board (CDFIPB), under the chairmanship of the Minister of Interior, Lt Gen. (Rtd) Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau, have approved the regularization of the dichotomy between holders of University degrees and Higher National Diploma (HND) in all the Services.
A statement by the Board’s Permanent Secretary, Engr Abubakar G. Magaji, noted that the decision was reached at the end of its meeting held on Tuesday, 11th July 2017.
To this end, the Board directed that all officers with HND to be upgraded to COMPASS 08, which is the salary Grade Level for holders of Degree certificates at entry point. While the nomenclature for the HND holders will start with the Rank of Senior Inspector, the Degree holders are with the rank of Assistant Superintendent II.
The Board also approved the commencement of the Year 2017 Promotion Exercise for all the Services with effect from 17th July, 2017.
In order to boost internal security mechanism, the Board accordingly approved the establishment of the Institute of Domestic Security aimed at strengthening Inter-Agency cooperation, among other functions.
In another development, the Federal Government has approved the re-organization of the Nigeria Immigration Service in line with the provision of Immigration Act, which stipulates the establishment of Directorate of Immigration. The Directorates, each to be headed by Deputy Comptroller-General, are as follows: Human Resources Management, Finance and Accounts, Planning, Research and Statistics, Passport and Other Travel Documents, Investigation and Compliance, Border Management, Migration, Visa and Residency.
The statement further quoted the Interior Minister to have stated that the Government of President Muhammadu Buhari places high premium on the welfare of its workforce and hopes that officers and men in the Services will reciprocate this gesture through improved performance and dedication to duty, in line with the Executive Order on the Ease of Doing Business, so as to revamp the economy.
Gombe (Nigeria) — Gombe State Government in northern Nigeria has shunned a faith based organisation, United Nigerian Chaplaincy, organisers of a rally, calling for the unity of Nigeria.
