Friday, March 10, 2023 Edition

Lagos State Staff Bus that crashed into a moving train at Ikeja in Lagos, yesterday.

Gbajabiamila mourns victims of Lagos train accident

By Christiana Ekpa

The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has described

as regrettable the accident involving a train and a BRT bus in Ikeja, Lagos.

The speaker, who said the accident was avoidable, expressed

grief that innocent lives of people going about their legitimate business were lost during the incident.

He sent his condolences to the families of the victims, the people

and Government of Lagos State over the incident.

He prayed for the repose of the souls of those that lost their lives and quick recovery for the injured.

Transformation in education will help Tinubu meet electorate’s hope —Abubakre

Prof. Razaq Abubakre, a former Vice-Chancellor of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, has urged Nigeria’s President – elect, Sen. Bola Tinubu to transform the country through educational development.

Abubakre, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja said this would help Tinubu meet the hope of the electorate.

He said that education is one of the most critical areas the president-elect urgently needs to address.

“There is an urgent need for a major overhaul and revamp of the education sector in Nigeria.

“While UNESCO has advised that 26 per cent of a nation’s budget should be spent on education, a more critical focus for the incoming government should be innovative, strategic and prudent in utilisation of whatever resource is allocated to the sector.

“The resources that are allocated should be judiciously invested in ventures that will spur exponential return on investment that will assure financial independence and forestall perennial and avoidable

industrial action,” Abubakre said.

The Professor Emeritus said that an inclusive education system that supports more citizens taking part in learning will reduce; out-of-school children syndrome and stem crime as well as terrorism.

Abubakre said education should be the bedrock of sustainable and high levels of growth in Nigeria by developing essential and modern skill sets that address societies’ needs globally.

“The next government should revamp the secondary and tertiary education curricula to enhance entrepreneurial and technological skillsets.

“Institutions must ensure that competencies such as virtual and augmented reality, the internet of things, quantum computing, blockchain technology and programming should be at the core of every degree.

“For example, as is the case at Cambridge, MIT and Harvard, Nigerian universities could explore having resident entrepreneurs (successful owners of businesses who are volunteers) who will serve as mentors to students and help

commercialise ideas,” he said.

Abubakre said that having technology and entrepreneurship as the backbone of her education could be a source of comparative and competitive advantage regionally and globally for Nigeria.

He observed that, many global multinational companies are outsourcing and offshoring their services today.

Abubakre said the nation could thus be the technology hub, where Nigerian technology businesses in; fintech, software development, customer relationship management and entertainment could be better integrated into the global value chain.

“Successful transformation of the educational sector in partnership with the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry off Science and Technology will unleash a myriad of opportunities for the nation.

“A fit-for-purpose educational system will spur quality jobs, increase citizens’ earnings and encourage a national culture of lifelong learning, improve life expectancy, enhance well-being, and boost Nigerians’ standard of living and quality of life,” he said.

On the integrity of the February 25 Presidential elections, he said there has been widespread debate about its transparency and many have focused on technology.

“While I empathise with those whose candidates lost and those who raised concerns about the glitches, I wish to emphasise that while one is not justifying these errors, these technology bugs happen even in bigger multi-billion dollar projects.

“For example, the Obama care website in the USA crashed when it was first launched, the internet behemoth Google was down on the 16th of October, 2022, and Twitter was down some days ago.

“Though this Presidential and National Assembly election had some skirmishes, it is arguably one of the most transparent elections since the return to democracy of Nigeria,” Abubakre said.

He said the election was almost devoid of cash inducement, and the people’s will appeared to be respected, with significant upsets in Katsina, Lagos, Kaduna and Nasarawa, which has the ruling party in control of these states.

President Muhammadu Buhari receives in audience Gubernatorial Candidate for Kano State Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna APC in Daura on Wednesday.

Abia ADP Deputy Guber Candidate, supporters join LP

The Deputy Governorship Candidate of the African Democratic Party in Abia, Mrs Ifeoma Okoya-Thomas, says she has dumped the party for Labour Party.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Okoya-Thomas disclosed this during an interactive session with newsmen in Umuahia on Wednesday.

She said that she decided to declare for LP because the party would provide her the platform to actualise her vision to contribute towards the development of the state.

She further said that she had realised that she shared the same philosophy and vision with the LP’s Governorship Candidate, Dr Alex

IWD: Women town planners seek gender equity, girl-child education

The Association of Women Town Planners in Nigeria (AWTPN), has called for gender equity and focus on girl-child education as the nation celebrates the 2023 International Women’s Day celebration.

Mrs Bukola Bello, AWTPN Chairperson, made the call on Wednesday, in Abuja at an event by the association to commemorate the Day.

“This year’s International Women’s Day presents an opportunity to celebrate, discuss and embrace Equity: ‘equal opportunities are no longer enough but Equity should be the order of the day’.

“There is also the need to engage more women in governance and administrations as well as to empower and invest in the girl-child with a view to achieving equality and equity in all directions for a better society,” she said.

Bello specifically called for the implementation of the 35 per cent affirmative action for gender inclusion in all states and the Federation.

She said the association would continue to lead the campaign of catching the girl-child young through frequent sensitisation programmes in secondary schools.

Earlier, Mrs Oluwayinka Bello, Chairperson AWTPN, FCT chapter, said the Day was meant to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women to nation building.

“This celebration (marked on March 8) is another call to power on efforts to make the digital world safer, more inclusive, more equitable and create a better future not just for women and girls but for all humanity,” she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the International Women’s Day is celebrated annually on March 8 in honour of women’s achievements, raises awareness about discrimination and takes action to drive gender parity.

Otti, to liberate Abia people from many years of sufferings, due to bad governance.

“I have chosen at this time, to declare for LP and the person of Otti, because we have the same vision to change the narrative of Abia.

“I discover we have a similar vision, which is to propagate the cause of Abia.

“I had the vision and I want to be part of the mission to liberate the state and its people and also fix its infrastructure.

“The mission is, for once, let

people experience and get the dividend of democracy and become partakers in what belongs to Abia, not what we have gone through in the last couple of years,” she said.

Okoya-Thomas further said that Abia people had suffered tremendously in all spheres because the state had been in the hands of inept and incompetent leaders.

According to her, Abia people are not happy and our state seems to be the most backward in the country.

“Things are really bad for our people and they want a change.

“I know that with Otti at the helm of affairs, Abia will have that positive change,” Okoya-Thomas said.

She said that she had always had high regards for Otti, even though they never met, because she considered him a technocrat, rather than politician.

She further explained that having assessed other governorship candidates, she decided to declare support for Otti because he had demonstrated that he possessed the capacity and competence to transform the state.

Okoya-Thomas said: “He has proven his mettle, having successfully run large establishments that are still strong and doing well.

“With his pedigree and achievements in the private sector, I am confident that he has the competence that Abia needs to move forward and compete favourably with other states of the federation.”

She said that she was joining LP along with her political structure and teeming supporters in different parts of the state.

CEDE tasks INEC on Governorship, Houses of Assembly Poll

Chen Education and Development Empowerment (CEDE),a Non- Governmental Organisation has tasked INEC to ensure that Saturday’s Governorship and Houses of Assembly Election is hitch-free.

Ms Cynthia Anaele, the Executive Director, CEDE, said this in Abuja at a news conference when she presented findings on the Feb. 25 Presidential and National Assembly election.

Anaele said that INEC must address all loopholes and challenges experienced at the Feb. 25 Presidential and National Assembly election.

“At CEDE, we are confident that democracy still remains the best option for governance, therefore the democratic process should not only be transparent, but should be seen to be transparent.

“We call on INEC to investigate the various infractions in the cause of the presidential election and where anybody is found to be culpable, he should be prosecuted.

“Knowing that the integrity of any electoral system is critical to the legitimacy of any government that emerges from it, going forward, INEC must do more to ensure that the governorship and States Houses of Assembly election is free, fair, credible, and transparent.

“INEC must quickly fix the challenges that led to its inability to upload all results to its iRev portal as it promised Nigerians.”

Anaele appealed to politicians to desist from utterances and actions that would further fuel the palpable tension across the country.

She said that CEDE was an organisation focused on

empowering young people and underserved communities with quality education, entrepreneurial skills, various sector focused issues enlightenment and general well-being .

She added that the organisation supported and helped them actualise their potential and champion sustainable development in the society.

”Hence our interest and commitment to see that credible electoral processes and good governance is institutionalised in Nigeria.

“We understand that there is a huge gap in the educational sector in Nigeria, thus we are dedicated to transforming young people who are the future leaders. “

Anaele said that CEDE also advocated for quality education ,scholarship support, creation of safe learning spaces, and

educating citizens by creating awareness on various sector issues in Nigeria through an easy to understand approach.

She said that to achieve this, CEDE was open to collaborations with the government, private sector, individuals, civil society organisations and other developmental agencies who were devoted to social reformation.

“Our mission is to empower young people with knowledge and skills to actualize their potentials and lead development in Nigeria while we envision young people as key sustainable development drivers.”

Anaele said that CEDE was ready to partner with the media and other organisations to achieve its objectives and make Nigeria a country that would be a pride to citizens.(NAN)

L-R: The Founder / CEO, I Create Africa, Mr. Bright Jaja, Operations Associate, Gabadan properties Ltd, QS Fatima Ibrahim, Partner at I create Africa / Chair Admissions Nigerian Institute of Architects Abuja Chapter, Arc. Zulaiha J Baba Girei and the General Manager IL Bagno Black Pelican Ltd, , Princess Kay- Olufade, during the events for women in construction industry in commemoration of the 2023 international women’s day celebration, Organise by I Create Africa conjunction with the ILBagno, held yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-owo

I’ll give agriculture top priority – Umaru, Reps member-

elect

Mr Jeremiah Umaru, the House of Representatives Member-elect for Wamba/Akwanga/Nasarawa Eggon Federal Constituency of Nasarawa State, says he will give top priority to agriculture in his constituency.

He gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, on Thursday.

Umaru of the All Progressives Congress (APC) stated this after he received his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He said, “Nasarawa State and by extension, Wamba/ Akwanga/Nasarawa Eggon Federal Constituency is endowed with natural resources which l will explore for the economic development of the zone.

“Nasarawa state is an agrarian society. We will encourage farmers and young ones to go into farming.

“My desire is to lobby to see how farmers and the youths will get grants to support them in farming activities basically.

“We will also encourage our farmers and even the young people to go into mechanised farming and of course train the farmers and upport them in terms of seedlings and fertilisers.”

The incoming lawmaker also said that he would ensure youths in his constituency are empowered through skills acquisition to reduce over-expectation from white collar jobs.

“In terms of human capital development, I will lobby for federal presence,” Umaru said.

He further said that among his other priorities would be to empower women economically.

“For the women, my desire is to see that we empower them as well because we have so many women in our zone who are trying their best to sustain their families with little resources,” he said.

NAN reports that Umaru during the Feb. 25 National Assembly Elections, defeated the incumbent member representing the constituency, Alhaji Abdulkarim Usman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Umaru scored 38, 430 votes to defeat Usman who got 19, 681 votes.(NAN)

March 18 election: Court grants two voters use of Temporary Voters Card

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

Justice Obiora Egwuatu of a Federal High Court, Abuja, has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to allow two voters to use Temporary Voter Cards (TVCs) in the March 18 governorship and state houses of assembly elections.

The court made the order in its judgement in a suit filed by two aggrieved Nigerians seeking the use of TVCs in the general elections in the absence of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

Justice Egwuatu said that the order was made on the grounds that the plaintiffs were duly registered and captured in INEC’s database.

“An order is made compelling the defendant (INEC) to allow the plaintiffs to vote using their Temporary Voter Cards issued by the defendant, the plaintiffs

having been duly captured in the National Register of Voter’s database.

“A declaration is made by this court that the plaintiffs, having fulfilled all necessary legal requirements to register and having consequently been captured in the defendant’s (INEC’s) central database and manual, printed paper-based record or hard copy format of the defendant’s maintained Register of Voters, the plaintiffs are entitled to vote using their Temporary Voter Cards in the forthcoming 2023 General Election,” the judge said.

The judge, however, said that he was unable to grant prayer three which was to allow every eligible voter with a TVC to vote because the suit was not filed in a representative capacity.

This suit having not been brought in a representative capacity, I find myself unable

to grant any relief pursuant to prayer three of the plaintiffs’ application.”

The court held that there was no portion of the law, both the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act that states that it is only PVCs that could be used, but that the law under Section 47 provided for a voter’s card.

Speaking to journalists, the counsel to the plaintiffs, Victor Opatola, said that the judgment was a win for all Nigerians who suffered to get registered to vote, were duly registered but due to no fault of theirs could not get their PVCs before the election.

According to Mr Opatola, since my clients had fulfilled all necessary requirements by law but were not issued their PVCs until the time for collection of PVCs was over, they should not be allowed to suffer.

He maintained that it was the law of equity that what applied to

the goose should also apply to the gander.

“So what the court is saying is that these two people who have fulfilled all necessary requirements can vote with their TVCs, then by law of equity, it should also apply to all Nigerians who have fulfilled all necessary requirements and were issued TVCs by INEC.”

He maintained that this should be so because the content of the TVC was the same as the content of the PVC and the only difference was the plastic used for the PVC.

The judgment, having been delivered, is binding on INEC and enforceable barring any appeal.

Recall that INEC had repeatedly held that only eligible voters with PVCs would be allowed to vote in the 2023 presidential, governorship and parliamentary elections.

NYSC boss inaugurates think thank committee on policy trust

By Albert Akota

The Director General of National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General YD Ahmed has promised his readiness to take the scheme to enviable heights with innovations.

He reiterated this while

inaugurating a 13-man think tank committee that would drive the actualisation of his 5-points policy thrust.

Ahmed charged members of the committee to work in conjunction with all the departments at the National Directorate Headquarters, Abuja, the NYSC

Area Offices and other structures of the Scheme and also liaise with various NYSC stakeholders towards actualization of the policy thrust mandate.

“I expect you to review the previous achievements and challenges of the Scheme and come up modalities to improve on

them”, he said.

The Committee Chairman, Mr Omotade Ayodele, who is also the Director, Corps Welfare and Health Services in his response promised that the committee would do everything possible to achieve the Director General’s policy thrust.

Executive Director, Speak Out Africa Initiative, Engr. Kenneth Ezeh (middle) flanked by Members of the Initiatives, Esther Ogbomo (left) and Oluchi Alphonsus (right), during the Initiatives Media briefing on the Gubernatorial / States Assembly Elections and the unveiling of the Nigeria Vote beat Survey, held yesterday in Àbuja. Photo; Justin Imo-owo

2 travel agents bag 4 years in jail each for visa fraud

Two travel agents, Clement Ekhueorohan, 30, and Courage Chinonso, 38, were on Thursday sentenced to four years imprisonment each by a Kaduna Chief Magistrates’ Court for visa fraud.

The duo, both residents of Kabala Coastain, Kaduna, were charged with conspiracy, fraud and theft.

Delivering judgment, Magistrate Ibrahim Emmanuel held that both Ekhurorohan and Chinoso were guilty of defrauding Philip Adetutu and five other victims of N11. 6 million.

The magistrate did not give the convicts an option of fine.

He also ordered the convicts to restitute N2.1million each as compensation to the victims.

Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Insp. Chidi Leo, told the court that the convicts between March and Oct. 2022, in Ungwan Rimi area of Kaduna, obtained N2.1million each from Adetutu and 5 other victims to procure a French, Australian and Malta visa/ tickets for them.

Leo said that after fraudulently collecting the money from the victims, the duo failed to fulfil their own part of the bargain and all efforts made to collect the money from them failed.

The offence, he said, contravened the Penal Code of Kaduna State, 2017. (NAN)

Troops destroy makeshift camps, rescue 9 adult females, 5 children in Borno

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

The Nigerian Military said its troops destroyed makeshift camps and rescued nine adult females and five children during operations in Borno state.

Maj-Gen. Musa Danmadami, Director, Defence Media Operations, made this known on Thursday in Abuja, while giving update on two weeks Military

operations in the country.

He added that the troops also while acting on credible intelligence, on ambush position apprehended a Boko Haram Terrorists commander alongside his wife and 4 children at Gwoza town in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.

“Troops recovered 2 AK47 rifles loaded with 12 rounds of refilled 7.62mm special ammunition, one bandolier, 10

rounds of fabricated 7.62mm ammunition, 7 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition and one mobile phone.

“Also, on 3 March 2023, troops conducted fighting patrol to terrorists enclaves in Afnori and Mallam Fatori general area in Abadam Local Government Area of Borno State, but made no contact with the terrorists. Troops exploited area and recovered 4 AK 47 rifle magazine

containing 102 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 1 LMG and 1 LMG link containing 111 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition.

“Equally, between 23 February - 8 March 2023, troops ambushed Boko Haram Terrorists as well as intercepted terrorists logistics suppliers in villages within Marte, Konduga, Bama, Biu, Monguno and Gwoza Local Government Areas of Borno State.”

IWD 2023: Women are getting more opportunities in sports, Dare says

Sunday Dare, the Minister of Sports and Youth Development, on Wednesday in Abuja said women in Nigeria are getting more opportunities in sports.

Dare said this during an event to celebrate the 2023 International Women’s Day (IWD), organised by the Fame Foundation, a nongovernmental organisation

(NGO). He said the narrative has since changed as it concerns women and opportunities in sports.

“First, let me congratulate all Nigerian women and young girls on the event of the IWD.

“This day that is set apart by global international organisations to recognise women validates the fact that women have moved

up the ladder when it comes to different endeavours in life.

“More so, when it comes to sports, there is no longer any class ceiling and Nigeria is a good case. We went to the Olympics, the two people that brought us medals are female.

“The same was at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Ninety percent of

the medals were won by our young girls who went there.

“So, I think that the narrative has since changed. You must pay attention to the women and I think that they are getting a better share.

“They’re getting better opportunities. The doors are opening for them. We just need more women and young girls to

walk through that door,” Dare added.

The Minister, however, lauded Fame Foundation for organising the annual football tournament and called on more well-meaning Nigerians and organisations to replicate same for the empowerment of women.

This year’s edition of IWD is tagged “Embrace Equity”.(NAN)

R-L: The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Interior, Dr Shuaib Belgore presenting souveiner to the Leader of the United Arab Emirates National Defence College, Mr Maheli Alan Babi during their courtesy visit to the Ministry of Interior, yesterday in Abuja .

Photo: Min. of Interior

A/Ibom APC Guber: Court orders INEC to publish Akan Udofia’s name

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

AFederal High Court sitting in Abuja has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish the name and particulars of Obong Akan Udofia as the Candidate of the All Progressives Congress(APC) for the March 18th Governorship election in Akwa Ibom State.

Udofia is through his Counsel, Emeka Etiaba SAN prayed the court to compel INEC to publish Akan Udofia’s name as the candidate of the party.

In his ruling, Justice James Kolawole Omotosho held that the application was justiciable

2023 IWD: Gender equality necessary for devt, says human rights boss

By Albert Akota

The Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Chief Tony Ojukwu, has again harped on the imperatives of gender equality, saying that it holds the key to all-round development in every facet of the society.

Ojukwu who stated this on the eve of the 2023 IWD celebration, pointed out that it is high time the issue of gender equality and gender inclusiveness defined the way l society is governed.

According to him, gender discrimination usually comes with a lot of denials to the detriment of the society as women with great talents and potentials are neglected merely on the basis of gender.

and expeditiously granted the application.

The court further ruled that the case of the Applicant succeeds and he is entitled to have his name listed as Governorship Candidate

of the APC in the upcoming Gubernatorial elections in Akwa Ibom State.

Consequently, he granted an order of mandamus compelling the commission to list Akan

Udofia’s name accordingly.

It will be recalled that the Supreme Court had on 7th March 2023 delivered a judgement dismissing the appeal of Mr. Ita Enang and upheld the January

19th, 2023 Judgement of the Court of Appeal which affirmed Obong Akan Udofia as the duly nominated Governorship Candidate of the APC in Akwa Ibom State.

Polls: Dogara endorses APC’s Sadiq Abubakar for Bauchi guber

From Ahmad Muhammad, Bauchi

The immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon Yakubu Dogara has endorsed the Air Marshall Sadiq Baba Abubakar (rtd) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for next week’s governoship election in Bauchi State.

The former Speaker is a member of the People’s Democratic Party and member of the Presidential Campaign Council of the party’s presidential

candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

In 2019, he helped mobilised and led a coalition of political parties and interest groups in Bauchi which ousted former governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar and installed Senator Bala Mohammed in 2019. However, shortly after the elections governor Bala Mohammed reneged on all political agreements he entered into before the election and declared political war on prominent citizens of the state who opposed his style of governance including Dogara

and an elderstatesman Alhaji Bello Kirfi, who was a minister in the second Republic under president Shehu Shagari.

Dogara had accused Mohammed of corruption including non-payment of salaries of teachers and civil servants.

The former Speaker led a campaign team of Air Marshall Sadiq Baba Abubakar across some Bauchi local governments including Kirfi and Alkaleri where Governor Bala Mohammed came from.

Speaking to a mammoth

crowd of supporters in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State , Dogara urged the people to toe the path of honour by voting out Bala Mohammed from office.

“We came to tell you the truth, that we need to effect a change of leadership in Bauchi State.

“I came here to enlighten you that even though your son (Governor Mohammed) is there but since he is not doing well we should change him. I urge you all to cast your vote for Air Marshall Sadiq Abubakar on Saturday.”

L-R: Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Barr Bayo Lawal; Governor Seyi Makinde; Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Williams and Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Olubamiwo Adeosun during the commissioning of newly built Ojoo Divisional Police Headquarters and Presentation of 74 Patrol vehicle to Divisional Police Headquarters in Oyo State by Governor Makinde held at Ojoo, Ibadan, yesterday.

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Kaduna State, Deputy Governor-Dr Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe has empowered one thousand and twenty women from the 255 political wards of the state.

Speaking at the Women Engagement and Empowerment Programme (WEEP) that took place at the Yar’adu Hall of Mohammed Murtala Square yesterday, Dr Hadiza said she was motivated to donate the items in order to empower women who are actively involved in politics to enable them gain financial freedom and make them self reliant.

She urged them not to sell the items but put them to use to support themselves and their families.

Among the beneficiaries are women with disabilities who were given deep freezers each.

Kaduna deputy governor empower 1020 women Bilbis wants INEC to declare him winner of Zamfara central senatorial election

From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

Former Minister of Information, Aliyu Ikra Bilbis who contested the position of Senate on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on INEC to without further delay declare him winner of the last Senatorial election.

In a press conference, Ikra Bilbis alleged that, the result was deliberately twisted by the INEC Collation Officer identified as Professor Ahmad Galadima who declared the election inconclusive despite he scored a total of 93,120 votes against other contestants.

According Bilbis, in a press release, the Collation Officer declared that, 74 polling units from 19 registration areas with a total of 43,881 collected PVCs as affected and the supplementary election would be conducted on specified date which would be communicated by the Commission.

He further challenged that, “According to the Collation Officer, the supplementary election is for the polling units where election could not hold as a result of bandits activities and over voting.

“It is worthy to note that, prior to the election, it was unanimously agreed by the stakeholders including Electoral Officers in some units of the senatorial districts that elections would not possibly be conducted in the affected areas because of the lingering insecurity bedevilling the areas for than 2 years.”

Court remands 2 men for allegedly killing 2 brothers

An Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court, Ibadan on Thursday ordered that two men, Tedon Abdulraman, 30 and Umoru Amodu, 30, be remanded in a correctional centre for allegedly killing two brothers.

The duo whose residential addresses were not provided were charged with conspiracy,

murder and attempt to murder.

The Magistrate, Mrs O. A Enilolobo did not take the plea of the defendants for want in jurisdiction.

She directed the police to return the case file to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice.

She adjourned the case until May 8 for mention.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp. Toyin Ibraheem told the court that the defendants allegedly committed the offence on Feb. 3, at about 11. 00 a.m, at Iwere-Ile district, Ibadan.

Ibraheem alleged that the duo unlawfully killed Shuaibu Usman and his brother, Sheu Usman by shooting them.

He alleged that the

defendants and others at large on the same date, time and place attempted to kill Sani Usman, 35 and Haruna Sani, 30, by shooting them on the right leg and wrist.

He said the offences contravened Sections 516, 319 and 320 of the Criminal laws of Oyo State, 2000.

(NAN)

Envoy seek ways to boost Nigeria-Bangladesh bilateral trade

Mr Masudur Rahman, Bangladesh High Commissioner to Nigeria has called for more comprehensive ways to boost the growing trade relations between Nigeria and Bangladesh.

Rahman made the call on Thursday in Abuja in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said the trade volume between both countries currently stands at about $70 million dollars with prospects of solidifying and tapping into other areas of mutual interest.

“The bilateral trade between Nigeria and Bangladesh currently stands at a modest $70 million dollars, with Bangladesh only contributing $20 million as

export to Nigeria.

“Previously the bilateral trade was even much insignificant but it is picking up, “So we are working on all fronts to deepen the bilateral cooperation in the areas of education, technical training exchanges, pharmaceuticals, ICT, software, textile/garments, and so on,” he said.

The envoy said Bangladesh was willing to deepen trade with Nigeria in the Oil/gas sector and agricultural sector with products like cotton, soya beans, ginger, millet, etc.

He, however, stressed the need to smoothen all bottlenecks associated with international trade and banking, especially in Nigeria, so as to have more

seamless trade and investment.

“There are a lot of challenges in deepening the trade and investment, particularly in the way the banking sector could work to enhance the trading.

“In order to improve international trade, it is important for both countries to smoothen the transactions which are used through Letters of Credit opening and other banking tools.

“We also need to work on the areas of smooth handling, of course, of the goods and products and services that are offered,” he said.

The high commissioner said Bangladesh was looking forward to engaging more with Nigeria in areas like textile/garments,

pharmaceuticals, and software which Bangladesh exports to the tune of $1.4 billion dollars.

Rahman recalled that Prof. Isa Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy had in January led a 17-member delegation to Bangladesh to deepen bilateral cooperation between both countries.

He, therefore, advocated for more such engagements which were facilitated by the Nigeria-Bangladesh Business and Technology Forum.

He said the high commission would continue to work with relevant stakeholders to strengthen the cordial bilateral relations between both strategic countries. (NAN)

R-L: National Deputy Chairman, Inter- Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Barr. Maxwell Mgbudem, National Chairman IPAC, Engr. GY Sani, National Secretary Booth Party, Maryann Patrick, National Chairman, Allied Peoples Movement Alh.Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, National Chairman NRM, Amb. Issac Chigozie Udeh, National Chairman Zenith Labour Party, Chief Dan Iwuanyanwu and other IPAC excos during IPAC media briefing on the 2023 elections,. yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-owo

Geriatrician urges FG to make hearing aid affordable to older persons

Dr Ogugua Osi-ogbu, a Consultant, Geriatrician and Head, Geriatric Unit, National Hospital, Abuja, has called on the Federal Government to make hearing aids affordable to the older persons in the country.

Osi-ogbu, who is the Co-chair 1, National Senior Citizens Centre, FCT Stakeholders Consultative Forum, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Thursday in Abuja.

She said that wax impaction was one of the commonest causes of hearing loss or impairment in older adults.

Osi-ogbu also said that hearing loss was one of the risk factors for social isolation, adding that people who suffered from hearing loss condition easily developed depression.

“And we don’t want our older adults to suffer from such condition. That is why we collaborate very closely with the Ears, Noise and Throat (ENT) Doctors team to examine our patients, see the wax impact and deal with it.

“For some of them, that takes care of the problem, but for others, they may have to come to have the dissolved wax stringe and evacuated from the ear canal.

”It is a very simple procedure and hearing is restored after that,” she said.

Osi-ogbu debunked the wrong perception that old age was synonymous with hearing loss, visual impairment, adding that wax impaction could easily be treated, ”but only if the patient goes to the hospital.

She added: ”Everybody has the right to accept healthcare both the young and older adults.

” But in a situation where we look at older people as being entitled to have visual and hearing impairment and as such we don’t give them access to healthcare.

” For example, a woman who has wax impaction at the age of 80, her family might just say she is 80, so she is entitled to hearing loss.

” However, the second commonest thing that we find in our older people that is agerelated is sensorineural hearing loss.”

The geriatrician, therefore, urged people who were developing some impediments with hearing to quickly visit the ENT clinic for audiometric test to find out the severity of the hearing loss.

She said; “And there are those we can actually help with the use

Lagos train accident: Minister orders NSIB to commence immediate investigation

By Albert Akota

The Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika has directed the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau experts to commence immediate investigation into the accident on the train and a bus conveying workers to their

work places in Lagos yesterday morning.

Describing the accident as unfortunate, Sirika assured the public of the capacity of the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the accident and proffer ways of preventing such in the

future.

He solicited the cooperation of members of the public as investigation by the NSIB team commences.

He commiserated with the government and people of Lagos state, especially those who have lost their loved ones, on the sad event,

and prayed for the quick recovery of those injured in the accident.

According to reports, two persons were confirmed killed while many sustained various degrees of injuries when a moving train rammed into a BRT bus at the PWD bus stop in the Ikeja area of Lagos state yesterday morning.

Atunluse inaugurates 18 LG coordinators in Ondo

Asocio cultural organisation, Atunluse Initiative, has inaugurated local government coordinators across the 18 LGAs of Ondo State.

This is as the Chairman of the Organisation, Otunba Akinsola Akinbobola, charged coordinators and members of the organisation to dream big ahead of the coming projects.

Akinbobola stated this on Thursday in Akure, during the inauguration of the coordinators.

He explained that the inauguration would have taken place in the last quarter of 2022 but was postponed till after the general elections.

Akinbobola, who was a former Special Adviser on Political and Mobilisation to the immediate past Governor of Ondo State,

Dr Olusegun Mimiko, urged the coordinators to see the task ahead as a personal assignment and a test of their capacity.

He said that the task ahead was beyond the current political schemes, saying “with hard work and prayers, it’s achievable “.

“Let us dream big and work towards achieving the dream in line with the mission and vision of Atunluse Initiatives.”

“Our mission is to ensure a better life for everybody, a society where affordable and quality education, good health care, good roads, constant electricity with safety of life and property will be available for all.

“It’s important for you to take into cognisance that while you’re building Atunluse, you are also building yourself through the big

Atunluse platform,” he said.

Also, the Director General of the Organisation, Elder Sikiru Adetona, while congratulating the coordinators, charged them to be hard working and remain focused in the face of challenges.

“See yourselves as God chosen and endeavour not to disappoint yourselves and the organisation; you are our ambassador in your respective local government areas; I therefore urge you to work assiduously to achieve the set goals.

“Many are called, but few are chosen; once again, I congratulate you all for being among the few that were chosen,” he said.

The Co-ordinator of Atunluse Initiatives, Mr Shalom Olaseni, enjoined others to spread the gospel of Atunluse Initiatives in

every nook and cranny of the state.

Olaseni urged them not to hesitate in contacting and intimating him periodically on the progress of their assignment.

“I urged you all to work in unity with other grassroots leaders in your local government areas, to make Atunluse great, urging them to do the job like their personal job.

Akure South LG Co-ordinator, Mr Alaba Asekunowo, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, promised to work hard and spread the gospel of Atunluse Initiatives across local governments.

“We are ready to take the organisation to the nooks and crannies and we are also ready to work for ourselves; we will take this responsibility beyond the expectations of the leadership of group,” he said. (NAN)

R-L: Captain CN Buzugbe; director of Governors Rotary Club of Lagos, Rotarian Comfort Ade Babalola; Lt Cdr OA Olajide; president, Rotarian Club of Lagos, Rotarian Joseph O Akhigbe; Commander, Nigerian Navy Defence Hospital, Ojo, Surgeon Captain AS Mohammed; director, Rotary Foundation, Rotarian Uk Eke, MFR; Executive Officer Nigerian, Navy Defence Hospital Ojo, Surgeon Captain VC Igboezue when the Rotary Club of Lagos, District 9110, donated over 100 Mobility in Lagos, yesterday.

Niger APC Chieftain calls for support during state elections

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

The Special Adviser on Political and Strategy and a chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC), Niger state Alhaji Mohammed Nma Kolo has advocated complete support for his party this weekend.

He said that the people in the state should repeat the support given to the party in the presidential and National Assembly election a fortnight ago in this weekend’s governorship and State assembly elections.

The chieftain maintained that for the state and the people to benefit maximally from the support given to APC in the last election and leading to the emergence of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, they should render the same support in this weekend’s election more profoundly.

Nam Kolo said this weekend’s elections will serve as a litmus test for the loyalty of the state to APC despite challenges and a watershed to another beginning.

The Special Adviser urged all stakeholders and supporters of the party to move out and engage with the people for them to mobilize votes for the party in line with laid down rules and democratic principles.

Police confirm one dead, 13 injured in Bauchi shooting

From Ahmad Muhammad, Bauchi

Bauchi State Police Command has confirmed that one person was killed while several others were injured in Duguri, Alkaleri Local Government Area of the state.

Police Public Relations Officer PPRO, SP Ahmed Wakili confirmed the incident.

He said, “APC gubernatorial candidate went out on a rally at about 17.4500hrs, while in Duguri Village, under Yuli-Yin Ward, Alkaleri Local Government Area, violence ensued during the rally

in which 14 people were injured, out of the number, six were taken to Primary Health Care Center in Duguri, they were treated and discharged.”

Wakil said that six people that were treated and discharged,include Suleiman Adamu, Danlami Musa, Kabiru Sani, Rabi, Abdulrasheed

Bala and Tanko Wakilin Pawa, all residents of Duguri Village. These are the six that were taken to the Health Care Center in Duguri.”

He said eight others were seriously injured and referred to the General Hospital, Alkaleri.

Gov Sule promises more projects if reelected

From Gambo Ahmed, Lafia

Nasarawa state Governor Engr Abdullahi Sule has reassured the

people of the state of his commitment to embark on more developmental projects if reelected in the forthcoming polls.

He gave the assurance during a parley with media chiefs and reporters at the government House Lafia on Thursday.

“Leadership is a task given to a person by God. I pledge to fulfil all the initial promises made to the people of the state if reelected”.

Flour Mill begins production in Kebbi

Kebbi State Capital.

The pioneer Flour Mill in Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States has commenced operation in Birnin Kebbi, the

The firm was established by the Kebbi State Government under the able leadership of Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu.

This came to the fore on Thursday when Governor

Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, visited the company at Bulasa industrial zone in Birnin Kebbi to assess its operations.

The governor was taken round various sections of the factory by former Commissioner of

Agriculture, Barrister Attahiru Maccido accompanied by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Joel Aiki and the Chief engineer of the mill, Engr Musa Kudu from Nasarawa State.

President Muhammadu Buhari receives in audience Gubernatorial Candidate for Kano State Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna APC in Daura on Wednesday.

From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi

Polls: Shehu Sani tasks security on free elections

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Aformer lawmaker, that represented Kaduna Central in the upper Chamber, Senator Shehu Sani, has warned security agents in the state to allow free governorship and State House of Assembly elections on in the rescheduled elections.

Sani, a social activist stated this after security agents in the state on Tuesday arrested the Media Director of the Kaduna State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Committee, Hon. Saidu Adamu, who is a former commissioner in the state.

According to Senator Sani, the security agents also arrested two other youth leaders identified as El Abbas Muhammed and Talib Muhammed.

Adamawa govt. denies ban on tricycle operations

From Umar Dankano,Yola

Adamawa state government has denied report that it is contemplating banning commercial tricycle operators from plying the roads in the state.

The development was contained in a press statement issued by press secretary to Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri,Humwashi Wonosikou.

Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri who described the rumouras unfounded and baseless warned mischief makers to desist from peddling dangerous information capable of disrupting the peace of the State.

“The rumours making the rounds that Government intends to ban their operations from Thursday is a figment of some peoples imagination. At no time did the Government contemplated the idea, but the work of mischief makers,” he said.

Governor Fintiri explained that government is worried about the unruly behaviour of some bad elements who have refused to see any good in the actions of the Government, but are bend on

L-R: National Commissioner of INEC in charge of North West, Prof. Abdullahi A. Zuru presenting the certificate of return to a member elect representing Danbatta/ Makoda Federal Constituency of Kano state, Hon. Hamisu Ibrahim Cidari, during the presentation of Certificates of return to member of the National Assembly by INEC, at International Conference Centre, yesterday in Abuja.

HYPPADEC begins building of 160 housing units for affected flood victims in Niger communities

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

Hydro Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) has officially flagged off the construction of 160 detached 2 bedroom flats at the resettlement center of Muregi and Ketso communities in Niger state.

The ground breaking ceremony was held at New Muregi resettlement center in Mokwa local government of the state, and

officials said that the building will have toilet and kitchen, in which Muregi will have allocation of 120 units and Ketso will get 40 housing units respectively.

The Managing Director HYPPADEC, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa expressed concern over the economic and environmental disaster experienced over the years due to perennial flooding that has caused destruction of lives and property in the affected communities.

Sadiq Yelwa noted that the projects would be delivered as planned and in standard within the duration of 3 months period because sufficient funds of 30% will be released in each trenches to ensure completion for occupation by 12 communities, adding that each building will cost N4.8 million each.

Governor Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger state has assured of full support to the HYPPADEC for its interventions in tackling

various challenges facing the affected flooding areas, decried that four years ago about 150 Communities were flooded in Niger state.

Governor Bello who assured to provide the necessary social amenities to the community like water, electricity, schools, urged them to take ownership of the projects to set up a relocation committee immediately after completion to ensure the use of the project.

Navy, NASENI partner on local technology, ship building

The Nigerian Navy and the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop navy’s capacity in ship building and maritime technology.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI, Prof. Mohammad Haruna and the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm.

Auwal Gambo, sealed the deal at Naval Headquarters Abuja, on Wednesday.

Gambo said the MoU was another milestone in the Nigerian Navy’s efforts at strengthening interagency collaboration for enhanced security within the nation’s maritime domain.

The CNS commended NASENI for changing the dynamics of engineering, and facilitating research and development initiatives across sectors in the

country and beyond.

He said that as part of the collaboration, a NASENI team had visited the Naval Dockyard in Lagos to refine the Nigerian Navy’s local shipbuilding, construction and fabrications for the maritime industry.

According to him, the indigenous shipbuilding effort has enhanced the presence of the Nigerian navy at sea which led to significant reduction of piracy.

Gambo said that the efforts had culminated into the delisting of Nigeria from the international list of piracy-prone countries in the world.

“This has ultimately reduced high insurance premium which is known as risk premium, usually factored into shipping costs due to prevalence of piracy incidents around any part of the world.

“These high costs are passed on the consumers, you and I, which enables shipping companies

recoup their losses, as it were.

“Now the good news is that prior to delisting Nigeria from the International Maritime Bureau list of piracy prone countries in March last year, the insurance premium has been reduced from $5,000 to $946.

“I assure you that the Nigerian navy will sustain this feat by the grace of God,” he said.

The Naval chief said the MoU would re-ignite partnership between both organisations in several ways, including research and development for enhanced security.

He added that it would also foster operations and administrative engagements to achieve sustainable blue economy for Nigeria.

Gambo said the sustained efforts and support from the federal government was instrumental to the successes recorded by the Nigerian navy and

thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his unflinching support.

“I wish to assure you that the Nigerian Navy is well positioned to meet the terms of this unprecedented memorandum of understanding and I look forward to a mutually beneficial partnership for the benefit of our great country.

“I therefore, implore both parties, the Nigerian Navy and NASENI to be committed towards the attainment of the objectives of the memorandum of understanding for the good of Nigeria and benefit of Nigerians,” he added.

The Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI, Prof. Mohammad Haruna, said the MoU would help to save foreign exchange and produce what was needed locally to enhance national security.

Haruna commended the Navy for its creativity and ingenuity in developing local capacity.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

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African Union advocates for transformative technology for African women

By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh

But the road remains long and much remains to be done. The African Union concluded the AU Gender Summit, ahead of the just concluded AU Ordinary Assembly of Heads and States and Government. This Gender Pre-Summit made important recommendations, that need to be reinforced though the collective and concrete action. The recommendation called for:

African Union (AU), an organization uniting 55 independent African states, has consistently placed focus on women’s empowerment, supporting their status and fighting for their basic civil rights. African women, in practical tems, remain overwhelmingly important on AU’s agenda and its activity these several years.

Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mousa Faki Mahamat, on the occasion of Women’s Day 2023, has stressed critical ways to bridge the gender digital divide and make women play important roles across Africa.

Mousa Faki Mahamat expressed strong delight that this year’s celebration with all members of the African Union, having launched the implementation Roadmap of the African Women’s Decade on Financial and Economic Inclusion 2020-2030 and its programmatic flagship, the AU Women and Youth Financial and Economic Inclusion 2030 Initiative.

The African Women’s Decade calls for innovative and sustainable solutions towards the empowerment of African women while the Initiative recognizes digitization at the core of the financial inclusion agenda.

In commemorating this year’s March 8, under the theme ‘DigitALL: Innovation and Technology

for Gender Equality – 20 Years of Maputo Protocol’, the theme is aligned with several AUC priorities to maximize e-tech dividends for women as a means to contribute to women’s sustainable development, through increased women and girls’ equal and effective participation in the technology space. The African Union is delighted to join the global community to celebrate the formidable contribution that women have made in Innovation and technological transformation.

In addition, women, especially young women, should be at the core of this digital transformation. This Women’s Day is particularly significant in that 2023 marks important milestones at the continental and global levels in pursuit towards Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE). At the continental level, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, popularly known as the Maputo Protocol;

It is also 60 years since the establishment of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), which gave birth to the African Union. It marks the end of the 1st 10-year Implementation Plan of Agenda 2063, which recognizes Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment as a cross-cutting issue in all its aspirations. Globally, it is the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

But the road remains long and much remains to be done. The African Union concluded the AU Gender Summit, ahead of the just concluded AU Ordinary Assembly of Heads and States and Government. This Gender Pre-Summit made important recommendations, that need to be reinforced though the collective and concrete action. The recommendation called for:

Establishing a network of regional and national

champions to increase the reach and inclusion of women and youth; Leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement to strengthen intra-regional trade; Investing in access to digital financial services for women and youth, especially MSMEs to drive financial inclusion; Collecting disaggregated data by gender and youth to inform policy development and program execution.

It further called for leveraging the education sector by including financial literacy in school curriculum; creating more opportunities for women and youth in governance and leadership positions to ensure representation and inclusive in decisionmaking; creating financial products and services that specifically meet the needs of women and youth, particularly in rural areas and the borderlands.

And finally called for strengthening accountability mechanisms and the need for the ratification of the Maputo protocol; and cascading mechanisms to ensure grassroots movements, CSO and Women’s rights organizations remain at the center of interventions in order to translate macro-level strategies into micro level impact.

AU believes that Innovation and Technology are key accelerators for development on the Continent, and more particularly through the pioneering contributions past and present, made by women in this field. It is, therefore, necessary to look at critical ways to bridge the gender digital divide and make women, particularly young women and girls, as a priority constituency in this developmental sector of the future to achieve Gender Equality in Africa and beyond.

Kestér Kenn Klomegâh is Public Policy Analyst.

Nigeria’s undernourished women and girls

By Kene Obiezu

Aworld without women is simply unthinkable. A world without healthy and thriving women is a world that is as sick as what we have today. With everything women bring to the table, it remains scandalous that they remain vulnerable to everything that goes wrong in a country as poorly planned as Nigeria. A world without women. Who can imagine it?

When poverty is invoked in Nigeria, it is usually to paint a pathetic picture of the way and a manner a country continues to seriously underperform in spite of its prodigious human and natural resources. But beyond the disturbing statistics and the shadows it casts over large swathes of Nigeria, there are people, full-blooded people, for whom poverty is a breathing, heaving and harrowing reality.

Poverty invariably breeds hunger. In fact, constant hunger brought on by cascading food insecurity is one of the most visible signs of poverty. In Nigeria, hunger etches some of its darkest features into girls, women and children. As per a recent report from the United Nations Children Emergency Fund(UNICEF),7.3 women and girls between the ages of 15 to 49 are undernourished from a figure of 5.6 million in 2018.The report also placed Nigeria as one of 12 countries hit hardest by the global food crisis brought on by the Covid-19 crisis and made worse

by the war in Ukraine.

According to the report titled “Undernourished and overlooked: A Global Nutrition Crisis in Adolescent Girls and Women” which was published ahead of the International Women’s Day(IWD) on March 8,gender inequality was deepening the nutrition crisis with severe consequences for their present health and reproductive futures. The report also warned that unless urgent action was taken by the International Community, the impact of this crisis could last for generations to come.

It presents one more problem that women and girls in Nigeria have to contend with even if one chooses to overlook the fact that in 55 percent of adolescent women and girls suffer from anaemia while nearly half of Nigerian women of reproductive age do not consume the recommended diet of at least five out of ten food groups.

If the statistics were just that- cold, hard figures lacking in sympathy- the nightmare begins when one considers how this can impact the children born to such undernourished women and girls in the long run. About 12 million Nigerian children are stunted. Many of them become stunted during pregnancy and during the first 500 days of their life. Left unchecked, the road to a sick and sickly country will be paved with little resistance.

The reason why all well-meaning Nigerians and indeed every well-meaning citizen of the

world must continue to shout from the rooftops for an equal, equitable and peaceful world is that without a world where equality, equity and peace reign supreme, too many things would remain grotesquely and savagely out of place including the lives of many girls, women and the children they bear.

A world without women is simply unthinkable. A world without healthy and thriving women is a world that is as sick as what we have today. With everything women bring to the table, it remains scandalous that they remain vulnerable to everything that goes wrong in a country as poorly planned as Nigeria.

Fixing Nigeria begins from getting everyone involved and excited about the project that Nigeria. Getting everyone involved and excited about the task ahead will not be possible without healthy and willing bodies. Women have been left behind for far too long. Given the critical even if understated roles they play in building families and societies, it is clear that the current trend can simply not be allowed to continue.

In these days when the world celebrates women for all they are and bring, it is imperative to reflect on how every space can be made equal and comfortable for them to thrive . The world will be a much better place for this, and a much worse place without it.

Kene Obiezu can be reached at keneobiezu@ gmail.com

The trekkers of today will snatch our cars tomorrow, period

By ‘Fisayo Soyombo

Iam not one the biggest fans of motorcycle as a means of transportation. I wasn’t always an antagonist; it all started in 2010. My friend was on a bike that collided with a danfo in the Ikorodu area of Lagos. It wouldn’t have been too bad if that was where it ended, but after she tumbled off the bike, an onrushing bus overran her right hip. She was a guest of the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, for several months. Ten years on, her life hasn’t been the same. That leg still isn’t the same. Before that experience I was a frequent user of the motorcycle, but in the 10 years that followed I haven’t ridden it up to 10 times. Still, I do not support this wholesale ban on motorcycle and tricycle operations.

We’ll come back to why later. But first, it must be established that the government has valid concerns about “the menace” of motorcycles and tricycles. The Lagos State government says the proscription was prompted by “scary figures” of fatal accidents recorded from operations of okada and Keke NAPEP between 2016 and 2019”. We’re talking over 10,000 accidents recorded at the general hospitals alone, 600 of which have claimed the lives of their victims. The government is also worried by the use of motorcycle and tricycle as getaway means by criminals. I think we can all agree that these two reasons are legitimate, but do the people deserve this kind punishment?

The ban has abruptly eviscerated the means of livelihood of tens of thousands of Lagosians, mainly the already-poor or semipoor. There are families just getting by before that will now truly struggle to eat three meals daily. With the crowds at bus stops and terminuses these days, Nigerians are technically fighting a bloodshed-less civil war to navigate the otherwise simple task of finding a bus to office. Those who aren’t strong enough for the challenge, or those who aren’t patient enough to wait endless minutes, end up enduring the arduous option of long treks to their office and back home (even at that, not one of them came close to winning the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon on Saturday!). On the bright side, though, the roads seem saner to drive on even if the perennially-heavy Lagos traffic has shown no sign of dissipating.

One very worrying thing about this ban is that it’s a knee-jerk reaction to repeated complaints about accidents and insecurity. It’s no different from the situation in October last year when Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu declared a state of emergency on Lagos roads only after intense complaints on the social-media. Everyone knows Akinwunmi Ambode, the former Governor, stopped working more than a year earlier —from the season it became apparent Bola Tinubu was never going to be placated in his choice of the next governor. Before that sensational emergency declaration, SanwoOlu himself had been governor for five months; unless he’d been flying a chopper all over Lagos, there’s really no reason he ignored the numerous gridlock-causing potholes on Lagos roads, reacting only when the public censure became unbearable. His government has been largely reactive, notoriously uninventive. This okada ban is another example.

If the government genuinely wanted to reduce the injuries, deaths and robberies, there is an important question it should have asked, and answered: Why exactly are Lagosians attracted to motorcycles? Why, despite the deaths and robberies, do they keep flying bikes on highways? Unlocking this is the key to regulating the operations of motorcycles and tricycles.

The answer is traffic — the maddening Lagos traffic that makes multi-car owners abandon their intimidating machines at home and fly bikes to work instead. Solving the traffic conundrum is what Sanwo-Olu should be doing, not the self-confessed “wielding the big stick”.

First, clear the potholes on the roads. To Sanwo-Olu’s credit, there’s been an improvement since late last year. But so much more is yet to be done. There are still many traffic-catalysing portions on Ikorodu Road, for example, and it’s much worse inside, such as on the road leading to Asolo-Isawo from Agric Bus Stop. Keep the roads pothole-free and watch more people ditch bikes for cars and buses. This, it must be said, is the low-hanging fruit.

The permanent cure is the easing of Lagos’s notorious traffic situation via the diversification of transport. The more than 20 million inhabitants of the city are too many for its 999.6km2 land area. Road as the ultimate means of transport is the number one

enabler of bikes; it won’t even support the “greater Lagos journey” Sanwo-Olu says we have embarked on. So a more thoughtful step would have been an ambitious rail project that connects the busiest routes in Lagos. An underground rail line preferably, just like is obtainable in many of the countries Sanwo-Olu and other Nigerian politicians frequent but seem to learn little from. London, the world’s third busiest city in the world, for instance, owes a great deal of its tolerable traffic to its underground train stations. Empty the Nigerian people into the streets of London and I can assure you bikes would naturally have no place. These things can work in Nigeria too, but politicians who’re more interested in stuffing their pockets and securing their political future will never have the bravery, moral presence or financial prudence to actualise them.

Potential investors in Lagos are surely having second thoughts after seeing the likes of O’Ride, Gokada and Max helplessly watch their investments go down the drain overnight by one abrupt policy announcement. No serious economy does this — to, in one breath, wipe off solid private investments when these companies have in fact introduced some sanity and respectability to a hitherto chaotic and raucous motorcycle operating system. Yet that’s not personally my biggest worry.

I’m very worried about the trekkers. No people deserve this agony on account of rash governance. This is a classic case of a government transferring its own burden of governance to the people. As long as we agree that democracy is a government for the people, this can’t be right. More importantly, the tens of thousands of now jobless bike riders will become trekkers too — either because they’re now too broke or they themselves have to join the long queues for buses. Whichever way it happens, watch out for these guys — because they will come back to snatch your cars. And when they do it, it will be with venom, with a terrifying self-justification of being forced into it by a Greater Lagos with no place for the poor and lowly. Those of you who seem unbothered by the ban because you’re cruising in your wound-up, air-conditioned cars, don’t dare think you’re safe.

Soyombo, tweets @fisayosoyombo

Prevalence of pedophilia: The way out

By Owolabi Kuburat Omobolanle

In recent times, reports of rape and pedophilia have cascaded the pages of national dailies and social media. Reports on how young kids are being sexually abused, molested and how aspiring women have been made to face horrifying experience of their lives.

Cases of rape and act of pedophilia is so alarming that it has become a daily occurrence in Nigeria. It’s a barbaric act against everyone: young or old, male or female, though it has a higher rate of occurrence among the females.

Rape according to Oxford English Dictionary, is the act of forcing sexual intercourse upon another person without their consent or against their will. While Pedophilia according to Oxford English Dictionary is the sexual attraction to children by adults or sexual activity between adults and children.

It is pertinent to understand that a nexus exist between rape, defilement and pedophilia in terms of the abuse and imprint left on their victims, and so they are mostly used interchangeably. By and large, defilement is believed to be an unlawful sexual intercourse with an underage below the age of twelve and rape, the same act above the age of twelve – this as explained by section 218 of the 2004 criminal code act.

Regardless of their differences, they all portray sexual abuse against humanity. They are all acts that has rendered the lives of many people useless. Children with great dreams of becoming a doctor, lawyer, banker, etc have watched their dreams and dignity scattered and taken away by some maniac pedophiles or rapists.

Rape/ Pedophilia is an act that hurts the victims in a physical, psychological and sociological way.

Victims of Rape/ Pedophilia suffer psychological problems such as depression, panic attack, self blame, isolation, aggression, feeling of shame and may even turn suicidal.

The effects of sexual assault is even more severe on the part of females as they are the major victims of the barbaric act. Heath problems such as vaginal bleeding or infection, Hypo active Sexual Disorder, Unwanted pregnancy, Vagina inflammation, HIV/AIDS and even death occurs as the result of sexual assault.

As if it’s not enough, victims and family as a result have to live the rest of their lives in stigmatization and infamy.

Young kids with bright future have been made to lose their self esteem because of the cruel act of pedophilia against them.

Earlier this year, a picture of a young girl wearing a white T-shirt up to her knee, stained with blood went viral on Whatsapp, Facebook, Twitter etc for being raped by an unknown man. Then I start to wonder, “How is she going to survive people’s harsh comments?”, “How will she cope in the world of hypocrites; where she’d be pitied for a while then mocked after?”

Considering how dangerous and scary the act of sexual abuse is to the society, many laws have been passed towards curbing this menace. Nigeria alone has four laws put in place to address the issue of sexual abuse against children and women. We have the Criminal Code which is applicable within the south; the Penal Code which is applicable within the north; The Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act and the Child Right Act which was adopted in 2003.

The maximum sentence provided for the act of rape or sexual abuse against children is life imprisonment. The Child Right Act of Nigeria 2003, provides in section 31(1) “No person shall have sexual intercourse with a child.”

(2) “A person who contravenes the provision of subsection(1) of this section commits an offence of rape and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for life.”

Section 32 of the Child Right Act further stated in section 32(2), “the term of 14 years imprisonment for any person who sexually abused or sexually exploits a child in any manner.”

However despite all these, the act of sexual abuse remain persistently on the increase. The inconsistency in law is one of major reasons sexual abuse remain on increase. The Child Right Act which has been domesticated by Nigeria was only accepted by 25 states out of the 36 states. I believe this isn’t enough strategy to curb rape. A global collaboration on sexual abuse law is needed to create a hostile rape punishment and environment for these miscreants.

Prevention they say, is better than cure. Thus, preventive measures should be adopted over curative ones. Life imprisonment, castrations, payment of fines etc are all curative measures, which only focus on the perpetrators and not the welfare and future of the victims. Punishing the offender is fundamental however that’s not all. After all, India gives death penalty to rapists, yet India remains one of the top 10 countries in the world with the highest rate of

sexual abuse.

Meanwhile, the one million question here is, what is the way out? How do we eradicate rape/ pedophilia for good in Nigeria?. Well, it starts with the family.

The first agent of socialization is the family. To be able to curb the menace of rape/ pedophilia, the family is needed to provide basic education and care to their wards.

The rise or fall of any country lies in the hand of family upbringing. We live in a world where parents have little or no time for their children, they put strangers in care of their children, exposing the children to danger.

I could remember vividly, when I was much younger, my mom would call on us both the females and males and give us sexual orientation. She even came up with the idea of telling us “If a man touches you, your stomach will get big and you’d die”. But many parents have replaced that with the search for greener pastures. Imagine a mother going to work by 7:00 am and returning by 9:00 pm when the kids would have been on bed.

Most parents would blame Nigeria economy and the need to go out for greener pastures, regardless I believe parents should dedicate time for their kids.

Every kid deserves sex education.Teach them what is Vagina, Penis, Breasts, Sexual Intercourse, Pregnancy, AIDS/ HIV etc.

You might be worried about how to educate them if they’re young, however there’s something I read, called age appropriate messaging. It’s not too big to tell a 3 year old girl “Don’t sit on a man’s lap”, “Don’t allow any man touch your breast or Vagina”. Furthermore, parents should maintain a closer relationship with their children. Ask them not to keep secret as their rapists would obviously tell them “Don’t tell anyone”.

In addition, parents shouldn’t leave their children alone with a stranger or family members when they won’t be around for long. Most act of sexual abuse are done mostly by close and trusted relations. Just like the case of the 27 year old man caught fondling his 11 month old niece in Ogun state. There is also the need for parents to censor what their children view, their watchlist must be appropriate with their age.

Owolabi Kuburat Omobolanle is a Public Affairs Analyst.

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Africa Media Development Foundation has joined women all over the world to celebrate this year’s International Women’s Day and called for inclusive digital space for all gender.

With the theme “DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality” the AMDF Executive Director, Mrs Sekyen Dadik in a statement, applauded every woman who has been resilient despite the digital inequality and continues to support and push for equality for women at different levels and sectors of engagement.

AMDF, the Executive Director said, was not unaware of the challenges limiting access to technology for women, which include but not limited to; poor education, discriminatory gender norms, poverty, but also acknowledge salient issues like cyber bullying, cyber stalking.

While acknowledging women journalists who against all odds of digital threats and attacks have continued to engage digital tools and technology to contribute their quota in advancing their role in speaking for the voiceless, Mrs Dadik said, the AMDF will continue to partner and support women and girls towards an equitable digital space.

She also calls for renewed support and commitment by all stakeholders, including government, private and corporate organizations towards bridging the digital gap in the area of access and affordability to technological tools.

Canadian High Commission to Nigeria and Connected Development (CODE) have tasked the Federal Government on the need to enact policies that will protect women and girls.

They made the call at a news conference on Wednesday, in Abuja to mark the International Women’s Day (IWD) and to share key findings on CODE’s GMAA-K project.

The project “Galvanizing Mass Action Against Gender-Based Violence in Kano State (GMAA-K)” was implemented in Kano State address inequality among others.

Mr Hamzat Lawal, the Chief Executive, CODE. said the call to enact women friendly laws was imperative to address the ills against women in the society .

Lawal said Nigeria ranked 123rd out of 146 countries on the World Gender Gap Gender Equality Index of 2022.

He said that prior to the World Gender Gap ranking, Thomson Reuters Foundation conducted a survey in 2018, and Nigeria ranked 9th in the top 10 list of most dangerous countries for women.

He said that Sexual and Genderbased Violence (SGBV) was widespread in Nigeria, with 30 per cent of women aged 15 to 49 having reported experiences of sexual abuse.

He added that 43 per cent of girls were married off before age 18, and 17 per cent married off before they turned 15 “and Kano State, in the Northwestern part of the country is a reflective of these peculiarities.”

“SGBV fueled by cultural and religious factors continues spreading and the state lacks enabling laws to address SGBV, or sanction offenders and ensure victims/survivors get the multidimensional support they require.

“Today, we are celebrating International Women’s Day and calling all stakeholders across Nigeria to embrace equality not by mere show of words but by actions such as enacting policies that will protect women and girls in society.

“The action plan got inputs from various Kano state actors and nonstate actors. As of Dec. 1, 2022, the State Assembly held a public hearing on the Child Protection Bill but the house failed to pass the bills as committed to all stakeholders.

“It is disheartening to say that policies such as this that ought to protect women and children in society are given a back seat in our society, in Kano state .’’

Lawal said that commitments from government stakeholders had not been upheld, particularly on the creation of more Sexual Assault

Referral Centres (SARC) in each Kano emirate council “as Kano state only has one”.

“The reason CODE commissioned research is to highlight the impact of the project in the state, on lessons learnt, and recommendations for future direction of SGBV programming in Kano state.’’

Lawal said that to address SGBV in Kano, CODE through funding from the Canadian High Commission in Nigeria inaugurated the Galvanising Mass Action Against Gender-Based Violence in Kano State (GMAA-K) project.

He said the project aimed at galvanizing the public and empowering women to mount advocacies against SGBV and domestic abuse as well as engage the government for the enactment of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) law.

He said CODE in January 2021, implemented the first phase of the GMAA-K in Kano, as the Canadian High Commission seeing the inroads being made with the project in Kano supported the second phase of the project in November 2021.

The Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr James Christoff, said this year’s IWD was a reminder that all women from all ages and walks of life have a place in

every aspect of the society.

“Today, we celebrate the achievements of all women and girls who are building a stronger and more inclusive future, but we cannot forget that there is more work to be done.

“In Nigeria, this is particularly important as we know Nigeria is facing an SGBV crisis .

SGBV: Canada, CODE task Nigeria on enacting policies to protect women, girls 2023 IWD: Foundation salutes tenacity of female journalists

“At homes, in schools, on the streets, at work, on the internet, between conflict zones and IDP camps; SGBV has become normalised and most often goes unpunished sometimes blaming survivors.

“Certain groups such as women with disabilities are at greater risk to experience gender-based violence, the scale of this issue is tremendous.’’

Christoff said that gender equality and empowerment of women and girls were at the heart of the Canada’s Feminist Foreign policies due to the belief that gender equality was key to building a more peaceful, inclusive and prosperous world.

He said that the commission under its Canada Fund for Local Initiatives had been working with CODE over two years to galvanise action against gender based violence in Kano state.

He however, hoped that the report would chat the way forward to curb SGBV.(NAN)

The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, during a road walk to commemorate the International Women’s Day, yesterday in Abuja.

Coalitions call for cancellation of Lagos West Senatorial election

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Agroup under the auspices of Truly and Fully Arewa Movement of Nigeria has called for the cancellation of Lagos West senatorial elections.

While reading a text of the press

conference yesterday signed by the President Truly and Fully Arewa Movement, Ismail Mohammed, the national President of Unity & Peace Awareness Initiative, Dr. Marcus Nacheson said the election was disrupted in 7,000 polling units across 10 Local Government

Areas of Lagos State.

The President who was represented by Prince Elijah Jibrin, noted that the election was marred by a lot of irregularities, thereby calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cancel the Lagos West

senatorial election.

“We are calling for cancellation of the election by INEC, setting aside a new date for fresh election in the entire 7,000 polling units across the LGAs.

“We are also calling on the local and international observers

to draw the attention of INEC with immediate effect”.

“Hoodlums destroyed BVAS machines and thereby disrupting the entire process. Electoral materials arrived at the most of the polling units at about 12 noon”.

IWD 2023: Fame Foundation calls for equality, better welfare for female athletes

Aderonke Ogunleye-Bello, the Executive Director of Fame Foundation, a nongovernmental organisation (NGO), on Wednesday in Abuja called for equality and better welfare for women athletes in the country.

Ogunleye-Bello made the call during the annual football tournament organised by the foundation as part of activities to mark the International Women’s

Day (IWD). The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this year’s event was tagged “Embrace Equity”.

Ogunleye-Bello urged Nigerians, especially the incoming administration, to look into the welfare of female athletes.

“As at today, female athletes do not get the support their male athletes get. It is sad and I think it is something that the incoming

government or administration should look at.

“They should work together with relevant national sports federations to ensure that there is equality, and the welfare of female athletes is given top-notch attention,’’ she said.

The FAME Executive Director also pointed out that sports were an effective tool being used by the foundation to empower women.

“As we know, Nigeria is heterogenous in nature and the only thing that brings us together is sports.

“We have been Organising this annual tournament for the past five years and the idea is to bring women together to empower them, talk to them on issues surrounding sexual-based violence, leadership and more,’’ she said.

A total of eight teams took

part in the competition, namely Team Bet9ja, Team Canada, Team FAME/AMAC, Team USA, Team East Africa, Team ASHWAN, Team ANFS and Team NAWOJ.

NAN reports that Team NAWOJ, which is from the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, emerged winners of the competition after a series of matches played from 9 a.m. (NAN)

Photo; Mahmud Isa

By Musa Baba Adamu

Iheartily felicitate Nigerian women on the occasion of the International Women’s Day.

This Day celebrates the tremendous achievements of women across the globe in all fronts of human endeavour.

The Day also focuses on ending discriminations against women and removing impediments to their full participation in the affairs of the society.

The Nigerian women especially deserve to be celebrated for their roles in building our homes and nation. The Nigerian women have distinguished themselves in all fields of endeavour. They are indeed, our pride.

It is in the overall interest of the society to remove all encumbrances that stand before women in our society. It is in this sense that I see this year theme of the International Women’s Day, #EmbraceEquity, as apt.

I am proud to say that the ninth National Assembly has been committed to gender equity despite the setback which some gender bills suffered in the constitution review process.

Just as I had said before, the bills can still be re-visited and their concerns satisfactorily addressed, maybe by the next Assembly.

In that view, there need to be proper sensitisation and patient lobbying of lawmakers about the issues involved. That is what democracy is all about.

The National Assembly is always there for the good of all and will never tolerate discrimination against the Nigerian women.

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Ahead of Saturday’s governorship and State Assembly elections, the National Working Committee (NWC) of Accord party (A) has dissolved the Oyo State executive members of the party, for endorsing the incumbent Governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Seyi Makinde, against the candidate of Accord, Bayo Adelabu.

Addressing journàlists after a twohour emergency National Working Committee (NWC) meeting of the party chaired by the National chairman, Hon. Muhammad Lawal Nalado, Accord said those relieved of their offices were the State Chairman of Accord, Prince

Kolade Ojo, Hon. Yinka Dairo, who is the Oyo State Accord Secretary, and the entire executive committee members of Accord in Oyo State.

Nalado, who explained that the decision was a resolution of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Party, also directed those affected by the decision to hand over all party materials and documents in their possession, with immediate effect, to the new caretaker executive members.

The Accord national chairman therefore enjoined party members and supporters, including all the electorate in Oyo State to troop out en-masse and vote for the Accord’s governorship candidate, Chief Adebayo Adelabu and also all the State House of Assembly

candidates in the Saturday’s election.

Speaking further, Nalado said the NWC also resolved to constitute a five man caretaker Committee to steer the party to victory and also manage the affairs of the party in the build up to the governorship and State Assembly elections.

Guber: Accord swoops on Oyo Exco, sacks leaders for endorsing Gov Makinde Lawan celebrates Nigerian women on International Women’s Day

He said the five man caretaker Committee members are: Alhaji Isiaka Salami, who will serve as Oyo State Caretaker Chairman, Bashiru Ayobami, who will serve as caretaker Secretary, Hon. Fatai Salawu, Bimpe Martins, Ayodele Oyajide, who are members of the Caretaker Committee.

While regretting that the agenda of the dissolved Oyo State executive committee led by Kolade Ojo, was to

frustrate the chances of the Accord gubernatorial and State Assembly candidates to clinch landslide victory in the Saturday’s election, Nalado alleged that they have been heavily compromised by the State Governor, Sayi Makinde.

He lambasted members of the dissolved Oyo State executives for ditching the Accord candidates, whom he said are front-runners in the Saturday’s election, emphasising that contrary to claims by the sacked Oyo State chairman, Accord is neither in any alliance with any political party nor with Governor Makinde, as its candidates have the capacity to win the election squarely.

Lawan urges massive votes for Yobe Gov Buni in re-election bid Saturday

By Musa Baba Adamu

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has urged his people in Yobe State to vote massively for the State Governor, Hon. Mai Mala Buni on Saturday.

Buni is on a second term bid as Governor of Yobe State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress(APC).

Lawan is currently serving his fourth term as a Senator representing Yobe North and just got his mandate renewed for a fifth term with a massive votes

at the February 25th National Assembly polls.

Lawan’s Yobe North Senatorial District also voted for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Saturday Presidential poll to defeat his opponents.

The Senate President urged his constituents to redouble the support and votes which they gave him and the APC last Saturday at the polls to renew Buni’s mandate for a second term as Governor.

Lawan spoke in his home town, Gashua, on Wednesday while addressing APC stakeholders from his Local Government Area

of Bade.

He said: “First and foremost, I wish to thank you APC stakeholders of Bade local government. Since the day I started contesting for elections in 1999, I have never seen an amazing election like this.

“I thank you all for voting me during the last elections. I was given certificate of return yesterday(Tuesday) in Abuja, an evidence of my clear victory. Nobdy will argue or debate it.

“I won with about 75% of the total valid votes cast. It calls for joy. Undoubtedly, your support is

spectacular. I urge you to continue to pray for me.

“I serve as your Asiwaju here. The state government is closer to us. The support and votes which you gave me, I urge you to redouble it during the governatorial election on Saturday.

“Your votes count. After elections, votes determine the type and amount of seats you are to benefit or enjoy.

“On Saturday, let us make sure we win elections with wide margin. Bade Local Government has two governatorial candidates from other parties. Hence, their is

a challenge.

“Our Governor works with members of the House of Assembly. Here in Bade Local Government, we have two candidates contesting for the House of Assembly seats. Hon. Kabir Mai Mota for Bade East and Hon. Sanda Kara Bade for Bade West. I urge you to vote them in with a wide margin.

“Let us vote for them. Let us vote APC from top to bottom and from bottom to top. We are very hopeful that we will make APC to succeed during the forthcoming elections. We plead with all and

Program Officer, Education As a vaccine Mrs Habiba Ghazali, Member UNFPA Mrs Fortune Mgbangson and Assistant Director National agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS Mrs Ezinne Okey-Uchende, during the 2023 International Condom Day, recently in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-owo

By Christiana Ekpa

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Women Leader in Sokoto State, Hajiya Kulu Abdullahi, has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of March 11 governorship and state assembly elections in

the state.

This development was contained in a statement issued by Bashar Abubakar, the Special Assistant, Media and Publicity to Sen. Aliyu Wamakko (APCSokoto North) on Wednesday.

According to the statement, Abdullahi, the PDP North West

Women Forum Chairperson, was warmly received by Wamakko, the APC leader in the state assisted by the party’s governorship candidate, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu.

He said the former women leader wrote a letter to the state PDP Chairman, dated March 6, hinging her defection on

Sokoto PDP Women Leader, others join APC Rivers guber: What I want from next Wike’s successor –Asari Dokubo

protracted non-reconciliatory issues bedeviling the party in the state.

The special assistant quoted Wamakko, while receiving the new APC members, as assuring her of equal treatment like any other member of the party for the overall development of all.

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, Asari Dokubo, a former Niger Delta militant leader, has revealed what he wants from the next Governor of Rivers State that will take over from Gov. Nyesom Wike.

Speaking on Television programme on Wednesday, Dokubo said he wants the next Governor of Rivers State to divert the wealth of the state to investment.

According to him, he doesn’t want the next governor to be building flyovers without investing in the people and investing to make them stronger.

Dokubo said, “What I want the next governor to do is to divert the wealth of Rivers people to investment. To invest in the economy of Rivers State and to create wealth.

“That should be first and foremost to create wealth and that is the direction of Tonye Cole, the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in Rivers State. I would not want a governor who will be building flyovers, and so on or who will be building skyscrapers without investing in the people and investing to make them stronger.

“To send Rivers people to be skilled people. If you come to Rivers State today, our people, when they finish their tertiary education, they are not employable because the schools did not provide a good environment for them to be employed.”

Ahiwe has experience to turn Abia around quickly – Ex-Deputy Speaker Azubuike

By Musa Baba Adamu

Spokesperson of the Okechinyere Abia Campaign

Council of the PDP gubernatorial candidate, Hon. Uzo Azubuike, has asked Abia people to vote massively for Chief Okey Ahiwe of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as governor on Saturday.

Azubuike, A former Abia

State House of Assembly Deputy Speaker, asserted: “Okey Ahiwe is the one who would get Abia working quickly and efficiently.

“Ahiwe knows what to do. He would not waste our time learning how government works.

“Let us end the confusion about Peter Obi and the governorship election. Obi is not a candidate. Obi’s qualities belong to him; nobody can pretend he will confer

them on a candidate in Abia State.

“Alex Otti is not Peter Obi and cannot be Peter Obi. He should quit the pretence. Chief Ahiwe has qualities he is bringing to the table when elected Governor. He has public and private sector experience, knows the issues, would not make the mistakes of a neophyte in government, and is accessible and offers listening ears to people.”

According to him: “Ndi Abia will have in Chief Ahiwe of PDP the best option in the parade of candidates for the election.”

Azubuike further explained that Ndi Abia played national politics in the presidential election.

“The governorship and state assembly elections deal directly with our local matters. The issues at stake are very different from the election of 25 February,” he

said while appealing to Ndi Abia to vote for the PDP in the March 11 governorship election.

Chief Ahiwe, the PDP candidate, is a Political Science graduate of the University of Lagos and a Catholic Knight who started his education at Ahiara Technical School. He has promised to run an inclusive government that would put Abia State on the path of development and progress.

President Buhari with R-L: Former Borno Governor Ali Modu Sheriff, Vice President-Elect Senator Kashim Shettima and Borno Governor Prof. Babagana Zulum during the commissioning of Ultra-Modern Market, Bama Road in Maiduguri, Borno State on 2nd Mar 2023

From Abubakar Y Ojimaojo ABUJA

Nigeria’s oil production increased to 1,306,304 barrels per day (bpd) in February 2023.

The production figure is 3.83 percent or 48,154 bpd higher than the 1,258,150 bpd recorded in January 2023.

The data is contained in the latest crude oil and condensate production report of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

The latest figure represents the second consecutive rise in oil production in 2023.

NUPRC: Nigeria’s oil production rose by 3% to 1.30m bpd in February

It is also the highest output level since January 2022 when production averaged 1.39 million bpd. According to the NUPRC report, with the addition of condensate, oil production totalled 1.547 million bpd in February

2023, increasing from the 1.494 million recorded in January 2023. Condensate is a mixture of light liquid hydrocarbons, similar to a light (high API) crude oil. It is usually separated from a natural gas stream at the point of production (field separation)

when the temperature and pressure of the gas are dropped to atmospheric conditions.

The rise in output comes amid renewed efforts by the government to shore up oil production.

The NUPRC had said it was working to revive shut-in oil wells.

The oil regulator said “over 900,000 barrels of oil per day can be earned from the quick-win interventions while the mediumand long-term initiatives could potentially add 1.2 million barrels of oil per day if properly and fully implemented”.

Dangote Cement set for third share buyback in two years

From Abubakar Y Ojimaojo ABUJA

Dangote Cement is steadily on track to realise the target of repurchasing up to 10 per cent of its common stock, having received the capital market regulator’s authorisation to start a new share buyback.

The company announced Wednesday the Securities and Exchange Commission had validated the move, setting up Africa’s largest cement manufacturer for the launch of its third share repurchase in less than three years.

From the first phase completed on the last day of 2020, 40.2 million shares were repurchased for N9.8 billion, representing 0.2 per cent of the total issued shares.

The second tranche, executed last January, bought back over 126.7 million units or 0.7 per cent at the sum of N35.1 billion.

That left the total residual issued and fully paid outstanding shares of the firm at about 16.9 billion units, with more than 1.5 billion shares due to be repurchased to match Dangote Cement’s buyback ambition.

“The share buy-back programme will be executed

under the approval granted by the Company’s shareholders at the Extraordinary General Meeting of Dangote Cement PLC which was held on 13 December 2022,” the company said in a statement.

Buying its own shares back in some way allows the firm

to hand more money back to shareholders on the expectation that fewer outstanding shares could strengthen the share price.

Dangote Cement’s share price has risen 16.4 per cent to N285 since the company completed its first share

repurchase on 31 December, 2020, hitting a high of N300 on 16 May, 2022.

Cash and cash equivalents, the balance sheet item from which the money for a buyback is typically sourced, stood at N283.8 billion, according to the company’s 2022 audited annual

report.

“The share buy-back will be undertaken through an open market offer or self-tender, at such times and on such terms as the Management of the Company may determine, subject to prevailing market conditions,” the firm said.

IWD: Yuguda urges elimination of gender inequality

From Abubakar Y Ojimaojo ABUJA

The Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Mr. Lamido Yuguda has emphasised the need for elimination of all forms of gender inequality in a bid to ensure continued growth and development of the capital market.

Yuguda stated this in his message at the Celebration of the International Women’s Day held in the Commission’s head office in Abuja Wednesday.

The SEC DG stated that this year’s theme for International Women’s Day “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality” is focused on the

untold contributions to the digital world that women have made over the years adding that this comes at no better time than this period when the Commission is exploring and making great strides in the use of technology in carrying out Financial, Regulatory and Supervisory services in the Nigerian Capital Market.

He stated that the celebration calls for all to be challenged and be part of the DigitALL transformation irrespective of genders and work towards creating a more gender-equal world both at the work place and in the society at large.

According to him, “On this day, let us celebrate the achievements of women and recognize the need to work

together to eliminate gender inequality. We can all play a role in creating a more equitable world by choosing to challenge gender stereotypes, supporting and empowering women, and creating opportunities for them to thrive.

“Today, we celebrate the women who have broken barriers, shattered stereotypes, and paved the way for others to follow. We honour the women who have made a difference in the lives of others. We also acknowledge the challenges and struggles that women continue to face in our society and renew our commitment to creating a more inclusive and equitable workplace.

“As we celebrate International

Women’s Day today, I would like to take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt goodwill and appreciation to all the amazing women in the Commission and to all the great women of our great nation, Nigeria.

Yuguda also used the opportunity to recognize the invaluable contributions of female employees to the Commission’s success adding that the Management is committed to supporting them in their personal and professional growth.

IWD is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality.

Nigerian Breweries records modest profit growth as revenue jumps 25% Aviation minister directs

NSIB to investigate Lagos train accident

From Abubakar Y Ojimaojo ABUJA

Nigeria’s Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, has directed the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau ( NSIB) to commence an immediate investigation into the Lagos train accident Thursday morning.

A moving train heading to Lagos from Abeokuta collided with a Lagos State government staff bus conveying passengers to work in the Shogunle area of Oshodi in Lagos State Thursday.

Reports said that train dragged the bus from Shogunle to the PWD area of Ikeja before grinding to a halt.

At the time of this report, authorities said at least two women have been confirmed dead from the incident while several others were said to have sustained various degrees of injuries.

In a press statement released by Mr Sirika’s special assistant on public affairs, James Odaudu, the minister described the accident as an “unfortunate” occurrence.

“Following the report of a collision of a passenger train and a bus conveying workers to their work places in Lagos Thursday morning, Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika has directed the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau experts to commence Immediate investigation into the accident,” the statement said.

Mr Sirika assures the public of the capacity of the NSIB to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the accident and proffer ways of preventing such in the future.

According to the statement, the minister solicits the cooperation of members of the public as investigation by the NSIB team commences.

Mr Sirika commiserates with the government and people of Lagos state, especially those who have lost their loved ones, on the sad event, and prays for the quick recovery of those injured in the accident, the statement said.

From Abubakar Y Ojimaojo ABUJA

The pace at which the net profit of Nigerian Breweries accelerated in 2022 was considerably weaker than that of its revenue as record inflation in Nigeria pushed up expenses and other income dropped by 35.4 per cent.

Revenue was up by a quarter at N550.6 billion, less than one per cent of that earned from exports to countries outside its primary market Nigeria.

Cost of sales, totalling N337.3

billion, gulped N60.4 billion more than a year earlier, according to details of the brewer’s audited financials. This is largely due to surge in raw materials spending, which alone accounted for 73.1 per cent of the expenses.

The beer-maker declared elsewhere in a note accompanying its earnings release that “Cost of Sales, Marketing, and Distribution expenses were under pressure due mainly to inflation, devaluation of the naira and high energy prices.”

Selling and distribution expenses increased by 38.1

per cent, due to increased spending on transportation which, standing at N56.3 billion, consumed nearly three times that of the year before.

The company pared its finance costs – what the company spent on servicing debt – by 31.4 per cent, much of that after reducing its interest expense on lease liabilities from N11.1 billion to N8.4 billion.

Steep depreciation in the value of naira against the US dollar cost Nigerian Breweries N26.3 billion in net loss on foreign exchange transactions

compared to N7 billion in 2022, the company stressing that as the major factor that depressed margin. Profit before tax contracted by 26.8 per cent, while profit for the year climbed to N13.2 billion from N12.7 billion, reflecting a 4.1 per cent increase.

The firm also proposed a final dividend of N1.03 per share to shareholders in addition to the interim dividend of N0.40 per unit announced in October, bringing its total payout for the year to N13.9 billion (N1.43 per share).

Enugu business owners continue to reject old N500, N1,000 notes

Some business owners in Enugu State have continued to reject the old naira notes for transactions despite the Supreme Court judgment validating them, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Many business owners, who spoke to NAN on Thursday in Enugu, said they were yet to receive directives from the appropriate authority to start collecting the old N500 and N1,000 notes again.

They said it would be difficult to spend the old notes

because many residents were rejecting the old notes as well.

A tricycle rider, Uche Ossai, said he had not started collecting the old notes because he would find it difficult to spend them as many fuel stations were still rejecting them too.

A food vendor, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said she would not collect the old notes because nobody was ready to collect them from her.

“The transporters have refused to collect the old notes of N500 and N1,000; so you do

not expect me to collect it from others because it may end up being a waste to me,” she said.

A provision shop owner at Mayor Market, Jude Okoye, told NAN that he preferred his customers to pay him electronically than to receive the old naira notes from them.

A salon owner, Jacinta Nweke, told NAN that the staff of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) refused to collect the old naira notes from her when she wanted to pay her hospital bills.

“When I went to UNTH to

pay for my hospital bill after seeing the doctor they refused to collect the old notes from me, telling me they have not received a directive from the appropriate authority,” he said.

A resident of Achara layout, Gloria Okoroafor, said the tricycle rider, who brought her home, refused to collect the old notes from her recently.

She added that the tricycle rider said that it was only the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) that could collect it as he had not heard from the CBN telling people to start receiving it.

By Stanley Onyekwere

The Federal Capital Territory Administration ( FCTA) has distributed assorted gadgets to security agencies operating within the Territory, to further strengthen the fight against lawlessness.

The gadgets which include, bullet proof jackets, hand grenades, helmet and other sensitive security equipment, were said to be complimentary to the initial brand new vehicles that were earlier distributed to them some months ago, by FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello.

FCTA’s Permanent

METRO

Insecurity: FCTA distributes gadgets to security agencies

Secretary, Adesola Olusade, who performed the symbolic distribution yesterday in Abuja, said the administration values the sacrifices of the security agencies, and would continue to reward them for unalloyed diligence and loyalty.

Olusade reiterated that FCTA believes that a well motivated and equipped personnel, would add the much needed value to effective

policing of a cosmopolitan city like Abuja.

He noted that officers and men who put their lives in line for the protection of lives and property of others, ought to be well knitted.

“They need to be protected, so we have to support their efforts by providing them with necessary safety gadgets.

“We are complimenting whatever the Federal government

has done, and we hope it will go a long way to boost their courage and gallantry to fight crimes and criminalities”,Olusade added.

In his remarks, Commissioner of Police, FCT Police Command, CP Sadiq Abubakar while assuring that the gadgets would be deployed appropriately, warned miscreants and all criminals to stay away from Abuja, because operatives would surely come after them.

Abubakar said, “ I want to assure you that we will remain committed and it will boost whatever we have been doing. It will also encourage us to put in our best in promoting the peace and stability of the FCT.

“We warn hoodlums and miscreants to stay away from crimes and criminalities, otherwise we will come after them “.

IWD: AEIG harps on removing digital gender divide

By Stanley Onyekwere

ANon Governmental Organisation (NGO), Abiodun Essiet Initiative for Girls (AEIG) has stressed the need to do more to remove the digital gender divide, mainly impacting vulnerable women and girls, especially those in rural and remote areas with low education and socioeconomic status.

AEIG, which made this call in its message to mark this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD), said the role technology has played in the overall development of mankind cannot be overemphasized.

Executive Director AEIG, Mayowa Akpati, said this year’s theme: Digit all: Innovation and technology for gender equality,” highlights the role of innovative technology in promoting gender equality and meeting the health and developmental needs of

women and girls.

Akpati, noted that innovations and technology have steered the world to move at an unprecedented pace and will continue to do so more rapidly.

“Women all over the world have benefited in no small measure from reproductive health to menstrual hygiene

“Nevertheless, we must do more to remove the digital gender divide, mainly impacting vulnerable women and girls, especially those in rural and remote areas with low education and socioeconomic status.

“Indeed, this is shaping the future, yet women are still underrepresented in this space with only about 28 percent presence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) according to recent studies.

“Beyond this year’s theme, Equity recognizes that each person has different circumstances and

allocates the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome.

“As an organisation, we have been at the epicenter of promoting gender equity and social inclusion through promoting the improvement of policies, supervising governments and companies, providing services to women and researchers, strengthening the publicity of female role models and male participation, and expanding cooperation.

“As we celebrate this auspicious occasion, my message to men in positions of influence is to use this initiative as an opportunity to be an ally or advocate for gender equity. Being curious, having some selfawareness about how your actions can include or exclude and building your knowledge is a key process to help you understand the challenges facing women in the workplace”, she stressed.

Why RMRDC initiated strategy for raw materials, products dev’t -DG

By Stanley Onyekwere

The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has said it has begun the execution of a national strategy for competitiveness in raw materials and products development it recently initiated.

The Director General (DG) of RMRDC, Professor Hussaini Doko Ibrahim, disclosed this in a recent document on why the industrial sector needs competitiveness to participate in the global value chains.

The overall objective of the policy brief, according to the document, is to provide the framework to strengthen the competitiveness of Nigeria and

enhance its integration into the regional and global value chains.

Doko explained that the programme, which had since been approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), provided the implementation guidelines with 11 strategic foci which were mostly used in the construction of the result-based management logical framework of the strategy.

He noted that the focal areas were regarded as strategic elements on which all the specific projects for 21 raw materials and products classification schemes from the 97 broad categories of the Harmonised System Commodity Codes (HS Codes) were based.

He said, “The successful implementation of the strategy would significantly impact on import reduction potentials towards Nigeria’s competitiveness in raw materials and products development.

“The design of the implementation framework is built on the principles of fact-based considerations, international best practices, verifiable indicators and coefficients of various two-way frequency matrices.

“It is, therefore, a plan with great potential to guarantee success for growing Nigeria’s economy in the desired direction.”

According to him, the

implementation plan’s institutional framework has “the Presidency” at the helm for directing the policy thrust and decision-making.

Over 17 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are major stakeholders with specific mandates to play key roles in the implementation of the strategy and provision of support services.

‘’The Council has taken the responsibility to conduct the scoping study and provide a policy brief for a renewed approach to implement a value chain development strategy that can prioritize sectors with high potential for sustainable value chain development in Nigeria.

‘’The overall objective of the policy brief is to provide the framework to strengthen the competitiveness of Nigeria and enhance its integration into the regional and global value chains,’’ he said.

According to the DG, to consolidate these gains and tackle the remaining challenges, there is need to articulate a national policy on value chain development, deepen reforms to further improve the business and regulatory environment, focus on areas of comparative and competitive advantages, promote public and private R&D investment, and champion intraECOWAS cross border trade.

US man puts phone on drone to send rescue message

When a US motorist got stuck in the snow on a remote road in Oregon, he used sky-high thinking to save himself.

After realising he was without mobile phone reception, he typed a text message to a trusted person showing his exact location, attached the phone to a drone and launched it several hundred feet into the air.

The airborne phone sent his message for help once it found signal.

Rescuers praised the man for making “several smart decisions”.

The man, who has not been identified, was in the Willamette National Forest on a road that is not maintained in the winter.

After his vehicle got stuck, he realised there was no cell phone reception - making matters worse “his family was out of the country and nobody knew where he had gone” according to the Lane County Sheriff Search and Rescue.

“Regardless of the circumstances leading to his situation, once stranded this person made several smart decisions,” Lane

County Sheriff Search and Rescue said in a statement.

First, he stayed in his car.

“Rarely does anyone in Oregon die from exposure waiting in their vehicle to be found and rescued,” the statement said.

“But we have unfortunately seen many poor outcomes from those who chose to walk away.”

After attaching his phone to a drone, “the increased elevation allowed his phone to connect to a tower” and send his message for help.

His ingenuity allowed for rescue teams to deploy and assist him out of the situation.

While teams were rescuing the man, they also rescued another motorist who had been stranded for several days in the snow.

Officials said they were impressed with the man’s creativity - but advised people to heed their warnings during wintertime travel.

They urged people to “always tell a responsible person exactly where you are going, and when you expect to be back”.

Additionally, they said most rescue missions they have conducted this winter involved bigger vehicles, whose owners told rescuers they did not think they would get stuck.

The search and rescue team suggested: “Instead of asking yourself whether you think you can get through a section of road, ask yourself ‘what will happen if I do get stuck?’”

Georgia drops ‘foreign agents’ law after protests

Georgia’s ruling party has said it will withdraw a controversial draft law, in the face of mass protests and widespread international criticism.

Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets in Tbilisi this week in anger as a Russian-style law began its passage through parliament.

Under the bill, non-government groups and media would be targeted if they take over 20% of funding from abroad.

The main ruling party said it was pulling the bill “unconditionally”.

Describing itself as a party of government responsible to all members of society, Georgian Dream referred to the need to reduce “confrontation” in society.

Georgia has applied for candidate status of the European Union and sought to join Nato. EU officials had condemned the draft legislation as incompatible with EU values.

In a statement, the EU delegation in Georgia said the move to drop the law was a “welcome announcement” and encouraged political leaders to resume “pro-EU reforms”.

The government’s U-turn followed a second night of clashes between riot police and protesters outside parliament. Tear gas and water cannon were used to disperse the demonstrators as they chanted “no to the Russian law”.

In its statement, Georgian Dream complained that the proposal had been

unfairly labelled and said that as the “emotional background subsides” it would explain the importance of the bill and transparency in foreign funding to the public.

Despite the decision to drop the bill, opposition parties said they had no plans to halt the protests. They called for clarity on how the proposals were to be withdrawn and demanded the release of protesters detained this week.

Armaz Akhvlediani, an independent opposition member of parliament and former secretary-general of Georgian Dream, welcomed the party’s promise to withdraw the legislation but said it had “Russian interests” that worked against “democracy and rule of law”.

Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili had earlier condemned the “stir” over the bill. His party maintained that the legislation mimicked American laws from the 1930s, an argument also used by the Kremlin when it passed a similar law in 2012.

Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said Russia had “absolutely nothing” to do with the bill, as he sought to distance his country from the protests.

He said the Kremlin did not inspire the proposal and that the US “pioneered the practice of introducing these laws”.

Mr Peskov also advised Russians living in Georgia to be “extremely careful” and stay away from the street riots.

That Russian law has gradually intensified and now suppresses Western-funded NGOs, independent media, journalists and bloggers, who are required to label their content with the sinister phrase “foreign agent”.

“Again and again they are trying everything to take us far away from the European Union, European values,” said 30-year-old protester Luka Kimeridze.

Eka Gigauri of Transparency

International in Georgia told the BBC that NGOs were already subject to 10 different laws and the finance ministry already had full access to accounts, funding and other information.

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili backed the protesters and had vowed to veto the proposal, although ultimately the government would have had the power to override her move.BBC

Putin accuses Ukraine of border ‘terrorist act’ in Russian village

Tucker Carlson, Donald Trump and the infighting at Fox News

A $1.6bn defamation lawsuit against Fox News has pulled back the curtain on the inner workings of the powerful conservative cable network in the days after the 2020 US presidential election.

Dominion Voting Systems, a voting-machine manufacturer, alleges that Fox knowingly aired false allegations that their devices helped Joe Biden and the Democrats “steal” the election.

To make their case, the company has called dozens of Fox executives and journalists to testify in depositions and subpoenaed thousands

of pages of their text messages and emails.

They show the often heated, and sometimes profane, conversations that took place behind closed doors as Fox News, from chairman Rupert Murdoch on down, grappled with Donald Trump’s ultimately futile attempt to overturn the 2020 election results.

They mocked ‘increasingly mad’ Donald Trump Fox News has had a complicated relationship with Mr Trump over the years. He clashed with the network regularly during the early days of his 2016 presidential bid, but once he won the White House the network’s coverage was largely

positive - particularly on its evening opinion shows hosted by Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham and others.

In the days after his 2020 presidential defeat, however, it’s emerged that many Fox executives and presenters disparaged him.

Mr Murdoch, the Fox News chairman, wrote in an email that the then-US president - and his lawyer, Rudy Giuliani - were going “increasingly mad” after election day.

Mr Carlson, host of the network’s toprated programme, said he hated Mr Trump “passionately” and that his presidency had been a disaster. He predicted that soon his show

would be able to ignore the soon-to-be former president.

He also mocked the former president’s business enterprises. “All of them fail,” he said in a text to his show’s producer.

It’s the kind of view echoed by Mr Trump’s critics - many who have frequently been the target of Mr Carlson’s ire on his evening programme.

The former president is known to take slights personally and unlikely to forget. It means the love-hate relationship Mr Trump has with Fox News may be veering back toward hate just as the 2024 presidential campaign heats up.

Police shared a re-enactment photo of what the man did to get phone service

Protesters have accused the Georgian government of trying to steer the country away from the EU

Nigeria election 2023: Heartbroken Peter Obi supporters target Lagos

Heartbroken first-time voters in Nigeria are being urged not to give up after the candidate that many of them backed came third in the presidential race two weeks ago.

This is because crucial state elections are being held later this month, after a last-minute delay - where governors and local assemblies will be chosen. It is the state governments that build schools, hospitals and inner city roads and are responsible for transport and other essential services.

Some of the young voters who took an interest in politics and backed the Labour Party’s Peter Obi have become disillusioned by election-day antics in some areas: ballot-box snatching; violence and the late arrival of electoral officials that disenfranchised many. This may be one of the explanations for the low turnout of just 27%.

But party campaigner Rinu Oduala says “Obidients”, as Mr Obi’s supporters are known, must not give up hope.

“Change does not occur overnight. It happens step by step. Day by day. And we have taken a thousand steps into the future,” the Labour Party supporter tweeted.

The electoral process was criticised by observer groups as falling short of required standards - and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party are challenging the result in court.

Yet Obidients like Ms Oduala point to how much the Labour Party has achieved in the nine months since Mr Obi became their presidential candidate.

He gained six million votes - 25% of the vote, a major achievement given the dominance of the ruling All Peoples Congress (APC) and PDP since the end of military rule in 1999.

The Labour Party also now has seven of 109 senatorial seats and 35 of 360 members of the House of Representatives.

Some victories have given cardcarrying Labour Party members faith that the ultimate power in a democracy resides with the people.

Examples include a female Labour candidate in the capital, Abuja, beating a man who had served as an MP for 20 years, a Labour motorcycle-taxi rider in the northern state of Kaduna being elected and another Labour candidate preventing an outgoing governor in the south-east south-from winning a senate seat.

In the build-up to the polls, the Obidients were mocked as a social media sensation - “four people tweeting inside a room” - but now other powerful politicians are trying to woo them.

Take ruling party senator Ovie OmoAgege, who is running to be governor in Delta state where Mr Obi took 55% of the presidential vote. The APC politician has been pictured awkwardly posing with a banner asking Obidients to back him despite Labour having its own gubernatorial candidate in the southern oil-rich state.

“We have so much in common, we have to come together, we have to work together,” he pleaded.

Politicians like Mr Omo-Agege may be hoping that as the Labour Party’s

popularity has been driven by the charismatic Mr Obi, whose name will not be on ballots later this month, they can win them over.

All to play for in richest state Lagos - Nigeria’s most powerful state, the country’s economic hub - could be where the Labour Party is really able to change the political landscape.

The city is the Obidient movement’s heartland - springing out of the ashes of the 2020 EndSars anti-police brutality protests when over two weeks tens of thousands of mainly young Nigerians took to the streets, leading to the disbandment of the police unit.

Mr Obi beat the ruling party candidate in Lagos last month - despite widely reported cases of election delays and violence.

Sitting APC governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, ahead of this month’s vote, is certainly feeling the heat, tweeting more frequently and regaling his followers with long threads of his achievements in office.

He is seeking a second term but has refused to hold a debate with other candidates, like Labour’s Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, and has run a lacklustre campaign, choosing instead to join President-elect Bola Tinubu as he traversed the country.

The governor has performed relatively well in the last four years, launching a metro line that has been under construction for decades and has been credited for expertly handling the pandemic.

But for many, the events of 20 October 2020, when soldiers opened fire on EndSars demonstrators - killing at least nine people, are too hard to forgive.

“They turned off the lights, removed the cameras and they killed us like antelopes,” Adeola Owosho, a tech products marketer who narrowly escaped death during the shooting, told the BBC.

Although Mr Sanwo-Olu was one of a few governors who met the protesterssome camped outside his office in Lagos - and also paid compensation to the victims of police abuse after setting up a panel, his involvement with the final deadly clampdown in Lekki is hard for many to look past.

“One hundred per cent of my voting choice is dependent on the events of 20 October 2020, the massacre at Lekki and the whole incident left me scarred. Nothing Sanwo-Olu boasts of could ever atone for the terrible way he handled the peaceful protest,” Mr Owosho said.

Victory in Lagos would be a salve for those Obidients bruised by the presidential defeat and Mr Obi has reminded his supporters they can “still achieve massive victories in the forthcoming elections”.

Voters’ cards burnt

Yet his words may not to carry that much weight nationwide as there are few names of inspiring Labour Party candidates on the ballot, while some see the effort as pointless.

“I voted under the rain hoping my vote would count, clearly it didn’t,” said Naya Benson in Abuja, where many voters stood for hours under 34C heat before an evening rainstorm drenched

them on the day of the presidential poll.

Others have taken to extremes, destroying their voters’ cards (PVCs) with a vow never to engage again with the democratic process.

“I burnt my PVC because I realised it was just a waste of my time,” one voter told the BBC, angered by the effort it took and money he spent on transport to get the card and cast his ballot.

He cited the inability of the Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) to upload results on to its portal in real time as promised as evidence that the result may not be genuine.

Inec apologised for the delays, saying that a surge in traffic on the day led to technical glitches.

However, it was not just the young voters that were left disheartened with such irregularities. Umealor Chibuike’s parents, who have been voting for 27 ye

Anti-gay bill could see Uganda landlords jailed

Abill has been tabled in Uganda’s parliament that would criminalise anyone identifying as LGBTQ+. If passed, they would face jail terms of up to 10 years, as would those engaging in same-sex relations.

The law would ban the funding or promotion of LGBTQ+ activities and jail landlords who rented premises to members of the LGBTQ+ community.

The bill will be scrutinised by a parliamentary committee before it is tabled before the house again for debate.

There has been rising anti-gay sentiment in Uganda and neighbouring countries in recent weeks.

Activists are concerned that this could lead to mob attacks on anyone suspected to be gay.

In 2014, the country’s constitutional court nullified the anti-homosexuality act, which had toughened laws against the LGBTQ+ community.

It included making it illegal to promote and fund LGBTQ+ groups and activities, as well as reiterating that same-sex relations should be punished by life imprisonment.

The court ruled that the legislation be revoked on the basis that it had been passed by parliament without the required quorum.

The punishment of life imprisonment for same-sex relations already exists in the country’s penal code. It is not clear if the proposed new legislation of 10 years

would override this.

Same-sex relations are banned in about 30 African countries.

The campaign group, Human Rights Watch, said it believed that if the proposed law is passed, Uganda would be the only African country to criminalise those who simply identify as LGBTQ+.

Call for blood donations after Lagos collision

The governor of Nigeria’s Lagos state, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has called for people to come forward and donate blood as medics treat those wounded in a collision between a train and bus earlier on Thursday.

“It is still a critical period for some of the patients as we continue to call for blood donations across different state government medical facilities,” Mr Sanwo-Olu said in a series of tweets about the accident

He said that 85 passengers were on board the bus carrying civil servants to work when it was hit by a commuter train during rush hour on Thursday morning in the Ikeja area of the city.

The governor confirmed that six people had died and said 29 people were in a critical condition, another 42 people had moderate injuries and a further eight had mild wounds.

He thanked the emergency workers and others involved in the rescue operation and also the staff and students at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (Lasuth), where those injured are being treated.

The crash happened at a railway crossing with no barrier.

“This was a totally avoidable incident that simply required patience and the need to follow proper transportation protocol,” said the governor, who is seeking re-election next week.

Passengers drown after boat sinks off Tunisian coast

The coast guard in Tunisia says that 14 people from sub-Saharan Africa have drowned off the coast of the city of Sfax.

It said it reached the scene late on Wednesday after their boat had sunk, and rescued 54 people.

It’s not clear whether the people had been living in Tunisia itself, where black African immigrants have recently suffered a wave of racism prompted by remarks from President Kais Saied.

Source: BBC

N ews F rom A s IA

‘Sushi terror’ pranks outrage Japan as police make arrests

Japanese police have arrested three people over “sushi terror”: viral, unhygienic pranks that are threatening the world-famous feature of sushi conveyor belt restaurants.

Last month, a video of a man licking a soy sauce bottle on a sushi conveyor went viral, sparking outrage.

In the video, he can be seen squashing sushi dishes at a Kura Sushi restaurant branch.

Since then, dozens of such videos have proliferated sparking public concern.

Incidents filmed include diners - many of whom are children and young people - spoiling others’ orders by touching sushi dishes passing by.

One video which emerged last month showed a customer putting wasabi on another’s dish, while another person licked the presented chopsticks.

In another video, filmed at a Sushiro chain outlet, a diner is seen rubbing saliva on passing sushi pieces.

The viral trend has horrified many Japanese and spurred action from several conveyor-belt sushi chains - known as kaitenzushi locally.

“I know people from overseas

look forward to eating sushi here so as a Japanese person, I am ashamed of such actions,” one woman Yukari Tanaka told the BBC.

Another person, Nana Kozaki, said: “Kaitenzushi is Japanese culture we can be proud of but actions of few people like that really ruins that.”

Others said they were “a bit scared” by the trend - admitting they were less willing to go to restaurants.

Japan is renowned for its exacting cleanliness standards and culinary etiquette.

So the “sushi terrorism” pranks have not only shocked millions around the country but also led to falls in share prices of companies like the Sushiro chain.

This has spurred several kaitenzushi chains to make public appeals for offenders to stop their food sabotage.

Some eateries have even made the choice to stop operating their main attraction altogether - with sushi conveyor belts coming to a halt across the country.

In eastern Japan, the Choushimaru chain said it would stop using its conveyor belts altogether after a customer placed a cigarette butt in a jar of pickled ginger.

Staff will now bring dishes to

customers directly - and only hand out condiments and sauces when they’ve taken their seats.

A spokesman for the Kura Sushi - the restaurant chain targeted by those arrested on Wednesday - said

the viral video trend was “extremely dangerous” and posing a threat to the foundation of the conveyor-belt restaurant model.

“Conveyor belt sushi is something we are proud of as part of Japanese

culture. We want to make sure our customers can eat sushi delivered on the belt safely and comfortably,” he said.

Several sushi chains have already threatened legal action - but

Ukraine war: Russia fires hypersonic missiles in new barrage

At least of nine people have died in a new wave of strikes across Ukraine in which Russia used powerful weapons, including rare hypersonic missiles.

Russia had reportedly not fired Kinzhal hypersonic missiles - which can evade air defences - since the early months of the conflict.

The latest barrage was the most severe to hit Ukraine for weeks.

It cut the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant - Europe’s biggest - from the grid, although power was later restored.

On Thursday Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said: “High-precision long-range air, sea and land-based weapons, including the Kinzhal

hypersonic missile system, hit key elements of Ukraine’s military infrastructure.”

The Ukrainian military claimed it successfully shot down 34 cruise missiles and four Iranian-made Shahed drones. Officials said six Kinzhal hypersonic missiles were also fired.

“This was a major attack and for the first time with so many different types of missiles,” the Reuters news agency quoted a Ukrainian air force spokesperson as saying. “It was like never before.”

President Vladimir Putin has highlighted Russia’s investment in ballistic hypersonic missiles, which can travel at more than five times the speed of sound.

The attacks - which also used more conventional weapons - hit cities from Kharkiv in the north to Odesa in the south and Zhytomyr in the west, with power blackouts reported in several areas.

The attacks mark the biggest day of Russian missile strikes on Ukraine since the end of January, when 11 people died after dozens of buildings were struck in several regions.

Nuclear energy operator Energoatom said the strike at the Zaporizhzhia plant had cut off the link between the facility and the Ukrainian power system.

For the sixth time since it was taken over by Russia a year ago, the facility operated on diesel

generators until the link was restored later on Thursday.

The director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) called for a commitment to protecting the safety of the plant, saying he was “astonished by the complacency” surrounding the successive strikes since the invasion began.

“Each time we are rolling a dice. And if we allow this to continue time after time then one day our luck will run out,” Rafael Grossi said.

Elsewhere, Ukraine’s military says it has pushed back intense Russian attacks on the embattled eastern city of Bakhmut despite Russian forces claiming to have

taken control of its eastern half. Moscow has been trying to take Bakhmut for months, as both sides suffer heavy losses in a grinding war of attrition.

“The enemy continued its attacks and has shown no sign of a let-up in storming the city of Bakhmut,” the general staff of the Ukrainian armed forces said. “Our defenders repelled attacks on Bakhmut and on surrounding communities.”

Between 20,000 and 30,000 Russian troops have been killed or wounded in the battle for the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut since it began last summer, Western officials say. The figures cannot be verified independently.

Ukraine war: Why Russia’s infrastructure strikes strategy isn’t working

Three people are reported to have died after a strike hit a bus stop in Kherson

This is the first big, coordinated wave of Russian attacks on Ukraine’s power infrastructure in almost a month.

While there has been some targeting of power facilities in recent weeks, this has been the longest gap since the attacks began in early October.

A much-anticipated wave of strikes to mark the first anniversary of Russia’s full scale invasion on 24 February failed to materialise - though this probably said more about media expectations than Russia’s actual strategy.

But the increasingly sporadic

nature of Russia’s infrastructure attacks is notable.

Western officials believe this indicates a shortage of the kind of precision-guided weaponryespecially missiles - needed to carry out such attacks with any measure of effectiveness.

“It takes them that long to get a number of precision weapons together before they can mount a packaged event strike,” was how one official put it earlier this week.

Ukraine’s military has also become quite adept at intercepting incoming missiles and drones.

Preliminary data suggests that a significant proportion of the weapons used today were shot down, including more than 70% of the cruise missiles and half the

drones.

According to Valerii Zaluzhnyi, commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian army, another eight missiles were thwarted by what he described as “organized countermeasures”.

But clearly, judging by reports from all over the country, others found their mark.

Locals gather around a shelling crater after a rocket hit the Pisochyn neighbourhood outside Kharkiv

Some weapons, like the long range Kh-22 anti-ship missile, which dives steeply onto its target from an extremely high altitude, are hard to intercept.

The same goes for the S-300

anti-aircraft missile, which was never designed to attack targets on the ground but which has been increasingly used in this role over the course of the past six months.

Military analysts will pore over the latest data, looking for what Russia’s choice of weapons indicates about Moscow’s tactics and remaining stocks.

Before today’s attacks, observers had begun to wonder whether Russia would persist with a strategy that doesn’t appear to be working.

Despite the enormous damage inflicted on Ukraine’s power grid over the past six months, the country has not been brought to its knees and most Ukrainians have long since become accustomed to

power cuts, inconvenience and the occasional danger.

Ukraine’s engineers have successfully kept power flowing across the country, despite losing scores of transformers, switches and other key components of the country’s infrastructure.

In Kyiv and other cities, street lights have recently been switched back on, offering relief to pedestrians used to making their way along darkened pavements with only their mobile phones to light the way.

But the situation remains precarious and officials know that Russia is still able to cause immense damage. The question is: For how long?

Source: BBC

It’s feared a wave of unhygienic pranks will scare off sushi train customers

Environment

COP15: High stakes in Montreal as negotiators seek new global biodiversity framework

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) convened for its resumed Fifteenth Conference of the Parties (COP15),yesterday in Montreal, Canada, and to close on Monday, 19. Negotiators will be working to clinch a new global biodiversity framework (GBF) that will set a series of goals and underlying targets for a “nature-positive future.”

The previous set of goals and targets that have guided international biodiversity conservation efforts in recent years, the 2011-2020 Strategic Plan for Biodiversity and its 20 Aichi Targets, expired in 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic stymying plans to already have a GBF ready to take their place.

The first part of the CBD COP15 took place in Kunming, China, and online last year. While China is the meeting’s host, travel restrictions and other challenges related to the pandemic led to the resumed COP15 venue being moved to Montreal, where the CBD secretariat is located.

Discussions in Montreal are numerous and include issues related to addressing environmentally harmful subsidies; the final shape of the 30×30 target; the signals that COP15 sends for scaling up naturebased solutions, including naturebased infrastructure; the linkages between nature-based solutions finance and climate finance; and how the results of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s (UNFCCC) Twenty-seventh Conference of the Parties (COP27) can inform the Global Biodiversity Framework.

Johan Rockström, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), remarked: “We need a ‘Paris Moment’ in Montreal. Similar to the legally binding global climate agreement to hold global warming well below 2 degrees Celsius and aim for 1.5 degree Celsius, governments gathering at the world nature summit COP15 in Canada need to set a limit to nature destruction. To safeguard our life-support system on Earth, we need to halt nature loss to zero, which means protecting all remaining intact nature. Only if we protect and regenerate Earth’s nature, we can really protect Earth’s climate.”

“This is potentially an historic moment for biodiversity,” said Andrew Gonzalez, a professor in the biology department at McGill University in Montreal and founding director of the Quebec Centre for Biodiversity Science.

He added: “The rate of global change in nature during the past 50 years is unprecedented in human history,” the report said, pointing to five key drivers: land- and seause changes, direct exploitation of organisms, climate change, pollution, and invasions of alien species.

Environmental crisis: Nigeria seeks UN interventions on GGW, HYPREP issues

The Federal Government of Nigeria has called on the United Nations (UN) to assist in addressing Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) and Great Green Wall issues (GGW) to enable restoration of lost lands in the country.

Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi, said this while receiving the Deputy Secretary-General of UN, Amina Mohammed, on courtesy visit, in Abuja, recently.

Abdullahi said that the ministry was committed to ensuring that the two major projects were implemented effectively, adding that the UN’s intervention would boost the ministry’s efforts.

“There are two important projects which we will need more of your support, the HYPREP and GGW. We are doing our best to ensure that it’s working greatly.

We have the team for the HYPREP. We are doing our best to make sure that the structure put in place is maintained to ensure checks and balances for good governance and transparency.

“This is what we are doing and we hope we will get robust support from you.

“You have always been there for us and we still have hope that you will continue to give us your full support,” he said.

Responding, Mohammed said that the UN would give its best to support in restoring the loss lands.

“So, it’s really important that we put in place the teams that will help us to look at those programmes and to see that GGW issues is properly addressed.

She said the GGW project was an economic corridor, which would offer empowerment to both youth and women, if properly addressed in the country.

According to her, the GGW project will really empower our people, but at the same time, it is able to give less reason for people to destabilise countries when they get involved in conflicts of different types.

“So again, we are at your disposal; the UN will support any efforts that you want with the GGW, particularly the wetlands,” she said.

Mohammed, however, advised agencies, parastaltals and other relevant stakeholders to support the ministry in ensuring that the environmental programmes were implemented effectively.

She thanked the minister

for his strong leadership and commitment in ensuring that environmental crisis were being tackled as well as ensuring that Paris Agreement was achieved effectively.

HYPREP was established in 2012 under the Federal Ministry of Environment to achieve the under listed objectives in Ogoniland and other impacted communities:

“To determine the scope, means and modalities of remediation of soil and ground water contamination in impacted communities as may be recommended by HYPREP Governing Council and remedy them,

“Enhance local capacity for better environmental management and promote awareness of sound environmental management as

well as ensure livelihoods and sustainable development, and

“Ensure security and promote peace building efforts in impacted communities as well as strengthen governance, transparency and accountability in the region.”

The Great Green Wall (GGW) initiative, launched in 2007 by the African Union, aims to restore the continent’s degraded landscapes and transform millions of lives in the Sahel.

Its ambition is to restore 100 million hectares of currently degraded land, sequester 250 million tonnes of carbon, and create 10 million green jobs by 2030.

In Nigeria, the GGW Initiative also seeks to recover degraded land, preserve ecosystems, and provide sustainable livelihood opportunities for communities.

PILIWA launched in Nigerian

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

Lawyers, civil society, and media executives converged to Benin, the Edo state capital recently for the launch of the Public Interest Lawyering Initiative for West Africa (PILIWA) Nigeria chapter.

The initiative which was founded in 2016 has a membership that cuts across nine West African countries including Cote d’ Ivoire, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Mali, and Niger, among others, and supports young lawyers interested in public interest cases technically, financially, and intellectually.

A member of PILIWA and Executive Director of the Environmental Rights Action/ Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/ FoEN), Chima Williams said that public interest lawyering is a special area for legal practitioners

with passion for public good.

Williams explained that the PILIWA was particularly interested in Nigerian lawyers because of the peculiarity of environmental and human rights abuses perpetrated by big corporations aided by the state in all parts of the country where natural resources are found.

On the Nigeria launch of the PILIWA initiative, the ERA/FoEN boss said a desk office will be set up in Benin which will receive an endowment of N250,000 (two hundred and fifty thousand naira only).

The initiative will equally train young lawyers and imbue them with the relevant knowledge on sources of evidence, how to gather evidence and how to present it before a court of competent jurisdiction.

In his intervention, Jonathan Kaufman, Executive Director of

the Advocates for Community Alternatives (ACA) said that he owes his association with legal work and particularly public interest cases with his experience as a young lawyer, when he was conscripted into the cases filed by families associated with the Ken Saro Wiwa case as well as victims of the Parabe Oil Platform case caused by Chevron in Ondo State.

The two cases, Kaufman pointed out, encouraged him to reach out to and start associating with local lawyers that are classified as stubborn because of their quest for justice.

He revealed that many legal cases suffer because of information gathering deficit, financial constraints, and lack of thoroughness in terms of minute details. Sometimes lawyers are not able to obtain cross border information that their peers may

be able to obtain and pass onto them if a platform for cooperation exists.

He said that the PILIWA platform will bridge the identified gaps to help public interest lawyers secure what they need to push and win unconventional cases.

The highpoint of the event was the inauguration of zonal coordinators for the PILIWA in Nigeria. The nominated coordinators of the South-South, South-east and North Central Zones are Courage Nsirimovu, Kalu Emmanuel Chisom and Redzie D. Jugo respectively. The coordinators for the Northwest, Northeast and Southwest will be announced later.

Participants were drawn from the legal profession in Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Plateau, Imo, Enugu, Niger and Kogi states, among others.

Feature

Eskom crisis: What does South Africa’s state of disaster mean?

South Africa’s president has declared a state of disaster to try and deal with a crippling and unprecedented energy crisis. South Africans have been facing blackouts every day, which have badly affected homes and businesses, but what difference will this emergency measure make, if any?

How bad are the power-cuts?

At an ice cream parlour in Soweto, one company has been struggling to keep their frozen treats cold amid rolling powercuts, referred to locally as “load shedding”.

“It’s terrible,” Thando Makhubu, owner of Soweto Creamery, told the BBC’s Newsday programme. “When load-shedding is really, really bad, we find ourselves using our profit to run,” Mr Makhubu said.

He even fears customers might stop coming to his creamery: “We have had customers who assume that we are closed, because of load-shedding, so I am really worried that if load-shedding worsens, people won’t come.”

His is just one of many businesses and households that have been affected by South Africa’s energy shortage, which has even led to protests, with people declaring that “enough is enough”.

So the pressure has been mounting on President Cyril Ramaphosa to address the issue, which he said he would confront head-on: “We must act to lessen the impact of the crisis on farmers, on small businesses, on our water infrastructure, on our transport network and a number of other areas and facilities that support our people’s lives,” he said in his state of the nation address on Thursday.

Before a clapping crowd, he announced: “We are therefore declaring a national state of disaster to respond to the electricity crisis and its effect.”

President Ramaphosa outlined that the escalation of the crisis would allow the government to implement “practical measures that we need

to take to support businesses,” he said, highlighting those in food production and retail supply chains.

“It will also enable us to exempt critical infrastructure such as hospitals and water treatment plants from loadshedding,” he said, adding that it would allow the government to remove red tape for energy projects and so build them faster.

This crisis is nothing new, and has been 15 years in the making. The country’s stateowned power company, Eskom, has $26bn (£21bn) of debt, old infrastructure, power stations that do not work properly, not to mention a recent strike which crippled the company.

However, the power shortage has escalated in recent months, with South Africans facing electricity cuts for 288 days last year, while this year there have been electricity blackouts for up to 15 hours a day.

What difference will it make?

A state of disaster effectively means that the government is given additional powers to resolve a crisis with less bureaucracy, regulation and extra funds.

However, further details of what will change have not been made public, with one analyst, Ted Blom, telling the AFP news agency that “we don’t know what the government actually plans to do”.

A state of disaster was also implemented during the covid pandemic, and saw some people abusing the emergency measure.

In 2020, the country’s then-auditor general said he uncovered “frightening findings” of overfunding and potential fraud in the use of the Covid-19 relief fund, including some cases where personal protective equipment (PPE) was bought for five times more than the price the national treasury had advised. The government reacted by telling those accused of corruption to resign and cooperate with law enforcement.

However, the president anticipated potential corruption,

and said measures will be put in place to prevent this.

But despite his attempts to address potential corruption, concerns still persist, with the chief whip of the opposition Democratic Alliance, telling the BBC that her party would be “challenging this declaration” because there should be “targeted” intervention towards Eskom instead of a general state of disaster.

“[It] gives unfettered powers to the executive, the parliament has no oversight over the executive under some of those sections of the act,” Siviwe Gwarube also told South Africa’s News24.

“And also more importantly, it allows government departments across the board to essentially subvert procurement processes as and when at will,” she added.

There are also those who think the emergency measure will make no difference at all, and that the president hasn’t taken decisive enough action.

“What the country needs at this time was a deliberate and very decisive action plan with timelines, with targets and with a progress report,” Dr Nthabiseng Moleko, a development economist from Stellenbosch Business School, told South Africa’s SABC news channel.

“It doesn’t look like these solutions that we have are going to yield any outcome that is going

to change the course and the path that this country is on,” she added.

The appointment of a minister of electricity was also announced under the purview of assuming “full responsibility for overseeing all aspects of the electricity crisis response”.

However, this new position has been mocked online, with some saying they would be clueless about how to solve the crisis and saying the country could soon end up with a minister of “potholes”.

The president also outlined plans for the country to continue with its green energy transition programme, including through the “roll-out of rooftop solar panels”.

South Africa relies on aging coal-fired power stations for most of its electricity - in 2020, just 7% of its energy came from renewable sources, according to the International Energy Agency.

Source: BBC

Some South Africans have resorted to getting light from a bottle globe

South Africans have been protesting against load-shedding and the corruption which they say contributed to the crisis

In 2020, the country’s then-auditor general said he uncovered “frightening findings” of overfunding and potential fraud in the use of the Covid-19 relief fund, including some cases where personal protective equipment (PPE) was bought for five times more than the price the national treasury had advised. The government reacted by telling those accused of corruption to resign and cooperate with law enforcement.

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(

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(2) ESTHER OKPETE -SECRETARY .

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3. ADEYEMI OLUWABUKOLA MOSES

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. TO IMPROVE THE STATE OF THE MEDICAL SERVICE, ENVIRONMENTAL STABILITY, IMPROVING THE WELFARE OF THE UNDERPRIVILEGED AND DISADVANTAGED BY PROVIDING MEDICAL AND SOCIAL SERVICES THAT WILL HELP REDUCE DISEASES PREVALENT IN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATEAFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF THE LOSS OF ORIGINAL RIGHT OF OCCUPANCY (R OF O) IN RESPECT OF PLOT NO. 1069, FILE NO. BN 11019, DAPE DISTRICT CADASTRAL ZONE CO4, FCT ABUJA. BEARING ODE OLUJIMI ADEKA.

ALL EFFORTS MADE TO TRACE THE MISSING DOCUMENTS PROVE ABORTIVE. PLEASE THEAGIS, FEDERAL CAPITALTERRITORYADMINISTRATION (FCTA) AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

PUBLIC NOTICE

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. LUCKSLEY INDI IGENEGBAI (CHAIRMAN)

2. KATE MODUPE FALANA (SECRETARY)

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. TO RESCUE MEN THROUGH THE TEACHING AND PREACHING OF THE WORD OF GOD AND PREVAILING PRAYERS.

2. TO RUN AND ESTABLISH VIBRANT CHURCH BRANCHES AND NETWORK WITH OTHER CHRISTIAN BODIES WITHIN AND OUTSIDE NIGERIA.

3. TO ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, WELFARE, AND BENEVOLENCE PROJECTS.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PATRIOTIC ELITE CLUB OF AMASSOMA

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. YERI, WAIBODEI, PETER (CHAIRMAN)

2. AYOGOI, AYOGOI, SIMON (SECRETARY)

3. AMBAIOWEI,TARI,EBIOWEI (MEMBER)

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1.TO ORGANIZE SEMINARS AND ENLIGHTENMENT CAMPAIGNS TO EDUCATE THE PEOPLE OF AMASSOMA COMMUNITY AND BAYELSANS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION IN NATION BUILDING AND SUCH OTHER LECTURES THAT WILL AFFECT THE SOCIETY POSITIVELY.

2.TO FOSTER UNITYAMONG MEMBERSAND INCULCATETHE ESSENCE OF CITIZENSHIP,MUTUAL CO-OPERATION, PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE AND PROGRESS.

3.TO FIGHT AGAINST ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATIONS AS A RESULT OF POLITICAL, SEX, RELIGIOUS, FAMILY AND EDUCATIONAL DIFFERENCES AND TO PROMOTE PEACE AND UNITY IJAW NATION.

4.TO EFFICIENTLY HARNESS AND DIRECT THE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF BAYELSANS ASSISTING DESERVING STUDENTS MORALLY AND FINANCIALLY.

5.TO BE STRONGLY OPPOSED TO ALL FORMS OF CRIMINALITY AND SOCIAL VICES IN SOCIETY.

6.TO ENCOURAGE AND FACILITATE IN ANY DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAMME IN AMASSOMA COMMUNITY AND OTHER PARTS OF BAYELSA STATE.

7.TO PROMOTE THE OBSERVANCE OF THE TENET OF DEMOCRACY, RULE OF LAW, EQUITY, FAIMESS, RIGHT AND JUSTICE IN AMASSOMA AND BAYELSA AT LARGE.

8.TO ADEQUATELY ADVOCATE FOR POLICIES AND IDEOLOGIES OF GOOD GOVENSANCE

9.TO HONESTLY SEEK FOR THE INTEREST AND PROGRESS OF AMASSOMA COMMUNITY IN PARTICULAR AND BAYELSA STATE IN GENERAL. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRARGENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY.

PUBLIC NOTICE

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘F’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, ( CAMA 2020).

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. KUDIRAT MOSUN ADEYEMO-CHAIRMAN

2. NOJEEMDEEN O.OLADIPO-SECRETARY/MEMBER

3. PHILLP DAMILOLA ABIOLA MEMBER

4. AWE GRACE OLUWAFUNMIKE MEMBER

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE :

1. TO ACHIEVE EXCELLENCE AT ALL LEVELS IN THE COMMUNITY.

2. TO CREATE AWARENESS AMONG THE LESS PRIVILEGED (ORPHANS, WIDOWS AND WIDOWERS)

3. TO SET UP ON A HUMANITARIAN GRAND. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED : SECRETARY.

RAIN OF PRAYER ASSEMBLY

TREASURE MINDS CLUB

FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 2023

Rangers thrash Ingas FC to emerge champions of Enugu State FA Cup

By Amaechi Agbo

Rangers International FC on Wednesday emerged winners of the 2023 Enugu State FA champions after humilititing Ingas FC 5-1 in the final played at the Liberty Stadium in Enugu.

Two goals in first half and additional three

in the second half ensured that the 2017 Aiteo Cup winners qualified to the national level in style.

Chidera Eze scored the opening goal on 8th minute before Innocent Gabriel made it 2-0 10 minutes later.

But Ingas FC halved the deficit in the 22nd minute after Chidozie Okorie as the first half

Motema Pembe fail to honour CAF Confederation Cup tie with Rivers United

By Amaechi Agbo

The matchday 3 Group B of the CAF Confederation Cup between Nigeria's champions, Rivers United and Congolese side, Motema Pembe on Wednesday could not hold following non arrival of the visitors.

Rivers United players and officials waited for their guests at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, for the kick-off of the match but they were no nowhere to be found.

There has been no statement from the Confederation of Africa

Football, CAF neither did the visitors communicate to their hosts on what led to their not showing up.

"Officially, CAF TotalEnergies Confederation's Cup group B match number 127 Rivers United (Nigeria) vs DCMP (RD Congo) have been put off following the non arrival of DC Motema Pembe.

"We await the decision of the Confederation of African Football (CAF)", Rivers United said in a statement

Rivers United top Group B with 6 points from three matches.

ended 2-1.

However Rangers unleashed their anger on their opponents as Chidiebere Nwobodo (56), Godwin Obaje (79) and Godwin Obaje (83) goals put the game to rest.

Speaking after the tournament, the Enugu State Football Association chairman, Honourable Tony Ugwu lauded the teams

that participated in the competition.

“It was a rest final and the better team won. We commend all the teams that participated in the Competition, the referees, clubs owners and the Executive board for their support,” he said.

Rangers International and Ingas FC will represent Enugu State at the national FA/ Aiteo Cup.

Nassarawa State Governor’s Cup kicks off April

Allis now set for the commencement of the longawaited Nasarawa State Governor’s Football Cup.

Nasarawa State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Amb. Lucky Isaac Yargwa, made the disclosure in his office in Lafia on Tuesday.

Yargwa said, “I am glad to inform you that the long-awaited Governor’s Football Cup is finally holding in April this year.

“Our sports-loving Governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, has graciously approved funds for the tournament to hold.

“The Governor’s Football Cup was introduced by the first civilian Governor of the State and current National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, His Excellency, Abdullahi Adamu, and was last held during his second tenure in 2005.

“Participants are drawn from the thirteen Local Councils and eighteen Development Areas of the State.

“The initiative is aimed at scouting for raw and

hidden talents that abound in the State for further development into global stardom.

“It’s also to promote peaceful co-existence among the diverse ethnic, religious and social settings in the State.

“Numerous talents, some of whom are now retired, were discovered from the competition.

“This, we hope, will help us to find our missing link in the round leather game and provide a fulcrum for, not only talent discovery, but job creation and revenue generation.

“With the approval, we are going to constitute some powerful committees made up of critical stakeholders immediately after the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections to ensure a successful tournament.

“Prizes and other reward packages are available for teams that make it to the final stage of the tournament.

“All things being equal, this competition will commence between the first or second week of April, this year.”

Int’l Women’s Day: Volleyball President tasks women on leadership roles in nationbuilding

The President of Nigeria Volleyball Federation, Engineer Musa Nimrod has urged the womenfolk in the volleyball circle to take up leadership positions in their chosen fields for the benefit of the game.

Nimrod stated this in his speech at the 2023 International Women’s Day Celebration in Kaduna on Wednesday.

He hinted that the National women’s team has always made the nation proud at International Championships.

Nimrod said, “The idea is to celebrate the effort of notable women in the Nigeria Volleyball community for their contributions. I am urging women to take up leadership roles in their ministries, Local and State Governments as well as in the private sector.

“If women get opportunities, I am optimistic they will make a huge difference because of their nature”.

Nimrod said the Comptroller of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in Imo, Mrs Nkechi Ezugwu, who also doubles as the Vice President of Nigeria Volleyball Federation is a good example of women making an impact in leadership.

He said, “I am proud to say that the 2nd Vice President of Nigeria Volleyball Federation, Mrs Nkechi Ezugwu is an example of women who are using their office for the betterment of the game.

“The Controller of Immigration should be a role model to other women in volleyball”, he added.

P R T

Job humbles Iweanya in 2023 Director’s Table Tennis championship in Abuja

By Albert Akota

An officer from department of the (PTMS) David Job beat Mr. Tony Iweanya of the department of (Admin) at the ongoing Director’s Table Tennis Championship at Directorate of Road Traffic Service headquarters in Abuja to set the ball rolling for others competitors.

Despite the defeat, the love of the game was not departed from them rather beauty of the game was obviously observed when Mr. Tony was congratulating Mr. David job in the opening games encounter with a scores of 11-9, 117, 9-11,11-9.

The Annual Table Tennis Championship was declared open by Director R1, Dr Abdullatif Bello with warning to all participants to adhered strictly to the rules and regulations of the championship.

The annual Championship which was put together by the DRTS to strengthen it officers physically and mentally for the huge task before them witness various officers celebrating colleague’s sportsmanship and control of the ball.

“We are happy with what we saw today, Many think we can’t play games, all what we do is vehicle inspection, it far from that.

“We know how to play games

likes Table Tennis even football, this is just the bringing, we have players that can do us or the nation proud, watch officers in action, we have them here,” he explained.

The ground finale of the 2023 Table Tennis Championship concede with Director R1, Dr Abdullatif Bello’s one year in office with a high expectations and unprecedented event.

Others games are as follow

Wednesday 8th Of March.

Game C1

Mr. Musa Muhammad (Director). Vs Mr. Irechukwu Charles (Inspection)

Time 2:pm

Game C2

Mr. Nathaniel Kaita (F&A) Vs Mr Olawale

Thursday 9th Of March

Game D1

Mr. Wasiu Ogundiji (Inspection) Vs Mr. Nasiru (Budget) Time 2pm

Game D2

Mr. Mustapha Salihu (CMR) Vs Mr. Kubau (PRO). 3pm

Friday 10th Of March

Game E1

Mr. Omole Olaitan vs Mr. Kalu Emetu (PRO) 2pm

Coach Nnamani Appeals For Support As Nigeria battle Nicaragua in IHF Trophy Championship

Coach Emeka Nnamani has appealed to Nigerians for support as the national male under 18 handball team begin their IHF Trophy Intercontinental Championship campaign against Nicaragua later today

The national under 18 male handball team will play Nicaragua today at 5pm (12am Thursday midnight in Nigeria) and Coach Nnamani believes his team have what it takes to win Nicaragua.

“The boys are adapting to the weather and the country should

expect that the team will win our first match against Nicaragua with our level of preparation”.

Coach Emeka Nnamani said.

Coach Nnamani also said the players are motivated to do better in the championship than what the did in Kosovo in 2019 when they finished second behind Chinese Taipei with the support and prayers of Nigerians.

“I want to appeal to my people (Nigerians) that they pray for us as we are believe we can win the trophy and do better than what we

did in Kosovo with their support”

Coach Nnamani said.

Nigeria’s Under 18 Male Handball Team Arrive Costa Rica

For IHF Trophy Intercontinental Championship 2023

The Nigeria U-18 Male team arrived San Jose, Costa Rica for the IHF Trophy Intercontinental Championship.

The team left the shore of the country from the Muritala Muhammed International Airport over the weekend and arrived San Jose on Monday as

the competition commenced onTuesday.

The Coach Emeka Nnamani tutored side will begin their campaign on Wednesday against Nicaragua at 5pm (Costa Rica time) which is 12am Nigeria time at the prestigious BN Arena in the city of San Jose, Costa Rica.

Matches will be streamed on HFN TV via the website of the International Handball Federation.

Photo: Players at the Director’s Game

S P R T

Nasarawa United midfielder Osanga targets Better second NPLF stanza

With the second phase of the 2022/23 Nigeria Premier Football League Season set to commence, Nasarawa United’s winger, King Osanga, has assured that they would turn around the fortune of the Club.

Osanga(MON) who featured in five out of the nine games for the Solid Miners in the first stanza of the league and scoring two goals, stated this to the Club’s Media on Monday in Lafia.

“We are battle ready for the second half of the league, even though our start to the season

wasn’t good enough.

“We are bringing our heads together for the survival of the team. Hopefully, we are up and ready for the second stanza.

“We work as a collective team. No tree can form a forest. I will always do my best by bringing my wealth of experience to take the team out of the position we ended in the first stanza.

“We don’t deserve to be where we are in the league. You know the history of the Club, but we can finish among the best at the end of the season.

“We will approach each game

as it comes, and this begins from our next game away to Remo Stars whom we beat 2-0 in our last home game before the league went on a break.

“Regarding boosting the team with some new legs, I think it’s a welcome development and we hope that whoever is brought into the team would add to the progress of the team.”

The Nigerian junior international won the FIFA U-17 World Cup for Nigeria in 2007 in South Korea and also adorned Nigeria’s colours at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt

in 2009.

Nasarawa United started the 2022/23 league campaign on a rather sour note, suffering six defeats, winning only two and drawing one game in the abridged Group ‘A’ fixtures, sitting at the 9th position, with seven points.”

But the Coach Bala Nikyuled team is doing everything possible for better performance upon resumption, with their first match away to Remo Stars whom they had beaten 2-0 in the first leg in Jos on 20th February, 2023.

U-20 AFCON: Bosso confident his charges will neutralize Uganda for World Cup ticket

By Amaechi Agbo

Coach Isah Ladan Bosso believes he has the men to push Uganda’s Hippos off the way in their Africa U20 Cup of Nations quarter-final duel on Thursday and reach the FIFA U20 World Cup finals scheduled for Indonesia, 20th May – 11th June.

Both teams clash at the 22,000 -capacity Suez Canal Authority Stadium in Ismailia as from 7pm Egypt time (6pm Nigeria time) on Thursday, and the Flying Eagles’ tactician says that while he does not underrate the Hippos, he trusts his charges to make Nigeria proud and reach the tournament’s last four.

“Before we left our training camp in Morocco, the NFF President, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau told us clearly that the first objective should be getting a ticket to the FIFA World Cup. We are at that most important stage now and we cannot afford to falter.

“We are aware that Nigerians are looking up to us to deliver. While our mission remains bagging the World Cup ticket, we are also eyeing the trophy, which is still a number of matches away. For the moment, we have Uganda in our view and we are working hard to see that we control proceedings on Thursday.”

Two-time silver medallists and one-time bronze medallists Nigeria are seeking to make another appearance at the FIFA U20 World Cup finals. They finished in third place when the tournament was staged in then USSR in 1985, beating the host nation on penalty shoot-out in the bronze medal match. Four years later, in Saudi Arabia, the

Chelsea defender Thiago Silver out for 6 Weeks

By Amaechi Agbo

Chelsea’s woeful performance in the Premier League may be far from over as their reliable defender and deputy captain, Thiago Silva has been ruled out for six weeks

Silver suffered knee ligament damage during Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at rivals Tottenham.

The 38-year-old Brazil captain had a scan on Monday and the club have not said how long he is likely to be out.

“Having sustained a knee injury during the first half of Sunday’s match against Tottenham Hotspur, Thiago underwent further assessment and a scan on his return to the training centre on Monday.

“Scan results from those assessments have confirmed damage to Thiago’s knee ligaments and he will now work closely with the club’s medical department during his rehabilitation to return to action as soon as possible,” Chelsea said in statement

It is however beloved that the defender would be out for 5 to 6 weeks

Silva will miss next week’s Champions League last-16 second leg against Dortmund, which Chelsea trail 1-0.

The Champions League is the Blues’ last chance of silverware this season.

Flying Eagles lost 0-2 to Portugal in a classic Final in Riyadh. And in 2005, Lionel Messi and Argentina were 2-1 winners in the Final match in The Netherlands.

The Hippos of Uganda finished top of their Group B which also included Congo, South Sudan and the Central African Republic. They defeated Central African Republic 2-1, and drew 2-2 and 0-0 with Congo and South Sudan respectively. It took a drawing of lots by the Confederation of African Football to separate Uganda and Congo and determine the winner of Group B, as both teams finished with the same statistics.

Meanwhile, the Flying Eagles will be without the services of team captain Daniel Bameyi due

to accumulation of two yellow cards. The defender was cautioned twice in the group games against Senegal and Mozambique.

In the other quarter-final games, nine-pointer The Gambia will take on fresh birds South Sudan, who shocked Central African Republic 1-0 and drew 0-0 with Uganda to finish in third place in Group B with four points. Their only defeat was a 1-2 reverse against Congo. The match will hold at the Haras El-Hedood Stadium in Alexandria on Friday.

On Thursday, before the Flying Eagles take on Uganda in Ismailia, Group A winners Senegal will tango with Benin Republic at the Cairo International Stadium. The Young Cheetahs finished in third place in Group C with

only two points having drawn with Zambia and Tunisia, but unlucky to concede an own goal two minutes to the end of their encounter with group winners The Gambia on Monday.

The last quarter-final duel is between Congo and Tunisia, at the Cairo International Stadium on Friday evening. The North Africans pulled their weight to defeat Zambia 2-1 on Monday, after having lost 0-1 to The Gambia and drawing 0-0 with Benin Republic earlier in Group C.

All four winners will advance to the semi-finals of the competition, but more importantly, qualify to represent Africa at the FIFA U20 World Cup finals in Indonesia.

He will also be absent as Graham Potter’s struggling side look to improve their dismal league form, including Saturday’s home Premier League game against Leeds United Chelsea are 14 points from the top four and have only won twice in their past 15 games in all competitions.

Silva signed a one-year contract extension this month, which will keep him at Chelsea until summer 2024. He will also be absent as Graham Potter’s struggling side look to improve their dismal league form, including Saturday’s home Premier League game against Leeds United Chelsea are 14 points from the top four and have only won twice in their past 15 games in all competitions.

The Flying Eagles before departing Cairo for Ismailia on Friday last week.

PEOPLES DAILY

SPORTS

Jesus returns to training

Embracing Nelson Mandela’s contested legacy

Thirty years ago this week, I sat in front of a television, waiting for Nelson Mandela to walk through the gates of Cape Town’s Victor Verster Prison, wondering what he would look like.

I was living in Nairobi at the time, part of a community of South Africans in exile. For weeks there were rumours swirling that Mandela would be out soon. I heard the adults whispering but dared not believe it could be true. On the day it finally happened I sat with my aunt and uncle. We sat with the television on, tuned to CNN, waiting. Like my parents, they had also left South Africa decades ago. They too had spent their time raising funds and sheltering comrades and smuggling letters for the African National Congress (ANC).

Mandela was not just any leader – he was our commander in chief.

Guest Columnist

By Sisonke Msimang

he would welcome this debate as a healthy sign of a nation grappling with its past in order to work out its future. I suspect that were he still active in politics today, Mandela would not cling to the conciliatory stance for which he is now so widely respected around the world and for which he has been so roundly attacked at home.

Gabriel Jesus joined his team-mates back in training at London Colney Wednesday morning as he steps up his recovery from injury which has stopped him featuring for Arsenal since November.

The summer signing from Man City scored five goals in 14 games in the Premier League before suffering the injury at the World Cup.

There was a great sight at London Colney Gabriel Jesus returned to full training with his teammates after missing the past four months with a knee injury.

The Brazilian striker had to undergo surgery to fix the issue picked up in Qatar back in November, and thankfully his long road to recovery is nearing an end after he joined in with Wednesday’s training session ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Sporting CP on the Europa League

It was the squad’s final chance to go through their final preparations before boarding a plane to Portugal, as they return to Europa League action on Thursday night.

It is not clear at press time if Jesus would make the trip.

I had not been born when he was sent to Robben Island but he had shaped my whole life. Apart from my parents, no one had done more to determine where I went and what I hoped for in life. By the time I turned five I knew how to raise my fist in the air and shout: “Amandla! Long live the spirit of Nelson Mandela!”

It is strange to think we did not know what he would look like given the fact that today he is easily one of the most recognisable political figures of the last century. In fact, as recently as last year, in a poll run by the BBC, Mandela was selected as the 20th century’s greatest leader. He beat Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill for the top spot.

Mandela’s reputation as a peacemaker was built in the decade that followed his triumphant release. In the years that followed, he would oversee a tricky negotiation process as he tried to steer a path towards the 1994 election – the first free and fair vote for all the country’s citizens. In the process, he would mourn the assassination of Chris Hani, a trusted comrade and protege. After Hani’s brutal murder, Mandela calmed the nation, bringing the country back from the brink of civil war.

Less than two years later, as the 1995 Rugby World Cup kicked off, Mandela would don the Springboks jersey and walk onto the field to shake the hand of captain Francoise Pienaar. This act of friendship made global headlines, burnishing his image as a man of extraordinary kindness and grace. Before this point, rugby had been seen as an Afrikaner sport and black South Africans had often cheered for the opposition. Pienaar noted that: “when the final whistle blew [at the end of that match] South Africa changed forever”.

Mandela was a consummate

politician. These acts were not spontaneous. They were well planned and carefully calculated. He understood the power of symbolism and knew that his country would need the support of the international community as it sought to build an inclusive economy, one that worked for black workers as well as whites. Mandela’s global engagements were partly motivated by an understanding that the country’s economic success would, in part, rely on its global image.

At home, Mandela had his eye firmly on unity. Again, he understood that this was the key to social and economic progress for black South Africans. Forgiveness was a crucial tactic, but it was not a stand-alone vision. Mandela was convinced black and white South Africans would need to trust one another in order to move into a shared future.

It has become popular to criticise Mandela by suggesting that he advocated forgiveness because he was desperate for white approval, or because he was naive. There is little evidence to back these assertions.

Mandela made a political calculation, convinced that forgiveness was important in its own right, but that it would help to push the country forward. Bitterness and vengeance had no economic future. To make this idea practical, one of his first acts as president was to establish the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), appointing fellow Nobel Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu as its chairperson.

The TRC was a global hit. The two men were powerful ambassadors. Around the world, it was heralded as an international example of a new form of conflict resolution. At home, it was more complicated. For many, the TRC stirred up old wounds but provided no answers. In

the end, only one man – Eugene De Kock – ever served time for crimes committed during the apartheid era. The rest of the apartheid generals, politicians and intelligence agency heads walked away scot-free.

By the end of Mandela’s presidential term in 1999, South Africa’s glorious transition was showing cracks. Less than five years after he left office, Mandela’s party was facing a serious crisis. As the AIDS epidemic tore through the nation, the ANC seemed out of touch with those it had always represented. Thabo Mbeki’s denialist stance was bad for the ANC but it did not seem to affect Mandela’s standing. He remained popular, in part because he was able to speak out against Mbeki’s views, in spite of remaining a loyal member of the party.

Over the last few years, however, as a vociferous debate emerged about land and economic justice, Mandela’s reputation has taken a knock. In 2016 Julius Malema, the firebrand leader of a new political party called the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) said: “The Nelson we are celebrating now is not the Nelson we celebrated before prison and during prison. It’s a stagemanaged Nelson Mandela.”

This sort of blustery talk is part of Malema’s trademark. Yet it gets to the core of the debate about Mandela’s legacy. Many young, black people think Mandela’s Rainbow Nation rhetoric was designed to appease white people. As far as they are concerned, the idea has passed its sell-by date.

Many of these younger critics are only interested in unity if it can help them to find jobs and feed their families. For them, the question of South Africa’s future does not hinge on friendship across the races, it is dependent on economic justice.

Having studied Mandela and his legacy for many years, I imagine

Mandela was the ultimate tactician. He lasted on the political scene because time and again over the course of his political career, when he met with changed circumstances, he recalibrated his approach to suit the times. In the 1950s, when nonviolent protesters were met with the guns of apartheid police in Sharpeville, Mandela took up arms and accepted that armed struggle was a necessity. When he emerged from prison and it was time to negotiate, he took off his militant hat and became a negotiator. Once that phase was over and he believed unity was required, Mandela turned himself into a spokesman for peace and reconciliation.

Mandela refused to be tied down by dogma – he did what he believed was best for his people. If he were alive today, Mandela would probably have been at the forefront of the debate, insisting that the only secure future is one in which there are greater rights for the poorest and most vulnerable. Mandela’s ability to change his tactics to suit his context was his greatest attribute. In this sense, his embrace of forgiveness could never be seen as selling out. His decision to privilege unity did not represent the end game. Instead, it was an important pit-stop on the road to justice. If there have been failures, they cannot be ascribed to Mandela alone. Mandela handed the baton to others and it is our responsibility to finish the race.

Sisonke Msimang is an Int’l Affairs Analyst.

“

Mandela refused to be tied down by dogma – he did what he believed was best for his people. If he were alive today, Mandela would probably have been at the forefront of the debate, insisting that the only secure future is one in which there are greater rights for the poorest and most vulnerable