Pastor Adeboye must rue this

Tribune Online
Pastor Adeboye must rue this

WORK on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway has been going on, on-and-off and at snail’s speed for God-knows-how-long. Even the king of dullards know that this is the most important road in the entire country; its economic value, not to talk of the political, is incomparable to none; yet, it has been left to deteriorate and decay, causing untold hardship to travellers; leading to avoidable loss of life and property; and causing colossal economic loss to individuals, corporate organisations and the country as a whole.

Work on the road has been in fits. This can only happen in a country that does not set its priorities right and which takes decisions on sentiments and other base considerations. We take critical decisions to reward loyalty or punish “enemies” regardless of the hurt we inflict on our common good. Where people put their money where their mouth is, construction work on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, which has outlived three civilian presidents since 1999, would long have been completed. Even now that a fourth president is struggling half-heartedly to finish off the job, it is obvious to all that the volume of traffic on the road today dwarfs what was applicable when the reconstruction of the road was on the drawing board decades back. In other words, using outmoded statistics to build the road, it already has fallen far behind its usefulness. The Lagos-Ibadan expressway, even after its completion, will not serve the purpose of ease of transportation. In other words, we shall be thinking of expanding this same road and adding arteries and by-passes immediately – or ever before – it is completed! Is that not how we have dilly-dallied on the gas project, on power, desert encroachment, Ogoni clean-up, and, wait for it, on the restructuring of the country? We delay until it becomes too late or virtually ineffective. That is one point; the other is the reported closure of the expressway for four months – not days and not weeks – without viable alternatives already provided!

This is a country of suffer-heads, to quote Fela. It is also, on the other hand, a country of joffer-heads. The people suffer but their leaders enjoy to the hilt, ironically, on the wealth of the same suffering masses. No consideration is ever put into place to see that the people do not suffer or, at the very least, to ameliorate their suffering. Otherwise, how can anyone think of closing the Lagos-Ibadan expressway without, one, giving adequate warning of months and not just days as they have done? Two, how can they contemplate such partial closure without first of all providing effective alternative routes rather than directing commuters to already congested and in-bad-shape “alternative” routes? Three, how can they choose this period of the year when the masses are engaged in the rat-race of making hay before Christmas and New Year? Four, how can they decide on this within the annual convention of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, which attracts millions of worshippers from home and abroad? Does this government ever care about its image? We know already it does not care a hoot about the suffering of the people.

Pastor Olaitan Olubiyi, spokesperson of the RCCG, tried to douse tension when he announced that the mission had discussed and reached an agreement with those concerned on how to avoid this catastrophe but, pronto, government officials countered that the closure would proceed apace! This is a mission that boasts the sitting Vice-President, who usually attends RCCG programmes! Anyway, he may fly in, in a chopper! On hire, choppers are usually US$7,000 per hour! You see what I mean! I will love to see the VP drive into RCCG Campground during the road closure. What respect and leverage does this VP command in a government in which he is the Number Two?

Perhaps, more importantly, is the suspicion that the road closure at this point in time may have been targeted at Adeboye – a warning that, see, we can hurt you and your interests. Or a punishment for the jabs he had been forced to throw at the powers-that-be for reasons beyond his control. As careful as Adeboye might have been, public pressure will not let him be. That RCCG boasts the VP is enough pressure and blackmail on its own. People will ask: Is that why Adeboye is keeping quiet? Why you say he has not been keeping quiet; they will ask: Is that why he has not been as forceful as expected? The other day, some activists stormed the RCCG campground to insist that Adeboye speak out more forcefully on the State-of-the-Nation. His protestation that as member of the PFN and CAN he stands with the decisions of those two organisations does not satisfy many. Now, it would appear that Adeboye stands between the rock and the hard place; he may have found himself between the devil and the deep blue sea. What will he do? Will he read the handwriting on the wall and withdraw into his shell? Or will he damn the consequences and stand by the truth? Adeboye has taught in his daily devotional “Open Heavens” that not speaking out against injustice and oppression; knowing the truth and shying away from speaking it makes anyone as culpable as the vile offenders. Will he, then, practise what he preaches or will it be “do as I say and not as I do”? The world watches!

I must conclude by saying that I do not envy Daddy G. O., as Adeboye is fondly called by Redeemers and non-Redeemers alike. I stand to be weaned off my conviction that the closure of Lagos-Ibadan expressway at this point in time is both punishment and blackmail. It is also scantily-concealed threat and warning to the man of God. It is an affront to the God of the man of God. If they tarry for just one week, is that the “delay” that will prevent them from delivering this project on schedule? Pray, how many “schedules” have we seen them move forward again and again on this same road? May Pastor Adeboye receive grace and strength to stand firm even in the face of this obvious provocation! He must not waver because, apart from the outsiders who may taunt, there are also fifth columnists waiting in the wings to mock and disparage if he wavers. The most vicious enemies of a man, usually, are those of his own household. In conclusion: It is not the truth that you know but the one that you speak out and stand up for that sets you free.

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Leah Sharibu: Whether living, whether dead

The fact is, when men carry the same ideals in their hearts, nothing can isolate them – neither prison walls nor the sod of cemeteries. For a single memory, a single spirit, a single idea, a single conscience, a single dignity will sustain them all. —Fidel Castro in “History will absolve me”

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, for thy sake we are killed all the daylong; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. —Romans 8: 35 – 39.

The vile and empty characteristically dance and defecate on the grave of true patriots, obviously to desecrate and deface their memory. They danced on the grave of Awo. After frustrating his yeoman’s efforts to be president, a pedestal he had hoped to use to better the lot of the common man, they praised and eulogised him to high heavens at his death. The vilest of them all, the ones who were unsparing in their opposition, the Brutus, so to say, were the loudest in their ululation of Awo, shedding the most crocodile tears as they waxed lyrical. One of such described Awo as “the best president Nigeria never had”. He was right – but he was one of those who ensured Awo never reached his goal.

They danced on the grave of MKO Abiola. “On June 12 we stand” became “On June 12 we eat”  Last year, the locusts returned ostensibly with good tidings; saying they had come to honour MKO. Thank God you can deceive some of the people all the time; you can deceive all the people some of the time but you cannot deceive all the people all the time.

They danced on the grave of Funke Olakunrin, not minding the additional misery they were piling on his grieving family and forlorn 95-year-old father. For some of them, it was the best time to rub insult into injury.

They are getting ready now to dance on Leah Sharibu’s grave.  When rumours broke concerning her “death” before the elections, Government quickly denied it. “Don’t put sand in our garri”, they seemed to be saying. It is not true that they really want Leah out of incarceration. It would demystify them. Tell me what efforts they have made to free her. The other day they said her captors demanded some billions which they said was too much – but they have reportedly given N100 billion to Miyetti Allah and are already spending whopping billions on RUGA for killer herdsmen.

But angelic Leah Sharibu will never die! Leah has taught us Christian chivalry, courage, and strength of character as of the times of old. She has taught us godly love as practised by Christ and the apostolic Fathers. She has taught us how to focus on God and the things of God, not distracted by worldly living and the things of this world. She is a living example of what Peter meant when he told the Lord Jesus that they had left home and family and everything else and had followed him. “And Jesus answered and said: Verily I say unto you, there is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, but he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life” – Mark 10: 29 7 30.

For mockers and scorners, Leah’s immediate reward here is that she has etched her name in gold. Jesus raised Lazarus from death: what was the eventual end of Lazarus? Methuselah lived 969 years: what became of Methuselah? Sir, Ma, what will be your eventual end – and what will be mine? Pray, what will be the eventual end of the captors/killers of Leah and those dancing or getting ready to dance on her grave? In another 100/200 years, if the Lord tarries, many of us will no longer be remembered even by members of our immediate families.

But Leah leaves in the present times in our heart. And, as they say, to live in the heart of those we love – and who love us – is not to die. Leah will live in future times on the pages of history. Her memory and remembrance will outlive that of presidents. Kids like her will read about her. Adults will study her. Academic theses and dissertations will be conducted on the chivalry and example of Leah Sharibu.

Leah has run her race well. She will one day finish her course. And like the apostle Paul said, “…there is laid up for (her) a crown of righteousness…” (11 Timothy 4: 8).

Let mockers and scorners know that the vile murderers and terrorists, their sponsors, defenders, backers and, above all, the cause they purport to advance, are the losers – ultimately. Another set of losers are tongue-tied Church leaders who, unlike John the Baptist who spoke truth to power, specialise in what they euphemistically call “wisdom” instead of picking up the gauntlet.

 

EDITOR’S NOTE: This column was put to bed before the announcement shifting forward the road closure under the searchlight here.

Pastor Adeboye must rue this
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What Nigerians must do to make new ministers perform —ASUU president

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What Nigerians must do to make new ministers perform —ASUU president

HOW do you explain the Senate position asking any ministerial nominee who were once state or federal lawmaker to just ‘bow and go’ during screening?

For me, to ask nominees to just bow and go on the floor of the Senate for people who are to become ministers is grossly undemocratic. It is indeed a very funny practice. For the Senate to insist that is their tradition for any ex-senator or House of Reps member is not binding on the rest of Nigerians. They are supposed to be responsive to our feelings. The Senate ought to probe their past and deeds. They should be subjected to interrogation on the floor of the Senate so that Nigerians can actually know the true profiles of those who are going to head one ministry or the other.

And I want to believe that one of the things that might have informed that practice could be because the nominees are not being attached to any specific ministry or portfolio in the documents before them.

And it appeared that the presidency did not also give Nigerians enough room to actually know how well those who are going to administer our various ministries are prepared or equipped for the job and assignments before them.

So, as academics, we believe that there is no issue that cannot be questioned or interrogated. And if anybody had anything in the past and that person is assigned to a leadership role, he or she should be ex-rayed.  Somebody might have even been accused  wrongly of misdeeds while in office in the past and now being pushed forward for another role like that of a minister, the screening should have been a good opportunity for them to defend themselves before the public. So, for me, that so-called screening should have given them the opportunity to clear their names from  the mess because there could have been wrong allegations against somebody. But this ‘bow and go’ system just on the basis of once being a senator and all that is not acceptable to Nigerians. Or is it that the Senate is saying that all senators are perfect human beings and cannot be wrong? That can never be. Though, there are some senators who are not benchwarmers and who performed well,  there are still some even among the current ones who are just benchwarmers and perpetual absentees. So, if such people should come back and as ministers in future, do we say we should extend that same gesture to them? People could have served in any capacity, either as governors or legislators or even ministers and so forth, their past should be subjected to open investigations. That is a normal way to go in an ideal setting.

 

Maybe, the practice has bearing in older democracies in advanced countries.

No. The system does not in any way support democratic ethos. Democratic ethos is about questioning assumptions and allowing reasons to prevail. So, you cannot assume that somebody is a good man and by the time you diagnose that person’s past, you may discover that he or she is a wolf appearing like a sheep.

Similarly, I don’t think that practice is known to other parts of the world.  You know Nigerians can be so funny.  In other jurisdictions, a sitting president can be questioned and that is what democracy is about. Your leaders or potential leaders should not be afraid to answer any question and anybody should be able to ask any aspiring leader questions, especially as regards their visions and how to bring them to fruition when in office. But when you protect or over-protect them as is the case in Nigeria and we say, well in this chamber, they are sacred cows, then the Senate has denied Nigerians the opportunity to actually know their leaders and their true colours.

 

What then are the general implications of the practice to our democracy and to the country as an acclaimed giant of Africa?

The implications are huge and they are all negative. The first one is that we might have elected a leader who would have put ministers in positions they may not be capable of handling well. This is because giving a minister a wrong portfolio is to prepare him for poor performance when eventually in office. And part of that preparation is insensitivity to people’s feelings. You put people in positions they lack capacities for just because they are senators and all that. That someone who should be interrogated and scrutinised to see if they fit into position of authority are not allowed to go through such by the same platform is not a good signal for us as a country.

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So, does it mean that once you are a Senator, you are not accountable to anybody? That is why, to me, one may be put in a position one does not fit in.

Another implication is that, they may begin to see themselves as being powerful and bigger than the law and the entire system. The third implication is that we are making a mockery of our democracy. The global community will be watching us and what would be their perception on our ministerial screening model, where you ask somebody to just bow and go when it is not that all is well? Definitely, they will be laughing at us. They would be asking if we are really serious about developing as a country. So, we should stop forthwith this mockery of our democracy and the country at large.

 

Then what about the nominees, I mean their composition?

The composition, generally, I believe, does not actually bring any innovative perspective to leadership in our democracy. When you talk of innovative perspective to leadership, we can use the example of what happened recently in the United Kingdom, where someone below 40 years and a Nigerian for that matter is made a minister.  So, you see when you are looking for innovation, we will not mind where somebody is coming from. But what we are doing in Nigeria is not to look for performers, competency, credibility and integrity, but to look for people who can bring a political mileage in terms of electioneering and voting. So, what I see in the composition are those who can probably help in the next general election. Those who are well positioned to support the ruling party in winning the next elections. And we cannot actually attract the best. There are crack technocrats out there who know their games,  who are skillful, experienced and exposed and who could actually and meaningfully add value to our democratic culture and could deliver on the dividends of democracy without being allied to any political party. But, we could describe the composition as a party-based nomination for election process. But we shouldn’t over-politicise governance. Otherwise, we would not get the brightest and the best people for the system. And we should look for them and bring them on board so that we can have what is good for us as a country in terms of transformation, progress and development.

So, there is nothing new in the composition and nothing inspiring about the list. It is that the politicians are just recycling themselves without electoral values. They were selected based on what contributions they made in the last election and what contributions they can make in the next elections.

 

What then should Nigerians expect from them?

That is a great question. Well, I don’t see them performing much different from what they did the last time. However, if Nigerians can pile up pressure on them, I think we can force them to do something much significant this time round because Nigerians deserve the best.  And what that means is that we should not let down our guards and that we should be active in monitoring and advocating the best from them. And what that also means is that our agitation for continued improvement and development of the country should now be taken more seriously by intensifying efforts in asking for and insisting on the best from them.  That will put pressure on them and if we then need to bring technocrats in to support them, the president should not hesitate to do that. We are far from where we are supposed to be as a country.

What Nigerians must do to make new ministers perform —ASUU president
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Between Fatoyinbo and Dakolo: Interrogating a rape allegation

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Between Fatoyinbo and Dakolo: Interrogating a rape allegation

There is a growing suspicion in several quarters that the dark cloud orchestrated by the trending story on the conventional media organisations- electronic and print, as well as all the social media platforms is a smoke screen aimed at concealing the real intention of those behind the rape saga in the house of God.

This ugly allegation and the issues it has thrown up is even made more delicate because it is woven around a highly respected man of God whose ministry has been making national and international impacts in fulfilling its mandate of bringing the unsafe to the saving grace of Jesus Christ, healings and deliverance, empowerment programmes for the underprivileged in the society through massive humanitarian activities, among others.

Indeed, the rape allegation against the colourful pastor of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Biodun Fatoyinbo, by the wife of the popular singer Mrs. Bisola Dakolo, has been dominating public, especially social media space for weeks now. I am however worried and miffed at the same time by the biased conclusions and public hysteria over the matter. Particulary I am deeply alarmed by the silent proclamation of many of guilt on the pastor, who has not even been tried in a law court by many who ae now calling for his head. Could the whole allegation have been deliberately plotted to bring down an innocent man of God?  Whatever the answer might be, I believe is it is pertinent to deeply query the authenticity or otherwise of the weighty allegation.

Rape is not only abominable, barbaric and repugnant to natural justice; it is also a criminal offence punishable under the extant laws of the federation. To this end, it is only natural and logical for any victim of rape to seek redress in a court of competent jurisdiction rather than hide under the guise of public outrage, inspired by calumnious and unsubstantiated campaign on the media space. There are many cases of rape in the land but the unprecedented protest, with beautiful and expensive placards and handbills against the Pastor means a lot to those who are sincere and neutral. It is one rape too many.

A case as serious as rape should not be left in the hands of unschooled and uninitiated in the temple of justice who take pleasure in sitting on the court of public opinion and passing verdicts on the accused without recourse to the fact of the case or calling of witnesses before sentencing their victims to death.

Though, I am not a lawyer, my little knowledge of law supports my opinion that the court of public opinion or media trial as it is popularly called is opposed to several legal principles. For instance, there exists a principle of presumption of innocence in the legal parlance, which provides that one is considered innocent unless proven guilty.

This principle was traditionally expressed by the Latin maxim ei incumbit probatio qui dicit, non qui negat (“the burden of proof is on the one who declares, not on one who denies”). In constitutional democracies where rule of law is practiced, presumption of innocence is a legal right of the accused in a criminal trial. It is also in the international human right under the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 11. Under the presumption of innocence, the legal burden of proof is thus on the prosecution, which must present compelling evidence to a judge or a jury.

The principle presupposes that the prosecution must in most cases prove that the accused is guilty beyond reasonable doubt and if reasonable doubt remains, the accused must be acquitted. Also, 3 out of the 20 maxims of equity readily come to mind in this raging debate thus: “One who seek equity must do equity”, “He who comes into equity must come with clean hands”, and “Equity will not suffer a wrong to be without a remedy.”

But how can there be remedy when the alleged victim has continually refused to take any legal step that will lead to her getting justice if the allegation is proven beyond reasonable doubt. Another Latin maxim states that Audi alteram partem (or audiatur et altera pars), meaning “listen to the other side”, or “let the other side be heard as well.”

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This legal principle posits that no person should be judged without a fair hearing in which each party is given the opportunity to respond to the evidence against them. Regrettably, the justices in the court of media trial seeking justice against Pastor Fatoyinbo have inadvertently raped justice in a most brutal manner by willfully jettisoning the aforementioned legal principles.

It is on this premise that one is tempted to believe the growing whispers in certain quarters that Dakolo and his co-accuser are not seeking justice against the rape allegation against COZA pastor but are out to destroy the man by dragging his name through the mud for some reasons best known to them.

If the aforesaid hypothesis is not credible, why the uproar over the invitation by the police that would have afforded Dakolo and his wife to shed light on all that they know about the rape allegation so as to start the legal process that will guarantee them justice and permanent healing if the allegation is proven to be true?

Why are they hell-bent on social media trial more than conventional trial? There is a huge allegation hanging on the shoulders of the Dakolos, which is that they could have had a hand in mobilisation of some elements who came to disrupt innocent worshipers at COZA in the name of seeking justice.If that allegation is correct, then it is not best way to get justice. That action only amounts to harassment and violation of the fundamental rights to free association and freedom of worship of other COZA worshippers and not just of Pastor Fatoyinbo. The Dakolos need to make themselves available to the police to provide more information necesary for their case. You cannot just incite members of the public against any person and not just a man of God and expect that you should sit in the comfort of your home and get justice. No.

The Nigerian Police Force are already investigating the rape debacle in order to establish the fact of the matter with a view to ensuring that justice is duly served, the Dakolos are under obligation to fully cooperate with the police. It is their case. They therefore cannot be seen as avoiding police invitation under the pretence that they are being threatened by police or strange faces.

• Nwachukwu sent this piece from Port- Harcourt.

 

Between Fatoyinbo and Dakolo: Interrogating a rape allegation
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El Paso Texas Walmart Shooting: 20 Killed, Shooter Identified As Patrick Crusius Arrested

El Paso Texas Walmart Shooting: 20 Killed, Shooter Identified As Patrick Crusius Arrested Allen Texas-based Patrick Crusius has been arrested in connection with the shooting death of 20 people at a Walmart located in El Paso Texas on Saturday. At least 20 people including a four-month-old baby, were wounded on Saturday after a the suspect  […]
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Source: Naija Gists

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Libya To Close Migrant Centres After Criticism From UN

Libya is to close three migrant and refugee detention centres after criticism from the UN over squalid conditions and inadequate food supplies.

Two of the centres are in the coastal cities of Misrata and Khoms.

The third is in Tajura, a suburb of the capital Tripoli.

Forces loyal to the warlord Khalifa Haftar hit that facility in an airstrike a month ago, killing at least 52 people.

The post Libya To Close Migrant Centres After Criticism From UN appeared first on Independent Newspapers Nigeria.

Source: Independent

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F-16 Scrambled To Intercept Two Unidentified Planes Flying Too Close To Trump’s Golf Course

The North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) had to scramble an F-16 fighter jet and an MH-65 helicopter after two civilian aircraft on two separate occasions stopped responding to air traffic control requests when they ventured into the temporary flight restriction zone established in Bedminster, New Jersey on 2 August.

The zone was set up due to US President Donald Trump spending his weekend at the Trump National Golf Club, located there, along with road closures in Bedminster and Morristown on the same day. The last time Trump visited the club was between 19 and 21 July, when the US Air Force also had to intercept a small aircraft that ventured into the no-fly zone.

Trump’s favourite sport, which he hasn’t abandoned since taking the office in 2017, has long served as a pretext for criticism among his critics; but it has also as been a source of memes ridiculing the POTUS.

One such meme, a doctored presidential seal with the eagle holding a set of golf clubs instead of arrows, led to a blunder at an event with Trump organised by the conservative group Turning Point USA, which accidently used it instead of the real one. The group blamed human error for it, later firing the employee who let it happen.

 

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Court Restrains NASS, DSS, Others From Interfering In Edo House Matters

LUKMON AKINTOLA, TOMI FALADE

LAGOS – A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt yesterday has restrained the National Assembly, Department Of State Security (DSS) and the Nigerian Police from taking over and interfering in the activities of the Edo State House of Assembly (ESHA).

The Honourable Justice Adamu Turaki Mohammed, presiding over the case with Suit No: FHC/PH/CS/159/2019 and with the Clerk of the National Assembly, The President of the Senate, The Speaker of The House of Representatives, Inspector General of Police, State Security Service and the Governor of Edo State as defendants; granted an order upon a Motion Exparte dated and filed on the 24th day of July 2019, on behalf of the Plaintiffs/Applicant; HonYekini O. Idiaye, Deputy Speaker Edo State House of Assembly and Henry Okhuarobo, member representing Ikpoba-Okha Constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly.

In the order granted, the court restrained the 1-3 defendant /respondents their servants, agents, officers or prives from interfering or taking over the legislative functions of the ESHA pending the determination of the Motion on Notice. The order is also restraining the governor from issuing another proclamation letter.

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Former INEC Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega Joins PRP

ABUJA – Former National Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega has formally joined the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) to reposition the party for better performance and more relevance.

In a press statement signed by Alhaji Abdul Gombe, the National Publicity Secretary of PRP, Professor Jega is to Chair the SWOT analysis Committee.

According to the statement, the SWOT analysis Committee will critically examine the strength of PRP, its weakness and the opportunities available to the party as well as threats to its existence and well-being.

It further stated, “on the basis of a critical analysis of this, the Committee made up of some of the best intellectuals in Nigeria will recommend to the Party, strategies to adopt for its survival and growth.

“The PRP at its 62nd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on June 22nd in Kaduna decided to set up a 3-man Committee to review the performance of the Party in the 2019 General Election with a view to repositioning the Party for better performance in facing new challenges of Nigerian politics.

“The three Committees are: The SWOT Analysis Committee; Mobilisation Committee, Finance and Funding Committee,” the statement said.

The post Former INEC Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega Joins PRP appeared first on Independent Newspapers Nigeria.

Source: Independent

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Lagos commissioner nominee claims she doesn’t have WAEC certificate

The Lagos State House of Assembly has screened 10 more commissioner nominees in addition to the eight screened on Thursday. Recall that a list of 25 nominees was sent by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to the Assembly a weeks ago. During the screening on Friday, one of the nominees, Abolaji Dada, claimed that she had not […]

Lagos commissioner nominee claims she doesn’t have WAEC certificate

Source: Daily Post

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Lagos woman reveals natural solution that reversed glaucoma, cataract and improved vision in few weeks [Sponsored]

Millions of elderly people suffer from glaucoma and cataract every year. Many of them are not diagnosed as early as they should have been. This degenerative health conditions causes impaired vision and can lead to blindness.  That said, early diagnosis is essential for minimizing the effects of glaucoma and keeping your vision healthy. Depending upon […]

Lagos woman reveals natural solution that reversed glaucoma, cataract and improved vision in few weeks [Sponsored]

Source: Daily Post

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FG Targets 35% Increase In Cloud Computing Investment By 2024

ABUJA – The Federal Government says it is targeting an increase of 35 per cent in cloud computing investment and 30 per cent adoption of cloud computing by 2024 among Federal public institutions (FPIs) and SMEs that provide digital-enabled services to the government through Nigeria Cloud Computing Policy (NCCP).

Minister Designate, and Director General/CEO National Information Development Agency (NITDA), Dr. Isa Ali Pantami disclosed this at the second quarter press briefing and public presentation of NITDA’s five regulatory instruments in Abuja on Friday, saying that, effective adoption would lead to a reduction in IT deployment cost.

Speaking further, Pantami noted that the regulations from NITDA is not to frustrate any stakeholder , but to provide an enabling environment for the ICT sector to thrive through giving reference to develop skills, for the purpose of job and services creation in the country.

“Priority is given to IT development in Nigeria and Nigerians. Due to the fact that NITDA is the it regulatory agency in Nigeria, it is important to come up with regulatory instruments for success in the IT sector. Nigeria is the only country among other African countries that have these IT regulations, others do not have. Any regulatory document by NITDA is a law which serves as subsidiary legislation,” said Pantami

The post FG Targets 35% Increase In Cloud Computing Investment By 2024 appeared first on Independent Newspapers Nigeria.

Source: Independent

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I Will Step On Toes To Clear Warri Of Filth -Macaulay

WARRI – Director General of Warri and Effurun Development Agency, Chief Ovuozorie Macaulay, has vowed to step on toes and many will make sacrifices to clear Warri of filth littering the nooks and crannies of the city and change the landscape of the oil rich city.

Macaulay, who was sworn in with the Director General of Asaba Capital Territory Development Agency, Mrs. Joan Mrakpor, said for the new agency to achieve its objective of changing the narrative and ensuring the emergence of a beautiful city

The former Secretary to Delta state government, who addressed journalists in Asaba, noted: “I know the sensitivity of the people of the area. I’m going there with an open mind for the expected dream to materialise

“Warri is full of kiosks and caravans. First, we must clear Warri to become a clean environment. And in making it clean environment, we are going to step on toes.

“You cannot put a beautiful edifice without destroying the bad one that was there. So, we must step on toes and people must be ready to make that sacrifice for Warri to be clean.

“For Warri to be that kind of city we are looking forward to, wemusteliminateallthosestreet trading, road side trading, all those caravans must go and we must clean the environment of the dirt before we talk of drainage. That, by the grace of God, will be our first assignment.”

Macaulay, who battled Warri crisis during the administration of former Governor James Ibori, insisted that being a pioneer Director General of the agency was no big deal to him as he has pioneered different bodies in the state where he made huge progress.

As the Commissioner for Conflict Resolution in the government of Chief James Ibori, he championed the fight against the historic Warri crisis and he brought it to a standstill

The post I Will Step On Toes To Clear Warri Of Filth -Macaulay appeared first on Independent Newspapers Nigeria.

Source: Independent

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Zamfara: APC rejects suspension of Maradun LG chairman

The Zamfara wing of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has faulted the suspension of Alhaji Ahmad Abubakar, the Chairman of Maradun Local Government from office. Abubakar was suspended by the State House of Assembly on Wednesday over alleged complicity in security breaches. Speaker of the House, Alhaji Nasiru Magarya, who announced the suspension during plenary, […]

Zamfara: APC rejects suspension of Maradun LG chairman

Source: Daily Post

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We’ve started picking rickety yellow buses off the road —Govt

Tribune Online
We’ve started picking rickety yellow buses off the road —Govt

On Monday, the Lagos State Ministry of Transport will commence its safety sensitisation campaign week and in the course of the event, the final decision on the planned phasing out of the popular yellow buses will be taken. It is not that operators and residents of the state who patronise them are being ambushed with the coming decision. In fact, the ministry’s leadership told Saturday Tribune that some of the rickety ones which have become death merchants on the road are already in the custody of the government agency responsible for ensuring safety on highways. But the coming mopping up, according to Mrs Bolanle Ogunmola, Public Affairs Officer of the ministry, is expected to restore sanity to public transportation in the state, considering that the yellow buses, popularly known as danfo, are descendants of the equally popular but now defunct Molue.

With the coming decision to rid the state of rickety buses which incidentally mostly serve the Lagos passengers more than any of their contemporaries like LAGBUS and BRT, the question on many lips is if there would be no transportation emergency across the state, particularly the mainland axis, where danfo is king.

Those worrying about the likely unpleasant fallout of such mopping up are pointing fingers to the derelicts that many LAGBUS and BRT vehicles have become despite being government-backed. Apart from being a source of riding worry for many passengers, rickety danfo, LAGBUS and BRT long buses are also fast becoming death merchants with the most recent being the painful run-over of the image maker of Air Peace airline by a BRT bus which steering wheel suddenly pulled out in motion. That avoidable tragedy and many more across the state are what Ogunmola said the state government was determined to end as it reportedly continued to drum it to the ears of owners of the insecure vehicles who are mostly members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) that such buses can’t remain on the road.

 

Rickety danfo a nuisance –Govt

The verdict of the state government on danfo was damning. It acknowledged the rickety yellow buses as a nuisance on the road in the state, saying it had since commenced efforts at sending them off the road. Ogunmola equally told Saturday Tribune that next week’s forum would be used to educate properly, drivers and vehicle owners on the need to ensure that rickety buses were kept off the roads in the state.

“We have since been picking some of the rickety buses off the roads but the date for commencement of the full implementation of the exercise would be reached at the Safety Week which will commence on Monday. The Safety Week is an annual event. The week would be an opportunity to educate the drivers and vehicle owners on the need to take off the roads, all these rickety buses, which will not only be for the safety of passengers but their own safety as well,” she said.

 

Once upon a Molue

Once upon a time, Molue ruled Lagos roads as the lion rules the jungle. That was the big yellow Mercedes Benz buses called 911. The old, rickety but solid vehicles with their “49 passengers sitting and 99 others standing” capacity, to borrow a few lines from the late Afro Beat king, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, are today almost gone.

With inscriptions like “Atlas motors” or “Ali Balogun” written across their sides, each bus was also adorned with religious and nationalistic artworks.

Some had philosophical inscriptions such as “Slow and steady”, “No food for lazy man” and “The Grace of God” painted on them while others also had quotations from the holy books, depending on the faith of the owner. Records show that only two auto companies are the manufacturers of those yellow buses that once adorned the streets of Lagos. They are Mercedes Benz with their 911 model and Bedford.

It took panel beaters with artistic minds to redesign Mercedes Benz or Bedford truck into buses that could be used for transportation.

But despite its strong built, no Molue bus was allowed to cross any of the three bridges linking the Mainland part of Lagos with the Island for safety reasons. These are the Third Mainland, Eko and Carter bridges.

Then came the red-paint LAGBUS being managed by the LAGBUS Asset Management Limited.

It was a new dawn and yes, people still stand but with dignity.

The first phase of the Lagos BRT was opened on 17 March 2008 and was initiated by the government of Senator Bola Tinubu.

It was believed that the introduction of BRT bus by the state government had finally driven the nail into the coffin of the Molue bus. But is the era of Molue over? The answer lies with responses gleaned by Saturday Tribune from operators, regulators and passengers.

 

BRT and bloody tales

Indeed, the story of mass transit buses has assumed a new twist. As a former governorship aspirant in Lagos State, Mr Segun Agbaje, put it, the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) scheme was a good initiative but the buses were not being well maintained.

The good idea behind the BRT scheme and the succour it brought to Lagos residents are fast eroding due to low maintenance culture. However, stakeholders are hopeful that the newly acquired blue buses under the management of Primero Transport Services Limited will change the narrative and usher in a better mass transit experience for Lagos residents.

One avoidable death caused by rickety BRT which is still reverberating is the case of Mr Christian Ejiroghene Iwarah. It is one among many. When Iwarah woke up from bed in high spirit on June 8, 2019, his major aim was to get to work on time to attend to a backlog of official engagements calling his attention. Little did he know that death was lurking around the corner.

In other words, if he had been told by a prophet that he would never return home alive, he would have probably dismissed it with a wave of the hand or described such prediction as useless and coming from the darkest pit of hell.

As usual, Iwarah, the erstwhile Corporate Communications Manager of Air Peace Airline, full of life on the very day, left for work to attend to his daily routine of protecting the image of the airline. Unknown to him, there was danger awaiting him at the Mangoro axis of the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway through a rickety vehicle. After the day’s work, Iwarah dashed into his car in high spirit, satisfied with the level of jobs he had delivered.

And having exchanged pleasantries with his colleagues, he embarked on the journey back home to his family who were anxiously awaiting the return of their breadwinner after the day’s stressful engagement.

Unfortunately, the youthful image maker never made it back home alive. His hope of doing so was truncated abruptly. At Mangoro Bus Stop, a BRT bus was said to have rammed into him at the spot where he parked to fix a minor fault on his car. The driver of the commercial bus, which was said to have suffered a brake failure before ramming into Iwarah, was said to have declared during interrogation that the steering of the BRT bus pulled off which made it difficult for a diesel engine brake to respond immediately.

The late Iwarah’s was one of the numerous avoidable deaths that had befallen many Lagosians at the hands of drivers of rickety vehicles in the metropolis.

 

Not worthy!

According to findings by Saturday Tribune, apart from rickety BRT buses, close to 80 per cent of commercial vehicles plying the Lagos routes are not road worthy with many lacking safety components required for safe transport.

Confirming this, Lukmon, a bus conductor plying the Egbeda/Oshodi axis, agreed that most of the buses on Lagos roads did not have not only essential safety components but also functional shock absorbers, clutches, steering systems, brakes, oil and other lubricants. Most of the vehicles transporting innocent passengers around Lagos, according to Lukmon, lacked all these components while the few that have them cannot boast of proper maintenance.

“Even 10 per cent of the private cars moving around Lagos,” according to Mr Adewale who works in one of the banks in Victoria Island, are also not road worthy.

Many residents are, however, disagreeing with the conclusion that gross irresponsibility on the part of vehicles owners and drivers are solely responsible for the many moving coffins plying the state roads in the name of mass transit. They were of the opinion that government cannot be asking motorists for road worthiness when most of the roads are just too bad.

Ogundare narrated a nasty experience of his pastor. According to him, “People visit mechanics often just because their vehicles get damaged when they run into or enter gullies right in the middle of the roads. We had an experience last Sunday on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, at Moshalasi/Kollington Bus Stop axis, Agbado- Ijaiye specifically. It involved my senior pastor, Taiwo Laogun. We went on a visit to a bereaved family around Tollgate with his jeep and midway while returning around 2.00 p.m., he entered a big pothole on the highway. It was not that he was speeding because there was heavy traffic at the axis as usual. So, as we moved about 20 meters, steam started coming out from the bonnet (of the vehicle) and we mistook it for overheating even though no such indication on the dashboard. “So, we parked and stayed for about 40 minutes for cooling. But surprisingly, the water was pouring out underneath as we were filling the radiator. The man could not get home with the car that day. The radiator had been badly damaged. Now, he is looking for N35,000 for a replacement.”

The story above mirrors the prevalent sentiment among inter and intra-state transporters. Their defence is, however, beyond bad roads.

 

‘Why we drive rickety buses’

A staff member of LAGBUS who preferred not to be mentioned as he was not permitted to speak for the company said though buses were occasionally withdrawn for overhauling at various maintenance depots in Bolade, Keffi, Ikorodu and Ketu Toll Gates, there was always the challenge of acquisition of spare parts.

“The management is always complaining of delay in getting spare parts. You know, we do not produce spare parts here in Nigeria and we have to rely on the ones coming in from abroad and that can take time because when they even arrive, it takes time to clear at the ports,” he told Saturday Tribune.

To him, since Nigeria does not manufacture all the buses here, there is time frame between when parts are imported and when they can be cleared. He added that it is difficult to run a LAGBUS economy in an environment that did not manufacture one.

Many commercial bus drivers spoken to by Saturday Tribune attributed the presence of poorly maintained vehicles on the Lagos roads to the failure of law enforcement agencies to implement the rules guiding the status of vehicles that must be used for commercial purposes.

The Lagos Traffic Law regime is designed to protect law-abiding road users. It is also designed to ensure that those who flout any of its stipulations are made to face the consequences of their action so that they can learn their lessons. The traffic management regime is not designed to empower officials of any agency of the state to molest, intimidate, extort or make a lawbreaker out of any Lagos resident/stakeholder through demanding and giving of bribes so as to avoid unsavoury situations. The Lagos traffic rules include: driving without road worthiness which attracts vehicle’s impoundment, driving with worn-out tyres which attracts N30,000 while one way  driving attracts three years imprisonment.

 

LASTMA, FRSC guilty?

Despite the traffic rules, officials of the agency responsible for ensuring compliance, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), have been accused of failing in their duties. Many commercial bus operators spoken to accused the officials of collecting bribe monies without even checking on the road worthiness of vehicles assigned to them and compromising their roles of checking the status of vehicles plying the roads in the process.

• Aug 1 deadline for motorcycles, tricycles to obtain number plates stands ― FRSC

Aliu, a danfo driver plying Iyana Ipaja-Ayobo route said: “Government should hold its officials responsible for heavy presence of unworthy vehicles around Lagos. Many of them, because of corruption, will rather collect bribes from drivers of such rickety buses and allow them to continue to kill other road users.”

To Aliu, even the government-backed red-painted BRT buses are competing with other yellow buses in constituting nuisance to other road users. The BRT buses are becoming worse than Molue and rapidly turning into death traps, according to Aliu and some other Lagos residents that spoke to Saturday Tribune. Ironically, the alarming high rate at which BRT buses develop faults,  get involved in accidents, catch fire or cause death of residents on Lagos roads has left many doubting if Molue that rarely record such incidents is not a safer mode of transportation.

 

We only regulate, owners maintain their buses –LAMATA

In a telephone conversation with Saturday Tribune, the Assistant Director, Corporate Communication at the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) Kolawole Ojelabi, said the issue of bus maintenance rests at the doorstep of the owners. “Government does not have any role to play in terms checking whether the buses are rickety or not. We have our reporters at the bus centres to report to us if they violate rules that were given to them,” Ojelabi clarified.

Under the amended LAMATA Act 2007, the agency is empowered with responsibilities to coordinate transport policies, programmes and actions of all agencies; maintain and manage the Declared Road Network (DRN), mainly bus public transport routes of about 632 kilometers.

The body also has the responsibility to recommend on route planning and general location of bus shelters, pedestrian ways and bridges; regulate Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) along prioritised corridors; coordinate activities of the State Licensing Authority and all vehicle inspection units; make policy recommendations on public transportation to the governor, including mechanisms for implementation among others.

Though Ogunmola, the Public Affairs Officer of the state Ministry of Transport, ‎concurred that LAMATA has the final say on BRT buses and the ministry dealing only with danfo and their drivers, she disclosed that rickety buses that break down at every major road in Lagos are to be impounded.

 

Our role concerning rickety buses –FRSC

The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Lagos State, Hyginus Omeje, while speaking on the increasing number of rickety buses on Lagos roads, said the agency had been impounding such vehicles. He, however, pointed out that it was not the statutory duty of the FRSC to issue Road Worthiness Certificate to vehicles.

The FRSC boss said the Vehicle Inspection Office was responsible for the issuance of such a certificate and that FRSC was only impounding vehicles that were technically and mechanically deficient.

Omeje also said that the fine for such rickety buses “is around N5 000” but emphasised that the important thing “is to ensure that such deficiency is rectified in the premises of the FRSC before the vehicle is released to the driver.”

The FRSC boss said: “We do impound vehicles that are mechanically deficient and we ensure that such deficiency is rectified before the vehicle is given back to the driver. It is not the duty of FRSC to issue Road Worthiness Certificate to drivers. It is the duty of the VIO but we impound vehicles that are mechanically deficient.”

 

Residents speak

Emman Ola thinks the coming policy would hurt but wonders why residents hardly use the hotlines displayed on the LAGBUS and BRT buses to put their complaints on record. Though the average complaint calls per week sought by Saturday Tribune could not be accessed with LAMATA, findings showed that many users of the troubled mass transit buses prefer to grumble aloud and around instead of placing formal complaints with the regulators.

“People should speak up before major tragedies happen and we moan and mourn. Avoidable deaths should be prevented though the ban would be easy on the residents who have come to depend on these danfo people. What can the few good buses do with millions of road users moving about daily? It is a tough call,” he said.

 

High hopes?

Last year, the Managing Director, Primero Transport Services Limited, Fola Tinubu, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with one of the biggest bus manufacturers in the world, Yutong, to establish a bus assembly plant in the Epe area of the state. The plant, according to him, will go into mass production of high-capacity buses and these buses are expected to ply the new BRT corridor being constructed around the Oshodi-Abule Egba area as well as existing corridors.

Primero currently has about 434 buses conveying 150,000 people daily, with a target of 2,000 buses that will give it the capacity to convey one million passengers daily, Tinubu said. At the company’s main depot located at Majidun in Ikorodu, there are ultramodern maintenance facilities readily available.

However, will the promise of one man sustain the hope of millions?

 

We’ve started picking rickety yellow buses off the road —Govt
Tribune Online

Source: Tribune

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President Buhari meeting with Yoruba obas is in order —Oba Agunsoye

Tribune Online
President Buhari meeting with Yoruba obas is in order —Oba Agunsoye

Much was not known of Ijesa North Traditional Council until last week when news broke that you had emerged the new president of the council. How did you emerge?

I won’t agree that much was not known about our traditional council which has been in place long before I became the Elegboro of Ijebu-jesa. But I can forgive you that may be you had no cause to write about the council. But that does not mean the council was not in existence. I am happy that you have known about the council now. Coming to the question of how I emerged, I emerged according to how I should emerge and how every traditional ruler who is qualified to be president emerges.

 

Was it through election?

No. Our arrangement has nothing to do with election. You know the spirit behind elections. We know it, and we avoid it completely. It is not a contest among members. It is through rotation among members. I think I have succeeded in answering your question.

 

Yes, but I need clarification on the statement you made earlier which suggests not every member of the council is qualified to rise to the position of president. Can you explain this better?

Your observation is right; it is correct to the extent that you somehow hit the nail on the head. Let me make it clear that six members from the two local governments which form the council are qualified to be president.

 

Can you mention the two local governments?

Obokun Local Government and Oriade Local Government constitute the Ijesa North Traditional Council.

 

How then do you rotate the position among yourselves?

It is three members from each local government. From Obokun Local Government, we have the Owamiran of Esa-Oke, the Alademure of Ibokun and the Owa Oye of Imesi-Ile. From Oriade, we have the Elegboro of Ijebu-jesa, the Ajalaye of Ipetujesa and Owaloko of Ilokojesa. The arrangement is clearly stated such that there is no reason to contest anything. If I may tell you, this arrangement has received support of all members. That is why we are enjoying peaceful co-existence among ourselves.

 

Who is your predecessor?

The Owamiran of Esa-Oke.

 

How can you describe his tenure?

His tenure was smooth as expected, and he handed over to me smoothly too.

 

How many years make one tenure?

It is a one-year tenure.

 

Why is it a year?

That is how it is, and we are all okay with it.

 

Don’t you think a year is too short for a president to make meaningful impacts?

As I just told you that we have no issue with that arrangement, let us adhere with how it is.

 

Are you afraid of anything?

Afraid of what? You must have forgotten that we are traditional rulers, who are not expected to be scared of anything. We are not afraid of anything. We are okay with the arrangement, and that is it. We don’t want to play politics with the council which is set up to foster unity and harmony among members and our subjects. We want everybody to have a sense of belonging to the same council, and we are achieving just that.

 

Were you aware that you were next to the Owamiran of Esa Oke when his tenure was hitting the terminal point?

I have told you that it a rotational position. The next person knows when his tenure comes. The beauty of it is that there is no rancor or ill-feeling or those things you see in contest.

 

What have you  set for yourself in the tenure?

The first thing is to strengthen the unity in the system. We are united and my tenure will witness a more formidable council where every member would see his fellows as priority. This has always been my philosophy of life. It was this philosophy which guided me when I was in public service in Abuja and coming home regularly to hang out with my people. When I arrived town, I won’t get home until late in the night because I must have stopovers at different places. This philosophy paid off when the succession issue came up. Let me say to God be the glory for everything.

 

How did it pay off?

It paid off in the sense that I enjoyed tremendous support on my road to the throne. My people saw me as a rallying point to different classes of people in the town.

• We’re using technology to tackle insecurity, Buhari tells South West obas

What are your other targets?

What I want to call improved welfare of my fellow traditional rulers is paramount to me, and I will stop at nothing in ensuring this is achieved. We are the face of our respective towns and our subjects, we should then be seen in good condition at all times. How do you feel seeing traditional rulers of your hometown riding in a carcass called a car? I am most particular about this issue of welfare, and, God willing, we are going to get a good result in that regard. Security challenge is another issue which I will also give priority attention. I can say that there is a kind of relief in the past two months. But I must say it that there is nothing compared to permanent solution so that everybody would be able to go about their business with fear of anything. Farmers would be able to work in their farm with full concentration.

 

Some traditional rulers always talk of government giving them roles in the constitution. Are you on the same page with them or not?

In fact, this subject is part of my vision which I will pursue during my tenure. We deserve constitutional role in governance because of our proximity to the grass roots. We know what happens in the localities and quarters more than any other level of government. Even this security issue we are facing, we have a strategic role to play in getting to the root of it. I am going to use my tenure to pursue this target. Democracy is about debate, lobby and negotiation. If you have a strong case and you are able to articulate it before the legislative body, there is nothing to worry about having your case approved. What I am saying is that this demand is right and legitimate. We are going to make a case for it that traditional rulers are equally qualified to play vital roles in governance.

 

Aside that you are closer to the grassroots, can you be more specific on the roles you can play in contemporary governance?

I don’t need to go too far to answer this simple question. Government can use us to boost Internally Generated Revenue. I am saying that if government assigns us on taxation issue, we are going to yield results. We understand our subjects and how to talk to them. We don’t need to run after them before they do what we ask them to do. Government policies at grassroots will be best implemented through traditional institution.

 

Some select traditional rulers from the South-west were in Abuja where they attended a meeting called by President Muhammadu Buhari. What is your take on that meeting?

My take on the meeting is the take of every traditional ruler who is displeased with the unfortunate insecurity challenge we face in Yorubaland. We used to be the most peaceful zone in the country until recently when criminal elements turned to us and brought fear to our people. And there is no responsible government would fold its arm and watch things to degenerate before responding to it. I want to believe that President Buhari decided to call that meeting to seek cooperation of traditional rulers and also update us on what the government has done and intend to do to solve the problem.

 

I learnt you had a meeting of Osun State Council of Traditional Rulers in Osogbo the following day. What was the resolution of that meeting?

Our chairman, the Oonirisa was not in attendance. The meeting was presided over by the Timi of Ede and we resolved to break members into different committees for effective operation. We want to have committees in all sectors so that we would be able to handle different issues with precision. Some of the intended committees include security, welfare, publicity and others. A 10-man committee will see to the constitution of the committees soon.

President Buhari meeting with Yoruba obas is in order —Oba Agunsoye
Tribune Online

Source: Tribune

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How I was rigged out of Bauchi Senatorial election —Mustapha

Tribune Online
How I was rigged out of Bauchi Senatorial election —Mustapha

From the point of view of your party, New Nigeria Peoples Party, what is your assessment of the 2019 elections and the conduct of the polls?

The elections have dispelled quite a number of long-held myths about Nigerian elections in terms of their outcome. The run-off to the elections was adjudged to be free and fair, and the votes of Nigerians were counted but the results were manipulated in favour of the privileged few. The elections were initially scheduled to hold on February 16, and March 2 for the 2019 presidential and the National Assembly elections, and governorship, State Houses of Assembly and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Councils elections respectively. But the electoral umpire ran into logistics problems and had to announce its postponement in the early hours of the election day. We accepted INEC’s explanations, knowing that it was geared towards validating credibility in the electoral process. But to our dismay, the outcome shocked us as being the worst in the history of constitutional democracy in Nigeria. The number of post-election petitions being adjudicated upon at the election petition tribunals is a good test to the credibility of the elections. If the electoral process was transparent enough, I believe that every loser would have understood why they lost and prepare better for subsequent elections, rather than heading to the tribunal.

 

In your opinion, was there a level playing field for the candidates across the political parties?

I have observed an improvement in the political climate, inclusive participation rights and a peaceful voting, but intimidation of voters and lack of trust in the process undermined the fairness of the elections. We had positive election campaigns, during which political freedom was respected. I also acknowledge the peaceful and enthusiastic participation of voters on the day of election as they exercised their rights to vote. But I am particularly concerned with the practices of some INEC staff and security personnel, such as intimidation of voters, lack of transparency in the collation of results, media bias and some problems around polling stations on election day. I noted with dismay the invasion of collation centres by some prominent politicians, the abduction and inducement of collation officers to manipulate the collated results in favour of the ruling party.

 

You contested for and lost the Bauchi North Senatorial seat, what is your reaction to this outcome?

Yes, I contested for Bauchi North Senatorial seat election on the platform of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), but I did not lose the election. We were rigged out because the results declared didn’t reflect what transpired at the polling units. The result did not reflect the choices and expectations of the people of Bauchi North, and the process cannot be considered to have been credible enough to be accepted. My reaction to the outcome is contained in the petition we have submitted to the tribunal.

 

Going by some of the verdicts delivered by the courts on electoral matters, what is your assessment of the judiciary so far?

We have confidence in the proceedings, most especially at this time when our Judiciary has established a reputation for itself as the last hope for the common man. However, there still exists unsettled businesses, and deferred hopes associated with the litigations on-going in the elections petition tribunals. The judiciary must know that the common man and the generality of Nigerians will not understand and appreciate the vague maxims. All they know is that a court is a court and should do justice. Therefore, the general perception of Nigerians on the judiciary especially with regards to electoral and politically-related matters is nothing to write home about. The judiciary also needs to know that being in the good books of the people also has its own advantages sooner or later. Our confidence is manifested in the gravity of the evidence we have presented to the court. And we still have more convincing facts to tender in the incoming sittings. And I believe we’ll reclaim our mandate.

• Nigeria devalued by leaders without values ― Moghalu

Are you intimidated by the personality involved in the petition?

I don’t know what you mean by personality involved in the petition. To the best of my knowledge, the case is between Farouk Mustapha and NNPP as petitioners, and Adamu Muhammad Bulkachuwa, APC and INEC as respondents. Doctrine of the Rule of Law provides that the law is supreme and that all persons are equal in the eyes of the law.

 

What is your expectation from the court?

My expectation is justice through the application of the provisions of the law and what the evidence proves. The court should not leave room for suspicion, bias or favouritism. The procedures and decisions must be accessible and transparent and result of the application of the constitution and other relevant electoral laws.

How I was rigged out of Bauchi Senatorial election —Mustapha
Tribune Online

Source: Tribune

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You can achieve anything you set your mind to do —EKSU’s best medical student

Tribune Online
You can achieve anything you set your mind to do —EKSU’s best medical student

Congratulations doc, but when and why did you decide to be a doctor

While growing up, the medical profession seemed attractive to me. I loved the idea that I could one day care for people. Thus, coupled with some mention and affirmations from my loved ones, it became my goal.

 

Can you give us a peek into your background, and what your dreams and aspirations were as a child?

I’m the third child in a family of four children. I was playful just like any other boy-child, but was also studious by the definition of the word. As a child, my desire was to be famous due to my academic prowess. It was the most attractive thing to me then, not money; and my dad, who is a lecturer and a voracious reader, influenced my attitude towards academic excellence. I also had brothers who showed enthusiasm for academic excellence.

 

In your elementary school days, especially secondary, who or what would you say helped you with your career choice?

As far back as Primary 1, I had teachers who were interested in my academic excellence. In my secondary school days, many teachers, especially Mr Opawale of Living Spring International Model College Ado-Ekiti, did things beyond just teaching us. They spoke words of affirmation which work for me a lot. Those words still linger in my subconscious, not as words now, but as feelings of ecstasy and confidence that I can achieve anything.

 

Securing admission these days, especially into ‘standard’ courses like medicine, has become tougher than ever. What was your experience?

It was long, but not too long. I wrote my first UTME (Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination) to the University of Portal Harcourt, but never went for the post-UTME. Then, I sat for the ‘university’ JAMB and ‘poly’ JAMB (these were days they were not unified). I got admitted in both, to study Agric Extension and Rural Development at the Obafemi Awolowo University and Science Technology at Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti. I chose OAU. Then, I wrote another UTME, where I finally got admitted to study medicine in UNAD (now EKSU). I thank God it was not longer than that, because I was starting to lose faith.

 

Were you under any pressure, either external or self-imposed, to score distinction in medicine? And how did you structure your life to achieve this?

Pressure? Yes, especially external. It came from friends. I am grateful that I have them in my life. Structure to achieve this was to work with the entire class in preparing for the exams. You see, medical exams have a huge curriculum. And though it can be covered singly, it would be less strenuous if it is done as a team. So, I keyed into what the class was set to do, and I got the distinction in surgery.

 

The fear of blood and morbid anatomy often scare people away from medicine, especially girls. How did you deal with these?

It was never a problem to me. Some of us were already eating in the cadaver room before our fifth session. The blood? I was not fazed. I guess I have my fears, but they are not cadavers or blood. Our ladies are amazons too if you must know.

 

Which aspect or part of the medical programme did you find most challenging?

Each one came with its own challenges, but top among them were community medicine and internal medicine. One needs you to memorise a lot of definitions, while the other is so broad you have to continue reading. I ensured that I gave each one of them exactly what they require, and I am grateful I passed them pretty well.

• Why I’m pursuing fashion as medical student —Joshua Oni

Tell us some of your experiences in the course of your study through the university as a medical student, and the lesson(s) you learnt through them.

Life lessons started for me with my UTME result. Then, I told my friends I was going to get 276, months before the exam – and I did. Also, in my first year, I wrote it down as my goal to have a 5.0 GP (Grade Point), and I did in my second semester. Then in my third year, I set my mind to have a distinction in neuroanatomy. I went through the process just like the others and I did. What all of them taught me was that a man can achieve anything he sets his mind to do, with God’s grace accompanying. If he works with the principles and situation-specific practices, then he will almost surely achieve it. There were many other lessons, but this stuck.

 

Does a medical student have time to socialize? How much time did you have for leasure or other things other than academics?

Oh! You can’t imagine. We do, in fact a lot! For me, I had good time to socialize. I wrote codes and volunteered in teaching computer programming to secondary school students. I played football up to NIMSA (Nigerian Medical Students’ Association) stage and I wrote and was editor-in-chief in some organisations. In all, medical students do have a lot of fun aside medicine, like start-ups, sports, writing, music and many other stuffs.

 

If you were to advise some candidates aspiring to study Medicine, what would you tell them to prepare for?

Prepare for the mental hustle. Medicine is a lot of things, but never impossible. So, set your mind on what you want while in medical school. Decide extra-curricular activities you want to engage in and do them too.

You can achieve anything you set your mind to do —EKSU’s best medical student
Tribune Online

Source: Tribune

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I’m indebted to banks on my husband’s behalf; he almost strangled me to death

Tribune Online
I’m indebted to banks on my husband’s behalf; he almost strangled me to death

My life is battered and shattered as a result of the inhuman treatment meted out to me by my husband. He smokes Indian hemp, drinks himself to stupour and abuses me violently. He once almost strangled me in the middle of the night and at another time attempted to stab me. He has ruined my career while I remained indebted to a bank as a result of the money I borrowed on his behalf. It’s not likely I live to see another day if I remain under his roof.” That was the wife.

Then the husband: “She once slapped me early in our marriage. Though her family members have poisoned her mind against me, I still love her. To show my commitment to our marriage, I sent the other woman I met after she left me packing when she moved back to my house.”

These were part of the evidence given by a couple, Oluwatoyin Adebayo and Adekola Adebayo before Oja Oba/ Mapo Court C Customary Court, Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Oluwatoyin had approached the court seeking that it puts an end to the relationship between her and her husband.

According to the plaintiff, she has suffered enough violence, abuse and humiliation in the hands of her husband and is presently depressed. Oluwatoyin emphasised that another night under her husband’s roof can lead to her death. She thus appealed to the court to grant her prayer of divorce so that they can go their different ways.

Adekola, responding to the claim against him, refused to admit to divorce.

Oluwatoyin, giving her evidence in full, stated thus:”My lord, my life is battered and shattered. The worst decision I ever made in life is that of marrying my husband.

“I was head over heels in love with him and never gave attention to his short comings and now I’m paying dearly for it.

“My lord, I’m married to a reckless human being whose main pre occupation is to smoke Indian hemp like a chimney. He’s a habitual drunkard and a brute. My husband has constantly failed to carry out his duties as breadwinner in the home. I play a dual role of mummy and daddy to our children. He has never been there.

“He shows no love or affection towards me and our children. All that matters to him is his bottle of beer and wraps of Indian hemp.

“The earliest time he returns home is 11:00 p.m.  He staggers home under the influence of alcohol.

“Many times, despite coming home late, but high as a result of Indian hemp and being under the influence of alcohol, he will beat me for complaining about his shameful act and wake our neighbours up. There were times he beat me in my sleep.

“He strangled me on one of such occasions and I would have given up the ghost but for our neighbours who forced themselves into our apartment when they heard our children wailing.

“He has beaten me and sent me out of the house in the middle of the night times without number. He once beat me and I was hospitalised for weeks. I lived only on fluid for two weeks during this period, “the plaintiff said.

“I bought all the property in our possession. He contributed nothing to making life easy or comfortable for me and our children.

“I took loans on his behalf from banks and I’m still indebted to these banks. He used one of these loans to buy a car which got involved in an accident.

“My lord, he threatened to kill me; he drew a knife at me during an argument and would have stabbed me. I still can’t explain how I escaped death that night.

“I’m afraid of my husband. He has succeeded in ruining my career and turning me into a psychological wreck.

“My lord, all I pray this honourable court is to end our union and grant me custody of our two children, “Oluwatoyin concluded.

“My lord, I don’t agree to divorce, “Adekola told the court.

“I love my wife dearly but her family members have succeeded in poisoning her mind against me.

“Oluwatoyin once slapped me during an argument early in our marriage but I overlooked it because I love her.

“She only has a few properties to her name in my house.

“I brought in another woman when my wife packed out of my house due to a misunderstanding between us. I sent this other woman packing after I reconciled with my wife all because I love her, “the defendant said.

Giving his judgment after listening to both parties, the court president, Chief Ademola Odunade stated that it was expected of the court to end a relationship filled with violence in other to save lives of both parties.

Ruling, Odunade dissolved their seven-year-old marriage and gave the plaintiff custody of their two children.

The defendant was asked to be responsible for their wellbeing, emphasising more on their education and health care.

 

 

 

I’m indebted to banks on my husband’s behalf; he almost strangled me to death
Tribune Online

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Rose Odika, Lota Chukwu, Arinze Team Up In New Crime Thriller

Rose Odika, Lota Chukwu, Arinze Team Up In New Movie Nollywood icon Segun Arinze has teamed up with other actors like Joseph Momodu, Lota Chukwu, Seun Akindele and Rose Odika to star in a new movie titled ‘The Executioner.’ The thriller released on July 26 tells a story of every day suffering masses calling for […]
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Source: Naija Gists

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Country Sales Manager Job Vacancy at CANEI Corporation

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USAKING Services Limited recruitment for a Customer Relationship Officer (Receptionist & Administrative Assistant)

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Vacancy at MasterMindsHRSG Consulting for a Showroom Sales Executive

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Proten International Job Vacancy for a Procurement Manager

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Source: Jobzilla

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