Rural communities in Akwa-Ibom State have become lively. Residents of these rural areas are happy with the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) in the state for obvious reason. Their health and welfare have become priority through a programme initiated by the NYSC.
A one-week medical outreach programme tagged “NYSC Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers (NYSC-HIRD)” which aims at ensuring that the residents are healthy has been inaugurated.
Speaking while inaugurating the programme at Abama community, Obot Akara Local Government Area, the NYSC Director-General, Brig-Gen. Johnson Olawunmi, said HIRD, which was conceived over a year ago, has become not only a reality but also a programme that has gained national acceptance.
The D-G further explained that the successes recorded in the two pilot states of Kwara and Lagos are now being replicated in all the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The goal of the HIRD programme, according to the D-G, was to mobilise Corps medical volunteers in the provision of health intervention through diagnosis, treatment, referrals and proper prevention mechanism, thereby enhancing the general well-being of rural dwellers across the nook and cranny of the country.
His words: “Volunteer Corps medical personnel, who will form the core of the team, will work as health intervention agents in driving the wheel of the health initiative. The one-week health outreach, which is taking place simultaneously in selected rural communities across Nigeria, has been designed to address health challenges of our people.
“Our confidence in the success of this programme also lay in the fact that we have been able to secure the support of some stakeholders, who are either assisting us with their personnel or providing other material support in the areas of drugs, medical supplies and equipment.
“Therefore, we shall continue to forge further collaboration with specific partners in the health sector. The partners include federal and state ministries of health, National Primary Health Development Agency (NPHDA), the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organisation (WHO), Society for Family Health (SFH), Family Health International (FHI) as well as non-governmental and international organisations. They include but not limited to Royal Heritage Health Foundation, Ilorin, Grace Project International, MTN Communication Nigeria and Guinness Nigeria Plc, among others.”
In her remarks, the Coordinator of Akwa-Ibom State NYSC, Lady Ngozi Chukwuka, explained that unless mothers are enlightened on basic health issues such as family planning, proper nutrition and hygiene, not much could be done in the quest to prevent diseases.
In Yoruba land, when andividual is called three times, he is likely being told to be careful so as not to get into trouble. On this space today, I have chosen to call Senator George Thompson Sekibo thricen i. I am doing this because of Sekibo’s crusade against ex-Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi.
My concern really is about Amaechi’s contributions to what Sekibo has achieved in life. I will quote Sekibo to back my claim that without Amaechi, some of his attainments in life would not have been.
On page 249 of his memoirs entitled “Beyond Measures 1”, Sekibo wrote: “On August 9, 2010, I visited Governor Chibuike Amaechi at Government House, Port Harcourt and sought his support. I told him I was not going to run for the election if he was not going to return me. I requested that he should not only support but also return me to the Senate. He agreed in principle but asked me to give some time to dialogue with his team. He said at the appropriate time he would give me the go ahead.
“It was obvious that if the Governor did not give me his support, I would not make it in the primary because I was sure of only four delegates out of the over two thousand delegates for the collegiate election. After about four months of waiting, the cheering news came that the Governor had succeeded in convincing Chief Nyesom Wike. And exactly seven days to the primary election, Chief Wike confirmed the intervention of the Governor and several eminent persons had stepped down from the contest. To the glory of Almighty God, I was returned unopposed in the primary election.”
A lot of water has since passed under the proverbial bridge. Wike and Amaechi are no longer on the same page. Sekibo is on the same page with Wike, who instituted a panel which indicted Amaechi. The report of the panel was, I believe, deliberately submitted to coincide with Amaechi’s nomination as minister. As soon as Amaechi’s name was announced, I told some people that the panel’s report would surface and it did.
Its White Paper is the fastest I have ever seen. It came out two days or so after the main report was submitted. Waoh! This is efficiency redefined.
The Senate Committee, which was to look into the petition Sekibo “presented on behalf of a group” to the Upper House, stood it down because the matter was already in court as at the time the Senator brought it forward as a way of stopping Amaechi from being a minister. The committee also said it was in receipt of the White Paper.
The role being played by Sekibo against Amaechi is one of the reasons I detest participating in our political space. It looks to me like biting the finger that fed you. May be Sekibo has more justification other than the fact that he is now Wike’s man.
I congratulate Sekibo on his victory at the tribunal, which will most likely still be tested at the appellate court. I also call him thrice not because of today but tomorrow. If he is convinced about what he is doing and not doing it just as a smear campaign and to further selfish ends, I wish him well.
Otherwise, the time to retreat is now. And there will be no victor and no vanquished. Amaechi, I understand, reached out to Sekibo and the other two Senators from the state, a day before he presented the petition. For a man dubbed arrogant, this was a bold and humbling step. Whether he becomes a minister or not, Amaechi will remain Amaechi: one of the key men who offered their heads as sacrifice for change to come to Nigeria.
The Executive Secretary of the Bayelsa State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Mr. Walton Liverpool, stirred a controversy at the Peace Park, Yenagoa, during the celebration of this year’s World Teachers’ Day. The teachers disagreed on some of the things he reeled off as achievements of the state government to improve the educational system.
•A cross section of teachers at the World Teachers’ Day in Bayelsa
In unison, the teachers who attended this year’s celebration with mixed feelings, shouted in protest when Liverpool, the chairman of the occasion, claimed that Governor Seriake Dickson-led administration had provided school uniforms to Bayelsa pupils; sank boreholes in schools to provide potable water; conducted regular seminars and workshops as well as provided free school buses.
The way the teachers reacted angrily, almost booing Liverpool, it was obvious that the government was economical with the truth in those areas. But none of the teachers disagreed with the SUBEB boss when he mentioned the construction of headmasters’ and teachers’ quarters and building of office blocks in schools as some of the achievements of the government.
Other achievements that the teachers seemed to have agreed with were supply of desks, seats to schools; the college of education at Sagbama; overseas scholarship programmes for students and regular payment of teachers’ and other workers’ salaries.
Again, Liverpool incurred the wrath of the teachers. He tried to rehash the solidarity statements of the union and ended by saying, “the struggle continues”. Unknown to him, Bayelsa teachers are now more upwardly mobile, more enlightened and better educated and have done away with aphorisms conveniently adopted by politicians to keep marginalising them.
So, the idea that teachers’ struggles are unending was quite infuriating, as openly expressed by the audience. They resisted it and raised their voices in demonstration until the Principal Secretary, National Union of Teachers (NUT), who is also a lawyer, Comrade Okoroafor Okechukwu, spoke a more popular language to them. He calmed the frayed nerves when he said: “teachers struggle ends today”.
But the struggles among Bayelsa teachers seem endless.
The state Chairman, NUT, Comrade Bokolo Tonworio, listed plethora of demands of Bayelsa teachers. He said the primary and post-primary teachers are yet to be paid the N18, 000 minimum wage arrears which nearly all other public servants had been paid. He lamented non-implementation of 2013/2014 primary school teachers’ promotion and inability of the government to conduct 2015 promotion exercise for primary school teachers.
It was all knocks on the government for failing to pay promotion arrears arising from 2013 promotions and non-supply of instructional materials and statutory school records in the spirit of the emergency in education.
Part of his worries is also that there are discrepancies between the “oracle-captured” and “non-oracle-based teachers” in the payment of monthly salaries.
Besides, funding of examination and continuous assessments across the schools and recruitment of teachers into rural schools are part of the headaches in the system.
But the teachers are not ungrateful. They thanked the government for declaring a state of emergency in education sector and pursuing it vigorously.
The NUT boss commended Dickson’s government for prompt payment of teachers’ salaries; massive rehabilitation of educational infrastructure; restoration of scholarships at the secondary school levels; establishment of befitting teachers training academy, Bolou-Orua, Sagbama and supply of computer sets and power generating sets.
He said the theme of the celebration, “Empowering Teachers, Building Sustainable Societies”, was apt as it emphasised the significance of teachers and underscores their critical position in the society and nation-building.
“The business of teachers’ empowerment is the duty of all the stakeholders in the community. The union calls on all stakeholders to place the empowerment of teachers in the front burner of their policies and agenda.
“The government should see the teacher as a veritable tool and medium by which the philosophies, ethos, norms, ethics, ideas and aesthetics will be transferred to the future.
“Therefore, disempowering teachers is tantamount to creating a future of powerless and feeble citizens that will further perpetuate the dependency of Nigeria to our erstwhile colonial masters and deepening of corruption and socio-economic malaise”, he said.
In his remarks, Okechukwu said the day was set aside to honour and celebrate teachers because of their pivotal roles in the society.
He said: “For us in Bayelsa, this day is almost like one’s birthday. It is a day to encourage and recognise practising teachers. When you honour the teacher, you are motivating him.
“The government of Dickson has been steadfast in the funding of primary and secondary education. It has been consistent, especially in the payment of salaries. But all has not been too well for teachers because of the discrepancy between oracle-captured teachers and persons not yet captured.
“I don’t know why the discrepancy should exist. It is either that all of them go digital or they go manual to create equal playing field among the teachers. We want this dichotomy dismantled. We suggest that every teacher should be captured in the oracle.
“The government has done very well in physical infrastructure but has not done well in supply of instructional materials and statutory records to schools. It is an impediment to effective teaching and learning in schools.”
At the event, Governor Dickson was represented by his deputy, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd), who was accompanied by the Chief of Staff, Government House, Chief Talford Ongolo, Commissioner for Youths, Mr. Collins Cocodia and other members of the cabinet.
But the governor later met with the teachers at the Banquet Hall where they feast. Dickson used the occasion to further reel off his achievements in the educational sector. He said his over N25 billion investments in the sector and the dedication of teachers yielded positive results.
According to him, the state which used to be very poor in external examination was ranked 4th in the federation in the last Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination, (SSSCE).
He said the report released recently by the West African Examinations Council, (WAEC), named the six leading states as, Anambra 65.92 per cent, Abia 58.52 per cent, Edo 57.82 per cent, Bayelsa 52.83 per cent, Rivers 52.73 per cent and Enugu 51.91 per cent.
He said: “The development necessitated the declaration of a state of emergency in the sector and the government has invested N25 billion so far in the last three-and- half years to revamp the sector.”
He enjoined the teachers to always do their utmost, stating that his administration will continually address their welfare as well as improve the infrastructure in the sector.
Dickson, who praised teachers for their contributions to the growth and development of society, assured that in the next two weeks, the Teachers Training Academy would be inaugurated to train and re-train teachers to excel in their various professions.
Describing the teaching profession as crucial in nation-building, the governor warned school principals against extortion of students under the guise of the National Examinations Council (NECO) and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) fees. He further stressed that the government has been picking the bills for such fees to alleviate the plight of parents and wards.
Responding, Okechukwu expressed gratitude to the state government for the prompt payment of salaries to workers, despite the austere times. He also praised government’s approval for the payment of arrears of N18, 000 minimum wages.
He pledged the union’s total support for Dickson’s re-election bid to enable the restoration government to consolidate on its achievements.
Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom in Delta State has been in the news following the enthronement of a monarch (Amakosu). The choice of the pioneer chairman of Warri South West Local Government Area, Couple Oromoni as Pere Amakosu, Monbene III, although widely accepted by the people of the kingdom, the 12th Ogbe-Ijoh monarch’s coronation has ruffled some feathers and generated controversies that have taken key players through the Delta State Police Command to Zone ‘5’, law courts and government circles. Southsouth Regional Editor Shola O’Neil examines the issues, the key players and the politics of dragging in the deputy governor.
Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom is a strategic kingdom in Delta State, with some of its communities seating atop huge oil and gas reserves. They host multibillion dollars oil installations and facilities of multinationals operating in the region.
The traditional ruler of the Ijaw people is known as the Pere Amakosu (‘Oldest Man’) of the kingdom, which is divided into six villages (or quarters) comprising Arontegha, Perebiri, Ikiandumu, Oturubiri, Lotiobiri and Tambiri. The quarters are founded by children of Ewein, ancestor and founder of the Ogbe-Ijoh.
Niger Delta Report gathered that only five quarters are considered ruling houses in Ogbe-Ijoh, while Tambiri, which is crowning house, is exempted from producing a traditional ruler, but restricted to the process leading to enthronement of a monarch after also announcing the demise of a former king.
•The late Pere
The former monarch, the 11th to rule the kingdom, Amakosu Oduwor III died sometime in 2013, and the formal announcement of his death was made by the spokesperson (Fie-Owei) of the kingdom, Chief Favour O Izoukumor, at an emotional ceremony held at the Ewein Hall, Ogbe-Ijoh, on February 15, 2013.
The announcement paved the way for burial rites, which were rounded up on May 31, 2014.
At the conclusion of the rites, the search for a new monarch began in earnest. Our findings revealed that the selection of a new Amakosu was backed by the Bendel State Gazette of 1979, which rotates the stool among the five houses.
“Having produced our late monarch, the Oduwor III, who was the third in his lineage from the Arontegha House, the stool moved to Perebiri, which is the next in the succession line,” a member of the traditional council told our reporter.
It was further gathered that within the Perebiri quarter, there are three families among which the stool also rotates when it is their turn to produce the king. They are Apribodoware, Biseboware and Ejiware.
The gazette states in Paragraph 3: “To qualify, a candidate must trace his decent to the village whose turn it is to present a candidate. He must be a male adult; free from any contagious disease and serious physical deformity; he must not be a lunatic or an ex-convict.”
Continuing, the document noted that “Should a village fail to produce a suitable candidate within a month of its being called upon to do so, succession passes to the appropriate village next entitled and so on until a suitable candidate is selected.
However, for the successor to the Oduwor III, Perebiri had suitable candidates in abundance and they were all willing to take up the responsibility.
Those who stood up for the contest were former Interim Chairman of the council, Mr David Pere; his predecessor in the office, Mr Couple Marcson Oromoni and influential businessman, Mr Johnny Aribogha, all of whom the kingdom and their quarter viewed as immensely qualified.
Although the three men were titleholders of the kingdom before their quest to become Pere, it was learnt that in line with the Ogbe-Ijoh tradition that only non-chiefs can aspire to the throne, they were forced to renounce their chieftaincy titles and join the fray as ordinary citizens.
“That is how it has always been; any man who indicates interest to contest must first drop his title because chiefs cannot aspire to become Pere in the kingdom. Every kingdom has its own unique rules and that is one of ours,” a former Chairman of Ogbe-Ijoh Governing Council, Mr Samson Oyinmi, told our reporter.
Independent investigation by Niger Delta Report revealed that among the three candidates, a consensus was supposed to emerge, in order for their village to take his name to the traditional authorities as their choice. But the Perebiri quarter could not reach an agreement as each of the trio insisted on testing their popularity before the larger clan.
Confirming this report, Chief Izoukumor told our reporter: “The families could not produce a single candidate; they couldn’t reach a consensus. If they had done that, they would have presented him to the committee for screening to confirm his suitability for the position. But having failed, the matter was taken from the hands and became an affair for the kingdom.”
The inability of the quarters to reach a consensus on the trio set the stage for the drama, intrigue that would later bedevil the process and emergence of Monbene III.
Indications that the process may not go as plan first emerged when rumour made the round that some candidates were throwing money around in a desperate bid to corrupt the process.
While some notable leaders were reportedly being courted with huge sums of money, others were reported offered outboard engines (for speedboats) and these cost between N600,000 to N700,000.
Before the committee that was headed by Elder Anthony Jolomi Okosu, was set up, the Ogbe-Ijoh Governing Council, the administrative structure of the clan, was forced to debunk a report that Aribogha had emerged as the Pere of the kingdom, after a section of his quarter went to the reporters about his choice.
There was a counter response to the OGC position through a paid advertorial in a national daily, signed by Chief Alfred Yola, the Chairman of Perebiri Quarter (Village). The signatories said they “emphatically and unequivocally state that the announcement in respect of the selection of Chief Johnny Aribogha as Pere ofo Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom followed due process as prescribed by the law.”
The position of Chief Yola, who many in the kingdom believe was acting the script of Aribougha, set the stage for a long drawn battle and intrigues.
In spite of the development, the Ogbe-Ijoh kingdom commenced a process to select a new monarch from the three candidates in the race. Various sources said a 15-man committee, comprising representatives from the five quarters in the kingdom, to form a sort of election committee, which Elder Okosu headed as Warokosuwei (oldest man, not by age, but by his position).
It was further gathered that the candidates were requested to obtain an ‘Expression of Interest’ form. Although the cost of the form could not be independently confirmed, various sources said the Pere, Aribogha and Oromoni paid for it and were screened.
Elder Okosu confirmed that the trio purchased the form, were screened and voluntarily signed a bond to be of good conduct during the election process as well as to abide by the voice of the 15 ‘Wise men’. To show their commitment, they also proceeded to a court to take an oath.
He said, “The three candidates were screened and they all scaled through. The committee too could not decide on whom to select, as there was no consensus, even among us. This led us to the process of conduction an election, which we decided should be done in a secret ballot format.
“We produced the ballot papers and on the day of the election, we shared it to members, who wrote their names, signed and went to a secret location to tick the name of the candidate of their choice after the process had been extensively explained to everybody. We insisted that no member should see the other when they are voting, to ensure the sanctity of the exercise.”
Explaining further, the ad-hoc committee chairman explained that after voting for the candidate of their choices, the electorates were required to staple the paper and sign their signatures on it as a further security against tampering.
After the election, it was learnt that the result could not be announced because the monarch-elect would have to be presented to the kingdom at an enlarged assembly of all members of the kingdom.
“We took the materials to the house of the Regent, Chief Samson Mamamu, but he insisted that we took it to the bank for safekeeping. As a result, we took it to the bank (an old generation bank) where the materials and the sealed ballot box were kept.”
About a week later, the general assembly of Ewein Congress convened at the town hall on May 19. The three contestants, their families and other members of the kingdom waited with anticipation to find out who their new monarchs would be.
Elder Okosu, accompanied by a retinue of other community leaders and security agents went to the bank, where the ballot box was retrieved from the vault where it was cooling since the voting was done.
Interestingly, all the candidates, including Aribougha, who had been touted as the Pere-elect over four months earlier, participated in the election and reported for the announcement of the result.
Our reporter, Bolaji Ogundele, covered that event, disclosed that the process “followed a rigorous process, which ensured to lay guidelines meant to forestall controversies”, adding, “They also signed a legal oath and agreed that none of them would object to the genuineness of the process and that they would not challenge the outcome of the selection in any court or publish any comment discrediting or challenging the outcome.”
He said the Chairman of the Selection/Succession Committee, which decided the fate of the contestants, Elder Anthony Jolomi, said their procedure considered the personalities of the three men, “taking particular notice of their contributions to the development of Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom and their everyday life style.”
Nevertheless, indications that Aribougha would challenge the process emerged when he walked out during the announcement of the outcome of the contest. Leaders of the community told our reporter that he made his move when it became obvious that he had been outscored by the new monarch.
Indeed, at the end of the counting, Aribougha and Pere scored two votes each, while Oromoni polled eight votes and was declared winner; three members of the 15-man committee abstained.
But in a telephone interview with our reporter on Tuesday, Aribougha described the emergence of Oromoni as Monbene III as null and void, adding that the processes that produced him were flawed.
He said, “Nobody has elected anybody, there is a matter in court and injunction that nobody should do anything. These guys forced themselves and did whatever they did. Whatever has been done is illegal, against the rule of law, the court will decide.”
The Ogbe-Ijoh leader, who would not be drawn into debate on why he participated in the “illegal process”, hinged his grouse with it on the 1979 Gazette. He said the gazette does not recognize the position of Chief Mamamu as a regent or the selection of the committee, which conducted the election in which he participated.
He went further to accuse a section of the community leadership of using their “connection” to pollute the process, insisting, “Whatever is happening now is against the rule of law.
When asked why he participated in the process, he said, “That body is an illegal body, get in touch with the gazette; there ought not to be anybody like a regent, or whatever happened – read the gazette. Every other thing will be interpreted in court. Whoever has forced himself with the support of anybody in government, when the court resumes, the legal issues will continue.”
Aribougha particularly lamented that the kingdom went ahead to crown the monarch without recourse to a subsisting court injunction, which he said would first be revisited before the main case, which is slated for hearing in November, as soon as the court resumes from vacation fully.
However, counsel to the kingdom, Larry Ovwromoh Esq, Principal Partner at Larry Ovwromoh & Associates, told our reporter that his clients did nothing wrong, explaining that the relief sought by the petitioners does not include stopping Oromoni from being crowned in the real case.
On the interim injunction, although Ovwromoh was cautious on commenting on the pending matter, explained that the interim (ex-parte) injunction, which was granted by a vacation judge, was effective for seven days.
A another legal source and member of Ogbe-Ijoh community, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the case instituted by those opposing the monarch was targeted at a committee, which ceased to exist as soon as the monarch-elect was named. Our source further disclosed that contrary to insinuation, the Regent, Chief Mamamu was not the crowning authority in the kingdom as was being insinuated.
“The injunction, be it as it may, was that the committee should not swear-in anybody, however, like I have said before, the committee does not swear-in, it only screens and conduct the process, after that, it becomes extinct. So, I don’t know why they are suing a nonexistent committee.
Our finding also revealed that before the matter went to the court, it had gone through the whole hog of the civil police. Petitions flew ceaselessly into the Warri Area Command, then moved to the Commissioner of Police Office in Asaba, the state capital and thereafter to the Assistant Inspector General of Police’s office in Zone 5, Benin City, Edo State.
Beyond the security agencies, the Deputy Governor, Mr Kingsley Otuaro, was forced to defend himself, after the Chief Yola group, accused him of facilitating the enthronement of Oromoni through the use of security operates.
They said the deputy governor “sent over 200 of his policemen and aides to Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom…against the court directive”.
The claim forced a stern riposte from Otuaro, who spoke through Mr Bulou Kosin, his media aide. He said, “The Deputy is in no way party to the alleged selection/appointment of Chief Couple Oromoni, or anybody for that matter, as Pere (King) of Ogbe-Ijoh-Warri Kingdom, against a subsisting court order as claimed in recent media reports.
“As leaders believed to be respectable, Chief Alfred Yola and Sele Banni and their sponsors, ought to have done the responsible thing by initiating contempt proceedings in court against whoever may have defied such court order, instead of resorting to hurling unsubstantiated allegations, sentiments and blackmail at the Deputy Governor.
“Despite insults hurled at him, the Deputy Governor, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro, wishes to appeal to the generally good people of Ogbe-Ijoh-Warri Kingdom to embrace peace necessary for the enjoyment of democratic dividends under Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s SMART agenda of prosperity for all Deltans,” he added.
Besides, the political jibes, keen watchers of the unfolding drama, see bringing in the deputy governor into the fray as a ploy Aribougha/Yola group to put him in the defence.
“As you know, the office of the Deputy Governor is responsible for kingship matters. This is probably a strategy to ensure that he does not recognize the new king as a last ditch effort by those against Amokosu Monbene III.”
The position is shared by OGC, in a statement by its chairman, Mr Lucky Oromoni and and secretary, Mr Elvis Wurusibewei, and the kingdom chapter of the Ijaw Youth Council, who exonerated the deputy governor.
On his part, the spokesperson of the kingdom, Chief Izoukumor, said, “The entire kingdom is excited about the emergence of Monbene II, apart from a few persons who are acting in desperation. The influx of visitors from within and outside the kingdom on homage and solidarity visit is a clear attestation to his popularity and acceptance. Our neighbours from Aladja, Gbaramatu and others have all come to feciliate with us.”
On the interim, the two sides are warming up for the commencement of the legal firework in a about a month’s time.
A religious leader and founder of House of Rest Mission, Effurun, Delta State, Rev Olu-Timi Lewis Afolabi, has advised parents, clerics and governments on the need to carry out a rigorous sex education for adolescents and teenagers as a means of solving social ills and deviant sexual behaviours in the society.
Rev Afolabi spoke during the inauguration of his church’s mission centre and presentation of his books titled “Fundamental Sex Truth Every Student Must Know” and “How to Raise a Sexually Balanced Child” – a handbook for parents and teachers.
He told Niger Delta Report that the books were inspired by revelations from God, stressing that “It is time for us to get out of our cocoons and address the issue of sex education, before it consumes us.”
The man of God traced anti-social behaviours plaguing the Nigerian society and the world at large to the evil and secrecy associated with sexual immorality, adding “as a result of this, people go under and do a lot of terrible things even with their own children. Most children go about with pains they cannot talk about. That has been the problem of gay, homosexuality and bisexuality in the society.”
Similarly, he took a swipe at religious leaders for also encouraging the culture of silence. He said they do not preach about it in the pulpits.
“Churches in Europe and America have been consumed by this (sexual immoralities) and it is trickling down to Nigeria and other parts of Africa.
“God has raised me as a voice in our generation to speak out. It takes courage to do what I am doing and courage is not a gift but a responsibility. I must speak out on this issue,” he emphasized.
Speaking on the inauguration of the House of Rest Mission Centre, Rev Afolabi described the ceremony as “the take-off of a divine assignment from God’, explaining that he was called by God to establish a movement that would bring about change and transformation through sexual and spiritual holiness.
Continuing, he said “many characters have had their lives messed up because of issues of sexuality and unresolved parental issues”, adding that similar issues are traceable to biblical characters like David, Reuben, Absalom, Adonijah who had problems with their ancestries that later manifested in their adult lives.
To this end, he urged parents and teachers to use the books to strengthen their children, wards and pupils in order to produce future leaders who are delivered from the umbrage of sexuality and ancestral ills.
Earlier, the Chief Inspector of Education, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education Field Office, Effurun, Mr S. I. Egomagwuna, in his address, described the book as apt, noting that sexuality affects males and females alike as well as adolescents and adults.
While focusing his speech on adolescents and teenagers, the educationist remarked that the growth process of a child gradually gets to the stage of puberty, “which is the onset of sexual maturity, when the secondary sexual characteristics appear and the reproductive organs become functional.”
At that stage, Egomagwuna stated that sexual awareness/consciousness and attraction heightens. He said it is very important for sex education to be given to the child before and during that stage.
“Basically, sex education is instruction on issues pertaining to human sexuality such as sexual activity among humans, sexual reproduction, sexual abstinence, emotional relations as well as their consequences.
“In many cultures as in African culture, people feel timid in openly discussing sex-related matters. Adolescent and event teenagers are not given any information on sexual matters because such issues were seen as forbidden. Where available, such instructions came scantily and reluctantly from parents mostly and just before the child gets married,” he said.
He urged parents, guardians, religious bodies, NGOs and government agencies to help give sex education at an early age, stressing that there are many benefits in protecting students’ sexuality through education.
Some of the benefits of sex education, he said, include helping students to avoid experimenting with pre-marital sex and its attendance effects like early, unwanted pregnancies and sexuality transmitted diseases.
“We must concentrate on teaching of valuable social skills that would make our learners in schools fully prepared to resist sexual pressures that come their way. Young people are a force to change and, with support from adults and society at large, they can put the course of sexuality in its proper trajectory.”
The event was attended by teachers, religious leaders, students and pupils as well as parents and other social organization.
The inauguration ceremony of the new mission centre was performed by Apostle Oris Otor Egbiwe, South-south Zonal Coordinator, Sons of the Prophet with Apostle Johnson Suleiman. There were also addresses by various speakers, including the chairman of the occasion, Mr Joseph Kushimor.
The foreword for ‘Fundamental Sex Truth Every Student Must Know’ was written by Rev Godwin Isah, who described the book as “an inner cry to salvage this generation and future generations of young people from the determined and dogged intention of Satan and demons to enslave them and put them into bondage through sexual pervasion.”
Pastor Stephen Ola Jagun, Zonal Pastor in charge of Island Zone I, Lagos Province 16 of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, performed similar task on “How to Raise a Sexually Balance Child”.
He described Rev Afolabi as a “voice raised at this critical hour to draw attention to what the Word tells us”, adding that the society is fast losing the Biblical and moral virtues hitherto held in high esteem.
“Everywhere we turn, be it television, advertisements, internet, supposed role models, even among Christians, sex is being perverted. There lies the need to save our children from these onslaughts orchestrated from hell for their destruction. That is why this book is obligatory,” Pastor Jagun added.
The lawmaker representing Ikpoba-Okha/Egor Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon Ehiozuwa Agbonnayima, has urged multinational companies operating in his constituency to do more for their host communities.
Ehiozuwa spoke after he visited Ward Nine, Ologbo community in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government, to see the abandoned health care facilities built by an oil firm, Pan Ocean.
Ehiozuwa was peeved to learn that the health centre was built and inaugurated in October, 2014 but has since remained under lock and key.
The lawmaker had earlier visited the oil firm and Guinness Nigeria Plc to urge them to be alive to their Corporate Social Responsibilities when he was told about the now abandoned health centre.
At the health centre, some community members said they requested for the health centre at Imasabor quarters of Ologbo as the Itsekiri and Idologbo quarters already has an health centre each.
They however said one doctor is available in one of the health centre.
The abandoned health centre, according to the community members, is equipped with modern medical facilities with a stand-by generator and a borehole.
A large part of the centre has been overtaken by weeds.
Mr. Actor Osakpolor, who spoke on behalf of the community, said the health centre was closed because no medical personnel was available.
According to him, “It was built and commissioned years back. There are some equipment there but some professionals said the equipment are not complete. We don’t have doctors and nurses on ground.
“We have two other health centres but there is only one doctor in one of them while at the other one, there are only nurses. We have not been using it because there are no doctors. Pan Ocean has more than 20 oil wells in this community.”
Eziozuwa promised to visit the Edo State Government to ascertain why the health centre was not put to use said he would encourage investors to invest in his constituency so that the people could be employed.
His words, “It is not to discourage those already here. I went there to tell them about things to be done and to know how many people that they have employed, especially as it concerns their CSR.”
“Some of the equipment at the health centre are not in other big hospitals. It was well furnished and now it is laying down fallow. If Pan Ocean could build a health care centre and the people are now being denied it means they have done enough but I want them to do more.”
“What is important is for me to visit the State Goevrnor to know what happened and what are the problems, why there are no doctor and nurses. Grass have taken over the beautiful healthcare centre.”
Speaking on his visit to Guiness, Hon Ehiozuwa said he discovered that the firm was serious in carrying the community along.
“I challenged them on Western Boys football field. Guinness has a football team that make use of the field for training. They have not anything to improve on the field. I told them I want to see improvement in the school that is just opposite them.”
“They showed me schools that they have renovated and a road they constructed. I appealed to them to build the bridge across the river to link Upper Sakponba. They have agreed with me to partner on the bridge but it would be done stage by stage. Other companies should do something, we have a lot of churches and mosques. They should do something in their immediate society.”
In continuation of her life- touching programmes aimed at improving the quality of life of women, the youth, widows and other vulnerable groups in the state, the wife of Akwa Ibom State Governor and founder, Family Empowerment and Youth Reorientation Programe (FEYReP), Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel, has put smiles on the faces of over 300 elderly persons across the state.
She gave out cash and gift items to mark the 2015 party with the elderly.
The event took place at the State Banquet Hall in Uyo, the state capital.
Mrs. Emmanuel appreciated the elderly for coming out to identify with the government, saying even in their twilight, they were still very important members of the society. She said she decided to celebrate them because it was no mean feat to attain the age of 70 and above, promising that as the wife of the Governor, she would endeavour to keep in touch with them at the grassroots level. She also enlightened them on government policies, such as the free medical treatment for the aged, urging that they take advantage of the scheme.
Mrs. Emmanuel said the ‘dakkada’ initiative launched by the Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, was a call for spiritual and moral rebirth; saying even at 70 and above, they could still rise by praying for the government to succeed in its industrialisation drive.
Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare Dr. Glory Edet described the day as historic, saying as part of the social activities of Family Empowerment and Youth Reorientation Programme (FEYReP), the wife of governor decided to host the elderly from the 329 wards of the state to rekindle and put smiles on their faces.
Commissioner for Rural Development Ekong Sampson appreciated the governor’s wife for bringing out the elderly from the rural areas to identify with the government.
Archbishop Emilia Samuel urged the elderly to always be grateful to God for their lives, saying she was happy that Akwa Ibom people were fast recognising the place of elders in the society. She thanked the governor’s wife for the initiative, praying that God should reward her.
The event witnessed a health talk where the elderly were advised on diet, medication and lifestyle suitable for their age groups.
NO curtail the spread of HIV, an NGO, Mercy-Seat Holistic Development Organisation, has carried out free HIV screening of 1,017 residents of Bayelsa State.
The NGO’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Torukuru Adakien, made the disclosure to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) last Monday in Yenagoa.
Adakien said the HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) were aimed at educating the people on the truths and facts about HIV.
“We conducted this programme to support campaigns against HIV/AIDS, especially in Bayelsa; there is need for us in the society to know our HIV status.
“During the programme which ended on Sept. 30, we had free HCT Uptake of 1,017 persons in the period; we started by advocacy visits to Motor Parks and Mechanics Villages/Shops.
“The advocacy visit was done in the three Senatorial District of Bayelsa; we also distributed free condom of over 800 packets to the people.
“This programme was in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development,’’ he told NAN praising the government for supporting the course.
“We understand that HIV is one of the dreaded diseases all over the world, but I believe we can tackle the disease if we can come together to support the campaign.’’
Adakien said that sex has been established to be the common means of spreading the disease and urged those who could not do without sex to always wear condom for protection.
“You can also avoid contacting HIV by abstaining from unprotected sex, sharing sharp objects like razor blade, hair clipper among others,’’ Adakien said.
He said that the outcome of the screening would be discussed with the concerned individuals.
moseyn Ekiw sighs at the mention of the inability of his opponent to conduct forensic examination of the ballot papers. That would have revealed a lot, he said to himself. Goats voted. Cows thumb-printed in his favour; and gorillas played their parts. In several instances, an individual thumb-printed 1,000 times each. These are secrets better kept than revealed.
Leunamme cuts through his thought: “There is something I need to read to you.”
“What is that?”
“It is a story on what happened at the tribunal on the third day when you began calling witnesses…”
“As reported by…”
“The Country, of course…”
“Okay, go ahead.”
Leunamme begins reading the report: “The headline is: ‘Dismissed DSS officer, pastor struggle at Waters Tribunal, contradict statements with improbable stories’. And the story goes thus:’ Manuel Hilips, a former officer of the Department of State Security (DSS), who was discharged from service, came to the Waters State Elections Petitions Tribunal claiming he provided security in 10 local governments during the last election.
‘Hilips, who was a second respondent defence witness, came with very unlikely tales about how he supervised the men and officers who patrolled nearly a dozen local governments in less than 24 hours. He compounded his dubious stories with his claim that he covered all these far-flung villages and towns with just a Hilux vehicle, and not even a helicopter in only one day.
‘But, what Mr. Hilips didn’t tell the court was that he was not in charge of the elections on April 11. Koba Mayn was the Director of State Security Service on election day. He is senior in rank to Mr Hilips and was the person who deployed men on the day. Hilips reported to him and did not go out alone. On the only occasion that Mr Hilip went out, it was in company of Mayn and they both toured the capital city.
‘Hilips, who was forcefully retired by the DSS along with 13 other officers earlier this year, did not have any item to identify himself as a former staff of the DSS. He was shocked with the story of his dismissal revealed by the lead counsel to the petitioner.
‘Under cross-examination, Hilips recanted when he was shown documents of the EC, which clearly revealed the damage violence and multiple voting did in the areas he allegedly covered.
‘Similarly, Pastor Selach Rubber of the Gospel without Truth Ministry came with the same burden of fraudulence to the witness box where he was again reminded of how he was dismissed from his former church, Better Evangelism Church, for being a liar. Rubber, who said he was accredited with the card reader, surprisingly told the tribunal that he could not say the same of any other person because he did not pay attention to the accreditation of other voters.
‘Another pathetic witness was Nosmas Pesoj who claimed to have voted at Unit 2, Ward 7 but he refused to identify his passport, claiming like others before him, that he could not read the document because he was not the author. But to his surprise, EC’s report showed no ballot paper was issued throughout his ward. In addition, 508 people allegedly voted when the voters register had only 501.
‘One witness who provided ample comedy yesterday was May Manueljack. He had narrated the usual storyline of how voting took place and how results were announced. He later developed cold feet when he was asked to recall the figures he heard at the polling unit when results were announced. Also when he was asked to identify his photograph in Exhibit 226/5, he declined and insisted that he could not see it well because it was not coloured.”
There is silence for two seconds.
“That is the end of it,” Leunamme says.
“Between you and I, the report is right but it looks like something beyond the reporter. He must have been assisted by my opponent to really put what happened that day in proper context…”
“In a matter of days, we will know our fate. If the verdicts go against us, we should not just give up easily. We should fight up to the Appeal Court before subjecting ourselves to fresh polls. If possible, we should look for excuse to even drag the matter to the Supreme Court. That way, we buy more time and weaken our opponents. Make them finish their personal funds, while we spend government cash to defend our stolen mandates,” Leunamme says.
“Another thing we can do is to make as much noise as possible in the media, especially the social media. We need to blackmail the government at the centre. Make the President feel bad. Accuse him of deploying security apparatchik to the advantage of our opponents. Just throw as much mud as possible on him. I have a feeling that because of his military past, he is trying to look like a born-again democrat. If the noise is too much, it may just work things our way…”
“But, what really happened to your attempt to see the Chief Justice?”
“My brother, na wa o! That stupid reporter just blew my cover. Who knows may be that would have worked some magic and I would have benefitted from another kind of Goodluck charm. But, that reporter just finished me and The Country and others joined with front page reports and editorials. With all these, the Chief Justice will not even have anything to do with me…”
“My brother, I think we should go and sleep, even though we murdered sleep by coming to power through fraud. But, still we must make the best of the bad situation we have found ourselves. We must never say never. We must fight till there is no strength again. That is the hallmark of a man…”
“I agree with you my brother,” Ekiw cuts in, “Sleep tight dear soul mate.”
Ekiw returns to the Louis XIII wine, takes some sip and sleep soon comes. One hour after, he wakes up panting. He had a dream.
In the dream, he was told to change his ways. To give his life to Christ or risk rotting in hellfire. He was shown what it looks like to be in hellfire. He saw men and women groaning in unimaginable pains. They were crying and he was made to understand that many of those groaning had been that way for years and it made sense to him that death is actually the beginning of life. It could be the beginning of good life or the beginning of life of torture. He was told to make a choice. He made no choice before he jumped out of bed.
Looking at it now, he weighs his options and after serious considerations, he convinces himself that there is nothing special about the dream. It is ordinary and should not be accorded any special meaning, he tells himself.
He also convinces himself that there is no need to worry about the hereafter when he is yet to fully enjoy the paradise that is on earth. He thinks of calling his wife who is in the United Kingdom with the children. But he advises himself against it. Even though she has been playing along, she really is not out for the horror that this whole quest has been. Calling his eldest daughter is also not an option. He remembers her reaction when there was a report that he sponsored thugs to beat up party members who were against his bid for the governorship ticket.
This is a cross he has to bear alone and they all will enjoy if he succeeds, he tells himself. But he also tells himself that the signs are ominous. Yes, he has tried by buying even serving security agents to lie against the institution they represent but still he admits that there are just too much documentary evidences that can make things turn against him.
At this point, he remembers the words of Leunamme that “we must never say never. We must fight till there is no strength again. That is the hallmark of a man”.
He reaches for a drawer by the bed, searches out a pack of tramadol, gets a table water and takes two tablets. With the tramadol, he is sure sleep will soon come and nightmare most unlikely. Tomorrow will take care of itself, he tells himself before the tramadol knocks him off.
No fewer than 300 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Bakassi local government area of Cross River last Friday benefited from the free medical outreach of the 13 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Calabar.
Brig.-Gen. Sani Mohammed, Commander of the Brigade, said the humanitarian medical outreach was part of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai’s vision on civil-military relations.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the IDPs are camping at Ikot Effiong/Obutong primary school in Bakassi local government area of the state.
Mohammed said the Army decided to reach out to the IDPs because they needed adequate medical service to keep them in good health.
“We are here today to offer free medical treatment to the IDPs. When you look around and see where they are camping, you will believe that they really need adequate medical care.
“We are here with our full medical team that will carry out different test on the IDPs and also administer them with drugs.
“Earlier today, we also carried out a similar medical outreach in the barracks where the children/wards of soldiers and friends of the Army were equally tested and administered with drugs,’’ he said.
The commander advised the IDPs to have a positive outlook towards life, adding that the Army would always remember them in their activities.
NAN reports that the IDPs were tested for malaria, blood pressure, hepatitis, typhoid and fever, among others, while drugs were equally administered to them.
Speaking, the Coordinator of the camp, Mr Aston Inyang, thanked the Army for their humanitarian medical outreach.
Inyang said that they were brought to the camp on Oct. 4, 2009, after the ceding of the oil rich Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon on Aug. 14, 2008.
According to him, the camp has been neglected by the government and appealed to the state and federal governments to come to their aid.
“Our greatest challenge here is that we lack adequate medical care and the young ladies who are pregnant always feel it more.
“We have not been given fair attention as it concerns health. Our camp is so large that we are supposed to have our own separate health care centre built by the government.
“From 2009 to now, we have lost over 40 persons which include women, men and children and a lot are still under medical challenges because they have no money to access medical treatment,’’ he said.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Eno Samson, who thanked the Army for their medical assistant, appealed to other corporate bodies and philanthropists, to also assist them in the areas of food, security and shelter.
