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Tag: Christmas

  • Gov. Eno celebrates power of ingenuity, unity at 2023 A’Ibom christmas carol

    Gov. Eno celebrates power of ingenuity, unity at 2023 A’Ibom christmas carol

    Under the bright night sky filled with the soothing harmattan-season breeze, and surrounded by 20 thousand sea of happy people, the 16th Edition of Akwa Ibom Christmas Carols came alive last night and lasted, into the early hours of today.

    A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ekerete Udoh noted that the event took place at the new 20-thousand-seater Amphitheatre, which was constructed within two months, located at the  lush green  Unity Park, Uyo, this year’s Carols was a celebration of home-based and home grown talents, alongside national and international gospel singers of Akwa Ibom extraction.  

    The Unity Park, also, serves as the venue for the ongoing Christmas Park,  that has, in the last 15 days showcased the rich culinary and cultural heritage of the Akwa Ibom people, and has, put the state on the world map as the emerging tourism hub of the nation.

    With the theme, “Arise,  Shine; for thy, light is come” drawn from Isaiah 60: 1-3,(KJV)  the event, brought together choirs from all segments of the Christian community in the State, and raised the roof with great renditions to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and season of great joy and good tidings to mankind.

    From popular gospel star,  Mercy Chinwo, who got everyone on their feet with beautiful renditions of her favorite Gospel songs, to Bobby Friga, to Aity Denis, to Moses Bliss and a host of other talented performers, the atmosphere was one of a grand God’s party and the mood was spiritually uplifting. It was a moment of unity, where the divisive impulses of politics gave way to an infectious feeling of camaraderie and bipartisanship, working and reveling across political lines. The Akwa Ibom spirit  of love, unity, and brotherhood took centre stage and it was a great feeling to behold!

    The State Governor, His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno in a spiritually expansive mood, and obviously satisfied with the huge success of the event, was effusive in his praise for the Organizing Committee, headed by the Honourable Commissioner of Culture and Tourism, Sir Charles Udoh. “ it was a little under two months ago,  at our EXCO Retreat in Lagos,  that I gave the marching order to the Hononurable Commissioner for Culture and Tourism to ensure that we construct a permanent site for the 16th Edition of the Alwa Ibom Christmas Carols. 2023, at this location.

    “It was indeed a tall order, given the fact that this place that has today been transformed into what is easily the best and most smart 20-Seater amphitheatre in the country was a virgin land. My belief was simple: When people are determined to ARISE and shine, nothing, and I mean nothing can stop their resolve and passion.

    “Today, because Akwa Ibom people have Arisen, we are seated here in this magnificent 20-Seater Amphitheatre, singing praises to God, to herald the birth of God’s only begotten Son and the Saviour of mankind, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. So I want to commend the Honourable Commissioner, and his team, especially Engr,. Uwem Okoko of Hensek Integrated Services for rising to the occasion and delivering big for our people, in line with our vision.”

    The Governor harped on the theme of unity, and thanked past leaders for conceptualizing, sustaining and even elevating the event to higher realms, which he is determined to deepen,  maintaining that what unites Akwa Ibom people is  “greater that what separates us,” and urged the people to use this season of joy to extend their hands of friendship to others who “may have fallen on hard times.”

    He used the opportunity to talk about his passion to serve the people and thanked the immediate past Governor, H.E. Udom Emmanuel, CON, for seeing in him, what others may not have seen.

    When he announced that the 13th- month salary he had promised,  had been paid to workers in the State,  the audience broke into thunderous applause, and continued , applauding when he tailed about the nearly 7 billion Naira he has, also, in under seven months paid to retirees, in fulfillment of his campaign promise to continue the payment of gratuities.  

     Governor Eno, informed the audience that a world-class theme park will be constructed at the same location to provide an avenue for relaxation for families, in line with what obtains in the developed world. “Our vision for tourism is deep and as you all know, tourism is a cash cow, and we intend to develop and further the growth of that sector for the benefit of our people.”

    Bishop Emma Isong, gave a rousing sermon and the event came to a close at a little over 12 midnight.

    In attendance were the Wife of the Governor, Pastor Patience Umo Eno, the Deputy Governor, Distinguished Senator Akon Eyakenyi and her spouse, Wife of the Immediate Past Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) Martha Udom Emmanuel, who also represented the immediate past Governor, H.E. Mr. Udom Emmanuel, CON, Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong, the two Senators representing Eket and Uyo Senatorial districts respectively, Distinguished Senators Ekong Sampson and Aniekan Bassey.

    Others include the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Gas) the Rt. Honourable Ekperikpe Ekpo, who represented the Senate President, H.E., Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio, CON, past Military Governors, Members of the House of Representatives, political stakeholders across party lines, clergymen, captains of industry, pop culture figures among others were in attendance.

    It was indeed a celebration of ingenuity, love, conviviality, love and kindred spirit in line with the spirit of the season.

  • 11 places to visit during Christmas in Nigeria

    11 places to visit during Christmas in Nigeria

    As the Christmas season approaches, families eager to celebrate might be contemplating ideal places and resorts where children can have access to premium fun and enjoyment.

    These are some fun and thrilling places in Nigeria:

    1. Ibadan Recreation Club

    Ibadan Recreation club has many fascinating things, such as tar and sand tennis courts, a large swimming pool furnished with pool beds, an indoor squash court and a billiards table. Ibadan Recreation Club offers quality and healthy food. 

    2. Erin-Ijesha/Olumirin Waterfall, Osun

    Erin-Ijesa, or Olumirin waterfall, is one of the most visited waterfalls in Nigeria. It is located right in the heart of Osun state in the southwest, just two kilometres from Erin-Ijesa town. Indigenes believe the waterfall possesses healing qualities. Erin-Ijesa, in its entirety, consists of three waterfalls linked by several trails with various stop-off points at certain levels.

    3. The Calabar Museum

    If you have been longing to learn about the history of Nigeria from the pre-colonial eras, you should visit the Calabar Museum. It was the administrative office of the British colonial government in Calabar. The museum is full of documents and records of most of the activities of the British while Nigeria was colonised.

    4. Thought Pyramid Art Centre, Abuja

    This is a must-see for anyone who enjoys art, design, and culture. It is a stone-like building with vivid, bold metallic structures and sculptures adorning the lush greenery in the gallery.

    5. Millennium Park, Abuja

    This is the largest park in Abuja. There are many fun things: the Italian-style garden, beautiful walkways, extraordinary lights, and many more. It should be on your list if you’re planning a picnic.

    6. Cinemas (Nationwide)

    Cinemas are one of the best to visit for the latest movies in Nigeria (Hollywood, Bollywood, adventures, comedy, etc. When visiting, one should plan to get popcorn and a drink to nibble on during the movie. Movie ticket price varies depending on the film; you can decide to book from their website.

     7. Abraka Turf and Country Club, Delta

    The pride of Abraka city is Abraka turf and country club. It has rich vegetation, marine surroundings, and rich, steamy rainforest that is soothing to the body. The beautiful view of sunrise and sunset, the peaceful rise of the early morning sun, and the pleasant music of the birds makes this place perfect for trips, family get together, corporate Christmas party, or a romantic time with your lover.

    8. Owu Waterfall, Kwara

    Owu waterfall is called the “wonder in the wilderness,” because of its therapeutic effect on visitors. It is suitable for nature lovers and a perfect choice for a picnic.

    Read Also: Countdown to Christmas: Tips for coping during Yuletide

    9. Obudu Mountain Resort in Cross River

    A beautiful mountain resort is also a good place for a vacation or picnic. Obudu mountain resort is located in Cross River State, formerly regarded as Obudu cattle ranch. Fun things to do: swimming, horse riding, golf, and many more outdoor games. A presidential lodge also serves sumptuous delicacies if you want to spend a few days.

    10. Beaches in Lagos

    Beaches are also exciting places for a family picnic. There are private beaches and general beaches within Lagos state, at You Beach you will find beach bars, restaurants, and other exciting places on Beach. It is an environment that makes nature nurture you.

    11. Olumo Rock, Ogun

    Olumo Rock is located in Abeokuta, a city in western Nigeria. From the top, you are treated to a dramatic view of the city of Abeokuta, which is definitely one of Nigeria’s most “Instagrammable” shots. The Olumo rock reaches a height of 137 meters above sea level. It is accessible by an elevator and a series of manufactured steps carved into the face of the rock. For those curious about plants, several rare plants are to be sighted at this monumental place.

  • Countdown to Christmas: Tips for coping during Yuletide

    Countdown to Christmas: Tips for coping during Yuletide

    If you find Christmas a difficult time of year, no worries here are some tips to help you cope. Try not to think too much about Christmas. If it turns out to be good then that’s a bonus, if not then at least I haven’t got myself worked up over nothing! Here are some tips from Mind, a website that promotes mental health solutions.

    Coping with money worries

    It can be tough to cope with the financial pressures of Christmas. This can be especially difficult if you’re already struggling with money. And for many of us, rises in the cost of living will have made things even harder.

    How you cope with the costs of Christmas will depend on your circumstances. You might not find all of these tips realistic. But it may help to try some of them:

    •Access financial support. You could use the Turn2Us benefits calculator to work out what support you’re entitled to. Citizens Advice has information on how to get help if you’re struggling to pay your bills. And you could call Trussell Trust’s free helpline for advice on accessing financial support.

    •Make lists, plans or a budget. Noting things down can make them feel a bit more manageable or help you think more clearly. Creating a budget could also help you feel more in control of what you can spend. See our page on organising your finances for more tips. You could also use Money Helper’s free online budget planner.

    •Be open with others. It can be hard to talk about money. But being honest with others can help. You may be able to agree ways to make Christmas plans free or low cost. Or they might be able to offer other kinds of support. Step Change’s festive support has information on talking to other people about money worries.

    Read Also: UHC Day: Tinubu unveils plan for massive investments in health sector

    •Look for local offers or events. Local organisations, such as charities and community centres, may have free or low-cost events for Christmas. Or they may be able to offer support with things like gifts or food.

    •Look for free or low-cost items online. You may be able to find free items to use as gifts or decorations online, for example through websites like Freecycle.

    •Try to avoid comparisons with the Christmas you see in adverts and social media. These often do not reflect reality and can make us feel bad about ourselves. It may help to take breaks from social media.

    •Be kind to yourself. Money worries can have a big impact on our mental health. They might make us feel concerned, embarrassed or angry.

    And they can affect our self-esteem. Try not to blame yourself for your situation or how you’re feeling about it.

    Looking after yourself

    Be gentle and patient with yourself. It might help to think about what is best for your wellbeing during Christmas, and prioritise what you need. 

    Remind yourself that it won’t last forever. You could set a ‘start’ and ‘finish’ time for what you count as Christmas. 

    • Set your boundaries. Try to say no to things that aren’t helpful for you.
    • Let yourself experience your own feelings. Even if they don’t match what’s going on around you, they’re still valid. For example, if you don’t feel like celebrating Christmas when everyone else does.
    • Take time out. Do something to forget that it’s Christmas or distract yourself. For example, you could watch a film or read a book that’s set in the summer. Or you could try learning a new skill.
    • Let yourself have the things you need. For example, if you need to take a break instead of doing an activity, or need a little bit of quiet time.

    ·

  • Christmas shopping trends

    Christmas shopping trends

    Chineye Adaku Ugo is my seat partner in my Anglican church. She is a regular and comes early every Sunday. However, for weeks I noticed she has not been attending service lately. I made enquiries from people closer to her and learnt she was not sick.

    Hence, I decided to put a call through to her to enquire why she has stopped coming to church. To my greatest amazement she explained that business has kept her very busy. She said that most Saturdays she comes back as late as 11pm and finds it tiring waking up early on Sunday to attend the 7am service.

    She is a trader at the popular Balogun market in Lagos. She sells clothes, particularly female Turkey wears. She has three shops in the market. She explained that this season is when they make the highest sales.

    “Ordinarily, I do not go to market on Saturdays, I leave my sales girls and boys to run Saturdays but Christmas season is a different ball game.”

    Surprised, I asked her if the tough economy has not affected people’s attitude to shopping. Smiling broadly, she said that people will always find a way to shop during Christmas.

    “The high rate of forex actually resulted in importers bringing in their goods late. Ordinarily containers start flooding the market as early September but this year it started coming in late October so Christmas shopping did not actually start early this year.”

    On what shoppers were buying the most she said food, drinks, clothing especially children and feminine clothing and fashion accessories.

    Taking a trip one early morning to Balogun market proved to be something else. I did not envisage the crowd I saw as early as 8am on that Friday morning. Mrs. Essien Ekpa said she came that early to avoid the afternoon crowd and to be able to get transport back to Ikeja early. Usually traders do not open their shops that early but because of the yuletide season resulting in high demand they had to open.

    From Nnamdi Azike Way road, to Tom Jones, Gutter, Idumota, Tinubu Square, Akpagbo etcetera, many traders had their wares by the road side with bells in their trying to get the attention of shoppers. Some were shouting at the top of their voice that they offer a 50 percent discount.

    It is chaotic, complete mayhem. The crowd is so much that people push against each other. In that chaotic situation there are young men shouting warnings at the top of their voices that people should be mindful of thieves. Shouts of “hold your purse” intermittently rent the air. But like Chioma Chibuike, a shopper said, “That jostling and pushing in the market is all part of Christmas.”

    According to her she will not miss it for anything. “I get a thrill from going to the market during this season. I cannot miss it for anything.”

    Traders dealing in female and children wares are the most smiling to banks. Bobo, as he is fondly addressed by his numerous customers said that he has sold more wigs and hair extensions this season than he had done since January.  Aunty Bimbo of ‘female Under Wears’ said the demand for padded pants exceeds the supply.

    Read Also: Agric revolution will help Nigeria surmount insecurity, poverty – Shettima

    “Now that people know the dangers of operation and the cost implication, women who are not naturally endowed with big buttocks go for padded pants. “Women consider their outward appearance before food and this season is the season of parties so every woman wants to look her best.”

    Lace sellers, costume jewelry, bags and shoe sellers are not left behind. Though the prices have quite appreciated because of foreign exchange, the majority of women are not deterred. Children’s clothes are also selling like hot cakes. Those who cannot afford UK/US /China brands opt out for the Aba brands. These Aba brands also have adult dresses and they have come to stay.  Most of the trendy adult dresses sell between N3-N6,000 while the UK equivalent sells for between N15,000-N40,000.

    From investigations at the Trade Fair and Balogun markets Christmas sales are coming in trickles and not a boom.

    Mrs. Adesina, who has her shop filled with Christmas trees, said she has not been making much sales as the majority of shoppers said they would rather wash and re-use their old ones. “They just buy a few ornaments and lights to complement what they have at home.”

    Rice sellers are another group that are smiling at the banks now. With the fear that the price may go up as Christmas draws new, many people are already stockpiling rice. Currently 50kg of imported short grain sells for N47,000 while the same size of long grain sells for N57,000. “More people are buying short grain because it’s far cheaper than long grain. When the price margin was about N2,000 difference people ignored short grain and bought long grain but considering the tough economy, people buy short one now”, explained a rice seller Taiwo Diya.

    Meanwhile organisations are not left out in the race as they have devised a lot of promotions to market their products. Access Bank Plc says it has commenced its AccessMore-12 days of Christmas campaign where 100 lucky customers can win N10,000 vouchers every day.

    Group Head, Consumer Banking, Access Bank Plc, Njideka Esomeju, said the campaign was launched to celebrate the holiday season.

    Esomeju said, “We are happy to give back to our valued customers through the AccessMore 12 days of Christmas campaign. We are going to reward 100 customers with N10,000 shopping vouchers every day from December 1 – December 12, 2023.

    “It is our way of expressing gratitude for their continued trust and loyalty to the bank. To be part of the winning train, all our customers need to do is to perform a minimum of five transactions above N1,000 on our AccessMore App and stand a chance to win shopping vouchers and exciting prizes to make their holiday season even more memorable.”

    He added, ‘We have partnered with renowned retail stores like Spar, Ebeano, Market Square, Justrite, Jendol, Oriki and more for our customers to redeem their shopping vouchers when they win.

    “At Access Bank, we believe in giving back to those who have made our success possible. This campaign is part of our commitment to creating meaningful and memorable experiences for our customers. We invite everyone to participate and stand a chance to be one of our lucky daily winners.”

    First bank also has a promotion tagged ‘#share with First bank’. KFC, Jumai, Kerrygold, Haier Thermocool, Konga, and a host of others.

  • 22 days to Christmas: Shopsafe, get value for money

    22 days to Christmas: Shopsafe, get value for money

    Mrs. Eniola Adeshina and her 17years old daughter Bisola went to Balogun market Lagos last week, after withdrawing N200,000 from the bank, Mrs. Adeshina split the money into two giving the daughter one part to keep in her  sling cloth bag while she safely tucked away the rest in her bag.

    We all know how busy the markets and everywhere has become. Due to the prevalence of buying and selling as well as travelling during the yuletide, there are usually massive crowds at the markets and motor parks, where pickpockets use the opportunity to steal phones, cash and other items.

    Anyway, from the Balogun area, they went to Nnamdi Azike road, down to Tom Jones road shopping all the way. From time to time Adesina will look over her shoulder at the daughter who was following her closely at the back and remind her to pull her sling bag to her chest, to avoid pickpockets accessing her bag but her daughter will always insist she was mindful of her bag.

    By the time Mrs. Adeshina had exhausted the N100,000 in her bag, she reached to retrieve the N100,000 she had kept in her daughter’s bag, it was then that they saw a long cut running by the side of the daughter’s bag. Without her knowing as the crowd pressed, a thief who saw her loosely had her bag, used the opportunity to discreetly make a cut on the bag and was fortunate to forage and got the money. At what point did it happen they could not tell.

    In the same market, during this same period of massive crowds and shopping, Mrs. Ijeoma Chibuike was in a big lace shop in balogun. Different shoppers, especially ladies of all ages were mingling around, admiring and selecting materials they wanted to buy.

    Ijeoma had come to buy different lace materials as she had a series of functions she wanted to attend in the village during Christmas.

    She was engrossed in admiring the lace materials and deciding on which ones to buy. Meanwhile she had her hand bag which she had zipped on her shoulder, Call it providence or the act of God, but all of a sudden she turned and beheld a woman’s hand was right inside her bag rummaging through her bag. Courageously she held onto the woman’s hand, not allowing her to pull her hand and people were querying the woman “what is your hand doing in another person’s bag”?. Mind you this woman is not less than 70 years old, the people you will never suspect.

    This is the time. You must be extra vigilant as you shop.

    With the countdown to Christmas well and truly on, check out these handy crime prevention and safety tips.

    Protect your parcels

    As we head into the busiest time of year for postal deliveries, it’s important to do all you can to avoid becoming a victim of parcel theft by taking a few simple steps:

    ●Get packages delivered to a place where someone can physically receive them.

    ●Make sure to sign for deliveries or indicate a secure location where they can be left.

    ●Provide clear delivery instructions and ask for packages not to be placed at your front door.

    ●If you’re not going to be home, arrange to collect the parcel from a depot or have it redirected to an address of someone you trust.

    ●Report any suspicious behaviour – such as a car following a courier van or an unexpected visitor who knocks on your door asking for someone you don’t know.

    Watch out for fraudsters

    Online shopping is convenient for Christmas shopping but be careful transacting online to avoid identity theft. Identity theft is when someone uses your personal information without your knowledge, to obtain credit or purchase goods or services – and technology advances mean that criminals have a variety of methods at their disposal.

    Here’s some ways to avoid becoming a victim of identity theft:

    ●Shred documentation that has personal information, especially bank and credit card statements and old bills.

    ●Don’t leave personal documentation in your car.

    ●Use strong passwords that are hard to guess.

    ●Never give out personal information over the phone, internet or even face-to-face unless you have initiated the contact and can verify that the person or organisation is legitimate.

    ●Secure your letterbox so only you can access your mail.

    ●Monitor your transactions and check bank statements or your bank account regularly to make sure there are no unauthorised transactions and contact your financial institution immediately if something is not right.

    Read Also: Otu flags off 32-day Christmas festival in Cross River

    Credit cards

    ●Immediately advise your bank if your card is lost or stolen, especially because ‘contactless’ technology allows transactions without a PIN or a signature up to a limit.

    ●Have different PINs for each card and choose them carefully. Don’t write your PIN down or keep it in the same place as your cards.

    ●Never share your PIN with anyone and be alert when entering it at an ATM or during a shop transaction.

    ●Destroy old cards and sign new ones as soon as you receive them.

    ●When you move to a new house, make sure to update your address with your financial institution.

    Make sure to shop safely

    Shopping can be stressful, but social distancing and uncertainty over changing restrictions adds a new layer of complexity when battling the Christmas crowds. Seasonal shopping can also make you a potential target for thieves, so consider a few simple precautions:

    In the shops

    ●Don’t leave shopping to the last-minute rush.

    ●Only carry essential identification or valuables and make sure they’re secure.

    ●Make sure your bag is closed, held in front of you where possible and never left unattended.

    ●Pay attention to your surroundings and if someone bumps into you, immediately check your valuables.

    ●When making a transaction using your card, never let it out of your sight and be wary about who is nearby when entering your PIN.

    ●Pay attention to who is around you and report any suspicious activity.

    Pickpocket

    Pickpocketing is a form of crime that involves the stealing of money or other valuables from a victim’s pocket without them noticing the theft at the time.

    Pickpockets and other thieves, especially those working in groups, sometimes apply distraction, such as asking a question or bumping into the victims. These distractions sometimes require sleight of hand, speed, misdirection and other types of skills

    Pickpockets are usually found in crowded places, such as high traffic areas, mass transit stations, places of worship, open markets and public transits.

    Due to the prevalence of buying and selling as well as travelling during the yuletide, there are usually massive crowds at the markets and motor parks, where pickpockets use the opportunity to steal phones, cash and other items.

  • As 2018 ends in a whimper

    Merry Christmas to all my readers and  wishing you all happy 2019 .

    Many comments have been made and written about the disgraced Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, professor who is now facing the possibility of spending time in jail unless he appeals successfully against his sentence. This is the time of Christmas and goodwill towards all men. Instead of laughing at the fallen professor, I want to plead that we remember him and his family in our prayers. In advanced countries of the world, the man would have been taken for psychiatric assessment. It just does not make rational sense for such a highly educated man and an ordained priest of the Anglican Communion to demand sex from his female student and to insist he must have sex with her five times before fair assessment of her examination papers. Sexual harassment is not unique to Obafemi Awolowo  University or Nigeria. It is a global problem and phenomenon. This is why universities all over the world have in their acts or statutes, processes and punishment to deal with what is usually described as “moral turpitude”. University teachers and administrators found guilty are usually sent down and fired without financial entitlements no matter how many years they would have served the institutions. No one so dismissed would find employment in the academic sector anywhere unless such a person emigrates. So it is a major life-threatening stricture and punishment and any rational and sane person would try to avoid it .

    In spite of this, people still engage in such shenanigans. This is human because dangers sometimes attract foolish people to do what does not make sense and what is to most of us outrageous behavior.

    Now to the Ife professor whose offense really is that he marked down a lady’s papers with the hope he could lure her to bed for change of marks. So he was guilty of intent to commit “moral turpitude”. He was dealt with according to the laws of the university as approved by parliament in 1961.

    My worry is that he was then taken to court and subjected to what amounts to double jeopardy. In sentencing him, the woman judge became emotional and said she was using the professor as “scape goat” in a situation of rampant harassment of “our daughters”. Is using a person as scapegoat permissible in law? Is there any jurisprudence to back such an emotional outburst?

    My  Christian religion says I should love even those who are unlovable. The plight of this man  makes me so sad that I find his action so irrational not only as a professor but as an ordained preacher of the Anglican Communion that rather than sending  him to prison, he should be made to seek medical attention. From my discreet research, I am told his department knew about his problem of overexcited libido even before the case under discussion. People reading this piece will ask about the wound inflicted on the student. All I can say is that this calls for restitution. I spent virtually all my adult life in the university system. Students have recourse to asking for their papers to be remarked if they are not satisfied. Students do make use of this opportunity when they have reasons to feel they have not been properly assessed. A student can be victimized not only on sexual grounds but even for religious, political or ethnic reasons.

    In some universities in Nigeria today, there is the practice of two examiners per course. This needs to be made the standard norm. We would not extirpate sexual harassment in our life and not just in universities but everywhere including in the judiciary, in government, the legislature and in private and public sectors of our country. The solution is not cruel and unusual punishment. Prevention is also better than cure. We can devise a system that makes it impossible or at least difficult for students to be victimized for any reason.

    Now to the serious problem of acceptable manners of behavior by our politicians. In the particular case of heckling our president at the recent budget presentation, I found the situation most unbecoming. The president is not just a person, he is the embodiment of our country. Whenever he goes he is “Nigeria” and his principal representatives abroad are also so designated. If we do not respect the person and office of the president, we belittle ourselves in the eyes of the world.

    When people give examples of heckling the presidents in other countries as a justification for their bad manners, they need to know that institutions in those countries are so well-established that they can take some buffeting without serious damage to them. But in our  inchoate fragile institutions, we play with the devil if we do not carefully treat them with the consideration and respect they deserve. We know about the immunity parliamentarians enjoy for any action in parliament. But has it occurred to these unruly people in parliament that the mob could invade the parliament if parliamentarians turn their chamber into a house of riot? We need to give example of good manners and decorum to the not-too-highly educated members of the society who look to their leaders  as the standard of  behavior and comportment.

    In this regard, we must deprecate the regular incendiary diatribes coming from political opponents in this pre-election season. The wild exaggerations of government misdeeds coming particularly from the PDP’s spokesman, Kola Ologbodiyan should be stopped. It is obvious to intelligent people that his claims of looting of trillions by people in the present government is mere juvenile vituperation lacking in merit. Targeting the vice president and tarring him with the brush of corruption is mere politics without fact. Those of us who know the vice president just laugh when we read or hear about Ologbodiyan’s accusation of corruption of members of this government in a case of the pot calling the kettle black. If politics of  throwing mud at opponents is what we can indulge in, then we should spare the public the ugly fighting that seems to characterize our present political discourse. In this regard, we will all lose if we don’t stop the religious campaign and denigration of people who belong to different faith. Our country has enough problems and what we need are prayers not religious war.

    We are now in the dry season and one hopes that the various contractors handling government projects on the roads, railways, hydro-electricity and other areas of much needed infrastructure will hasten the rate of their work so that this country can go back to where we were in the 1970s in terms of infrastructure. The case of the ports in Lagos, both Apapa and Tin Can, calls for mention. The approach roads  to these ports constitute a cog in our economic development. For how long will suffering humanity wait in Oshodi and Apapa before something breaks?

    There may have been some noticeable improvement in power supply but it is too fitful and far between. The practice of load-shedding is just too primitive to be acceptable. Within 27 months, Siemens AG of Germany delivered to Egypt 14000 megawatts of electricity. The same Siemens has been in Nigeria for donkey years but because of corruption and lack of focus, we are still celebrating 4000 megawatts of electricity yet our country is vastly richer than Egypt but we have nothing to show for our so-called status as the biggest economy in Africa.

    Finally, we are shedding too much blood in this country. The number of people killed on our bad roads or by kidnappers, cattle herders and armed robbers have inured us to the enormity of the breakdown of law and order in our country. The killing of General Muhammed Alkali on the Jos Plateau and assassination of Air Vice Marshall Alex Badeh has brought home to us the gravity of our situation. If high profile military people are not safe who is safe? The annual migration of people home to their towns and villages at this time of the year has for years stopped because of fear of being killed on our bad roads or by marauding robbers, assassins and cattle herders and highway brigands. When will peace like a river flow in our country again? Without peace, there can be no development, employment and the civilized arts. Our governments have full plates before them. They have jobs to do. They need our prayers and our vigilance which are the price of liberty.

  • Fed Govt denies killing protesters on Christmas eve in Zamfara

    The Federal Government, through the Defence Minister, Mansur Dan-Ali, yesterday denied reports that Army troops of Forward Operating Base (FOB) at Tsafe in Zamfara State killed some people protesting against killings in the state.

    A video published by an online news site on December 25 accused the Army of killing civilians and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), who it said were protesting the previous day’s killings in the state. Giving account of the incident, Dan-Ali insisted that no one was killed or injured during the protest.

    The minister urged the publisher of the video to retract it and apologise to the military.

    Dan-Ali’s account of the incident was contained in a statement yesterday by his media aide, Col. Tukur Gusau.

    According to the statement, the allegation against the Army was outright falsehood and it was ridiculous for any medium to have published a story based on hearsay.

    It described the video clip as the handiwork of a “renowned serial liar”.

    Dan-Ali said the police prevented the protesters from torching the Tsafe Divisional Police Station and dispersed them with teargas.

    He said: “On Monday, December 24, at 6:35 a.m, the troops deployed in Tsafe Nigerian Army FOB received a report of protest by some suspected Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), mostly from Asola village in Tsafe Local Government Area (LGA). They were allegedly protesting against the security situation in their areas and lack of care.

    “They were initially cautioned by the Emir of Tsafe, but they were adamant and continued with the protest. They were, however, joined by youths, mostly identified as CJTF in the area. The CJTF, armed with Dane guns, clubs and other dangerous objects, attempted to attack the Divisional Police Station at Tsafe but were stopped by the police on duty.

    “They later moved to the streets, blocking Tsafe-Gusau highway, burning tyres and setting Tsafe Local Government Area’s secretariat ablaze. In the course of the protest, some vehicles parked at the secretariat were also burnt. They destroyed administration offices, files, office equipment and other valuable items.

    “It was in that process the troops intervened. It is imperative to also state that there was an attempt to also burn down the home of the Chairman Tsafe Local Government Area by the protesters. Due to timely intervention of our troops, they could not achieve their aim. The troops also arrested one of the protesters, an identified CJTF with a Dane gun. The suspect and the exhibit have been handed over to the police for further interrogation.

    “Indeed, no life was lost and there were no recorded injuries. It is, therefore, preposterous for anyone to allege shooting at the protesters by the troops of the Army. Normalcy has since been restored in the affected areas. We enjoin the public to disregard and ignore such unfounded allegation as it is not true.

    “Once again, the Ministry of Defence wants to assure all Nigerians that the Armed Forces of Nigeria will continue to discharge its constitutional roles, irrespective of the attempts by some unpatriotic elements to distract it.”

  • Yuletide blues in Nigeria

    In a Nigerian state, a crowd of excited citizens at a motor park clusters around a bus revving to take them to a holiday destination for Christmas and New Year celebrations. But a female Jihadist bomber thinks otherwise. Feigning to be a passenger, she sneaks into their midst and detonates the lethal luggage on her body. She is blown into a thousand and one pieces. Scores of others suffer the same fate. Those who don’t die instantly will die slowly, maimed, scarred and glued to gory memories of anguish for life. Are they luckier than those who experience prompt dispatch to the great beyond?

    Same scene elsewhere: at a busy central market, an explosion rocks shops and sheds, sparking an inferno that kills many of those shopping for Christmas and New Year. Health personnel race the wounded and the dead away in ambulances to medical centres and mortuaries. Global news agency, Reuters, tells the world “there are unknown numbers of casualties” in the tragedy.

    Dateline: Geidam, Yobe, December 21, 2014, the Yuletide week. Several people are feared dead and many public buildings torched as suspected Boko Haram insurgents invade a community. It’s a blind typhoon-like attack, targeting no one but inflicting death and destruction and disaster on all.

    Besides the dead and those dismembered by these assaults, we have a great army of grieving family folk, friends, loved ones, neighbours and a large population of internally displaced persons. Among them are those joining the ranks of orphans, widows and widowers.

    But there are other hues of the Christmas blues not heaped on us by the mad militants of Boko Haram and other men and women angry with society. One is the irreverent conception that  Christmas is the season to spend, outspend  and revel, the period to show off expensive new apparel, the time to inflict further pain on the poor by hiking the cost of goods and services. Another is to hold parties that are veritable platforms for debauchery that mock the Man whose birth we claim we are celebrating.

    The innocent poor and the underprivileged are also unfortunately lured into such gatherings to spend their meagre resources on drinks, drugs and women, vices that sap them and leave them more alienated from the joy they seek during the season. They get drunk on wine the way the rich get drunk.

    Are the so-called affluent who can afford to buy up the glittering tinsel of Christmas baggage spared its blues? No! They have a similar fate with mixed fortunes despite a fleeting stay on the laps of pleasure. At Christmas they set out on a journey armed with much trust in the power of their wealth to bring them joy. But alas, they don’t get it! True joy isn’t a product of bribery or immorality or in seasonal indulgency in hedonism. So they end up frustrated in not getting what they desired. Their money disappoints them and they wake from a drunken sleep unfulfilled. In other words, despite all the razzmatazz Christmas and New Year festival throws up, they don’t offer the satisfaction they promise. They box us with what has been described as “an unfinished business”.

    According to the 19th Century American philosopher and psychologist, William James, “There is nothing so fatiguing as an uncompleted task.” All we do at Christmas is to spend and overeat and over-drink and get senselessly drunk and flaunt our wealth in the midst of poverty and in the face of those who do not have. But we should shed the weight of wealth by sharing with the needy. If we don’t, yuletide would always bring its grief in addition to the anguish unleashed on us by Boko Haram and other criminal gangs we have created by our unjust social system.

    Let us also make it clear that while we make ourselves sad at Christmas through our excesses we are also causing pain to the Soul of our Lord Jesus Christ. We say we are honouring Him in remembering His advent to the world to save fallen man. This can’t be so. How can we adore or pay homage to a Holy Personage through the unholy acts we perpetrate at Christmas? How do you celebrate Jesus, the Friend of the poor when at yuletide a great number of His friends fare even worse on His so-termed birthday than at other times? We give His loved ones crumbs at yuletide. We make Him grieve when the poor, those He associates with, are denied the earth’s goodies because the rich, powerful and influential have cornered all the resources of the society.

    This avaricious spirit is contrary to the purpose of God as revealed in the Bible: “…the profit (the wealth, the resources, the supplies, the riches) of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field.” (Ecclesiastes 5:9).

    The church in our day hasn’t helped matters. Its leaders aren’t forcefully and sincerely preaching and practising the message that would make the rich reduce their carnal carriage of wealth to balance the socio-economic equation. So although the two classes are in the temple physically on worship days, their souls are poles apart, both scheming with two eyes opened at prayer time, to outwit each other.

    Do we revere the Name of the Lord and what He stands for, with this attitude whether at Christmas at any other time? Of course not! Rather, we crucify Him the second time as we claim to celebrate His Birth our wanton festivities.

     

    • Ojewale is a writer based in Ota, Ogun State.

  • Edo residents mark peaceful Christmas

    … as Obaseki berates BEDC

    Residents of Edo State have applauded the peaceful and serene atmosphere in which they marked Christmas festivities, hailing the state government for various initiatives that made the celebrations pleasurable.

    A cross-section of residents in the state, who spoke with journalists, said that the celebrations went on peacefully, owing to the proactive stance of the state government, the Edo Police command and other stakeholders, who ensured that the celebrations were marked in a serene atmosphere.

    This is as the State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, berated the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), for throwing the state into darkness, even with the festivities, noting that the company has proven to be grossly inefficient.

    Mrs. Irene Igbinosa, a resident in Benin City, said that the celebrations have been pleasurable, as the state has been peaceful and serene.

    According to her, “The Christmas this year has been quite good. The atmosphere is cheerful; we are having the Igue Festival in peace, and a number of events across the city center is going on without hassles. I appreciate the state government for a number of initiatives this season. These include the new security architecture, which has deterred criminals from taking over the streets.”

    Mr. Osaro Omozuwa said that though heavy traffic is a reoccurring incident during the festivities, the state government’s decision to open a new car park at the city centre and the restriction on parking has helped ease the situation this year.

    “We are quite excited to see the way things are going in Benin City. There would have been a lot of traffic but we are seeing less of that this year because the state government has been quite proactive,” he said.

    Calling for the withdrawal of BEDC’s license due to their ineffective service in the state, Obaseki said Edo people deserve a better service provider than BEDC, especially as the state is home to 700mw-capacity Azura Power plant.

    “At a time families should be enjoying uninterrupted electricity supply as they celebrate Christmas and New Year in the state, BEDC is again unable to live up to the minimum expectation of providing electricity.

    “No excuse is good enough for the abysmal failure of BEDC and we appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to without delay, revoke the operational licence of BEDC and rescue Edo people and residents from the crappy service being delivered to our people who are harassed weekly by BEDC to pay for electricity that it did not supply,” Obaseki said.

  • Christmas: Price of chicken increases by 66% in Asaba

    Price of Chicken has increased by 66 per cent in Asaba and its environs due to the Christmas festivities, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    A survey by a NAN correspondent showed that the price of parent cock which was sold for N6,000 in 2017 now sells for between N9,000 and N10,000 in Asaba and its environs.

    The survey also showed that the price of a big size of broiler which was sold for between N3,000 and N3,500 in the preceding year now sells for between N5,000 and N6,000.

    Some of the chicken sellers who spoke with NAN attributed the increase in to the increase in the price of feeds and cost of labour.

    They also said that that the increase was necessary to enable them to realise their capital as well as make small profit.

    Mrs Grace Okorie of Feed Well Poultry in Asaba, said ‘‘We sold parent cock last year at the rate of N6,000 but as at today (Tuesday) we are selling at N9,000 and N10,000 depending on the weight and size.

    ‘‘For big size of boilers which we sold for N3,000 and N3,500 last year, as at today we are selling them for N5,000 and N6,000.

    ‘‘We did not plan to increase the price of chicken on our own but the increase is due to the increase in the cost of feeding them,” Okorie said.

    Also, Mr Vincent Ograka of Unique Poultry Farm in Ugbolu in Oshimili North Local Government Area of the state, said: ‘‘If we really want to go with the way we spend money on feeding the chicken this year, we will not sell a boiler less than N7000.

    ‘‘The cost of feeds has increased and the stress of managing the poultry is much; managing chicken from starter stage to finishing stage is a big job, ” Ograka said.

    NAN also reports that the hike did not only affect the price of chicken but also the prices of killing and processing of the chicken.

    The price of processing a big size chicken is now between N200 and N250 as against N150 in the previous year.

    According to Jude Ikenna who processes chicken at Ogbeogonogo Market in Asaba, “we have to increase the price of killing and processing chicken because the pressure and demand for the service have also increased.

    ‘‘On a normal day, we collect N100and N150, depending on the size, but because of the season we have increased our charges to N200 and N250,’’ he said.