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Tag: Disquiet

  • Menopause in women/men: Solutions to the disquiet of middle age (4)

    This article will deal with treatment of menopause in women and tough upon male “menopause”.

    The main symptom of menopause in women is hot flushes (see earlier articles). This symptom of hot flushes can be corrected with the hormone that is so deficient in women at their mid-ages. Doctors, based upon clinical assessment, may prescribe hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which comes indifferent formulations. Some can be taken by mouth as a daily pill similar to contraceptive pill. A note of warning is warranted here.

    HRT is not a contraception or an anti-pregnancy pill. Women should still take precaution so as not to get pregnant. Please note that this statement does not mean that a woman’s fertility has returned with us of HRT. It’s not so. HRT can also be taken as a patch or vagina cream.

    While on HRT, women that have not had hysterectomy (removal of the womb), may resume having regular menstrual periods. Again, this is not an indication that fertility has been restored. The menstrual period is just the consequence of the way the HRT works. HRT may be continued for up to five years.

    HRT is not without risk. Anyone with the history of breast cancer, blood clotting, severe liver disease, undiagnosed vaginal bleeding and pregnancy should not take HRT. The HRT here is a combined hormones of estrogen and progesterone.

    For women who have had their womb removed, they may use a different form of HRT: estrogen. In all, because of the risks, women intending on using HRT should consult their doctor for guidance before commencing usage.

    Vaginal dryness leading to difficult sex may be relieved with either a lubricating cream, such as KY jelly or estrogen cream. Urinary symptoms may also be relieved by HRT. Low sexual drive that is not helped by HRT may respond to male hormone testosterone.

    Risk of bone fractures, which occurs in one in 20 women undergoing menopause, can also benefit from HRT or a non-hormone treatment. However, good nutrition rich in vitamins, vitamin D and calcium, cautiously taken, may reduce fractures.

    For those that HRT is not suitable for, there are alternatives. If mental health deteriorates during perimenopuase and menopause,  doctors will take appropriate measures to solve the problem. The woman should receive counselling and education of the changes in her body. This is cheaper.

    The key issue is not to deny one’s suffering nor refuse to see a doctor. Distress and disquiet brought about by perimenopause or menopause is not just a “woman’s thing” and neither should women suffer in silence!

     

    ‘Menopause’ in men

    True, men do not have menstrual periods. Therefore, the term ‘male menopause’ is controversial. The claim of male menopause is still been researched on.

    Yet, there are some features in men who are in their mid-ages, which lead to the suspicion that they may also be experiencing what women do. These include: tiredness, weakness, depression and sexual problems, such as loss of libido, erectile dysfunction; impotence or ejaculatory problems – called mid-life crises which may come with career changes.

    Essentially, it has been observed that in their mid-ages, men do have low testosterone and, like women, a boost in their hormone levels may actually improve these symptoms.

    Notably, unlike in women, who may experience failure in their ovaries to produce follicles and estrogen, men’s testes do not stop producing sperms and testosterone. Rather, men may continue to produce sperms well into their late 80s, though subtle changes do occur in the testes in some men who are 50.

    Men experiencing fatigue, depression, erectile dysfunction, low sex drive should, therefore, seek medical help. Investigations in the laboratory may not yield much as the changes in men are not as dramatic as in women. The doctor may, nonetheless, undertake an examination to exclude any faults.

     

    Treatment

    While controversial is not without its benefits, what I call male HRT may also help. This may  consist of giving a measure of testosterone. It should be noted that giving artificial testosterone carries its risk; therefore caution should be exercised.

    In summary, women experience menopause and I will urge those suffering from fluctuations in their hormone levels from 40 in some and 45 – 52 years in others should seek help and not be subdued by cultural considerations. Discomfort and disquiet should not be accepted. Similar advice is applicable to men.

  • Menopause in women/men: Solutions to the disquiet of middle age (2)

    In this article, we shall look at the cause of menopause in women and the feelings that it generates as well as its impact on the family.

    Remember that we had earlier defined natural menopause simply as the term that is used to indicate that a woman has ceased to have her menstrual periods and her ovaries are no longer functioning to produce hormones to support her so as to be able to reproduce and bear children naturally.

    To qualify as having reached menopause, a woman’s menstrual period must have stopped for at least for the last 12 consecutive calendar months. We also saw earlier menopause may not be natural or it may be induced.

    Whatever the cause, to qualify as being in menopause: a woman’s period “must have stopped for at least for the last 12 consecutive calendar months” backed up relevant laboratory investigations. I will encourage the reader to go back to Part 1 of this series so as to get familiarise with the necessary and guiding definitions.

    Causes of Menopause: The first thing to realise in all these discussions is that, aging process is inevitable. However, natural menopause occurs on the average, in a woman in the age range of 45-52 but most commonly around 48-52 years. At this age range, the ovaries may stop to respond to the instructions or stimulations from the brain. By not responding, there will be no ovulation.

    As a matter of fact, after ovulation which occurs at about the mid cycle in a woman who has a 28-day cycle, pregnancy is suppose to result. It’s the failure of pregnancy to result that leads to menstrual period.

    This event is repeated every month. Therefore, when the ovary fails to respond to the said instructions as I said above, there will be no menstrual period. This lack of response is essentially due to aging process and the woman’s timed biological clock.

    Anything outside the above natural menopause could either be a pre-mature ovarian (POF) resulting in early premature menopause or menopause that is induced. POF may be due to no specific cause which scientists are yet to discover. POF may result from a genetic defect in the individual which the woman may have inherited from her parents. POF may also be due to tuberculosis of her reproductive tract.

    In some cases, POF may be due to treatments that the woman may have received from the doctors. Such treatments are often directed at cancers and may be chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Cigarette smoking is another cause.

    In some individuals, autoimmune diseases may the cause whereby the body works against its own interest and body defences start to attack the body organs. Individuals who have undergone a long time ovarian stimulation for in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) to resolve infertility may also suffer premature ovarian failure and hence early menopause. Yet, there are other causes such as endometriosis whereby the menstrual flow instead of flowing outside the woman’s body through the vagina, flows inward back into the body.

    Outside these listed factors, surgical intervention to remove the womb or uterus may lead to early menopause. Obviously, outright removal of the ovaries without question results in menopause.

    How does perimenopausal and menopausal women present? What do they feel?

    Unfortunately in our African and indeed Nigerian cultures, some women especially if she suffers from infertility or she is under pressure not to appear as “old” may hide her symptoms and suffer in silence.

    Such women may want to prove to her husband (and in polygamous homes prove to her contemporaries), that she is still in her fertile age and that she can bear still children. Some women are in self-denial and may want to continue to have her menstrual periods as a false sign of continuing fertility.

    That said, about 80 per cent of women undergoing perimeno-pause or menopause or climacteric suffer considerably. Sadly only about 10-20 per cent of them world-wide including Nigeria may come forward.

    Some women make the assumption that, menopause is “part of a woman’s life” even if she is suffering greatly. The main symptom of fluctuating hormone in a woman is called hot flush which the main feeling of perimen-opause and menopause.

    The hot flush, or flash, is well known as the classic menopausal symptom and affects 60–85per cent of menopausal women. Hot flushes and sweats constitute vasomotor symptoms and vary immensely in both their severity and duration; for many women, they occur occasionally and do not cause much distress, but for about 20 per cent they can be severe and can cause significant interference with work, sleep and quality of life. Women are affected by vasomotor symptoms on average for about two years but, for about 10 per cent, symptoms can continue for more than 15 years.

    Hot flushes usually last three to five minutes and are thought to be caused changes in the brain’s thermoregulator , according to Menopause Matters.

    In some women, with or without hot flushes, sleep could be impaired.  She may become irritable—a “short fuse”, anxious and even depressed and lacking in concentration. In those with tendency but hidden vulnerability toward frank madness, serious mental illness may manifest as this age of menopause.

    The bones become weak and as a result, fractures of the hip and hands and back may occur in menopausal and post-menopausal women. We shall continue with the symptoms and treatment in next week’s article.

  • Menopause in women/men: Solutions to the disquiet of middle age (2)

    In this article, we shall look at the cause of menopause in women and the feelings that it generates as well as its impact on the family.

    Remember that we had earlier defined natural menopause simply as the term that is used to indicate that a woman has ceased to have her menstrual periods and her ovaries are no longer functioning to produce hormones to support her so as to be able to reproduce and bear children naturally.

    To qualify as having reached menopause, a woman’s menstrual period must have stopped for at least for the last 12 consecutive calendar months. We also saw earlier menopause may not be natural or it may be induced.

    Whatever the cause, to qualify as being in menopause: a woman’s period “must have stopped for at least for the last 12 consecutive calendar months” backed up relevant laboratory investigations. I will encourage the reader to go back to Part 1 of this series so as to get familiarise with the necessary and guiding definitions.

    Causes of Menopause: The first thing to realise in all these discussions is that, aging process is inevitable. However, natural menopause occurs on the average, in a woman in the age range of 45-52 but most commonly around 48-52 years. At this age range, the ovaries may stop to respond to the instructions or stimulations from the brain. By not responding, there will be no ovulation.

    As a matter of fact, after ovulation which occurs at about the mid cycle in a woman who has a 28-day cycle, pregnancy is suppose to result. It’s the failure of pregnancy to result that leads to menstrual period.

    This event is repeated every month. Therefore, when the ovary fails to respond to the said instructions as I said above, there will be no menstrual period. This lack of response is essentially due to aging process and the woman’s timed biological clock.

    Anything outside the above natural menopause could either be a pre-mature ovarian (POF) resulting in early premature menopause or menopause that is induced. POF may be due to no specific cause which scientists are yet to discover. POF may result from a genetic defect in the individual which the woman may have inherited from her parents. POF may also be due to tuberculosis of her reproductive tract.

    In some cases, POF may be due to treatments that the woman may have received from the doctors. Such treatments are often directed at cancers and may be chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Cigarette smoking is another cause.

    In some individuals, autoimmune diseases may the cause whereby the body works against its own interest and body defences start to attack the body organs. Individuals who have undergone a long time ovarian stimulation for in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) to resolve infertility may also suffer premature ovarian failure and hence early menopause. Yet, there are other causes such as endometriosis whereby the menstrual flow instead of flowing outside the woman’s body through the vagina, flows inward back into the body.

    Outside these listed factors, surgical intervention to remove the womb or uterus may lead to early menopause. Obviously, outright removal of the ovaries without question results in menopause.

    How does perimenopausal and menopausal women present? What do they feel?

    Unfortunately in our African and indeed Nigerian cultures, some women especially if she suffers from infertility or she is under pressure not to appear as “old” may hide her symptoms and suffer in silence.

    Such women may want to prove to her husband (and in polygamous homes prove to her contemporaries), that she is still in her fertile age and that she can bear still children. Some women are in self-denial and may want to continue to have her menstrual periods as a false sign of continuing fertility.

    That said, about 80 per cent of women undergoing perimeno-pause or menopause or climacteric suffer considerably. Sadly only about 10-20 per cent of them world-wide including Nigeria may come forward.

    Some women make the assumption that, menopause is “part of a woman’s life” even if she is suffering greatly. The main symptom of fluctuating hormone in a woman is called hot flush which the main feeling of perimen-opause and menopause.

    The hot flush, or flash, is well known as the classic menopausal symptom and affects 60–85per cent of menopausal women. Hot flushes and sweats constitute vasomotor symptoms and vary immensely in both their severity and duration; for many women, they occur occasionally and do not cause much distress, but for about 20 per cent they can be severe and can cause significant interference with work, sleep and quality of life. Women are affected by vasomotor symptoms on average for about two years but, for about 10 per cent, symptoms can continue for more than 15 years.

    Hot flushes usually last three to five minutes and are thought to be caused changes in the brain’s thermoregulator , according to Menopause Matters.

    In some women, with or without hot flushes, sleep could be impaired.  She may become irritable—a “short fuse”, anxious and even depressed and lacking in concentration. In those with tendency but hidden vulnerability toward frank madness, serious mental illness may manifest as this age of menopause.

    The bones become weak and as a result, fractures of the hip and hands and back may occur in menopausal and post-menopausal women. We shall continue with the symptoms and treatment in next week’s article.

  • Disquiet as Suswam visits Ortom’s aide in prison

    Disquiet as Suswam visits Ortom’s aide in prison

    There is apprehension in the All Progressives Congress (APC) and government circles following former Governor Gabriel Suswam’s visit to Governor Ortom’s aide, Joe Ikyaagba. Ikyaagba is standing trial for the murder of Ortom’s security aide, Denen Igbana.

    Suswam and Ikyaagba were close friends before they parted ways during the build-up to the 2015 election. Ikyaagba was appointed special adviser to Governor Ortom on special duty.

    When Igbana was murder last month, eyewitness said he made a dying declaration, accusing Ikyaagba of complicity.

    Ikyaagba was arrested, charged to court and then remanded in Makurdi prison.

    Yesterday, Suswam visited Ikyaagba in prison. He prayed for him and other prisoners and urged him to see his predicament as an act of God.

    Since the news of Suswam’s visit to Ikyaagba was made public, people, especially those in the APC administration, have wondered what the motive behind the visit was.

    A prison official, who pleaded for anonymity, said Ikyaagba spoke to Suswam about Ortom’s administration and the success of the amnesty programme, which Ortom initiated.

    He added that Ikyaagba rated Ortom and the APC-led government very high and pledged his loyalty to Ortom.

  • Disquiet in Ministry over ambassadorial list

    There is palpable disquiet in the Foreign Affairs Ministry over the ambassadorial nominee list sent to the Senate by President Muhammadu Buhari last week for conformation.

    Career civil servants in the ministry have faulted the selection process that threw up the 47 nominees, citing a number of infractions of civil service rules guiding the exercise.

    According to them, the rule stipulates that of the 109 missions, at least 60 should be reserved for career civil servants while the remaining 49 are reserved for political appointees.

    But the list of nominees from the ministry sent to the Senate by President Buhari contained only 47 names.

    Also, the rule also stipulates that career civil servant nominees must have at least 30 months in service before retirement.

    However, findings at the weekend revealed that some of the nominees have just 12 months left in service.

    “In some instances, junior officers were nominated above their seniors who are more qualified for the positions”, a source in the ministry said at the weekend.

    Some of the officers who were sidelined in the exercise complained that there was no input by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry in the compilation of the list.

    A few of the officers who lost the nominations to their junior ones alleged manipulation of the process by the selection panel and called for reconsideration of the list.

    “It is very strange that some of us who still have more than the stipulated 30 months in serve were deliberately sidelined and some officers who have between 12 and 13 months before retirement were nominated”, the source said.

  • Disquiet over ‘smuggled’ Federal Audit Service Commission Bill

    Disquiet over ‘smuggled’ Federal Audit Service Commission Bill

    A controversial bill, purportedly passed by the House of Representatives a few weeks ago, which the Senate is allegedly seeking to also rubber stamp, is causing ripples in the upper legislative chamber. Assistant Editor, Onyedi Ojiabor reports that the Senate is being tasked on the propriety or otherwise of the bill.

    The leadership of the Senate is being put on the spot over alleged attempts to pass a “smuggled” bill through the backdoor.

     The controversial bill is entitled, “An Act To Establish The Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation, Provide for additional powers and functions to the Office; Establish the Federal Audit Service Commission; Repeal The Audit Act 1956, The Public Accounts Committee Act Cap P35 LFN 2004, And Enact The Federal Audit Service Audit Service Bill 2015; And To Provide For Other Matters Related Thereto, 2015”.

     The bill, which was sponsored by one Orker Jev, was first passed by the Seventh National Assembly in the twilight of that dispensation.

     However, the then President Goodluck Jonathan refused to assent to the bill before his tenure ended on May 29, 2015.

     Therefore, the bill was presumed to have died a natural death. But it surreptitiously resurfaced again at the inception of the Eighth Senate and was perceived to have been routed through the backdoor by a few lawmakers in the two chambers.

     The bill is assuming the notoriety of the National Grazing Reserve Commission Bill which provoked a debate in the Senate forcing the upper chamber to clarify there was no such bill in the Senate.

     The House of Representatives is however said to have passed the Federal Audit Service Bill, 2015, a few weeks ago without subjecting it to any debate or public hearing in line with legislative tradition.

     A copy of the bill, obtained by our reporter, prescribed among others, a renewable four-year tenure for an incumbent Auditor-General in a clear deviation from the extant laws which prescribed a tenure that terminates on attainment of the age of 60 years or 35-year length of service.

     Another contentious aspect of the bill is the extension of the Auditor-General’s retirement age from 60 to 65. Section 19 (6) of the bill states that, “A person holding office as Auditor-General shall hold office until he attains the age of 65 years, or he has served in the public service of the federation for 35 years, depending on which comes first”.

     Insiders said the intention of the backers of the bill is “to rush its passage before June 5, 2016 to accommodate some special interest for another term of four years.”

     This is contained in Section 50 (1) of the bill, which states that, “The appointment of the Auditor- General and the existing staff of the Office of the Auditor-General shall remain valid upon coming into force of this bill.” Part B of the controversial bill also seeks to establish a superfluous Federal Audit Service Commission.

     The Auditor-General is also designated as chairman of the Commission with six designated commissioners to be appointed from each of the six geopolitical zones.

     The Bill also provides for two Deputy Auditors-General in addition to the commissioners and other members drawn from the various government agencies.

     Apparently, the bill seeks to divest the Federal Civil Service Commission of its statutory powers to recommend the appointment of the Auditor-General, subject to the approval of the President and confirmation by the Senate.

     After a careful study of the bill, the Network Against Impunity (NAI), a civil society group, raised the alarm, describing the bill as a “product of iniquity about to be foisted on the Nigerian people with unbridled impunity.”

     In a widely circulated statement during the week, the National Coordinator of NAI, Comrade Yakubu Adagba, cautioned the leadership of the Senate over attempts by the upper legislative body to hurriedly pass the controversial bill.

     Decrying the motives behind the bill, Comrade Adagba claimed that it was smuggled into the two chambers of the National Assembly by some vested interests.

     According to him, the interests of the sponsors were clearly at variance with the common good.

    “The implication of the passage of the bill is that some top officers of government would be entitled to remain in office beyond their stipulated period of service.

     Curiously, the bill has never been debated on the floor of the Senate and there was no record of any public hearing conducted on the bill by the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, chaired by Senator Andy Uba.

    The House of Representatives had passed the bill in similar fashion a few weeks back and the Senate is moving speedily to give concurrence within the next few days.

    Urging President Muhammadu Buhari to be wary in assenting to the bill, should it get to his desk, Adagba vowed to mobilise other civil society organisations to ensure that the bill died a natural death.

    Effort to get reaction from the Chairman, Senate Committee on Public Account, Senator Andy Uba, was unsuccessful as he did not respond to a text message sent to him on the controversial bill.

    For now, it may be proper to conclude that it is a wait and see game in the Senate. Obviously many Senators are not aware of the existence of the bill. Is the bill pending in the Senate? Time will tell.

  •  Disquiet in prisons over shortfall in ration budget

    There is disquiet in the  Nigeria Prisons Service following an alleged shortfall in the cost for feeding and catering materials for 2016 in this year’s  budget estimate.

    Officials of the Ministry of Interior, the Nigeria Prisons Service and ration contractors are said to have expressed concern about the issue.

    A member of the Senate Committee on Interior said steps should be taken to correct the situation.

    It was learnt that if the anomaly is not corrected, prison ration contractors may default in the feeding of over 65,000 inmates spread across 240 prisons in the country.

    The senator noted that a shortfall in the feeding allowance for inmates is undesirable considering the nation’s chaotic prison environment.

    Minister of Interior Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazzau is said to have raised a team to discuss with officials of the Federal Ministry of Budget and Planning to correct the anomaly.

    A top official of the Prison Contractors Association of Nigeria (PCAN), who confirmed the meeting with Lt. Gen. Dambazzau, hailed the minister’s efforts in averting a crisis in the nation’s prisons.

    A source said the minister was informed about the ‘inadequate funding’ of the “Feeding and Catering Service Subhead in the 2016 Budget and the implications on the morbidity of the inmates as well as the security of the prisons”.

    It was learnt that of the N16 billion proposed by the Federal Ministry of Interior to cover the arrears for 2015 and cost for feeding and catering materials for 2016, N5.26 billion was captured, leaving a shortfall of N11.25 billion.

    The minister was said to have intervened to avert a problem as was the case in 1988, 1989 and 1995 when some inmates were said to have died following ‘frank starvation’.

    The senator said: “The situation in our prisons is bad enough. What do you make of the congestion, inadequate health care, shoddy accommodation and an environment that is almost non-conducive for rehabilitation or human habitation?

    ‘’To add food crisis to this ugly situation will be most devastating. It should be avoided. History should not repeat itself. This is the minister’s mindset.”

    The lawmaker noted that the minister believed that correcting the budgetary anomaly will boost President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption posture by strengthening the integrity of the procurement process.

    He said: “If there is inadequate funding of the feeding of inmates, it is a recipe for perversion of the procurement process. Corrupt practices will be entrenched in the system and a robust monitoring mechanism will be difficult to create and sustain. There will be excuses for food contractors not to supply the required ration.

    “They will pervert and compromise the system when they are owed and under-paid. It exposes the system to corruption”, he said.

    The senator promised that committee will also take up the matter with relevant government ministries.

  • Disquiet in Afenifere over exit of leader Fasoranti

    Disquiet in Afenifere over exit of leader Fasoranti

    Adebanjo: old age forced him out

    ARG ‘committed to ideology’

    There was disquiet yesterday in pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group Afenifere following Sunday’s resignation of its leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti.

    Its shocked leaders were weighing the options on the way forward for the group, which polarisation a few years ago led to the formation of Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG).

    The ARG last night said it was committed to the philosophy of the group as espoused by its founding fathers.

    In a statement by its Chairman, Mr. Wale Oshun, ARG said the Afenifere, which Fasoranti led until Sunday, had derailed from the group’s ideology.

    Fasoranti resigned on Sunday, citing “membership disloyalty” and “gradual erosion of the group’s goals.”

    His reasons may not have gone down well with two eminent members of the group, Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Chief Seinde Arogbofa, who claimed that he resigned because of old age.

    “He (Fasoranti) is old. He is 89. That is why he resigned. Papa (Adekunle) Ajasin and (Abraham) Adesanya did not attain that ripe old age. Pa Fasoranti said the youths don’t listen to elders again and that they behave as they like. When Ajasin was weak, he asked Adesanya to act. When Adesanya took ill, we appointed him (Fasoranti) as leader. There is nothing unusual about his resignation. We have no crisis. The man has been sick of late. He just left the hospital a few days ago. The job is rigorous. We hold a lot of meetings. Go and read his statement.

    “We will meet and appoint a new leader. When we get to the meeting, we will attend to the vacancy. When we meet, we will appoint a new leader. I can’t tell you how a new leader will emerge until we meet.”

    It was learnt that Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko, who was taken aback by Fasoranti’s resignation, may meet with the elder statesman before the end of the week.

    Sources said yesterday that Arogbofa and Chief Olu Falae may also meet with Fasoranti over the matter.

    At Fasoranti’s Ijapo Estate home in Akure, the Ondo State capital, yesterday reporters were not allowed in. Our reporter was told that he was relaxing in his private room.

    One of his aides said: “Baba cannot attend to anybody now. He is in his bedroom relaxing.”

    It was learnt that the elder statesman has remained indoors in the past two weeks.

    Arogbofa said there is no cause for concern.

    “I know Papa anchored his resignation mainly on old age. We should not see what has happened as what has never happened; there is nothing new in it.

    “We should be calm and begin to think and strategise on how to make and move the organisation forward.

    “We will put heads together and set a new course for the group as we did when Pa Adesanya was old and could not go ahead,” he said.

    Arogbofa, an author, called for the cooperation of all members and the Yoruba, saying “he alone cannot take the decision as to how to move the organisation forward.’’

    Arogbofa added: ”Afenifere is an organisation made up of intelligent people. We cannot rush to action in this kind of  situation. We are still consulting and I will inform you about the outcome of our consultation.

    “We were shocked by the action, because Baba Fasoranti never discussed with me before he took his decision, despite the level of our closeness.

    “I don’t know what he meant by disloyalty of members because he didn’t discuss with me before he took his decision, but I know the issue will be resolved soon”

    Spokesman of the organisation Yinka Odumakin said what happened was not beyond control.

    He said: We have some internal things to sort out. Nigerians will soon know when we are through.’’

    We’re committed to Afenifere’s philosophy, says ARG

    The Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) said last night that it is committed to the philosophy of Afenifere as espoused by its founders.

    In a statement by its Chairman Hon. Wale Oshun, on the resignation of Chief Reuben Fasoranti, titled: In ARG, Afenifere philosophy stands underailed, the group said:  “The statement by our elder, Chief Reuben Fasoranti that the Afenifere he led has derailed has confirmed our worst fears of what we had always known since the IITA reconciliation summit of 2006.

    “The failure of that summit provided the groundswell for the reluctant emergence of Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG).

    “Afenifere has now clearly exhibited itself as an out of touch institution whose lack of rudder has led to a total derailment from the fundamental values upon which it was built.

    “Chief Fasoranti’s exit as the leader of Afenifere is a clear indication that the organisation has come to roost.

    “We in Afenifere Renewal Group had seen the need for a renewal of Afenifere movement, anchored on the original philosophy of our late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, as the legitimate voice of Yoruba people, providing the visionary, selfless and altruistic leadership that our people and land require and deserve.

    “At this very critical period in the history of Nigeria and our people, we in the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) will continue the pursuit of the lofty ideals enunciated by the founders of Afenifere at its inception in Owo in 1951.

    “We call on all well intentioned YORUBA people to steer away from the unhealthy recriminations of the past, inhered in unwholesome ego, dividing our people and enabling the continuing slide from the heights hitherto attained through the vision of that great leader of all times, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and the hard-work and forbearance of Chief Adekunle Ajasin and Senator Abraham Adesanya, all of blessed memories.

    “There is work for us to do, says the Afenifere anthem, and we in ARG are more than prepared to focus on this.

    “We therefore seek the support of all YORUBA people, including those who still retained their Omoluabi values in the old order, to join ARG in our fervent pursuit of promoting, protecting, and ensuring the development of Yoruba people and communities in all spheres of human endeavors as embodied in our watch word:“freedom for all; life more abundant”.

     

  • Disquiet in UNILAG over noise policy

    Disquiet in UNILAG over noise policy

    There has been an outburst of anger by students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) over the introduction of a policy to reduce noise pollution on the campus. Students believe the policy attacks freedom of religion, but the management says there is no cause for alarm. KAWTHAR BABATUNDE (300-Level Petroleum and Gas Engineering) and CHIMA AZUBUIKE (400-Level Philosophy) report.

    Its location in the commercial nerve-centre of the country makes the University of Lagos (UNILAG) prone to noise. Apart from the constant noise from the engines of countless vehicles that ply the campus, extracurricular activities have also become a source of disturbance in the school. But, the management does not want noise on its campus.

    This led to the introduction of a policy by the authorities to reduce noise. On July 8, the school issued a directive banning noisy activities on the campus. The order was contained in a memo, a copy of which was sent to the Students Union Government (SUG). It restricts social activities to specific areas on the campus, but the decision seems to be generating concerns among students’ groups.

    According to the memo, all religious activities are, henceforth, prohibited in academic areas, and such activities must be confined to the premises of the mosque and church.

    •The university Central Mosque
    •The university Central Mosque

    The content of the memo has generated reactions, especially from religious bodies. Some Muslim and Christian students believe the ‘no-noise policy’ is a direct clampdown on their activities. Some students, however, see it as a way of restructuring and maintaining orderliness on the campus.

    A 500-Level Computer Engineering student, who simply gave his name as Mujidah, said: “I doubt if the directive would be effective, but I honestly think it would restore order in the school. It is improper to hold noisy activities just anywhere on campus.”

    Before the management’s memo, religious activities were held at every available place in the academic area. Places, such as Amphi-theatre, SUG block and the main auditorium extension used to be busy with fellowships. Open places at faculties of Science, Social Sciences and Business Administration. The directive bars these activities.

    Registering its opposition to the policy, Michael  Liyansan, a 500-Level Engineering student and University Joint Christian Fellowship (UJCF) leader, enjoined members to embark on a seven-day fasting and prayer, saying “the Kingdom of God must reign in UNILAG”.

    The body, which has about 50 fellowship groups within its fold, said it would be impossible for all fellowships with members from various denominations to worship at the same place.

    Christian students wondered why the school registered many fellowships if it would not allow them to worship. They said the directive was an attack on religious freedom. They alleged that the policy was a desperate attempt to islamise the school, accusing the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Rahamon Bello, and the SUG president, Abiodun Martins, as masterminds.

    “This is Nigeria where nobody cares about noise. So, I think there must be an underlying motive to the policy,” says Mayowa, a 300-Level student.

    Reacting, Martins said there was no truth in the allegation that the policy was to islamise the school, stressing that the SUG was not consulted before the management took the decision.

    According to him, the no-noise policy predated the inauguration of the union leaders last year, the SUG only helped to create awareness about it among students.

    A student, who identified himself as John, said he had embarked on seven days fasting and payers to make the management change the decision. He said: “It is wrong for anyone to think that the SUG knew about the management’s decision. Some of the provisions have been found shocking, because all fellowships cannot hold their programmes in the chapels. It is not spacious enough.”

    A 300-Level Petroleum and Gas Engineering student, who gave her name as Mary, said the management should reconsider its decision since the policy was introduced in the interest of students, who are now opposed to it.

    She said: “They should put the interest of the student at heart and encourage them to go about their religious activities without disturbing others. This no-noise policy won’t work.”

    Although leaders of the institution’s chapter of Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) are yet to issue a statement on the development, it appears their silence is not an indication that they agree with the policy.

    When contacted, the MSSN Amir, Abdulrashid Adeoye, a 400-Level Integrated Science Education student, said the body had received no official letter from the management on the policy, but said the Muslim students would meet with the Dean of Students’ Affairs (DSA), Prof Tunde Babawale, over the matter.

    Abdulrashid said: “Several activities of MSSN will be affected by the policy, but as a students’ body, we will always support the management’s good decision. It is not good to have noise in academic environment. The school management should have officially informed all religious bodies on campus, because we are mostly affected.”

    He doubted if there would be full compliance with the policy.

    Meanwhile, the SUG parliament clerk, Adeyanju Adeonipekun, said there would be an emergency sitting of students’ representatives and those of religious groups to discuss the practicability of the policy.

    At the time of this report, the meeting had not taken place. However, some members of the union met with the DSA to state students’ position on the matter.

    Mustapha Tijani, the Deputy Speaker of the union, said students’ opinions should have been sought before the decision was reached.

    The Deputy Dean of Students’ Affairs, Dr Karo Ogbinaka, dismissed insinuations that the policy was targeted at religious bodies. Instead, the school was following the directive of teh National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Government Visitation Panel, which advised the management to reduce the level of noise in academic areas in line with best practice.

    Ogbinaka also said there was no truth in the rumour that the policy would islamise the school. He said: “Granted, the Vice-Chancellor is a Muslim, but there are more Christian members in the top management team. How possible is it for anyone to place one religion above the other?”

  • Disquiet in prisons service over promotions

    IT is promotion time in the Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS) and emotion is running high among many officers.

    There is particularly growing disquiet within the top echelon of the leadership of the service over promotions of both top and lower grade officers in the service.

    The promotion crisis was triggered by the compulsory retirement of its immediate past Acting Comptroller General (CG), Mr. Aminu Sule, whose retirement paved the way for the current CG, Mr. Peter Ekpendu.

    Aminu was sent on compulsory retirement while awaiting his confirmation as substantive CG.

    He was sent on compulsory retirement by the Board of Management before he attained the retirement age of 60 years. He hailed from the Northeast.

    The NPS has six directorates headed by Deputy Comptrollers of Prisons (DCGs). With application of the federal character policy of the Federal Government, the directorates are headed by officers who hail from the six get-political zones. They are Northeast, Northwest, Northcentral, Southwest, Southeast and Southsouth.

    After Aminu’s departure, the Service appointed an Assistant Comptroller General (ACG), Mr. Salihi Ali Bala, as Acting Deputy Comptroller to fill the vacancy of the Northeast created by Aminu’s retirement.

    But he has since sued the NPS to court to challenge the rationale behind his retirement, claiming that his replacement is older than him. The case is being heard by the National Industrial Court, Abuja.

    But while moving up the senior ACGs to act as six DCGs pending their official promotion to the higher cadre, the Southwest region is not represented among the current six acting DCGs. Some people believe that it was an omission. Others believe that it was deliberate as the new Acting DCGs have spent seven months coordinating the directorates.

    But some concerned sources insisted that the practice flouted the policy in the commission.

    The directorates are Administration, Operations, Inmates Training and Productivity, Budget and Finance, Works and Logistics as well as Health and Welfare Services.

    The Service has only one substantive DCG, Mr. Dagaci Abubakar, who is heading the Budget and Finance Directorate. Others are in acting capacity. He is from Niger State (Northcentral).

    The Administration Directorate is headed by Mr. Ja’afau Ahmed, who hails from Kebbi State in Northwest. Operations Directorate is headed by Mr. Saraki Umaru, who also hails from the same Kebbi State in the Northwest. Inmates Training and Productivity Directorate is headed by Mr. Salihi Ali Baba from Yobe in Northeast and Works and Logistics headed by Mr. Raymond Afujue, who is from Anambra State (Southeast). The last directorate, Health and Welfare Services, is headed by Mr. Udom Ekpedeme, who hails from Akwa Ibom State (Southsouth Zone).

    The appointment of two officers from the same Northwest region, some argued, robbed the Southwest of being represented in the top leadership structure of the Service.

    Currently, promotion lists are being released and withdrawn, with some arguing that “many promotions are done in favour of cronies and those who are able to work their way to higher levels through other official means”.