The Nation Newspaper

Tag: fallen

  • A big tree has fallen, says Ngige

    A big tree has fallen, says Ngige

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, has said the death of former Vice-President and foremost statesman Dr. Alex Ekwueme was the exit of a colossus.

    He added that the demise occurred at a time the country was in need of his wisdom, knowledge, discipline, courage and patriotism.

    “I received with great jolt, sadness and deep sense of loss, the news of the exit of my political boss, friend and teacher. I was jolted by this sad news because even as I learnt that Ide had slipped into coma a few days ago, I kept praying for him and hoping he would return to us from the land of coma,” Ngige said in a condolence signed by him.

    “For Ide, the curtain has been drawn. He ran his race here on earth, starting as a provincial boy, who came to Kings College Lagos, dazzled everybody with his brilliance, soaring in his school certificate examination and proceeding to acquire strings of degrees across disciplines, the record of which is yet to be beaten by any Nigerian. Ekwueme epitomised brain and handsomeness. He was highly industrious, a big silent philanthropist, especially in education.

    “With the passing on of Ide Aguata, the curtain has fallen on a glorious chapter in the history of Nigeria.  With the death of Dr. Ekwueme, Nigeria has been assailed by a huge gap that will be difficult to fill. With the passing away of Ide, the sky-high Iroko, where then shall the birds of great flight take to? In the contemporary, Nigeria has lost its best in all ramifications- politics, professionalism in disciplines, such as Architecture, Law and Business. In the contemporary world of politics and business, Nigeria has lost one of its greatest!” he said.

     

     

  • Our fallen heroes

    •The last honour for Lt-Col Abu-Ali and Co. should henceforth be the irreducible minimum for our other slain soldiers

    Tears are expected to flow freely when a nation loses its gallant officers and men in battle. But what made the tears that were shed on Monday at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja, where the bodies of Lt.-Col. Muhammad Sarki Yakin (Lord of war) Abu-Ali and six soldiers who died last Friday while trying to prevent Boko Haram terrorists from seizing Mallam Fatori, Borno State, were buried more spectacular was the fact that we hardly honour our war heroes the way this batch of soldiers was honoured.

    The dead are: Lt.-Col. Muhammad Abu-Ali, Sergeants Muazu Ibrahim, Bassey Okon, Hussani Jafaru, Cpl. Chukwu Simon, Private Salisu Lawal and Seaman Patrick Paul. Even the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, fought back tears as he read the funeral oration. What this tells us is that we are all human, after all.

    A soldier’s death is like any other. That soldier is probably a husband/wife to someone; a father/mother to some children; a child to some people (if his/her parents are still alive); an uncle/aunt to some people, etc. So, his close relations are going to feel the loss the same way other people feel theirs.

    Nearly everyone that matters has described the actions of these officer and men in superlative terms. According to Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai: “They were brave, precise, professional and inspiring. They led the battle to recapture the following towns: Monguno, Baga, New Marte, Bama, Gwoza, Banki Junction, Gamboru-Ngala, Yale, Yanteke, Bita, Deruwa, Daira Kangaruwa and Mallam Fatori. In these battles, they rescued children and women, fathers and mothers, the young and the old and restored peace and hope to Nigerian citizens.” The case of Lt-Col Abu-Ali is particularly striking. His last words to his men revealed the stuff he was made of: “Pray, stay alert and stay alive. If someone must die, let it be me.”

    It is in this context that our hearts go out to the wives, children, parents and other relatives of these gallant men who died to ensure that peace returns to the country, particularly the north-eastern part that has been dislocated by Boko Haram in the last six years. As President Muhammadu Buhari and even the military authorities have said, we share their pains in these their trying moments.

    Granted that it is only God who can console them, the Federal Government and the military hierarchy have an abiding responsibility of lessening their agony by ensuring that their wives and children do not suffer any lack that would make them regret the day their departed ones joined the military.  As the woman who met with the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin, said: “Please help me; he was all I have. I don’t have anything again,” the departed were all that some people had looked forward to. Now that they are gone in the national service, those who depended on them must not be left to their own devices.

    As promised, the military should probe the death of the fallen, just to ensure there was no foul play or sabotage.

    Then, more importantly, the army must pay the entitlements of the slain soldiers to their next-of-kin without unnecessary delay; and honour its promise to take care of their families. Its word must be its bond.

    We hasten to add that the way Lt-Col Abu-Ali and the six others were treated should be the new benchmark for all officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces who die on active service. The national honour that they got at their funeral should be the irreducible minimum for such gallantry. That is the way it is in other civilised countries. We need to imbibe such spirit to enable our soldiers put in their best in every situation, knowing full well that the country is there for them in life or in death.

    That is the best way to ensure that their efforts were not in vain; the best way to immortalise them.

  • Divided by fallen bridge

    Divided by fallen bridge

    An old bridge linking Ebonyi, Enugu and Benue states has collapsed, leaving its users in a foul mood. OGOCHUKWU ANIOKE reports

    It may not have been the most beautiful, but the Ikem Bridge had served the people for decades. Now it has collapsed into the Ebenyi River in Isi-Uzo local government area of Enugu State.

    The bridge, built by the Nigerian Army shortly after the Civil War, was a link to several communities in Enugu, Ebonyi and Benue states. Those communities have been grieving.

    The hanging bridge gave way after a cement-laden truck said to belong to Dangote Group lingered on it. The truck was reportedly conveying about 900 bags of cement.

    Many communities in Enugu, Ebonyi, Benue have been cut off as a result of the fallen bridge. Some of those communities are in Udenu, Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s home local council.

    Residents quickly started putting up a makeshift bamboo bridge to trek across the river to get to their homes.

    “It’s now a divided kingdom,” said Mr. Frank Nnamani, who was cut off between his home and his block industry across the river.

    Commuters travelling from Ehamufu to Enugu now stop at various points of the river and swim across to continue their journey.

    The fallen bridge has also divided the community’s Orie Market in two, with one at its original venue and a new one at Ikem Junction across the Ebenyi River.

    Mr. Nnamani lamented their plight, saying, “Now that there is nothing to manage again as we were managing, the best thing is for the state government to re-mobilise the contractor who absconded from the site, to continue work on the concrete span bridge abandoned by the past state administration.”

    Some other residents said, “It is even good that the bridge has come to an end so that attention will be paid to the abandoned bridge contract.”

    Reactions have also been trailing the collapse of the bridge by different people who learnt about the development: Mr. Emma Nweze, a journalist said: “We should pray for Nigeria. How can such a bridge be found in a country called giant of Africa?”

    N’dozie Odunze an indigene who leaves in Lagos suggested that the 900 bags of cement be used in constructing the bridge, while Albert Ejike, an indigene of Ikem residing in Lagos blamed the Isi-Uzo LGA administration for the disaster.

    Silas Okwor who lives in Germany described the collapse as “very sad”.

    Emeka Ogene from Ehamufu lamented that whereas there is no thoroughfare through Nkalagu in Ebonyi state for the same bad bridge and road, the only alternative route which was Ikem is now no more.

    An Abuja-based legal practitioner from Neke, Austin Nwaro, said: “This ugly incident really provokes the thought of asking the necessity of local government administration. Is LG as third tier of government actually necessary or better still are they doing what they are supposed to do vis-a-vis the amount of money allocated to them?”

    Reacting, the Chairman of Isi-Uzo LGA, Augustine Nnamani maintained that his council has been spending money to maintain the collapsed bridge.

    He noted that the council is still making monthly contributions to the state government for the Enugu-Ikem road project adding that 90 percent of the contract has been completed about two years ago.

    Another resident of Ikem community said the local government has mandated the member representing Isi-Uzo state constituency at the Enugu state House of Assembly, Dr. Emeka Ogbuabor, to immediately move a motion on mater of urgent importance on the floor of the house to cause attention to the tragedy in his constituency.

  • Fallen container paralyses traffic in Lagos

    FOR over 12-hours-yesterday, traffic was completely paralysed on Lagos Mainland as a result of an 80-tonne container which fell from the back of the truck conveying it to an unknown destination.

    Investigations revealed that the incident occurred at about 2am on Saturday at Cappa junction bus stop along Oshodi to Mushin road.

    For several hours, men of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) were seen on ground trying to manage the gridlock, which extended to Stadium Bus Stop in front of the National Stadium in Surulere.

    Many commuters resorted to trekking to their destinations after spending several hours inside commercial buses.

    Speaking with The Nation, the leader of the LASTMA team, Mr. Akinola Daboh said, “The truck involved in the accident was too small to convey the heavy container which weighed 80-tonne. Another cause of the accident was that one of the rear tyres pulled out while the truck was on motion.”

    It was gathered that the first crane brought by LASTMA officials to evacuate the container was returned after failing to lift the fallen container off the ground. The evacuation process caused a serious damage to a portion of the road.

    Daboh disclosed that the truck has been impounded by the traffic control agency, while the container will be released to the owner.

     

  • ‘Blame fallen education on bad leadership’

    ‘Blame fallen education on bad leadership’

    The Association for Childhood Education Practitioners (ACEP) has blamed the fallen standard of education on bad leadership, poor training of teachers, and lack of will power by parents to monitor their wards’ activities.

    It also expressed worry that many problems still exist in the funding of educational programmes, including human capacity development of teachers, by competent training institutes.

    Speaking during the annual dinner/award, its President,Mrs Islamiat Olaitan Oshodi, listed teachers’ welfare, and improved salary scale and promotions as areas crying for urgent attention. These, she said, would motivate teachers to giving their best to the students.

    Mrs. Oshodi attributed the high rate of crime today to poor health facilities, high mortality rate and political wrangling among others, amid the government’s helplessness in the face of declining education.

    She, therefore, advocated the effective promotion of education for all, training and development of care givers, teachers and teacher educators, commitments to raising the quality of education as well as girl-child education.

    “Teachers play major roles in the educational system of the nation including ensuring discipline and sound moral values among students. Teachers are central to initiating ideas towards community development, adopting innovative teaching techniques as well as helping students imbibe positive attitudes towards national unity.”

    She said individuals would be able to develop study skills that would make them more employable, adding that good education gives an individual a well-rounded understanding of the world and prepares him for adulthood.

    As part of its contribution, Mrs. Oshodi said ACEP is partnering with institutions of higher learning including the University of Lagos, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, and Michael Otedola College of Primary Education in the training and professional development of teachers.

    She said the association would continue to protect the rights of the Nigerian child, focus more on child development, early childhood and children’s education development, and professional development of care givers.

    The occasion, she added, was meant to strengthen the working relationships/partnerships as well as honour deserving members who had excelled in their chosen career in the education sector

    Prof Uduogie Ivowi, one of the guests, also debunked the claim that there are no qualified teachers in most schools. He noted that corruption, lack of infrastructure and political will by the government have been the major challenges confronting the education system.

    He said: “There is corruption! That’s why we are having poor performances and this will continue for as long we don’t attend to the factors that are resulting in poor performances- well-paid teachers, provision of adequate facilities, including teaching materials, such as text books, laboratory equipment and workshops.”

    Managing Proprietor of Victory Group of Schools Chief Christian Francis Olaniyan, one of the awardees, thanked ACEP for the award. He called on the government to desist from politicising education, one factor which he believes has stunted the sub-sector.

     

  • Zuba residents cry out over fallen poles

    Zuba residents cry out over fallen poles

    Residents of Zuba in Gwagwalada area council of Abuja have cried out to the authorities and management of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to do something about the persistent danger posed by fallen electric poles in the area.

    They accused the authorities of toying with their welfare by not being proactive in tackling the danger that the fallen electric pole could pose to their lives.

    The latest of such incidents, it was gathered, happened at the weekend when two high-tension electric poles fell along Zuba-Madalla Old Road after a heavy rainfall.

    Sources told Abuja Review that though no one was electrocuted, residents were shocked that the relevant agencies have failed to either pull up the poles or de-activate the cables five days after the incident.

    One of the residents, Ibrahim Dogo, an electrician said: “We were just here when the poles fell as a result of the heavy rain. Immediately, I called the PHCN staff. The man came and after he had inspected the damage, the officials cut off the light but since last weekend, they have not done anything to improve the situation. Thank God there was no light. If there are electric currents in the cables, it would have killed a woman plaiting the hair of a kid because these wires have more than 30,000 voltage capacity.”

    He urged PHCN to come to their aid by removing the fallen high tension wires and poles before an irreversible harm is caused to the residents.

    Another resident, Mrs. Anulika Ezeukwu disclosed that the incident occurred because of the weak poles which have been there for a long time. She added that it posed great danger among the people living around the area and that those in authorities at PHCN should come to their aid.

    We were just here when the poles fell as a result of the heavy rain. Immediately, I called the PHCN staff. The man came and after he had inspected the damage, the officials cut off the light but since last weekend, they have not done anything to improve the situation