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Tag: peaceful

  • Buhari committed to peaceful, developed Niger Delta, says Boroh

    Buhari committed to peaceful, developed Niger Delta, says Boroh

    The Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh, says President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is committed to a peaceful and developed Niger Delta region.

    Boroh, who is the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in New York on Wednesday that this commitment has encouraged investors movement into the region.

    “The impact of the Presidential Amnesty Programme in the Niger Delta region has been very satisfactory and encouraging because the ex-agitators have imbibed that culture of ensuring peace.

    “This is to allow for growth in the region and they are happy about it because a lot of valuable entrepreneurship programmes are ongoing in the entire Niger-Delta region.

    “Their (ex-agitators) morale is high and they are happy.

    “Each time I go to discuss with the ex-agitators and the youth, they pledge their loyalty and support to the present administration.

    “This is so that the administration can continue the good things it is doing because of the commitment of Mr President in ensuring peace, stability and development in the region.

    “The Niger Delta today is stable, peaceful and expecting investors moving there and help in adding value to the region,” Gen. Boroh said.

    According to him, well over 5,000 ex-agitators have benefitted within the past two years in critical areas of aviation, maritime, oil and gas and agriculture.

    The amnesty coordinator said agriculture was now the main focus of the programme in line with the government’s economic diversification strategy.

    “This is to ensure that the ex-agitators imbibe the details of the new agricultural policy so that they can be professional farmers at the end of the day.

    “This will create massive job opportunities, ensure that there’s food security in the region and the country at large and again, enhance our financial position.

    “Niger Delta is stable and investors are moving in to continue their business,” Gen. Boroh said.

    The presidential aide also explained that the programme has a terminal phase but that the ex-agitators would be empowered before the final phase.

    “The programme has a timeline to phase out. It has to do with ensuring that the ex-agitators that are in the programme are adequately trained and empowered so that they can leave and this is ongoing.”

  • Peaceful celebrations in Maiduguri, Damaturu, Yola, Gombe

    The Eid-El-Fitr festivities were celebrated peacefully in most states of the Northeast, as security was tightened in Borno and Yobe – the two states worst hit by the activities of insurgents.

    Reports by News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) indicated that vehicular movements were restricted in the two states for certain period, to avert any ugly incident, especially during the congregation prayers.

    Borno Police Command had announced total ban on vehicular movement during the prayer time, resulting in the closure of most roads in the metropolis.

    Security personnel were also deployed to prayer grounds to screen worshippers thoroughly at the entrance.

    Some worshippers interviewed hailed the security agents for their efforts in ensuring security at the prayer grounds.

    The police had deployed 2,000 personnel across the state to ensure adequate security during the celebrations.

    In Yobe, the congregation prayers were conducted peacefully, just as a 12-hour restriction on vehicular movements was also enforced across the state.

    Armed security men and vigilante groups were placed at strategic locations to keep vigil on movement of people to the prayer grounds.

    In the past, cases of suicide bombing were experienced at prayers grounds in Damaturu, especially during the peak of Boko Haram insurgency.

    Some Muslim faithful in Damaturu expressed gratitude to God for the peace enjoyed in the state throughout the one month Fasting period.

    In his Sallah message, the state governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam, urged the people to use the period to pray for the country and improved health for President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “We should also, as good citizens, more than ever before, and be prepared to work and act together in our resolve for the attainment of a happier and more prosperous future for our State and indeed our great country, Nigeria,” he said.

    The situation was also the same in Adamawa, another state that had grappled with the menace of Boko Haram insurgents.

    NAN reports that no ugly incident was recorded across the state, just as rainfall forced a shift in the venue of the congregation prayers, from open prayer ground, to Yola Central Mosque.

    The rainfall also affected the staging of durbar at the palace of the Lamido of Adamawa, usually associated with  such celebrations.

    Receiving members of various groups and associations who paid him Sallah homage, Gov. Muhammadu Bindow said reports reaching him from security agencies indicated that the celebration was hitch-free across the state.

    Bindow urged the people to remain law-abiding and continue to support government at all levels.

    “I also want to use this opportunity to urge our people to participate actively in the ongoing update of voters register because reports reaching me showed that participation is not encouraging,” the governor said.

    In Gombe, celebrations went on peacefully, but it was not business as usual for commercial vehicle operators, who lamented the dearth of passengers.

    Speaking with NAN in  Gombe, Chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers, Malam Ibrahim Bala, said the situation at the various park in the state was worrisome.

    Bala, who attributed the problem to the economic hardship in the country, said the motorists were ready to reduce fares if they would get passengers.

    Muslims in Jos enjoyed a peaceful Eid-el Fitr celebration yesterday, with security tightened in some parts of the Plateau capital.

    A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who visited some strategic areas in the city, observed that more security personnel were deployed to ensure the safety of worshipers and fun-seekers at recreation centres.

    The Chief Imam of Dutse Central Mosque in Jigawa, Sheikh Sani Birninkudu has advised Muslims to desist from making  divisive comments capable of creating hate and disharmony among people.

    Birninkudu stated this in a sermon to mark Eid-el Fitr prayers in Dutse yesterday.

    The cleric advised Muslims to fear God, reminding them that they would be held accountable for their deeds in the hereafter.

  • Chinese journalists: Nigeria safe, peaceful

    Some Chinese journalists visiting Nigeria yesterday described the country as safe and peaceful with hospitable people.

    The journalists under the aegis of the All China Journalists Association are in Nigeria on the invitation of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

    One of them, Miss Zhang Lu, Editor, China Watch, told journalists in Lagos that contrary to popular perception, Nigeria is safe and peaceful.

    “Previously, what I learnt about Nigeria and Africa is from the television stations and books. But this trip has helped me to know a little bit more about the people, their hospitality and culture.

    “Contrary to what I read in books and newspapers, I think that Lagos and Abuja are nice cities, safer than what I thought previously,” she said.

    She said she enjoyed pounded yam, adding that only the media can truly report the real situation in both Nigeria and China.

    Also, the leader of the delegation, Mr. Zhang Mingxin, said the visit had opened his eyes to fresh opportunities in Nigeria, which would further strengthen the friendship between Nigeria and China.

    Zhang, who is also the Vice Chief Editor, China News Service, said media professionals and information communication were important for cultural exchange between people.

    “The media communication will also help economic development and the MoU we signed with the NUJ will further cement relationship between our countries in the future.

    “Lagos is a beautiful prosperous state,” he said.

    President of the NUJ Abdulwaheed Odusile told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the visit would strengthen bilateral relations between Nigeria and China.

    That is why the NUJ is hosting their colleagues from China.

    The NUJ national president led the delegation on tour of important and historic places in Lagos in company with some executive members of the Lagos State Council of the union.

    Odusile also told NAN that the visit would improve economic, social and cultural relations between both countries.

    He said the union represented about one million journalists in China, adding that the partnership with the Chinese journalists became necessary to tell the right story about Nigeria.

    He explained that stories about Nigeria were usually told by the western media in negative ways and were not usually fair to Nigeria or Africa in their reportage.

    Odusile said the visit would also help the Chinese journalists form the right impression about Nigeria.

    He said a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) had been signed between the two unions in Abuja before visiting Lagos.

  • REC, DIG Operations, score election high, peaceful

    REC, DIG Operations, score election high, peaceful

    The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Rivers, Mr Aniedi Ikowak, has hailed the peaceful conduct of the rerun legislative elections.
    He made the remark while monitoring the election at Rumuigbo, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
    He said reported cases of rumours on skirmishes would be investigated.
    Also speaking, the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Operations (DIG), Habila Joshak, also scored the conduct of the election high.
    He said contrary to some reports of violence, the exercise was generally peaceful.
    Joshak also hailed the people of the state for conducting themselves orderly.
    He urged the media to verify information before going to press.
    At Rumuomasi, Obio/Akpor Local Government, the party agents also commended INEC on the conduct of the election, saying it was generally peaceful unlike how it used to be in recent times.
    The agents, Mr Ikechi Okpobiri (PDP) and that of the APC who simply introduced herself as Miss Tina, spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
    They said that the peace and orderliness should be maintained.
    But the Commissioner for Health, Dr Theophilus Odagme, who was at the INEC office in Bori, Khana Local Government complained of irregularities in the area.

  • Towards peaceful polls in Rivers

    Towards peaceful polls in Rivers

    •All eyes are on Rivers State ahead of tomorrow’s elections

    Tomorrow, the Rivers State electorate will vote to fill three senatorial seats, eight in the House of Representatives and 10 in the House of Assembly. Against the background of tension in the state, about 20,000 personnel, 20 gunboats and three helicopters have been deployed by the Police to the combustible state. The electoral commission also has mobilised 10,294 staff for the crucial election.

    On two previous occasions, owing to political rascality and allegations of collusion by the electoral and security officials, it was impossible to come up with acceptable results. The last legislative election in March saw a number of polling officials and innocent citizens needlessly killed or maimed. And, when another attempt was to be made to conclude the process in July, the pervading atmosphere suggested that there could be mayhem and general breakdown of law and order. Consequently, as a responsible agency, after due consultation with all stakeholders, the electoral commission postponed the election.

    But we are concerned about the inflammable speeches by political leaders in the state. The state governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, and other leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have been quick to launch attacks at the federal government and the federal agencies involved in conducting the election. They have been charged with all manner of crimes, including plans to assassinate the governor, aid the leading opposition party in the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC), in snatching ballot boxes and in printing fake sensitive materials. As expected, these have been denied.

    The APC, too, has kept shouting that youths have been trained to attack leading party officials and candidates as well as instigate chaos and anarchy with a view to sustaining the status quo. It is disturbing to hear the chief security officer of a state instruct the people to take the law into their own hands. Wike said: Nobody should intimidate you with security agents. Resist any arrest. You must move round in groups to promote resistance to the robbers of mandates.”  In an apparent response, a candidate for the Ikwerre state constituency, Azubuike Wajoku, alleged: “The Rivers State government under the PDP has planned to kill me. But they will not succeed. They shot at me during the 2015 election and thought I was dead, but God revived me…this is a show of the criminal mind that governs the state today.”

    In this picture, no one is talking about the interests of the electorate. The basic underpinning of the democratic system is the General Will. This is what has suffered in Rivers State since May 29, 2015. As the National Assembly pointed out last month, the state is unrepresented in the upper legislative chamber. Since 2015, screenings of nominees for federal appointments have been held without input from the state. At the moment, the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) is being debated and processed without the voice of Rivers State, which is at the heart of the Niger Delta, being heard.

    This supports the claim by INEC that politicians should be blamed for the spate of inconclusive elections recorded in the past one year. We call on all officials concerned to discharge their duties impartially and firmly. Whoever infringes the law should be apprehended and tried under the law. Impunity has traversed the land for too long and it is time to show that the law enforcement agencies can bark and bite in the interest of the people.

    The Rivers State Supplementary Rerun National and State Legislative Elections is another opportunity to show that Nigeria can manage elections. It is time to build on the successes achieved in the Edo and Ondo governorship elections.

     

  • Why our campus is peaceful, by ACE Provost

    The Provost, Adeyemi College of Education (ACE) Ondo, Prof Olukoya Ogen, has given reasons why peace has continued to prevail in the institution.

    According to him, there is mutual relationship among the management, workers and students – a situation he said was not the case in many tertiary institutions.

    He said his management is fully committed to the welfare of all students in the College.

    Ogen, who spoke during the inauguration of the 2016/2017 Students’ Union (SU) Central Executive Council, pledged management’s commitment in operating an open door policy.

    “We will carry your executive along on any issues.  We want your ideas, let us rub minds together,” said Ogen, while addressing the students’ body.

    Ogen, who described the occasion as significant, also praised the SU for guiding their colleagues to achieve smooth transition from one executive to another.

    He hailed the outgoing SU President, Richard Ogunrotifa for outstanding performance during his tenure. Ogen said management had recommended Ogunrotifa for a special commendation for creating a bond with the legislature, executive and Judiciary arms of the SU, and for his boldness in presenting a statement of account after his tenure.

    Ogen urged the new president, Omosebi Oluwatobilola, to emulate his predecessor’s values, while also adopting Dr. Folorunso Balogun who is the Dean, School of Science as his father throughout his tenure.

    The Dean, Students Affairs, Mr. Olaniyi Olaluwoye, recalled that the second SU e-voting election took place on August 23, adding that it was very peaceful.

    He appealed to the newly elected SU to see their offices as a call to service, and not as an opportunity to enrich themselves.

    The Chairman, Senior Staff Union of College of Education in Nigeria, Mr. Jimoh Liasu and the Chairman, Non Academic Staff Union, Henry Akingbola also were also in attendance.

    The high point of the event was the presentation by Ogen of a certificate and a new SU bus to the outgoing executives.

     

  • Senate seeks peaceful resolution of labour, banks’ feud

    Senate seeks peaceful resolution of labour, banks’ feud

    •Ngige: unionism is every worker’s right

    The National Assembly has called for peaceful resolution of the disagreement between labour and banks over retrenchment.

    It also praised the Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, for his intervention in the matter.

    The NASS agreed with  the minister on dialoguing with all social partners to resolve the disagreement peacefully.

    At a public hearing on the emerging issues in the financial sector, Chairman, Senate Committee on Banking and Finance, Senator Rafiu Ibrahim, said: “We sincerely commend the Federal Government for being willing to work with the banks to find a common solution to this issue of retrenchment, which affects almost every family in Nigeria.

    “I am grateful that all of us have  agreed to dialogue and I implore you to do justice to all issues before the stakeholders’ summit coming up. I, therefore, appeal to everybody to be humble and be open in our different positions at the talks.”

    Ibrahim said the NASS was happy with the explanation by Ngige that he did not threaten that the Federal Government would withdraw licences from banks that continue to retrench workers; that it was a case of misrepresentation.

    According to Ibrahim, Ngige’s explanation made room for a convivial atmosphere for social partners to dialogue and peacefully resolve all issues.

    Ngige said steps taken by him on the issue were in defence of the Constitution, the labour laws and to safeguard the interests of parties, ensure peaceful industrial milieu for enhanced productivity in the sector.

    “The Constitution is the supreme law of the land. The Constitution is aware that we are in a society where all of us will not be equal and that everybody must be protected – big and small. That is why in Sections 14, 15 and 16 and even 17, the Constitution protects the employer, the economy and the workers,” he said.

    Ngige said it was from these provisions that the NASS enacted the labour laws on how to deal with issues of employment. ”So, all that my ministry has done is to execute and protect these laws from infractions. I acted in good faith to protect the interest of all,” he said.

    He cited petitions from unions in the financial sector, which border on unwholesome practices, the height of which was mindless retrenchment as the reason for his intervention.

    He directed the parties – the bank employers and the unions – to maintain the status quo ante-bellum through a press release on June 5, 2016, pending the resolution of the disputes.

    “We intervened in the spirit of collective bargaining. We got petitions from National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions employees (NUBIFE) on casualisation, contract staffing, poor remunerations, which are not in conformity with equal work, equal pay in our constitution, as well as ill-human conditions of service,” he explained.

    Ngige added that the ministry also received petitions on sacks without due compensation and resistant to unionisation contrary to Section 40 of the Constitution, which the ministry investigated and found them true in some banks.

    “We invited the concerned banks; they gave excuses on why they won’t honour the invitation while they continued with retrenchments. I know my rights as Minister of Labour and I will exercise those rights for the benefits of Nigerians, high and low. It is within my power to declare a truce in any industrial crisis. That was why I asked the banks don’t retrench further and the unions; don’t picket the banks so we can sit down to resolve the issues,” he said.

    According to Ngige, the labour law on redundancy says in Article 20 that if an employer negotiates redundancy and a party is dissatisfied, the Minister has the right to intervene.

    He said the law provides for the employer to disengage a worker if he cannot actually run his enterprise efficiently and effectively with a large number of staff, in which case, he will declare redundancy. It states clearly the process for doing this.

    “It says you must engage the labour unions in that industry and if it gets out of hand, the local unions will report to their national union. If they can’t resolve this, the parties, unions or the banks will refer it to the Minister of Labour for conciliation,” he said.

    The Minister corrected the impression that the Federal Government was interfering in the running of private businesses.

    Speaking on unionisation in the banks, the Minister added that the only institution in the financial sector where staff members are exempted from unionisation is the Central Bank and that no other bank in the country had the right to prevent its staff from forming a union.

    “Unionisation, according to the constitution and labour laws, is the right of workers. There are exemptions and the institutions that are exempted are clearly listed. Here, it is only Central Bank that is exempted in the banking sector.

    “And the law says again that the Minister of Labour in his wisdom can grant a waiver to any institution. I have not granted waver to any bank and I will not grant such,” Ngige added.

  • Senator urges peaceful coexistence

    Senator urges peaceful coexistence

    Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, representing Lagos West, has congratulated Muslim faithful on the successful conclusion of Ramadan.

    In an Eid-el-Fitri message to his Muslim constituents and Nigerians, Adeola prayed that Allah will answer their supplications as presented during Ramadan.

    He hoped that the spiritual lessons of Ramadan and the injunctions of the Holy Prophets for love, peaceful co-existence, fairness, justice and tolerance will continue in their daily lives.

    Senator Adeola called on Muslims to continue to pray for and renew their support for the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to succeed in addressing the problems confronting the country, adding that the country needs divine direction and intervention to surmount the challenges facing it.

  • Mark seeks peaceful election

    Mark seeks peaceful election

    • Young Alhaji leads coalition of parties for ex-Senate President

    Ahead of tomorrow’s rerun in Benue South Senatorial District, former Senate President David Mark has counseled his constituents to come out en masse to exercise their civic duty.

    He also urged the electorate to comply with the rules of the game by being law abiding.

    Mark, however, asked those fanning the embers of discord to think otherwise in the overall interest of the Idoma nation.

    In a statement in Abuja by his Media Assistant, Paul Mumeh, Mark said: “Being in politics is a call for service and not a do or die affair,” because the paramount interest is the welfare and well being of the people.

    The Senator decried a series of unprovoked attacks on his supporters in the build up to the election and urged the people of Benue South not to be deterred by the antics of the opposition, but to demonstrate their civility by conducting themselves properly.

    Mark warned his supporters to beware of the antics of the opposition. It said: “The opposition may deliberately provoke them to disrupt the election, but you must stand tall and exercise your franchise within the ambits of the law.”

    The former Senate President also reiterated that the rerun election is about the welfare and interest of the Idoma/Igede people of Benue State and that only the people have locus standi to decide.

    “What we shall not accept is for external forces to decide who represents us. This is an election that affects the political destiny of our people. No outsider should decide for us. We must take our destiny in our hands.”

    A former opponent to Mark in Benue South, Alhaji Abubakar Usman, popularly known as “Young Alhaji”, has led a coalition of political parties in the zone to rally support for the re-election of the former Senate President.

    Young Alhaji told the people of the constituency, at a rally in Otukpo recently, to vote for the former Senate President “because he is the only political figure that can save the Idoma/Igede people from political extinction.”

    Otukpo, the traditional headquarters of Benue South, stood still as the stakeholders rallied support for Mark’s re-election.

    The rerun election is between the former Senate President, who is contesting on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Daniel Onjeh of the All Progressive Congress ( APC).

  • ‘She was loving, peaceful and God-fearing

    ‘She was loving, peaceful and God-fearing

    Abia State Governor Victor Ikpeazu buried his mother, Mrs Bessie Ikpeazu, after a funeral service penultimate Friday at the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Umuobiakwa in Obingwa Local Government Area of the state.  UGOCHUKWU UGOJI-EKE was there.

    The sleepy community of Umuobiakwa in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State came alive penultimate Friday when Deaconess Bessie Ikpeazu, mother of Abia Governor Victor Ikpeazu, was buried.

    She died on November 29, last year, aged 87.

    Dignitaries from all walks of life thronged the town to pay their last respects to the matriarch of the Ikpeazu family and to condole with the governor.

    Five governors – Prof Ben Ayade (Cross River); Rochas Okorocha (Imo); Udom  Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom); Dave Umahi  (Ebonyi); and Ayo Fayose (Ekiti) – were at the event. So also, were some deputy governors, former governors, wives of governors, and members of National and state Houses of Assembly and government officials.

    Others were:  Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu;  former Abia  Governor Theodore Orji;  Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Prince Arthur Eze;  Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe; Nkechi Nwogu and  former minister Emeka Wogu,

    Abia Speaker Martin Azubike and his deputy, Cosmos Ndukwe, among others, commiserated with the Ikpeazus.

    President Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented by Okorocha, condoled with the family, saying their late matriarch was one who lived a good life.

    In his homily, President, Eastern Nigeria Union Conference of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Pastor Bassey Udoh, who  read Luke 2:25-30, urged parents to train their children well.

    Pastor Udoh added that when children are well educated and trained, the society would be better for it. He reminded all to live righteously in preparation for the second coming of Christ.

    “Life and times are short and; therefore, all should strive to make peace with the Creator before it is late, so that when one dies, there is opportunity of seeing Jesus again. This will come only if we live according to God’s principles,” he said.

    In a tribute deceased’s daughter, Mrs Edith Ugboaja described their late mother as a peace maker, kind, loving, transparent and God-fearing woman.

    Just before the interment, Governor Ikpeazu thanked the guests for grieving with him.

    The late Mrs Ikpeazu served as a career nurse and midwife. She had worked at Ahoada County Hospital, Ahoada, Rivers state, Okpuala Ngwa General Hospital and Nigerian Christian Hospital, Onitcha Ngwa in Aba where she served as the matron until her retirement in 1994. She was also the Nursing Supervisor for the Motherless Babies Home, Adventist Hospital, Aba.