The Nation Newspaper

Tag: sleeping

  • Man held for ‘sleeping with daughter’

    A 57-year-old man has been arrested by operatives of the Bar Beach Police Station on Victoria Island, Lagos for allegedly sleeping with his daughter.

    The girl, a Primary 5 pupil, broke down on Monday as she told the story of how her, father had been sleeping with her with a warning not to tell anybody.

    She said her mother just brought her back to her father after many years of separation, adding that since the incestuous act began, her father had been giving her N200 daily as compensation.

    The girl said because she could no longer continue the act with her father, she confided in her mother during one of her visits. She said her mother dismissed her claim.

    “My mother said my father could not bring himself that low as having carnal knowledge of his biological daughter,” she explained.

    The bubble, burst after she told her head-teacher, who subsequently invited the police to investigate the matter.

    She said: “When I was reunited with my father, I was happy because I had been living with an aunt in the village since my parents separated. He usually told me that I would take the place of my mother in his life since my mother had divorced him. I did not know what he meant until he started having carnal knowledge of me at night.

    “At a point, I got tired and insulted him. Then, he started beating me and changed to me. He would beat me, strip me naked and have his way whenever he wanted. When I attempted to scream, he would hit me harder and cover my mouth. He later apologised and told me he would buy me a car. All I want at the moment is for my father to be punished for what he has done to me.”

    The suspect dismissed the allegation, saying he only beat his daughter when he discovered that she was into a clandestine relationship with an unnamed man.

    Police sources said he was charged to the Igbosere Magistrate’s Court, where he was ordered remanded in prison custody until his bail application would be considered.

  • Seven hours heart problemsa night helps reduce heart problems

    Getting enough sleep can be difficult for many juggling the demands of work, leisure and family.

    But experts said yesterday that those who clock up seven hours of shut-eye a night can slash the risk of health problems.

    Those who manage fewer hours double the risk of heart problems, warn researchers.

    Sleeping yourself to good health: those people who can clock up seven hours of shut-eye a night can slash the risk of health problems

    Long-term studies show that those who drop down to five hours or fewer face a 70 per cent extra risk of dying from all causes.

    They also face twice the risk of death from a cardiovascular problem.

    However, getting more than seven hours can also be a risk, according to the study by the University of Warwick and University College London.

    Those who slept for eight hours or more a night were more than twice as likely to die as those who had not changed their habits.

    The study looked at how sleep patterns affected death rates among 10,308 subjects, mainly white-collar civil servants.

    Researchers examined data for 1985-8 and for those still alive in 1992-3.

    Once adjustments were made for factors such as age, smoking and illness, the study was able to isolate the effect of changes in sleep patterns.

    The average night’s sleep is seven hours but around a third of adults in Britain regularly sleep five hours or fewer a night.

    Professor Francesco Cappuccio, of the University of Warwick medical school, said: “Fewer hours of sleep and greater levels of sleep disturbance have become widespread in industrialised societies.

    “This change, largely the result of sleep curtailment to create more time for leisure and shiftwork, has meant that reports of fatigue, tiredness and excessive daytime sleepiness are more common. Sleep represents the daily process of physiological restitution and recovery, and lack of sleep has far-reaching effects.

    “Our findings indicate that consistently sleeping around seven hours per night is optimal for health.”

    He said insufficient sleep was a risk factor in weight gain, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.

    But it is unclear how sleeping too long could cause ill-health, he added, although possible causes included depression and low socio-economic status.

    Last week, researchers showed that children who did not get enough sleep were more likely to become obese as adults.

  • Achebe: Let the sleeping dog lie

    Achebe: Let the sleeping dog lie

    SIR: If we don’t forget yesterday’s quarrel, we shall have nobody to play with.

    The book–There was a country that the respected and popular author-Chinua Achebe just released is uncalled for, unnecessary and ill-timed. As a respected Nigerian and an elder statesman, Chinua Achebe should not have released the book at all.

    The civil war has come and gone and I believe Nigeria as country has learnt her lessons. We know what happened then and even the youths do not pray for that to repeat itself again.

    I am happy that the Igbo have since recovered from the war. They have businesses that are doing well all over the country. There is no where you will not find Igbo people doing what they know how to do best.

    Contrary to Professor Achebe’s claim of Igbo backwardness after the civil war, Igbo people have occupied many top positions in Nigeria.

    For instance, Dr Alex Ekwueme was the Vice President between 1979 and 1983; late Evan Enwerem, late Chuba Okadigbo, Adolphus Wabara and Anyim Pius Ayim have all tasted the goodies as Senate President. Charles Soludo, an Igbo man also occupied the office of CBN governor.

    Ogbona Onovo once occupied the office of Inspector General of Police. Professor Maurice Iwu, former INEC chairman is a true son of Igbo.

    This is just to mention a few among many top positions that the Igbos have held.

    That is why I think it is unnecessary for Achebe to have released the controversial book now. The Awolowo he was blaming for Igbo predicament during and after the civil war is no more. The man who surrendered on behalf of Biafran nation, Lt. Col. Philip Effiong is no more. The Eze Igbo Gburugburu, the Biafran leader, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu is no more.

    So, why blame those that are not around to defend themselves? Former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) who is still alive is old and leads “Nigeria Prays” because he appreciates that Nigeria really need prayers.

    I call on Papa Achebe and other Igbo people to let their wounds heal. Instead or writing what will fuel enmity between Nigerians, I call on Pa Achebe and other Nigerians to write more on what will unite Nigerians.

    We must pull together to overcome our present challenge which is the Boko Haram. Let’s put civil war experience behind us because united we stand, divided we fall.

    As General Yakubu Gowon proclaimed after the civil war: “No victor No vanquished.

    •Ajiboye John Tosin

    Osogbo Osun State

  • A sleeping giant at 52

    A sleeping giant at 52

    SIR: Can a man be a toddler at 52? This was the question that confronted Nigerians as the nation marked 52 years of independence on Monday. Though this is the longest run of civil rule since the enthronement of democratic rule in May 1999, many ills still bedevil the sleeping giant of Africa 13 years on.

    With an inept leadership, Nigeria, the seventh largest oil-producing nation in the world, massive corruption, insecurity, poor infrastructure, a dilapidating education and health system, have combined to leave Nigerians seeking redemption from their self-inflicted woes through several unorthodox means.

    Nigeria has seen over 30 years of military regimes and a total of 21 years of civilian administrations. And while a total of eight soldiers had ruled the country, civilian administrations had produced only six leaders. Interestingly, while the military rulers-General Aguiyi-Ironsi, Yakubu Gowon, Muritala Muhammad, Olusegun Obansanjo, Muhammad Buhari, Ibrahim Babangida, Sanni Abacha and Abdul Salam Abubakar-were believed not have impacted much on the growth of the country, Nigerians have not ceased to bemoan the reality of their faring badly under democratic administrations. But for brief glimpses of hope demonstrated in the short-lived first republic manned mostly by nationalist figures, neither the administrations of Alhaji Shehu Shagari from 1979 to 1983, nor the eight years of Obasanjo as president brought progress and positive change to the country. The four years of President Umaru Yar’Adua was marked by its slow pace. The incumbent President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s one year plus in the saddle holds no promise of improvement, with Boko Haram in North causing untimely death to many Nigerians.

    It has been canvassed over time that the problem of the nation lies in bad leadership. With the exception of Nigeria’s first generation leaders in the class of the late Dr Nnamdi Azikwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Ahamdu Bello and their band of independence fighters, nearly all that had subsequently held leadership positions, especially in the political realm, had been found wanting.

    There must be electoral reform in other to usher in stability in the polity. Economic development cannot be divorced from political stability. Nigerians must be allowed to choose their leaders. Nigerian leaders are being imposed on electorate. Government and National Assembly must have to partner to ensure that electoral reform works.

     

    • Ademola Orunbon

    suz.breeze@gmail.com

     

  • Nigeria, a sleeping giant, says Belgore

    Kwara State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) leader, Mr. Dele Belgore (SAN), has said Nigeria is a sleeping giant.

    The frontline lawyer noted that despite attaining 52, the country has not unlocked its vast human and natural resources for development.

    The politician decried the lack of political will by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration to ensure the development projects across the country.

    He said if unlocked, the nation’s potentials would have made it one of the top 20 economies of the world.

    Belgore said: “As things stand, one is virtually being punished daily for just being a Nigerian. This is as a result of the negative impact of government on the lives of the people.

    “Politics is put above governance. Service to the people is secondary to self-interest and benefit and institutions have been subordinated to the whims and caprices of individuals.

    “No nation thrives in such circumstances. A nation becomes great by the commitment of its leaders and the faithful followership of its people.

    “For Nigeria to be great, we must begin to see some sincerity of purpose in our leaders. They must have the interest of the nation at heart, not a sectional, political, religious or ethnic interest.

    “The right people should be put in the right places to lead and govern. Institutions should be allowed to function properly and the people empowered to maximise their opportunities and talents.

    “We all know the things that are wrong with our country. What we need now is the will to right those wrongs and at 52 it is high time we got it right.”