The Nation Newspaper

Tag: violence

  • Uduaghan advises Ijaw to shun violence

    Uduaghan advises Ijaw to shun violence

    Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has cautioned the Ijaw of Egbema/Gbaramatu kingdoms against violence and other unlawful acts as a way of expressing their grievances.

    The governor spoke during the inauguration of executive members of Egbema/Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundaction (EGCDF) at Hotel Excel, Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of the state.

    Speaking through his Senior Special Assistant on Community Affairs, Mr. Vincent Omorie, he said the state government is delighted that since the creation of the EGCDF through a Global Memorandum of Undertanding between the people and Chevron Nigeria Limited, there has been peace within the communities in the two kingdoms and assured of government readiness to continue to work with the body.

    Speaking in the same vein, Mr. Deji Haastrup, General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs said the event was significant in two main ways: “It re-affirms the commitment of the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture to partnering with the communities in the areas of its operations for socio-economic development through the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) while maintaining its policy of non-interference in their internal affairs, including the selection of their leaders and representatives.  It also confirms that the EGCDF and its constituent communities and the other Regional Development Committees (RDCs) have solid processes of appointing their leaders under the GMoU framework.”

    While reiterating that the GMoU is not only meeting its objectives, but has also become a choice model for sustainable socio-economic development that is imitated by other organizations globally, he said it is a development model that is driven by the communities through a participatory approach that involves all stakeholders.

    They commended the solid foundation laid by previous leaders which brought about peace and development and urged the new executive to live up to its billing.

    In his acceptance speech, the new Chairman of EGCDF, Chief Michael Johnny, assured the people of Egbema-Gbaramatu, Chevron Nigeria Limited  and government at all tiers of cordial working relationship, and to bring more development to the different communities.

    “We shall embark on execution of projects across all communities, but we must ensure to live in harmony, and put aside personal interest in order for the foundation to make much progress.

    “We did not elect ourselves, rather the various communities elected us to serve you. So, I can assure you all that it is what the people want us to do that we shall do. My government is going to be people oriented, and for the people”.

    On his part, the out-going chairman, Mr. E. E. Doyah-Tiemo implored the new executive to continue to employ the instrument of peace and dialogue as a means of meeting the crying needs of communities. He, however, called on the people to give their unreserved support to the new leadership to succeed.

    Those elected along Chief Michael Johnny (chairman) are; Apostle Sunny Jero (Vice Chairman), Comrade Jude Ukori (Gen. Secretary), Austine Ojo (Asst. Secretary), Hon Sunny Abilo (PRO), Alex Bubor (Asst. PRO), Hon. Silva James (Fin. Secretary) and Chief Godspower Gbenekama (Communication Director).

    Others are Sheriff Mulade (Treasurer), Gloria Grikpa (Provost), Chief B. E. Tiemo (Mobilization and Advocacy), Mrs Ati Edith Odafe, Mrs. Beauty Warizowie Mr. Segun Ebiwei and Chief Aweh December.

     

  • When violence pays

    When violence pays

    SIR: From the very beginning, the Nigerian state has suffered violence and the violent have often had his way. Our leadership positions have mostly been occupied by the strong but not necessarily the competent. There have been coups and counter coups in which one strong man deposed another. Even in the present democratic dispensation, many who emerge as leaders are those who were only able to out-muscle or out-rig others during elections. Some persons have remained relevant in the polity for no other reason than the number of thugs in their employ and thus the magnitude of violence they could wrought.

    Decades of gross injustice forced Niger Delta youths to take up arms against the state. When government could not crush them, it resorted to amnesty. The amnesty program has been hailed a political masterstroke. However, a major fallout of that episode is the notion it spread that violence is not only the most viable means of pursuing one’s objectives but also the only language government understands.

    Presently the greatest security challenge facing the country comes from the Boko Haram Islamic sect. While their aim still remains ambiguous, there is no gainsaying the fact that they have committed heinous crimes against both the state and individuals in its pursuit. The question has remained how to tackle them and in this regard some have suggested amnesty as a means of containing or better still appeasing them. It seems government has made up its mind to adopt this approach. I wonder what will happen if every aggrieved citizen resorts to violence. Already there exists the notion that if one could be able to engage the government in a violent face-off long enough, he will eventually wring out concessions for himself. Presently, many are not into violence not because of their respect or love for the rule of law but either because they are yet to pluck up enough courage or have access to the necessary hardware. Government must be wary of the consequences of emboldening the ‘cowards’.

    When citizens begin to see violence as the most viable means to obtain their desires or achieve their aims then a terrible cataclysm is not far off. The existence of a government presumes that members of a society have agreed to relinquish their right to use of force to the state in exchange for protection and preservation of their lives, properties and interests. If they, however, start retrieving this right, then the society is definitely heading back to a state of nature. Let us search for the black goat while it is still day.

    • Nnoli Chidiebere

    Aba, Abia State.

  • Aregbesola warns against religious violence in Osun

    Aregbesola warns against religious violence in Osun

    Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has warned fundamentalists against using religion to cause confusion and destabilise the state.

    Speaking at the swearing-in of the executive secretaries of the 30 local government areas and one area office in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, he said religion is too sensitive an instrument to use for sectarian violence.

    He said the Yoruba people respect all religions and do not fight over religious affiliations.

    Aregbesola noted that disgruntled elements are sponsoring crisis as well as promoting hatred and division among the people.

    The governor said: “We don’t fight over religion in Yoruba land. Religion is a very sensitive instrument which must not be used to cause chaos and disharmony.

    “Yoruba people respect all religions. They have not and will never fight over religion. Our people will never be influenced by their dastardly act.

    “In all the religions, salvation is personal. It is not collective. Those who want to use religion to destabilise the state will meet their waterloo.”

    Aregbesola pointed out Osun people have seen the difference between the former administration and the current government, which is focused primarily on welfare of citizens.

    He commended the local government secretaries for their performance, organisation and clear thinking.

    He stated that the renewal of the local government bosses’ mandate was informed by the initiation of an unprecedented rural and community developments in collaborations with the councils about eight weeks ago.

     

  • We’ve reduced crime, violence says lawmaker

    Representative of Mushin 1 Constituency at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Bolaji Yusuf Ayinla has said that the reduction of crime and violence in Mushin is the result of efforts to get the people productively engaged.

    Ayinla stated this while responding to reporters questions at the 2nd Village Square meeting he held with his constituents at Itire, Mushin.

    According to him, through the efforts of people like Muize Banire, himself and the local government chairman jobs are being provided for many people, thereby keeping them engaged and away from violence and crime.

    “I have contributed my quota as a legislator in order to reduce the crime rate and violence that Mushin was identified with before. Today the situation has changed and I am not going to stop because I still have so many things on the pipeline for them”, he said.

    Ayinla disclosed that he has facilitated employment for about 27 of his constituents with the Lagos State Inland Revenue Service, 15 each at the Ministry of Sports, Lagos State Waste Management Authority, Lagos Marine Police and Lagos State Residents Registration Authority. He has also provided 50 others with jobs as sweepers while equipping thousands with vocational skills to enable them start something on their own.

    “Twenty were recommended for appointment into State Civil Service Commission while eight employment opportunities were secured with Central Business District, Lagos”, he said.

    He said further:“It is a gradual process and I know that with time, more of my people will be taken out of the unemployment bracket and of course Mushin will be the better for it.”

    According to the lawmaker, he is only fulfilling the campaign promises he made to his people during electioneering that he would be responsive, responsible, accountable and proactive through first class representation”.

    The Village Square meeting, Ayinla said, is a feedback mechanism for him to hear from his people and also for them to hear from him and for him to give account of his stewardship.

    Giving account of his stewardship, Ayinla said, he has provided 13 boreholes in his constituency, influenced procurement of 4 500KVA transformers, provided a utility bus each for Itire Chieftaincy family and United Muslim Council, Mushin etc. He said he has also been active on the floor of the House which in collaboration with his other colleagues has “reflected in the quality of governance that Lagos State is experiencing in all facets”.

     

  • ‘Stop violence against girl-child’

    The Nigerian Girls’ Guide of Nigeria, Mushin, Lagos Division has held a walk to protest against molestation of women and children.

    With various placards bearing different advocacy messages, the group urged government and individuals to apprehend anyone involved in the dastardly act.

    Some of the messages read: “Together we stop violence”, “Shun abortion today to safe life”, “No to girl-trafficking”, “stop AIDS, it is suicidal.”

    The group’s Divisional Commissioner for Mushin, Olori Olanrewaju Bakare, said: “The walk is to create awareness that young women should be well respected in the society. There are some things they do to our young girls nowadays which are not palatable to nature. Some of them do not have proper education; they are maltreated and sent to hawk on the streets while their mates are in school.”

    Olori Bakare enjoined young girls to abstain from premarital sex, adding that it is destructive. “They should zip up because sex is not what they should embrace now; their education is very important,” she said.

    She described raping in the society as sacrilegious and suicidal, as she urged perpetrators of the heinous crime to desist from it.

    She added: “Our girls should be satisfied with whatever their parents give them; lack of contentment leads them to looking out for men who will eventually get them pregnant under the guise of rendering assistance. They do not have anybody to care for the pregnancy and hence, they attempt to abort it, which in the end, destroys their lives.”

  • ActionAid commends Reps for passage of anti-violence bill

    ActionAid Nigeria has commended the  House of Representatives for the passage of the Prohibition of Violence Against Persons Bill.
    The anti-poverty agency, which prioritises issues of women rights in its intervention in poor peoples communities and among the urban poor stated in a press statement that by passing the bill on Thursday, “ the Nigerian parliamentarians have acted in such manner that raises hope that the socially disadvantaged and the poor can still look up to them for succour”
    According to the Women Rights Manager of ActionAid Nigeria, Patience Ekeoba, “members of the House of Representatives have acted in the most responsible way expected of representatives of the people”.
    “By this singular act, they have rekindled hope of the people in the parliament as hope of the poor. They have also written their names in history. Many people will not forget this seventh national assembly for this act”.
    She called on the Senate to follow suit and make a concurrent passage of the bill.
  • Dabiri-Erewa decries violence against women

    Dabiri-Erewa decries violence against women

    House of Representatives member Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa has called for the elimination of all forms of violence against women. She said that, as the world marks the International Women’s Day, people should reflect on the pivotal roles of women in the family and nation-building.

    In a statement in Abuja, Dabiri- Erewa bemoaned the increasing violence against women in the country.

    She said: “It is quite gladdening that the House of Representatives has taken a major step in this regard by passing a bill to eliminate all forms of violence against persons.

    “The Bill sponsored by me prescribes a life imprisonment for rape and a minimum of 20 year-jail term for anyone involved or an accomplice in gang rape. The bill also seeks compensation for victims of rape. It also deals with the domestic violence, political violence, harmful traditional practices, and protection of widows”

    Dabiri-Erewa said the bill also criminalises rape, gang rape, female circumcision, domestic and political violence, acid attacks and injury to the widows.

    The lawmaker expressed optimism that the bill would soon be passed by the Senate and subsequently signed into law by the President.

  • A fight against domestic violence

    A fight against domestic violence

    : Movie to highlight problem

    Piqued by the increasing cases of domestic violence against women, some prominent Nigerian actresses, Kate Henshaw, Rita Dominic, Uche Jombo and Funke Akindele, have decided to pool resources to fight the trend. They intend to achieve this through a movie entitled New Horizon in which they highlight the trauma which women go through.

    Before them, other well-meaning individuals and organisations, over the years, have championed the cause of women who suffer domestic violence in order to minimise the trend.

    Experts posit that violence against women, especially in Africa, has remained a thorny issue. They are also of the view that this phenomenon manifests in psychological and threatened acts of violence. They also add that it plays out in form of physical acts such as pestering, assault, battery, rape and homicide. It is, they insist, marked by one individual’s attempt to dominate and control another, often through a pattern of intimidation.

    The actresses maintain that ending violence against women is a cause all well-meaning individuals should participate in.

    They also uphold the view that the wall of silence and taboo that still surround violence against women and the sheer scale of this human rights violation often become obstacles that prevent ordinary people, as well as celebrities, from getting actively involved in fighting the trend.

    However, these walls of silence and the taboo associated with the trend which various individuals, governments and organisations have been working actively to combat through various programmes seem to be caving in. These notable Nigerian actresses have braced up to fight this phenomenon definitely.

    As part of their own contributions, these Nigerian actresses have come together to create more awareness about the situation in a short film entitled New Horizon.

    Kate Henshaw, Rita Dominic, Uche Jombo and Funke Akindele said they felt that there was an urgent need to challenge all forms of social prejudices and constructs against women.

    They expressed their determination to fight all manner of social, religious, cultural and psychological issues that boost subjugation of women.

    At a press conference to announce their plans at the Tinapa Lakeside Hotel in Calabar, Henshaw, who spoke on behalf of other actresses, said they had to highlight the issue in order to protect African and Nigerian women in particular, not just from the menace, but also from the attendant mockery, fear and isolation.

    She said: “New Horizon is the story of the triumph of four women from different walks of life who came together within a self-help group for women. They help each other to get through their various challenges and arrive at a new horizon in their individual lives.

    “We needed to take a step further to do something that would create more awareness for the women. These ladies showed up to partner with me to come up with a script, get a director, shoot a film which we hope to take across the world to show to men and women all over the world. It is a start. We are adopting this mode because visual form of passing messages and information is very powerful.

    “When people see things, it would stick in their minds and hopefully it would cause a change in their hearts to stop domestic violence.”

    She noted that domestic violence affects all social groups and can consist of physical, sexual or psychological abuses.

    The prominent actress further said that although men can also be affected by domestic violence, it is the women who suffer it extremely.

    “This tendency is present everywhere in the world. But Africa’s discriminatory laws and prevalent culture of silence and stigmatisation against victims of domestic violence continue to trivialise the problem,” she said.

    She revealed that the movie which is not intended to be a means of money-making would be premiered on Ebony Life Television.

  • Clinton: poverty fuels North’s violence

    Clinton: poverty fuels North’s violence

    Former United States President Bill Clinton yesterday gave an insight into how Nigeria, given its abundant natural and human resources, can attain her full potential and bring development to the citizens.

    Clinton said Nigeria must strive to overcome her “three big challenges” – poor utilisation of oil money, bridging the widening gulf between the urban rich and the rural poor and making talented Nigerians stay in their country.

    The former US President spoke in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, as a special guest of honour at the 18th ThisDay Awards.

    Clinton said violence happens in the North with incredible poverty, compared to the more prosperous cities in the South.

    He said the problems “appear to be rooted in religious differences”, but take root in poverty, which strong state and federal government agencies should tackle.

    According to him, the Boko Haram insurgence in the North could be traced to poverty, which is three times worse than what obtains in Lagos area.

    The former Governor of Arkansas, who said he has visited Nigeria four times, most of the time as guest of ThisDay events, added: “First of all, when I became the president, I made a list of the 10 most important countries in the world before the 21st century, Nigeria was one of them. I would say you have about three big challenges. You haven’t done very well with the oil money.

    “Secondly, you have to bring economic opportunities to the people. This is not a problem specific in Nigeria but almost every place in the world. Prosperity has always been concentrated in and around urban areas.

    “With all the political problems and religious problems of Boko Haram, the truth is poverty in the north is three times what is it in the Lagos area and to deal with that, you have to have both a powerful, stable local government and a national policy.

    “The third thing is there has to be a way to keep the natural and organisational ability that Nigerians exhibit. There are Nigerians who are very talented all over the world but the point is how to keep those people in Nigeria. So you have to empower people with capital and education so they can succeed in the town and the world.”

    Clinton arrived in Abeokuta around 12:20pm. He fielded questions from Nduka Obaigbena, Publisher of ThisDay, shortly after his 35 minutes remarks.

    Fifteen teachers received awards of N2m gifts each. They were drawn from primary schools, secondary schools and the universities.

    The teachers are: Mrs Victoria Jolayemi, Mrs Dorothy Ugwu, Mrs Christie Ade – Ajayi, Rev. Father Angus Fraser, Chief Reuben Majekodunmi, Chief D.B.E Ossai, Mr Yakubu Dimka, Chief Dotun Oyewole, Mr John Adeaga, Bawa Mohammed Faskari, Hadiza Thani Mohammed, Prof. Iya Abubakar, Prof. Frank Ugiomoh, Prof. Michael Obadan and Prof. Eunice Nkiruka Uzodike.

    Others who got awards are Oba Otudeko, the Osile of Oke-Ona, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, former Sultan of Sokoto, Alh. Ibrahim Dasuki, Professor Laz Ekwueme and industrialist Alhaji Razaq Okoya.

    Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun and Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan got awards for developing education.

    Clinton lauded the awards conferred on the teachers and other categories of beneficiaries and said education, which is vital to survival of a nation, should be deployed to confront the challenges facing Nigeria, on the continent and the world.

    He noted that the world is experiencing a revolutionary time, full of positive and negative forces, particularly the Information Technology which he said should be used to empower the people, reduce inequality in income, improve access to education and healthcare.

    “The Information technology is good for people who can take advantage of it. I see this all over the world. Cell phones give farmers the access to information about crop prices and fish prices in Africa and Asia. It increases their income by reducing their ignorance.

    “ It is empowerment. People are using cell phones to have banking services for the first time. I see it even in the United States where people who thought they have no money to help others donate a billion dollars to Haiti during the earthquake because ordinary citizens use their cell phones to transfer to an account and they had a billion dollars.

    “It is in so many ways a great time. It is an age where if we are sufficiently educated, we can be empowered but with enormous challenges.”

    At the ceremony were: Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, wife of Ogun State governor Mrs Olufunso Amosun, Vanguard publisher Sam Amuka-Pemu, former Ogun Governor Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi, the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, Akarigbo of Remoland; Oba Adeniyi Sonariwo, the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo and Olu of Ilaro and Paramount ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle.

    Others are the Ogun State Deputy governor, Prince Segun Adesegun, Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Mr Taiwo Adeoluwa, the Chief Judge, Justice Olatokunbo Olopade, former World Bank Vice President (Africa) Dr. Oby Ezekwezili, the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Adegboyega Dosunmu, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Yusuph Olaniyonu, former Speaker of Ogun House of Assembly, Tunji Egbetokun, his successor, Prince Suraj Adekunbi and Deputy, Tola Banjo.

  • Community threatens violence over abandoned project

    The people of Okerenkoko Community in Warri South West Local Government of Delta State have given a 30-day ultimatum to the government to compel contractors handling projects in their communities to return to their sites.

    The warning is contained in a letter to the Commissioner for Works, Funkekeme Solomon.

    The letter, signed by James Tangbowei and Joel Ekpebide, Chairman and Secretary, said the threat was necessitated by the state of affairs in the community.

    The letter reads: “We are deeply constrained to alert your ministry about the desire of our peace-loving people to take our destiny in our hands by confronting your ministry, should you fail to direct absentee contractors to report back to their project sites in Okerenkoko federated communities within the next 30 days.

    “Six years after the James Ibori administration awarded the Okerenkoko-Peppeama-Kokodiagbene Road project to Wokson Nigeria Limited, we are pained to report that the project has been abandoned and the contractor demobilised from site.

    “Also, of very important note to our community is the Okerenkoko rebuilding multi-billion naira project awarded to Accelerated Building Technology (ABT) since 2009 after the Joint Military Task Force air bombardment that reduced the community to rubbles.

    “Nothing tangible is on ground as the contractor has also demobilised from site,” they lamented.

    “The history of Okerenkoko in the Niger Delta struggle is well known and our efforts to resolve this issue amicably is proving abortive.

    “We have no choice than to resort to confrontation and violence, which remain the only language that your government understands,” they added.

    The aggrieved community leaders also recalled that during his electioneering campaign, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan promised to rebuild and make the Okerenkoko Cottage Hospital functional.

    “We have decided to resort to this medium to address you and the State Executive Council because all efforts made by the leadership of the Okerenkoko Federated Communities to table these issues have met a brick wall,” they said.