The Nation Newspaper

Tag: violence

  • Religion, violence  and leadership

    Religion, violence  and leadership

    Let  me start  on   a dark  note on today’s topic  by quoting Bonaparte Napoleon’s  anti   religion observation that  ‘religion was created to  prevent the poor  from killing  the rich‘. Shocking as Napoleon’s historical  quote  was,   it found grim  expression in the violence unleashed  by the French  Revolution of 1789  when the poor rose in fury  against   iniquities   in French    society,  killed the rich mercilessly and invented the guillotine as an equipment for beheading   them, even as they shouted their  slogans    and  objectives of -Freedom, Liberty and Equality – in creating a new modern society  based on social equity  and liberalism.

    In  Nigeria this week  Nobel  Laureate Wole  Soyinka,  while holding the Federal Government complicit  in not doing enough to  contain marauding Fulani herdsmen killing people all  over Nigeria,   reminded us all  that Boko  Haram  started  on a  similar  note of resentment  of iniquities in our society    which  were  ignored then,  and are  indeed   being  ignored  now,    in the way and manner that the   issue   of Fulani   herdsmen killing  other Nigerians is being treated  with   levity    by the authorities.  A  newspaper headline shouted  that  Nigerian authorities  were behaving like the infamous Emperor Nero  of the ancient  Roman  Empire who  historically  fiddled while Rome burnt in the way  and manner the Fulani  herdsmen  have been left  undeterred while they unleashed murder  and horror  on innocent and unsuspecting Nigerians. Both  Wole  Soyinka’s indignant  outburst and the newspaper  categorization of the authorities ‘seeming  reluctance to deter the herdsmen,  are  both sides of the same coin and both hit the nail on the head squarely  on how Nigerians generally feel  about the Fulani  herdsmen and the atrocities they  unleash nowadays and lead to a disturbing conclusion that religion  has  something to do  with this as Fulani   herdmen  are mostly Muslims.

    Presidential  spokesman Femi  Adesina tried to dissemble the Fulani  connection  with the president but then  he complicated  the issue by giving  statistics showing   that herdsmen killed over 756   Nigerians in two  years  under the Jonathan presidency. Painfully   though,   such statistics not only miss the point but showed clearly  that the situation is even  more alarming than we know now  and even  in the past. This   is because  even  if one Nigerian is killed illegally on Nigerian  soil the government  is liable under the rule of law,  because the constitution  which  is our  social     contract  vests the power to protect the lives  and property  of  Nigerians in the Federal  government. That  really is the bottom  line and it does  not matter whether it is Jonathan or  Buhari  Administration  that  is in charge in looking after Nigerians as long as Nigerian are not killed  with impunity on their  own soil  and in full view of the government of the day. A local  proverb  puts it very  succinctly   in saying  that it does not matter  who  kills the snake as long as the snake is killed   and a stop put  to its murderous  menace  and nuisance.

    Since  the world is such  a global  village,  thanks to Information technology,  it  is not difficult  to see that we   have  not addressed the issue  of  the Fulani  herdsmen  with the requisite deterrence and  empathy or  sympathy  for victims of  the  violence. I  read  reports this week that on January 7  this year unusual  events happened in both Russia and Egypt. Incidentally   I just  learnt     that  January  7  is the Christmas day  for  Christians  of the Greek  Orthodox Church  in Eastern Europe  and Coptic Christians in  Egypt. On  January  7, this year  however the  Russian  leader President Vladmir  Putin worshipped  and celebrated Xmas  at an  Orthodox  Church Cathedral  in  the city of  St  Petersburg  in  Russia. In  Egypt, unbelievably, President Sissy   attended the January 7 Xmas  Mass   at a Coptic Church Cathedral  in Cairo  conducted  by the Archbishop  of the Coptic  church  in Egypt. I  will  expatiate  on these  two  developments , one after  the other, to  show how they  have helped in healing the wounds of violence  in the context  of today’s topic.

    Russia this year  celebrated  100  years of the Bolshevik Revolution that turned Russia and later  the   Soviet  Union into a communist state  which  condemned religion and was blatantly atheist. The  church  was relegated  to the background  under communist  rule for a century and the state security  apparatus  the  KGB,   monitored the daily life of Russians citizens  so  closely such that it inspired the famous novel  by George  Orwell  titled – 1984 – which  included the famous  intelligence  slogan –’Big  Brother is  Watching You‘  until  the Soviet  Union collapsed in 1991. President  Vladmir  Putin was a  KGB officer  who  was handpicked  as Vice President of Russia  by the Russian President  Boris  Yeltsin   but  he has changed  from being  an ardent  atheist  and Godless communist  to the worshipper at the Xmas service at St Petersburg Cathedral  on January 7 2018. What  a turn around  and what a boost  for the Orthodox Church in  Russia  100  years  after  the Bolshevik  Revolution which  turned Russia into  a communist state  and banished  religion  while worshipping literally the dead body of  Lenin  at its now deserted Mausoleum in Russia.

    More surprisingly in Russia  is that religion has a key  role to play in mobilizing   political  support for President Vladmir  Putin  in his quest  to literally rule Russia  for life.

    At  a time when gay rights are the vogue in the west  and Islamophobia  is a crime, it  has  been  reported by even the western media,  that  religion, nationalism, sovereignty, and conservatism  are  the cornerstone of Russian  state policy under President  Vladmir  Putin   and he has carried  his people with him all  the way in boosting patriotism  and loyalty  to the Russian state at home and   Russian  citizens ‘pride  in their nation’s sovereign reputation abroad. Which  really shows that religion when well  marshaled judiciously  and with  equity can be a potent force for good in any society, including Nigeria, of course.

    In  Egypt  Coptic  Christians  have been  blown  up in their churches  all  over Egypt where  they are a small minority in a predominantly Muslim nation.  Just    like  Boko  Haram has  been blowing up Nigerians especially  with suicide bomber  teenage girls in both mosques  and churches in Nigeria. That  President  Sissy  chose to worship  at a  Coptic  Church in  Egypt  was  therefore  a personal, political  and religious risk loaded  heavily  with serious security  implications. He  could be killed by either Coptics in retaliation or by fellow Muslims for abandonment of faith , and he still  risks being communicated. But  the Egyptian  president, an ex general, braved  all  that and more  and went  to worship  with the Coptic  Christians to  show  solidarity  and empathy with a small minority in Egypt  that they  are not orphans in their own  nation  and that the Egyptian  state  is not in any collusion  whatever  with their killers  and tormentors.  That is the duty of any government to its citizens especially  when they are being tormented  brutally  by fellow  citizens as the Fulani  herdsmen  are doing to other Nigerians with impunity,  right now in our midst. Once again, long live  the Federal  Republic  of  Nigeria.

  • Two shot, DSIEC office razed as violence mars Delta LG polls

    Two shot, DSIEC office razed as violence mars Delta LG polls

    •Two shot in Otu-Jeremi
    •APC rejects exercise, calls for a ‘real election’

    The 2018 Delta State local government  election turned into an orgy of violence yesterday with armed thugs setting the State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) office in Ughelli on fire.

    At least two persons were shot, also in Ughelli, for allegedly resisting an attempt by hoodlums to hijack elections materials.

    Reports from different parts of the state indicated manipulation at different stages of the election process.

    Chieftains of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) described the election as a sham.

    They called for a fresh process.

    It was gathered that trouble started in Ughelli, headquarters of Ughelli North council area of the state at about 8:30am when DSIEC officials were about dispatching election materials to the various units.

    Some armed men unexpectedly invaded the office shooting sporadically, and proceeded to set the office ablaze.

    Party representatives and observers who had gathered there took to their heels, witnesses said.

    Officials of opposition parties in Udu council area, refused to allow distribution of election materials ostensibly after a top official of DSIEC had run away with some election materials.

    An uproar ensued only for a group of Peoples Democratic Party members pretending to be vigilance men  push their way  through the crowd, loaded the remaining materials into waiting vehicles and sped away.

    Election materials remained held up at the Divisional Police Station at Otu-Jeremi, Ughelli South by noon.

    The Nation gathered that voters and members of the opposition parties kept watch around the police station following reports that sensitive materials, including result sheets, were missing.

    A chieftain of the APC in Otu-Jeremi, Ifeanyi Adjekota, called for the rescheduling of the election in the area in view of obvious irregularities.

    The  chairmanship candidate of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) in Uvwie council area, Ufuoma Okenini, alleged intimidation and threat to the lives of members and supporters of his party by those he described as “thugs of the PDP”.

    Later in the day, the Delta State APC tentatively rejected the local government council election across the state, saying the exercise could not be described as an election, but a sham.

    Governorship candidate of the party in the 2015 election, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, said reports from all parts of the state showed that it was neither free nor fair.

    Emerhor, who spoke in his Evwreni country home, said the party caucus would make a formal pronouncement on the exercise.

    He called for a fresh exercise, devoid of questionable practices.

    Former Acting Executive Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Pastor Power Aginighan; the chairmanship candidate of the party in Uvwie council area, Ufuoma Okenini and the Thomas Emami, a former councillor in Warri Southwest and younger brother of the Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom, Chief Ayiri Emami, all spoke along the same line. Emerhor said: “There was no election in Ughelli North. The same thing that happened in Ughelli North happened all over.

    “We are calling for the outright cancellation of the election. There were no sensitive materials. I can confidently tell you that the strategy of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa was not to conduct elections in the state. It was clear that the PDP are afraid that they are not going to win the election.

    “I am sure that you witnessed what happened here in Ughelli North where the DSIEC office was burnt down. The same story you hear here is the same story everywhere. No government should deceive the people and pretend to be conducting an election. If you go round Ughelli North, there is no election going in any of the communities.

    “There was no election in Delta State. The PDP government in Delta State is acting with impunity because they are the ones that elected the DSIEC board. They can go ahead to announce any result. But all we know is that we will not accept any result they will announce. There was no election so therefore we will not accept anybody that they will swear in as the winner.”

    Narrating his ordeal, former councillor representing ward 3 of Warri Southwest council area, Thomas Emami, said he managed to escape death from those he described as thugs of the PDP, who descended on him at the council’s secretariat in Ogbe-Ijoh, while trying to prevent the hijack of materials.

    According to him, he was thoroughly beaten by his assailants, who were bent on stealing materials. He said he was rescued both time by security agents and some community youths who took him away in a boat.

  • ‘The place I draw the line is violence’

    ‘The place I draw the line is violence’

    A Senior Lecturer, Consultant Psychiatrist and Clinical Psychologist with the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Dr Boladale Mapayi says communication, tolerance and forgiveness are what couples need to make marriage work.

    After confessions of love and later marriage, what is that thing that can make people decide to divorce?

    A lot of factors can lead to the decision to call it quits in marriage. I think everyone comes into marriage with really high expectations, people want their marriages to survive, to thrive…but life happens. One important factor is a disconnect between our expectations coming in and the reality that hits us within marriage. For a lot of couples; our backgrounds, origins, temperaments are different and those same characteristics that were endearing become irritants in everyday life. Even for couples who spent enough time talking through their desires and expectations, the reality is often different. Another important factor is that sometimes people do not get the help they need when they get into trouble. It is culturally and religiously accepted that marriage is between two people and as much as possible outsiders should not be allowed in. A woman talking about her marriage to an outsider is seen as unwise. While it might be dangerous to share intimate details of your marriage with friends and family (often because it is difficult for them to be neutral) it is often helpful to talk through your issues with a properly trained professional (often a psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, counsellor or social worker) please underline the word properly trained. The third important factor, though not the least that I would mention is that couples stop communicating with each other. Communication is the soul food of any marriage and once that is lost, the end is near. Of course, there are numerous others, money and sex topping the list. Extended family issues, children or the lack of them, infidelity, boredom and intimate partner violence, the list is almost endless.

    We have heard of cases where a man ties his wife and flogs her, what can warrant this; psychologically speaking?

    The family violence prevention fund defined IPV as a pattern of assaultive and coercive behaviour that may include inflicted physical injury, psychological abuse, sexual assault, progressive social isolation, stalking, deprivation, intimidation and threats (Family Violence Prevention Fund 1999). It is prevalent in most societies, Nigeria inclusive and about one in three women globally have experienced violence in an intimate relationship. Perpetrators are overwhelmingly males though often in a relationship violence is mutual (though females tend to report more adverse consequences). That being said, men can also be victims of IPV.

    Factors like education, employment, use of psychoactive substances have been associated with IPV. In relationships where the woman is completely dependent on the man, violence is more common.

    Some others have lived with violence all their lives and even when they believe they will do better, they have had violence modelled and in a stressful situation they often revert to what they have seen all their lives, violence.

    The worst thing you can do to your children is allow them to grow up in an atmosphere of violence in the home. It stays with them for a lifetime and the intergenerational theory of violence is born. A lot of women stay in abusive homes because of their children, actually, that is the number one reason why you should get out….fast!

    What advice do you have for people who want to go into marriage to prevent divorce?

    Communicate! Communicate! Communicate! Talk about your expectations before marriage; be willing to compromise in marriage. Never let the fire go out, something drew you together in the first place, never let that go.

    Men need to let go of the ideology that culture allows them to be polygamous. If that was not the deal then it’s hurtful and disrespectful and there is no excuse for it. Just so the men know, the woman can do the same and they are better at hiding it. If you marry a woman who believes that gender roles are fluid then you should be ready to compromise when it comes to house chores and children, especially when you are both in the formal workforce. Both of you are the most important people in the relationship, do what works for you, no comparisons.

    Can you state reasons that people have given for divorcing that you feel was not enough to warrant a divorce?

    The place where I draw the line is violence. For me, every other reason is debatable. You often find in therapy that once couples are willing to work out and talk through their differences, there is always hope especially if the two of them want to save their marriage and put everything into it. A little bit of love, forgiveness and a big heart (not cardiomegaly) will go a long way in healing the past and forging a stronger bond.

    Do you see couples who are at the verge of divorcing and what do you tell them?

    Yes. I see a lot of couples on the verge of divorce and the first question is what do you want? You must have an expectation and it must be realistic. The second important question is what are you willing to do to achieve that goal? That is where we start to know where we are going. Sometimes though you have one person showing up for therapy, usually the woman and the partner couldn’t care less. This is my personal experience and my professional colleagues may disagree with me. I usually go the same route and work with the individual but it is much more difficult.

    Have you ever advised a couple to divorce and why?

    As I said earlier, if there is violence, especially physical violence that endangers the life of the woman, then the advice is usually a period of separation while we work with the individuals to see what can be done to prevent future violence.

  • Delta: Violence, irregularities mar council polls

    Delta: Violence, irregularities mar council polls

    The 2018 Delta state local council elections, across the 25 council areas of the state, started out on Saturday on a violent note as unknown armed men set the State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) office in the Ughelli council Secretariat on fire.
    The situation was not less volatile in other council areas, especially in the Delta Central District. There were reports of violent attacks, leaving more than two persons hospitalised in Ughelli.
    There also reports of malpractices in the distribution of election materials, leading to mass resistance by voters in both Ughelli South and Udu council areas.
    Although the take off of the exercise in Warri South and Uvwie council areas was relatively peaceful as DSIEC officials and party representatives were seen going about the distribution processes, the situation in many other parts of the state was opposite.
    However, the chairmanship candidate of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) in Uvwie council area, Ufuoma Okenini, has raised the alarm over alleged intimidation and threat to the lives of members and supporters of his party by those he described as “thugs of the PDP”.
    In Ughelli, as at about 8:30am, sources in Ughelli, the headquarters of Ughelli North council area of the state, said while the DSIEC, party representatives and security officers were distributing materials to various units, some armed men invaded the Secretariat, shooting sporadically and left the DSIEC office ablaze.
    A source told the Nation that the atmosphere in the council Secretariat was tense as the attackers carried out their mission. Although there was no report of death, it was learned that many persons sustained various degrees of injuries.
    “At about 8:30am this morning, while the security agencies were on ground waiting for election materials at the Ughelli secretariat, some armed men bust into the place , shooting very rapidly.
     “As we speak, the secretariat has been set ablaze while all on ground are looking for where to hide. Some comrades monitoring the election have run into the bush for hiding,” the source said.
    In Udu council area, the exercise did not go peacefully as voters and officials of opposition parties refused to allow distribution of election materials after finding out that the returning officer allegedly ran away with the original result sheets.
    The rancorous situation persisted until well after 11:20am when some persons, said to be officials of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), under the cover of  local vigilante men and policemen, pushed their way through the angry crowd, loaded the remaining materials and sped away.
    In the neighbouring Ughelli South council area, election materials were still holed up in the Divisional Police Station at the council headquarters in Otu-Jeremi as at noon. The Nation gathered that voters and members of opposition parties, including the APC, had kept vigil around the police station after realising that sensitive materials, including result sheets, were missing from the available materials.
    Things, however turned bloody in the early hours of the day when some armed vigilante men, allegedly working with the ruling party, attacked some members of the APC, shooting two, in an attempt to scare people away and make way for easy get away with remaining materials.
    A chieftain of the APC in Otu-Jeremi, Ifeanyi Adjekota, called for a rescheduling of the election in the council area, noting that there was no way election would hold and be seen as free and fair any longer. He said trouble started when voters sensed foul play in materials brought, adding that the returning officer allegedly ran away with some sensitive materials.
  • Police arrest 14 over Ibadan violence

    Police arrest 14 over Ibadan violence

    The Oyo State Police Command yesterday arrested  14 suspects in connection with the violence  at Oke-Ado area of Ibadan between two warring groups.

    Police spokesman Adekunle Ajisebutu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan that peace had also been brought to the troubled area following the deployment of   policemen.

    He  said the command was  investigating the  incident which began on Tuesday to ascertain the circumstances that led to the clash.

    Ajisebutu, who said he was yet to ascertain the casualty figure, said Police Commissioner  Abiodun  Odude had ensured that normalcy was restored in the area.

    Properties worth millions of naira were destroyed  while  several houses were burgled as suspected hoodlums from Foko and Itamaya areas unleashed terror  in Oke-Ado.

    Relics from burgled houses, shops, burnt tricycles,  commercial motorcycles, broken bottles and  pieces of wood from chairs and tables littered the streets.

    NAN also reports that the crisis paralysed business activities in the affected areas as residents fled  their houses  while shop owners kept their shops locked.

  • Lanre Razak urges youths to shun violence

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos East Senatorial District, Chief Lanre Razak, has urged youths to shun acts of violence and engage in productive activities.

    Razak, who is the Balogun of Epe, spoke at the final of the third edition of Lanre Razak Under-16 Soccer Competition at the Lagacy Field of the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos.

    Represented by Mr Olugbode Femi Emmanuel, the Epe chief, who is also the Chairman/CEO Righteous Construction Company Nigeria Limited, noted that outdoor sports, athletics and other games should form an important part of the curricular of schools, because of its numerous advantages.

    He said: “Through sporting activities, one cultivates the right spirit of give-and-take and cooperation among one’s peers.”

    At the end of the competition, Warriors FC of Apapa defeated Brown FC of Ipaja 3-1 in the finals to become the champions.

    Golden Star of Alimosho defeated Santos FC Ifako 5-4 on penalties, after playing a goalless draw in the normal regulation period in the third place match.

  • Group restrategises on gender-based violence

    Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF), a non-profit organisation, is worried by the rising incidence of violence against women.

    Taking stock of its activities one yaer it was founded, the founder,   Dr. Kemi DaSilva-Ibru, said: “Since we opened our doors one year ago, we are delighted with the number of lives we have been able to impact through the services we provide. We have recorded over 360 beneficiaries who have either visited our centres or sought help through our 24/7 helplines.

    “However, we still have a long way to go as our objective is to reach out to every young girl or woman who has faced any form of sexual violence across all communities in Nigeria. Through the wonderful support from private organisations and well-meaning individuals, we have been able to achieve all these in our first year.”

    In the emerging year, the NGO hopes to do much more, “we call on all stakeholders and friends of WARIF to support our initiatives, to enable us expand and reach out to more women and girls who have been affected in one way or the other by acts of gender-based violence.  Our aim is to create a society free of rape and sexual abuse and empower all survivors to become fully recovered strong productive members of their communities. The potential of the girl-child is limitless, and we are working hard to ensure that each girl-child reaches and even surpasses this potential,”  she added.

    Dr DaSilva-Ibru recalled that since its inception last year, the foundation has fought to create a safe haven for survivors of rape and sexual violence by providing medical, emotional, psychological and social welfare support through the WARIF Centre.

    The organisation  has established itself as the front runners in the fight against gender-based violence in partnership with existing government and non-governmental agencies such as international organisations like the Washington DC Rape Crisis Centre in the United States and as an official member of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team. The organisation is also a strong advocate with its participation in   campaigns such as the Men for WARIF online campaign and recently joined in the celebration of the UN 16 Days Activism against Gender based Violence Campaign which began  last month, to show its solidarity towards the cause and to highlight the importance of tackling the challenges that young girls and women face in the society.

    Some of the initiatives by WARIF include: the WARIF Educational School Programme (WESP), which addresses child sexual abuse and rape in secondary schools across the country with the introduction of a curriculum to educate and change the existing mindset of children and parents towards this abuse and the WARIF Gate Keepers project which in partnership with the ACT Foundation, is an initiative established to address gender- based violence in the peri-rural communities of Nigeria. Five hundred Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) from selected Local Government Areas across Lagos State are being sensitised and trained on the   early recognition of the signs and the prevention of gender-based violence that occurs frequently in their communities.

    The initiative which involves educating pregnancy and childbirth care specialists in primary maternity care centres in rural areas, while also aiding the treatment and prevention of gender-based violence that occurs frequently in those communities.

     

  • Violence, apathy mar A’Ibom council polls

    Violence, apathy mar A’Ibom council polls

    • Hoodlums attack AKISIEC offices, police arrest two
    • Enang, Ekere, independent monitors seek cancellation

    Violence, voters’ apathy and allegations of hijack of election materials characterised yesterday’s local government election across the 31 local government areas of Akwa Ibom State.

    No fewer than 30 hoodlums suspected to be cult members launched attacks on offices of the Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC) in Uyo and Mkpat Enin local government areas, shooting sporadically.

    Unconfirmed report indicated one person was feared dead and some persons injured when some youths suspected to be miscreants attacked the AKISIEC office in Uyo.

    The suspected hoodlums were said to be protesting against the non-release of sensitive materials to the opposition All Progressives Party (APC).

    At least two persons were arrested by the police in Mkpat Enin local government area for allegedly causing trouble during the election.

    Our correspondent observed election materials did not arrive at polling units until around 12 noon.

    Voters, who turned up at various polling units, appeared frustrated as AKISIEC officials were not on ground for accreditation preparatory to commencement of actual voting.

    An orgy of violence was reported in Mkpa Enin when some top government officials arrived the AKISIEC office.

    Unconfirmed reports claimed that an APC chieftain at Ikot Ekpene(name withheld) was arrested for possessing firearms but the Police Public Relations Officer Bala Elkana denied the incident.

    In Mbo Local government area, particularly in Ebughu Ward 1 and 2, hoodlums were said to have hijacked electoral materials.

    Some youths were said to have blown off some ballots with gunfire.

    On Friday, youths loyal to PDP, were said to have stopped people on the roads and snatched their voters’ cards at home.

    They were said to have arrested but released few minutes after following the intervention of a Commissioner in the state.

    At Udung Uko, Peoples Democratic Party loyalists allegedly hijacked all the ballots.

    The youths reportedly attacked passers-by and set many vehicles ablaze in the process.

    As at 12noon, sensitive election materials were yet to arrive Urue Offiong/Oruko, Ikot Abasi and many other local government areas, particularly those of APC strongholds.

    In Esit Ekit, thugs local to a political stalwart hijacked election materials.

    The others believed to be loyal to other factions, were said to be regrouping for attack to get the materials.

    Voting has started in Ibiono Ibom, Eastern Obolo. But in Ini LGA, some perceived fake police were said to be going about hijacking electoral materials.

    Speaking on the conduct of election, the Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Solomon Enang, the Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Nsima Ekere condemned the exercise, describing it as a sham.

    Enang told reporters that he could not vote in ward 2, Ibiono Ibom local government (his ward) area because of lack of materials.

    Ekere said there was no election, alleging AKISIEC in connivance with the PDP seized election materials.

    He called for a cancellation of the election.

    Election monitoring group, Coalition of Civil Societies in Nigeria, adjudged the local government elections in Akwa Ibom as a ‘huge fraud’.

    Head of the group, Alhaji Ali Abacha, called for the cancellation of the exercise, stating there was nothing like an election in the state.

    However, the Publicity Secretary of PDP in the state, Ini Ememobong, said that the election was free and fair.

    Ememobong said that APC did not prepare for the local government election as they could not even canvass for vote.

  • Dickson, Sylva clash over violence in Bayelsa

    Dickson, Sylva clash over violence in Bayelsa

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson and former governor Timipre Sylva have disagreed over the alleged sponsorship of violence in the state.

    Three persons were injured in Brass Local Government Area at the weekend, when loyalists of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) clashed.

    Dickson faulted a claim by Silva’s media office that he was hatching a plot to begin a campaign of calumny against the former governor. He described the allegation as a futile attempt to distract his government.

    The governor, in a statement by his media aide, Daniel Alabrah, said he is too busy with development to take issues with “politicians who failed Bayelsa and the Ijaw nation”.

    He asked Sylva to stop using President Muhammadu Buhari’s name to cover up his criminal activities.

    According to him, being a member of the APC does not give Sylva a licence to sponsor criminal activities to the detriment of peace and security in the state.

    He appealed to security agencies to perform their statutory responsibility, and not allow unscrupulous politicians take advantage of them.

    According to Dickson, Sylva should be concerned that Brass, his local government, had become a den of criminals; he threatened to invoke the law against anyone sabotaging security in the state.

    The statement reads: “The government will not hesitate to invoke the powers of the law against anybody found to have indulged in acts that consistently threaten the peace and security of the state.

    “This government has a mandate to execute on behalf of the people. We cannot be distracted by falsehood emanating from Sylva and his men.

    “Sylva should stop encouraging criminality in Bayelsa; he should support stability and development of his state. We have worked hard to address the insecurity and underdevelopment that Sylva left behind.”

    But Sylva has urged Dickson to face the business of governance rather than engage in a campaign of malicious defamation against him.

    Sylva, in a statement by his media adviser, Doifie Buokoribo, urged residents to discountenance any malicious defamation scheme against him.

    He advised Dickson to be imaginative and pay more attention to alleviating the people’s suffering, rather than taking them down the well-worn path of disparaging him to divert attention from his misrule.

    He said: “We wish to alert Nigerians to the plan by Dickson to launch a structured campaign of calumny against me.

    “We are not surprised, as this is in his character. We witnessed this irresponsible behaviour before, during and after the last governorship election, which he bought.

    “Dickson is living in fear, the fear of Sylva. The governor finds it difficult to come to terms with the fact that despite his shenanigans and schizoid propaganda to diminish me, my political profile continues to rise and rise and rise.

    “Also, Dickson’s paranoia is an attempt to destabilise Sylva’s home community of Brass Island. Already, Dickson has appointed a cretin as Caretaker Committee Chairman to do the dirty job. Last Thursday, this caretaker chairman shot two APC supporters with the help of mercenaries and thugs.

    “It did not end there; he declared a curfew on the Island, a place that has been peaceful.

    Clearly, these actions are meant to provoke me (Sylva). As a man of peace, I have had to restrain my supporters from seeking self-help.”

  • A spiritual coalition takes on violence against kids

    A spiritual coalition takes on violence against kids

    From child soldiers to sex slaves and forced labourers, minors have long suffered in the hands of unscrupulous individuals. That is why a group of churches has started a campaign in Gombe State to stop the violence, reports VINCENT OHONBAMU

    t is not a pretty picture. Children are manipulated or forced by some cold-hearted individuals to pick up guns and fight on the frontline. Some are bought. They spend a length of time satisfying the unwholesome sexual appetite of their buyers. Others are simply purchased to do hard work, and cannot say they are tired, hungry or want to go to school.

    This is violence against children or VAC. A coalition of churches under the aegis of Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) cannot endure it anymore.

    They are appealing to the government and virtually everyone else to help fight the vice and save children from those who manipulate and abuse them. CCN is calling on governments to scale up their priorities on children, rather than pay them lip service or push them to the background.

    The National President of CCN, Reverend Fubara Fubara-Manuel spoke in Gombe while presenting the council’s reasons for taking on violence against children in Nigeria.

    “We regret this as Christians and affirm, rather, that care for these children is no mere addition to our creeds, but an essential dimension to our being and calling as people of God,” said Fubara-Manuel who was represented by the state chairman of CCN, VenerableAmos Chijioke.

    He condemned extremists who in the name of religion use children for suicide missions, or as sex slaves, or force them into early  marriage, or sell them.

    Venerable Chijioke said the state campaign would be pioneered from Balanga and Kwami local government areas before moving up to other places.

    He said the world is full of shameless people who rape infants and children, adding that parents too are at fault for not making sufficient arrangements for the girl-child.

    Chijioke bemoaned policies that tend to give men a false sense of superiority over women and children, leading men to discriminate against women on the basis of gender. He said such mindsets are no longer tolerable.

    “It is in this context,” he said, “that we have come together as Christians to sensitise on the evil of VAC and do all in our power to end it.”

    The week-long activities which began with a press conference include, also featured an advocacy visit community leaders in Kwami Local Government Area, a workshop for church denominational leaders, rally in Gombe metropolis, workshop at Talasse in Balanga council and in Gelengu in Balanga local government. There was also a sermon in a church.

    CCN comprises 14 denominations of churches, seven of which in Gombe.