The Nation Newspaper

Tag: West

  • Rollback of populism in the West

    Brexit and the election of Donald Trump marked the climax of populism in the western world and perhaps in the entire world. In retrospect, I think the anxiety about populism and its twin of racism occasioning xenophobia was probably unnecessary. Even in Great Britain where it began, Brexit was decided by a narrow margin. The youth representing the future of Great Britain voted massively to remain in Europe; only the men of yesterday voted to leave and it was by a squeaky narrow margin. In the USA, Hilary Clinton won by three million votes over Donald J Trump in spite of the braggadocio of the New York loudmouth about his victory in the antediluvian electoral system where the electoral college and not the majority votes of the people decide presidential elections. The young people in the USA, representing the future also voted for Hilary Clinton while the rednecks, blue-collar working class in the rust belt, the misogynistic white men and envious housewives voted against Hilary Clinton.

    Even in Great Britain where the opportunistic Theresa May who voted to remain has suddenly become the champion of the little Englanders agitating to be freed of European entanglement may still come to grief in an unpredictable electoral debacle in June. This is if the dreaming Jeremy Corbin can become more realistic and come down to earth and campaign on issues of bread and butter rather than the scraping of The Trident nuclear programme guaranteeing security and deterrence to potential enemies of Great Britain.

    Since the Pyrrhic victories of the right wing in Britain and the United States, the spread of the populist tendencies have been halted in their tracks. Sometimes one tends to ignore the rise of liberalism in Canada where the young Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has opened his country’s borders to and welcomed thousands of Syrian refugees that are pariahs in the United States. No one can bet on how long the presidency of Donald Trump will last before he is impeached if he continues on the treacherous slope of going against political tradition and appearing to violate the separation of powers entrenched in the American constitution. His recent firing of the Director of the FBI and hectoring and abusing judges who disagreed with him over his immigration policy may yet signal the unravelling of his presidency. The good thing is that the American Vice President appears ready and capable of stepping in to head a normal administration.

    The victory of the centre party in Austria against the right wing and racist party of Jorge Haider with its belief in national socialism (NAZI) was hailed as the triumph of reason over fear. This tendency was repeated in the Netherlands where the anti-Islamic party of Geert Wilders that had the support of those around President Trump was defeated in spite of the fear that the xenophobic campaign might have resonated with the Dutch middle class and workers who are resentful of the influx of North African particularly Moroccan migrants.  To confirm that this was not a political fluke, we now have the outcome of the French election.

    The victory of a political neophyte Emmanuel Macron beating all comers to clinch the French presidency is the icing on the cake of those campaigning for a halt to populism and xenophobia in the West. The two established political parties the Socialist and the  conservative Republican Party  formerly known as the Union of Popular Movement (UMP) that had alternated in governing France since 1958 lost in the first round of the French presidential election  leaving only Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron to sweat it out in the political ring. At the end and in spite of support from Trump and Putin, Marine Le Pen and her National Front lost, winning less than 34 percent of the vote to Macron’s 66 percent.

    Many interpretations have been made of this victory. Some have said the electorate did not vote for Macron but against Le Pen and her anti-Islamic, anti-immigrant and xenophobic policies. She of course said she represents the politics of patriotism while Emmanuel Macron represents the politics of globalization and integration in Europe. It is true that Macron makes no bone about his belief in Europe and globalization anchored on a revitalized French economy, reform of France’s rigid labour market and reform of Europe away from Angela Merkel’s tight fiscal austerity policies to a policy of investment and growth and expansionary economic policies somehow tolerant of inflation provided people particularly the youth are employed. Emmanuel Macron ‘s movement “En march” has now been changed to France en March or Republic en March to indicate a serious national movement ready to change France for good so that the alternative will not be the party of either the communist  or extreme left or the party of Marine Le Pen. Emmanuel Macron has still the hurdle of the legislative election in June to climb. As I write, he does not yet have a single MP in the legislative chamber. His party is fielding about 560 candidates for the legislative elections in June and to be able to carry out his reformist programme, his party will have to win a majority in the National Assembly. This is going to be a tall order for a new party with scarce resources running against well entrenched political forces and parties.

    If his movement, because that is what it is, does not have majority in parliament, he may have to appoint his Prime Minister from an opposing party, a political scenario the French call cohabitation. This will not be good for the young French President and it will be a bad augury for the future. If he fails, there may be no alternative for the French than  to embrace Le Pen five years from now and we will all be back at square one  worrying about the unravelling of the peace architecture in Europe anchored on Franco-German understanding, political and economic integration. It seems the French people are simply fed up with seeing the same faces of traditional politicians like Hollande, Sarkozy, Maurice de Villepin and others that they are ready to try the next generation which is what Macron represents.

    If the French behave according to their radical and revolutionary past, they may give Macron a workable majority in the National Assembly. My worry is that Macron says he represents neither the Right nor the Left but the Centre. This kind of neither cold nor hot is not the kind of ideology that people can rally round.  Already the conservative and rigid trade unions have started showing their hands of opposition to Macron’s plans of liberalizing the labour market away from the syndicalism which has not always been in the interest of the French people who are used to 35-hour weekly work and generous unemployment benefits and paid holidays.

    For the time being, Europe can breathe a sigh of relief while waiting for events to unfold in June legislative elections.

    Macron’s presidential victory has naturally been hailed by the EU bureaucrats in Brussels but much more important by the Germans whether of the Socialist (SPD) or the Conservative party of the CDU and its sister Bavarian counterpart the CSU. The two major parties are in a grand coalition in Berlin but Angela Merkel, the chancellor has intimated the German public that she is tired of the coalition government. Whatever happens in the next election in Germany, both political tendencies are pro-Europe. It is most likely that the SPD will win the next election and form a coalition government with the greens and the extreme left and possibly with the liberals (LPD) thus consigning Angela Merkel and her Conservative party  into the political wilderness after more than 10 years as chancellor. The Germans of all stripes, except the presently irrelevant extreme right, are globalist in their orientation. The Germans like the Chinese produce goods for the whole world and have been free traders historically like the British. The SPD, if it wins the election in Germany will form a better partnership with Macron because they are in support of abandoning the tight monetarist policies of Angela Merkel for a policy of economic expansion that would lead to job creation for the youth in the European community. If it happens, this will inspire groundswell of support among the youth for the European project and discourage possible exit by the poor performing economies in the Iberian Peninsula and particularly member countries of the European Union in the Balkans and Eastern Europe.

    It is economic discontent rather than any other reason that has been fuelling the so-called populism and rising xenophobia in Europe. Economic vitality in France and Germany will redound on the economy of the entire European Union and put paid to any fissiparous tendencies like the one that led to Brexit.

  • Hypocrisy of the West

    •Nigeria must define its interest in response to West’s objection to its coal-for-power initiative

    What is good for the goose is good for the gander” is a popular aphorism. But it does not seem the Western countries believe in this saying, going by Nigeria’s finance minister, Kemi Adeosun’s claim  that the countries are blocking Nigeria’s attempt to provide stable electricity supply to Nigerians. According to the minister, who spoke at a panel discussion at the International Monetary Fund (IMF)/ World Bank meeting in Washington DC, the Western nations and their multilateral institutions are denying the country and other African countries of using coal to generate electricity.

    Adeosun pointed out the hypocrisy in the opposition to our use of coal thus: “Am going to point fingers at multilateral institutions and the west, a good example is the coal-fired power plant, we in Nigeria have coal but we have power problem, yet we’ve been blocked because it is not green, there is some hypocrisy because we have the entire western industrialisation built on coal energy, that is the competitive advantage that they have been using, now Africa wants to use coal and suddenly they are saying oh! You have to use solar and the wind (renewable energy) which are the most expensive, after polluting the environment for hundreds of years and now that Africa wants to use coal they deny us.”

    We wonder why the finance minister is surprised that this is happening. But rather than throw up our hands in frustration, Nigeria should challenge those bent on developing at Africa’s expense. We all know that electricity is key to any developmental effort. Nigeria has been battling poor power supply for decades and now that the country wants to tackle the problem from all fronts, taking advantage of every available mix possible in the energy drive, we are being blocked by some countries. This is unfair.

    As the finance minister rightly pointed out at the occasion, these are the same countries that built their industrial base on coal energy now pontificating to Africa that coal is not environment friendly. Yet, it is not that Nigeria is trying to do the abominable: South Africa has 93% of coal electricity generation, Poland (87%), China (79%), Australia (78%), Kazakhstan (75%), India (65%), Israel (58%), Morocco (51%) and USA (45%).

    It was only in May that Britain was without electricity from coal since the world’s first centralised public coal-fired generator opened at Holborn Viaduct in London, in 1882, according to the Carbon Brief website which reports on climate science and energy policy. In 2015, 44% of Germany’s electricity production was generated from coal. So, what are we talking about?

    It is not that we do not appreciate the fact that coal is about the dirtiest source of electricity generation. But it is also about the cheapest, which probably explains its widespread use in Europe which dubbed it affectionately as “the king coal” when it was used to power the electricity plants then.

    Nigeria and indeed Africa has to let the countries and multilateral agencies opposed to our desire to use coal as part of our electricity generation mix know that we have so much right to our environment as much as they are entitled to theirs. They cannot now tell us not to use what they had used to generate power for more than one decade, and which has benefited them immensely.

    Western countries cannot tell us to keep the rain forest which they had defiled over the years, without giving us an incentive in return. This might include helping us to develop our solar and wind energy which are more environment-friendly but are not within the reach of many developing countries.

    Our position is that we should start the (coal) project first and then talk later. The Federal Government must define our national interest. If the West is not receptive to our idea, we can turn to the East. After all, as they say in international relations, “there are no permanent friends or permanent foes; but permanent interest”.

  • Lagos West Senatorial election: Adeola floors Adewale at tribunal

    •Tribunal upholds another Lagos lawmaker’s victory 

    The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Lagos has declared All Progressives’ Congress candidate, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola winner of the March 28, 2015  Lagos West Senatorial election.

    The three-man tribunal led by Justice Sylvanus Orji, yesterday delivered  the judgment  in the petition filed by the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),  Segun Adewale, challenging the victory of Senator Adeola in the election.

    In a unanimous judgment that lasted two and half hours, the tribunal dismissed the petition of the PDP candidate for lack of merit and incompetence.

    Adewale had sued Adeola, APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), asking that he should be declared the winner.

    Adewale was represented by his lead counsel, Dr YemiOke while Adeola was represented by R.A Olagoke. Dr.MuizBanire (SAN)  represented the APC with INEC  represented by Oluwaseun Olusiyi.

    Adewale, in the petition had alleged that the election was characterized by irregularities and rigged to favour the APC candidate.

    He had further alleged that the results submitted by the various wards did not correspond with the number of voters accredited by the card readers, and that election did not hold in some wards among other irregularities.

    He therefore urged the tribunal to declare him as winner of the election.

    But the APC in its preliminary objection contended that the petitioner (Adewale) lacked the locus standi to institute the action.

    The party argued that the petitioner did not specify the law under which he brought the petition and also failed to state the votes scored by the candidates.

    “By provision of Electoral Act, the petitioner is expected to specify the scores of all the candidates in the election. He only specified his own score and that of the APC candidate who is the  respondent.”

    Adeola, on his part, urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition on the ground that it lacked merit.

    He specifically contended that there was  material contradiction with the petitioner’s prayer and urged the court to declare him winner.

    The tribunal however disagreed with Adewale’s contention, insisting that there was no substantial evidence to prove that Senator Adeola was not qualified to run for the election.

    On the claim of the petitioner that there were irregularities at the polling units, the tribunal held that Adewale did not provide substantial evidence to validate his claim.

    In the view of the tribunal, the party agents at the polling units failed to provide evidence that there were irregularities at several polling units, to confirm such allegation and claims by the petitioner.

    The tribunal held that in the absence of any evidence from any party agent, that Adewale’s allegation of irregularities at several polling unit was mere speculation.

    The tribunal however chided  Adewale and his legal team for disregarding the court’s guideline in filing his final written submission.

    The tribunal members noted that Adewale’s legal team filed 104 pages of final written address as against the 40 pages stipulated by law.

    Meanwhile, the lawmaker representing Lagos Mainland Constituency 2 at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Moshood Olarenwaju Oshun yesterday declared that his victory at the Lagos State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal is a confirmation that he truly earned the confidence and trust of the people in the constituency.

    Oshun, who spoke through his media office after the tribunal sitting in Ikeja, Lagos State yesterday upheld his victory at the 2015 election, further said the people of his constituency should be congratulated for their steadfastness, support and cooperation with the All Progressives Congress, APC, through which he emerged candidate and won the election.

    Ibrahim Olumide Ajiga of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had petitioned the tribunal, headed by Justice Sylvester Orji, challenging the declaration of MoshoodOlanrewaju by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC

  • Tribunal fixes Sept 18 for verdict in Lagos West suit

    The Lagos State Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Ikeja, Lagos has fixed September 18 for judgment in the case brought before it by the Lagos West Senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Segun Adewale.

    He is challenging the election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (aka Yayi).

    The three-man tribunal headed by Justice Sylvanus Oriji fixed the judgment date after listening to the submissions of both parties in their final written address.

    Adewale, known as Aeroland, is challenging the declaration of Adeola by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as the winner of the April 28 election.

    He had in his petition prayed the tribunal to nullify the declaration of Adeola as winner of the election.

    Adewale insisted that he won.

    Counsel to Adewale, Dr. Yemi Oke, said his client is challenging Adeola’s victory on three grounds.

    He argued that the nomination of Adeola is invalid, that election did not hold in some wards, and that there were irregularities, which include falsification of results in some wards.

    But counsel to Adeola, APC and INEC, Mr. A. Adegoke and Dr. Muiz Banire, urged the court to dismiss Adewale’s petition on the ground that he failed to prove the allegations against the respondents beyond reasonable doubt.

    They submitted that most of the allegations by the petitioner were criminal in nature and they would need to be proven beyond reasonable doubt.

  • Ex-Governor Isiaka Adeleke unites Osun West district

    Ex-Governor Isiaka Adeleke unites Osun West district

    The first civilian governor of Osun State, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, is a phenomenon. A rallying point for various classes of politicians in Osun State. He offers his wide shoulders for all and sundry to lean on. He has remained with his people through the thick and thin and identified with their yearnings and aspirations, offering solutions to their problems.

    Senator Isiaka Adeleke, is a God-given philanthropist to humanity. His kind gestures cut across tribe, creed, religion and sex. He is for all, no wonder all are for him in Osun West District.

    As we march gradually to the March 28, 2015 general election, in which Asiwaju Isiaka Adeleke is contesting for the Osun West Senatorial District ticket under the banner of All Progressive Congress, it is pertinent to state, that the amiable politician, has not left any stone unturned in his bid to coast home to a sweet victory. Since December 2014, when he won the ticket to contest, Senator Isiaka Adeleke has thrown himself seriously into the contest, traversing the length and breadth of Osun West District.

    As early as 7am, Asiwaju Isiaka Adeleke was always on his feet for the daily campaigns, that has seen him on door-to-door, neighbor to neighbor campaigns to Ajagunlase, Ikire-ile; Iwo-Oke, Iwo township, Telemu, Ogbagba, Kuta, Ile-Ogbo, Ife-Odan, Ejigbo, Ikoyi, Orile- Owu, Apomu, Ikire township, Awo, Iragberi, Ara, Okinni, Aro, Ido-Osun, Offatedo, Dada Estate and various wards in Ede North and Ede South Local Government Areas. The reception has been overwhelming, even when Adeleke arrived some of these communities at late in the night. The enthusiastic supporters and well-wishers were always patiently waiting to hear him out. The charismatic and lovable Isiaka Adeleke takes his own destiny in his own hands.

    What is going on for “Serubawon.” What are his magic wands? This could be premised on his various seen and unseen positive contributions to individuals and communities, since he was elected the first executive governor of Osun State in 1992 at the young age of 35. Such were the nostaligic recollections of a large number of people in Osun West District of Otunba Isiaka Adeleke to their well being. They are true testimonies, coming from these electorate, twenty-two years after Adeleke left office as a governor.

    One good turn deserves another stance is now at play. Isiaka Adeleke is now reaping bountifully from his past philanthropic gestures, most of which, he has even forgotten. It is a payback day for Senator Adeleke by Osun West Senatorial District people, who have resolved to give him the highest number of votes at the senatorial election, as a demonstration of their appreciation of him.

    This is one of Senator Isiaka Adeleke moments of glory in his political career. The campaign tours of the colorful politician, that Adeleke is, reminds one of his great exploits between 1990 and 1992, when at the relatively young age of 35yrs, he ‘locked’ horns with the evergreen politicians in the old Oyo State and proved his mettle.

  • An attempt at the true origin of the West African peoples

    An attempt at the true origin of the West African peoples

    Title: Exposition: The Hebrew Origin of The West African Peoples
    Author:Olalekan Abiola-Kushehin
    Publisher: Liberal Consults
    No. of Pages: 109
    Year of Publication: 2014
    Reviewer: Gboyega Alaka

    Are you one of those who have been wondering about the true origin of the West African peoples? Better still, do you wonder about the amazing resemblance in languages, cultures and the possible relationship between tribes like the Ewe, Yoruba, Idoma, Akan, Igala, Edo, Igbo, Nupe, Aku, Efik, Ga, Ibibion, Urhobo, Ijaw, Kanuri, Fon, Itsekiri, Tiv and co?

    Then the book, EXPOSITION: The Hebrew Origin of The West African Peoples, written by Olalekan Abiola-Kushehin may just come handy. Abiola-Kushehin, a widely travelled pastor at the Good News Baptist Church, Surulere, Lagos who has spent a good length of time in Isreal encountered similarities in the culture and languages of West African tribes, which he found too striking to be mere coincidence, prompting a further research that finally culminated in the book, EXPOSITION.

    According to the author in the preface, EXPOSITION is a book written for one vital, though quickly forgotten reason: to create the necessary awareness amongst the people of West Africa of their Hebrew origin, and the need for all to return to God….The book is written out of the burden I have to actually search for the true origin of my people. There are three angles I have looked at in the realisation of my goal: Religious, Cultural and Linguistic geography.”

    The 12-chapter book starts with Return To God, where the author sought to establish that the fall of man is a consequence of his disobedience to God. In page 4, he pointed out that slavery is one of the ways God punished his people, talking about the Hebrews, who transgressed.

    “This same slavery is the chief reason why we lost touch with our Abrahamic origin- talking about Africans, leading us into various strange land. It also continued, when we as Africans now, were taken away to the Americas and Europe for all forms of labour.”

    In “The Sin of Idolatary: A Justification (Chapter 2), he tries to show that “It is not man that holds man captivity in all cases, but the sin of man.” he cited the captivity of Isreal in 586 BC as an example where they were severally warned through several prophets, before His wrath fell on them. In the same vein, he said Nebuchadnezzar was also fulfilling God’s plan; same for the Roman invasion led by Gen. Pompey in 63 BC; the Jewish revolt against the Roman rule, which ultimately led to a massive destruction of Jerusalem and a further plundering of the Jews; right through to the most recent in history, when 6million Jews were reportedly massacred by Hitler’s Nazi regime between 1933 and 1945. Never mind the fact that even Hitler himself was later confirmed to be a Jew through a DNA conducted on his cousin years later.

    He also debunked the theory that the enslavement of the West African people has  direct link with the Hamitic curse in the bible and the British physician, C. G. Seligman Hamitic hypothesis that the sub-Saharan Africans never developed a civilisation, citing the Nok culture that dates back to 1000BC and the Ife Bronze and Terra-cotta.

    Immigration and a Peoples’ Language (Chapter 3) tries to link the history of West Africans, citing how the Yoruba, who claim to be from Saudi Arabia and actually only passed through the Arabian peninsula in the course of their sojourn like several other Jewish tribes, leaving residues as they travelled and spread across the African continent; picking bits of languages and cultures.

    Quoting Dr. Nwankwo T. Nwaezeigwe, an eminent Historian and Igbo Scholar, he cited the similarities in vocabularies amongst the Igbo, Edo, Yoruba, Igede, Idoma, Nupe and Igbira with words like biwa nibi, bia neba, meaning ‘come here.’

    ‘Isreal to Nigeria’ (Chapter 4), traces Oduduwa’s root as a prince of Juba (Judah), who actually came to join his people who had come ahead of him and settled in Ile-Ife after the 70 AD attack on the Jews. He debunks the theory of their Mecca origin saying “the Yoruba are not Semitic Arabs but Semitic Jews, judging from the Yoruba traditional religion of Ifa, which is Judeo-Christian in practice.” He also said that if they are indeed bonafide Arabs, the story of them being driven out of the Arab peninsula would never have arisen.

    Chapter 5 talks about culture and tradition and the fact that it is a way of life of a people that is hardly dropped. He uses cases like circumcision, which is a covenant known only to Abraham and his descendants, linking it with how the Yoruba and Igbo (page 37) have religiously comply with this 8th day culture from years immemorial; same for naming, reverence for twin children, bowing as a sign of respect, animal slaughter, endogamy and talent and love for music.

    He went further in chapter 6 to debunk the autochthonous myth of Ile-Ife as the origin of creation, saying this was the outcome of the peoples falling out of favour with their God and having to regenerate themselves over centuries and settlements.

    In page 45, he said “Around a thousand years ago, Ile-Ife was a fortified city like Jerusalem,” concluding therefore that “it is my opinion that Ile-Ife is merely a cognate of Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire where the people from the Northern Kingdom of Isreal were taken captive in 743 BC .

    On page 52, he also alludes that Ile-Ife was the spread out point for all the West African tribes that eventually emerged in the sub-region and that it was Oduduwa who gave the Igbos (who actually arrived Ile-Ife first before spreading out) the name Igbo (awon ara igbo, meaning people of the forest, since they resided in the deeper side of the forest).

    In chapter 7, he says “Ifa is referred to as an Oracle, the Lord Jesus Christ who has being (sic) speaking to man since creation… a divine utterance to man, usually in answer to a request for guidance.”

    In page 64, he said, Orunmila, in Ifa is the same divine person as Jesus the Christ in the Christian scripture.”

    The author also dedicates a whole chapter (9) to Obatala, saying “Obatala is one of the numerous names of Jesus in Ifa traditional religion of the West Africa peoples. Other names are Ela, Orunmila, Orisa-nla, etc.

    Chapter 10 focuses on the vocabularies and a striking resemblance between words of Yoruba and West African origin and the Hebrew language.

  • West: Keshi should be given long-term contract

    West: Keshi should be given long-term contract

    With Stephen Keshi returning as the Super Eagles coach against the popular wishes of most Nigerian football fans, former Super Eagles defender Taribo West has asked for Keshi to be given a long term contract. Taribo believes Keshi deserves a longer contract to continue building the team.

    Taribo sayid the 52-year-old Keshi should at least get a 2-year contract from the NFF, but says it depends on the NFF and what they want, describing the situation as ‘complex’.

    “It depends on the NFF, but I think there’s a complexity in it. But I believe Keshi should be given a long term contract, at least a 2-year contract or more because he has built this team overtime, and let us see how they can rectify every area that needs to be rectified and also help the team to advance,” Taribo said.

    The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winning coach is to return to the helm as the Super Eagles coach after an apparent ‘Presidential order’ from Nigeria’s President and is expected to conclude the AFCON qualifiers against Congo and South Africa.

    However, the issue of having Stephen Keshi back as the Super Eagles coach is causing so much controversy amongst the fans, with a good number of them believing the former Togo coach is not good enough for the African champions – but Taribo thinks otherwise.

  • Kogi West, Central demand power rotation

    The people of Kogi Central and West have called for power rotation among the three senatorial districts.

    After a meeting yesterday in Kabba, representatives from both areas said they had not been treated fairly since the creation of Kogi State in 1991.

    They came together under the aegis of West-Central Coalition for Equity and Justice to work together to redress the “injustice”.

    In a statement by its Chairman, Prof. Yusuf Aliu, and Secretary Chief J. Yusuf, the group said: “The people of Kogi Central and Kogi West have not been fairly treated since they came to the state in 1991; they have been reduced to second-class citizens in a state that is supposed to be theirs.

    “The task now is how to liberate ourselves and become full citizens. The starting point for this liberation, freedom and democracy is power rotation among the three senatorial districts.”

  • Union urges West Africa to fight Ebola

    The Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU) West Africa has called on the countries in the sub-region to join forces in the fight against Ebola Virus

    Nigeria is the third nation to declare a national state of emergency announced as the death toll of the devastating Ebola epidemic nears 1,000 people in the region.

    Records show that  the incurable disease which has spread through Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Nigeria, has infected over 1,779 people in West Africa.

    A statement by  the Vice-President PALU,  West Africa Mr. Emeka Obegolu reads in part: “The Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU) West Africa,  notes with grave concern the unmitigated spread of the Ebola virus across the West Africa sub-region leading to the declaration of International Health Emergency by the World Health Organisation today of August 8, 2014.

    “PALU (WA) calls on countries in West Africa to deepen corporation and collaboration in the areas of research, containment and information dissemination on all issues relating to the Ebola virus and spread thereof.

    “PALU (WA) notes the widespread misinformation and sometimes misleading theories spread through the new media and social networks and thereby calls on governments and their agencies to establish dedicated and authoritative source of official briefing of the citizenry on the measures being put in place for containment of the disease and the responsibilities of the citizenry in that regard.

    “We urge the various health agencies in the West Africa sub-region to accord victims of Ebola their dignity as human beings as provided under the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and the respective National Laws of member-states.’’

    “We call on the governments of the member states to dedicate human and material resources to medical research as a means of early detection and eradication of such diseases.

    “Finally, PALU calls on citizens to support the effort of all the agencies involved in the fight against Ebola virus and always confirm alleged treatments drugs/herbs with the authorized agencybefore testing the cure or spreading the news”. Obegolu stated.

  • Propak West Africa exhibition for Sept 2

    A firm Montgomery West Africa is set to hold an exhibition for packaging firms, experts and investors from September 2 to 4 at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    Titled: Propak West Africa 2014, the exhibition would feature over 50 participants from West Africa and abroad. These include firms and experts from China, Germany, India and South Africa. Chellarams and a subsidiary of Kodak are among new firms that have indicated interest in the expo.

    Managing Director Montgomery West Africa Tori Abiola said the event is aimed at creating a market for stakeholders in the sub-sector to enable them benefit from its attendant advantages, such as networking and boosting their businesses.

    She also said it would provide a competitive advantage for participants. She noted that the subsector could grow by over 10 per cent yearly, if well harnessed.

    She said the expo was unique because it would also hold a free seminar for participants to educate them on innovations in printing and packaging. Besides, there would also be segment titled:’ Print Expo’ and’ Pro Plas’, where new machines and materials used in the subsector would be unveiled.

    Ms Abiola added that the forum would provide a one-stop shop for exhibitors to showcase their products. “They  are not only going to learn about new products but also learn and improve in the industry,” she said.

    Besides, Sales Agent, Montgomery West Africa Joju Adekanbi said: “The exhibition is the biggest event in the subsector in West Africa. We brought it here because Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product(GDP) is the largest in Africa,” adding that it was also in the country about two years ago. Besides oil and gas, the packaging and plastics industry is very attractive, he affirmed.

    “We started in 2012. Then, we had 49 exhibitors. We have more than that this year. He assured of security, saying that was why the venue was chosen.

    The firm has the support of both the Institute of Packaging (IOP), Nigeria and Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria (CIPPON). IOP’s President Mike Adekola said: “Propak is the best thing to happen in West Africa. Its organisers educate people about packaging.We have been involved in the last six years and we are not going back. The first exhibition was very successful; we are hoping that this one would be, especially as those coming to this one could triple the figure of 2012.

    He said Propak is vital because Nigeria needs to boost the subsector. He listed the challenges in packaging as market domination by foreigners and low level of education.