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WE MUST NOT ALLOW CRIMINAL ELEMENTS TO OVERRUN NIGERIA – SHEMA
Former Governor of Katsina State, Ibrahim Shehu Shema has called on all Nigerians to sink their differences and work together against insurgents who have continued to threaten national peace and unity.
He made the call before inaugurating the reconstructed Chief Ferdinand Alabaraba Crescent and Opobo Crescent in GRA Phase 2, Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Wednesday.
Shema who was Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike special guest, said most Nigerians have become preoccupied with their disagreement in the political sphere and seem to have ignored the danger criminal elements posed to national life if they are allowed to have a field day.
“Nigeria must come together in this period of insecurity. We must not give the bandits, the kidnappers and the Boko Haram the opportunity to have a field day while Nigerians are fighting and arguing with each other.
“We must come together, join hands together for the purpose of Nigeria and Nigerians. My word of caution here is that we cannot allow criminal elements to overtake our national life.
“So, I am calling on all stakeholders across the nation to join hands together to end this threat to our national well-being.”
The former Katsina State Governor noted the huge investment the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has made in ensuring food security in the State.
He said focusing on agriculture and using it to engage the youths is another milestone of success secured in the development of Rivers State and its people.
“Huge investment has gone into infrastructural development; both soft and hard infrastructure. You are also working hard on food security.
“You’re doing this cassava facility for youths to be trained there. We need to focus heavily on agriculture for our youths to benefit and grow in modern skill of infrastructural development in Rivers State and Nigeria.”
Speaking further, Shema commended the governor for consistently developing critical infrastructure, changing the landscape of the state and making life comfortable for the people.
“Rivers State, since you became governor, is experiencing changes in terms of development. The list goes on because you have touched all sectors.
“But clearly, what is critical in this effort of governance is that you’re applying resources where it matters most.
“You’re therefore helping to grow the economy in Rivers State by which you’re ensuring peace and security with economic development.
“I am sure, by the grace of God, that by the time you leave office your after story will live after you and your children.”
On his part, Governor Wike said his administration is making its modest contribution towards restoring the Garden City status of Port Harcourt.
He noted that the support he has continued to enjoy from leaders in the State has enabled his team to have such success record in service to the state.
“Let me say clearly that in the course of our campaigns, we did say that we will bring back Port Harcourt to what it used to be.
“The special guest of honour who had lived in Port Harcourt before, can attest to it that we are trying our best to bring back Port Harcourt to what it used to be in our own modest way.
“I’m happy with the leaders of the State for their support. Whatever we are doing in this State, we do it as a team. That is why you see the leadership always together.
“I thank them for their support. But for them, it would have been impossible for us to carry out the jobs that we have been doing.
“When they are giving you the support, you’re bound to do more. But if when you’re working, you see division within your family it will, of course, discourage you. Let me thank my leaders for what they are doing to move the state forward.”
The governor also commended Julius Berger Nigeria PLC for delivering the project on schedule and the communities for not disrupting the construction work.
According to him, in the overall they all benefited from the employments and other economic activities that transpired while the project lasted and the company accomplished their goal.
Rivers State Commissioner for works, Elloka Tasie-Amadi said the project is another testimony of a true, purposeful and responsible leadership provided by governor Wike.
Speaking with journalists, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Tammy Danagogo said he is delighted to be part of the Wike administration that has with determination, repositioned the State as the headquarters of the hydrocarbon industry in Nigeria.
According to him, without the strategic sitting of the development projects, the governor, as a farsighted leader, is also expanding the city into other local government areas to achieve holistic development of the state, it’s economy and the people.
The Enugu State government has inaugurated a steering committee to eliminate Gender-Based Violence, GBV, in the state, declaring zero tolerance for the social malaise.
The inauguration took place at the Government House Enugu.
The panel, which is chaired by the Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Ngozi Enih, draws its membership from the Nigeria Police Force, Ministry of Agriculture and Agro Industrialisation, Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ministry of Human Development and Poverty Reduction, Ministry of Trade, Investment and Industry, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education as well as the Civil Society.
Inaugurating the panel known as the Steering Committee for Strengthening Institutional and Community Responses to End Gender-Based Violence/Domestication of Enugu State Gender Policy using the Oputa Panel approach, Governor Peter Mbah restated his administration’s commitment to not bringing perpetrators of GBV to book, but also putting in place proactive measures – activities, infrastructure, and systems in place to prevent them.
Mbah, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said, “We take gender-based violence seriously. We have zero tolerance for it, and in Enugu State, we are ready to go the extra mile to deal with it.
“If you notice, the government has selected people that are very committed to this goal. This is not an activity where we just want to check-off the list. We will track this. We will monitor this, and we will have quarterly engagements on the successes that this particular committee has achieved in terms of reference that we are going to send.
“We will tighten those terms of reference indicators, so that we monitor what we are doing both in terms of cost input and the value added. It’s very important to us. Many people will be involved – civil society, the police and various ministries.”
He however, said that the effort was to protect everyone, men and women alike, as GBV was not restricted to any gender.
“The whole idea is to hold people responsible that are involved in matters relating to gender violence and deter people that by culture or by association get involved in that, protect women, protect our children, and in the case of violence against men, protect our men because most times we misconstrue gender violence to mean women, but it can also be men too.
“We encourage our men to speak out and to make sure they understand that the policy that Enugu State is soon going to domesticate is for everyone, and not only for the female gender,” he stated.
In her remark, Mrs. Enih, explained that the Oputa Panel approach was inspired by the need to cover all local peculiarities in domesticating the policy on GBV, restarting government’s confidence in the members of the panel.
“The approach we are going to use is the Oputa Panel approach, and in the Oputa Panel approach, we are going to tour the 17 Local Government Areas to get firsthand information about what our people are going through because policy is meant for the people, and a policy should suit the people.
“Again, every community has its peculiar problems, so that’s why the government decided that if we have to domesticate the gender policy, we have to hear from the people who own the policy and know the changes that they desire to see. That is the reason we are using this approach.
“The committee members are to also serve as judges. As we gather this information from our people, we will come back to tailor it in a way to suit the people of Enugu State, and then our policy is ready.
“We want the people to know that there is a gender policy for them. I can assure you that when the people are aware that there is such a policy, they will seek for the enforcement of that policy. So, this is not going to be one of those policies that will just lie on the shelf,” she said.
Digital solutions provider, Globacom, has congratulated Christians in Nigeria on this year’s Easter celebration, and urged them to emulate the noble qualities of Jesus Christ.
The company, in a goodwill message to the Christian faithful in the country, lauded their perseverance through the Lenten period which preceded Easter. It enjoined them to always promote the ideals of selflessness, love and peace among all as a way of demonstrating the virtues of the exemplary life of Jesus Christ.
“Peace, love and sacrifice are the central message of Easter. Christ offered himself in atonement for the sins of the world and he lived a life which made Him an eternal symbol of peace and goodwill for mankind”, Globacom added.
The company enjoined all Nigerians to share in the lessons of promoting selflessness, a necessary ingredient in the growth and development of every society. It also enjoined all Nigerians to join hands to make Nigeria a better place for all.
Easter is celebrated yearly at the end of the Lenten season of fasting and prayer considered as a ritual of purification for the Christian faithful. It also precedes the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ on Good Friday and His eventual resurrection on Easter Sunday.
The company assured its customers of seamless voice, data and Short Messaging Service (SMS) during and after the Easter celebrations, while urging them to avail themselves of the various data and voice offerings on the network.
The Guild of Private Broadcast Managers has extended its heartfelt congratulations to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) as it celebrates its 70th Anniversary.
In a congratulatory message signed by the Guild’s National President, Ambassador Patrick Uzoyi-Peters, JP MNGRM, the guild described the milestone as a testament to the NUJ’s unwavering commitment to upholding press freedom, journalistic integrity, and the advancement of democracy in Nigeria.
“For seven decades, the NUJ has played a pivotal role in shaping the media landscape, advocating for the rights and welfare of journalists, and ensuring that the voice of the people remains strong and unyielding. Your resilience, professionalism, and dedication to ethical journalism have been instrumental in fostering transparency, accountability, and national development”.
Celebrating this historic achievement, the Guild’s President, Uzoyi-Peters recognized the sacrifices and contributions of journalists across the nation who work tirelessly to inform, educate, and empower society.
The Guild reiterated it commitment towards collaborating with the NUJ in promoting responsible journalism and strengthening the media industry for the greater good.
While wishing the NUJ continued success, growth, and greater impact in the years ahead, President Uzoyi-Peters prayed that the anniversary serve as a renewed call to uphold the principles of truth, fairness, and press freedom in our collective pursuit of a more informed and just society.
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