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Osinbajo challenges Nigerian elite on social cohesion, unity

Published

1 year ago

April 18, 2023

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo has called for strong consensus among the elite and a policy framework that would promote social cohesion and unity in Nigeria.

Osinbajo made the call on Monday at the maiden Policy Making and Good Governance Lecture Series organised by the National Institute for Policy Strategic Studies (NIPPS), Kuru, near Jos.

The vice president, in his lecture tagged: ”Creating a Homeland for All: A Nation Building in a Diverse Democracy”, decried the rising spate of frightening divisive tendencies, which according to him was responsible for the backwardness in the nation.

He maintained that the country’s diversity ought to be a ”blessing and not a curse”, adding that Nigeria had the potential to be a great nation but only when the cankerworm of division was collectively fought.

Osinbajo, who cited examples of Singapore, Tanzania and Rwanda, as nations that effectively managed their diversities, said that Nigeria could take a cue.

“Most heterogeneous nations have been able to manage and harness their diversities for the good of all and we can also do the same in Nigeria.

“Our diversity in Nigeria should not be a burden; in fact it is a blessing and so we must develop the capacity to manage this diversity for the growth of our nation.

“So, the elite must come together and agree to end the ethnic and religious profiling that we are currently facing in our dear nation; we must prioritise things that bind us together and de-prioritise ones that set us apart.

“I also believe that the political class and the nation’s leadership can do more in developing policies, laws and enforcing them toward addressing the weaponisation of ethnicity and religion in our dear nation,” he said.

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IPOB declares May 30 sit-at-home in South-East to honour Biafran soldiers

Published

24 mins ago

May 2, 2024

NewsDirect

The Indigenous People of Biafra has declared May 30, 2024, as a sit-at-home day across the South-East to celebrate Biafran soldiers.

The pro-Biafran group said that day is set aside annually to celebrate the men and women who died in the Biafran war between 1967 and 1970 and beyond and even until now.

This was made known in a press statement by the group’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, on Thursday, adding that every Biafran in the South-East is expected to sit at home and reflect on the war.

Powerful cautioned South-East residents to avoid loitering about on this day, adding that those who intend to travel to and fro Biafra land must do so before the evening of May 29.

The statement read, “We the global family of IPOB declare Thursday, May 30, 2024, a sit-at-home day in Biafra land for all Biafrans, friends of Biafra, lovers of freedom, and all residents in Biafra Land.

“Annually, we celebrate May 30 as our heroes and heroines day when we remember the men and women who died that we may live, before, during, and after the war against Biafrans between 1967 and 1970 and beyond and even until now.

“To honour our heroes and heroines. Biafrans are asked to observe this one-day sit-at-home in reverence to the spirits of our departed heroes who fought for us to be alive today. Every Biafran in Biafra territory is expected to sit at home on this day and reflect on the danger of the forced unity called Nigeria that has taken millions of lives of Biafrans.

“Other Biafrans outside Biafra territory are also encouraged to honour our heroes by observing the sit-at-home if possible or by limiting their activities on this day.”

According to the group, all schools, government offices, private offices, banks, transport unions, market unions and private individuals should shut down all operations in honour of our it’s heroes and heroines.

They added that exceptions to these directives are institutions and individuals on special duties such as nurses, doctors, ambulance services, hospitals, and medical workers who are allowed to operate on that day.

“We call on Christians and traditional worshipers to use this day to pray to Chukwu Okike Abiama for the fallen heroes and also pray for Biafra Independence from this murderous contraption called Nigeria.

“Heroes Remembrance Day is a call to duty for Biafrans to remember and honour our fallen heroes who were brutally murdered between 1967 to 1970 during the genocidal war against Ndigbo before and beyond. Biafrans living in the Northern and Western parts of the zoo called, Nigeria will join and stay indoors for this commemoration and remembrance of our heroes and heroines who died so that we may live.

“At this special event, IPOB members must light candles in remembrance of our fallen heroes. Heroes like our eternal leader Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Retired General Phillip Efiong, Col. Achuzie (Air Raid), Frank Opigo, Okonkon Dem, Sam Mbakwe, Akanu Ibiam, and many others who contributed immensely to the survival of Biafrans from the extermination war led by Nigeria military.

IPOB in the statement directed that all the residents of “Biafra Land” are to stay indoors from 6 am to 6 pm on May 30, 2024.

“IPOB and ESN will not enforce the sit-at-home but Biafrans must not endanger their lives. For your safety, please sit at home on Thursday, May 30, 2024, and honour Biafran heroes and heroines. Do not endanger your lives,” the statement added.

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Lagos disburses N1.3bn to 11,386 households – Commissioner

Published

38 mins ago

May 2, 2024

NewsDirect

Lagos State government has disbursed over N1,346,030,000.00 to 11,386 households through its bi-monthly Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Mr Akinyemi Ajigbotafe, said this at the 2024 Ministerial Briefing on Thursday at Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja.

“We have 12 local governments that have benefitted from this programme and they are Apapa, Amuwo Odofin, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Agege, Badagry, Epe, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos Island, Shomolu, Ifako-Ijaye and Alimosho.

“The implementation of the CCT programme has contributed to the improved livelihood of beneficiaries through savings group mobilisation activities.

“Also the unit implemented the NG cares programme where transfer of N343,200,000 million was made to 2,145 beneficiaries in Eti-Osa, Kosofe, Mainland, Iru, Victoria Island, Agboyi -Ketu, Ikosi Isheri and Yaba,” he said.

Ajigbotafe reiterated the commitment of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration to wealth creation and employment for residents of the state.

“Under the visionary leadership of Gov. Sanwo-Olu, no stone is left unturned. Come July we’ll inaugurate our leather hub at Matori Mushin, a N4 billion leather industry in Lagos.

“We got our machine and equipment from Italy. This will create more employment for the good people of our dear state,” he said.

He also said Lagos State was particular about the growth and development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), with the initiative to assist start-ups, artisans and entrepreneurs in the state.

“The MSME loan programme in 2023 disbursed N859 million to 1,271 MSMEs in the state.

“Also Lagos Care supported 1,425 MSMEs with grants worth N358 million across the three disbursement linked indicators, which are credit, operation and IT enhancement,” he said.

Lagos Care is a World Bank sponsored intervention designed to cushion the effect of COVID-19 pandemic.

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ASUU faction dissociates self from UniAbuja strike

Published

39 mins ago

May 2, 2024

NewsDirect

A faction of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Abuja branch, has dissociated itself from the strike action declared by the Union.

The faction known as “Anti-Strike ASUU Members”, at a news conference, in Abuja, shortly, after the declaration of the strike by the ASUU chapter of the school on Thursday, said it would not join the strike.

Recall that the ASUU branch of University of Abuja embarked on indefinite strike in the early hours of Thursday.

Dr Abubakar Kari, the Dean of Students Affairs and former Convener, ASUU National Political Committee, said the strike was to satisfy personal interest, not the larger interest of ASUU members and the university.

According to him, “Members of ASUU here standing for several other members with like minds but unavoidably absent, rise to reassure students, parents and members of the public that we will protect the sanctity of the University’s robust academic calendar.

“We will continue to work for continuous opening of the university operations.

“We vehemently demand that ASUU must work for ASUU and not a hidden cabal out to take the university of Abuja back to the inglorious yesteryears.

“A decision to go on an indefinite strike without, at any point, seeking members of ASUU’s vote for, or against is absolutely not the ASUU procedure for calling strike.

“So, the so-called strike remains unrepresentative of the larger members of ASUU and cannot stand”.

Speaking on the alleged advertorial for the, about-to-be vacant position of the Vice chancellor, Kari said, so far, five federal universities had advertised for the position of Vice Chancellors.

“The question begging the mind of everyone, staffers and the public is why would ASUU, university of Abuja alone proceed on indefinite strike while University of Maiduguri, Usman Dan Fodiyo University, Sokoto, ATBU Bauchi and others sustain the sanctity of stable academic calendar on their campuses?

“We say, No, to strike over issues that are not peculiar to the University of Abuja,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the University of Abuja ASUU branch declared an indefinite strike to draw attention to developments bordering the union.

The Chairman of the branch, Dr Sylvanus Ugoh, said the union had resolved to embark on a total and indefinite strike with immediate effect.

He said the strike became necessary, given the University’s refusal to conduct elections for the office of the Dean’s of faculties and Provost College of Health Sciences.

The Union also accused the University of carrying out promotion of some staffers without following due process.

Other reasons for the strike, according to the Union include, “Advertorial of the vacancy of the post of Vice Chancellor without following due process, among others.