NDDC: Shutting Down Niger Delta Not An Option – IYC

Ijaw Youths Council, IYC Abuja Chapter, has reaffirmed that shutting down the Niger Delta region in protest against the managerial system of allowing the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, to be run on interim administration basis, is not an option to be adopted by youths of the oil-rich region.

Briefing the press over the weekend in Abuja, Barr. Ogbofini Dennis, National Deputy Director of Mobilization of the IYC Abuja Chapter was responding to plans by members of the IYC to shut down the region upon the expiration of a one-month ultimatum to the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio and President Muhammadu Buhari to inaugurate a substantive board for the NDDC.

Ogbofini called on other IYC members to embrace peace and adopt dialogue in resolving the issues, considering other security challenges facing the country, as well as youth restiveness in the region.

He noted that any attempt to shut down the region will affect the aged people, adding that it will also confirm the Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva’s warning that violence in the region will scare away oil companies from coming to invest unless peace is guaranteed.

“We should also consider that giving such ultimatum amounts to arm-twisting the President who in his wisdom, based on consultations and advice by the Niger Delta governors, ordered a forensic audit of the commission.

“As a serving executive member of the IYC Abuja Chapter and a key stakeholder of the Niger Delta, I also want the board to be inaugurated. But I have since observed that having a board has never been the problem of the NDDC.

“We should also consider the hunger strike that our mothers and fathers may face if eventually we shut down the region, we should think of the resulting effect of the planned protest,” he added.

Also speaking, General Momos Wilberforce an ex-agitator urged the president and his exco to shed it's sword and call for dialogue between the Federal Government and stakeholders of the region that will bring long lasting solution to the demands of the people, 

He also used the opportunity to plead to  president Mohammad Buhari to increase the fundings of the NDDC and the Presidential Amnesty program

Misappropriation, Lack of Accountability are problems of the NDDC- IYC

The Ijaw Youth Council, IYC has attributed misappropriation of Commonwealth and failure of a  proper accountable system as reasons why the Niger Delta Development Commission has suffered set back in recent times.

The IYC made the assertion over the weekend while announcing its suspension of  the one month ultimatum to shutdown the region.

The group who further used the opportunity to call for a dialogue with the Federal Government added that while the ultimatum had gotten the attention of the president, it was necessary to apply wisdom so as to reduce the economic impacts a shutdown might have on the people.

Addressing the press, the National Mobilization Officer, Barr. Dennis Ogbofini, noted that the conference became necessary due to the future of the region. 

According to Ogbofini, the Niger Delta region has been the most peaceful region so far and a protest to shutdown the economy might result in unwarranted implications such as hijacking of the struggle by miscreants  and politicians.

“we call on the youths to reconsider shutting down the region in view of the prevailing security situation of the country. The security situation in the country does not favour protest by a large crowd because it can be hijacked by hungry or hoodlums who seek to shed the blood of innocent people.  

“ The IYC cannot create such opportunities for hoodlums and bandits.”

The National Mobilization Officer thus urged youths to instead shut down offices of their representatives. This he said was because they (representatives) had the ‘power to stop the budget and ensure the inauguration of the board.’ 

Responding to questions as regards other methods to be used by the IYC in ensuring obligation of their  demands a stakeholder in the group, Mamus Wilberforce said, “ shutting down the Niger Delta can never be an option to make peace.  Making peace in the Niger Delta is not by shutting it because it affects our mothers in the village and everyone.  This is why we need wisdom in approaching this issue. We expect the leadership of the IYC to apply wisdom in handling these issues. Why should the region which comprise of 9 states be shut down when we can negotiate.”

Ijaw youths had last month given the Federal Government a one month ultimatum to inaugurate a permanent board for the NDDC which would comprise of representatives of the nine states in the region. While making threats to shut down economic activities in the region, the group complained about the setting up of an interim board whose members do not cater for the need of the region.

Group calls for passage of the Electoral Amendment Bill

By Imisi

 

The Election Network has called for the passage of the Electoral Amendment Bill stating that this will foster the full implementation of electronic voting during elections in Nigeria.

 

The group insisted that the alarming rate of voter apathy as experienced in the 2019 election has made it imperative for speedy implementation of electoral reform adding that this will help put in check to several electoral irregularities

 

While presenting a documentary titled “Left Behind, Editor of The Election Network , Asari Ndem, expressed dissatisfaction at the amount of voters that were disenfranchised due to violence and inability to transfer their voters card stating that Nigerians should be able to vote anywhere they are, when the need arises.

 

'‘The 2019 elections was a setback for Nigeria’s electoral and democratic framework. Officially, over 80 million Nigerians collected their voter cards from INEC but only about 30 percent of those people voted during the elections, the lowest recorded voter turnout in the history of Nigeria’s democracy.

 

‘‘We wanted to understand why this had happened, to enable us make submissions to policymakers on how this level of failure can be avoided in coming elections. So, we decided to talk to the people. To show the human impact of electoral deficiencies on average Nigerians, The Election Network produced a documentary titled “Left Behind.” In this documentary, we interviewed Nigerians who were unable to or chose not to vote during the 2019 elections.

 

‘‘We found that these Nigerians were stalled by factors like administrative shortcomings, intimidation, and violence. But what stood out the most is violence.

 

‘‘In light of these findings, we are making the following proposals for Electoral reform: The passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill: this overarching law on elections in Nigeria, when passed, will help put in check several irregularities but more importantly, give way for the full implementation of electronic voting during elections. Electronic accreditation, voting and collation to ensure credibility in the voting system needs to be done electronically to avoid errors, to also trace malpractices in the system.

 

Furthermore, Ndem called for the prosecution of electoral offenders and the inclusion of people living with disabilities, PLWD in the voting process stressing that PLWD should be included during election planning to ensure they are able to adequately exercise their rights.

 

‘‘Also, on financial accountability an embargo should be placed on the ability of political office holders to make financial transactions close to the elections.

 

‘‘With these submissions and the screening of this documentary, we hope to enact policy change that creates sustainable improvement to the Nigerian electoral ecosystem and contributes to the strengthening of our democracy’’ he stated.

 

Attack on Police very serious crime – Ex-IGP Idris

In the face of incessant attacks on police personnel and formations, especially in the Eastern part of the country, Ex Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris has stated that attack on the police is a very serious crime, insisting that culprits must be made to face the law.

Speaking with journalists at his Abuja residence, the former IGP stressed that attacks on uniformed men can dampen the morale of officers, a situation he said can reduce their productivity.

According to Idris, attacks on the police who are saddled with the responsibility to protect the people is very dangerous to the lives and safety of the citizens, noting that the government must begin to study and uncover the reasons for such attacks, work out a lasting solution to the upsurge before it escalates beyond control.

The ex-IGP further observed that for the police to adequately tackle insecurity in the country, there is need for recruitment of more officers and men into the force.

‘‘Some of the challenges with the police force is the lack of personnel.

‘‘The strength of the police compared to the Nigerian population, obviously, we are overstretched.

‘‘Taking a look at the population of the country, the police are overstretched presently, we need to do something to increase the police for them to adequately tackle the insecurity in the government.

Idris underlined that the establishment of state police, as advocated in some quarters is not the solution to the country's complex security questions, adding that such will amount to creating more problems. 

He reiterated that attention should rather be paid to increasing the number of police officers in the country to commensurate with the growing population. 

He enlisted adequate training, improvement in welfare of officers and men of the force and provision of modern tools as immediate steps the government must urgently take to put insecurity under check. 

"In tackling insecurity in this country, we faced the same challenge during our time, of course you had to look at the issue of recruitment, training of men. 

"You have to train people to tackle the situation. Presently, a lot of them have left the service. I don’t know what is on ground but we need more policemen. In addition to this is the issue of equipment. You have to provide the needed equipment to enable them tackle this insecurity" he said. 

He also underlined the role of women police officers in tackling banditry in the country, same way the military recently deployed female officers to the dreaded Abuja-Kaduna expressway, a situation generally believed to have improved security in the axis.

Old persons require love and care

Ageing is a process that every human being must pass through, nothing can be done to stop a person from growing old. Old age comes with its challenges which can trigger death. The society must begin to prioritise care of old people through proper government legislations and family care, our correspondent,  IMISI writes

 

 

 

 

For some people growing old is a nightmare which creates a secret nurtured feeling of the wish that one wouldn’t have to go through this process. For others it comes with an avalanche of sickness that eventually leads to their demise.

 

 

 

Ageing is a natural phenomenon that every human must pass through and more and more people are entering their golden years every year as birthdays are celebrated.

 

 

 

Aging can be a beautiful experience if properly handled ensuring that the older person is living his best life through love and care, also having the physical and mental health to enjoy it. Like a bottle of wine, you can get better with age with the right care and intervention.

 

 

 

Ironically our society is very obsessed with pointing out negative aspects of ageing and older persons making this category person appear like liability, less economically viable which in the long run leads to discrimination against the older people.

 

 

 

It might interest you to know that there is a field of study dedicated to providing care for the older people called Geriatrics, while geriatricians are physicians who have special training to better understand the unique needs of older adults, which is why they typically prescribe care for adults 65 and older.

 

 

 

One the other hand, a gerontologist studies the problems of aging from a broader perspective. Not only medical issues, but all the various problems faced by seniors and the elderly.

 

 

 

For example, a gerontologist might study the relationship between loneliness and the way seniors use technology, or how genetic risks can change with age, through studies and investigations gerontologist are able to establish a more comprehensive picture of the sort of problems faced by older persons, education us on the need to create policies and programs related to older adults.

 

 

 

Against this backdrop our correspondent spoke with a Gerontology expert, Dr Emem Omokaro of Dave Omokaro Foundation who stated that there are economic values that come with ageing.

 

 

 

Suffice to know that there is a noticeable shortage of care specialists focused on older people, Dr Omokaro is also the president of the Gerontology Association of Nigeria and the co chair and convener of the stakeholder Group on aging Africa. SGA Africa 

 

 

 

According to her Dave Omokaro foundation has been focused on ageing for the past ten years, with focus on capacity building that is training policy makers, decision makers, training medical and biomedical professionals, journalist on policy formation planning and orientation on the ageing process, implication of the aging populations, implications of family community, implications to pensions and health care systems and all others that you can get when the population is ageing.

 

 

 

‘‘In Nigeria where you have simultaneous challenges of huge populations at the same time growing absolute numbers of other persons, we focus on enlightening them in order to ensure policy actions.

 

 

 

‘‘With our exposure we want Nigeria to be part of the community that when we really come into taking part in caring for our older persons then we are doing a good job and properly guided.

 

 

 

‘‘When we talk about older persons we talk about ageism which is a form of stereotype against the older persons. 

 

 

 

‘‘Ageism is when you lump everybody together like they are indigenous and you generalise in a descriptive form this is who they are that is stereotyping them. Older persons are often lumped together like they are all sick, they are all a burden like they have nothing to contribute.

 

 

 

‘‘Stereotypes lead to discrimination making people and government term the older people as a burden and wouldn’t like to invest in them which is wrong.

 

 

 

Advocacy is the easiest tool to stop ageism, ignorance leads to prejudices, South Africa has Grant for older persons, we need to upgrade and include the older persons by providing them with social protection. 

 

 

 

 

 ‘‘Older person will continue to contribute to family, to community, to the nation that is why when we keep them healthy and keep them functional they take away the burden off and the working populations of children when we provide health insurance even they can buy into this health insurance it means you keep them healthy and their children who are in the working population can save money’’ she explained.

 

 

 

Speaking on the benefits of the older people Dr Omokaro called on the government to invest in the older generation.

 

 

 

Apart from them contributing and growing the economy as caregivers, older women are the ones caring for younger children especially during ‘omugwo’ which is done free of charge, they should be charging so income could come in for them and 60 percent of farmers are older persons and they are still farming.

 

 

 

‘‘Why it appears like the older ones are not contributing is cause nobody is investing in their means of livelihood, if there was investment of course the community will surely grow and they will earn money like every other person and like they are cooperatives.

 

 

 

 

 

 

She however stated that the advocacy for the rights of older persons is a mission for everyone who intends to grow old someday adding that countries that have looked at ageing as an industry have reaped its benefits.  

 

 

 

Suffice to know that there is a noticeable shortage of care specialists focused on older people

Public health

Power lifter urges F.G to harness benefits of the sport

 

 

Bayelsa born International Power Lifter, Erepaei Sunday has disclosed that there are enormous benefits in power lifting as he urged the federal government to harness power lifting as an avenue to empower youth through strength and power sports. 

 

Addressing journalist in Abuja, Sunday also known as "Sunny power" noted that through constant competition in power lifting a lot of young people will be gainfully employed thereby reducing youth unrest in the country.

 

Sunny power, who is also the president of World Power Lifting Federation of Nigeria, stated that awareness of the sports was low in Nigeria despite its international acceptance as he maintained that he has concluded plans to partner with the F.G through the office of the minister for youth and sports to increase awareness and acceptance of the sport.

 

‘I will be working with all 36 states of the federation through their commissioners and directors of sports’’ he said.

 

He explained that collaborations with stakeholders in sports development will attract international investors into the country to support and sponsor power lifting events.

 

‘‘Constant engagement with stakeholders and talks about strength and power sports, catch them young, talent hunting with cash awards will always be in our events. Annual coaching seminar will be organised to improve our techniques’’ he said.

 

The award winning power lifter also added that his mission is to see that power lifting and strongest man sports are included in the national sports festival in the country, disclosing that plans are in top gear to establish a power sports academy in the country for proper training of youths.

 

Sunny power however appealed to government at all levels to support the age long sport which has given him international exposure and a career.