Lunch Canceled At National Conference, As Delegates Demand Money Instead

June 30, 2014

Muslims Ramadan fasting has led to the cancelation of lunch for the delegates to the ongoing National Conference, as they would now be settled in cash.

The decision was taken at plenary today, followed an amendment proposed by the conference chairman, retired Justice Idris Kutigi. Kutigi had proposed that a register be opened for those who would skip lunch as a result of Ramadan to enter their names.

He said the essence of the proposal was to allow delegates observing Ramadan to have their lunch monetized, adding: “we are aware that many of us will be fasting and will not take lunch here. As such, we will open a register so that those who will not take lunch will be paid.”

However, Senator Sergeant Awuse, a delegate representing River State amended the proposal by asking for the total scrapping of lunch and that, instead all delegates should be paid in cash.

This he said, will stop a situation where those who are not observing Ramadan would take advantage of the opportunity to request for monetisation of their lunch.

“We should scrap lunch completely so that people, who are not fasting, will not write their names. We can do without lunch. We can manage and support those who are fasting by doing without lunch,’’ he said.

Thereafter, the delegates overwhelmingly agreed that lunch be monetised in the spirit of Ramadan.

[myad]

60 Houses Washed Away By Rainstorm In Calabar, Cross River

Greenbarge Reporters

June 30, 2014

No fewer than 60 structures, including residential buildings, offices and public structures were said to have been washed away by heavy rainstorm in Calabar, capital of Cross River state over the weekend.

According to the Cross River Emergency Management Agency in a statement by its Deputy Director in charge of information, Mr. David Akate today, perimeter fences, roads and school buildings were also damaged due to the intensity of the rain.
He said that areas affected are Ikot Ansa, Ikot Eneobong, Ikot Nkebre and Big Qua Town in Calabar Municipality as well as some parts of Calabar South.
“The flood disaster is attributed to the blockage of drains and other water ways as well as the construction of buildings along flood-prone areas.
“Also affected are 11 vehicles, including a brand new car owned by the Vice Chairman of Ogoja Local Government Area.
“The traumatic experience is coming at a time the State Government was committing huge amount of human and material resources towards the rehabilitation and construction of roads and drains across the state capital.”
He advised residents to adhere to the campaign against indiscriminate waste disposal and other harmful environmental practices even as he also advised motorists to stay clear of flooded roads.
He warned parents not to allow children to play around flooded drains and ponds, saying that such acts might be hazardous and could lead to possible death.

[myad]

Medical Doctors Begin Indefinite Nationwide Strike Tomorrow

Greenbarge Reporters

June 30, 2014

Medical doctors in Nigeria, under the canopy of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) have resolved to begin an indefinite nationwide strike, starting from tomorrow, July 1.

President of the Association, Dr. Kayode Obembe, who made this known today at a news conference in Abuja, said the decision to resort to strike was taken after the expiration of a two-week ultimatum the Association gave the Federal Government to meet its 24-point demand.

Obembe said they opted for a total and indefinite strike at an emergency delegates’ meeting held on June 28, after negotiations with the government failed to yield relevant results.

“The NMA is taking this painful route because our silence and gentle approach to these contending issues have been taken for granted.

“We have to take this action in order to save the health care delivery system from anarchy that is palpably imminent.”

He appealed for understanding, and called on Nigerians to prevail on the government to meet the demands.

The NMA president read out an open letter addressed to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation in which the association listed the 24 issues it wanted the government to address.

The letter, entitled: ‘Minimum End Point for Restoration of Sustainable Sanity in Patient Care in Nigerian Hospitals’, was jointly signed by Obembe, NMA Secretary-General, Dr. Adewumi Alayaki and all heads of its affiliate bodies.

Some of the major issues include reserving the position of chief medical director to only medical doctors, appointment of Surgeon General of the Federation, passage of National Health Bill and providing security for doctors.

The NMA also wants increase in duty, hazard and specialist allowances, as well as budget for residency training programme.

It called for the reintegration of its members into the IPPIS platform, and reserving the title of consultants to only medical doctors, among others.

The Sorry State Of Our Time, By Engr. A. M Adua

Greenbarge Reporters

June 30, 2014

Sometimes I used to sit down at one corner of my room in the middle of the night and ruminate over the problems facing Nigeria. Most times, my head cannot contain the problems and at the end, I often conjure up with many questions that have no answers.

Sometimes, it is better not to know than to know because the more you know certain things the more they affect you psychologically. The past has gone but the memory remains with us. Whenever I see what our leaders are doing, my heart bubbles and I get infuriated.

As leaders, they have the power and ability to change our sorry state to a real world of modern technology, but unfortunately for us, they pay us back by creating Boko Haram.

Our leaders have failed us woefully. Those are they who got free and compulsory qualitative education, free and secured learning and conducive environment; they were employed immediately after graduating. Some of them married in their early 20s.

Some of them did not wear shoes. And now they find themselves in the mantle of leadership and appear to have turned our country into a war zone. They make corruption an official system of our country even as they would argue that stealing is not corruption. They are worse than our colonial masters because our colonial masters stolen our resources and built their country but our leaders are taking our resources out of the country to invest in other country and leave millions of our unemployed youth stranded, looking for jobs that don’t exist at all.

Our youths are hopeless, with no future. They are forced to continually editing their birth certificates to change their age, thinking that they will get employment. They are not even thinking of marriage at the age of 35 or 40 because of the unfavorable condition they find themselves in.

Many of such youths are being trained to be thugs instead of Doctors or Engineers. They are trained to be assassins instead of care givers; they are trained to be drugs pushers instead of pharmacists; they were trained to be rivals instead of brothers’ keepers; they have succeeded in creating enmity between us.

Where are we heading to? Do we have future? Is Nigeria a failed state? My brothers, we need answers to these questions.

This piece was sent by Engineer Abba M. Adua

[myad]

We Published Fabricated Story Against You, Newspaper Editor Confesses To FCT Minister

Greenbarge Reporters

June 29, 2014

Editor-In-Chief and owner of a weekly newspaper, NEWSDAY, Chief Edet Isong, has confessed that his paper published a fabricated story against the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed.
In a letter to the minister, the publisher apologized to the Minister and his children over the story which the newspaper reproduced from an online medium called pointblanknews.com.
The report had claimed that two children of the Minister had stashed away N35 billion in Unity Bank and UBA as well as an offshore account.
In the letter of retraction and apology signed by Chief Isong, the management of the newspaper said it regretted the embarrassment the false story caused the minister and his children.
The letter dated June 19, 2014 reads:“On behalf of the Management of Newsday Newspapers Limited, I write in respect of our publication of May 5 – Sunday – May 11, 2014 on alleged stashing of N350 billion in Nigerian and foreign accounts by children of the FCT Minister.
“We wish to state that we have since discovered that the story which was lifted from an online medium pointblanknews.com was not true and had caused you (the Hon. Minister) embarrassment. We regret the indiscretion and sincerely apologize for our errors.
“Sir, we wish to inform you that NEWSDAY NEWSPAPER did not publish the said story with an intention of embarrassing the Hon. Minister or disparaging his good name or the image of his family. We have no reason to do so. We will continue to hold you in very high esteem in view of your laudable strides in the transformation of the FCT under your Administration. We shall equally continue to support and highlight your legacies.
“Please kindly accept sincere apologies and forgive us.”
The editor said that his reporters lifted the false story from the online medium believing that it was a factual report only to discover later that the report was totally fabricated.

[myad]

We Will Beat France ‘Silly,’ Keshi Vows

Greenbarge Reporters

June 29, 2014

Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi has made it clear that victory for Nigeria over France in their encounter tomorrow is non-negotiable.
Keshi, oozing with confidence, told sports reporters in Brazil that he is already looking beyond the Monday match with French national team.
Super Eagles will sweat it out with France for second round encounter. The only recorded encounter between both sides at senior level was a friendly game played on June 2, 2009, in which a goal from Joseph Akpala gave Nigeria the win.
Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has promised to travel to Brazil to watch the Super Eagles if they are able to make it to the quarter-finals.
Nigeria has to get past France to reach that stage.
Captain Joseph Yobo said that with the additional incentive from the president, the players will be more motivated to reach that historic landmark.

[myad]

Boko Haram Attacks 5 Churches Today, Kills About 100 Worshipers In Borno

Greenbarge Reporters

June 29, 2014

Suspected members of Boko Haram today, attacked five different churches in Kwada village, about 10 kilometers from Chibok local government area of Borno State. About 100 worshipers were said to have been killed in the attacks
The Churches that were attacked, according to eye witnesses, include Cocin, EYN and Deeper Life Bible Church.
It was gathered thet members of Boko Haram launched the attacks just as the worshipers were in the middle of the Sunday services.
The attackers were said to have engaged in sporadic gun fire at the worshipers inside the Churches.
Sources in the affected villages have put an estimate of number of death recorded to about to 100.
At the time of going to press, no official statement has come from the security operatives or government side.

[myad]

Rep Muktari Will Face The Full Anger Of Electorate In 2015, By Musa Salihu Kachallah Miringa

Greenbarge Reporters

June 29, 2014

One is not very sure if Honourable Muktari Aliyu Betara, who represents Biu, Shani, Kwayya Kusar and Bayo Federal Constituency in the federal House of Representatives understands what democracy is all about.
He needs to be reminded of the basic essence of Democracy which is all about government of the People for the People and by the People.
And that Democracy is the game of numbers which was adequately displayed in the recent election in Ekiti State.
It then followed that a competent and polished legislator should be an asset for the people of his constituency. Such legislator is he who looks at issues critically and objectively before he agrees or disagrees on issue or bill being debated on the floor of the House.
Legislation is about fairness in dealings and giving constructive contributions on ideas and issues brought before the House.
Above that, a good lawmaker would always maintain symbiotic relationship with his people. He would interact with them as partners in progress.
It is expected that the fruit of such interactions would lead to the lawmaker presenting the yearnings and aspiration of the electorate to the national attention and resolution.
Unfortunately, over time and by many standards, Rep Muktari never showed such qualities in his representation of his constituency.
Indeed, people who voted him into office even for the second term, are being neglected.
All that seems coming out of him is what can be termed as dirty politics. He would resort to purchasing some bags of rice, sugar, salt, wrappers, few motorcycles and sewing Machines and sharing them in the guise of youth empowerment.
The Rep has perhaps forgotten that politics is not all about bread and butter, but about selflessness, hard-work for the socio-economic growth of the people that he is representing.
But it does seem that Hon. Muktari Aliyu Betara sees politics as a business ventures to make money without the interest of his people at heart.
Having been in the House of Reps now for the past seven years as representative, Muktari Betara has no single project to show as his constituency project, not to talk of having a bill that can make life better for his people.
Muktari has crafted a method of distributing some bags of rice, sugar, salt, wrappers, few motorcycles and sewing Machines to some ward political thugs whenever the election time draws nearer
As one of those he is representing in the House of Reps, I believe that 2015 election will spell doom for him, Insha Allah, because we have learnt our lessons and have come to understand his leadership style that has not yielded any fruit to the people of his constituency, especially in ward six and its environs. Ironically, it is in this ward that he always have the majority of votes.
We, in ward six will speak loud with one voice by saying NO to his politics of sit-down-look. We are now wiser, in the context of modern political trend and will henceforth support Professionals and “exposed” personalities like MM Adamu Burati who has the care of the people at heart.
We will encourage such personality to come out and participate actively in politics.
One good thing about MM Adamu is that he used to gather youths, irrespective of religious belief and give them words of encouragement, especially about the need for them to be educated so that they would be of help to their communities and the nation.
He used to assist graduates and other youths with education with jobs.
As a matter of fact, the reality is that professionals who are in politics seem to be more proactive and selfless towards the people they are representing, not their families.
Professionals in politics shouldn therefore, not expect themselves to be pardoned for failure, because they have different people in the society and colleagues who can guide and give them advice on where they go wrong.
We are formally appealing to M.M Adamu Buratai who is an astute leader; principled, focused, visionary, decent, compassionate, respectful, humble, unassuming, serious minded, intelligent, strategic, kind, peace loving, morally upright, and passionate about his people reaching their fullest potential to come out and have the mandate of his people to take them to the promised land, come 2015 election.
It is a reality that no man is perfect but his good far outweighs his weaknesses.

Musa Salihu Kachallah Miringa, Wrote in from Abuja
email: abareone79@mail.com

[myad]

Jonathan Condemns Mass Killings In Kaduna, Bauchi States

Greenbarge Reporters

June 29, 2014

President Goodluck Jonathan has condemned the mass killings in Southern Kaduna and night
bombing in the Bayan Gari area of Bauchi State within the week.
In a statement by his special adviser on media and publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, President Jonathan reassured the people of Bauchi and Kaduna States that his government is taking all necessary actions to apprehend the perpetrators of the dastardly attacks and restore the fullest possible security to all parts of the country.
“The President commiserates with all the families who lost loved ones in the heinous attacks and extends his heartfelt sympathies to all those who suffered injuries or lost their properties during the wanton assaults on Bauchi and Kaduna States,” Abati said.
He said that the President has directed all relevant federal government agencies to continue to speedily make emergency medical and relief assistance available to all those who were either injured or displaced by recent bombings and attacks.
He said that Jonathan advised Nigerians to give maximum support and cooperation to the Armed Forces and security agencies in their continuous effert to end the menace of insecurity in the country within the shortest possible time.

[myad]

Jonathan Seeks Special Prayers From Muslims As They Begin Ramadan Fast

Greenbarge Reporters

June 28, 2014

President Goodluck Jonathan has asked all Muslims in Nigeria to offer special prayers for the country as they begin this year’s Ramadan fast today.
In a statement from his special adviser on media and publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati today, President Jonathan noted that Nigerian Muslims began the Ramadan fast against the background of security challenges in the country.
“I urge all Nigerian Muslims to offer special prayers during the period for greater peace and security in the nation. I also call on Nigerian Muslims to rededicate themselves in fuller measure to the virtues of piety, self-discipline, tolerance, equity, honesty, fairness and sympathy for the less privileged which the Holy month promotes.”
He noted that Muslims would be undergoing what he called “the strictures and spiritual purification” during the month, even as he reassured all Nigerians that his government would continue to work tirelessly to curb insurgency, terrorism and other criminal acts that have caused insecurity in parts of the country.
He called on Nigerians “not to succumb to despair, but to remain steadfast in the firm conviction that with courage, determination, focus, decisiveness and collective support for the Armed Forces and security agencies, the country will ultimately overcome the evil agents of sectionalism, sectarianism and international terrorism who seek to disunite the nation.”
The President prayed to God to grant Nigeria greater peace, security, unity and national harmony even as he wished the Muslim community a rewarding and spiritually gratifying Ramadan fast. [myad]

1...2,3812,3822,383...2,447 Page 2,382 of 2,447