Nigeria now has 743, 062 internally displaced persons — NEMA

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has recorded about 743, 062 persons that were internally displaced by conflicts and natural disasters in various parts of the country, Director General of the agency Muhammad Sani Sidi, has said.

The spokesperson for the agency, Manzo Ezekiel, quoted Mr. Sidi as disclosing this in Calabar at the opening of the annual consultative meeting of the National Emergency Management Agency with the heads of all the States Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs), explaining that 676, 975 of the persons were displaced by conflicts and 66, 087 by natural disasters as at September 2014.

The Director General NEMA, according to Mr. Ezekiel, also said that “disaster occurrences and the number of affected people have risen significantly in recent years as a result of the impacts of climate change, insurgency, communal conflicts and skirmishes between farmers and pastoralists amongst others. This has no doubt impacted negatively in the area of our development as a nation aside the humanitarian crisis attendant thereto.”

These, he said, require urgent collective action of the stakeholders to complement the steps taken by the Federal Government which has been providing necessary assistance to the affected persons through the National Emergency Management Agency. “The challenges faced by displaced persons call for serious commitment” adding that NEMA would continue to collaborate with the stakeholders to ensure that the distressed persons are properly taken cared of.

He assured that “we will continue to do this as it constitute our primary responsibility to our citizens”.

On the consultative meeting, the Director General of NEMA, Mr. Sidi said it was designed to appraise the available structures, facilities, challenges and prospects for efficient and effective disaster management in the country.

The Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Effiok Cobham, who represented Governor Liyel Imoke, while declaring open the meeting, appreciated the role of NEMA in the improvement of disaster management in the country. He urged the participants to identify and advised government on measures that focus on disaster prediction and prevention.

SOURCE: https://www.premiumtimesng.com 

Nigerian Media and 2015 elections

 It is no doubt an election season and all actors and stakeholders are gearing up for the battle ahead given that election is war in Nigeria. Sometimes, it is civil combat; other times, it is uncivil war. As part of preparations for the 2015 elections, the intellectual arm or the “ivory tower” of the Independent National Electoral Commission known as The Electoral Institute on Monday, October 20, organised a one-day roundtable at its Abuja headquarters to discuss some salient issues that can define the oncoming polls. The forum deliberated on issues of voter education, election violence and the role of the media in the 2015 elections. It was the maiden edition and yours truly was privileged to be among the eminent resource persons carefully selected to do justice to the topics under discussion.

Prof. Chike Okolocha, a sociologist from the University of Benin, made a presentation on “Strategies and Methods towards Improving Voter Education in 2015 General Elections,” while Dr. Adelaja Odukoya, a political scientist from my alma mater, University of Lagos, presented a paper on “Elections and Violence in Nigeria: Key Issues and Challenges towards 2015 General Elections.” It was my lot to present on the “Media and the Electoral Process: Developing Strategic Partnership with Stakeholders.” There were three discussants as well: Comrade John Odah, a former Secretary General of the Nigerian Labour Congress, discussed Okolocha’s paper, while Dr. John Abhuere, a former director in the National Youth Service Corps discussed Odukoya’s. Hajia Saudatu Mahdi, MFR, a women’s rights activist, whom I fondly call “my mother in the development work”, discussed mine. Prof. Okelo Occuli chaired the roundtable while there were remarks from Prof. Abubakar Momoh, the Director General of TEI and Mrs. Seija Sturies, Fredrich Ebert Stiftung Resident Representative.

In my presentation, I traced the origin of the Nigerian media to 155 years ago when Rev. Henry Townsend established, in Abeokuta, Iwe Iroyin fun awonara Egbaati Yoruba, a Yoruba vernacular newspaper. It debuted in 1859. I observed that the Nigerian media is one of the freest in Africa, in spite of its numerous challenges. The Nigerian media, I opined, is very vibrant and acknowledged as one of those who successfully fought for the return of democracy in the country in 1999. Equally, I articulated all the legal provisions backing and regulating media practice in Nigeria such as sections 22 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, as amended in 2010, the Freedom of Information Act 2011, the Nigerian Broadcasting Act, the Nigerian Press Council Act, the Code of Ethics for Nigerian Journalists, etc.

While drawing a lot of inspiration from the Election Reporting Handbook developed and published by IMAPCS Associate, Ross Howard, I noted there was no gainsaying that the media, generally referred to as the Fourth Estate of the Realm is one of the most powerful influences on how an election runs inside the country, and how it is perceived from outside. Undoubtedly, there must be free speech so all citizens and all political candidates can speak without fear. The media, I further observed, must be free to tell everyone what was said without pressure to twist the truth. As recommended in the aforementioned Handbook, media focus during this season should primarily be on three things: Political parties and contestants, the issues and the voting process. Good journalistic practice in election reporting must take cognisance of: Accuracy; Impartiality; and Responsibility. I did enjoin my media colleagues that their reports on elections should not be malicious, libelous, seditious, defamatory, sensational; and corruptive.

In an answer to my poser about who needs the media in the electoral process, I listed all the stakeholders including the election management bodies i.e. INEC and State Independent Electoral Commissions, political parties and contestants, the non-governmental organisations working in the field of election, the security agents, the judiciary and the electorates. For example, the EMBs need the media in order to propagate their actions and decisions to the public as it is part of electoral accountability and transparency principles. Also, any political party or aspirant to political office who wishes to be taken seriously has to embark on self-marketing via the media. Thus, newspaper advertorials, jingles, billboards, flyers, websites, commissioned interviews in print and electronic media, press releases and press conferences are all part of the political game. Little wonder, media houses upwardly review their political advert rates during elections.

In analysing the role of the media itself in election, I did mention that the Nigerian media as part of its corporate social responsibilities during electioneering embark on the following activities: organising political debates among candidates; conducting of opinion polling; endorsement of candidates; agenda setting through editorials as well as staff training on political and election reporting.

I submitted that as a way of building strategic partnership among the stakeholders, all the election stakeholders must recognise the primacy importance of the media in the electoral process. Therefore, deliberate attempts must be made to build the capacity of the media practitioners by INEC on how to report responsibly on the electoral process. This could be done by training political correspondents of media houses, seminar and conferences for media gatekeepers such as editors, managing directors and publishers/ proprietors. There is also the avenue of sponsorship of programmes on different media platforms.

I did enjoin political parties and their contestants to deliberately cultivate the media in a responsible way by ensuring that factual and unbiased information are passed on to the media for dissemination to the public. Not only that, they should refrain from unduly inducing the media from performing their duties in a professional manner. Hate speeches, inflammatory statements, inciting comments and things that can heat up the polity should be avoided during campaigns. Political campaigns should be issue based!

I did not fail to share some words of advice to media practitioners in Nigeria. Without mincing words, media reportage of electoral events must uphold the code of ethics for journalists. Media practitioners should understand that their reports attracts global consumption, hence, national interest must guide their actions and decisions. Yellow journalism should not have a place in the reportage of electoral process in Nigeria while journalists should ensure fair, balance, accurate and responsible reportage of electoral events.This is a tall order considering the numerous challenges faced by the Nigerian media which range from the ownership structure (most media outfits are owned by government or private individuals who are politically exposed persons and tend to undermine the independence of their media organisations); inclement business environment leading to high cost of production and low sales; under resourced media organisations (many media outfits owe their staff salaries and allowances, equipment are old and not regularly maintained, little or no budget for investigations) as well as government and terrorist harassments. There are also the problems of untrained citizens’ journalists operating via social media (e.g. bloggers); weak regulatory agencies and high mortality of media houses.

Jide Ojo

INEC, I opined, has a pivotal role to play in coordinating this strategic partnership with the Nigerian media. The commission must not only sustain its current robust engagements with the media but must also improve on it as part of its voter education strategy towards the 2015 polls.   The election stakeholders must work together as a team to ensure the delivery of free, fair, credible and violence free 2015 elections.

WRITTEN BY JIDE OJO

SOURCE: PUNCH NEWSPAPER

Sir Alex Ferguson's list of people to blame for David Moyes' failure at Man United

Sir Alex Ferguson and David Moyes

Sir Alex Ferguson has updated his autobiography, which was originally released a year ago, and in the new edition, he addresses the matter of David Moyes' brief reign as his successor at Manchester United.

Moyes inherited a Man United team that won the Premier League by an 11-point margin in Ferguson's final season. But when the former Everton manager's one and only season in charge came to an end a month after he was sacked, the Red Devils were seventh in the table. Luckily, Ferguson has outlined who is to blame for all of this.

But before we get to that, here's a reminder of how Moyes himself described the meeting with Ferguson that led to him taking over.

“I went in and the first thing he said to me was ‘I’m retiring’.

“I said ‘When?’, because he was never retiring and he said ‘next week’. “And his next words were ‘you’re the next Manchester United manager’.

“So I didn’t get the chance to say yes or no. I was told that I was the next Manchester United manager and that was enough.

“As you can imagine, the blood drained from my face. [...] But inside I was incredibly thrilled that I was going to be given the chance to manage Manchester United.”

To summarize, Ferguson didn't even give Moyes a choice in the matter. That's how certain he was that only David Moyes could carry on his success. And with that in mind, here's Alex Ferguson's list of what was to blame for this situation not working out (quotes via The Guardian)...

-Not Sir Alex Ferguson: First and foremost, David Moyes "hadn’t realized just how big United is as a club,” Ferguson writes. The real question should probably be whether someone who had never won a trophy or managed a "big club" was prepared for such a jump. But, like Sir Alex, let's skip that one.

-Not Sir Alex Ferguson: Was the selection process for his successor carried out properly, considering Moyes somehow didn't realize how big Man United were? Of course, says Sir Alex. He writes: “There appears to be an accepted view out there that there was no process. Nonsense. We feel we did everything the right way: quietly, thoroughly, professionally.”

-Not Sir Alex Ferguson: Was the squad he left behind simply not good enough? No way, says Sir Alex. He writes: "It was a rough season for a United fan and it was tough for me because I knew there were plenty of good players in our squad. They weren’t showing their form – and that seemed to place a huge weight on David’s shoulders.”

-Not Sir Alex Ferguson: Was the system he had in place antiquated? Of course not, says Sir Alex. He writes: “Antiquated was a bizarre description of the structure I left behind at Manchester United. Have you seen our new training ground?” Sadly, books don't have rimshots.

-Not Sir Alex Ferguson: Did he leave a team that was too old and destined to fall off? Preposterous, says Sir Alex. He writes: "Chelsea started the current season as favorites for the title, with a squad that also had six players in their 30s. I don’t hear any grumbles about the age of their group.”

-Not Sir Alex Ferguson: Did Moyes ruin everything by bringing in his own backroom staff instead of retaining the one Ferguson already had in place? You bet he did, says Sir Alex. He writes: “Maybe David felt that at such a massive club he had to be sure that all corners were covered in terms of his support system. I felt that network was already there, with plenty of great people already in important slots.”

But wait, didn't we already establish that Moyes didn't realize "just how big United is as a club"? If that was the case, why did he feel the need to have all corners covered at "such a massive club"? Surely Ferguson has an full and not at all contradictory explanation for why his ghost writer is 100 percent at fault for this discrepancy.

Anyway, there you have it. Blame for the problems that have befallen Manchester United in the wake of Sir Alex Ferguson's move from manager to club director fall solely on the unprepared guy who was given the job and not at all on the powerful man who decided to give it to him without even asking for his thoughts on the matter first. Autobiographical case closed. 

SOURCE: Yahoo! Sports

Removal of immunity clause’ll breed transparency -HURIWA

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria said on Monday that the recommendation for the removal of immunity clause for all the cadres of elected officers in the 1999 Constitution would institutionalize transparency.

The National Coordinator of the NGO, Mr Emmanuel Onwubiko, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.

“It is a positive development if the process of amending the constitution will result in this sweeping change because that is one basic way to institutionalize openness.

“It will also remove lawlessness on the part of the executives,” Onwubiko said.
Onwubiko said over the years, it had been erroneously believed that Section 308 (1) dealing with the immunity clause, amounted to a licence to commit illegalities.

He, however, said the removal of the clause would be meaningless if the public officers could manipulate the legislature.

Onwubiko said the amendment of the 1999 should also reflect true autonomy for both states and local governments.

He said it had become imperative for the immunity clause to be deleted from the constitution to allow for criminal cases to be filed against any public officer who abused his office.

He said, “The holders of these executive offices who hitherto see themselves as being above the law of the land will be forced to sit up and comply with the rule of law.

“It will help in making sure that the principle of accountability and transparency in governance are maintained.

“They will be well aware that should they commit any criminal offence any member of the civil society can file a case against them in a court of competent jurisdiction.”

Onwubiko, however, said there should be provisions that would make it difficult for opposition parties to take advantage of the amendment to frustrate the government of the day.

“There should be some legal safeguards and guidelines to avoid the pitfalls of opposition politicians latching in on the removal of the law to frustrate the smooth running of government,” he said.

SOURCE: PUNCH NEWSPAPER

Nigeria Needs Next Generation Leaders – Educationist

Moshood Bello, Guest Lecturer

Nigeria’s goal to industrialize and achieve its vision lies in the empowerment of the youths.

An entrepreneurial researcher at the University of Salford, Manchester, Mr. Bello Moshood stated this on Sunday in Lagos at the annual reportorial conference of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, Lagos State Area Unit.

Bello challenged participants at the conference with the theme, ‘Good people, good managers, good leaders,’ to develop themselves on leadership skills for them to move the nation forward when opportunity to serve comes.

According to him, “Nigeria needs a set of new generation leaders who are economically and morally upright for the nation to move forward.”

Also the Amir (President) of the society, Kaamil Kalejaiye charged members to have a change of attitude if truly they want to be good managers.

From Left: Faheed Olajide (President, Association of Africa Entrepreneurs), Moshood Bello (Entrepreneurial Researcher at the University of Salford, Manchester) Kaamil Kalejaiye (Amir, MSSN Lagos State Area Unit).

He emphasized the need for Nigerian youths to redefine what their roles are in Nation building, making reference to countries like United Arab Emirates, Sweden and Brazil where youths are regarded as pivot point.

A cross section of Nigerian youth at the Annual Conference

The event was held at the Amuwo Odofin Central Mosque, Lagos.

Muslim Students reject judgement on Hijab ban in Lagos ......Judgement against Hijab use, rape of the constitution, fundamental human right - MSSN Lagos

The Muslim Students Society of Nigeria, Lagos State Area Unit has frowned at the judgement delivered by Justice Grace Onyeabo of the Ikeja High Court, Lagos on the ban of hijabs in primary and secondary schools in the state.

Onyeabo had on Friday, September 17, 2014 dismissed and ruled against the use of hijab in schools, claiming it would affect the secular nature of Lagos State.

The judge, a christian, neglected and rejected numerous arguments presented to her, during the about two-year case, that sections of the Nigerian constitution and international laws guaranteed the freedom of religion, thoughts and conscience.

It will be recalled that MSSN Lagos had approached the court to seek end to the humiliation and harassment of female Muslims from using hijab.

One of the scenarios of harassment stated by the group was that on February 5, 2013, Aisha, a JSS II student of Kadara Junior High School, Ebute Metta was flogged forty three (43) strokes of cane on the assembly ground by her principal, Mrs. E.C Ukpaka, because Aisha did not to remove her Hijab after coming out of Islamic Religious Knowledge class, where it is ordinarily permitted to adorn Hijab.

MSSN Lagos also mentioned that on February 20, 2013, Bareerah Tajudeen of Mafoloku Senior Grammar School, Oshodi had her Hijab removed and trampled upon by her principal, Mrs. Elizabeth Omidele, outside the school premises. 

However, the society, through a press statement by its President, Alhaji Kaamil Kalejaiye said it rejected the judgement.

Kaamil explained that dismissing such a case with constitutional backings as grounds further proved the level of oppression and discrimination against Muslims.

He said, "It is shameful that the judge denied us a right that is not only Godly but constitutionally stated. Do we call that a misinterpretation of the constitution or rape of the code of law. We want to believe that the judge is not higher than the constitution and dictates of the constitution must stand at all times. While we remain undaunted and won't relent on our moves to get female pupils dress accordingly because it is their right, we reject in totality the judgement and urge every muslims to do so too.

"We are simply demanding our right and not a favour. This is one of the evils that has continued to dominate the Raji Fashola's administration. By Allah's will, the Governor and his anti-Islamic and oppressive policies will not be allowed to stay. Categorically, muslim students in Lagos are the worst hit by most of his policies and Allah's willing in 2015, any party who has continuously denied us of using Hijab will be denied our votes.

"We have started the sensitisation and mobilisation for our members, sympathizers and well-wishers which include parents and families of our members of over 4million here in Lagos to be politically ready for protest votes against anti-Islam parties come 2015 and Allah on our side we shall overcome.

"This is shockingly an evil from man to man and If some people or government think they can influence judgement on earth, they can't in heaven.  After demolishing mosques, cremating dead people, the state still wants to continue to encourage immoral dressing, it will fail! What it signifies to refuse Hijab is simply that you are asking our female pupils to begin to dress nakedly. It is shameful that we have found ourselves in a state where wrong acts are seen as the correct by some elements."

Kalejaiye insisted that the judgement would not have been fairly arrived at, giving the stance that the defendant lawyer, Femi Pedro (SAN) had in one of his positions argued and recognised the use of Hijab.

He also said since the government said it would allow the use of Hijab during Islamic Religion Knowledge classes and Jumaat prayer, the Judge should know that it was a permissible dressing ethics for female Muslims.

He added, "It is embarrassing to hear the judge say that allowing the freedom of religion for Muslims would affect faithful of other religions. This seems to be absolutely out of point as the mode of practise and doctrines of every religions are different. And the judge should have identified in the argument of the government counsel that Hijab is compulsory for Muslim females. 

"It will be recalled that the government's lawyer, Femi Pedro (SAN), had conceded that Hijab was "compulsory for Muslims that are adults". But how does he want an adult to begin to use what he/she has not been practicalising from youthful age? Of what use would it be to encourage muslim females to dress naked during their youthful age and covered when they grow? Islam is a perfect religion and it does not encourage any form of irregularities.

"There is contradiction between the judge and the provisions of the constitution because while the judge claims that Nigeria is a secular state, the constitution recognises two major religions, which are Islam and Christianity.  It must be noted that the government finances the schools with tax paid by our parents and indirect tax by us so we have the right to demand for our right in our schools. The government is only allowed to make policies that are within the confines of the constitution and not to its favour.  

"Even when we understand that this is a Christian agenda, we warn the judiciary not to compound the immoralities and segregation against Muslims as  promoted by the present state governor and his party. No wonder all those in the educational and judicial sectors are Christians plotted to deny Muslims of their rights."

Female President of the group, Hajia Hafsah Badru, added that since the secularity of the states that granted it was not disturbed, there was no basis for that to be a cause for denying the constitution to take its stand.

"It is mostly painful to us that the judge refused to recognise or state any punishment or defense for further oppression and harassment of female pupils. Our lawyer had told her how some of our pupils (claimants) were beaten and molested but no substantial comment was made on that.

"Some states in the South-West which include Ekiti have granted the use of Hijab in their schools and they don't have problem with maintaining their secularity as claimed by the judge. Why should Lagos be different? Wearing hijab is a constitutional act, must be allowed and seen as such," she added.

MSSN Lagos counsel, Chief Gani Adetola-Kassim (SAN), had after the judgement said an appeal would be filed.

He said, “Well the court has spoken  there are still very many issues to be considered which invariably means that we will appeal the

judgment.

“We are simply not satisfied with the court decision. The angle through which the court has looked at the issue is quite at variance with the provisions of the constitution. We will definitely appeal."

Breaking News: Court Upholds LASG Ban On Hijab In Public Schools

A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, western Nigeria, on Friday upheld the ban by the Lagos State Government on wearing of the Muslim headscarf popularly known as hijab by Muslim students in primary and secondary public schools in the state.

The Muslim Students of Nigeria, Lagos State Area Unit, MSSN-LSAU, had taken the Lagos State Government to court over the ban on the ground that it breached their fundamental human rights as Muslims.

Muslim women wearing hijab

The students group through their lawyer, Chief Adetola Kassim, had sought protection for Muslim students from being flogged, embarrassed and victimised for using hijab within and outside school premises.

The Lagos State Government in responding to the suit, insisted that hijab can only be used during special occasions such as religious classes and prayers among others.

Delivering judgment on the matter, Justice Grace Modupe Onyeabo upheld the ban.

The judge said the ban was not discriminatory and did not breach Sections 38 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution as claimed by the plaintiffs.

According to her, Section 10 of the Constitution makes Nigeria a secular state and the government must strive to preserve that secular nature.

She said public schools were owned and funded by government who therefore had the responsibility of issuing guidelines and dress codes for students.

The judge said the uniformity sought by the government in the issuance of the dress code would be destroyed should the prayers of the plaintiffs be granted.

She said: “The values of plurality and the respect for the rights of others who have subscribed to a non-faith based educational system cannot be breached.

“In that effect, the issue is resolved in favour of the respondents and the suit is accordingly dismissed.”

During the course of the trial,  MSSN-LSAU had alleged that some of their students were already being victimised by some teachers in public schools.

In one of the instances stated by MSSN-LSAU, an 11-year-old student of Kadara Junior High School, Ebute Metta, Aisha Alabi, was on 5 February, 2013, given 43 strokes of the cane on the assembly ground by her principal, Mrs. E.C. Ukpaka, for not removing her hijab after coming out of an Islamic Religious Knowledge class, where students are permitted to wear hijab.

The group further alleged that on 20 February, 2013,  Bareerah Tajudeen of Mafoluku Senior Grammar School, Oshodi similarly claimed that her hijab was removed and trampled upon by her principal, Mrs. Elizabeth Omidele, outside the school premises.

Muslim students in court

Chief Adetola in a 24- paragraph counter affidavit, claimed that “The headscarf is fundamental right as fully established in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We are not demanding for a full lent hijab, we have exhibited a photograph of a sample of hijab, which still represents their school identity.

“The colour of the hijab can conform to the school uniform. All we want is for the students to be allowed to use hijab. If beret and caps are allowed for female students, hijab shouldn’t be an exception.”

Chief Adetola said he will appeal the judgment.

“Well the court has spoken but there are still very many issues to be considered which invariably means that we will appeal the judgment. We are simply not satisfied with the court’s decision. The angle through which the court has looked at the issue is quite at variance with the provisions of the constitution. We will definitely appeal.”

SOURCE: PM NEWS