TheNewsGuru

Tag: Tension

  • Walking together: Religious and Community Leaders Escalating or De-escalating tensions, Stephen Ojapah

    Walking together: Religious and Community Leaders Escalating or De-escalating tensions, Stephen Ojapah

    Stephen Ojapah MSP

    Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). The Bible is filled with inspiring passages about friendship. Jesus refers to us as friends (John 15:12-15). He no longer calls us servants but friends, Jesus says, because a servant does not know his master’s business. “Instead,” he continues, “I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18: 24). When Job lost all his wealth, his friends stood by him when everyone deserted him: My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of a man he pleads with God as one pleads for a friend (Job 16: 20- 21).

    Amongst so many other factors of building a family or a community, friendship stands out as the most effective. Friendship that cuts across religious and ethnic divide is what we need as a people. Over the years, we have seen how religious and political leaders have tried to show this great example to the world. On the 4th of February 2019, Pope Francis signed a historic document on human fraternity alongside the grand Imam of Al-Alzhar, Sheikh Ahmed el Al-Tayeb. Pope Francis and the Grand Imam were of the opinion that friends don’t fight. If they develop friendship at the time of peace, they may not pick up arms against each other if war ever breaks out. What a noble wish and prayer!

    This wish and prayer is what the John Paul II center for Interreligious Dialogue (Vatican City, Rome) is seeking to fulfill on the 8th of September 2021 in collaboration with the Commission for Interreligious Dialogue and Ecumenism for the Diocese of Sokoto. The two organizations are holding a one day peace conference titled: Walking together: Religious and Community Leaders Escalating or De-escalating Tensions. This is an inter-faith initiative for peace in a community modeled after Pope Francis and Sheikh Ahmed. This initiative will gather close to a hundred participants, beginning from the traditional ruler of Malumfashi who is the Galadiman Katsina Hakimin Malumfashi, Honorable Justice Abdullahi Saddik Mahuta, to the Local Government Chairman of Malumfashi, Honorable Tsoho Mustapha. As you may recall, Malumfashi is the town where two priests were kidnapped on the 21st of May 2021 and one was eventually killed in the person of Fr Bello Alphonsus Yashim. Terrorists have tried hard to set us against each other. But we must rise against religious and ethnic sentiments to walk together, to de-escalate the tensions currently engulfing our land. Last week, we saw viral videos of some Muslim clerics calling for the death of Christians in Plateau state and some northern states if the federal government doesn’t respond to the killings in Jos of some Muslim pilgrims on their way from Bauchi to Oyo.

    Looking at how bad things are at the moment, it is almost impossible to imagine that real friendship once existed between Christians and Muslims; relationship that was devoid of any political or religious coloration. Audu Bako and the Christian Community in Kano can teach us something we are currently missing in our interpersonal relationships. When he was appointed military governor of the old Kano State in May 1967, Bako undertook reforms of the local governments which had been dominated by the traditional emirs. He sought to improve professionalism among local government employees while transferring some responsibilities to the State government. He said the reforms would strengthen the position of the Emirs in their traditional role as religious leaders.

    Bako built most of modern Kano’s landmark structures. The state Government Secretariat and the Audu Bako School of Agriculture in Dambatta were named after him. Bako was a strong supporter of women’s education. Using the teachings of the Shehu as justification, Bako established primary, secondary and teachers training colleges for women and children. He produced the first plan for developing and promoting tourism in the state in 1967. He established the Trade and Industry Division under the Ministry of Finance in 1968.

    In 1969, Bako started construction of the Bagauda Dam to supply the Kadawa Irrigation Project, precursor to the Kano Irrigation Project. Between 1970 and 1973, his administration built the much larger Tiga Dam, aiming to boost agricultural production through irrigation. He has been called the father of Kano’s green revolution. However, although well-intentioned, the dams caused considerable problems in the downstream Hadejia – Nguru wetlands, and turned out to have negative net economic value. His Tomas Danbatta Water Supply Scheme was later abandoned, only to be rehabilitated in 2008 and used to provide drinking water to communities in Dambatta, Makoda and Minjibir local government areas.

    Recently I took an extensive tour of the city of Kano. A city filled with incredible history and fascinating artifacts. At the Catholic Secretariat, I listened to a heartwarming story of the former military governor, Audu Bako. He is still loved and respected by the small Christian Community in Kano. He did a lot of good things for the people of Kano, but the one that stood out for them is his refusal to handover the Missionary Schools to the government as was the policy across the country during the takeover of schools by the government. Because of his friendship with the Irish Missionaries, Audu Bako saw beyond the political decision of handing over the schools to the government. St Louis Girls Secondary School Bompai and St Thomas Boys Secondary School Bompai are living testimonies of this gesture. Friendship most times does for us what official policies cannot achieve. Let’s build friendships across religious and ethnic divides. Long live the John Paul II Center for Interreligious Dialogue, Long live the Commission for Interreligious Dialogue and Ecumenism for the Diocese of Sokoto.

    Fr Stephen Ojapah is a priest of the Missionary Society of St Paul. He is equally the director for Interreligious Dialogue and Ecumenism for the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, a member of IDFP. He is also a KAICIID Fellow. (omeizaojapah85@gmail.com)

     

  • BREAKING: Tension as Court commences hearing in Igboho’s extradition case

    BREAKING: Tension as Court commences hearing in Igboho’s extradition case

    There was palpable tension on Thursday at the Court premises in Benin Republic over the extradition hearing of embattled Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho.

    The hearing commenced on Thursday afternoon after the country’s security operatives interrogated Igboho and his wife, Ropo.

    Meanwhile, supporters of the embattled agitator besieged the court premises to catch a glimpse of him and his wife, Ropo.

    The National Chairman of Ilana Omo Oodua, Prof Wale Adeniran, said: “He is in court with his wife. Hearing will commence shortly”.

     

  • I joined APC to help Buhari fight insecurity, reduce tension in Nigeria – Ayade

    I joined APC to help Buhari fight insecurity, reduce tension in Nigeria – Ayade

    Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State has shield more light on his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The governor explained that his desire to assist President Muhammadu Buhari deal with the challenges facing the country contributed to his defection to the party.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that Ayade moved to the APC from the PDP on Thursday after months of speculations but explained, however, that he had no issue with his former party.

    “As to whether there are issues in the PDP, no. The party stood by me all through the way,” the governor said in a monitored interview on Channels Television.

    “In any other legal issue that I have had, PDP had stood with me. PDP gave me the opportunity to be a senator; PDP gave me the opportunity to be governor. I would never have any time to pull down PDP. I have integrity, character, and honour. My politics have ethics. My decision to join APC is to join the President to reduce the tension in the country.”

    The governor also called on citizens to rally around President Buhari to help him combat the multidimensional issues facing the country which he says make him unhappy.

    “I feel depressed when the nation is challenged with security issues,” he noted. “Instead of us rising as an orgasmic whole to see how we can support the President to deal with these foreign herders that are colonising our various roads and farms, we rather sit back; we tend to create an impression as if the government is not doing well.”

    The Cross River leader also hinted that some governors on the platform of the PDP will soon join the ruling party, denying claims he defected to the APC because he suffered a huge loss at the recent PDP congress held in his state.

    “I am happy to announce to you that very soon, more governors are joining (the APC) because what we want to achieve is a country where we all can sit with the President and agree on our succession process, we don’t have to fight,” Ayade explained, but did not mention the governors.

    The former lawmaker also expressed joy over his defection to the ruling party, noting that his cabinet and other persons will soon move from the PDP.

    “All the chairmen of the local governments, almost all the House of Assembly members, most of the National Assembly members, my entire commissioners and cabinet today,” he added. “That is the amount of the political structure … in Cross River State, once the governor moves, everybody moves.”

  • SPECIAL REPORT: Tension mounts over increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Lagos

    SPECIAL REPORT: Tension mounts over increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Lagos

    The daily increasing number of confirmed novel coronavirus [COVID-19] cases in Lagos is beginning to turn a source of worry to both the government and the governed.

    1. TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that what started in February as a single imported case is now heading to thousands with high tendencies of recording more intimidating figures in the coming days/weeks.

    While the government can be said to have been at its best since the outbreak of the deadly virus, however, the overwhelming medical demands and attention of the densely populated state at this crucial time might just make that effort look like just ‘a drop of water in a mighty ocean’.

    With a poor testing culture, flagrant disobedience to social distancing rule, and the presidential stay-at-home order which has helped drastically reduced the spread of the virus in order climes, the state and indeed the country at large might be ignorantly heading for an unprecedented surge in the number of confirmed cases in the coming days/weeks. However, most worrying of all these is the unmotivated health workers and dilapidated state of public health facilities in Nigeria to handle above certain number of cases.

    TNG notes with concern that if the numbers keep going up at this alarming rate without a corresponding drastic intervention in the health sector, several lives may be lost to the pandemic.

    Lagos, owing to its commercial status in the country and continent, accounts for over 60 per cent of the entire confirmed cases in Nigeria. The deadly virus which was hitherto referred to by most average and low income residents as sickness of ‘big or rich man’ has now cleverly penetrated 17 out of the 20 federal government recognised local governments in the state according to the state’s health commissioner, Prof. Akin Abayomi in his briefing on Sunday, 18 April 2020.

    A close analysis of the confirmed cases reveal that some of those infected do not have any travel history (local or foreign) or close contact with an infected person. To paint a clearer picture of the worsening situation, the Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu said 26% of the total COVID-19 cases in Nigeria, as at Wednesday, April 22, were untraceable to any source. In other words, Nigeria’s coronavirus situation is now gradually moving to a communal infection stage, starting from Lagos.

    TNG reports that on Friday, April 24, Nigeria surpassed 1000 confirmed COVID-19 cases with Lagos accounting for 657 of the cases according to the latest data released by the NCDC.

    We might have to be more strict in enforcing stay-at-home order – Official

    Worried by the increasing numbers and obvious disregard for the stay-at-home presidential directives, the state government which has received accolades from far and near on its early handling of the pandemic is considering more strict approaches in enforcing the preventive directives.

    “Yes, we have been on our toes since the first case surfaced but it seems a section of the populace are still nursing the ignorant belief that the whole COVID-19 thing is a set up or scam. The recent high and low profile deaths in Nigeria and around the world should have cleared their doubts but I wonder why this category of people chose to be ignorantly stubborn. We won’t fold our arms and allow these few ignorant people ruin the lives of the majority who have been law abiding and alert since the outbreak of the deadly virus in Lagos,” a top government official who spoke anonymously said.

    Asked if the facilities and health workers were overwhelmed with the increasing cases, he said: “They are not. We are lucky to have a governor who has demonstrated leadership by example from his first day in office. Governor Sanwo-Olu and other top government officials have been leading with good examples. They are not going to sleep while asking the health workers to face the hazards alone. You can see the governor already approved a 400% increase in the hazard allowance of all health workers in the state for the month of April.

    The workers are highly motivated and professional in discharging their duties at this crucial time. The state is also building more isolation centres. Soon, all the local governments and LCDAs will have one like the sample collection centres that are now widespread in the state. The governor commissioned that of Eti-Osa on Wednesday. So I’ll say the state is equal to the task. And we are also appealing to the public to inform appropriate authorities whenever they notice symptoms of the virus. They should also endeavour to stay home to reduce the chances of contacting the virus.”

    Why it’s impossible for us to stay home – residents

    Meanwhile, some residents have explained why the stay-at-home order might not work for them despite the risks of contacting the virus. Many of them insisted that their survival depended on their daily hustles and the palliatives announced by both government and private coalitions have not gotten to them.

    ‘You can’t ask me to stay at home when you have not mapped out my survival plans. I am neither a civil servant nor a salary earner. I gave up hopes of securing a job long ago when I roamed the streets of Lagos for years searching for a job that never existed. I acquired new skills and have since become my own boss and even helped others along the line. I work everyday including Sundays. That is my only hope of survival. If you want me to stay at home, then you must priotise my feeding and that of my family. I stayed home for close to one week and exhausted all that I had in savings. Since then, its been extremely difficult putting food on the table. My wife and children are not happy because there is no food and money. I feel worthless as a man, husband and father. The government should take care of my primary needs and I will gladly stay at home. Hunger kills faster than any virus no matter how deadly,’ Taiye, an educated and popular artisan said.

    ‘Oga nobody is happy running everywhere looking for money. It is responsibilities and the fear of hunger that makes it look like people are disobedient or stubborn. And that is why some desperate ones even resort to stealing. I know the dangers of moving around in a lockdown especially during a pandemic but our governments are simply not helping matters. I’ve not received a dime from anyone since the beginning of the lockdown. Families and friends are not willing to help because they are facing same challenges too. So how do I keep my integrity and still feed and cater for basic needs if I just sit at home doing nothing?,’ another resident curiously asked.

    While it is not clear how the state government can make its teeming low income residents stay home and observe social distancing if they must step out, however a much more effective palliative distribution can prove effective. People tend to be more relaxed and law abiding during crisis when the burden of what to eat is lifted off their shoulders.

  • Tension in Ekiti as suspected Fulani herdsmen kill local hunter

    Tension in Ekiti as suspected Fulani herdsmen kill local hunter

    Palpable tension gripped residents of Orin-Ekiti in Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State on Saturday following the murder of a hunter by suspected fulani herdsmen in the town.

    The hunter, Emmanuel Ilori was said to have been killed at the midnight while hunting for animals with some of his colleagues.

    This gory incident occurred barely 48hrs after a female undergraduate identified as Maria was killed in her father’s farm in Ise-Ekiti by unknown gunmen.

    Mr. Adeniyi Ajayi, a hunter escaped during the incident alleged that Ilori was killed by Fulani herdsmen.

    Ajayi said: “We met the herdsmen numbering about thirty in the abandoned piggery farm in the town.

    “And we attempted to inquire about what they were doing in the farm. Suddenly, they brought out rifles shooting at our direction.Thus, resulting to the death of Mr. Ilori”.

    The lucky hunter claimed that the herdsmen were kidnappers using the forest as hideout to perpetrate heinous acts.

    It was gathered that the corpse of the hunter have been taken away by security officers for further investigation.

    The residents of the community dropped out in large numbers to staged a protest over the incident.

    They barricaded the major roads and made burn fire to express their displeasure over the killing.

    Addressing journalists during the protest, High chief Francis Falua and Chairman of Rice Farmers in Ekiti State, Mr kolawole Rotimi berated the uncontrollable attacks by the Fulani herdsmen in the community.

    They disclosed that few months back the ‘evil genius’ herdsmen allegedly killed a pregnant woman and her unborn baby.

    They, however, appealed to Governor Kayode Fayemi to take proactive steps to curtail the lingering herdsmen menace in the State before it get out of hand.

    When contacted, the Ekiti Police Command Spokesman, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu confirmed the incident, saying they have put in place watertight security architecture to comb the forest and arrest the perpetrators.

  • Tension as Boko Haram notifies military of fresh attack

    Boko Haram insurgents have threatened another attack on the military base at Jiddari-Polo, Maiduguri.

    The terrorists on Monday attacked farmers in the area, hacking four to death while one was left with severe injuries.

    One of the survivors of the Monday attack, Mala Umara, told AFP that the terrorists came in large numbers.

    “They came in large numbers and killed four and left the other man seriously injured,” the 75-year-old farmer said.

    The insurgents were believed to belong to the Abubakar Shekau group.

    Umara, added that while sparing him, the insurgents instructed him to tell the Nigerian Army to prepare for another attack.

    “They asked me to deliver a message to the soldiers that they should be prepared for an attack soon,” the septuagenarian told AFP.

    Another survivor, Abba Muhammad, said, “Five of them encircled me, but I instinctively bolted.”

    The attack was also confirmed by a local militia leader, Babakura Kolo.

     

  • Tension as herdsmen attack, kill two people returning from Catholic priests’ burial

    Tension as herdsmen attack, kill two people returning from Catholic priests’ burial

    There was pandemonium again in Benue State as persons suspected to be Fulani herdsmen attacked and killed two people along the Naka/Makurdi Road.

    The incident was said to have occurred on Tuesday while the deceased were returning from the burial of the Catholic priests and 17 parishioners killed by herdsmen earlier in the week.

    The deceased, who were said to be riding on a motorcycle, were said to have been ambushed by the herdsmen who reportedly slaughtered them.

    Naka/Makurdi road, which is a federal road, has been abandoned for a long time due to the activities of herdsmen along the federal highway.

    A native who confirmed the incident said, “The two men were returning from the burial of the Catholic priests and the parishioners when they were attacked by herdsmen.

    “Naka/Makurdi highway has been abandoned since herdsmen invaded Naka a few weeks ago. Anyone coming to Makurdi from Naka has to pass through the major road to Taraku, making the journey of 30 minutes’ drive to result in two and a half hours’ journey.

    “I think the deceased just decided to take the route; unfortunately, they were killed,” the local said.

    Efforts to get the state Police public relations officer, ASP, Moses Yamu, were not successful, as he did not respond to his call.

    The state governor, Samuel Ortom, however confirmed this while receiving in audience on Thursday, the Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka.

    “Killing is still ongoing. Just on Tuesday, two people returning from the burial were killed along Naka/Makurdi road,” Ortom told his visitor.

  • Tension as FAAN blows up unclaimed Hajj luggage at MMA

    Tension as FAAN blows up unclaimed Hajj luggage at MMA

    There was panic at the Hajj and Cargo Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos on Tuesday after the Bomb Control Unit of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria used an explosive device to blow up an unclaimed bag that was abandoned at the terminal.

    According to FAAN, the incident happened at about 9.30am after the departure of the fourth flight that conveyed pilgrims from the airport’s Hajj Terminal to Saudi Arabia.

    FAAN’s General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, who confirmed the incident, however, refuted rumours of a bomb scare at the Hajj and Cargo Terminal of the MMA.

    Explaining what happened at the facility in a statement she issued on Tuesday, Yakubu said, “At about 9:30 am, an unattended bag was noticed at the Hajj and Cargo Terminal after the departure of the 4th flight for the intending pilgrims.

    “The chief security officer of the Federal Airports Authority, Hajj and Cargo Terminal, as well as the Bomb Disposal Unit, were contacted and (they) began the process of finding out the owner and the content of the bag.”

    She added, “No one claimed ownership of the bag, so the decision to blow up the bag using an explosive device was made, which in turn caused some panic amongst the second batch of intending pilgrims waiting.”

    Yakubu stated that after the detonation, it was discovered that the bag contained some copies of an Islamic guide that was meant to guide pilgrims with regards to their journey.

    FAAN, therefore, advised passengers to be cautious of their belongings and ensure that all properties were securely kept, adding that it would like to assure the general public that there was no bomb and the Hajj and Cargo Terminal was safe and secure for flight operations.

  • #RiversRerun: Tension as result sheet in Amaechi’s unit misses

    #RiversRerun: Tension as result sheet in Amaechi’s unit misses

    Voting has been suspended at unit 14 ward 8, Ubima community, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, the unit of the Transportation Minister, Hon. Chibuike Amaechi.

    This followed the discovered that Form EC8A is missing.

    The development raised anxiety as angry youths apprehended the Presiding Officer, PO, Siminore Oshinokho.

    They urged him to provide the missing materials, else ‘heads will roll.’

    But the PO, who had earlier collected and signed the original result sheet for ward 8 unit 14, said the form was misplaced and will be provided.