Nothing exciting about latest reshuffle – Nana Akomea

News Ghana
-
0

NPP’s Communication Director, Nana Akomea, says President Mills’ latest reshuffle will add nothing new to the government.

President John Mills in his last reshuffle before his term expires early next year has brought on board Member of Parliament (MP) for Ablekuma South, Fritz Baffoe, and the MP for Nabdam, Moses Asaga.

Fritz Baffoe will be heading the Information Ministry while Moses Asaga takes oversight responsibility at the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare.

To many political pundits, the president’s latest reshuffle is important, going into an election year.

However, to Nana Akomea, “nothing is exciting about the reshuffle”.

To him, the resignation of former Education Minister, Betty Mould-Iddrisu is more dramatic and should generate the needed questions; not a reshuffle.

The NPP had called on the then Education Minister who was serving as Ghana’s Attorney General when the judgment debt were paid; to resign but, Nana Akomea said though she has resigned, questions still remain as to the main reason why she did.

“We don’t know if she resigned because of our call; that is, if she has resigned because of the role she played in the loss of 928 billion cedis to the state; or she resigned on health grounds; or she resigned because she didn’t like her job as a minister”, he told Xfm 95.1 in an interview, adding, “we hear she has been appointed as a high commissioner to South Africa which is very strange; for a senior cabinet minister to be appointed as a high commissioner; which is lower than a deputy minister. So it’s all very strange; we need to be told why”.

“Because the matter involves corruption and the massive loss of gargantuan fund, we need to know the reason why she has resigned. Anything short of that, the case will still not be closed”, he said.

A statement which indicated President John Mills’ acceptance of Betty Mould-Iddrisu’s resignation stated that she did not want to be a hindrance to the president’s Better Ghana agenda. But Nana Akomea is not convinced.

He asked, “why will she be a hindrance to the better Ghana agenda? Is it because of some gargantuan mistake that she has done? We just need to be told. In what way has she been a hindrance to the Better Ghana agenda? When we have the reasons, then we can interrogate the matters. And the people of this country deserve answers to how come this government paid up 928 billion cedis to an NDC financier when we have so many basic everyday needs of the people that are not satisfied”.

Source: Joy Online

Turkey: Police raid of NGOs offices in Diyarbakir

William Nicholas Gomes
-
0

16 January, 2012

Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan,

Prime Minister

Office of the Prime Minister

Basbakanlik 06573 Ankara,

Turkey,

Fax: + 90 312 417 0476;

E-mail: [email protected]

Re: Turkey: Police raid of NGOs offices in Diyarbakir

Dear Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan,

I have been informed by the Human Rights Association (IHD) about the police raid of the offices of its Diyarbakir branch as well as that of the General Centre of the Public Workers’ Trade Union (KESK), the Education Workers’ Trade Union (Egitim-Sen), the Kurdish Language Research and Development Association (Kurdi-Der) and the Solidarity Association For Prisoners’ and Convicts’ Relatives (Tuhay-Der).

According to the information received, in the early morning of January 13, 2012, the anti-terrorism unit of the police raided on the basis of an illegal search warrant[1] the offices in Diyarbakir of IHD, KESK, Egitim-Sen, Kurdi-Der and Tuhay-Der, in the framework of a wide ranged anti-terrorist operation intended to dismantle an alleged terrorist network – the Kurdish Communities Union (KCK)[2] – that in fact targets peaceful activists from the Kurdish community who are not related to any terrorist activities, including human rights defenders and associations. The police confiscated computers found on the premises of all organisations. All were later returned except those confiscated in IHD’s offices.

I denounce the continuing harassment of human rights defenders and organisations in Turkey, and particularly IHD members, members of trade unions and those fighting against the impunity of serious crimes and calling for a peaceful resolution of the Kurd question, which seems to merely aim at sanctioning their human rights activities. To that extent, the Observatory recalls that several IHD members are currently in pre-trial detention, notably Mr. Muharrem Erbey, IHD General Vice Chairperson and Chairperson of its Diyarbakir Province branch who had been detained since December 2009, Mr. Arslan Özdemir, Ms. Roza Erdede, IHD members in Diyarbakir[3], Mr. Ragip Zarakolu, Honorary Board Member and Founder of IHD and publisher, and Ms. Büsra Ersanli, lecturer at the Marmara University Faculty of Political Sciences and International Relations in Istanbul[4], members of associations of families of victims of abusive anti-terrorism policies[5] and lawyers[6]. Dozens of other human rights defenders remain in provisional release pending the outcome of criminal trials on alleged terrorism charges[7].

Accordingly, I call upon the Turkish authorities to put an end to the continuing harassment against human rights associations and defenders and urges the Turkish authorities to stop raids and release all human rights defenders held in detention immediately and unconditionally, since their detention is arbitrary.

I urge you guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Ragip Zarakolu, Ms. Büsra Ersanli, Mr. Muharrem Erbey, Mr. Arslan Özdemir and Ms. Roza Erdede as well as all other members of IHD, KESK, Egitim-Sen, Kurdi-Der and Tuhay-Der, members of associations of families of victims of abusive anti-terrorism policies and lawyers, and in general, all human rights defenders in Turkey.

I also urge you please  release immediately and unconditionally Mr. Ragip Zarakolu, Ms. Büsra Ersanli, Mr. Muharrem Erbey, Mr. Arslan Özdemir and Ms. Roza Erdede as well as members of associations of families of victims of abusive anti-terrorism policies and lawyers who are currently detained, since their detention is arbitrary as it only aim at sanctioning their human rights activities;

Please put an end to all acts harassment, including at the judicial level, against Mr. Ragip Zarakolu, Ms. Büsra Ersanli, Mr. Muharrem Erbey, Mr. Arslan Özdemir and Ms. Roza Erdede as well as all other members of IHD, KESK, Egitim-Sen, Kurdi-Der, Tuhay-Der, members of associations of families of victims of abusive anti-terrorism policies and lawyers and, in general, all human rights defenders in Turkey;

I also urge you please  comply with the provisions of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, especially its Article 1, which states that “everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels”, as well as Article 12.2, which provides that “the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration.

More generally, ensure in all circumstances the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with international and regional human rights instruments ratified by Turkey.

I thank you for your consideration of my recommendations. Please be reassured of my highest regards.

Sincerely yours,

William Nicholas Gomes

William’s Desk

www.williamgomes.org

[1][1] The warrant was issued by the Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 10 on the demand of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecution Office in violation of rules governing jurisdiction. According to the law, only the Diyarbakir Chief Public Prosecution Office has the jurisdiction to apply for a search warrant concerning an association located in Diyarbakir province.

[2][2] A body said to be the “urban front” of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

[3][3] See Observatory Annual Report 2011.

[4][4] See Observatory Urgent Appeal TUR 003 / 1111 / OBS 121, issued on November 3, 2011.

[5][5] See Observatory Urgent Appeal TUR 002 / 1011 / OBS 119, issued on October 25, 2011.

[6][6] See Observatory Joint Open Letter, December 16, 2011.

[7][7] See Observatory Annual Report 2011.

SRI LANKA: Do not protect an accused charged before a court of law

William Nicholas Gomes
-
0

The Honourable Shanthi Eva Wanasundara
Attorney General
Attorney General’s Department
Colombo 12
SRI LANKA

Fax: +94 11 2 436421
E-mail: [email protected]

Dear Ms. Wanasundara,

I have learned from  Asian Human Rights Commission  of your decision  to take over the prosecution of a Private Plaint filed in the Magistrate’s Court of Panadura, without the consent of the Complainant of the said case, upon an application and representations made by and on behalf of the Accused who is a Superintendent of Police. The case bears No. 92368 (Private Plaint)

The decision of the Attorney General was communicated to Court by the Senior State Counsel who appeared in Court on December 15, 2011, in the case referred to.

The accused in this case is Lesly Hamilton Gregory Cooray who was the Superintendent of Police for Panadura area, at the time that the alleged incident took place. The Complainant is M. Nishantha Fernando Jayawardena.

By this decision you will be protecting an accused charged before a court of law. This is very opposite to what an Attorney General who exercises the public prosecutors role is suppose to do. This is dangerous to the nation as  it undermines the rule of law. Your role is to protect the rule of law and not to undermine it. Thus this is gross abuse of your powers. The AG’s power to exercise nolle proseque ( Not to prosecute), should not be so trivially used in violation of the principle of equality before law.

We do not know whether this is done due to political pressure or on your own initiative. Whatever, be the reason there is no excuse for threatening the rule of law in this manner.

Besides, you are depriving a citizen a right to a remedy. That is the worst that can be done to a victim of crime. Sri Lankan Government is duty bound to provide all citizens remedy for the crimes they suffer. This also an international obligation under Article 2 of Civil and Political Rights Covenant, ICCPR.

In recent times former AG’s have abused their powers and there is on going public criticism on that score. Your action will further bring bad image to the institution you are heading.

We urge you to review your illegal and wrong decision in this case. And withdraw your takeover of this prosecution with the view to withdraw it and thus help an accused who is charged in a court of law. By withdrawing this decision your will assist in rebuilding much damaged national stability and also respect the rights of a citizen to pursue justice, which is been so badly sabotaged.

For further details please read the AHRC statement

Yours sincerely,
William Nicholas Gomes

William’s Desk

www.williamgomes.org

Iran: Summons of Dr. Mohammad Maleki to serve a one-year prison term

William Nicholas Gomes
-
1

January 26, 2012

Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,

President

the Presidency, Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection,

Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran,

Fax: + 98 21 649 5880.

E-Mail: [email protected]

Re: Iran: Summons of Dr. Mohammad Maleki to serve a one-year prison term
Dear Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,

I have been informed by Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), regarding the following situation in Iran.

New information:

I hav been informed by the Iranian League for the Defence of Human Rights (LDDHI) of the summons of Dr. Mohammad Maleki to serve a one-year prison term.

According to the information received, on January 23, 2012, Dr. Mohammad Maleki, founding member of the Iranian Association for the Defence of Liberty and Human Rights (IADLHR)[1], was summoned to Evin prison to serve a one-year prison term (See background information) and was given three days to go to prison. He stands a high risk of arrest at any time.

I condemn the judicial harassment of Dr. Mohammad Maleki since it seems to merely aim at sanctioning his human rights activities and expresses its deep concern about the ongoing attempts to hinder the peaceful activities of human rights defenders in Iran.

Background information:

Dr. Maleki spent five years in prison from July 1981 to August 1986 as a result of his strong objection to the closure of universities. He was also arrested on March 12, 2001 and spent more than six months in solitary confinement without trial.

On August 22, 2009, Dr. Mohammad Maleki was again arrested after the presidential election for having boycotted the 2009 presidential election and protesting the post-election abuses and spent more than six months in detention in Evin prison before being released on bail in March 2010. He was then accused of contacts with opposition groups. During his detention, he was hospitalised several times owing to a heart attack and other physical problems including prostate cancer. He was also reportedly denied access to an adequate treatment[2].

His trial, which was initially scheduled at Branch 28 of the Islamic Revolution Court for July 27, 2011, was then re-scheduled to July 30, 2011 due to the refusal of the accused to attend the trial[3]. Dr Maleki then attended the court, but refused to defend himself and said he would not appeal the sentence, because he considered the court of first instance to be illegal. He had initially faced the charge of “moharebeh” (fighting God), “insulting the founder of the Islamic Republic Ayatollah Khomeini and Ayatollah Khamanei” (the incumbent leader) but was finally sentenced on the charge of “propaganda against the system.”

In September 2011, he wrote a brief report to the UN Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment on the tortures he had suffered during his prison terms and was subsequently interrogated and received a notice banning him from travelling abroad.

Actions requested:

i.        Please guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of Dr. Mohammad Maleki as well as that of all human rights defenders and their families in Iran;

ii.        Put an end to any kind of harassment – including at the judicial level – against Dr. Mohammad Maleki and more generally against all human rights defenders in Iran.

iii.       I urge you to conform in any circumstances with the provisions of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted on December 9, 1998 by the United Nations General Assembly, in particular:

–       its article 1, which states that “everyone has the right, individually or in association with others, to promote the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels”;

–       its article 5.b, which states that “everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, at the national and international levels, (…) to form, join and participate in non-governmental organizations, associations or groups”;

–       its article 12.2 which provides that “the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration”;

iv. More generally    ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with international human rights standards and international instruments ratified by Iran.

Thank you for taking into consideration our concerns and recommendations.

Sincerely yours,

William Nicholas Gomes

William’s Desk

wwww.williamgomes.org

Cc:

·       Leader of the Islamic Republic, His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei, The Office of the Supreme Leader, Shahid Keshvardoost St., Jomhuri Eslami Ave., Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, Faxes: + 98 21 649, + 98 21 649 / 21 774 2228, E-Mail: [email protected]

·       Head of the Judiciary, His Excellency Ayatollah Sadeq Larijani, Ministry of Justice, c/o Public relations Office, Number 4, 2 Azizi Street, Vali Asr Ave., above Pasteur Street intersection, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, Fax: +98 21 879 6671 / +98 21 3 311 6567, Email: [email protected] / [email protected] / [email protected]

·       Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Abdolmajid Keshk-e Mesri Av, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, Fax: +98-21-66743149, Email: [email protected]

·       H.E. Mr. Seyed Mohammad Reza Sajjadi, Ambassador, Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Chemin du Petit-Saconnex 28, 1209 Geneva, Switzerland, Fax: +41 22 7330203, Email: [email protected]

·       Embassy of Iran in Brussels, 15 a avenue Franklin Roosevelt, 1050 Bruxelles, Belgium, Fax: + 32 2 762 39 15. Email: [email protected]

Mills Must Step Down -Kumah

News Ghana
-
0

…John Kumah

A leading member of the Alliance For Accountable Governance (AFAG) and a member of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) communication team, Mr. John Kumah has stated that Professor Mills must step down as President before the December 2012 general elections.

In an interview with the Front Page, he said Prof. Mills has disappointed Ghanaians by saying that he did not know anything about the payment of the judgment debt to Mr. Alfred Abgesi Woyome which has become the issue of the day. He explained that the amount that was doled out to Mr. Woyome alone can improve the lives of Ghanaians in terms of good roads, good drinking water, schools, health-care and other basic amenities.

A fire-brand in the NPP communication team, John Kumah elaborated that as at now, Mr. Woyome has not being able to prove to the world that he had a contract with the previous government and so he deserved that kind of money, yet the NDC and Prof. Mills see nothing wrong with it and allowed those who connived with Mr. Woyome to go scot free.

He said, “once his ministers are disappointed and are now resigning from their positions, it goes to indicate the fact that, President Mills himself must also resign because he has disappointed Ghanaians”.

Mr. Kumah told this papers that AFAG will never allow the gargantuan crime which the former Attorney General (A-G) Mr. Martin Amidu alleged is going on will never be allowed to be swept under the carpet by the Prof. Mills-Ahwoi-Mahama administration.

The AFAG leading member noted that they will use the rule of law to let truth the come out even if not under this government. “We are sure Ghanaians have seen the difference between the NPP government and the NDC government and by the grace of God NPP will come back to power to correct all the mistakes of this NDC ‘sie me preko’ administration”, he concluded.

Source: Front Page Newspaper

ON NIGERIA POLICE AND OTHER SECURITY AGENCIES

News Ghana
-
0

On Nigeria Police and other security agencies
By Samuel Noah Oluwafemi
Thursday, January 26, 2012

Late Ojukwu

There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.- Albert Einstein. Albert Einstein; an all-time inscrutable scholar, in the context of my thought summarized this article in the fore-going witty axiom. Nigeria, like so many other countries within the Africa region seems to be fulfilling a part of this truism while other rational countries are on the other divide.

In advanced climes where everything works without agitation or demand from the populace, citizens have been relieved of the burden of having to call on God to solve all their problems including those He has already delegated. For example, citizens do not have to trust God for basic amenities that should define the existence of humans in the first place.

The opposite, however, holds true for Nigeria. We have to pray and ask God just about anything ranging from putting roof over our heads, to putting food on our tables, and providing clothes for us to put on. We also trust Him to be our security personnel – I only wonder how much we will be willing to pay Him for all these services at the end of the month, if He were to charge us or remove subsidy from them. Amusingly, we now even pray for him to turn water into petrol after he has given us the resource in large quantity!

While the developed climes have used their ingenuity to better the living condition of the larger percentage of the populace, ours have been the opposite. While citizens in economies that have applied the principles of love, integrity and trust are enjoying the eventual benefits, Nigerians often will have to seek God’s face for miracles in order to ave such benefits. Therefore, as the great scientist puts it, there are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle – just in the case of access to basic amenities by most people in developed world. The other is as though everything is a miracle – obviously this resonates with our condition in Nigeria.

One of such conditions we obviously live in today is in the area of safety. Safety in this context is not restricted to the recent threat from Boko Haram but most importantly, this has to do with those who are paid to defend and ensure we are secured. An average Nigerian now trusts a vigilante over men of the Nigerian Police Force. The reason, however, is not far-fetched as police and some other security agencies have proven anti-people in critical moments when Nigerians are in dire need of their services.

Each time I read in the dailies of how Nigerians are killed over discomfited arguments with our national security operatives, I get disturbed. Within October 2011 to January 2012 alone, over five Nigerians have been buried from the killings of trigger-happy Nigerian policemen. On Sunday 16th October 2011 for example, Victor Emmanuel, 20years, was guned down while coming from Church on the account of challenging a police request of some sort in Bayelsa State. Most gruesome of the story is the killing of this 20-year-old right before Mrs. Victor Grace, the mother; a woman who has for 20 good years nurtured the young man.

As it is our culture to respond to issues while the memory is still fresh, House of Representative adopting a motion sponsored by Honorable Warman Ogoriba (PDP, Bayelsa), mandated its committees on Police, Human Rights and Justice to investigate the matter and report back in two weeks. That was in October 2011. We hope a report has been submitted and not just submitted, but the appropriate action taken against the culprit. I am sure most Nigerians will want to know what the current development about the case is.

Between that incident in October last year and January 2012, many other inhumane acts have been committed by the men of the Nigeria Police. Report has it that from January 1 to January 14 alone, not less than 4 people have been confirmed dead through the bullets of our supposed security custodians. Ademola Aderinto, 25, on the 9th of January 2012, though not part of the protest for the fuel subsidy removal, but playing football with friends in the Agege area of Lagos, was reported to have been shot and consequently died in his own pool of blood!

What is the worth of a Nigerian life to a Nigerian police? It was confirmed that another of those shot at the same venue as Ademola later died in the hospital that same day and others sustained several degrees of injuries. The police officials at the nearest station which happens to be the division in which the concerned culprit is attached even refused giving out a police report in order for hospital to treat the others who were also wounded until a reporter intervened.

While we wait on the House of Reps on their enquiry into the killing of Victor Emmanuel, we also hope Lagos State commissioner of Police will ensure that justice is done to the killer of Ademola and others who have been fell by the bullets of our security personnel. Above all, we hope the Inspector General of Police and other security chiefs will find lasting solution to this.
I sincerely hope that one day; Nigerians will not need a miracle in order to enjoy the benefits of the Nigeria police and other security agencies.

Oluwafemi writes from Lagos

ADAPTATIONS…A MIRROR ON NIGERIA

News Ghana
-
0

Adaptations…a mirror on Nigeria
By THERESA ONWUGHALU
Thursday, January 26, 2012

With his eyes set on nation building, John Oyewole Adenle who teaches art at the Federal College of Education, Osiele Abeokuta, recently showcased 35 plastic sculptural pieces tagged Adaptations. Though his first solo exhibition, Adenle has participated in several group exhibitions over the years. He is currently a doctoral student for his PhD. in Art Therapy at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He explained how he was inspired by Igbaro and Raqib Basorun’s works.

Expectedly, the exhibition held at Yusuf Grillo Art Gallery, Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Yaba, Lagos, attracted other notable artists and art lovers. Some of the works include Ori-yeye-ni-mogun, Unequally-yoked, Kokoro to n jefo, Hydra-headed and Reverse. Ori-yeye-ni-mogun, which is made of plastics and fibre glass, is the first work carried out by Adenle in the progression of his experimentation with plastics. It depicts the plight of the downtrodden in society. The work literarily shows how hundreds of innocent masses suffer for offences not committed by them.

The mixed media work, National Cake, is symbolic of the reckless way the revenue of the country is being shared at the centre especially by the National Assembly. Apart from legislating outrageous increases of their salaries and wages, they share and eat allocations meant for their constituencies without giving back to the electorates. They have not only caused political decadency but have also made democracy to be expensive at the expense of economic development.

The artwork reveals the scrambling at the centre for national cake and the hunger and starvation represented by the dry bones at the four corners of the work. The thirty-six assembled bottles symbolize the lawmakers from the thirty-six states of the federation and they are united in their unwholesome politics of eating the nation to the bone marrow.

The piece, Unequally-yoked, is a fabricated plastics which depicts how Nigeria exists only as a geographical entity. It is now clear that Nigeria, a nation so complex in nature and culture ought not to have been amalgamated together as one. This fact has also led to civil war and in recently, led to fight for resource control, sectional militancy and tribalism. The plastic arrangement of the artwork outlines the map of Nigeria showing jumbled components that are forcefully joined in a marriage of inconvenience. The colours of the component plastics are in sharp contrast against one another. The black background also signified uncertainty that has already enveloped the nation and how it challenges national unity. The spotted red plastic at the Delta area of the country may as well translate to the fact that our oil may be our time bomb if no discussion is facilitated at a national conference table.

Kokoro to n jefo is made of both wood and plastics. It is a prefix of a Yoruba proverb that translates as: ‘The insect that infests a vegetable resides in its stems’. The insects or cankerworms that milk the national resources are not ghosts, they reside among the people. The work shows a design replicating the effects of ants’ infestation on wood. These people are the politicians and leaders who are merely interested in what they can benefit from. One may also be surprised that the corruption at the surface may be a child’s play compared to the internal invasion already caused by the ‘pests’. This work warns of the imminent explosion if the system is not fumigated with truth, probity and uprightness.

Hydra-headed is a plastic work that depicts the nature of Nigeria’s multiple problems. Each national problem is hydra-headed as the works reveals. This means each big problem has smaller ones. The work is a monster-like figure with multiple heads. Each head can be interpreted as representing each problem including insecurity, power failure, corruption, religious conflict, tribal war and sectional militancy among others. Reverse, another plastic work, explains the paradox of our growth and development, which is a mirage says the artist “We think we are moving forward yet in the reverse. We move one step forward and two steps backwards.” As much as the artist wishes to see Nigeria moving forward, he keeps seeing an inverted image that is bemused by roughness, coarseness and stone-heartedness.

Adeola M. Balogun, curator of the exhibition said the exploration of plastics both in two and three dimensional formats reveal a passionate experimentalist and environmentali0st in Adenle, while Dr. Kunle Filani, the Provost, Federal College of Education, Abeokuta, , described Adenle as creatively curious, versatile and experimentally restless. Also Odubiyi James Abiodun, Head, Department of Fine and Applied Arts, Federal College of Education, Osiele Abeokuta, said “Form this collection, we are brought into the world of Adenle as a passionate sculpture who expresses his talent through works of art. Apart from his duty as an academic, he has established himself as a frontline artist whose works and wealth of experience would inspire younger artists.”

Mr. Kehinde Adepegba, Art and Industrial Design Department, Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu, noted that Adenle is one of those artists who are deeply touched by the new spectacle of socio-political debacle in Nigeria after 51 years of independence.
“Through Adaptations, Adenle has expressed his innermost contemplation about the socio-political state of the nation. He does not only projects the problems for all to see but also offers solution in works titled: Angelic Visit and Voyage,” Adepegba said.
Meanwhile, Kenny Badary, Chairman, Society of Nigerian Artists, (SOVA) Ogun State Chapter said the initiative by John Oyewole Adenle is highly commendable as has reduced disposable needs and costs.

GROUP APPLAUDS INSTALLATION OF UWAZURUIKE AS IGBO LEADER

News Ghana
-
0

Group applauds installation of Uwazuruike as Igbo leader
By PHILIP NWOSU
Thursday, January 26, 2012

The National Union of True Igbo Movement (NUTIM) has called for support for the leader of Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, following his installation as the new Igbo leader. National President of NUTIM, Dr. Samfo Nwankwo said Uwazuruike deserve the honour as “he has consistently fought for Ndigbo in the same manner our late leader, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu did.”

Nwankwo, who spoke to newsmen in Owerri criticized Ohanaeze Ndigbo for dissociating itself from the title bestowed on Uwazuruike and described the action as the product of envy.“Leadership is earned. To our objective assessment, Uwazuruike has earned his leadership of Ndigbo just as our late father, Dim Ojukwu did,” the NUTIM boss submitted.

He said unlike the current leadership of Ohanaeze, Uwazuruike had laid down his life severally for the survival of Ndigbo in Nigeria.
According to him, “there is no prison in Nigeria Uwazuruike has not been a guest. Was it because he stole? No! He has been suffering deprivations because of Ndigbo. Those who criticize him are known to be carrying their CVs from office to office groveling before men of power for their selfish aggrandizement.”
He noted that those opposing Uwazuruike also opposed Ojukwu for the reason that while the two leaders stood for the masses, the others ‘stood for their pockets’.

Nwankwo described Ohanaeze as a group that had lost relevance and should be disbanded, saying that the executive was no longer connected to the people.“Without equivocation, it was only during the tenure of Justice Ozo Ozubu that Ohanaeze represented the interest of Ndigbo. After that golden era, what we have are people chasing appointments and contracts,” he lamented.
He said it was unfortunate that while Arewa and Afenifere were defending the rights of Hausa and Yoruba people, Ohanaeze was acting like a servant to any government in power.

He was happy that with the assumption of office of Uwazuruike as the new Igbo leader, no government and ethnic group would take Igbos for granted again. “After the burial of our great leader no other person or group would speak on behalf of Ndigbo except Chief Uwazuruike,” he said. He said NUTIM members across Igboland would soon pay a solidarity visit to Uwazuruike to urge him to continue to make sacrifices for the wellbeing of Ndigbo.

According to him, “after the burial of Dim Ojukwu, we shall mobilize to formally pledge our loyalty and cooperation with Chief Uwazuruike so that together, we shall protect Ndigbo.”

NAF/BARAKALLAHU LAND DISPUTE: MILITARY CLEARS AIR

News Ghana
-
0

NAF/Barakallahu land dispute: Military clears air
From ABDULGAFAR ALABELEWE, Kaduna
Thursday, January 26, 2012

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has expressed dismay over allegation by the host community, Barakallahu, of forced eviction and demolition of the community’s houses and destruction of farmlands around the Base in Kaduna.

This is coming on the heels of Monday morning’s demonstration by hundreds of women who took over the major Kaduna-Zaria Expressway protesting against their forced eviction by the NAF from their ancestral home at a village behind Barakallahu, near Rigachikun, a satellite town in Kaduna. The women were challenging NAF authority who had already mobilised workers to the site to build perimeter fence around the occupied community’s residences, farmlands and graveyards.

Meanwhile, in an interactive forum with newsmen at the Air Force Base in Kaduna yesterday, the Commander of 335 Base Service Group, Air Commodore Musbau Soladoye said NAF was not a tyrant organisation and had no intention to destroy anybody’s structure. He wondered why the complaint by the community, which, according to him, had enjoyed cordial relationship with NAF for decades, even after earlier extensive discussions with leadership of the host community over the issue.

“We rely on those people for the maintenance of security and they have been our neighbours with many of their children who grew up with us. I want to believe that people are inciting the residents against the Air Force because those people thrive on making trouble and causing public unrest,” Soladoye opined.

He, however, lamented that the community had continued to encroach on the NAF territory, saying “that is why the government and the traditional institutions in the state, in their continued resolve towards finding a lasting solution to the problem, convened a meeting with representatives of government, representatives of the Emir of Zazzau, Dr. Shehu Idris and the three leaders of Barakallahu, including the disputed leader of Ungwan Waziri, Samaila Waziri, in my office on Monday where an agreement was reached.”

According to the commander, “it was agreed that the demarcation exercise should continue and to stop demarcation up to places we do not have residential buildings. The meeting also resolved that the leadership of Barakallahu would be held responsible for any security breach in the area because they have been adequately consulted and what the NAF is doing is in line with what the government has put in place. The fourth agreement is that we are doing the demarcation in line with 2008 government agreement.”

BOKO HARAM: FEC SEEKS DIVINE INTERVENTION

News Ghana
-
0

Boko Haram: FEC seeks divine intervention
From JULIANA TAIWO-OBALONYE, Abuja
Thursday, January 26, 2012

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) opened yesterday with prayers for divine intervention in the activities of the Islamist sect, Boko Haram. The council specifically prayed God not only to expose and disgrace the perpetrators of the dastardly act but to grant the nation peace and President Goodluck Jonathan the wisdom to govern at this time.

At the end of its meeting the FEC approved the procurement of two 45 seater fast-moving Passenger Ferries (Catamaran) by the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to improve water transportation in the country. The procurement, awarded in favour of Messrs Karflex Fisheries Limited, will cost the government N168.45 million, inclusive of taxes with a delivery period of six months.

Addressing State House correspondents, the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, alongside his colleagues in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Sen. Bala Mohammed, Science and Technology, Professor Ita Ewa, Transport, Umar Idris and Interior Abba Morro, said “the provision of the ferries will promote waterways transportation, boost economic activities and reduce pressure on other modes such as road transportation.

“The project will directly create 23 job opportunities for professionals and non-professionals during the operation of the ferries while many job opportunities will be created indirectly when the ferries are fully operational”. “Council took a major step to make operational the lower River Niger which dredging has been completed. As you all known since the 1960s, every administration in Nigeria had planned to dredge the lower Niger to faciltate the movement of goods and persons through the lower Niger up to the north of the country. But this plans had remained in the pipeline until the advent of the Yar’Adua/Goodluck Administration.

The contract for the dredging of the Niger was awarded under the Yar’Aduna administration. In the last two years, the dredging of the Niger has been completed. What is going on right now is the maintenance dredging. Also the inner waterway ports have been virtually completed, some are set for commissioning.

“So in order not to allow the Niger to remain fallow after dredging, Council approved the purchase of two fast moving ferries to ply the Niger right from Ontisha-Warri-Lokoja, carrying passengers. These farries would be jointly managed by government and the private sector and part of government efforts to bring down the cost of transportation in the country. Only two weeks ago, the President launched a mass transist project involves the supply of long buses at free interest rate. He had also hinted the utilization of the use of waterways to bring down the closet of transportation.

“The capacity of the ferries is 45 seater the cost of N168.4 million.

1...49,49349,49449,495...49,528Page 49,494 of 49,528