News
Abdul Mutallab: What US Should Note
For over three decades now, Nigeria and the United States of America (USA) have enjoyed superb diplomatic relations and bilateral ties with each other. In international scene, Nigeria and US share many things in common, in peace keeping and being benefactor to poor nations. Nigeria, till date remains the greatest US trade partner in Africa.
Like US, Nigeria has financially assisted many African countries that were in political and economic crises to get out of their problems. These countries are Angola, Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa, Liberia, Sierra Leone, among others. There is anti-terrorism bill awaiting the passage of the National Assembly before the Christmas day attempted suicide bomb incidence. Nigeria is a progressive nation that has contributed immensely to the progress and peaceful co-existence of African nations. It is therefore, unfair and undeserving for Nigeria to be hastily blacklisted as a terrorist national by the US on account of one Nigerian.
No right thinking Nigeria will support the barbaric act of the Mallam Farouk Umaru AbdulMutallab’s attempt to blow up an American airline, especially at a time when our brother, Mr Barack Obama occupies the White House as the president.
We felt bad, grossly dismayed, embarrassed and disappointed that a young Muttalab who hails from a wealthy home, well brought up and well taken care of should engage in a bombing that will also claim his own life. Although, a Nigerian, AbdulMutallab grew up and trained outside Nigeria. Nigeria as a nation did not train or encourage the young man to be a terrorist nor support his actions.
United Nations Charter on human rights guaranteed individuals freedom of movements and association, so it is not the duty of Nigeria as a nation to monitor AbdulMutallab or any other Nigerian in foreign lands to know where thy go, whom they associate with and what they do. It is the responsibility of the security agents of each county, particularly those as the airports to monitor people going in and out of their countries. Thus, the security at the Ghanaian and Amsterdam airports where Mutlallab passed without detection should be blamed and held responsible and not Nigeria. Again, it has been established that it was in United Kingdom and not in Nigeria that young Mutallab was recruited as a terrorist by Al Qaeda.
What is more, his multi millionaire father, a quiet, principled and disciplined industrialist, Alhaji Umaru Mutallab had earlier reported his son to US embassy in Abuja on account of his radical tendencies, yet no action whatsoever was taken. Confirming this, President Obama in his reaction over the incident, acknowledged hat Abdul Muttalab’s father had indeed reported the extremist views of his son to the U authority, but regretted that such vital information was not passed to a component of their intelligence community nor effective distribution.
Today, the remedy is that AbdulMutalab is Nigerian; otherwise the story would have been different. It would have been a black Christmas day for the passengers’ relatives. As we are all aware, Nigerians love life and comfort, perhaps the young man was wondering inside the plane how he would lose his life and the world he was enjoying with his father’s wealth through suicide bombing, that he forgot to carry out the devilish assignment until 10 minutes to the landing of plane at the Detroit airport US that he began absent minded to denote the bomb. He was immediately overpowered and arrested by the passengers and handed over to the security at the Detroit airport after the plane had landed safety. I wish to assure President Obama and the United States that Nigerians will not excel in suicide bombing terrorism because Nigerians love life and luxuries. Over the year, Nigerian leaders have subjected the poor masses in Nigeria to all manner of hardships, no one contemplate committing suicide. Rather, our belief, hope and song is “life go better”.
Again, Nigeria is a country of over 150 million people with different culture and tradition, upbringings and background. It is unfair on account of one person’s misdeed for the entire Nation to be blacklisted and branded as a terrorist country, and its law abiding and enterprising travellers subjected to unnecessary and embarrassing scrutiny and search at various airports worldwide.
Nigeria is working hard to remove the stigma of 419 on its Nationals through the establishment of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and re-branding projects of the Federal Government. So we can accept the stigmatisation of Nigeria as a terrorist nation as a result of one person’s misbehaviour. It is on this basis that I call on the United States to rescind its decision to tag Nigeria as terrorist nation and plead that Nigerians be treated with dignity at various airports of the world.
Nigeria strongly believes in Obama’s government and hopes to learn and gain from his administration. It will be unwise and not in the interest of African nations for Nigeria, a leading country in the continent of Africa to be kept afar, looked upon and treated as a terrorist nation by the United States, and the rest of the world. Bearing in mind that Nigeria and US had partnered well in business of peace keeping of many Nations of the world.
Prince Ogbuehi is as commentator in national affairs wrote in from Port Harcourt.
Ogbuehi is editor’s guest
Prince Ike Ogbuehi
The Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency (RSIPA) has unveiled measures to enthrone ease of doing business and win back the confidence of the business community.
The Director-General of the Agency, Dr Chamberlain Peterside, unveiled the plans at the Breakout Session of RSIPA at the ongoing 18th Port Harcourt International Trade Fair, at the Obi Wali International Cultural Centre, in Port Harcourt.
Dr. Peterside said the agency was poised to free the state from accumulation of wrong narratives that branded it over the years as unsafe for business.
He, however, admitted that many things had gone wrong in the past where regulators joined to make the business environment difficult for investors.
He announced that the agency was rather focused on actions, solutions, and results as adopted in the mission statement of the Board.
“Our task is no mean feat. We are dealing with the perception risk that over several years branded the state as unsafe. We are also faced with the challenges of dealing with the lack of cohesion amongst MDAs, policy inconsistencies, multiple taxation, incessant harassment by miscreants, red tape and delays in obtaining operating permits, high cost of operations and opaque public sector,” he said.
“It is about listening to the investors in the field and ensuring that MDAs are carried along, hence the imperative for the setting up of our One-Stop-Center”, he added.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Warisenibo Joe Johnson, who represented the state governor, said the Fubara administration was ready to listen to the business community to see ways of reducing impediments to investments.
He listed the stages of actions being undertaken by the governor as outlined in his 37-page blue print to revive the economy of Rivers State.
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, who was presented at the event as a star investor and promoter of Rivers State reputation, said for the plans of the investment promotion agency to materialize, an enabling law should replace the Executive Order that established the Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency.
He said this would insulate the agency from political instability and remove fear in the minds of investors about its sustainability.
According to him, protection precedes promotion and Local Direct Investment (LDIs) is what attracts and promotes Foreign Direct Investment (FDIs).
“It is the rat at home that reveals to the one in the bush that there is fish in the kitchen”, he added.
?
?The Mayor of Housing who is also the CEO of the Alesa Highlands Sustainable Green Smart City said that Port Harcourt is like a business empire under lock and key because it is not protecting its own and also not promoting its own enough for investors to come in.
?
?In the area of land documentation and inventory, China urged Rivers State Government to borrow a leaf from Abuja and adopt the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in dealing with land and property registration and documentation for ease of doing business.
?
?He said Lagos understood the power of business information, adding “this creates the impression that if you are not doing it in Lagos, you are not doing it in Africa.
“We need to shout louder than Lagos, because we need more investments than Lagos and the structural integrity of Abuja. When you marry both, Rivers State would be wonderful and become green with investments,” he said.
In her speech, the President of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA), Dr. Chinyere Nwoga, called on the state government to look into the menace of parked trucks now turning Trans-Amadi into a risk zone.
She outlined the activities of the PHCCIMA and invited investors and businesses to the Port Harcourt economic hub, saying peace has returned.
The Director, Investors Relations of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC), Mrs Lovina Kayode, urged Rivers State to make haste and catch up on Ease of Doing Business, saying the Council has come to help businesses in the state.
Mrs Kayode, who represented the Executive Secretary/CEO of NIPC, Aisha Rimi, commended the Mayor of Housing and his counterpart, Mr. Oliver Biedima of Rainbow Heritage Group, for their decision to invest in Rivers State, saying it is a proof that Rivers State is safe for investors and their investments.
?
In his remarks, Oliver Biedemi of Rainbow Heritage Group urged government to give the private investors chance to develop the economy, saying ordinarily government does not have the funds to develop the economy.
Happy Birthday Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON
Honourable Minister Federal Capital Territory
News
We’ll Drive Tinubu’s Vision in Rivers With Vigour – Fubara …Inaugurates Dualized Ahoada/Omoku Road ….Debunks Rift With RSHA
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has stated that he will lead Rivers people to galvanize support for President Bola Tinubu to drive the vision and objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda in the State with vigour.
The governor, who joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on Tuesday, explained that his decision to join the APC was not for personal interest but for the overall benefit of Rivers State.
Fubara disclosed these while inaugurating the extension of the dualized Ahoada/ Omoku Express road in Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
He commended the contracting firm, Julius Berger, for timely delivery of the project, saying the project is a campaign promise fulfilled which will bring economic benefits to the people and tackle issues of insecurity associated with the route.
He said his administration has remained focused in delivering democratic dividends in the state despite facing glaring challenges.
The governor thanked the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas for their continuous support, and urged his supporters to remain steadfast and also support President Tinubu who he said, has demonstrated love to Rivers State as a father.
Fubara denied having rift with the Rivers State House of Assembly, stating that his meeting with the lawmakers was stalled as a result of delay in the agreed meeting to be convened by former Governor Nyesom Wike and other stakeholders for him to meet with the state lawmakers.
“I have made every effort to meet with the Assembly members, but it is not within my leadership to initiate the meeting process.
“The arrangement was for my leader, Wike, and the elders led by Anabraba to call for a meeting with the the lawmakers.
“I’m a gentleman and principled. I can’t go behind to call them when we’ve already agreed. Whoever that tell them that I don’t want to meet with them, or I rejected proposal meant for them isn’t saying the truth,” Fubara said.
The Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry Works, Mr Austin Ezekiel-Hart, who gave the project description, said the delivery of the project was a fulfillment of long time dream by the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas.
He said the road was previously a single lane and has now been dualised to 14.6 meters wide, complete with solar-powered streetlights with drainages.
He said the road significantly would reduce travel time between Ahoada and Omoku while improving economic activity in the region.
In his welcome address, Chairman of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area, Hon. Chuku Shedrack Ogbogu, described the road as a symbol of unity, oneness, and development, thanking the governor for fulfilling his campaign promises.
On his part, the Managing Director of Julius Berger, Engr. Peer Lusbash, said the project was awarded to his company in 2023 with a completion period of 18 months which was achieved in best quality.
He added that Julius Berger enjoyed a good support from the Fubara administration, and assured to complete all ongoing projects being handled by Julius Berger on specification, especially the Ring Road project which is a legacy project.
