Connect with us

News

‘Why Parties Must Rise Above Selfish Interests’

Published

on

Rivers State Commissioner for Environment, Dr Nyema Weli (right) with the General Manager, Treasure FM, Ms Gina Osika Daka, during a media briefing by Network Broadcasting Media in Port Harcourt, recently

Rivers State Commissioner for Environment, Dr Nyema Weli (right) with the General Manager, Treasure FM, Ms Gina Osika Daka, during a media briefing by Network Broadcasting Media in Port Harcourt, recently

Selfish interests and lack of basic ideologies have been identified as a major cause of intra-party crisis in Nigeria, according to Governor Chibuike Amaechi, and other prominent stakeholders who spoke at the first state Inter-Party Forum held last Tuesday in Port Harcourt.

Rt. Hon Amaechi who declared the forum open revealed that many politicians were in politics just to enrich themselves to the detriment of the citizenry, citing the current intra-party crisis rocking the PDP as one of the examples.

“Those fighting me say the problem is not schools, is not roads, is not light, is not hospitals what about stomach infrastructure,” Amaechi declared.

The governor was of the view that it was difficult for all members of a party to share the same view and therefore reasoned that defence of public good should be above all interests. He said legacy must be the driving force of every politician.

“I tell my children when we converge that they have to work hard to make history. And again as a student a student of history everyday with your activities you make history…but there are histories that the world would want to read if there is no history that I have made, the one God has made me to make is the one that I have stood out and fight for my right’’ the governor said.

He charged all the parties to jettison their differences and stand up to fight for the right of the Rivers people considering the current political developments in the state, “ whether you belong to PDP or APC’’ he stressed.

From now onwards, he challenged all the parties to stand up to defend the rights of the people on the basis of ‘’one man one vote’’, asserting that most often in Nigeria parties win elections without the people’s votes and therefore can afford to carry out anti-people policies without fear of losing the next elections.

In his remarks earlier, Chairman of the occasion and former Supreme Court judge, Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte called on political parties to be patriotic and to pursue policies that will move the country forward.

Justice Karibi-Whyte decried the situation where parties have been dominated by ethnic sentiments saying, “ No politics, no patriot thinks for himself ,but thinks for others.’’

He used the forum to congratulate the governor on his re-election as chairman of NGF, “ We admire Governor Amaechi because of his performance, he is doing everything to succeed and drive the institutions of democracy’’.

Also speaking, Senator representing Rivers South- East Senatorial District, Magnus Ngei Abe urged politicians to play politics by principle, warning that parties in Nigeria had evolved basically to grab power and not to affect the lives of the people.

Senator Abe observed, “ cohesive inter-party relations in Rivers State will be beneficial only when politics is played by principle.’’

Coordinator of the forum and Special Adviser to the governor on Inter-Party Matters, Barrister Solomon Chituru Ebeku disclosed that the conference is the first in the state and geared at creating one platform to aggregate the views and activities of political parties in the state.

Barrister Ebeku called for synergy among the political parties capable of driving development, peace and unity, pointing out that lack of understanding among politicians was responsible for the huge litigations and lawsuits after elections.

Continue Reading

News

NAFDAC Alerts Nigerians To EU Ban On Dex Soap

Published

on

The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has alerted Nigerians on the ban on Dex Luxury Bar Soap (No 6 Mystic Flower), by the European Union (EU).
The notification is contained in a public alert with No. 012/2024, signed by NAFDAC Director-General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, and issued to newsmen in Abuja yesterday.
“The product does not comply with the cosmetic products regulation; it also contains Butyphenyl Methylpropional (BMHCA), which is prohibited in cosmetic products due to its risk of harming the reproductive system.
“It also causes harm to the health of unborn children and may cause skin sensitisation.
“It is as a result of the defective nature of the product that the EU banned it.
“The products is not in NAFDAC database; importers, distributors, retailers and consumers are to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain,” she said.
NAFDAC boss urged marketers and consumers to avoid the importation, distribution, sale and use of the product, stressing that product’s authenticity and physical condition must be carefully checked.
She enjoined members of the public in possession of the product to discontinue sale or use, and submit stock to the nearest NAFDAC office.

Continue Reading

News

Communities, Volunteers Ready To Face Upcoming Floods – Red Cross

Published

on

The Country Manager of the British Red Cross in Nigeria, Karsten Voigt, says communities and volunteers are ready to face the challenges expected with the upcoming floods.
Voigt said this at the sidelines of the 56th Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), Lagos Branch.
The Tide’s source recalls that the British Red Cross donated resilience items to some communities in December 2023, to help mitigate the effects of flooding.
The items included cash, rain boots, rain coats, mosquito nets, handheld flashlights, solar powered lights with radio, USB chargers and a bridge to link the communities.
The communities that benefited included Agboyi 1, Agboyi 2, Agboyi 3 and Odo Ogun in Kosofe Local Government Area of the state.
Voigt said the Red Cross had measured the impact of the project in the communities and noticed that a lot of progress had been made.
According to him, apart from the cash and items given to the communities, simulation exercises have also been carried out to prepare the volunteers ahead of the floods.
“We have seen that people used the cash to address immediate needs they have after floods.
“Many households have used part of the cash to build up businesses.
“The solutions we have given to them are not only addressing their immediate needs after the disaster but actually building family income for their future,” he said.

Continue Reading

News

Nimet Forecasts Three-Day Sunshine, Thunderstorms

Published

on

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted sunshine and thunderstorm from Monday to Wednesday across the country.
NiMet’s weather outlook released yesterday in Abuja, forecasts sunny skies on Monday with a few patches of cloud over the northern cities and prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Taraba later in the day.
According to the forecast, sunny skies with patches of clouds are expected over the North Central region with prospects of morning thunderstorm over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Kogi and Kwara States.
“Later in the day, isolated thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Kogi and Benue States.
“The southern region is expected to be cloudy with spells of sunshine with prospects of morning thunderstorms over parts of Oyo, Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo and Lagos States.
“ In the afternoon/evening periods, isolated thunderstorms are expected over parts of Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia, Ekiti, Ogun, Imo, Oyo, Ondo, Edo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Rivers, Lagos and Bayelsa States,” it said.
NiMet also anticipated sunny skies on Tuesday with few patches of cloud over the northern states with prospects of isolated thunderstorms envisaged over parts of Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Taraba and Kaduna States during the afternoon and evening hours.
It envisaged the North Central region to be sunny with patches of cloud during the morning hours.
The agency also envisaged isolated thunderstorms over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kogi, Benue, Kwara and Niger States, later in the day.
“Cloudy atmosphere with intervals of sunshine is expected over the inland and coastal areas of the South, with chances of morning thunderstorm over parts of Cross River, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Rivers States.
“In the afternoon/evening periods, isolated thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, Imo, Anambra, Enugu, Abia, Oyo, Edo, Delta, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Rivers and Bayelsa States ,” it said.
It predicted a sunny atmosphere on Wednesday, with patches of cloud over the northern region, during the forecast period.
“Sunny skies with patches of clouds are expected over the North Central region with chances of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Plateau, Kogi, Nasarawa, the Federal Capital Territory and Benue States, during the afternoon/evening periods.
“ Cloudy atmosphere with intervals of sunshine is expected over the inland and coastal areas of the South with prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi and Abia.”
Other states to experience cloudy atmosphere, are “Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun, Oyo, Cross River, Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa States, later in the day.”
NiMet urged the public to take adequate precaution as strong winds might precede rains in areas where thunderstorms were likely to occur.
The agency also urged airline operators to get updated weather reports and forecasts from its office for effective planning in their operations.

Continue Reading

Trending