Business
‘Stop The Killing’
Golda Mabovitz was born in Kiev, Ukraine in
1898. Her parents emigrated with their family to the United States in 1906 where she attended school and teacher training college in Milwaukee. She joined the Labour Zionist Party in 1915, an early indication of her political interest.
In 191 7 she married Morris Myerson and later changed her married name to Meir.
As a qualified teacher she taught in local schools for several years, but in 1921 she and Morris went to live in Palestine, joining a kibbutz where they helped with farm work, before moving to Tel Aviv where Golda Meir worked as a treasurer in the Office of Public Works of the Histadruth (Trades Union Federation).
From 1928, as secretary of the Working Women’s Council in Palestine, she became its representative on the executive of the Histadruth. From the following year she acted as a delegate to congresses of the World Zionist Organisation and became increasingly involved with politics as a member of the executive of the Jewish National Council in Palestine.
In 1948 Golda Meir was appointed a member of the Provisional Government and became Israel’s Ambassador to the Soviet Union. She joined the Knesset in 1949, serving as Minister of Labour and National Insurance until 1956, when she became Foreign Minister, a post she held for ten years. In this period, she came to international prominence, continuing a close relationship with the United States, and also forging links with South America and the newly independent countries of Africa.
This was a difficult period for the young state of Israel. It featured armed struggles with nearby Arab countries, including the Six-Day War in June 1967 when Israel attacked Egypt, Syria and Jordan, gaining much territory, including East Jerusalem, the West Bank, Sinai and the Golan Heights, and causing simmering Arab resentment.
Golda Meir finally become Prime Minister in March 1969, at the age of 71. In a famous address to the Knesset in May the following year, she offered to extend the hand of peace to Israel’s Arab neighbours but also voiced her fears about their aggressive intentions, warning in particular of Egypt’s military relationship with the Soviet Union.
Sadly, her worst fears were to come true with the outbreak of the Yom Kippur War on 6 October 1973, when Egypt and Syria combined forces against Israel. Meir and her Labour Party won the election of December 1973 but in 1974 she resigned, in the aftermath of the war .
… In recent months, and in the past weeks especially, the security situation worsened seriously on the southern front in particular, and the harmful effect that is felt on the other fronts also.
The main feature of this escalation and tension is an advanced and dangerous stage of Soviet involvement in Egypt, at the beck and call of Egyptian aggressive and infractions of the ceasefire. There is no precedent for this involvement in the history of Soviet penetration into the Middle East, and it is encouraging Egypt in its plan to renew the war of attrition and so move further along the path of its vaulting ambition to vanquish Israel. …
The Israel Defence Forces have punished this vainglorious aggression. I shall retell the tale of their courage and resource: the digging in, the daring operation of the Air Force, the power of the armour. Aggression has been repelled, the enemy’s timetable upset and the pressure on our front line eased by our strike at vital enemy military targets along the Canal and far behind it and confouncding his plans for all-out war. True, to our great sorrow, we have suffered losses in killed and wounded, but our vigorous self-defence has thwarted Egypt’s scheming and stultified its endeavours to wear us down and shake our southern front.
‘No small nation, no minor nation, can any longer dwell in safety within its frontiers.’
Thus bankrupt, the Cairo regime had only the choice between accepting Israel’s constant call to return to reciprocal observance of the ceasefire, as a stepping-stone to peace, or leaning more heavily still on the Soviet Union to the point asking it to become operationally involved, so that Egypt might carryon the, of attrition, notwithstanding the unpleasant repercussions of that involvement Egypt chose the second course .
… We have informed Governments of the ominous significance of this new phase in Soviet involvement. We have explained that a situation has developed which ought to perturb not only Israel, but every state in the free world. The lesson of Czechoslovakia must not be forgotten. If the free world – and particularly the United States, its leader can pass on to the next item on its agenda without any effort to deter the Soviet Union from selfishly involving itself so largely in a quarrel with which it has no concern, then it is not Israel alone that is imperilled, but no small nation, no minor nation, can any longer dwell in safety within its frontiers.
‘The aspiration to peace IS … the cornerstone of our pioneering life and labour.’
… Three years after the Six-Day War, we can affirm that two fundamental principles have become a permanent part of the international consciousness:
Israel’s right to stand fast on the ceasefire lines, not budging until the conclusion of peace that will fix secure and recognised boundaries; and its right to self-defence and to acquire the equipment essential to defence and deterrence. … The aspiration to peace is not only the central plank in our platform, it is the cornerstone of our pioneering life and labour. Ever since renewal of independence, we have based all our undertakings of settlement and creativity on the fundamental credo that we did not come to dispossess the Arabs of the land but to work together with them in peace and prosperity, for the good of all.
… We have not wearied of reiterating, day in, day out, our preparedness for peace: we have not abandoned hopes of finding a way into the hearts of our neighbours, though they yet dismiss our appeals with open animosity.
Today again, as the guns thunder, I address myself to our neighbours: Stop the killing, end the fire and bloodshed which bring tribulation and torment to all the peoples of the region! End rejection of the ceasefire, end bombardment and raids, end terror and sabotage!
To attain peace, I am ready to go at any hour to any place, to meet any authorised leader of any Arab state – to conduct negotiations with mutual respect, in parity and without pre-conditions, and with a clear recognition that the problems under controversy can be solved. For there is room to fulfil the national aspirations of all the Arab states and of Israel as well in the Middle East, and progress, development and cooperation can be hastened among all its nations, in place of barren bloodshed and war without end.
The daughter of late Nigerian banking executive, Herbert Wigwe has sold her father’s luxury yacht for $6.5 million which is the equivalent of N8.74 Billion following legal proceedings involving her, Otutochi Wigwe, and the company holding the vessel, Grosvenor Marine Ventures Limited.
This was contained in an online report obtained by The Tide Source in Port Harcourt recently.
The Source further clarified that $6. 5 Million dollars or N8.74 Billion was the asking price as at March this year but was unable to prove, if the said amount was exactly what the vessel went for.
The yacht, known as Chitochi, is a 2016 Custom Line 108 superyacht measuring approximately 33 metres (108 feet) in length. The transaction was handled by international yacht brokerage firm IYC, with its sales and charter consultant, Mark Elliott, overseeing the sale.
The disposal of the high-value vessel followed legal steps taken to address the corporate status of Grosvenor Marine Ventures Ltd., the company through which the yacht was held.
Otutochi Wigwe reportedly approached a court in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) to secure the restoration of the company to the corporate register, a move that enabled the necessary legal steps towards the sale of the vessel.
The proceedings were central to resolving the corporate issues affecting the company and facilitating the transaction, underscoring the legal complexities that may arise when valuable assets are held through corporate entities in foreign jurisdictions.
The sale is also significant in the context of estate administration, as luxury yachts require substantial financial commitments to maintain, even when they are no longer actively used by their owners or beneficiaries.
Such vessels typically attract considerable expenses, including crew salaries, insurance premiums, berthing charges, routine servicing and other maintenance costs, making their continued ownership a major financial responsibility.
Beyond the recurring expenses, luxury yachts are depreciating assets that may lose value over time. Their disposal can therefore form part of a strategy to preserve estate value, reduce liabilities and convert an expensive asset into liquid funds.
Wigwe, who was the former Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings, died on February 9, 2024, in a helicopter crash in California, United States, alongside his wife, Chizoba; their son, Chizi; and former Nigerian Exchange Group chairman, Abimbola Ogunbanjo.
His death was widely mourned across Nigeria’s banking and business communities, where he was recognised for his contributions to the financial services industry, entrepreneurship and philanthropy.
Wigwe’s passing left behind an estate whose administration involves the management of assets and other financial interests, a process that can require legal and financial decisions to protect the interests of the estate and its beneficiaries.
The sale of Chitochi highlights the challenges associated with managing high-value assets held through corporate structures, particularly where the relevant companies and legal proceedings fall under different jurisdictions.
The $6.5 million transaction brings the yacht’s ownership chapter to a close while illustrating how legal procedures, financial considerations and estate management can intersect in the administration of the assets of a prominent business figure.
‘’We determined to get all our equipments and machinery functioning as we progress. For now we’ve about 105 workers, comprising daily paid harvesters and regular staffs. But aside these 105 staffs we also employ daily slashers who for now are about 100.
“During peak periods, hopefully on or before January 2026 we hope to increase our work force for maximum production”, the firm’s management Stated.
King Onunwor
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
Some traders at the Rumuwoji Market popularly known as Mile 1 Market have decried the continuous increase in the prices of food stuffs and other items in the ember season.
This was made known by the traders when The Tide visited the market recently.
The traders revealed varying changes in the prices of foodstuffs, with some commodities recording higher increase than others .
A trader Mrs Charity Obinna, at the market, said the price of yam remained the same last week and this week compared to the prices from last month to this month, adding that only a difference of about N100 to N200 was seen.
Another trader, Chukwuebuka Livinus who deals on garri, reported that the prices of some food commodities had been changing frequently.
According to him, the price of a bag of garri increased from N45,000 last week to N58,000 this week, representing an increase of N13,000.
Livinus described the increase as scary and called on the government to do something about it, especially as we get closer to the festive period.
A trader that deals on vegetables, Mrs Joy reported that a significant increase in the prices of pepper rose from N20,000 last week to N40,000 this week.
Similarly, the price of a bag of melon (egusi) increased from N420,000 toN490,000 this week.
In a separate report, Mrs Charity Obinna said that foodstuffs were generally cheaper last month than this month, with price differences ranging from N150 to N200 for some items.
Meanwhile, Giff Okoro reported a decrease in the price of tomatoes. According to her, a quantity of tomatoes that cost N45,000 last month now sells for N25,000, indicating a reduction of N20,000.
Another trader, Usman Ibrahim said the cost of transporting goods from the communities to urban areas where they are sold is one of the major reasons for high cost of goods.
He said transport cost has doubled due to the cost of petroleum products in Nigeria, adding the whole cost is part of the goods because “entrepreneurs must cover their cost and make their gains .
Ibrahim called on the government to help farmers and traders even with little capitals to expand and sustain their business.
Another trader, Mrs Choice Promise a fish retailer said a cartoon which sold at #35,000 last week now sells at #50,000 .
Promise complained that there is no gain or profit because the price has drastically increase and most people cannot afford to buy fish again.
“Mr. President’s Renewed Hope Agenda recognizes that economic ambition requires dependable infrastructure,” Tegbe said.
He added that investments in electricity infrastructure would strengthen the foundations for business expansion, employment and economic growth.
The Kankia substations comprise two 60 MVA, 132/33 kilovolt (kV) facilities designed to strengthen the transmission network serving Katsina State and neighbouring areas.
Tegbe said the infrastructure would improve the network’s ability to distribute available electricity, supporting commercial activities and household welfare.
He also urged residents to protect the facilities against vandalism and other activities that could disrupt electricity infrastructure, asking them to report suspicious activities to TCN or security agencies.
Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, described the project as a significant investment in the state’s electricity infrastructure.
Radda stated that improved electricity supply could support industrial development, economic growth and public service delivery.
He further commended the President, the Federal Ministry of Power and TCN for completing the project.
It would be noted that the latest projects come amid a broader government’s drive to address bottlenecks in Nigeria’s electricity transmission network, which has constrained the amount of electricity that can be delivered to distribution companies and end users.
Wali Chioma, Obasi Chidinma & Amarachi Uche
-
Sports4 days agoNigerian Trio Target Titles At PFL Africa Finals
-
Education4 days agoFCE Yola Graduates 3,555 Teachers , Seeks Upgrade to University
-
Niger Delta4 days agoDiri Restates Stance On Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway
-
Niger Delta4 days agoC’River, NUJ Pay Tribute To Late Guardian Editor
-
News4 days agoNDLEA Recovers Tons Of Illicit Drug Consignments In Nine States
-
Opinion4 days agoChecking Voter Apathy In Nigeria’s Electoral Process
-
Politics4 days ago2027: DICKSON’S EX-ALLY VOWS TO WORK AGAINST NDC INTEREST IN BAYELSA
-
Politics4 days ago2027: GROUP PLEDGES 40,000 SUPPORTERS FOR COALITION CANDIDATES IN RIVERS