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Common Ground, So Elusive …Of Parties’Mudslinging, Bad Mouthing
One of the best attributes of a responsible political party is its ability to properly educate the citizenry on alternative ways of solving national problems. While the party in power may rationalize its actions and claim successes in various sectors, the opposing party or parties must tirelessly find better alternatives to burning issues they believe are not properly addressed by government.
In this regard, parties can disagree without necessarily being disagreeable. They can criticize constructively without necessarily employing foul language and campaigns of calumny. More importantly, they must be reasonable enough to achieve common ground on areas of national interest, particularly security and Health.
But the ever increasing bitterness demonstrated by political parties in Nigeria today makes such compromise most elusive. Infact, even well-known national achievements are underminded for political reasons while no serious thought is given to the dire consequences of a possible collapse of national security. To some politicians, everything is politics and whatever it takes to pull the other down, is okay.
Two instances will tell the story better.
One is the successful containment of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and the other, is the killing or non-killing of the Head of the terrorist group, Boko Haram, simply called Abubakar Shekau. Both issues ought to test the level of the average politician’s love for country, membership of different political parties, regardless.
On October 3, 2014, media reports had it that with the last patient under surveillance for Ebola completing the mandatory 21-day monitoring period, October 2nd, 2014, the United States centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had said that Nigeria should be declared Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) free.
A report on Nigeria’s response to the outbreak, which appeared in a September 30 early release issue of the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), noted that Nigeria’s success story was due to her strong emergency operations centre and Polio eradication experience.
According the report, “…There have been no new cases since August 31 and the last three patient contacts will exit their 21-day follow-up on October 2 – strongly suggesting that the out-break in Nigeria has been contained”.
The report said Nigeria’s decision to use the emergency operations’ centre to respond to the Ebola outbreak resulted in a repid, effective and coordinated response.
The CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) further described how Nigeria contained the virus. It reads: “The Ebola outbreak in Nigeria appears nearing a possible end due to a rapid response coordinated by Nigeria’s Emergency Operations Centre with assistance from international partners, including the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.
The official end to Ebola outbreak comes when two of the 21-day incubation periods for the Ebola Virus have elapsed without any new case.
“During the outbreak, there were 19 laboratory confirmed and one probable Ebola cases in two Nigerian States ( -Lagos and Rivers) Nearly 900 patient contacts were identified and followed; all but three have completed 21 days follow up period without Ebola Symptoms.
“There have been no new case since August 31, and the last three patient contacts will exit the 21-day follow-up on October 2, strongly suggesting the outbreak in Nigeria has been contained”.It further said.
The report gave credit to Nigeria not the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Congress (APC) or any other, party, for that matter. Infact, the Ebola containment success was one of the most positive reports on the country and should have united the political class in love for country.
The success was, without doubt, a result of positive coordination and collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Health and those of the affected states, Infact, on a near daily basis, the Ministers of Health and Information briefed the media of challenges and successes and treated the Ebola outbreak as a national emergency.
On a non-partisan basis, the PDP-controlled Federal government and the APC-controlled governments of Lagos and Rivers collaborated effectively with additional financial support from the centre to the affected states.
It was, for once, the actualization of the most elusive common ground in addressing national issues, as professionals from the affected parties left behind their differences to fight a common course.
In the end, the credit goes to both the Federal and affected state governments. It was indeed a victory for Nigeria. But as President and Commander-In-Chief on whose shoulders lies success or failure of the country rests, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan did not err by claiming the country’s success, just as he would have been blamed for failure.
That is why it is hard to farthom how such claim should generate bad mouthing by opposition politicians.
Infact, the image-maker of APC, Lai Mohammed faulted President Jonathan on grounds that he was claiming the success recorded by APC – controlled states, while at the same time conceding the proactive steps of the Health Minister, Dr. Onyebuchi Chukwu, describing them as unlike the PDP-led Federal Government’s.
In the same vein, when the Rivers State government announced the first case of Ebola, through the state’s Health Commissioner, Dr. Sampson Parker, the State PDP described the announcement as political Ebola. They went to the extent of accusing the state government of concocting the news only to dissuade would-be participants of the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) rally billed for the State capital.
If the citizenry had believed the PDP position, containment of the EVD in Rivers state would have been most challenging. All in the name of politics.
Another issue is the killing or otherwise of the Boko Haram main master-mind Abubakar Shekau. In late September, this year, the Director of Defence Information Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade said during a news conference in Abuja that Shekau had been killed and the body of the insurgents’ leader was identified by the people of Kodunga.
Olukolade illustrated the Defence Authority’s claim with pictures of the bullet-ridden body with Shekau’s semblance and a video of the battle in which he was killed. He said Shekau whose real name was Mohammed Bashir had used other names like Abacha Abdullahi Geidam and Damasack.
The Nigerian Military had in the previous week, said that Shekau had long been killed and that a man who had been posing as the group’s leader in the videos had also been killed after fighting with troops in far North East.
That message came with a measured skepticism to the heavily politicised media.
But as soon as a video clip emerged from only God knew where, ostensibly by the ‘late’ Shekau, saying that ‘he was alive’, the media that did not see the Shekau directly during the shooting of the said video, screamed in headline after headline: Shekau Still Alive, while some said, Shekau says He’s Alive.
How sure are they that Shekau indeed said so, since there was no indication of where or when the 36-minute video was shot. But it showed either Shekau or his look-alike in combat fatigues and black rubber boots, standing on the back of a pick-up truck and firing an anti-aircraft gun into the air.
Standing in front of three camouflaged vans and flanked by four heavily armed, masked fighters, he then speaks for 16 minutes in Arabic and the Hausa language, claiming, “Nothing will kill me until my days are over … I’m still alive. Some people asked you if Shekau has two souls. No, I have one soul, by Allah, “he said, apparently reading from a script.
A press briefing by the Nigeria Military which showed a dead Shekau and his double along with video of the battle ground where he was killed, and video clip posted round the world by insurgents without verifiable venue, which is believable?
But in the name of politics, many are prepared to believe that Shekau is still alive and that the Nigeria Military lied when they claimed to have killed the insurgents’ leader. For the opposition, to accept that Shekau is dead, may well be a plus to the ruling government therefore, he is better alive:
The question is, in whose interest is a Boko Haram victory over Nigeria? Or whose loss should it be, if Nigerian troops lose the battle to Boko Haram? It will instead be a national pain and loss. There is no guarantee that the non-election of anybody would automatically wipe away Boko Haram. Far from it.
This is why the political class must understand and define issues that ought to rise above usual politicking – National Security is one such.
They must avoid comments and actions that tend to demoralize troops who left their families behind to fight for the nation. That Nigerians may know peace.
What such troops deserve is our unalloyed support, solidarity and prayers and not utterances that inadvertently demoralize them, all in the name of politics.
My Agony is that the political class still does not seem to appreciate the fact that Nigerians are getting wiser and with the entrance of a new crop of young, educated voter-population, some of their faniliar vituperations would count against themselves and not sway voters. Methinks, the political parties need to do a lot more in articulating viable solutions to existing national problems and avoid personalizing their campaigns and badmouthing individuals just for criticism sake.
Soye Wilson Jamabo
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Our Legacy’ll Leave Lasting Impression On Rivers People -Fubara
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured that his administration will collaborate and continue to consult widely in delivering a liberated State experiencing enduring peace.
Fubara said, in doing so, he would not operate as a dictator but as a member of a team that has the best interest of the State at heart and determined to leave a lasting legacy that can be celebrated.
The governor spoke during the formal presentation of Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office to the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, King Ateke Michael Tom, as first class tradition ruler, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Fubara stated that, during the Sixth State Executive Council meeting, N80.8billion was approved with 50 percent contract value paid already as the Government awarded the construction of the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road.
He said the project will be funded from the savings from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to underscore his administration’s prudence without also borrowing to complete the project.
“We are at a crossroad in our State where we all need to stand for what is right. It happens once in a life time. So, for now, be one of those people that will be in the course to liberate and free our dear State.
“And I know strongly that having the support of a peace-loving Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, having the support of the wonderful Council of Chiefs, having the support of the great people of Rivers State, we will bring peace in our State. We will do those things that are right to develop our State.
“We will continue to consult. We will not act as dictators. We will act as people who know that one day, we will leave, and when we leave, the way we have acted will speak for us. We will not force people to talk good about us. Our legacy will be a signature for how we led”, the governor said.
Fubara explained that he acted within the ambit of the law to upgrade the traditional stool upon which King Ateke Tom sits in recognition of his efforts in promoting peace in Okrika, and indeed, the State, and urged him to continue to do justice to everyone.
In his speech, Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Hon Charles Amadi, congratulated King Ateke Tom for being formally presented with the Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office as first class traditional ruler.
Also speaking, former Transport Minister, Chief Abiye Sekibo, thanked the governor for fulfilling his promise of upgrading the traditional stool of Okochiri Kingdom, and pledged the support of Kirike Se people to his administration.
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We’re Determined To Leave Legacy Of Quality Education -Fubara
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has promised to give the best attention to the education sector so that standard and quality learning will never be compromised in the State.
The governor emphasised that in achieving such legacy, schools in the State will be driven with a curriculum that will equip school-aged children to become competitive, innovative and self-reliant.
Governor Fubara made the assertion while inaugurating the Governing Council of Rivers State University at Government House in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
He said: “There is a lot of noise everywhere: people asking what we are doing; that we are not focused, and that we don’t have direction.
”But I want to tell the world that we are focused and aware that we cannot grow if our energies are not channeled to education. Not just education, but purposeful education.
”Education that is creative. Education that gives you independence. We have left the era in the world when you speak too much grammar. We are in such times when it is what you can do with your hands.
”Our purpose for education is that we should bring back our academic programmes to where, at the end of your studies, you don’t need a job but you create jobs. When one creates a job, you automatically employ others. That is what I want this council to see as their task.”
Governor Fubara noted the non-existence of public secondary schools for the male child in the Diobu axis of Port Harcourt.
He said such negligence leaves children in that area who have completed primary education, and whose parents cannot afford sending them to far away secondary schools, to roam the streets, and therefore becoming willing tools for criminality.
Governor Fubara assured that such fundamental problem will be addressed by his administration as a measure to curb the negative impression associated with Diobu axis of Port Harcourt.
The governor said he trusts in the capacity of the members of the Governing Council of Rivers State University to bring about positive change in the institution while also contributing their quota to improving the general education standard in the State.
”I charge you, not just in terms of administering the affairs of the university, but let us add something different from the normal things that we already have to see new things.”
In her response, on behalf of the other members, the Pro-Chancellor of the Governing Council of Rivers State University, Justice Mary Odili (rtd), thanked the governor for finding them worthy to serve in such capacity.
Justice Odili assured they will work assiduously as a team to solve the problems that agitate the mind of the governor and ensure their contributions form part of the legacy that will be bequeathed by his administration.
The members included Justice Mary Odili (rtd) as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council with Barrister Mela Oforibika and Chukwuma Chinwo, Esq.
Others were Adata Bio-Briggs, Esq., Dr. Jonathan Nimi Hart, Ngo Martins-Yellowe, Dr. Nancy Nwankwo, Dr. Igoni William-Park, and Mr. Ogbugbu Barisua.
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Fubara, Others Eulogise Rivers First Lady’s Mother
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, his Deputy, Prof Ngozi Odu, and key stakeholders of the State on Wednesday paid glowing tributes at the Service of Songs held in honour of late Mrs Adeline Jaja, mother of the wife of the Governor, Lady Valerie Fubara, at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, Mile 1, Diobu, Port Harcourt.
Speaking at the event, Governor Fubara described his late mother-in-law as a great and visionary woman who lived on truth and conviction in what she believes.
“Mama was a great woman. She wasn’t a materialistic person. When she believes in you, she’ll be all out for you. She stood for me. I feel pained that, like my own mother, she left at this moment.
”Mama believed so much in God, and the wonders of God. I thank everyone, particularly the Church. On behalf of the bereaved family, we will support the Church to immortalise her name,” the Governor said.
In his homily, Vicar of the Church, Ven. A. A. Ijon-Ama, who spoke on the gains of death, said physical departure from earth was not an ultimate end but an opening for higher and permanent gain and perfection.
He pointed out that when a man has a good relationship with God, he stands to gain more in death.
Ven. Ijon-Ama described late Mrs. Adeline Jaja as a devout Christian, who exuded deep sense of hospitality, and endowed with accommodating spirit, noting that she will be greatly missed by all.
The Vicar, who prayed for the repose of the soul of Mrs Adeline Jaja, also solicited for Divine fortitude for the family to bear the great loss, and called for the immortalisation of the deceased to keep her good legacies alive.
Some family members, who spoke at the Service of Songs, extolled the virtues of the deceased, describing her as “a great community leader, counsellor, peace maker, and caring mother, who provided for the needy, and participated actively in Church activities.
Highlights of the event were special prayers for the bereaved family, conducted by the Anglican Bishop of Evo Diocese, Rt. Rev. Innocent Ordu; remarks by key family members, choir ministration, among others.
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