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Guild of Editors Urges Support For Post Amnesty Programme …Ex-Militants Begin Camping, July

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The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has urged stakeholders in the Niger Delta to support the Federal Government’s post-amnesty programme to maintain stability in the region.

Such support, the guild said, was necessary to frustrate any resurgence of militancy in the oil-rich Niger Delta.

The call was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the Guild’s sixth All Nigerian conference in Port Harcourt.

Signed by the President and Secretary of the Guild, Messrs Gbenga Adefaye and John Ndukauba, the editors pledged to treat all persons pursuing legitimate demands for justice and equity in the region through legal means with understanding.

They commended President Goodluck Jonathan for signing the Local Content Bill into law and for setting up the Local Content Monitoring Board.

They urged the media to publicise the provisions of the law and the activities of the board, adding that the law provided opportunities for empowerment of Nigerians in the oil and gas sector.

They stressed the need for transparency, accountability and probity in the allocation and use of oil and gas resources.

This, they believed, would engender growth and development and eliminate restiveness in the oil-rich Niger Delta region.

The conference noted the contributions of the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) in ensuring transparency in extractive industries and urged the government to give the agency more powers to sanction defaulters.

It criticised the over-dependence on oil and advised the government to develop other sources of revenue such as solid minerals and agriculture.

It requested the government to take measures to ensure that international oil companies operated within acceptable standards and acquired appropriate technology in enforcing payment of appropriate taxes and royalties.

On the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill before the National Assembly, the editors re-echoed their earlier demand for the passage of the bill to allow people to hold the government accountable.

They called on relevant authorities to take concrete steps to alleviate poverty in the society, noting that “poverty is pervasive across the country”.

Meanwhile, following the revival of the post-amnesty programme, ex-militants, are set to go for rehabilitation next month.

The hint was dropped by Mr Ndutimi Alaibe, Special Adviser to the President on Niger-Delta Affairs, shortly after speaking at the 6th All Nigerian Editors Conference over the weekend.

Mr Alaibe, who had earlier spoken on the theme: “Militancy, Avoiding a Resurgence,” said President Goodluck Jonathan had directed that the scheme be given priority attention following delays in the past months.

He stated that by July, the ex-militants would be taken to a rehabilitation camp, where they would be engaged in non-violence training.

Mr Alaibe, who described the process as ‘transformative’, said the essence of the scheme was to get the ex-militants employable and re-integrated into the society.

Though he did not give full details of how the programme would run, he said they had commenced proper classification and documentation of those to participate in the scheme.

The former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), ruled out the possibility of non-ex-militants participating in the scheme.

“We went to the camp and we talked to them so they know themselves, and we also know those who are militants and those who are not,” he said.

He disclosed that already the ex-militants had started showing enthusiasm to be engaged in the programme. He added that those who are not ex-militants would be trained as well.

His words: “For those who are not militants, they would be involved in a different programme that would be run by other service providers,  oil companies and private sector.”

Alaibe had earlier in his paper recommended the need for more equitable sharing of oil proceeds, in order to avert the recurrence of violence in the future.

For him, the present measures were not sufficient enough to prevent the youths from resorting to violent agitation in the future.

Particularly, “if the economic oppression persists, then militancy would not be eradicated,” he said.

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Elele Etche community Gets Interim Youth Leaders ….As traditional rulers  Warned Against land grabbing 

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Elele Community in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers state has inaugurated an interim Youth Executive to run the affairs of the Elele Central Youth Association for the next six months.
Among those inaugurated are, Comrade Godspower Anaele as the youth leader, Godspower Nwala, deputy youth leader and Barrister Nnamdi Abel as General Secretary/Legal Adviser.
Also inaugurated are,Mr Ifeanyi Emmanuel as Assistant General Secretary,Chibuike Nwamkpa as financial secretary, Michael Ogundu , public Relations officer,Miss Faith Nwaobilor , welfare officer and Charles I K.Agugoesi as provost.
The Ochimba of Elele community Etche local government Area ,HRH Eze Innocent Anaemeje who inaugurated the youth executive warned them against involvement in anti social behaviours
Eze  Anaemeje particularly warned them against involvement in land grabbing stressing that having eliminated land grabbing from the area, the community will frown at any attempt to bring it back.
He   said though the interim youth executive has six months to run the affairs of the Elele central youth Association, the community might return them if their performances are satisfactory.
In an interview with newsmen, The Elele Etche monarch said his kingdom has only one youth body which is the Elele Central Youth Association, warning that private youth bodies will never be allowed to operate in the kingdom.
He said his kingdom is laying a foundation that will promote hardwork and respect to constituted Authoritaties especially from the youth, adding that nobody irrespective of his position will be allowed to hold the community to ransom
According to him, the youth of Elele Etche must respect their elders , the government and cultivate the virtues of hardwork and honesty, stressing that nobody will be allowed to bring shame to the kingdom.
Anaemeje who is the chairman welfare committee of The Etche Supreme Council of  Traditional Rulers used the occasion to call on both the  Rivers state Government and Etche Local Government Council to assist the community with the rehabilitation of its dilapidated health centre
He said the health centre which was constructed through communal efforts has become dilapidated leading to its abandonment.
Eze Anaemeje also called for Government intervention on the epileptic power situation in the area and congratulated Governor Siminalaye Fubara for his reinstatement after six months of emergency rule in the state.
Also speaking the Ezeoha of Etche ethnic nationality,HRH  Eze Chima Nwagha called on  youths in the community to respect their elders
He warned that no indigene in the area should be allowed to use his position to destroy the kingdom and advised the newly inaugurated youth association to rule with the fear of God.
By: John Bibor & Birane progress
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Stop blaming leaders, take responsibility, CAN tells Nigerians

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The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Borno State chapter, has urged Nigerians to make the right choices and take responsibility for the nation’s progress instead of blaming leaders for its challenges.

Borno CAN Chairman, Bishop John Bogna Bakeni, made the call in Maiduguri on Saturday, stressing that national renewal requires both accountable leadership and responsible citizenship.

He said the transformation of Nigeria’s economic and political systems depends on deliberate moral choices and collective action by citizens.

“As I said in my message on the pulpit, Nigerians must make the right choices. We must hold our leaders accountable at all levels, but we must also take responsibility,” Bishop Bakeni stated.

He added that it is not enough to desire a better country without consciously choosing good over evil and making efforts to build it.

Bakeni noted that problems such as kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, and corruption stem from the failure of families to instill discipline and values in their children.

“We cannot continue to blame the government alone. Parents must monitor their children and instill discipline and honesty in them. Evil thrives when families abandon their moral duties,” he warned.

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NUJ hails DSS for releasing detained journalists

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The Nigeria Union of Journalists has commended the Department of State Services for the prompt release of two journalists, Ruth Marcus and Keshia Jang of Jay 101.9 FM, Jos, who were recently arrested while covering the funeral of the late mother of the All Progressives Congress National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda.

The NUJ National President, Alhassan Yahya, in a statement on Sunday, said the union welcomed the intervention of the DSS Director-General, Mr Oluwatosin Ajayi, which led to the immediate release of the journalists.

Our correspondent gathered that the journalists had captured footage showing DSS operatives preventing some pastors from gaining access to the church premises where the funeral service was taking place.

Security officials were screening attendees, and in the process, some clerics were denied entry.

Marcus and Jang had been detained after posting a video report on social media showing a confrontation between a cleric and security operatives at the funeral, an incident that raised widespread concern over press freedom and the right of journalists to perform their lawful duties.

The statement partly read, “We are encouraged by the decisive intervention of the DSS Director-General, who not only ordered their release but also personally reached out to the Union to tender his apologies. He has also reiterated his directive to DSS operatives to conduct thorough investigations before making arrests.”

The NUJ president described the gesture as a positive shift in the culture of Nigeria’s security institutions.

“The willingness of the DSS leadership to admit errors, apologise where necessary, and commit to reforms is an important step in strengthening public trust and confidence in the agency,” he stated.

While commending the development, Abdullahi urged the DSS and other security agencies to sustain the new approach and respect the rights of journalists at all times.

“Press freedom is the bedrock of democracy, and journalists must never be treated as adversaries for performing their constitutional duties. We call on the DSS to institutionalise accountability by sanctioning officers whose actions undermine democratic values and constitutional rights”, he said.

He stressed that only by enforcing discipline within the ranks can such progress be consolidated.

Abdullahi further assured that the NUJ remains committed to constructive engagement with security institutions to strengthen mutual understanding, promote professionalism, and safeguard both press freedom and national security.

“We urge our members across the country to remain vigilant, courageous, and professional in the discharge of their duties,” the NUJ president added.

 

 

 

 

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