News
US Marks Terror Attack, Remembers Three Nigerians
Americans yesterday commemorated the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people.
Three Nigerians, who died after al Qaida terrorists slammed passenger jets into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre (WTC) in New York, were also remembered as their names were engraved at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in New York.
They were; Mr Godwin Ajala, 33, Mr Ignatius Udo Adanga, 62, and Ms Olabisi Shadie Layeni-Yee.
Ajala was a Nigerian lawyer who migrated to the U.S. in 1995. He was working as a security officer at the World Trade Centre and some close associates said he was preparing to take his New York State Bar examination before his untimely death.
Adanga was a staff of the planning department of the Metropolitan Transportation Council at the World Trade Centre. He left Lagos as young man, moved to Liberia and Germany, before migrating to New York some two decades before 2001.
Layeni-Yee, who worked at the World Trade Centre as an assistant manager for International Office Centres, started work there in 1993.
On Sept. 11, she was reported to have phoned her mum, Edith Layeni, who lived in Newark, shortly before the WTC collapsed.
In New York, President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, led the country to observe a moment of silence at 8.46 a.m local time to coincide with the exact time one of the hijacked planes hit the World Trade Centre in 2001.
Additional periods of silence were observed at 9.59 a.m. and 10.28 a.m. to mark the moments that the two towers at the World Trade Centre fell.
At the commemoration ceremony held at the National September 11 Memorial located at the World Trade Centre site in New York, Obama read a passage from Psalm 46.
The scripture affirms: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Former President George W. Bush, who was in charge during the 2011 attack, also attended the solemn event with his wife, Laura.
Relatives of victims who died in the attack read out their names at the ceremony amid tears and outbursts of emotion.
In a related development, a memorial service to honour the victims of the 9/11 attack on the U.S. was held at the Church of St. Catherine the Great Martyr in Moscow.
The U.S. Ambassador to Russia, John Beyrle, in an emotional speech, said “people, for the sake of their children, should join forces to build a world in which terrorists would not be able to justify their actions or to find refuge.
“The U.S. remembers how people were bringing flowers, icons and toys to its embassies all over the world, including Moscow, after the attacks,” Beyrle said.
People in all countries denounced the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, as well as the Beslan and Nord Ost tragedies, he added.
The American ambassador said that the fight against terrorism involved those who believed in tolerance and love and those who were on the side of hatred and fear.
Russian Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, speaking at the sixth session of the Valdai Discussion Club, said: “Russia is mourning the victims of the September 11 attacks, just as we did back in 2001.
“We mourn the victims of the September 11 attacks, just as we did back in 2001. Like no other country. Russia knows what a terrorist act is like. On September 3, we too commemorated those killed in terror attacks in Russia.
“It’s yet another reminder that we have to put aside any differences and join forces in the face of common challenges,” Putin added.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to expedite the prosecution of the Director of the now distressed MBA Forex Trading, Mr. Maxwell Odum, in the interest of justice.
The Rivers State NUJ made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the EFFC’s Ag. Zonal Director, ACE Hassan Saidu, in Port Harcourt, recently.
The council’s chairman, Comrade Paul Bazia, said the appeal became imperative after it considered the number of Nigerians and others involved in the financial misconduct.
According to him, it has caused hardship among many households in the country and should be given the attention it deserves.
He said that investors cannot come into a country or invest in an economy or nation ridden with fraud.
This, he said, has made it more imperative to arrest, prosecute and convict alleged fraudsters like the MBA Forex Director, who is alleged to have defrauded thousands of unsuspecting Nigerians, to serve as a deterrent to others.
The chairman also requested that while the trial lasts, part of the swindled funds should be given to the victims that suffered loss and trauma as a result of the fraud.
The NUJ reiterated its resolve to change the narrative of reportage from crisis to developmental communication.
According to him, the NUJ’s main focus is blue economy and tourism.
He expressed the readiness of the Council to partner the agency in the area of information dissemination.
“We believe you have a responsibility to fight financial crimes. We also know that you need the Press to publicize your activities and NUJ can provide that,” he said.
Responding, the Zonal EFFC’s boss commended the NUJ’s vision to change the narrative of reporting from crisis to developmental communication.
According to Saidu, the Western world have since imbibed such culture, hence the negative stories about them are carefully sifted to allow only positive ones to be released to the outside world.
As for the trapped funds to be released, the EFCC Zonal Director stated that only the court can authorize such action, stressing that the primary responsibility of the Commission is to arrest and prosecute.
He pledged to partner with the NUJ now that the leadership has visited the Commission.
The Head of the Legal & Prosecution Department, DCE Odiase Stephen, corroborated the Zonal Director’s position and stressed that it was only when the matter has been determined by the court that such funds can be released.
He further stated that once a matter is before a court of competent jurisdiction, it cannot be discussed outside.
By: King Onunwor
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