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Keep Faith with Nigeria, Says PDP
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has called on Nigerians to remain steadfast and resolute while keeping faith with the nation in the face of daunting challenges.
The party’s Acting National Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Baraji, said in Abuja in a goodwill message to Christians that the citizens needed to pray and work for peace, unity, growth and stability of the nation.
“The teachings and lessons of Christmas must register in the hearts of all Nigerians to make the country a haven of unparalleled growth and development.
“This unique period of Christmas calls for prayers, sober reflection and total faith of all Nigerians.”
The chairman called on lovers of peace to rise and preach peace and good conduct as well as exhibit fellowship to reflect the expectations of Christmas.
He thanked Nigerians for their understanding and support to the Federal Government in the ongoing actualisation of its transformation programmes.
Baraji described the 2012 budget as “an excellent roadmap in the transformation agenda” and appealed to the National Assembly to ensure its speedy passage in the interest of the overall wellbeing of the nation.
However, some residents of Kaduna State have decried the high rate of insecurity in the country, appealing to the government to find a lasting solution to the problem.
The residents who spoke to newsmen yesterday at recreation parks condemned the recent blasts in some parts of the country and appealed to the government to put an end to the threat to lives and property.
They said that their mood was low for fear of the unknown.
Mrs Shade Taiye said she had to be bold enough to be at the Gamji Park to celebrate the Christmas festivity with her children.
She, however, noted that the state government had provided sufficient security personnel in most of the parks.
Taiye said the security situation in the country was not encouraging, as she could not feel relaxed in the park or at other gatherings.
The Christmas Day bomb blasts at Madalla, near Suleja in Niger State, as well as Jos and some parts of Yobe had sent jitters and scared people from turning out in large numbers at recreation centres.
According to Mr Orita Peters, although everything was calm in Kaduna State, many residents are scared of leaving their homes for parks with their loved ones due to the fear of bomb explosions.
Some Christian faithfuls bemoaned the state of insecurity and the prevailing harsh economic condition which they said had dampened their Yuletide celebrations.
Another resident, Mrs Patricia Ogar, said the economic situation had affected most Christians as they battled to meet family demands and needs during the Yuletide.
Ogar said the proposed fuel subsidy removal had caused artificial inflation as the prices of goods and services in the markets had already increased.
She said the situation, coupled with the late or non-payment of workers’ salaries by many organisations, had reduced the glamour of the festivity in many parts of the state.
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on Nigerians to reject silence in the face of extrajudicial killings and other abuses of human rights.
Soyinka stressed that accountability and civic courage remain essential to rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s institutions.
He made the call during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture held in Port Harcourt, last Friday as part of activities marking his 92nd birthday.
The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” drew participants from different sectors of society.
The renowned playwright and human rights advocate said the country’s greatest tragedy was not only the unlawful killings carried out by state and non-state actors, but also the silence that often follows such incidents, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
According to him, indifference by citizens to abuses of power and violations of fundamental human rights has contributed to the persistence of extrajudicial killings and other forms of injustice across the country.
Soyinka said he dedicated this year’s lecture to victims of unlawful killings, noting that the event was intended to honour individuals who had lost their lives as a result of failures within the justice system and society’s inability to protect the sanctity of human life.
He stressed that the lecture was dedicated to what he described as the basic unit of every society – the human being, and urged Nigerians to place greater value on human dignity irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social status.
The Nobel Laureate recalled several incidents of violence, including the fatal shooting and killing of a young man in Ugheli in Delta State by a police officer, and the mob killing of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State sometime ago, lamenting that many of those responsible are yet to face justice.
He expressed concern that some perpetrators of violent crimes had openly admitted their actions without fear of prosecution, describing such situations as evidence of serious failures within the nation’s justice system.
Soyinka maintained that when justice is delayed or denied, public confidence in state institutions continues to erode, thereby encouraging further violations of human rights.
Responding to critics who accuse him of promoting religious or ethnic divisions whenever he spoke on such issues, Soyinka dismissed the allegations and pointed out that his advocacy has always centred on the protection of human life and the rule of law.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue demanding justice in cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, including the recent shooting of a young man by a police officer, stressing that every life deserves equal protection under the law.
The literary icon also recalled an earlier pledge by a past incoming president to make public the files relating to unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings, questioning the status of the promised investigations.
He challenged citizens to continue asking questions about unresolved cases, insisting that justice, accountability and respect for human dignity are indispensable to building a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Nigerian society.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that there was no fire at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, contrary to its earlier advisory.
Earlier yesterday, FAAN had announced that a fire incident had occurred at Terminal 2 of the nation’s busiest airport, and assured that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service had been deployed to contain the situation.
There were also reports that activities were briefly disrupted at the airport yesterday after smoke was seen inside parts of the terminal.
Videos circulating online showed passengers kept standing outside the terminal while firefighters responded to the incident.
However, in an update issued less than two hours later by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and posted on FAAN’s official X handle, the authority said preliminary findings showed that the smoke seen at the terminal was caused by the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.
“Further to our earlier advisory regarding the incident at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to provide the following update,” the statement read.
“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN stated.
The authority said normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the statement added.
The authority thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation.
FAAN appreciated the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airlines, airport users and all stakeholders, and reiterated its commitment to the safety and security of all airport operations.