News
Jonathan Leaves For Senegal …Mourns Ethiopian PM, Zenawi
Nigerian President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, is expected to
depart for Dakar, Senegal today on a two-day official visit.
According to a statement, the President will be received at
the Leopold Sedar Senghor International Airport, Dakar by Senegalese President,
Macky Sall.
Both leaders will hold a tete-a-tete at the Presidential
Palace, Dakar, on how to deepen cordial relations and promote trade between the
two key countries in the West African sub-region.
President Jonathan is expected back in Abuja, tomorrow..
Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday joined
other world leaders to mourn the death of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Meles
Zenawi.
The Special Adviser to President Jonathan on Media and
Publicity, Reuben Abati said the Nigeria President “received with shock and
sadness, the news of the passing away of His Excellency, Prime Minister Meles
Zenawi, of Ethiopia.
“On behalf of himself, the Government and the people of
Nigeria, President Jonathan extends his deepest sympathy and condolence to the
people of Ethiopia, especially members of late Prime Minister Zenawi’s family.”
President Jonathan describes Prime Minister Zenawi’s death
as a major loss for Africa. “He was a great African statesman, who is also a
friend of Nigeria, a nation-builder and a great servant of the Ethiopian
people.”
He further notes that “Prime Minister Zenawi will be
remembered for his vision and integrity,” adding that
“He held strong convictions about establishing a just and
prosperous society for his people, a cause to which he devoted his considerable
energies, and which deservedly earned him respect and honour among a grateful
Ethiopian nation.”
President Jonathan acknowledged the late Prime Minister
Zenawi’s vision for a united and strong Africa, a cause he pursued with
remarkable honesty and passion. Indeed, his role, along with other African
leaders, as the fulcrum of the African renaissance project, has ensured for him
a prominent place in the annals of African history.
“The passing away of Prime Minister Zenawi at this time when
Ethiopia and, indeed, all of Africa, stand to benefit from his wisdom and
experience in building a stable and prosperous continent is a great loss that
will be hard to remedy,” he said.
President Jonathan assures the people of Ethiopia that the
Government and people of Nigeria share in their loss.
The statement said that Mr Jonathan “is hopeful that the
government and the entire Ethiopian nation will be comforted by the enduring
legacy of service that Prime Minister Zenawi left behind.”
United States President Barack Obama has led tributes to
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi with high praise after the strongman’s
more than two decades in power and despite his chequered human rights record.
His death at age 57 leaves a major power gap in the Horn of
Africa. Ethiopia has played a key role in the fortunes of many of its neighbours,
as well as host to the African Union (AU) headquarters in Addis Ababa.
Obama said Meles deserved ‘recognition for his lifelong
contribution to Ethiopia’s development, particularly his unyielding commitment
to Ethiopia’s poor.’
He recalled his ‘personal admiration for his desire to lift
millions of Ethiopians out of poverty through his drive for food security’
after meeting him at the G-8 Summit in May.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Meles’ would ‘be
remembered for his exceptional leadership and advocacy on African issues within
and outside the continent, as well as for overseeing his country’s economic
growth and development,’ UN spokesman Martin Nesirky said.
The African Union hailed Meles for his promotion of economic
growth, as well as his role as peace-maker between Sudan and South Sudan and
his support for the fight against Somalia’s al-Qaeda-linked Shebab insurgents.
‘The death of Prime Minister Meles has robbed Africa of one
of its greatest sons,’ said AU commission chair Jean Ping’s office in a
statement.
‘He has played an important role in pioneering a new era of
hope and growth in Africa, driven as he was by the vision of Ethiopia and
Africa’s renaissance.’
European Commission chief, Jose Manuel Barroso said Meles
‘demonstrated his strong personal commitment over many years to improving the
lives of not just his own but all African peoples, through his work on African
unity, climate change, development and in promoting peace and stability.’
British Prime Minister, David Cameron hailed Meles ‘as an
inspirational spokesman for Africa on global issues’ who had ‘provided
leadership and vision on Somalia and Sudan’, while French President Francois
Hollande praised his ‘contribution to diplomatic efforts to advance peace in
the Horn of Africa.’
In contrast to the praise from world leaders, rights groups
have criticised Meles’s legacy, accusing his government of using anti-terrorism
legislation to stifle peaceful dissent and freedom of expression.
Nearly 200 opposition members and journalists were jailed
under the disputed legislation in 2011.
‘The government and the next prime minister should take the
opportunity for change represented by the succession of Meles Zenawi to move
towards a greater respect for human rights,’ Claire Beston, Amnesty
International’s Ethiopia researcher, told AFP.
The 2009 anti-terrorism law has seen several opposition
figures and journalists, including two Swedes, jailed for lengthy terms, and
should be overturned, said the New York-based Human Rights Watch.
Meles, a former rebel fighter who came to power in 1991
after toppling the bloody dictatorship of Mengistu Haile Mariam, died in
hospital in Brussels, officials said.
Meanwhile, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that
the death of Ethiopian Prime Minister Menes Zenawi has robbed Africa of a
“committed, forthright, visionary and fearless leader’’.
Our correspondent
reports that Zenawi , 57, died yesterday from a sudden infection while
recovering from an undisclosed aliment at a hospital abroad, according to the
Ethiopian state television.
Obasanjo told newsmen that Zenawi was one of the bright
lights of leadership in present day Africa.
“He has shown his sterner stuff that he is made of in
fighting for his country’s emancipation from the rudderless, despotic military
dictatorship to bringing his country up in development terms as one of the
beacons of Africa.
“I have seen his performance at the African Union (AU), and
it is because of his brilliance that leaders of Africa and I decided to hand
over the AU NEPAD programme to him.
“His death robs Africa of a committed, forthright, visionary
and fearless leader.
“I condole with his family, the people, the government and
his successor,’’ Obasanjo said, adding that his death was a shock to him.
Our correspondent quotes
the Ethiopian television as saying that Zenawi’s body would be returned to
Ethiopia soon, while a committee had been set up to organise his funeral.
The television stated that Hailemariam Desalegn, his deputy,
would act as prime minister.
“Nothing in Ethiopia will change. The government will
continue. Our policies and institutions will continue. Nothing will change in
Ethiopia. Desalegn will be confirmed by parliament.”
News
I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
News
RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
News
Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman

The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
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