Nation
Don’t Execute Greenfield Students, Parents, Senator Beg …As Bandits Free One
The National President, Parents Teachers Associations (PTA), Alhaji Haruna Danladi, has pleaded with the abductors of the Greenfield University students not to execute or hurt any student for now.
He also pleaded with the abductors to please extend the deadline and time of their execution for the affected families to be able to meet their demands.
Speaking with newsmen, yesterday, Danladi, observed, “There is need to beg all the bandits in view of the situation some of the students find themselves since the day they were kidnapped and kept in the forest.
“There has been high tension and fear among all the families, relatives and other concerned citizens in the state the moment the bandits issued the threat that they will kill the remaining students if their demands are not met.”
Danladi explained that begging them became mandatory because the lives of the kidnapped students are at risk and the university students are all needed back home alive.
He further said, “We were shocked and not happy with the statement on the radio that all our remaining Greenfield University students would be killed by the Kaduna Bandits if N100million and 10 motorcycles were not given to them today (Tuesday).”
He added, “We are simply begging them not to kill any other student in view of the fact that they are innocent.
“The deadline is really worrisome and we as parents, we are all concerned and worried over the lives of our students and teachers of the Greenfield University.”
Danjuma said, it is really unfortunate that bandits now come up with new ways of extorting money from school students through evacuating large number of students to get more money.
He stressed on the need for government to provide adequate security in order to protect all Nigerian schools so as to avert further attacks on schools.
Since the kidnap of Chibok girls in Borno to Dapchi girls in Yobe, and others in Zamfara, Niger and Kaduna, many teachers and students are in panic and in critical situation, hence the need for the government to quickly bring an end to kidnap of school students and teachers.
While calling on communities to always support in protecting schools, including teachers and students, he urged volunteer vigilantes, civilian JTF, civil defence and Peace Corps to always support in terms of protecting school environment.
Similarly, following threats by abductors of the Greenfield University students to kill the remaining 17 students, if ransom is not paid immediately, Senator Shehu Sani, yesterday, urged the government to immediately rescue them.
The Rivers state Government has identified six local government areas with the highest burden of maternal and Neonatal mortality in the state.
State Commissioner for Health Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh said this in an interview with newsmen at the Maternal and Neonatal Reduction innovation initiative ( Mamii)Rivers state activation workshop and state engagement meeting in Port Harcourt.
The event was organized by The Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with its Rivers state counterpart in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh also restated the preparedness of the state government to support current efforts by the federal government towards the reduction of maternal and infant mortalities in the country.
She mentioned the affected Local Government Areas to include, Andoni,Akuku Toru and Ahoada West
The rest according to the Commissioner are, Bonny, Etche and Emohua Local Government Areas.
She said the workshop will enable the team from the federal ministry of health and social welfare to brainstorm with the view to finding solution to the problem.
The Commissioner also gave reasons why the Mamii initiative was the best as far as finding solution to maternal mortality was concerned.
“The uniqueness of the Mamii initiative driven by the federal ministry of health and social welfare was that we used evidence to elicit the reasons for this deaths, so that the solutions will be context specific and tailored to the particular environment where those deaths are occuring
“For us in Rivers state we have six Mamii LGAs , nationally we we have 172 local government areas “the Commissioner said.
Earlier in her opening remarks,Dr Oreh said the state government is prepared to work with the federal ministry of health and social welfare to check the rate of maternal mortality in the state.
She commended The Minister of Health and Social welfare Professor Ali Muhammad Pategi for driving the Mamii initiative across the country and expressed optimism that the programm will see to the end of maternal mortality in the country.
Also speaking the National Coordinator Nigeria health sector Renewal Initiative Dr Adam Ahmed said Rivers state is the last state among Mamii states in the country to host the team.
He said the team will visit the affected Local Government Areas with the view to interacting with the people on how to check the trend.
He expressed the hope that with continuous efforts, maternal mortality will be checked.
Also speaking the permanent secretary Rivers state Ministry of Health Professor Justinah Jumbo said the government is not leaving any stone unturned towards reduction in maternal deaths.
The permanent secretary said Governor Siminalaye Fubara is a health friendly Governor who is desirous in improving the quality of health of Rivers people.
John Bibor
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rivers state has declared a one day fasting and prayer to seek divine intervention on the political crisis rocking the state.
The Association said this at a media briefing in Port Harcourt.
State chairman of the Association,Most Rev. Dokiboeriya B. Kaladokubo said the fasting and prayer which holds February 5th at the Ecumenical center Abonnema wharf was in furtherance of the Association peace, advocacy, good governance and political stability in Rivers state.
He said the Association has observed with disappointment the dangerous trend and and gradual descent of governance in Rivers state into uncertainty and near oblivion, adding that the trend has exposed Rivers citizens to insecurity, economic hardship, loss of livelihood and the destruction of lives and property.
Kaladokubo said the association has also watched with dismay the unfolding political crisis in the state, stressing “what we see today is not merely a disagreement among political actors,it is a dangerous drift that threatens the very foundation of governance, peace, security and the collective well-being of our people”
According to him,”as the custodians of the spiritual and moral conscience of Rivers state,we can not remain silent while the state is pushed steadily towards chaos, institutional breakdown and avoidable suffering
“We are not oblivious of the fact that Rivers state like some other states in the federation often experience tension between the Executive and the Legislature “adding”when disagreement escalate they can hinder governance, delay budgets ,erode public trust and impede peaceful, constructive development”
The Christian body stressed the need for parties involved in the conflict to seek for peaceful resolution, stressing that as Christians and children of God “we should seek the path of peace and reconciliation as Christ Himself taught us”it said
The Association further encourage the both arms of government to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness and prioritize good governance in Rivers state
“We also advised all the parties in these conflict to call their supporters to exercise restraint in all their utterances and de-escalate tension in the interest of peace in Rivers state ”
CAN also described as disturbing the role some elder statesmen and individuals in the state have played and continue to play in the crisis when they should have serve as voices of wisdom, restraint and unity
“Rather than guiding the process towards peace, some have taken sides,fueled division and encouraged instability becoming more dangerous than those currently holding power”,it said.
John Bibor
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