Nation
PFN Seeks Dialogue Over Insecurity In South-East
The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) South-East chapter, has expressed worries over the level of insecurity in the zone.
It also suggested that dialogue remained the only viable solution to the insecurity plaguing the country.
Speaking during a prayer rally in Enugu by the PFN, the National Vice-Chairman, South-East of the Christian body, Bishop Maxwell Korie said, “We are deeply concerned with the level of insecurity in the South-East zone and having reviewed the situation, we urge the Federal Government to invite the agitation groups to a dialogue table to negotiate what their issues and misgivings are.”
He appealed to President MuhammaduBuhari to reconsider his hard stance on the incarceration of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
He said the stand of the Federal Government where the Buhari-led administration insisted that it would allow the courts to decide Kanu’s fate, was not in anyone’s interest.
“The past administration of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua used dialogue to solve the problems of the Niger Delta region. So, we advise the incumbent administration of MuhammaduBuhari to borrow a leaf from the Yar’Adua administration.
“This is the sure and fastest way towards resolving these issues,” he stated.
On the 2023 presidential election, he re-echoed the PFN stand that the body would vote against any political party that fielded a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
“Any joint ticket of two Muslims in the office of the president and the Vice President in the forthcoming 2023 general election, shall not be tolerated, it is dead on arrival,” he declared.
“All the political parties should take note of this, especially the two major political parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“All PFN blocs have already been instructed to mobilize and vote against such a political party that fields two Muslims in the presidential election come 2023,” he added.
He disclosed that the solemn assembly and prayer rally was born out of the vision that God gave to the National President of the PFN, Wale Oke.
The Alliance Française Port Harcourt in conjunction with the Embassy of France Nigeria over the weekend joined the globe to campaign against the 2025 gender- based violence (GBV) with the theme: “16 Days of Activism Against Gender- Based Voice”
The event which took place at the event Hall of the Alliance Française Port Harcourt was in collaboration with the Female in Gaming Network, ( FIGN) and partnership with Nexal a body that seeks to promote online safety and responsible digital behaviour.
The Tide reports that the project which was aimed at promoting digital safety and girls inclusion in Gaming, with the initiative tagged ‘Gameover Gender- Base Violence’was part of the global campaign against gender- based Violence.
The activity which experienced a flavour of festivity was full of fun and excitements as participants took part in tournaments on popular digital games such as Mario kart and EAFC 25, with an intent to creating safer and more inclusive digital spaces.
The Director of the Alliance Française Port Harcourt, Mrs Marina Lacal said that these activities were designed to encourage inclusion of girls, team work and fair play on online gaming spaces, saying that the gaming world reflects these inequalities, where female players are often under represented.
According to her the main objectives of the initiative was to provide a supportive environment for girls and female in gaming network.
“GameOverGBV” is a project created to reshape this landscape by offering an innovative inclusiveness of girls on online digital Gaming community and digital environments that provide opportunities for creativity, learning and connection, but also fight against Gender-Based Violence Digital Gaming,”she said
She however, explained that the Digital Game, sport competitions, was launched to strengthen social and digital skills through games, workshops, and raise awareness among all young participants about respect, equality and digital citizenship.
The Tide News reports that in Port Harcourt, the competition brought together 100 young participants from three major universities: University of Port Harcourt, ( UNIPORT),Ignatius Ajuru University of Education(IAUE) and Rivers State University (RSU)as well as students from four selected secondary schools, Oginigba comprehensive Secondary.School, Vine lnternational, Virgo predicanda lnternational, and Excellent Montessori Secondary school.
“This is an approach where girls and boys can learn, play and collaborate in a more respectful and safe space for young women, while ensuring a safe, enjoyable and respectful digital environment. It also expose young women to cyberbullying, exclusion, sexist comments and online hate,” Mrs. Lacal said.
Earlier, a game developer Sophia Nei and her. team had engaged participants in an interactive session with the theme: “Can Video Games Be Safe Spaces For Girls?”
However, Mrs Nei and her team educated the girls on the benefits and violence on online digital gaming and urged them ( participants)to learn to say ‘No’ to Online hate, sexist and cyber bullying, while encouraging them(students) to stand up for themselves by reporting such issues to the appropriate authority.
Highlight of the competition was the awarding of prizes to winners by the Director of Alliance Française, Mrs Marina Lacal.
