Crime/Justice
Elections: PWDs Demand Inclusion In Electoral Processes, Access To Polling Units
Network of Women with Disabilities (NWD), Tuesday, have demanded for inclusion in the electoral process at all levels and access to polling units nationwide.
The network, in collaboration with the Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative(WRAPA) made the call during a walk and presentation of the charter of demand for women with disability to the Federal Ministry of Justice in Abuja.
Hajiya Zainab Abdulrasheed, Programme Officer WRAPA, said the removal of any physical barrier faced by PWDs during election day and in the electoral processes would enable them vote in line with Nigeria’s polling system.
Abdulrasheed, stressed the need for election management bodies and other stakeholders to protects the rights of women and PWDs, urging them to include them in the implementation of electoral processes in Nigeria.
“Part of it is ensuring polling units are accessible for PWDs and be able to participate meaningfully during election to exercise their franchise or voting candidates of their choice.
“ And not be intimidated because inaccessibility of polling units can deter prospective voters from exercising their franchise.
“And this is the right time to promote PWDs especially women in the 2023 election and beyond.”
According to her, the rally exercise was to create more awareness and promote the rights and inclusion of PWDs in the forthcoming election.
She added that an abridged version of a charter of demands that spells out what the provisions of the laws of Nigeria in disabilities rights are pertaining to the PWDs, particularly women in the forthcoming elections was also launched to make their demands known.
“We came to create awareness on this purpose for all stakeholders to come on board and ensure that the forthcoming 2023 election and beyond have to be very inclusive of women with disabilities.
“ And to ensure that their rights are not infringed upon.
“ They should not be discriminated for any reasons, they should be part of any development and governance in any society where they may exist.
“That is why we are here for people to know that they have a rights to vote and be voted for.
“ This activity came at the right time towards the 2023 election, where we know that polling is about to take place and we hope INEC has put in place resources to ensure inclusiveness for PWDs and others alike,” she said.
Also, Ms Rose Daniels, Vice President, decried that women with disability have been relegated to the background in every sector, stressing the need for inclusion, which would empower them and contribute to national development.
“We want to be heard, To be included in the political sphere, we have capable women with disability who can run for offices and be voted for, to be in the parliament.
“We are demanding for our 10 per cent quota which I believe is not too much, to have our space in the national polity,” she said.
On her part, Ms Godiya John, Media and Communication Officer NWD, FCT Chapter, reiterated the need for inclusion of women with disability in all the affairs of the government, adding their right to inclusion should not be denied.
“All we are asking is inclusion in politics, governance, health, education. We are asking of inclusion, our rights to vote, rights to be voted for, rights to education, rights to gainful employment.
“We want government to include us in politics, we want them to know that there is so much ability in us, so much we can contribute to the political sphere of the government.
“ So, we are asking for inclusion, women generally are asking for just 35 per cent, but we are asking for only 10 per cent from government.
“When you empower a woman with disabilities, you empower the nation because most are mothers.
“We have been discriminated and abandoned, but when we are empowered it will go along way in the contribution of the development of the country,” she said.
Responding, Representative of the Ministry of Justice, Winifred Oyekunle, assured the group that issues tabled will be presented to the relevant authorities with a follow up action.
Oyekunle said, “be assured that your issues are always considered as your interest will be protected.
“The Attorney General will do his best as your message will get across and you will be happy with his decision,” she said. (NAN)
Crime/Justice
Gunmen Kidnap 19-Year-Old Girl, Demand N10m Ransom In Ondo
The Police Command in Ondo State has confirmed the abduction of a 19-year-old girl, Adetutu Okinbaloye by gunmen from her home in Imoru community, Ose Local Government Area of the state.
The command spokesman, SP Olufumilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, confirmed the incident to newsmen yesterday in Akure.
“The DPO confirmed that the monarch of the town called to inform him while at the collation centre on Saturday, that three people were attacked in their home by gunmen.
“While two of them escaped, the third person was whisked away,” he said.
The Tide source gathered that seven armed men broke into the victim’s home and took her away after injuring her aunt, Mrs Alaba Oga.
A source in the community said that the abductors had contacted the family and demanded for N10 million ransoms.
The police and local security group, the Amotekun corps, are said to be on the trail of the kidnappers.
Crime/Justice
Guber Elections: Jubilate But Don’t Cause Disorder, Police Tell Winners In Ebonyi
The Police Command in Ebonyi has urged supporters of the winners in Saturday’s Governorship and House of Assembly polls to comport themselves in line with the provisions of the law as they celebrate.
This is contained in a statement issued to reporters on Tuesday in Abakaliki by SP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, spokesperson of the command.
The statement quoted Commissioner of Police, Mr Faleye Olaleye as saying that the command was ready to ensure protection of lives and property.
“The Commissioner wishes to notify the general public that all forms of celebrations and protests by political party supporters for/or against winners/losers of the just concluded elections must not infringe on the right of others.
“Candidates dissatisfied with the outcome of the elections are advised to seek redress in the court of law rather than resorting to self help.
“Therefore, the jubilant supporters must comport themselves in line with the provisions of the law; blockage of roads, fireworks, and inciting utterances would not be condoned.
“The Command will not hesitate to deal decisively with any person(s) or group(s) who violate this order or deliberately cause the breakdown of law and order in whatever manner.
“Those culpable will be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law as security agencies have been deployed strategically and directed to ensure full enforcement,” the statement read in part.
Olaleye further enjoined members of the public to be law-abiding and shun all forms of violence.
Crime/Justice
How Dynamic Security Environments Broadened ONSA’S Functions – Monguno
The National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno, says the dynamic nature of the security landscape over the last three decades has necessitated the broadening of the mandate of his office.
The Head, Strategic Communication, ONSA, Mr Zakari Usman, explained that Monguno said this in a statement yesterday in Abuja.
Monguno was speaking at the inauguration of the new Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the National Counterterrorism Centre (NCTC) building complex on Tuesday in Abuja.
He said the mandate of ONSA had been broadened to accommodate the needs of emerging security threats.
The NSA said that ONSA’s core mandate was to assess the security concerns of the country and advise the president on all matters bordering on national security.
“The dynamic nature of global and domestic security environments has necessitated the modification and expansion of some of the functions of ONSA.
“The office, through the activities of key interagency intelligence-sharing platforms, assesses the security concerns of the country and advises the president on all matters bordering on national security.
“The platforms are the Intelligence Community Committee, Joint Intelligence Board, General Security Appraisal Committee and the Cybercrime Advisory Council.
“However, the series of amendments incorporated in the Terrorism Prevention Act in 2011, 2013 and 2022 have broadened the counterterrorism responsibilities of ONSA,” he said.
Monguno said the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) was established to meet the regional and global requirements as well as Nigeria’s commitments to the control of small arms and light weapons.
He added that the establishment of Cybersecurity Coordination Centre and NCTC to coordinate Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts as well as the upgrade of the Intelligence Fusion Centre (IFC), generated the need for larger, more secure and better-equipped facilities to optimally discharge the functions of ONSA.
“The new office is designed to accommodate the additional workforce and improved technological capabilities of the centre, particularly the Explosive Devices Analysis Office (EDAO), increasing activities of the Countering Violent Extremism – (CVE) department and the Joint Terrorism Analysis Branch.
He said that the new ONSA and NCTC building complex boasts of office spaces, a world-class hall, conference rooms, team rooms, laboratories, an auditorium, and an operations/crises centre.
Monguno said the facilities would further enhance Nigeria’s already recognised contribution to global counterterrorism policy and practice efforts and give impetus to Nigeria’s internal, bilateral, and multilateral cooperation and collaboration in tackling the menace of terrorism and violent extremism.
He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his administration’s investment strategy in legacy infrastructure projects.
He said the conceptualisation, design and development of the new ONSA and NCTC buildings were based on Buhari’s vision of ensuring a robust national security enterprise for the country.
NSA also acknowledged the support of the National Assembly.
While inaugurating the projects, President Buhari said that delivering on the new state-of-the-art facilities had demonstrated his administration’s firm commitment to ensuring that Nigeria’s national security capabilities were kept abreast with the highest global standards.
According to him, these two world-class facilities will no doubt optimise our efforts at addressing the dynamic contemporary security challenges in our environment, especially countering terrorism and violent extremism.
The president congratulated Monguno and his team for the noble achievement, saying that the new facilities would enhance the desired peaceful and secure environment for the country.
In attendance at the commissioning ceremony were service chiefs, heads of the security and intelligence community, ministers, legislators, and representatives of bilateral and multilateral partners from the UN, AU, ECOWAS and other foreign missions.
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