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Speak Truth To Power, Prof Omotola Tells Journalists

Journalists have been tasked to speak truth to power and hold political office holders accountable to the citizenry to entrench genuine development in Nigeria.Journalists have been
tasked to speak truth to power and hold political office holders accountable to the citizenry to entrench genuine development in Nigeria.
Former Deputy Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Prof Shola Omotola gave this charge to Press men during his paper presentation at a retreat held by the Senate Press Corps at Al – Vari. Hotel, Keffi , Nasarawa State, last Saturday.
In line with this, most of the public office holders who graced the event pledged to make available any information needed by journalists covering the National Assembly at any time as entrenched in the provisions of Freedom of Information Act .In line with this, most of the public office holders who graced the event pledged to make available any information needed by journalists covering the National Assembly at any time as entrenched in the provisions of Freedom of Information Act .
President of the Senate , Senator Godswill Akpabio , represented by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Yemi Adaramodu and the Clerk to the National Assembly, Alhaji Sani Magaji Tambawal were among dignitaries at the occasion.President of the Senate , Senator Godswill Akpabio , represented by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Yemi Adaramodu and the Clerk to the National Assembly, Alhaji Sani Magaji Tambawal were among dignitaries at the occasion.
Prof Omotola in his paper presentation on “Developmental Impact of the Executive on Nigeria’s Democracy, 1999-2024 “ , said successive elected governments at the federal level since May 1999, have by policy formulation and execution, tried to effect development across the sectors but failed in the area of poverty alleviation, let alone , eradication .Prof Omotola in his paper presentation on DevelopmentalImpactoftheExecutiveonNigeria’sDemocracy,1999-2024 , said successive elected governments at the federal level since May 1999, have by policy formulation and execution, tried to effect development across the sectors but failed in the area of poverty alleviation, let alone , eradication .
The failure to effectively tackle poverty among Nigerians by successive governments, according to him, has made development, as a vital component of democracy, to be substantially missing in Nigeria over the years .The failure to effectively tackle poverty among Nigerians by successive governments, according to him, has made development, as a vital component of democracy, to be substantially missing in Nigeria over the years .
The theme of the retreat, Democracy and Development: How far, So far, for Nigeria?”, is, therefore, very apt, timely and cogent. The theme of the retreat, Democracy and Development: How far, So far, for Nigeria?,is,therefore,veryapt,timelyandcogent.
“Democracy and development are inextricably interconnected and must flow together, the very reason why journalists in Nigeria , need to speak truth to power in making it so , in Nigeria .Democracyanddevelopmentareinextricablyinterconnectedandmustflowtogether,theveryreasonwhyjournalistsinNigeria,needtospeaktruthtopowerinmakingitso,inNigeria.
“ Development is basically about the people reaching an acceptable standard of living, having the basic things on which they need to live decently – housing, shelter, clothing, food -nutritionally balanced diet, potable water, clean environment.Developmentisbasicallyaboutthepeoplereachinganacceptablestandardofliving,havingthebasicthingsonwhichtheyneedtolivedecently-housing,shelter,clothing,food-nutritionallybalanceddiet,potablewater,cleanenvironment.
“ All hindrances to these in Nigeria from corruption to bad policies, need to be exposed from time to time by journalists who are the watchdogs of the society”, he said .AllhindrancestotheseinNigeriafromcorruptiontobadpolicies,needtobeexposedfromtimetotimebyjournalistswhoarethewatchdogsofthesociety, he said .
He also urged journalists to ensure credible reportage and shun being roped into biased reports or analysis coming through brown envelopes and gifts He also urged journalists to ensure credible reportage and shun being roped into biased reports or analysis coming through brown envelopes and gifts
He however added that for Nigeria to have sustained the practice of Democracy for more than 24 years and remaining as an entity , show that development would surely follow .He however added that for Nigeria to have sustained the practice of Democracy for more than 24 years and remaining as an entity , show that development would surely follow .
In his remarks at the retreat , the President of the Senate , Godswill Akpabio , representedby , Senator Yemi Adaramodu , said the Senate under his leadership , would not deny any journalist , access to information for ventilation to the larger society as provided for, by the FOI Act .In his remarks at the retreat , the President of the Senate , Godswill Akpabio , representedby , Senator Yemi Adaramodu , said the Senate under his leadership , would not deny any journalist , access to information for ventilation to the larger society as provided for, by the FOI Act .
Also the Clerk to the National Assembly , Sani Magaji Tambawal , represented by Secretary , Research and Information , Mr Ali Umar , said since Democracy provides a more favourable environment for development, management of the National Assembly , will continue to provide conducive working environment for journalists for very balanced and objective reportage .Also the Clerk to the National Assembly , Sani Magaji Tambawal , represented by Secretary , Research and Information , Mr Ali Umar , said since Democracy provides a more favourable environment for development, management of the National Assembly , will continue to provide conducive working environment for journalists for very balanced and objective reportage .
However the Chairman , Senate Committee on Public Accounts , Senator Ahmed Aliyu who represents the host state said for development to flow with Democracy in Nigeria , Nigerians need to move away from sentimental reasoning and conducts, by in actual fact , being brother’s keeper . However the Chairman , Senate Committee on Public Accounts , Senator Ahmed Aliyu who represents the host state said for development to flow with Democracy in Nigeria , Nigerians need to move away from sentimental reasoning and conducts, by in actual fact , being brother’s keeper .
By: Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi
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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
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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
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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.