News
Free Leah Sharibu Protest Hits Kaduna
Hundreds of Christians in Kaduna State yesterday raised their voices against the government’s alleged helplessness in rescuing a lone Chibok schoolgirl, Leah Sharibu, still in Boko Haram’s den since 2018.
Recall that Leah and over 100 female schoolmates at the Government Girls’ Science and Technical College, Dapchi, in Yobe State, were forcefully taken captive by the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents over 10 years ago.
While some were released, Leah who refused to denounce her Christian faith remained in captivity.
At a point, she was said to be married to more than two commanders of the sect which had over the years unleashed terror on Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, and some parts of the northern states. She allegedly bore three kids for the commanders.
But yesterday, some Christians under the aegis of the Christian Solidarity Worldwide Nigeria, in a peaceful protest demanded the immediate release of Leah and other schoolchildren still languishing in terrorist camps across the north.
The Christian leaders stormed the ECWA Good News Church, along Narayi High Cost, Chikun Local Government Area of the state, where the peaceful protest was held at about 10.00am
They collectively called on both the Federal and State Governments to secure the community so that Leah Sharibu and others could go to school without necessarily ending up at kidnappers’ dens.
They carried placards while chanting solidarity songs as they laid siege to the church.
Some of the placards carried inscriptions such as “Free Leah Sharibu and other abducted girls now,” “Remember Gonin-Gora 16 kidnapped victims,” “Government secure our community,” and “Rescue the remaining Chibok girls now” as well as “Education is not a crime,” among others.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Christian Solidarity Worldwide Nigeria, Rev. Yunusa Nmadu, speaking shortly after the protest, described it as unfortunate that 10 years after the incident, Sharibu had yet to be rescued.
Nmadu said the protest was organised to commemorate the 21st birthday of Leah Sharibu while in captivity by the dreaded Boko Haram sect.
He called on the Federal Government to do the needful in rescuing Sharibu and other abducted schoolgirls still languishing in terrorist dens across the north.
According to him, it is unacceptable that Nigerians are no longer safe in their homes as they are being abducted willingly by bandits from their homes.
He said, “When it started in Chibok, we thought that was the end but it keep reoccurring every now and then 10 years after, many schoolgirls are still in captivity and this morning.
“We have all come out to commemorate the 21st birth of Leah Sharibu who has become the face of this campaign and many other campaigns for safe schoolchildren. We therefore want to wish her a happy birthday even in captivity.
“But then, we also want to entreat the government that they must do the needful. Nigeria is ebbing out. Nigeria is dying. We are almost surrendering to insecurity and bandits, kidnappers and all sorts of evil people in our land. It is time to stop.
“Our children must go to school. We must stay safe in our homes. Our homes are no longer safe. Our roads are no longer safe. Government must come to terms with what is happening in the country and they must save the lives of the populists.
“We voted you in for security but what we get is insecurity. Therefore, we asked and we spoke this time to the President of the country, Bola Tinubu. Please, up your game, and safe lives. People are dying in their hundreds every day. This is unacceptable to us as citizens of this country. Security is our right.
“Therefore, we hope that the government will listen and do the needful. Safe our schools. Safe our girls. It is not a crime to go to school because they have chosen to go to school. It is the responsibility of the government to secure our schools and protect the lives and property of the citizens of this country.”
Also speaking, the Secretary of the Kaduna State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. Emmanuel Okunlola, appealed to the government to protect Nigeria and Nigerians.
According to the CAN’s scribe, Nigeria’s government must rise up and expedite actions to rescue Leah Sharibu and other schoolchildren.
“Nigeria must be protected. Nigeria must be secured. it’s the primary responsibility of the government to protect lives and property.
“Therefore, we called on all state government, the federal government, and the National Security adviser to rise to the occasion, and expedite action on the release of our abducted girls. This is the only thing that will make Nigeria the giant brother of Africa, not in an unsafe environment or unsecured environment. Let the government do the needful so that we can be peaceful in Nigeria,” he said.
On his part, the Legal Adviser of the CSW-N, Braimoh Martins, alleged that apart from Leah Sharibu, there were well over 400 students in the Boko Haram captivity and in the dens of herdsmen and militia groups across the north.
He said, “We are part of organisations that have been advancing the cause of freedom for all Christians in Nigeria. We work very extensively in all the 19 Northern States as our States of focus because of the increase and the frequent persecution of Christians in Northern Nigeria.
“And by extension, we also do advocacy and stakeholder partnership with other States in Nigeria. And it is very important for us, to see the situation of insecurity in Nigeria, and how our communities are becoming unsafe and porous to banditry attacks and schools have become targets of militia activities, bandit attacks, and kidnappings.
“And today is the 14th day of May 2024 in commemoration of Leah Sharibu who was also among other secondary school girls kidnapped in Dapchi in Yobe State.”
Martins also called on the government at all levels to use their executive powers to rescue those girls from the hands of the abductors and “to free them from the enslavement of banditry and insurgency in Nigeria.”
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.