Nation
Tears, Trauma As Families, Colleagues Remember Victims Of UN House Bombing
Amid tears, wreath-laying, and tales of trauma, survivors, families, and colleagues of the 23 victims of the 2011 UN House bombing, yesterday held a ceremony to celebrate their ‘fallen heroes’.
At an event held at the UN House in Abuja at the instance of the United Nations, families of the late staff could not hold back tears as they laid wreaths in remembrance of their deceased family members.
It was a heart-rending event as 10-year-old David Musa laid a wreath in remembrance of his late father Illya Musa.
David who was born in September, 2011 as the last of six children, one month after the bombing, failed to fight back tears as he narrated how difficult it had been to be born and raised without a father.
For David’s mother, Sarah Illya, she said that it was not easy when she was called and informed of the demise of her husband in the bombing.
Mrs Illya whose late husband worked with UNDP said that she fainted on hearing the news and was almost delivered of baby David before his due day as she was out of consciousness for a while.
‘To live without a father in a house is not easy, it is better to have a father figure – he was a very strong and hearty person who loved his children very well.
“Without him, to take care of all six of the children has not been easy,” she said.
She however said that she had been receiving monetary support from the UN on a monthly basis.
For the UN Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, who spoke after a minute silence in honour of the departed, it had always been difficult to speak in honour of his late colleagues.
He said that he only derived strength in the promise that the UN would not be cowed by violence but will always remain committed to service to humanity.
“I lack words to describe those who died in service to humanity.
“Somehow I have derived strength in the promise that we would refuse to be cowed by violence, remain defiant against terror, and recommit ourselves to supporting the Nigerian people,” he said.
He recalled that it was 10 years ago when the suicide car bomb went off, killing 23 staff, guards and visitors while injuring more than 60 others.
“Our hearts bled, it was indeed a dark day for the United Nations. We will remember them forever as truly the best of humanity.
“We will continue to remember the families of the departed and I am so pleased that we are having this ceremony in the same building that was blown apart,” he said.
He commended the Federal Government of Nigeria as well as the administration of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for the resilience demonstrated in rebuilding the UN House.
Minister of the FCT, represented by Zulaihu Ahmed, described the event as a sad one, stressing that the FCT administration would not be intimidated in its quest to keep the city safe.
Nation
Council Boss Impeached 48 Hours To LG Polls In Katsina
The Chairman of Malumfashi Local Government Council of Katsina State, Maharazu Dayi, has been impeached.
Maharazu Dayi was impeached yesterday by 11 out of 12 councillors, barely two days before the local government elections in the State.
The councillors reportedly took action following allegations of misconduct and poor governance against the chairman after a dispute over the distribution of the council’s Paris Club funds.
The development has sent shock waves across the local government area, especially as the impeached chairman is among those who failed to secure the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to contest in the forthcoming election.
Nation
Association Tasks Fubara On Rumuwoji Market Phase Three
The Rumuwoji Ultra Modern Market Traders Association, Mile 1, Port Harcourt, has urged the state government to utilise the available spaces within the area to build phase 3 of the Rumuwoji Market in order to solve the ever increasing needs of traders.
The association, which said this at a media briefing in Port Harcourt, also described as a welcomed development the decision by the state Governor to open the phase 2 of the market for business.
According to the association, “We consider it as an answer to the various cries of the people, because he is a man on a mission who is out to place the interest of Rivers people first. It is a dream come true for the first time for the market to be dully allocated and open for business”
Chairman of the association, Hon Godspower Wobo, who briefed the press shortly after a meeting of the association in Port Harcourt, also urged the public to disregard the activities of some persons whose stock in trade is to cause disaffection in the market.
He said the attention of the association was drawn to the activities of some strange fellows who went about misforming the people about situation in the market, stressing that apart from his association, no other group exists in the market except subdiary unions.
Wobo also tasked the reallocation committee to tread with caution so as to avoid being deceived by any group.
According to him, time has come for the state government to engage in robust discussion with aggrieved shop owners who went to court and those who paid monies to the state coffers and issued with allocation certificates for the overall interest of peace.
He also advised the public to deal directly with his association, stressing that the meeting was to review activities for the last year as well as unveil their new Constitution.
Also speaking, former Chairman of the association, Deacon Kenneth Eze urged the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara to open the phase 2 of the market, as it is long overdue.
Eze who is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the association also urged the public to do business with only the Rumuwoji Ultra Modern Market Traders Association as it is the only union recognised by the traders.
Nation
AfDB President Denies 2027 Presidential Ambition
The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwunmi Adesina, has debunked reports linking him with the race for Nigeria’s presidency in 2027.
Reacting to the report on his X handle yesterday, following a recent interview with Arise TV, the AfDB boss said his quotes were misrepresented and misinterpreted in several Nigerian media reports.
However, the AfDB president denied the media reports, stating that he never said that he wanted to contest for President.
“A segment of my recent interview on @Arise TV has been both misinterpreted and misrepresented in several Nigerian media outlets. What I said was, “I will be available to serve in any capacity, globally, in Africa, anywhere, including my own country.”
“A listen to the substantive and robust interview, which is available online, will show this to be the case. For clarity and for the record, I did not say that I am running for the office of President of Nigeria,” Adesina said.
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