IWA warns on detention of Nnamdi Kanu, demands unconditional release

ITRealms:

The Igbo World Assembly (IWA) has asked the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) to free unconditionally the Director, Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, describing him as the first political prisoner of the President Mohammadu Buhari administration, reports ITRealms.

The group in a press statement made available to ITRealms, IWA Chairman, Dr Nwachukwu Anakwenze and Secretary General, Mr. Oliver Nwankwor, said that Kanu is part of the Mass Media and should not be arrested or detained because of expressed opinions.

They noted that freedom of speech is guaranteed by Section 22 and Section 39 of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution as amended and such right is also enshrined in the Geneva Convention Universal Human Right Declaration Article 19 when it stated that “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression.”

IWA also said that the detention and harassment of Mr. Kanu, is an affront to a free press and speech of all Nigerians.

“Radio Biafra of which Nnamdi Kanu serves as the Managing Editor is part of the Mass Media and should not be arrested or detained because of their expressed opinions,” IWA said.

Insisting that effort at suppressing press freedom was associated with the dictatorship of the past military rule in the country.

They therefore, invited “All Igbo and indeed all Nigerians should defend press freedom and the right of Radio Biafra to express its views on Nigeria publicly. Igbos must not be subjected to a different treatment from other Nigerians.

“This incessant harassment and in some cases killing of members of Igbo organizations must be put to an end. MASSOB or Radio Biafra have not picked up arms against or challenged the Nigerian Government by force.

“Arrests and harassment of Igbo leaders is sending a wrong signal and message to young and newer generation of Igbos under 45 who did not witness the genocide war against people in the east,” IWA warned, emphasizing that elsewhere in the world, peaceful freedom movements are going on in Western Cameroon, Scotland; Quebec in Canada, Texas in the United States and nobody has been arrested or detained by the governments of these countries”, IWA noted.

The group further stated that all Nigerians of goodwill should join in the campaign to restore freedom of speech and movement in Nigeria which has been abridged by the arrest and detention of Kanu.

 

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Pix: IWA Chairman, Dr Nwachukwu Anakwenze

Nigeria to host 2nd EMF conference in Lagos

ITRealms:

The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has concluded plans to host the Second West African Conference on Electro Magnetic Field (EMF) and Health on the 17-18 December, 2014 in Lagos, reports ITRealms.

The two-day conference, ITRealms reports, would be held at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, with the theme “EMF in a Highly Connected Society: Understanding the myths and realities.”

ITRealms also reports that this conference, will provide a platform for policy makers, regulators, legislators, operators, mobile equipment manufacturers, consumer groups and other stakeholders to raise the level of understanding about potential adverse health effects, if any, of mobile communication aimed at establishing a harmonised EMF policy in the West African sub-region.

This, Director, Public Affairs at NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo told ITRealms is in line with the political effort to adopt WHO Model Legislation and ICNIRP exposure limits in Nigeria, asserting, “It is expected that this will function as a role model for other sub-regions.”

Ojobo also hinted ITRealms that the Honourable Minister of Communication Technology, Dr. (Mrs) Omobola Johnson will deliver the keynote address at the conference, while Ministers from other concerned jurisdictions such as the Science and Technology; Health; and Environment will also participate at the event

Other participants expected from ITRealms findings are the Chairmen of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Science and Technology; Communication and Environment

Equally expected are officials of the World Health Organization, International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIPR), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), West African Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA); Mobile Manufacturers Forum (MMF), and academia as well as relevant stakeholders nationwide.

 +Remmy Nweke @NGRCommTech @NgComCommission @ITU

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President Jonathan endorses Shola Taylor for Deputy Sec-Gen @ITU

ITRealms:

The Federal Government of Nigeria has endorsed the candidacy of Mr. Shola Taylor for the post of Deputy Secretary-General at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), ITRealms can authoritatively report.

Affirming this development to ITRealms, the Communication Technology Minister for the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Mrs. Omobola Johnson, through her aide, Mrs. Efem Nkanga reaffirmed this at the ongoing Plenipotentiary Conference of ITU in Busan, Korean.

ITRealms investigations revealed that Dr. Johnson made this policy statement by calling on all delegates to support Nigeria’s quest to serve as the Deputy Secretary General of the ITU, which has equally received endorsement of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. 

“President Jonathan has approved the presentation of Mr. Shola Taylor as Nigeria’s candidate for the post of Deputy Secretary General,” she said.

CommTech minister equally urged support of the delegates, saying that Nigeria has valuable experience to share, and the nation is imbibing best practices from other countries.

ITRealms recalls that Mr. Taylor is experienced in the operation of the ITU and has held several full-time and part-time positions within the Union;  having worked in the telecommunications industry in both developed and developing economies over decades.

Mr. Taylor is equally an adviser to the Nigeria's Minister of Communication Technology, on the World Telecommunication Development Conference.

+Remmy Nweke (ITRealms) +Efem Nkanga  @NGRCommTech @NgComCommission @ITU @SholaTaylor #Nigeria

 

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Pix: Mr. Shola Taylor