Dangote, NNPCL at war over N898 PMS price - ITREALMS

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Dangote Group has refuted claims that it sales Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) at N898 per litre to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), drawing a battle line, reports ITREALMS.

Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Mr. Anthony Chiejina in a press statement available to ITREALMS, described such as both misleading and mischievous, deliberately aimed at undermining the milestone achievement recorded today, September 15, 2024, towards addressing energy insufficiency and insecurity, which has bedeviled the economy in the past 50 years.

NUJ Press Week lecture'23: Election not war: Stakeholders urge politicians - ITREALMS

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Media professionals and stakeholders have called on the political class in Nigeria to shun violence, embrace peace, and exhibit the spirit of sportsmanship whenever they loose at the polls, reports ITREALMS.

This position was upheld at the just concluded public lecture of the Lagos State council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) under the theme "Post Election Nigeria: Paths To National Restoration & Peace", which held at the Combo Hall of LTV on Wednesday in Lagos.

Niger Delta people: Lagos election, declaration of war against our people - ITREALMS

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The Indigenous People of Niger Delta (IPND) has declared that the level of harassment and intimidation, and threat to lives of Ndigbo in Lagos is a declaration of war against their people, warning Yoruba warmongers that their peaceful nature and hospitality should not be taken for cowardice, reports ITREALMS.

President General, Indigenous People of Niger Delta (IPND), Tiemo Pumokumo made this known and warned the definition of the Ndigbo in those attacks were targeted at non-indigenes of both South-East and South South among citizens from other parts of the country outside Yoruba land.

Kwara Berlin Wall: Lai Mohammed, Ilorin Emirate spoil for war

ITREALMS:

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed may be warming up for battle over the declaration of broken Kwara Berlin Wall with the Ilorin Emirates, saying his inference was on his country home federal constituency, reports ITREALMS.

A press statement personally signed by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, he said, his attention has been drawn to a press conference addressed by the Ilorin Emirate Magaji/Alangua Forum in Ilorin on Tuesday, 4 December 2018, during which "I was alleged to have said that the 'Berlin Wall' of the Ilorin Emirate had been broken by the outcome of the 17 Nov. 2018 by-election in the Ekiti/Irepodun/Isin/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency of Kwara State."

Those who made the allegation referred to a news item published in The Nation newspaper of Monday, 19 Nov. 2018, entitled ''Kwara Berlin Wall Broken, Says Lai Mohammed''.

Reacting to the news, Mohammed said it was indeed true that he mentioned the Berlin Wall in his speech at the victory rally in his country home in Oro on Sunday, 18 Nov. 2018, it was undoubtedly in reference to the stranglehold of the Saraki political dynasty on Kwara politics. 

He insisted that "Not once did I mention the Ilorin Emirate during that speech, and I challenge anyone who has any evidence to the contrary to release such. It is instructive that the news item that was referenced by those who made the allegation never mentioned Ilorin Emirate or made any reference to the traditional institution."

"It is safe to conclude, therefore, that those who tried to inject the Ilorin Emirate into the whole issue acted out of shameful desperation.This is not a surprise, considering that they are yet to recover from the devastating defeat that they suffered in the by-election.

"For the record, I hold the Ilorin Emirate, and indeed all our nation's traditional institutions, in very high esteem, and will never do anything to bring them to disrepute. No candidate for any political office in Kwara State will downplay the importance of the Ilorin Emirate, which is a father to all. Those who are grappling at straws, having realized that their hegemonic hold on Kwara State is coming to an end, are the instigators of this lie from hell that the Berlin Wall of the Emirates has been broken.

"The traditional chiefs who echoed the fake news concocted by the fading political warlords of Kwara should be wary of doing anyone's hatchet jobs. They should not allow themselves to be used to denigrate the revered Ilorin Emirate, which should be absolutely non-partisan.
The traditional chiefs must realize that it is only by standing up for truth and justice that they can most effectively play their role of maintaining the 'ever solid wall of peace, unity, progress and stability' in the Emirate.

"The defeat suffered by the tormentors of Kwara on 17 Nov. 2018 is a sign of what they should expect in the forthcoming general elections in the state. No amount of lies or other acts of desperation will save them from imminent defeat. Power flows from the people, and it is clear that the people of Kwara have totally rejected those who have appropriated the state's commonwealth to themselves to the detriment of the long suffering people of Kwara State.

Ayo Midele/GEE

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NLC, affiliates spoil for war, declare total strike - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Nigeria Labour and organized labour affiliations have insisted on total strike due to failure in negotiation with the Federal Government over the N30,000 national minimum wage, reports ITREALMS.

Not less than four organised labour groups, have since issued out circular to their members on this national strike expected to commence Tuesday, November 6 country-wide.

According to ITREALMS reports, the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) in a general circular 002 signed by its General Secretary, Mr. Joe Ajaero and sighted by correspondent calling out its members stated that the organised labour in the country comprising all the labour centres and industrial unions have decided to resume their suspended industrial action effective November 6, 2018, due to the insensitivity of the government to conclude and implement a new national minimum wage negated with the labour.

According to NUEE, in view of the fact that organised labour has demonstrated enough commitment to resolve the impasse through social dialogue, but government has continued to renege from implementing the agreement reached.

"All members are therefore directed to stay away from work effective Tuesday, November 6, 2016 in compliance with teh directive until otherwise directed," NUEE told its members.

In addition, NUEE warned that any company management which attempts to thwart the strike action in any form should note and expect appropriate reaction at the end of the exercise, urging full compliance.

Also, an affiliate to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria in efforts to mobilise for the commencement of strike on Tuesday, November 6, signed by Comrade Musa Chara on behalf of the Secretary-General said he was directed to remind members of the decision of congress to embark on an indefinite strike on November 6, 2018, which was earlier communicated to them as at October 23, 2018.

"In furtherance to this, a joint meeting of the CWCs of labour centres met in Lagos on Friday and revolved to work in harmony to ensure a total strike, " he said, stressing that members are thus directed to mobilise all other members in their council to participate in the action.

For the Non-Academic Staff Union of Education and Associated Institutions in a circular endorsed by its General Secretary, Prince Peters A. Adeyemi to all NASU branches, said that following the refusal of the federal government and state governors to act positively on the N30,000 national minimum wage as agreed by the Tripartite Committee on review of the minimum wage, NASU members in all the branches across the 36 states and federal capital territory are by this circular directed to, in compliance with the organised labours position, embark on total and indefinite strik action effective 12:.1am on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has directed all branch chairmen and members to by the Senior Assistant General Secretary, SSANU, Comrade Kingsley Okayi, said the national president directed all members to liaise with the state councils of NLC for this total strike action as directed NLC in affiliation with the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the United Labour Congress (ULC).

Uboshe Uboshe/GEE

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BREAKING: Cybersquatting war rages in Nigeria: As ‘FlyNigeriaAir’ is taken - ITREALMS Online

Exclusive@ITREALMS:

Still on the heels of proclamation of the Nigeria Air by the Federal Government, last week, the ‘FlyNigeriaAir’ has also been taken by cyber-squatters, ITRealms can authoritatively reveal.

Cybersquatting, ITRealms  gathered, is the practice of registering names, especially well-known company or brand names, as Internet domains, in the hope of reselling them at a profit.

ITRealms recalls that barely a few hours after the unveiling of the Nigeria Air in faraway London on July 18, one Olumayowa Elegbede, who reportedly bought the domain names associated with NigeriaAir.com and NigeriaAir.ng as well as putted same up for sale at $66,489 (₦24 million each).

Also, the ‘FlyNigeriaAir’ as at press time, has since July 19, 2018, been registered by one Omo Naija Daada who claims to be working for an organization identified as ‘Fly Naija’ with unknown address of ‘Earth Planet’ but located in Yaba suburb of Lagos State with a phony phone no: ++234.111111111111, which has 12 figures instead of 11 for mobile phones operational in Nigeria under the telecom prefix code +234.

In addition, ITRealms investigations showed that the registrant has also registered “Email: flaynaija@gmail.com,” invariably could not get flynaija@gmail.com.

Further investigations by ITRealms, showed that the domain, ‘flynigeriaair.ng’ was registered by WhoGoHost, a NIRA accredited registrar on 19th July, 2018 for one year and is being housed under the WhoGoHost.com servers, having been created on 2018-07-19 09:28:59.49Z.

NIRA is the Nigeria Internet Registration Association, the managers of the Nigeria’s country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD) names on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria and internet stakeholders in the country.

An indication of clear cybersquatting is that between the registrant contact, administrative contact to technical contact and billing contact are all of the same as with Omo Naija Daada, while the registrar, WhoGoHost, office is located at No 3, Celestial Church Street, Off Amara Olu Street, Agidingbi, Lagos.

However, two-days later, at the hours of 18:10:27.653Z on July 20, 2018, the ‘flynigeriaair.com.ng’ was also created and registered by one Mr. Peter Nwagbogu of PANTA REI INTERNATIONAL located at 60, Adebola Street, Surulere, Lagos, while supporting registrar is still WhoGoHost.

Nwagbogu went further to state on the website Welcome to Nigeria Air (https://flynigeriaair.com/) is up for sale, with an online form which must include name, email, phone and message, just as its Twitter handle debuts.

On the other hand, the domain name: flynigeriaair.com, has also gone on 18 July, 2018 via its creation at 12:27:04Z by Philip Obin of Potech Integrated Services Limited, located at 20 Adeniran Ogunsanya Streeet, Surulere, Lagos via the registrar, Name.com Incorporated with status as ‘client transfer prohibited and has its server name at ns1.potechintegrated.com, while admin could be reached with admin@potechng.com.

Some cyber security experts in Nigeria who briefly commented on the on-going cybersquatting war in the country over NigeriaAir blamed those who packaged the deal for neglecting the domain name industry in their due diligence, while positing that those cybersquatting on the NigeriaAir are doing some in bad faith, which may take away their smile too soon.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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Dapchi girls abduction, release: PDP accuses APC, Presidency of war crime, seeks UN intervention

ITREALMS:

While appreciating God Almighty, on the return of the abducted and release of some of the Dapchi School girls, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) and certain officials in the Presidency of war crimes, reports ITRealms.

According to the National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, in a press statement made available to ITRealms said that for staging the abduction of the schoolgirls in Dapchi, Yobe State, for political purposes, APC leadership deserves international prosecution for war crime.

“Our Party considers this act as wicked, callous and tormenting to use innocent schoolgirls as pawns in an ignoble script that was designed to hoodwink Nigerians and orchestrate a great rescue and security prowess of a conquering general, all to push a 2019 reelection bid, is an unpardonable gamble with human lives.

“While this failed Dapchi drama remains a poorly crafted tragicomedy: a scam of no equal dimension, Nigerians are not ready to forgive the APC and the Presidency for the torments inflicted on the girls, their parents and the human community worldwide just to score a cheap political point,” he said.

Nigerians, PDP said, know that the main aim of this devilish act was to delude the public, set the stage for an orchestrated rescue, create a heroic myth and false sense of achievement around the APC administration and serve as a spur for President Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration to contest the 2019 presidential election, perhaps in the coming weeks.

As a political party, PDP said it wants to further state unequivocally that by all ramifications, “this is a war crime against humanity and gross violation of human rights on the part of the APC administration, all in the bid to push a selfish and ill-lucked 2019 ambition.”

PDP insisted that “there is no evidence that the Boko Haram insurgents or any militant group abducted the schoolgirls in the first place. Rather, what is evident to all is the high level official manipulation of security movements in Dapchi both in the staged abduction and the returning of the traumatized schoolgirls.”

“It is instructive to note that till date, no report has been presented by the National Security Adviser (NSA), who has been charged by President Muhammadu Buhari with investigation of the abduction. This is in addition to deliberate efforts by the government to suppress free flow of information around the abduction.

“Even the regular Nigerian on the street has examined the events leading to this abduction of our daughters as well as their release and can deduce the obvious.

“Nigerians are all aware that both the abduction and return of the schoolgirls were dramatically preceded by questionable withdrawal of troops and all security apparati at checkpoints and flashpoints in the Dapchi area.

“They are also aware that the Buhari Presidency, as the principal command center of military operations, has refused to come out clear on the compromising of security and why no arrest has so far been affected in the entire saga, thus betraying a high-level of government conspiracy against the citizens for political reasons.

“The PDP therefore calls on the United Nations (UN) and the International Criminal Court to declare this evil by the APC Federal Government a war crime against humanity and immediately commence investigation on the matter. We demand the arrest and prosecution of all those involved in this saga.

“In the same vein, we join Nigerians to demand for the setting up of a UN monitored Truth Commission to unravel the facts around the Dapchi event as well as the abduction of Schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State in 2014.

“While we commiserate with the families of our loved daughters and rejoice with those whose daughters were brought home safely, we urge Nigerians to be alert and continue to monitor the activities of the APC as we approach the 2019 general election since it is now clear that this government will stop at nothing in its desperate bid to perpetuate itself in power against the will of the people,” PDP submitted.

Uboshe Uboshe/GEE

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Benue killings, invitation to civil war – Yaro

ITREALMS:

The Benue State chairman of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, Comrade Abba Yaro has described the massive killing of over 50 Benue people by the Fulani herdsmen as an invitation for civil war, reports ITRealms.

A press statement made available to ITRealms in Abuja, Yaro decried the recent killings as an attempt to spark second civil war in Nigeria, insisting that, it is clear case of ethnic cleansing around the Benue Valley which must be stopped immediately.

While calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately call the Fulani  to order and as well direct security agents to fetch out the killers, he also called on all Benue Sons and daughters, irrespective of Party affiliation to rise in defense of Benue Community.

"This is above Party politics, it is human lives, how can you kill a pregnant woman and removed the unborn child yet slaughtered it? It is barbaric, unspeakable and generally unpalatable".

Yaro says the Anti Open Grazing Law in Benue is not targeted at any section of the people but for the general security of Benue State, a measure against cattle rustling and a solution to herders/farmers clash.

"The implementation is ongoing and we are in support of our governor, we are not deterred, the Anti Open Grazing Law has come to stay.

"Nigerians should not see the killings as a Benue problem but National crisis, the absence of peace in Benue is an absence of peace in Nigeria.

"We must treat it as a national ethnic cleansing by the Fulanis and collectively pressurize Mr President to put an end to it. If Boko Haram can be defeated, IPOB stopped, Fulani killings can be stopped", he observed. 

He further call on the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Buratai, the Interior Minister Lt Gen Danbazau, the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura, the Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris to protect Benue community or "we rise in self defence, which will amount to the second civil war."

Yaro emphasized that, "if the Fulanis are not called to order by the relevant authorities to stop the ethnic cleansing, like the lawless Fulanis are doing, Benue people shall take laws into their hands in selfdefense".

UbosheUboshe/GEE

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Yudala leads in e-Commerce price war

Sponsored @ITRealms:

 

E-commerce has become a thriving global industry, with recent research projecting sales to hit an all-time high of $4 trillion in three years.

Nigeria has also been bitten by the e-commerce bug. This has been made possible by the proliferation of online stores all competing for the attention of shoppers, many of whom are eager to jump on the ease and convenience of the e-commerce train.

The attraction of e-commerce for most Nigerians, nevertheless, goes beyond mere convenience. 

From a sampling of the opinions of various categories of shoppers, it was discovered that in addition to quality, price represents one of the major factors that activates the buying decision for most prospective shoppers. 

An overwhelming majority of respondents sampled (92%) admitted to comparing prices across two or three e-commerce sites before making up their minds on where to shop.

With Nigerians so price-conscious, a random comparison of product prices from some of the most prominent players in the sector has placed Yudala in the fore-front of the price war currently going in the Nigerian e-commerce sector.

Below are screenshots taken across some product categories from major e-commerce sites in Nigeria.

Despite the huge strides recorded in the Nigerian e-commerce landscape – especially with the massive awareness for globally celebrated shopping festivals such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday, among others, research further shows that you are better off convincing the average Nigerian to make the final buying decision when you can provide him or her with an opportunity to ‘experience’ the product before parting with hard-earned money.

This perhaps justifies Yudala’s strategy of combining its online site with physical (brick-and-mortar) stores located nationwide which offers shoppers a chance to see and experience the product before buying.

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Malami, Magu and blues of anti-corruption war

Commentary@ITRealms:

Much as both labour to put up gestures suggesting cordiality, truth is there is no love lost between them. And interestingly, the one thing that came between them is corruption, which is also supposed to be the only thing that should see them basking in a harmonious relationship in this dispensation. What a paradox!

How to engage this terrible plague is the cause of the simmering discord in their affairs. Yet, between Abubakar Malami, Nigeria’s all-knowing Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the one who never gives an inch in making the point that in all matters legal he is in charge, and Ibrahim Magu, the subordinate, less-obtrusive head of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), it is not difficult to know who is more minded to waging a more concerted, frontal war against corruption which the administration they both serve promised to fight to a standstill.

First, a slice of these gentlemen’s background. As far as most Nigerians can remember, the one enjoyed a brief spell in a fuzzy limelight as junior to Dipo Opeseyi as attorneys for Muhammadu Buhari, then presidential candidate of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) battling in court to upturn the declaration of Goodluck Jonathan as winner of the 2011 presidential election.

The other earned glittering epaulettes as a tested, uncompromising anti-corruption warrior from the days of Nuhu Ribadu as Chairman of EFCC. Also, while the one, with no antecedent whatsoever of vigorous combat with societal wrong merely thrived in the shadows of redoubtable defenders of the law, the other was, and still is, enmeshed in bruising battles with highly placed fraudsters and economic saboteurs operating in and out of the shores of Nigeria.

But for Magu’s exploits, bolstered, of course, by President Buhari’s rhetoric and body language, there is no way this administration would today beat its chest and announce progress, no matter how minimal, in the war against corruption. Only Magu, and his principal, it seems, are the ones really focused on slaying the dragon of corruption in the country.

Of course, the belief out there is that under Buhari’s watch corruption is thriving despite his well-known anti-corruption stance. He owes it a duty to wipe off this belief. But the real cause for worry in this administration’s anti-corruption campaign chain is Malami, the country’s chief law officer who is holding an office that is supposed to be seen in the forefront of the charge against a monstrous vice that his government has sworn to do everything to permanently tame.

Instead, it is this same AGF that appears to be confronting corruption with kid gloves, when he should be slugging with it in the mud with bare knuckles. In the face of the overwhelming decadence corruption has inflicted on the country, and given the unusual decisiveness with which the ruling All Progressives Congress pledged to curb it, it ought to be Malami, not Magu, that should be talking of seeing the task at hand as a matter of life and death, or a “do or die” affair, to use the language compatriots would easily understand – if not for anything but to save Buhari’s face.

You expect Malami to be the one donning his wig and gown and pounding the courtrooms as the leader of government lawyers prosecuting the big cases of corruption. No, he would rather ensconce himself in the cushion of ego trip. There he throws his weight around and drums it into as many ears as care to listen that he has all the powers under the law to define the law.

Not a surprise though. Like all the Attorneys General of the Federation, especially since the founding of EFCC, this one too is a fortune-hunter, a deal-maker whose primary interest is not to combat corruption but to snuff out the country’s foremost anti-graft agency to enable him have a field day to bargain with looters for a share of the loot.

To offer a snippet of how these AGFs not only compromise the integrity of their office but also work very hard to render the EFCC ineffective, Michael Aondoakaa as AGF and Minister of Justice in 2008 connived with then EFCC Chairman, Farida Waziri, to scuttle the arrest and trial of Liyel Imoke who no longer enjoyed immunity as his election as Governor of Cross River State had then been annulled by the election petition tribunal. Tunde Ogunsakin, then Director of Operations at EFCC, ordered the arrest. Rather than end up in EFCC interrogation room, Imoke ended up at Aodoakaa’s house. And that was the end of the matter.  

Malami has sermonized on the poor prosecution of financial crimes and criticized the whistleblower policy for focusing on reward instead of the safety and protection of whistleblowers. But what has he done about it? What does it say of his office if an AGF whose government at inception swore to fight corruption with all its powers is only just waking up, after almost two years in office, to announce “plans” to create a central body to coordinate all criminal prosecutions in the country?

And on the protection of whistleblowers, pray, what has Malami done? At the moment, there are reports of persecutions of whistleblowers in many government offices, but not a whimper of disgust ever issued from his office. But for the civil society and the media which took up the fight, Ntia Thompson, a deputy director in the Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa (DTCA), an agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who was sacked for reporting fraud in his office might not have been reinstated.

At the moment, there is Murtala Ibrahim of the audit department of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), a victim of similar unconscionable high-handedness, who was sacked by the management of the bank since May 8 for refusing to help cover fraud in the bank. This is one of a whole slew of cases Malami should promptly wade into not only to show that he really cares about whistleblowers’ safety, but also that he is serious about strengthening the anti-corruption war.

Godwin Onyeacholem is a journalist. He can be reached through Email: gonyeacholem@gmail.com  

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War, never a solution – Pope Francis

ITRealms:

The last weekend meeting of the G20 may have ended but its echo has continued to vibrate with the Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis reminding the G20 Summit participants in Hamburg, Germany, that war in any colouration is not a solution to conflicts, reports ITRealms.

He also made case for the people of South Sudan, the Lake Chad basin, the Horn of Africa and Yemen, where over 30 million are today lacking the food and water needed to survive.

A letter to the chairman of G20 and Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Mrs. Angela Merkel, and obtained by ITRealms, the Pontiff urged for unity to prevail over conflict.

In the history of humanity, he noted that nowadays too, presents man with a vast panorama of current and potential conflicts, war, however, is never a solution. 

His Holiness, Pope Francis also said that as the centenary anniversary of Pope Benedict XV’s Letter to the Leaders of the Warring Peoples draws near, he felt bound to ask that the world put an end to all these “useless slaughters”. 

The goal of the G20 and of other similar annual meetings, he said, is to resolve economic differences peacefully and to agree on common financial and trade rules to allow for the integral development of all, in order to implement the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.

He commended the world leaders on their efforts to ensure the governability and stability of the world economy, especially with regard to financial markets, trade, fiscal problems and, more generally, a more inclusive and sustainable global economic growth. 

“As is evident from the Summit’s programme, such efforts are inseparable from the need to address ongoing conflicts and the worldwide problem of migrations,” he said.

ITRealms recalls that Pope Francis had in Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, recently addressed to the Catholic faithful, proposed four principles of action for the building of fraternal, just and peaceful societies, namely “time is greater than space; unity prevails over conflict; realities are more important than ideas; and the whole is greater than the part.”

These lines of action, Pope Francis pointed out, are evidently part of the age-old wisdom of all humanity, thus he believed they could also serve as an aid to reflection for the Hamburg meeting and for the assessment of its outcome.

Finally, ITRealms reports, he prayed for God’s blessings upon the Hamburg meeting which held between July 7 and 8; on every effort of the international community to shape a new era of development that is innovative, interconnected, sustainable, and environmentally respectful and inclusive of all peoples and all individuals.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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Related story:

Never give up on happiness says Pope Francis 

Boko Haram: Winning the peace after the war

Commentary@ITRealms: 

I was recently in Yola at the invitation of the American University of Nigeria (AUN) to give the keynote address at the maiden business and entrepreneurship boot camp. I was very enthralled by the school, and have written about my visit and the pleasant interaction with the young minds. I will deeply cherish the recognition of “Lifetime Entrepreneurial Achievement Award” bestowed on me by the Institution.

I took the opportunity to visit the Internally Displaced Camp (IDP) at the Saint Theresa’s Cathedral, Yola. This was a very surreal experience for me; about 1500 people (there used to be 4,000), mainly women and children cramped into the compound, and sleeping in a large hall that I learnt was the former church building (the church has moved to a new building within the compound). There were flimsy cloth partitions demarcating the small spaces occupied by each family.

The obvious answer to the question I posed about the men, flooded me with sadness; most have died fighting to defend their communities. Duduwara Dawa is one of the very few displaced men at the camp.

The camp coordinator Fr. Maurice Kwairanga seemed yoked to the community and showed tremendous care towards the children within the limited resources available; and they really need help by way of food, clothing and other materials. There were also volunteers at the camp doing a very good job with co-ordination such as Jennifer Moses; I salute their sacrifice.

I accompanied my host and Dean of the AUN Business and Entrepreneurship School, Dr. Ahmad Hossieni to the camp. He had scheduled this visit at the request of the mother of Jon Eberly, the second keynote speaker from a Silicon Valley technology company, Clock Four. Jon’s mother, who is a member of the Rotary Club in California, had visited the camp previously and wanted some gifts delivered through her son.

Apparently, among the gifts that she brought in her previous visit were 75 base balls. Seeing that the balls did not go round, she had crafted an ingenuous way of making all the children happy; soccer balls! Jon had brought with him a box of half a dozen soccer balls and Ahmad had an additional three balls.

The sombre look about the children when we arrived, accompanied by sweet sounding Hymns they sang to welcome us evaporated into ecstatic joy when we unveiled the balls from the boot of the car and kicked them into the crowd of kids. The camp came alive! Boys and girls all joined in the fun of kicking the balls about.

I have never seen such happiness. How little it took to lift the human spirit, and what joy is felt by the messenger of such happiness.

I formed a ‘special friendship’ with two of the little children, Nancy and Tabita. I also got to see the roar talent of Esther Ibrahim; a little girl of about 8 years, who could do wonders with a soccer ball. She is clearly naturally gifted and will do very well in a soccer academy where she can hone her skills and possibly make a future career (any takers?). 

At my hotel room at AUN the previous day, I heard the erudite Maj. Gen. Lucky Irabor of the Nigeria Army giving an eloquent account on television of how Boko Haram Camp Zeiro in Sambisa forest was captured. What struck me as very instructive, was his charge that we work hard to win the peace after the war. The military have done their part and gallantly too. They have defeated Boko Haram, but the real work is now up to you and I, and all Nigerians; winning and securing the peace. We have to learn to be our brothers’ keeper. We have to show compassion to resettle all victims of the insurgency and rehabilitate the ones among the transgressors that can be redeemed. We need to be open handed with our generosity.

It is incomprehensible to grasp, and very disheartening to learn that people in high places diverted relief materials meant for the IDPs to be sold in markets for their personal gain, and embezzled financial donations. We must really have deadened our consciences to steal from the poor and helpless in dire situations such as these.

To dimension the scale of the problem, I understand that there are more than 2m displaced people, of whom 300k live in Camps. The rest are perhaps staying with relatives in safer areas. I was deeply shocked and touched when Margee Ensign, President of the AUN told me that at one point, a driver of the school had 50 people taking refuge with him. Needless to say that AUN herself took in a large number of displaced persons.

While I was very saddened that a suicide bomber claimed precious lives at the University of Maiduguri, I was comforted by the defiance of the School not to succumb to terror, by continuing academic activities including the first semester examinations. The mistaken bombing of an IDP Camp at Rann is very unfortunate, and our hearts go out to the dead and wounded (may their souls rest in the perfect peace), but this should not be the defining narrative of the Nigerian Air force, which has displayed exemplary bravery and played a very key role in dislodging the Boko Haram from the stronghold of the Sambisa forest. That said, extreme caution has to be exercised in future operations to ensure that this unfortunate incident is not repeated.  

Finally, I have secured the permission of Rev. Fr. Maurice Kwairanga to share his contact details (0706 133 5640, kwairangafrmaurice@gmail.com). I have also secured the permission of the President of the Rotary Club of Yola, Mr. Anthony Okoji (0706 322 1747, 0805 218 5703, anthoni.okoji@gmail.com) who escorted us to the camp and whose society is deeply involved in their welfare. If you feel moved to do something concrete to help, please do contact them directly. Every little assistance will go a long way. May God bless you abundantly in the kindness of your response.

More importantly, we should all do everything necessary to win and secure the peace, so that these brethren of ours can return to their communities to rebuild their lives and live in dignity.

*contributed by Austin Okere, the Founder of CWG Plc, the largest Systems Integration Company in Sub-Saharan Africa & Entrepreneur in Residence at CBS, New York. Austin also and serves on the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on Innovation and Intrapreneurship

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Ireland: War on tobacco worthy, but must not be rushed

ITRealms:

Opinion:

IT was not so long ago that secondary school children were allowed to smoke in many of the more "advanced" schools around the country. Staff rooms were also often full of teachers puffing on pipes and cigarettes as pupils regularly entered and left.

Today, the idea of a 17-year-old taking a puff between classes seems as strange as quill pens or the regular floggings that were a feature of the Irish educational system for far too long. The world changes, and smokers have had to endure more change than most as their habit has moved from socially acceptable to pariah status.

The Government's latest plans to outlaw smoking anywhere in secondary school grounds and near creche facilities is another step in a long-term strategy to "de-normalise" smoking and ensure that fewer than one person in 20 smokes by 2025.

That is a noble objective, but like many others it is one to be pursued carefully.

The prohibition of alcohol in the United States during the 1920s did little more than cement the position of criminal gangs, and serves as a salutary warning. There is already plenty of evidence that high taxes in Ireland are a boon for crooks while also turning many otherwise law-abiding citizens into criminals.

There is also the question of equity. Many ordinary smokers deeply resent their outlaw status and insist, not without reason, that their behaviour is likely to be less lethal to others than speeding drivers or alcohol.

That is all true, but the truth is that most smokers wish they could kick the habit, and hundreds of thousands of smokers have done just that thanks to the policy of de-normalising smoking. The gradual escalation of this policy will undoubtedly save more people from premature death while also saving them money.

Health Minister James Reilly has had a mixed tenure in office, but he cannot be faulted for his commitment to fighting tobacco and the tobacco industry. He must now set himself measurable targets so he knows whether he really is on track with this grand ambition.

Additional reports by Irish Independent: 

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