We’ll hold police responsible for killing unarmed pro-Biafra protesters, says HURIWA

• By Onyedika Agbedo on December 8, 2015 6:16 am

 

• Ijaw group decries protests
• Urges govt to take action

THE Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has said it would hold the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Solomon Arase responsible for the killing of unarmed pro-Biafra protesters in Onitsha.

In a statement signed jointly by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media affairs Director, Miss Zainab Yusuf, HURIWA said it was gravely disturbed that the IGP could abuse his privileged position by publicly ordering the confrontation by his armed operatives against unarmed protesters.

They said the protesters were attacked 24 hours after the IGP asked his armed operatives to quell the peaceful protests by supporters of the politically detained Director of the Europe-based Radio Biafra and leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.

According to the statement, “HURIWA has also for the umpteenth time demanded the unconditional release from the underground cells of the Department for State (DSS) of Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.”

HURIWA said it was deeply concerned that “the Nigerian State has persistently violated and disrespected with ignominy several orders of the Court, which granted bail to this prisoner of Conscience, Mr Nnamdi Kanu.

“HURIWA calls on all right-thinking Nigerians to call on President Muhammadu Buhari to release forthwith this prisoner of conscience, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.”
Onwubiko said that the group “has almost exhausted internal mechanisms through the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to initiate investigative hearings over the reported killings by armed soldiers of unarmed civilians, including a shoe cobbler by soldiers in Aba Abia State.

HURIWA disclosed that it was “displeased with the bureaucratic bottlenecks that characterised a subsisting petition against the Army Chief, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai which was submitted on behalf of the Rights group by the Senator representing Abia North, Mr. Enyinaya Abaribe and read on the floor of the Senate” for over three weeks.

Meanwhile, the Ijaw Monitoring Group (IMG) has urged the Federal Government to take the pro-Biafra agitations across the South-East states agitations seriously and initiate measures to restore normalcy in the region.

In a statement signed by its coordinator, Comrade Joseph Evah, the IMG yesterday described the protests as an attempt by enemies of progress to set Nigeria on fire.

The group noted that Boko Haram insurgents that have taken thousands of lives and destroyed property worth billions of naira became sophisticated as a result of government’s failure to address the challenge from the outset.

“We are aware that when Boko Haram elements surfaced, the government was pretending that they were joking. Now, the endless killings and destructions by the group should teach us a lesson to take the current Biafra agitations seriously.

“This disturbance must come to an end and those manipulating the youths to create this insecurity in the South-East and other parts of the country should be exposed without further delay,” the group said.

The group condemned the map of Biafra, which includes part of Niger Delta as its territory, noting, “the Niger Delta region is not part of Biafra Republic. Our identity as Niger Deltans is non-negotiable. There is no doubt that we will continue to maintain the usual cordial relationship with all ethnic group throughout the country.”

The group added: “We are aware that the apex body in Igbo land, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has clearly stated that Biafra is dead and buried. We are also aware that when the former president of defunct Biafra, the late Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu died, he was given full military honour by the Federal Government and when Ojukwu was alive, he also contested for the presidency of Nigeria which showed his faith in Nigeria

“We are also aware that Mr. Nnamdi Kanu and Ojukwu are peaceful people. Therefore, the current threat to peace through killing and maiming of innocent persons is gradually leading to ethnic and religious crisis that would, if not checked, destabilise the country.”

HURIWA seeks probe of Kano market fire

• By Editor on December 8, 2015 2:56 am

 

THE premise that the cause of the inferno that engulfed a section of the Sabon Gari market in Kano State was mysterious has been rejected as speculative, just as the state government has been tasked to uncover the circumstances that led to the early morning fire incident.

A pro-democracy Non-Governmental Organisation – Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) said the coincidence of the fire at the Kano market dominated by traders from southern Nigeria at a time that unsubstantiated stories were making the rounds in the social media of alleged burning of a part of the Onitsha mosque, which turned out to be false, makes it imperative that a probe is carried out to determine the exact causes of the fire outbreak with the hope of putting measures in place to forestall future occurrence.

Similarly, HURIWA has called for a full investigation of the causes of the fire incident at a Girls High School in Kano State a few days ago, which unfortunately led to the loss of lives and destruction of properties.

HURIWA commended the Kano State government for the prompt decision to rebuild the damaged properties in the school even as the group said the state government is under obligation to protect the lives and property of citizens and consider paying compensation to the victims of the two fire incidents.

HURIWA Suspects Foul Play in Sabon Gari, Kano's Market Fire; Seeks Investigation and Compensation Email to a friend Printer friendly view Monday, December 7, 2015 - 13:25

HURIWA Suspects Foul Play in Sabon Gari, Kano's Market Fire; Seeks Investigation and Compensation

• 
 
• 

Monday, December 7, 2015 - 13:25OUR REPORTER

The hypothesis that the inferno that engulfed a section of the SABON gari Kano State market was mysterious has been rejected as speculative and unscientific just as the Kano State government has been tasked to uncover the circumstances that led to the early morning fire incident in the mostly Southern dominated businesses in the Northern commercial capital.

A pro-Democracy Non-governmental organization -HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA  (HURIWA ) said the striking coincidence of the sudden inferno at the Kano market dominated by traders from Southern Nigeria at a time that unsubstantiated stories were making the rounds in the social media of a suspected touching of a part of the Onitsha Mosque which turned out to be false makes it imperative that a probe is carried out to determine the exact causes of the fire outbreak with the hope of putting measures in place to forestall future fire outbreaks.

Similarly, HURIWA has called for a full investigation of the causes of the fire incident at a Girls High Boarding School in Kano State few days back which unfortunately led to the loss of lives and destruction of properties. 

HURIWA commended the Kano State government for the prompt decision to rebuild the lost properties in the school even as the group said the Kano State government is under obligation to protect the lives and property of citizens living within Kano and should consider paying compensation to the victims of the two fire incidents.

 HURIWA condemned the hastily packaged media report which attributed the cause of the inferno in the SABON Gari market to mysterious sources.    

In a statement signed jointly by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media affairs Director Miss Zainab Yusuf, said

“it’s impossible for a fire incident to have happened mysteriously since scientifically there can't be a fire incident without a practical cause.  Branding the cause of the Kano market fire to some mysterious causes as presented by some media reports is to say the least unfortunate and highly speculative. ”

"We believe that the  fire that gutted over fifty shops at popular ‘Sabon Gari’ market in Kano, Kano State must have a sinister foundation given the sinister coincidence of the time it happened barely few hours after some false reports spread of a fire incident near the Onitsha central Mosque which happened on the day armed military and police operatives used violence to quell the otherwise largely peaceful protests by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra demanding the unconditional release if their founder Mr. Nnamdi Kanu".

HURIWA recalled that reporters on ground had filed a report claiming that an overwhelming fire continuously razed shops and anything on its way, while fire fighters were doing everything possible to quench it just as it queried how anyone can just dismiss the cause of this clearly monumental inferno to some mysterious causes.

"Government is obliged to protect the livelihoods of citizens residing and engaging in legitimate businesses. Let the causes of that inferno be uncovered so those responsible are prosecuted to prevent reoccurrence. "

TECHWOMAN

 The application for the 2016 TechWomen program is open through 09:00AM PST (GMT-08:00), February 1, 2016. Register at http://bit.ly/techwomen2016

Selection Process: TechWomen participants are selected based on the eligibility requirements below. Applications are reviewed by independent selection committees composed of industry leaders and regional experts. Semifinalists may be interviewed by United States Embassy personnel in their country of permanent residence.

2016 TechWomen Eligibility Requirements. Applicants must

 Be women with, at minimum, two years full-time professional experience in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and math)

 Have, at minimum, a bachelor’s degree/four year university degree or equivalent

 Be proficient in written and spoken English

 Be citizens and permanent residents of Algeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Morocco, Nigeria, the Palestinian Territories, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan or Zimbabwe at the time of application, and while participating in the program

 Be eligible to obtain a U.S. J-1 exchange visitor visa

 Not have applied for an immigrant visa to the United States, or participated in a visa lottery in the past five years

 Not hold U.S. Citizenship or be a U.S. legal permanent resident

Preference will be given to applicants who

 Demonstrate themselves as emerging leaders in their chosen professional track through their work experience, volunteer experience, community activities, and education

 Are committed to return to their home countries to share what they have learned and mentor women and girls

 Have limited or no prior experience in the United States

 Have a proven record of voluntary or public service in their communities

 Have a demonstrated track record of entrepreneurialism and commitment to innovation

 Demonstrate a willingness to participate in exchange programs, welcome opportunities for mentoring and new partnership development, and exhibit confidence and maturity

TechWomen encourages people with diverse backgrounds and skills to apply, including individuals with disabilities. Women committed to addressing concerns of global climate change and environmental issues are particularly encouraged to apply.

Selection Timeline

Semifinalists will be contacted via email in/around April 2016. Final decisions will be made in May 2016. All applicants will be notified of the results of their application.

PHOTOS: Stagnant streams in Arondizuogu Imo State from where tens of thousands of rural dwellers get their drinking water

Nne Gene Stream also in Arondizuogu -another source of drinking water in this town that straddles three local government areas namely Ideato North; Onu Imo and Okigwe in Imo State

A stagnant stream in Arondizuogu Imo State from where tens of thousands of rural dwellers get their drinking water.

Photos are courtesy of Mazi Uche Ohia a community leader and Lawyer based in Owerri Imo State

I'm Not A Cultist! Sports Minister Explains Why He Wear Khaki Uniform & Red Beret

Discussion in 'Metro News'

Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Barrister Solomon Dalung has explained why he wears ‘Khaki’ uniform to public functions.

Nneka Ikem Anibeze, the spokesperson and Special Adviser to the Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Comrade Barrister Solomon Dalung said the Minister ‘’is a staunch activist who cares for the welfare of the masses. His wears portray the struggle for the government to provide a better life for the people’’.



It will be recall that a pro-democracy non-governmental organisation, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to probe the Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Solomon Danlong, over his preference for appearing in red beret cap and dress that “depicts him as a suspected member of one of the banned confraternities/secret cults in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions”. 

She said: “My boss is a Comrade and will like to be seen as one. He is a voice for the voiceless who loves to fight for the hopeless and the down-trodden. That is just his style. It also indicates that the struggle continues wherever he finds himself and in whatever position.”

Nneka said: “I trust my boss, he is as constant as the Northern Star. He won’t change regardless of his position. That is simply his style”, Nneka who is the first female sports Journalist to be special Adviser to a Minister said.

Nigeria’s Tepid Response To Climate Change

By Emmanuel Onwubiko

President Muhammadu Buhari arrived Paris, France twenty four clear hours before today’s commencement of the Paris climate conference which runs till December 11th, 2015.

The COP21 (as it's technically called) summit which reportedly involves nearly 200 nations, is intended to produce a global agreement to reduce Carbon emissions and limit temperature change in a World in which the most advanced and industrialized nations of China, Japan and even the United States have persistently failed to adopt self corrective measures to reduce the effects of climate change emanating from their high volumes of industrial productions.

The Nigerian Environmental minister Mrs. Amina Mohammed who last week announced that President Buhari will indeed lead the strong Nigerian delegation to the Paris climate conference said his ( Buhari’s) presence demonstrates the governments serious commitment to provide and build effective national response to climate change.

But most Nigerians are not convinced that Nigeria has effectively established a workable framework to tackle the challenges that come with climate change.

This writer is aware that efforts made by the national parliament in the past few years to create a strong presidential response to climate change have yet to meet the light of the day. A committee of the Federal House of Representatives of the seventh session headed by a journalist Mr. Eziuche Ubani paid more attention towards the creation of a commission on climate change but there is no transparent body of evidence why no such body was created. The current National Assembly hasn't also expounded any concrete measure or legislative framework towards providing oversight functions to ensure best responses to the suffocating effects of climate change. Climate change illiteracy is high in Nigeria to such an extent that not many students are aware of the imminent and present danger of this phenomenon.

The Federal Ministry of Environment in Nigeria has really not done well enough in the past several years to wage nation-wide crusade of creating awareness for the general public on the significance of climate change and what the effects portends for the divergent economic sector of Nigeria such as forestry, wild life and the agro-allied industries.

Apart from conferences in which only few persons are invited and lectures delivered there is not a concrete agenda of national enlightenment of Nigerians on the issues of climate change and how Nigerians are expected to carry out their activities to mitigate the adverse consequences of climate change.

Conferences in Nigeria by Federal government agencies are done essentially for what the organisers stand to benefit and not necessarily to inform, educate and carry the commoners along. Most times towards the tail end of every budget year the ministries are in a serious bonanza of free for all conferences to retire the huge budgetary provisions allocated for such banalities.

Even President Buhari who is in Paris attending the global climate change event, not too long ago, was embroiled in a climate change related controversy trailing the proposed super highway project of the Cross River state's current government.

The 240 kilometer super highway from the Southern to the Northern part of Cross River State would when completed stretch from the end of the Cross River state capital of Calabar to Bekwara local council near Benue State. The environmental concern which arose from the project is the reported absence of environmental impact assessment report and the apprehension that the National Park in Calabar, Cross River State might be affected.

Nigerians were however told that the environmental warning regarding the superhighway construction project in which German and Chinese investors are showing interests will not affect the National Park in Calabar. The British High Commission and officials of the Federal Ministry of Environment reportedly warned the Cross River State administration about the danger of commencement of this gigantic road construction project without producing science based environmental impact assessment report.

Nevertheless President Muhammadu Buhari attended the flag off ceremony of this superhighway project even without informing Nigerians about what has changed regarding those environmental fears expressed by experts. Government usually take Nigerians for a ride in such major policy issues.

On the Presidential team that is now in Paris France for the climate change conference the question on the lips of observers is why President Buhari chose to head the delegation to France for the climate change parley when there is really nothing here in Nigeria that can be likened to a national response mechanism that Nigerians are part of.

For instance, over a decade now, successive Federal administrations have failed to implement measures to stop gas flares. Ansalem O. Ajugwo of the department of Hematology and blood transfusion, Madonna University, Elele, Nigeria wrote thus: "Nigeria flares 17.2 billion m3 of natural gas per year in conjunction with the exploration of crude oil in the Niger Delta. This high level of gas flaring is equal to approximately one quarter of the current power consumption of the African continent. Even though we have grown to be fairly dependent on oil and it has become the center of current industrial development and economic activities, we rarely consider how oil exploration and exploitation processes create environmental, health, and social problems in local communities near oil producing fields."

He continued thus: "Nigerian government has not enforced environmental regulations effectively because of the overlapping and conflicting jurisdiction of separate governmental agencies governing petroleum and the environment as well as because of non-transparent governance mechanisms. Neither the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) nor the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has implemented anti-flaring policies for natural gas waste from oil production, nor have they monitored the emissions to ensure compliance. The Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) (ministry of environment) had the authority to issue standards for water, air and land pollution and has had the authority to make regulations for oil industry. However, in some cases their regulations conflict with the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR)’s regulations started in 1991 for oil exploration".

Nigeria must come up with a clear cut national policy on climate change and stop chasing shadows in international conference.

Is it for the financial benefits that may emanate from the Paris climate change conference that President Buhari of Nigeria has decided to abandon serious pressing matters to personally attend when the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Minister of State on petroleum can represent us?

There are indications that the current Federal government is only interested in lobbying to corner an aspect of the $16billion climate business plan of the World Bank for Africa rather than concentrate on laying solid foundations for the building of a national response to climate change. Nigeria after all is the largest country on the black continent.

Recently, the media in Nigeria reported that; "THE World Bank Group has unveiled a new plan that calls for $16 billion in funding to help African people and countries adapt to climate change and build up the continent’s resilience to climate shocks."

Titled “Accelerating Climate-Resilient and Low-Carbon Development,” the Africa Climate Business Plan, in a statement tracked from Online Media Briefing Centre (OMBC) by The Guardian of Nigeria, will be presented at COP21, the global climate talks in Paris, on November 30.

According to the information, the plan lays out measures to boost the resilience of the continent’s assets – its people, land, water, and cities – as well as other moves including boosting renewable energy and strengthening early warning systems".

“Sub-Saharan Africa is highly vulnerable to climate shocks, and our research shows that could have far-ranging impact on everything from child stunting and malaria to food price increases and droughts,” said World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim.

“This plan identifies concrete steps that African governments can take to ensure that their countries will not lose hard-won gains in economic growth and poverty reduction, and they can offer some protection from climate change.”

Per current estimates, the plan says that the region requires $5-10 billion per year to adapt to global warming of 2°C.=

The World Bank and the United Nations Environment Programme estimate that the cost of managing climate resilience will continue to rise to $20-50 billion by mid-century, and closer to $100 billion in the event of a 4°C warming.

The information furtger revealed that: "the $16.1 billion that the ambitious plan proposes for fast-tracking climate adaptation, some $5.7 billion is expected from the International Development Association (IDA), the arm of the World Bank Group that supports the poorest countries. About $2.2 billion is expected from various climate finance instruments, $2.0 billion from others in the development community, $3.5 billion from the private sector, and $0.7 billion from domestic sources, with an additional $2.0 billion needed to deliver on the plan".

The Africa Climate Business Plan, says the World Bank spells out a clear path to invest in the continent’s urgent climate needs and to fast-track the required climate finance to ensure millions of people are protected from sliding into extreme poverty,” explains Makhtar Diop, World Bank Group Vice President for Africa.

Nigeria must show commitment to mobilise our people to more readily face the challenges of climate change and not necessarily for the Nigerian Government to focus on what it can get from multilateral funding institutions.

Perhaps in readiness for Nigeria to be qualified to benefit from such huge pay outs the current government has in the past two months in global meetings consistently affirmed that Nigeria is insolvent contrary to the claim by the immediate past administration that Nigeria is the fastest growing economy in Africa. Let the World Bank make sure that Nigeria has a verifiable and concrete national response framework before paying the country any grant from the ambitious climate change mitigation fund it's proposing for Africa.

*Emmanuel Onwubiko is Head of Human rights Writers association of Nigeria and blogs @ www.huriwa.blogspot.com; www.rightsassociationngr.com.



Read more at: http://www.thenigerianvoice.com/news/198261/1/nigerias-tepid-response-to-climate-change.html