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By Abel Leonard Nzwanke/lafia

Emmanuel Onwubiko has disclosed recently on the steps not taken by the federal Government against El-Zakzakk. Abe Leonard Nzwanke brings the excerpts.

One of the most cherished values that marks out a society as genuinely humane and responsive to the yearnings of the generality of the citizenry, is the ability of the institutions of democracy to be stronger than individuals in such a robust manner that no single political office holder can clothe himself with powers extraneous and ultra vires to the constitutional provisions.

It would seem that Nigeria has rapidly deteriorated to a backyard of the human community whereby the holder of the office of president thinks himself as Nigerian write large and stronger than all the constitutionally erected institutions put in place as bulwarks against totalitarianism.

The above scenario can be drawn from the events in the last couple of years that the leader of a religious body known as Islamic Movement of Nigeria otherwise called Shiites in the person of Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzakky and his beloved wife have been clamped into the dungeons of the Department of State Services against several binding orders of the courts of competent jurisdiction on the order of president Muhammadu Buhari.

The immediate past attorney General/Minister of Justice of the federation Alhaji. Abubakar Malami who hangs on the title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, it would seem, has failed to provide sound and qualitative legal counsel to President Muhammadu Buhari to let go the duo of Sheikh El-Zakzaky and also the immediate past National Security Adviser Colonel Sambo Dasuki and the wife of the head of the Islamic movement, even when courts had directed their freedom at least on bail.

Unlike Col. Dasuki, who does not seem to have loyal supporters, the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria has proven to have millions of faithful loyalists who are prepared to be on the streets democratically protesting to demand the release of their leader and his wife who have remained in incarceration illegally for nearly four years.

These religious supporters of the Islamic movement of Nigeria have demonstrated abundant zeal, resilience, determination and the will power to keep up the tempo of their purposeful peaceful protests on the streets. Also many of them have lost their lives doing so and hundreds of others have been locked up by the police as soon as they are picked up on the streets of Abuja, Zaria, Kano, Madala and Nasarawa demonstrating. About four dozens of these Shiites followers were picked up Yesterday after a confrontation that sadly turned out bloody with divergent accounts on who exactly unleashed bloody violent and set cars ablaze.

Some police officers were injured in the fracas that broke out. The sad reality is that the yards of the treacherous Nigerian Prisons are brimming with these followers of the detained religious leader.

A meticulous media analysis of the rough and tumbles that have characterized their otherwise, peaceful demonstrations, have revealed that the more the armed police are getting more brutal in crushing these peaceful protests, the more determined the unarmed loyalists of the detained religious leader are becoming.

So I ask the Nigerian President for now to tell Nigerians how many more prison yards would be filled up with these civilian protesters before the federal government free this man from illegal detention. and grant him a better medical leave to take care of his alleged deteriorating health conditions and to assuage the boiling resilience of his followers to up the tempo of their protests which in any event is lawful and constitutional?

In other words, I urge the President to free Sheikh El-Zakzaky and allow the wheel of justice to run the way it should because section 6 of the constitution recognizes the court as the custodian of the judicial powers of the federation in the following unambiguous wordings; “The judicial powers vested in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this section –

(a) shall extend, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this constitution, to all inherent powers and sanctions of a court of law

(b) shall extend, to all matters between persons, or between government or authority and to any persons in Nigeria, and to all actions and proceedings relating thereto, for the determination of any question as to the civil rights and obligations of that person;

(c) shall not except as otherwise provided by this Constitution, extend to any issue or question as to whether any act of omission by any authority or person or as to whether any law or any judicial decision is in conformity with the Fundamental

Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy set out in Chapter II of this Constitution;

(d) shall not, as from the date when this section comes into force, extend to any action or proceedings relating to any existing law made on or after 15th January, 1966 for determining any issue or question as to the competence of any authority or person to make any such law.

This writer humbly calls on President Buhari to also read section 36 (5) of the constitution which states as follows: “Every person who is charged with a criminal offence shall be presumed to be innocent until he is proved guilty;

Provided that nothing in this section shall invalidate any law by reason only that the law imposes upon any such person the burden of proving particular facts. “

My brief message to the heads of security forces is to know that in life no condition is permanent because the powers we exercise in politics are ephemeral, transient and fleeting and with advancements in international laws, security forces and their heads are taken to the international criminal court in The Hague, Netherlands, to render accounts should they fall foul of the laws against crimes against humanity.

The heads of the security forces who are now feasting on these civilian demonstrators by breaking up their gatherings by force of arm and weapons of mass destruction should in their moments of reflection should go through the provisions enshrined in chapter four of the Nigerian constitution with specific references to section 40; 41(1); 42 (1); 36 (1) (5) and 33 (1).

I will replicate these provisions below:

Section 40: “Every person shall be entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons, and in particular he may form or belong to any political party, trade union or any other association for the protection of his interests:

Provided that the provisions of this section shall not derogate from the powers conferred by this Constitution on the Independent National Electoral Commission with respect to political parties to which that Commission does not accord recognition.”

Section 41(1): “Every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof, and no citizen of Nigeria shall be expelled from Nigeria or refused entry thereby or exit therefrom.”

Section 42(1): “A citizen of Nigeria of a particular community, ethnic group, place of origin, sex, religion or political opinion shall not, by reason only that he is such a person:-

(a) be subjected either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or any executive or administrative action of the government, to disabilities or restrictions to which citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religions or political opinions are not made subject; or

(b) be accorded either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or any such executive or administrative action, any privilege or advantage that is not accorded to citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religion or political opinions.”

Section 36 (1) (5): “In the determination of his civil rights and obligations, including any question or determination by or against any government or authority, a person shall be entitled to a fair hearing within a reasonable time by a court or other tribunal established by law and constituted in such manner as to secure its independence and impartiality.” “Every person who is charged with a criminal offence shall be presumed to be innocent until he is proved guilty;

Provided that nothing in this section shall invalidate any law by reason only that the law imposes upon any such person the burden of proving particular facts.”

Section 33(1): “Every person has a right to life, and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life, save in execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence of which he has been found guilty in Nigeria.”

The heads of security forces should know the global humanitarian laws such as: “All human rights are universal, indivisible, inter dependent and interrelated; democracy, development and respect for human rights are interdependent and mutually re-enforcing; (Vienna Declaration, 1993). Respect for human rights is an essential component of development; economic growth in itself is no guarantee of development.

Also the civil populace must be protected since under international law, development is “A comprehensive economic, social, cultural and political process, which aims at the constant improvement of the well-being of the entire population and of all individuals on the basis of their active, free and meaningful participation in development and in the fair distribution of benefits resulting therefrom.”

*Emmanuel Onwubiko heads HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA)

By Able Leonard Nzwanke/ Lafia

With the financial autonomy granted to local government areas in the country, Keana Local Government of Nasarawa State has commenced a 24 Kilometres electricity connection from the 330KVA national grid to Giza and Kadarko towns.

This was even as the council also embarked on the construction of five Kilometres of road network across some towns, as well as the construction of a befitting palace for the paramount ruler of Agaza chiefdom.

The chairman of the council area, Adamu Adi, inaugurated execution of the projects yesterday at Agaza town with the optimism that all the projects embarked on would be completed within the span of his administration.

He gave a breakdown of the projects earmarked for execution by the local council area as roofing of the Osana of Keana palace, construction of the Osoku’s palace, connecting Giza and Kadarko towns with the 330KVA national grid, construction of Kwara – Angwan Sida, Aloshi town and Kadarko market side road.

Adi however disclosed that the Keana council area under his watch had two years ago embarked on the construction of a two kilometres township road in Keana, as well as fencing of the Local Government secretariat. – The council chairman concluded by commending President Muhammadu Buhari for granting financial autonomy to Local Government Areas in the country which, according to him, “the Nasarawa State governor, Abdullahi Sule, complied without hesitation.”

No fewer than 50 runners have so far signified interest in the maiden Onitsha City Marathon (OCM) event slated for Oct. 5, in Anambra.

Mr Philip Balepo, OCM Head of Media and Publicity made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Onitsha on Sunday.

Balepo said most of the athletes were foreign-based who were being managed by Nigerians.

According to him, elite athletes, mostly from Kenya, who have so far registered for the 21-kilometer event are expected to arrive in Nigeria on Oct. 2.

“The Kenyans are not alone in their strides to add Onitsha to their list of conquered cities.

“Elite athletes from Cameroun, Ghana, Uganda and Nigerians abroad have signed up for the event,” he said.

He said some of the athletes include Clement Langat, Timothy Kimeli, Bernard Sang, James Ngandu, George Manyiror as well as two female runners, Lenah Jerotich and Beatrice Cherono.

Balepo noted that 49-year old Adjarho Obaro, ”the only World Wrapperman,” who runs Charity Marathons around the world would also partake in the event.

“Obaro, who runs his race with the longest wrapper of eight yards weighing 4kg, is currently on a 17-day marathon to Onitsha from Lagos.

“On arrival, Obaro will still join the rest of the world to race the first Onitsha City Marathon, on Oct. 5,” Balepo disclosed.

He added that the Archbishop of Onitsha Diocese, Most Rev. Valerian Okeken had accepted to be OCM Patron, promising to make the race a spectacular one.

Balepo, who described the event as the “first international marathon, South East of Nigeria,” expressed confidence that the event would help place Onitsha in the world map of sporting centres. (NAN)

Alhaji Attahiru Ahmed, Emir of Anka in Zamfara, has cautioned low income earners against marrying more than one wife.

Ahmed, who gave the warning on Sunday in Anka, said that multiple marriages was worsening the economic situation of the poor and making them even poorer.

He spoke during the distribution of some women empowerment items donated by Hajia Aisha Bello-Matawalle, wife of the state governor.

The items were distributed to women from Anka, Bakura, Bukuyyum, Gummi, Maradun and Talata-Mafara local governments areas in Zamfara West Senatorial District.

“Civil servants on a salary of N15,000 a month marry more than one wife and end up raising families they cannot catter for.

“It is this attitude that is responsible for increasing out-of-school children because the parents cannot shoulder the responsibility.

“People should marry in accordance with their earnings to ensure that their children have sound education and good moral background,” he counseled.

The emir advised beneficiaries of the gesture to make good use of their packages in order to be economically-self reliant and support their families.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that various speakers, in their remarks at the occasion, commended the governor’s wife for the gesture and expressed optimism that it would aid the war against poverty and improve living standards in the rural settlements.

They also urged people to plan their lives in accordance with their means. (NAN)

Lottery is considered as a voluntary tax proceeds from various chance-based entertainment activities and has been globally recognized as an important revenue source to governments.

It has funded national defense budgets, infrastructure, and public welfare programs.

In Nigeria, harnessing lottery potentials for Nigerians is the core mandate of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC).

Established by the National Lottery Act 2005, the Commission is responsible for regulating the business and operations of lottery in Nigeria to ensure transparency in the industry and maximize statutory remittances for good causes.

One of the cardinal responsibilities of the Commission is to ensure accountable collection of statutory remittances intended to fund good causes, especially public welfare projects intended to uplift the socio-economic conditions of citizens.

Such programmes whose funding is enabled by the commission result in stimulation of economic activity while promote national development.

However, over the years, misconceptions abound as to the mandate of the commission and the disparity between lottery and consumer sales promotions.

Such misconceptions have marred the effectiveness of the Commission in this area.

Opponents argue that consumer sales promotions are not lottery. They claim that consumer sales promotions are essential marketing tools used to promote goods and services as well as reward customer loyalty.

But these opponents fail to play up the fact that these consumer promotions are basically ‘contests among consumers to win prizes or other valued-benefits’.

These arguments and misconceptions have giving rise to revenue leakages resulting from the non-collection of statutory remittances of lottery revenue generated by lottery-based consumer promotions.

This also highlights the challenge of effective sensitization which the commission must strive to surmount

Unarguably, businesses always push to increase sales through promotions while consumers are attracted to free goods and services. However, the greater societal interest as embodied in the National Lottery Act must prevail and be protected.

In a symposium titled ‘Raising Standards’ organised by Commission and moderated by Barr. OJ Odunna, the Deputy-Director (Legal), the issue of revenue leakages dominated the front burner.

Odunna held that the massive revenue leakages accessioned by resistance by operators of lottery-based consumer sales promotions to the collection of statutory remittances due to government from their operations.

“People may not be aware that lottery includes consumer sales promotions where these promos use chance or other devices, such as lucky dip to randomly select winners of promoted prizes or services.

“This is lottery as far as the National Lottery Regulatory Commission is concerned.”

“We are responsible for ensuring compliance with the national lottery Act 2005 and the regulations made therein.

“Our job is to ensure that the lottery industry is secure and free from illegal or fraudulent lottery activities,” he said.

To ensure compliance, the commissions has shut down a number of operators, including those who operated in defiance of the Federal law, hiding under the cloak of state laws.

With the new trend of sports betting that has gained a lot of popularity, the Commission also takes its responsibility further to ensure that underage children do not participate.

Though a major revenue source for the commission, the importance of regulation must not be neglected, Odunna held.

“Sports betting is attractive it is a booming business in the country because of our passion for sports. However, the activity needs to be regulated.

“Underage betting should be strictly prohibited and any operator engaged in such activity need to be sanctioned. We don’t encourage underage persons to engage in any lottery activity.

“Proceeds from lottery go back to the society to fund sports equipment, hospital equipment and other social causes,”.

He maintained that lottery in any party of the world is used to fund good causes, adding that lottery in itself is a good thing.

He noted however that when abused or when participants are taken advantage of, then lottery becomes bad.

“We are pushing forward new policies to hold operators accountable, help the public understand who we are and what we do, cover the fields to the extent that we reach all those in our industry.

Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has described Akwa Ibom State as one of the top investment hubs in the country.

Osinbajo made the declaration during the inauguration of Kings Flour Mill at Onna as part of programs to mark the 32nd anniversary of the State’s creation.

The Vice President observed that in September 2017 he was in the state to commission the Jubilee Syringe factory, Metering Solution plant and some upgraded health facilities, noting that it was laudable that in 2019 he is back to commission more projects.

He congratulated Gov. Udom Emmanul and the people of Akwa Ibom State on the anniversary and the congenial atmosphere provided for business to thrive.

“Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, is working relentlessly to attract sustainable investments to boost the Industrialization drive of the Federal Government.

“This will create employment and generate wealth for the state and country. I appreciate the investors for the choice of Akwa Ibom State for their investment and I’m optimistic that the youths will seize these opportunities to acquire skills that would enhance self reliance” he said.

Earlier, Gov. Emmanuel said that the factory produces 500 metric tones of flour daily.

He disclosed that Kings flour mill is one of the best flour millers in Europe, while applauding the investors for hearkening to the appeal to come and invest in the state.

Governor Emmanuel thanked the Vice President for rising above bias and redefining what politics is and not propaganda.

“My administration is committed to make governance touch the grassroots. My focus is anchored on development and industrialization and I urge investors to come to Akwa Ibom and invest.

In a related development, the Vice President also flagged off the digitized Power Substation at Ekim, Mkpat Enin LGA, which marks the actualization of the power plan for all before 2021.

The power substation is part of the government’s poise to ensure that every home has electricity supply.

The power station will provide electricity to as many as 10,000 small and medium scale enterprises thereby stimulate growth in the State economy.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Investment, Commerce and Industry, Mr. Prince Ukpong Akpabio, who gave a brief report on the emergence of the Kings flour mill, congratulated the governor for the initiative to attract investments.

The thirteenth Live Show might be missing an Eviction but it sure unveiled an Ultimate Housemate – Frodd.

All through the week, the Housemates were left clueless not knowing how much power the Ultimate Veto Holder gets to possess. To be fair, they all gave their guesses when Biggie asked them to let him know what the holder of this power can do. Did they guess right though?

Just before Ebuka made his announcement on the fake Eviction, Biggie summoned the Pepper Dem Gang into the Arena, alongside their selected Veto Power pictures and of course, the Red Box. We could feel the tension in the air as Biggie told them this. Cindy couldn’t even hide the panic in her eyes and neither, could we. Who’ll have this power? There’s only one way to find out.

As this week’s Head of House, Biggie told Elozonam to open the Red Box.

Congratulations are in order for Frodd, as he emerged as this Season’s Ultimate Veto Power Holder. He may have missed the opportunity to buy Immunity but his luck game got stronger, as he got the Ultimate Veto Power.

Frodd has the power to Nominate five Housemates for Eviction. Shhh, the Housemates don’t know yet. All five of them will be known tomorrow night at the Nomination show.

You wouldn’t want to miss that, so stay tuned to find out what happens next.

With the announcement of the Ultimate Veto Power Holder, the game just got tighter. It’s going to be a tough pill for the Housemates to swallow when they get to know the power he wields. How will they take it?

By Jennifer Y Omiloli

Alhaji Sidi Bage Muhammad I, the Emir of Lafia, has called for the official recognition of Pidgin English as a language in the country and for unifying Nigerians.

Muhammad, a retired Supreme Court Justice disclosed this at the 35th Annual National Conference of English Scholars’ Association of Nigeria (ESAN) in collaboration with Department of Languages National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) Abuja.

He said it was time to appreciate Pidgin English especially as it had enabled Nigerians communicate in time of difficulty as presently witnessed in the country.

“Pigeon English has done very well because it has become a medium of communication in this country.

“This has helped a lot of Nigerian who do not have a great command of English language opportunity to communicate with people at our level, and it has kept this country together.

“I did say when we were having conference at the Court of Appeal to decide on some pertinent question that there is the need for pigeon English to be given some recognition in this country,” Muhammad said.

According to Muhammad, even the Court of Appeal recognizes that Pidgin English can stand the place of English and as such its statements can be admissible in evidence.

He said: “There was this argument in the past whether a statement made in Pidgin English can be admissible in law; it was subjected to a lot of interpretations and it started from the level of the High Court and met us at the Court of Appeal.

“The decision of the High Court is that Pidgin English is not English and as such that statement cannot on its own stand the test of a statement; it has either to be interpreted in English which was what the court said it must be subjected to but that it will require some degree of corroboration.

“It came to us at the Court of Appeal and we sat at the panel to decide. Our decision at the court of Appeal was that Pidgin English is English, and we said that what is important is that it has communicated exactly what the owner of the statement intended to convey.

“Again, we said that the audience it was intended for fully understood it, so Pidgin English can stand the place of English and such statement can be admissible in evidence.

“We thought that the parties affected will appeal to the Supreme Court since it was of a national importance so that it can become a law and not be subjected to another form of interpretation next time, but they didn’t go to Supreme Court.”

Prof. Amina Bashir, who delivered the keynote speech with the theme “Language, Literature, National Integration and Sustainable Development”, said that the development of any ideal nation depends on the people and their inclination to develop themselves and their nations.

Bashir, from Federal University of Dutse, said the development can be achieved through the medium of language which is not only an end but a means of attaining national integration and sustainable development.

“Language serves a mediating function; literature embodies a whole body of imagination, development, societal integration, history and common artifacts. All these identify individual as belonging to a particular groups sharing wide range of cultural identities.

“Literature therefore, mirrors the language, culture, national integration of the people, objective representation of creative writers and the objective reality of life.

“Nigerian literature as seen by Chidi Amuta (2005) is a super manifestation of process, the process of creation of ideas and values within the limits prescribed by the social essence of language.

“Language and literature in the face of sustainability and development are mutually inclusive. Literature is the total reflection of our imagination through linguistic mediated process,” she said.

Bashir noted that language just like literature cannot exist in an empty space and that they were inseparable.

She further noted that literature used language in artistic form to mirror life, projecting for the future of our resources (oil, Uranium, Gold, Silver, Diamond etc), education, integration with the outside world, economy and so on.

Prof. Abdalla Adamu, Vice Chancellor of NOUN had earlier said that the general theme of the conference – “English language and literature for national integration and sustainable development” came at the right time giving the situation of things in the country.

Adamu who was represented by Joy Eyisi, Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University, described language as a source of national integration and sustainable development.

“We are for national integration, we are for sustainable development and to achieve this aim, language is at the centre.

“This language, in the right scheme of things is English considering the multi-religious, multi-cultural, and multi-lingual status of Nigeria.

“It is our official language, the language of politics and administration; it is the language of the law court, the language of the media, and the language of the national and international communication.

“It is the language of text books, the language of instruction in our schools, the language for educational advancement and prestigious employment.

“It is the language that serves as barometer with which we measure the quantity and quality of education possessed by a speaker.

“Above all, English language is the language that serves as a vital link that unites all of us together as one Nigeria,” Eyisi said.