General Enenche: An Engineer in PR Turf? Haba

By Yushau A. Shuaib

The founding fathers of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) fought for the enactment of Decree No. 16 of 1990 (now an Act of the National Assembly) to regulate and monitor conformity to the ethical standards of Public Relations (PR) practice in Nigeria.

The law bars non-members from practicing public communication in the country. The regulation also empowers the Institute to prosecute offenders. They feared then, that the profession was being infiltrated by all-comers who knew little or nothing about the PR practice.

Today, their fears have been confirmed as the PR profession in Nigeria is saturated by quacks apart from the ill-equipped, unqualified and inexperience persons assigned to handle public relations jobs.

There is a need for sanity in the profession because PR strives on sustaining mutual relationship through reputation management, crisis communication, media relations among other strategies in projecting positive image of individuals and organisations. It therefore requires qualifications, skills and experiences to practice.

While the existing law empowers the Institute to sanction and prohibit non-registered members from public relations practice, NIPR is weak in enforcing compliance. Other professional bodies have aggressively advocated and ensured only qualified members hold top positions in credible institutions in the public and private sectors. It is impossible and would sound absurd to appoint non-professionals who lack requisite qualifications and experiences in Medicine, Law, Accountancy and Engineering among others to head respective departments in reputable organisations. The professional bodies ensure that only their qualified members, such as lawyers, Doctors, Accountants and Engineers oversee such offices.

It is rather disturbing the recent appointment of an Engineer, Major General John Enenche as the Director of Defence Information (DDI) which invariably makes him the spokesperson for the entire military sector in Nigeria that include the Army, Airforce, Navy and intelligence agencies.

A qualified Engineer with Advance Diploma in Military Engineering, Enenche attended Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering (NASME), Makurdi for various engineering courses and qualifications while his areas of Interest is Civil Engineering Project Supervision. Though his hobbies include listening to gospel music and monitoring news and current affairs, General Enenche does not have the mandatory requirement to practice Public Relations in Nigeria.

Undoubtedly, General Enenche, from his profile, is a man who has received several prestigious honours and commendation awards in the military. We have no reason to fault this humble and hardworking officer for accepting military posting. The Defence Headquarters should nevertheless know that by Nigerian law it is an aberration to assign non-qualified and non-registered professional to practice public relations in Nigeria.

At a Regional Media Seminar organised in Rivers State by the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC) for security spokespersons in July 2016, the former Director Defence Information, retired Major General Chris Olukolade said that “It is illegal to practice Public Relations in Nigeria without certification.”

General Olukolade, a Fellow of NIPR and Chairman of Enforcement Committee of the Institute added that the Institute was undertaking membership certification and re-certification to weed out quackery in the profession. He therefore enjoined all Security agencies to comply with the law.

The recent appointment of an Army Engineer for a PR job is therefore clearly a deviation from established norms and practices by the military. PR practice should not be undermined by portraying it as a profession that doesn’t require any qualification or skills. It was in recognition of importance of capacity building and promotion of professionalism that the military established Nigerian Army School of Public Relations, and Information  (Naspri). Some of those that passed through the training centre including their tutors are some of the highly qualified, competent and finest serving military officers, among them ‘Generals’ in rank and grounded in public relations practice.

As a regulatory body for image makers and reputation managers, NIPR has a lot to do in its advocacy and engagement with respective institutions to abide by the law guiding appointments into top positions in PR and Communication jobs in Nigeria. It should also emulate other bodies that jealously guard the integrity of their members and proudly protect the dignity of their professions.

The NIPR should therefore use its powers appropriately in sanctioning individuals or organisations that abuse the regulations as regards appointment, promotion, discipline and other sundry requirement of public communication.

Yushau A. Shuaib can be reached through his email: yashuaib@yahoo.com

 

 

The Nigerian Focus: A Blind Trail?

By Opetu Ebibote

The way things are going one begins to wonder where our priority lies or what is left to actually motivate one. Increasing strings of event being broadcastedhave made the television useless because every news item is enough drama. In fact, what is left is a box of popcorn while reading and I don’t know if it is only me who feels this way.

I begin with the senate drama with the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service. “When did wearing a uniform or not become one of Nigeria’s problems?” I ask with disdain. Our focus on ceremonial duties instead of the constitutional duties never ceases to baffle me. If the senate gave half as much time and attention they are giving this Uniform issue (and other trivial baseless issues) to the many problems that have caused the retrogressive nature of the Nigerian economy, maybe we will not be where we are right now, scratch that ‘maybe’ I am sure we as a nation would have moved further even if it is just by a step.

What baffles me most is the suspension of his proposal of a new policy to the House until he is fully regaled in ‘his uniform’. Please and please how do we benefit from Mr. Hamid wearing a uniform? Who his uniform epp?  If the senate monitors the individual performance of the senate members and refused them entrance into the house until they did what was right; Nigeria for don better since o. Is the senate forgetting that this man did not become a custom chief until 2015 before which he had nothing to do with the customs office? In fact, what we should be worried about is if he even knows what is required of him and if he is able to carry out his duties appropriately.

The senate has argued that he is supposed to be an exemplary figure to other customs officers. They forget that when there is a problem with the head, all body parts are affected. “The head” in this context is President Buhari and his decision to make a retired colonel the Comptroller-General of a sector such as the Nigeria Customs Service. Should it surprise you if he says ‘I don’t like the uniform’, I am tempted to make a comparison with an old man who has written with his right hand all his life now forced to write with his left hand.

Was there no ‘good example’ among the thousands of Custom Officer in the system worthy of emerging the Comptroller-General; it’s the second week of this unfortunate drama, the second week of giving prominence to a baseless issue while over real issues plaguing the country  are left pending like the court cases of most of House ‘representa-thieves’

Away from politics, the whole Apostle Suleiman & Aunty Stephanie shebang and the stain on religion is a really delicate one and I do not know where to start from. It is like when two children are caught fighting and each blame the other party for starting the fight. You just stand there not knowing whom to believe. Aunty Stephanie has come out to say she has video and pictures to prove all her allegations. This is not the first time, maybe not the last that a religious leader is blackmailed and as well it is not unheard of for a minister to have unholy sexual escapades with his member. I might have a definite stand on this issue if there wasn’t a twist to it.

On Sunday, a lady with the Facebook profile name “Yahweh Yesha Ace” came out to say that she had suffered such fate from the same man of God. This got me dumbfounded, the man who said “in every rumour there is an iota of truth” must be wise. This is the kind of movie, where you sit with your popcorn in hand silently watching and awaiting the climax. I am most certain that only time can reveal the truth.  After all, nothing is hidden under the sun.

Moving from serious matters, my next stop is Big Brother Nigeria. I have been itching to say something about the continued condemnation of the Television show.  It is understandable that it breaches the moral code of our highly religious country but why do we not have an answer for the question “Is this the first program where sexual related activities are promoted?”

There are myriads of Nollywood movies that promote subtle and obvious forms of immoralities and we vote the actors and actresses who engage in the act as best this… best that…Why have we closed eyes and shut mouths to condemning these movies and remember BBN is just on a channel, leaving you with other channels so you can leave interested Nigerians to watch. The irony of the situation is that there is no moral code in our country.

It is paradoxical that a huge number of those who complain about these activities engage in them as premarital sexual activities seem like a norm; the Nigerian youth do not need BBN to teach them sexual corruption. It’s like telling a professor of mathematics that one plus one equals two, those whose moral stand are still intact, my advice is; instead of shouting against BBN and giving it more publicity, why not ensure that you and your household serve the Lord by making sure no one watches it in your home.

If Nigerians haven’t noticed, the upheaval on social media against the program has not changed anything. The program is still on and is gradually reaching its grand finale.

My pen can find a resting place now while I wishfully pray that unending scenes of drama come to an end. God bless Africa, God bless Nigeria and God bless its citizens.

Opetu Ebibote is a young writer who appreciates the gifts of words and its power to effect a change in the society. She writes from Ibadan and blogs at musespill.com.ng She can be contacted via 07062612574 or msespill@gmail.com 

Commemorating World Water Day 2017

By Suleiman Haruna

One of the most challenging human needs is that of water, it is everywhere but seems never available or enough for use. Water has been on the front burner of development discourse since time immemorial. The sixth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets improving water and sanitation in furtherance of the efforts expended through the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It was revealed, by World Health Organization that unlike the water target, the sanitation target was not met by most of Africa by the end of 2015.

Most of the MDGs actually targeted problems that could be reduced by simply providing clean water; poverty, education and health.

The goal of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger is pertinent because many people, sometimes even host communities have left their abode on account of water shortage or drought, thereby pushing the citizens to submit themselves to the vagaries of migration and displacement; en route, they are subjected to all kinds of humiliation in order to feed their families.

The second had to do with achieving universal primary education, children have to endure long distances to fetch the water for the use of their families; this affects their school attendance. Promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women is the third Goal, and is pertinent in the water discourse as responsibility for the provision of water is always pushed to women and young girls, even though they have been determined as the weaker sex.

Goals four and five are about reducing child mortality and improving maternal health and the challenge of clean water has been described as being responsible for the diseases that kill more children and keep mothers bedridden and unproductive, especially during natal periods. Water is also a key player in the spread of malaria, which kills at least 300,000 Nigerians every year. Controlling malaria was another goal of the MDGs.

Water, sanitation and hygiene have always been treated as cousins because addressing the challenges of both sanitation and hygiene rely on the availability of water. To a large extent, interventions for the control of the practice of open defecation in our communities is reliant on the provision of water; as it is important to provide water in all health and educational facilities.

Figures by UN Water indicate that 1.8 billion people use a source of drinking water contaminated with faeces, putting them at risk of contracting cholera, dysentery, typhoid and polio. Unsafe water, poor sanitation and hygiene cause around 842,000 deaths each year. In the same vein, 663 million people still lack improved drinking water sources.

Water is the most important resource in the life of man. So it is important that we use it efficiently, and avoid its wastage. Beyond that we must encourage communities to get this important resource, sustain it and ensure its purity, if they are to live better lives.

Communities always need information on what they can do to ensure efficient water use. They must know how the availability and use of safe and clean water can bring development to them in terms of economy, health, education, culture and other indices of development. In areas where the communities cannot provide water for themselves, it behooves on men and women of goodwill to assist.

World Water Day, is celebrated on 22 March of every year, and is about taking action on water issues. Governments at all levels do a lot to provide tap water, boreholes and tube wells as far as their budgets can carry; development institutions, civil society and NGOs also offer their widows mite in this regard.

Wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, has keyed into this call through the Future Assured Programme and has built many of such water points including boreholes and tube wells across the country especially in hard to reach communities and IDP camps. By these action, children of those communities can go to school, women can lead more productive lives, and the whole community can be healthier.

These endearing efforts ensure that health outcomes do not deteriorate, that children do not drop out of school, and adults do not leave their communities for greener pasture.

Suleiman Haruna is the Director of Information, Office of the Wife of Nigerian President

Averting Pervasive Insurgency

By Abubakar Jimoh

With the complexity of global security threats and the intensity of intra-state conflicts in the West African region, it has become imperative for the regional governments to devise holistic approach to security management.

While violent conflicts are reportedly declining in the sub-region, a recent report by International Journal of Security & Development disclosed that the recent insurgencies in the Sahel region affecting the West African countries of Mali, Niger and Mauritania and low intensity conflicts surging within notably stable countries such as Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal sends alarming signals of the possible re-surfacing of internal and regional violent conflicts.

In recent times, the global manifestation of terrorism and insurgency have become evident in Nigeria, where the absolute responsibility of the Nigerian government to grant security to the citizens has been challenged by such threats to security as international terrorism, state failure, and corruption, calling for holistic and dynamic measures to address the situations.

As recommends in the United Nations Resolution on Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, countries must take appropriate measures to refrain from organizing, instigating, facilitating, participating in, financing, encouraging or tolerating terrorist activities and to take practical measures to ensure their respective territories are not used for terrorist installations or training camps, or for the preparation or organization of terrorist acts intended to be committed against other States or their citizens.

Given the intensity of recurring attacks, relevant authorities in the country must continue to arrange for initiatives and programmes to promote dialogue, tolerance and understanding among civilizations, cultures, peoples and religions, and to promote mutual respect for and prevent the defamation of religions, religious values, beliefs and cultures. Of such dialogues and initiatives is the on-going constructive interface between Nigerian security agencies and Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) under the aegis of Peace and Security Forum. The Forum has hitherto paved way for regular meetings on issues bothering the nation’s security. It has further stepped down its approach to advocacy through regular peace and security meetings with traditional rulers, community and religious leaders to promote peaceful coexistence, sustainable peace and security at all levels.

Appreciable effort must be made to promote a culture of peace, justice and human development, ethnic, national and religious tolerance, and respect for all religions, religious values, beliefs or cultures by establishing and encouraging, as appropriate, education and public awareness programmes involving all sectors of society. In this case, the security agents must shun all manners of extra-judicial killings, human rights abuses, and apparent disproportionate response to socio-religious gatherings as experienced in recent times.  This must be promptly addressed to avert unwary sensation that can warrant further outbreaks of insurgency.

The country must adopt peace, justice with strong institutions as enshrined under Goal 16 of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development. Governments at all levels must provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive systems to address ethno-religious attacks by bringing perpetrators to justice.  This will re-install citizens’ confidence in governance and judicial system.

It is no more news that Nigerians have continued to suffer from widespread poverty, low economic output in both private and public sector attributable to corruption, inefficiency, erratic power supply, unrealistic policies, and infrastructure decay. These among other factors informed the recent report by the International Monetary Fund, (IMF), warning that unless Nigeria’s government takes urgent steps to curtail the on-going economic decline, there could be a worsening of unemployment and widespread poverty in the country.

Meanwhile, the alarming rate of youth unemployment has become a dire socio-economic issue for a developing nation like Nigeria.  It would be recalled that in May 2016, a report by Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) had revealed unfavourable statistics, stating that 1.5 million Nigerians became unemployed in the first quarter of the year. Another report by the Bureau showed that as at the second quarter of the 2016, a total of 4.58 million Nigerians were unemployed. As crime in varying degrees affects policies and development of the country, it becomes imperative for the nation to strive towards development by reducing the frequency of crime to the barest minimum through sustainable effort by both executive and legislative arms to eradicate poverty and promote sustained economic growth and development.

All levels of government must pursue and reinforce development and social inclusion agendas at every level as goals in themselves, as these are paramount to reduce youth unemployment, marginalization and the subsequent sense of victimization that fuels extremism and the recruitment of terrorists. A report by the Guardian Newspapers, United Kingdom, has attributed the root insurgencies in the country to the increasing sense of marginalisation on the part of some communities.

Similarly, collective rehabilitation and reintegration efforts must be taken by the governments to put in place, national systems of assistance that would promote the needs of victims of terrorism and their families and facilitate the normalization of their lives. The on-going initiative by the Nigerian Government to rehabilitate and reintegrate victims of violence attacks in North East through exhaustive consultation with Civil Society and relevant stakeholders is indeed a commendable development.

 Abubakar Jimoh is the Head of Communications at Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) Abuja, Email: abujimoh01@gmail.com

Mrs. Aisha Buhari’s Health Screening Exercises For Underserved Nigerians

By Aisha Bunu

Since the assumption of Muhammadu Buhari as President of Nigeria, Mrs. Aisha Buhari has focused her attention on issues that affect Women and children who are the most vulnerable in the society.

Mrs. Buhari understands that the role of women in every society cannot be over emphasized, therefore, their health and well being should be enhanced in order for them to make meaningful contribution both in political and economic participation for national development. She has for many years made her contribution in this regard through the Aisha Buhari Foundation.

Her realization of the depth of health challenges faced by women and children prompted her to found a platform called Future Assured. Through this platform, she has been travelling from state to state across the country to build partnerships with stakeholders, and to contribute in providing an enabling environment for the implementation of basic public health programmes and awareness creation on health issues.

As a result of the partnerships she has entered into, it became easier to identify what health problem is prevalent in each state, and what contribution a platform like hers can offer. Future Assured has so far identified many of these medical problems which are women killers. These include breast cancer, cervical cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, malaria, and sickle cell anaemia. The morbidity and mortality rate is very high in the country due to these preventable diseases.

Diabetes is one of the critical health challenges identified, it is a chronic disease of high blood glocuse which can result in serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves. Cases have been on the increase in the past few years. In Nigeria, about 5 Million people are still living with diabetes, while more than 1.5 Million cases of diabetes were recorded in 2015. Also, 40,815 deaths due to diabetes were recorded in adults in 2016. These figures are sure to drop with adequate awareness, especially among those that are vulnerable.

Another women killer is Cancer. In Nigeria about 10,000 cancer deaths and 250,000 new cases are recorded annually.  Cancer results from abnormal growth of cells that have the ability to spread to other part of the body. There are many types of cancer. But of all the types, breast and cervical cancer affect women the most.

Take breast cancer, for example; the first notable symptom of breast cancer is a lump that feels different from the rest of the breast tissue; one breast becoming larger or lower than the other; a nipple changing position or its shape becoming inverted. There could also be some discharge from the nipples, or constant pain in parts of the breast, or even rashes on or around a nipple.

Screening of the breast regularly can help in early detection which, in-turn will help achieve early prevention. The mission of Future Assured is to alert women to be conscious of their bodies and train themselves to perform simple self-examination of their breast in order to stay safe.

Cervical cancer is another type that affects the cervix. It has no early symptoms; later symptoms may however include vaginal bleeding. Therefore, cervical cancer screening would help in early detection using Pap smear or acetic acid, quick intervention usually prevents its spread.

Late detection in both types of cancer is still a major challenge, Therefore awareness creation is still the way out.

Hepatitis, sickle cell and other related ailments are blood-related. It is therefore important that people have knowledge of their genotype. Genotype is the collection of genes passed from parents to children. In order to avoid these killer diseases, it has been advised that couples check their genotype before marriage; this will help them avoid having children who may live very sick lives or even die in infancy. Parents should also check the genotype of their children during pregnancy and also after birth.

High blood pressure also known as hypertension is another killer that puts people at the risk of stroke and kidney failure. The disease is on the rise in Nigeria and is a massive killer. The major challenge of hypertension is that people are not aware of the necessity for, or cannot afford regular blood pressure checks.

Another is Malaria, which is endemic in Nigeria with 300,000 deaths per year and 100 million cases. Nigeria bears up to 25% of malaria disease burden in Africa, making the country the highest in malaria mortality. Malaria is a treatable and preventable disease that remains a major killer of children. Malaria in pregnant women causes anemia and other complications in both mother and newborn. Malaria is caused by blood parasites from person to person through the bites of infected mosquitoes.

It is because of the gravity of these diseases that Future Assured decided to advocate for government to pay more attention to these killers, and to conscientize women on the need to understand the danger of these diseases and screen themselves from time to time.  In order to show example to the stakeholders and pass the message to women, screening exercises were planned, organized and conducted in states, in collaboration with local NGOs. So far, screenings have held in eight states; these are Cross River, Adamawa, Katsina, Enugu, Nasarawa, Ogun, Oyo and Kogi. It is intended that such screenings will hold in all states of the country.

In consideration of the important of the sense of sight, and the rate at which people are becoming blind, Eye examination was included in the list of ailments for which women were screened. Doctors have recommended tests at least every 2 years. The Eye examination provides accurate assessment of the ability to see, and gauges the general health of the eyes. Eye examination can result in early identification of other eye -related problems.

In each of the states listed above, an average of 2000 women have benefitted from these screening exercises; and these are bound to change their own lives and the lives of their friends, spouses and children. Gradually, the practice of self-screening will become the norm, while the number of women lost to these killers will drop considerably.

In fact, Mrs. Buhari has secured two mobile clinics in order to ease access to the most difficult to reach areas around the FCT for the purpose of these health screenings. The plan is to have these mobile clinics deployed to all the six geo-political zones of the country.

When this happens, Future Assured and Mrs. Aisha Buhari would have succeeded in their purpose of making a difference in the lives of women in Nigeria.

 

Aisha Bunu writes from the Office of the Wife of the President

Herdsmen/Farmers Clashes: Nigerian Laboratory Scientist ready to offer solution to President Buhari

By Amos Tauna

A Nigerian Laboratory Scientist, Kabir Musa, has promised to offer a workable solution of the ongoing herdsmen/farmers clashes in the country.

Speaking to newsmen in Kaduna, Northern part of Nigeria, he explained that he had conducted a comprehensive research that could help solve the persistent herdsmen/farmers crisis that is bedeviling the country.

He therefore seeks an audience with President Muhammadu Buhari whom he hopes to handover the recommendation to and the best way to diversify the economy.

According to Kabir Musa, he was worried about the numerous challenges created by herdsmen/farmers crisis that has taken ethno-religious dimension in the country.

He added that the incessant herdsmen/farmers’ conflicts had prompted him into digging deep to some findings that has rewarded him with the document he has come up with.

“What I have done is a research that is an improvement on other researchers conducted in the past, which if adopted and implemented, will solved herdsmen/farmers clashes, the present economic recession and diversify our economy,” he said.,

He illustrated with the aid of a projector, capturing an example of a research conducted by the National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), Shika-Zaria.

In the said research which was conducted over 30 years ago by a team of scholars, several recommendations on how to improve the yield and health of cattle and livestock were made.

Musa said he was optimistic that Nigeria was blessed enough to sustain itself and even export to other countries, stressing that the findings of his research holds a key to several problems bedeviling the country, with the farmers/herdsmen clashes being one of the issues.

He appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to grant him audience, stressing that the entire country would be better off if his work was adopted.

When asked if he had made any previous attempts to see the President but failed, he didn’t respond, but was optimistic that Nigeria would be great again soon, and President Buhari being the man he is, would definitely grant him the audience to present the document to him.

Hassan Karajah, One Of The Heroes Languishing In Zionist Occupation Jails

The curse of bars and prisons around the world continues. It is in those places that lives are stolen and tyrants aim at killing the hopes of those who dream of a better future for their country and the end of occupation of their homeland.

Among those dreamers is Palestinian activist Hassan Karajah, held captive in Israeli occupation prisons. Even though I never met him, I don’t know why I always feel a friendly connection between us.

Born in the town of Saffa in Ramallah, Karajah has been carrying the Palestinian cause in his heart since childhood. Karajah was an active member of the popular campaign against the wall and settlements (Stop the Wall). Through his wide-range activities and efforts, he successfully became the campaign’s youth programme coordinator and one of the important human rights defenders on the local and Arab levels. In 2012, Karajah served as the youth ambassador for the Arab Thought Foundation and represented Palestinian youth in Arab and international conferences and events.

In January 2013, Karajah was arrested. Special forces raided his house and assaulted him. He spent 22 months in prison on accusations related to his social work, and was then released in October 2014.

Last July, Israeli soldiers arrested Karajah at a checkpoint near Ramallah; after five days of detention, he received a six-month prison sentence and has since been languishing in Ofer prison with a renewable administrative detention decision—similar to the pre-trial detention process in Egypt, which allows the imprisonment of political opponents for long periods of time without charges.

This unjust law applied by occupation authorities enables the harassment of detainees especially in light of the detainee’s lawyers’ inability to obtain documents regarding their legal charges and the automatic renewal of the administrative detention. The laws implemented by the Israeli army on arrests date back to the 1945 emergency mandate law, according to which 750 Palestinians dwell in occupation jails under administrative detention.

At the beginning of his second detention, Karajah’s family was denied visits because he started one of his hunger strikes in solidarity with Palestinian prisoner Bilal Kayed, who was also on a hunger strike under administrative detention before being freed.

Karajah’s attitude did not surprise me—it was an inspiration in terms of endurance and tolerance.

Years and days pass while Karajah sits inside his cell in occupation prisons, deprived from seeing his twin baby girls, Sarai and Kinza, born when he was absent, in jail, away from his wife Thameena Husary who has devotedly supported his case. There is no doubt that the suffering of families of detainees is as painful as that of detainees themselves.

Finally, dear friend whom I never saw, prison cannot be indefinite. Nature tells us that morning follows night, and there will come a day when the detainees’ land is returned to those who once inhabited it.

May you remain the hero who teaches us reverence and nobility.

And to all detainees in occupation prisons and all prisoners of conscience around the world: when the detainees’ land is freed, it will honour you.

Tarek Hussein is a lawyer and assistant secretary of the rights and freedoms committee at Al-Dostour party.

It’s Time For Washington To Strengthen Ties With Egypt

By Joel C. Rosenberg

As the Trump administration develops plans to confront Iran, destroy Islamic State (ISIS) and strengthen US-Israel relations, it’s critical that it also rebuild America’s ties with Egypt, the leader of Sunni Arab world.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi was often disrespected if not ignored by president Barack Obama. This serious mistake should be promptly corrected.

The American secretaries of state and defense should visit Cairo immediately to map out ways to work together. President Donald Trump should then invite the Egyptian leader to visit him in Washington soon, following up on successful recent meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Jordan’s King Abdullah.

Sisi came to power amid the most catastrophic meltdown of Egypt’s social, economic and political order in living memory. He has made mistakes. But he’s making progress, and he needs help.

Here are six big things the Egyptian leader is doing right:

First, he’s signaling he wants a dramatically improved relationship with the US. Sisi met privately with then-candidate Trump last September during the opening of the UN General Assembly in New York. He immediately called Trump after the election to congratulate him, and has spoken to him several times since. “Egypt hopes Trump’s presidency will breathe a new spirit into US-Egyptian relations,” Sisi made clear in a written statement. The White House should reciprocate quickly.

Second, he has courageously called for what amounts to a Muslim “Reformation.”

On January 1, 2015, Sisi addressed scholars and clerics at Al-Azhar University in Cairo, the Harvard of Sunni Islam, challenging them to reform Islam and rescue it from the radicals.

“We are in need of a religious revolution.

You, imams, are responsible before Allah. The entire world is waiting for your next move…. I am saying these words here at Al-Azhar, before this assembly of scholars and ulema [learned men]. Allah Almighty be witness to your truth on Judgment Day concerning that which I’m talking about now.”

This stands as one of the most impressive speeches by a moderate Muslim leader in recent memory. By working closely with Sisi (and Jordan’s king), Trump can demonstrate that when he rightly denounces Radical Islam he’s not suggesting that he’s going to war with the religion of Islam.

Third, he’s not just talk – he’s working hard to protect Egypt from radical Islamist jihadists. In the summer of 2013, after 22 million Egyptians signed a petition to remove the Muslim Brotherhood from power, Sisi and the Egyptian military brought down the Brotherhood regime that was strangling Egypt and was trying to impose Sharia law. They specifically removed Mohammed Morsi from the presidency. It was Morsi, after all, who had famously declared, “The Koran is our constitution, the Prophet is our leader, jihad is our path and death in the name of Allah is our goal.” Since then, Sisi has directed his military to crush jihadists operating in the Sinai.

Fourth, he’s not only maintaining Egypt’s peace treaty with Israel but developing a close working relationship with Israeli leaders. Under Morsi, there was a real risk that Egypt would abrogate her 1979 peace treaty with Israel. But relations between the two countries have warmed considerably under Sisi. During the Obama years, several members of Congress told me of meetings they had in Cairo in which the Egyptian leader candidly shared that he had a better working relationship with Netanyahu than with Obama. Security ties between Cairo and Jerusalem are growing ever closer, especially in terms of battling terrorists in Sinai. And there are whispers Sisi is looking for the right moment to invite Israel’s premier to Cairo.

Fifth, he’s building closer ties with the Christian community. In 2014, Sisi visited Pope Francis in Rome. In 2015, for the first time that anyone could remember, Egypt’s president publicly celebrated Christmas with Coptic Christian leaders, then did so again in 2016. He’s helping restore dozens of Coptic churches damaged or destroyed by terrorists. Egypt’s parliament has approved measures to make it easier for churches to be built and renovated. Christian leaders in Egypt say they feel Sisi is sincerely working to protect and assist Christians, though clearly much more progress must be made, as was made evident in December when jihadists bombed a historic Coptic church in Cairo, killing 29 and wounding dozens more.

Sixth, he’s building close ties with the Jewish community. Unlike any of his predecessors, the Egyptian leader has been engaged in a truly extraordinary effort to build warm and close ties to the American Jewish community, and for this he deserves enormous credit. In early 2016, Sisi welcomed a delegation of 36 American Jewish leaders to Cairo.

He personally met with representatives from the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations for more than two hours, discussing his view of the region and answering their questions.

In September 2016, the Egyptian leader met privately with Jewish leaders in New York. In December 2016, Sisi met with yet another Jewish delegation to Cairo, this time from the American Jewish Congress. Then, just last week, Sisi met with another delegation of Jewish leaders in Cairo. During the hour-anda- half meeting, the president discussed his efforts to fight terrorism, improve Egypt’s economy and advance peace between the Israelis and Palestinians. Sisi said the peace process was a top priority for him.

Yes, there are human rights violations in Egypt, economic challenges and a myriad of other serious issues Sisi must address.

One analyst of the Egyptian political scene writing in Foreign Policy magazine has noted that “the Egyptian government’s theme is ‘safe before perfect,’ meaning it will try to improve on human rights but the top priority is ensuring day-to-day safety on the streets and freedom from terrorism.”

The Trump-Pence administration – along with Christian and Jewish leaders – should press Egypt’s leaders to make more progress, especially on human rights. At the same time, we should thank Sisi for what he has done right while encouraging him to move further in the right direction.

The West needs a stable Egypt as a friend and an ally, now more than ever.

The author is a US-Israeli dual citizen and former aide to US and Israeli leaders. A New York Times best-selling novelist, he has sold more than three million books. His new thriller, Without Warning, is about a series of Islamic State attacks inside the American homeland. It releases on March 14.

Curled from Jerusalem Post

Re: Obasanjo Storms Out Of Police Event Over Delay

It has come to the notice of the Zone 2 Headquarters reports making the rounds in national dailies that ‘Obasanjo Storms out of Police Event over Delay.’

In as much as it is a statement of fact that there was delay in the taking off of the First Special Training and Capacity Development Seminar held at the Federal Palace Hotel, yesterday March 2, 2017, due to exigencies of the policing job, the truth must not be skewed to suit personal or pre-determined stances.

The special guest of honour, Former president Olusegun Obasanjo in his usual fatherly manner and once being a uniformed personnel himself, came into the hall and still went ahead to deliver his remarks as earlier scheduled.

He would have shelved his remarks were he truly angry as insinuated. In fact, the former president took his time to pose for pictures with dignitaries, seminar participants and other people individually (as is evident in the picture used in the said stories) – a clear sign he did not ‘storm’ out of the event as alleged.

What was misconstrued as a swipe against the force was nothing but Baba’s usual jolly nature and world famous penchant for throwing banters. The pictures attached to this rebuttal clearly show that nothing was amiss and there is no cause for alarm.

The Nigeria Police wishes to state clearly that it would never disrespect any elder statesman or anyone at all by deliberately keeping them waiting.

The AIG Zone 2, AIG Kayode Aderanti, mni uses this medium to enjoin news reporters to maintain objectivity, devoid of personal inflections and misleading tendencies when turning in their stories.

The general public is hereby urged to disregard the story as a lone error in situation appraisal that it truly is.

Signed
ASP BENJAMIN HUNDEYIN
ZONAL POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
ZONE 2 HEADQUARTERS
ONIKAN LAGOS

Nigeria’s Wildlife Status And A Need For Urgent Action! World Wildlife Day 2017: “Listen To The Young Voices”

“My interview with hunters and most recent research across protected areas in Northern Nigeria revealed that there is lesser wildlife in our wild than we perceive.” – Adebote Seyifunmi, March 2017

 

After the 68^th session of the United Nations General Assembly on December, 1983 the 3^rd of March was adopted as a day to celebrate World Wildlife Day yearly, the day is observed to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild fauna and flora. World Wildlife Day also seeks to recognise the important roles of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in ensuring that international trade of Wild Flora and Fauna does not threaten the survival of species.

​The theme of World Wildlife Day 2017 “Listen to the Young Voices”, is a step further from last year’s theme, “The Future of Wildlife is Our Hands” to ensure the realization of CITES objective in the 182 member states of the United Nations, Nigeria inclusive. It is believed that one-quarter of the world’s population is aged between 10 and 24; hence, as the future leaders and decision makers of the world, they could give more vigorous efforts if properly enlightened and encouraged to call the shot in making and taking decisive actions at both local and global levels to protect endangered wildlife.

The peculiarity of Wildlife in Nigeria is highly disturbing, calling for urgent action, especially when one considers that the level of wildlife literacy in the country is next to none. With reference to last year’s World Environment Day, June 2016, Amina Mohammed who until her recent UN’s appointment was the Minister of Environment said, “The status of wildlife in the country leaves much to be desired, as the rate of depletion of the population of animals like the elephants, leopards, giraffes and crocodiles amongst others is frightening. Today I know that if somebody says, what is really the status, or figures for wildlife in Nigeria? I am not sure I can tell you as the minister of environment. And if I am going to say something, it is probably 10 years old in terms of its information and data,”

It almost a year after Amina Mohammed promised that the government would develop the capacity to know what the baseline was, what animal was where, which was endangered, what needed to be done to protect those animals and to increase their population in Nigeria for the sake of the wildlife. The truth today is that presently Nigeria’s wildlife is fast disappearing than before, thus, begging the question of what wildlife heritage our generation will preserve.

For long, Nigeria has rested on an erroneous notion that our wild animals were plentiful and not under any threat of extinction, however, following the recentpublication of the IUCN red list of globally threatened species which revealed that 148 animal and 146 plant species found in Nigeria were threatened at various degrees including some species near extinction, we hope it is not too late to right the wrongs. Out of the very large landmass that Nigeria boasts of, we are not assured of the functionality of our 7 National Parks, we are not sure they really are a refuge for what we have left of our wildlife population, we are yet to see wisdom in prioritizing our wildlife heritage, we have chosen not to take a cue from smaller countries like Gabon with 13 well-managed national parks, Egypt with 25 national parks and Kenya with 23 national parks only aside game reserves, wildlife sanctuary and other forms of protected areas in countries like Botswana, South Africa, Tanzania and Madagascar are clear examples for Nigeria to follow.

“100 Cross River gorillas remain in Nigeria”,“There are approximately 450 savanna elephants in Nigeria” “Fewer than 50 lion remain in Nigeria”, “Value of illegal wildlife trade is 50 – 150 billion USD per year”, “Over 56 billion farmed animals are killed by humans every year”,“Half of world’s wildlife was lost in last 40 years”, “100,000 African elephants were killed in last three years for their ivory”,“Less than 7,100 cheetahs remain in the wild”, “Population of birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish has declined by 52 percent globally between 1970 – 2010” waking to read these and many more anti-wildlife true statistics tell that the time for urgent action is now.

My interview with huntersand most recent research in protected areas within Northern Nigeria revealed that there is lesser wildlife in our wild than we think. Regrettably true, human factors like hunting, domestic grazing, land deforestation, mining,road/rail/dam construction, aerodromes, power line, and related activities have destroyed our wildlife flora and fauna than natural factors like climate change and fire occurrences by over 40 per cent in the last 25 years. Another adjoining factor is that occupants of host communities earmarked as protected areas see their surrounding areas as traditional hunting grounds and strongly believe it is legal to kill whatever and at any rate.

Ministry of Environment must stand up to their pro-wildlife responsibilities and not just dwell on sanitation and other urban activities. The Federal Ministry of Environment and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture & RuralDevelopment, must create an operational synergy between associated government and non-government stakeholders among which are; Nigeria National Park Service, the Forestry Research lnstitute of Nigeria, State Ministries of Agriculture and NaturalResources, the Division of Wildlife Services and Conservation, Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA), games reserves, zoological and botanical Gardens, World Conservation Society, Nigeria Conservation Foundation, Biodiversity Conservation Programme, etc.

If Nigeria must go for wild, if we must have something to teach the unborn ones about our wildlife heritage, the foundation is in placing Wildlife as a priority sector, then theappointment of competent and devoted hands that will faithfully uphold the hundreds of excellent national and international conventions, acts, frameworks and legislations without compromise which Nigeria has agreed to, among other UN member states.

Monitoring and data compilation must complement environmental education and awareness; the fiercest of wild animals cannot protect itself from those out to poach or illegally traffic them, it’s up to you and me, together we can restore Nigeria’s Wildlife heritage and give a voice to the younger ones.

Adebote Seyifunmi is an Environmentalist, a youth advocate and a Wildlife Researcher. He writes from Abuja, Nigeria. He can be contacted via adeboteseyi@gmail.com and +2348130979064.