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Tag: panacea

  • Ortom Describes Group’s Quit Notice To Bishop Kukah As Recipe For Disintegration

    Ortom Describes Group’s Quit Notice To Bishop Kukah As Recipe For Disintegration

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has described the quit notice asking the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Mathew Kukah, to tender an unreserved apology over his Christmas Day message or leave Sokoto State, as a recipe for disintegration.

    He has, therefore, called on Nigerians, irrespective of religious and political affiliations, to uphold unity, peace and dialogue as panacea for the myriad of problems confronting the country.

    Recall that a group known as Muslim Solidarity Forum had given the Bishop an ultimatum to tender an unreserved apology or leave Sokoto State.

    Reacting to their statement, the Governor said he finds the statement as a contradiction of provisions of the Constitution which accord Nigerians the right to live freely in any part of the country.

    Briefing journalists on Thursday, in Makurdi, through his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, the Governor said the statement of the group directing Bishop Kukah to apologize or leave Sokoto State is a clear affirmation that Nigeria is being controlled by forces which are bent on setting the country ablaze if their interests are not guaranteed.

    He stated that Nigerians; both Christians and Muslims need to set aside religious and other sentiments to come together in humility to fast and pray for peace and unity of the country, rather than the current situation where some persons are fanning embers of disunity and hatred.

    He says the Holy Bible admonishes the people to pray for their leaders and stresses that what is happening in the country at the moment is beyond human comprehension and cannot be tackled by President Muhammadu Buhari alone.

    Governor Ortom advised that people who love Nigeria should desist from making inflammatory statements capable of heightening tensions and taking the country to the precipice of chaos and disintegration.

    He said Bishop Kukah is not the first to speak out against impunity, injustice and the collapsing security situation being witnessed in parts of the country.

    The Governor commends the Federal Government for issuing a statement to caution the group and reminding its members of provisions of the Constitution which guarantee the right of Nigerians to reside in any part of the country.

    He states that Bishop Kukah remains a true patriot who speaks to give direction and make recommendations on the way the people should be governed in an equitable and just manner.

    READ ALSO: Insecurity: Benue Security Council Imposes Dusk To Dawn Curfew In Katsina Ala, Ukum

    The Governor maintains that Nigeria belongs to all its citizens and no individual or group has the right to threaten others and whip them into silence.

    He states that calls such as the one made by Muslim Solidarity Forum can only lead the country to a state of lawlessness which does no nation any good.

    The Governor says what Nigerians ought to be worried about at this time in addition to insecurity is the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the dwindling economy which has seen the naira fall to 500 to one dollar in the open market, a situation that is rendering millions of youths jobless

    He urged that attention be given to the productive sector, in order to create jobs for the people to avert the projection that more Nigerians will be destitute in the near future.

    According to the Governor, democracy is built on the rule of law and freedom of speech is also anchored on the rule of law, to the extent that it does not infringe on the rights of other people.

  • Herder/Farmer Conflicts: Objective Reportage, Panacea To National Peace, Unity

    Herder/Farmer Conflicts: Objective Reportage, Panacea To National Peace, Unity

    The Executive Secretary Teaching Service Board, TSB, Makurdi, Mr. Wilfred Uji, has tasked journalists on objective reportage of the various conflicts in Nigeria as a panacea to national peace, unity and development.

    Uji, who was Guest Speaker at the NUJ 2019 Press Week, which held at NUJ House Makurdi, the Benue State capital, said he views objective reportage as putting national cohesion, unity and development ahead of sensation.

    Speaking on the theme: “Ending Insecurity In Nigeria Via Objective And Accurate Reportage” Uji called on journalists to be objective and factual at all times saying objective reportage in ending insecurity means reporting the security challenges confronting Nigeria on the basis of facts, analysis and investigations.

    Uji, who blamed the West for the precarious security situation in Africa and Nigeria in particular, urged journalists to be courageous, pan African and not further promote the ideology of the West in presenting the continent as a land of impossibilities.

    “To me the important thing is not just reporting; it is about achieving national development, unity and cohesion, with ideological trust,” he said.

    He however, said facts alone do not make news; rather it is the interraction between the journalist and his facts.

    Balancing the facts with the environment, according to the TSB boss is what makes news objective, which will ultimately free the people from insecurity.

    He identified six steps to achieving objective reportage to include establishing research centres for practicing journalists, establishment and application of ICT facilities in information sourcing, reporting from the pan Africanist perspective, that is being positive about Africa.

    He also said journalists must network with security agents, politicians and must learn to love and respect themselves and promote ethical standards to achieving objective and accurate reportage.

    READ ALSO: Herder/Farmer Conflicts: HD’s Town Hall Seeks Peace Among Benue Communities

    “Of course, journalists need help. However, the only way to be objective in the face of all of this is to reject certain offers. Love yourselves more, sit together and appreciate yourselves and you will do better and that way, you will maintain your self respect, dignity and also earn the trust of the people,” Uji said.

    He nevertheless, admitted that “reporting on security issues is delicate and challenging. The only way to report is to be armed with facts,” adding that reporters must also arm themselves with the knowledge of who owns what, for who and for what purpose.

    The event also witnessed the renaming of NUJ Hall as David Ukuma Hall, in memory of the deceased former NUJ Chairman Benue State Council, who died less than a year in office.

    Benue North East Senator Dr. Gabriel Suswam, appreciated the council for dedicating the hall in memoriam of one of his constituents, David Ukuma.

    Suswam, who was represented by his Media Aide, Bede Bartholomew, acknowledged his cordial relationship with the erstwhile Chairman, while alive. He also thanked members of the council for the support he has been enjoying from them in the course of his service to the state and country.

    The Ukum LGC Chairman Iberlogo TorTyolyaa, also spoke warmly of Ukuma, as a hardworking, dedicated professional who was committed to the dictates of his profession.

    TorTyokyaa, who was represented by the immediate past President of Media intellectuals’ Union, Jerry Iorngaghem, also thanked the council for honouring Ukuma.

    Earlier in her remarks, the State Council Chairman of NUJ, Mrs. Victoria Asher, said the essense of the press week is to enable members of the union to unwind.

    “It is also an opportunity to interract and share experiences,” the Chairman said, while urging Benue journalists to celebrate themselves because “they are the best.”

  • Passage of PIB panacea for oil sector development -Kachikwu

    Passage of PIB panacea for oil sector development -Kachikwu

    The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, has called for the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill  (PIB) to enable investors to have clear direction for investment in the oil and gas sector in Nigeria.

    Kachikwu made the call at the closing ceremony of the maiden edition of the Nigerian Petroleum Summit (NIPS), on Thursday in Abuja.

    He said that the passage of the bill would go a long way to bring transparency and reduce the negative buy in that affect the industry.

    “There are many challenges facing the sector, policy direction is one of them and the major is the need to pass the PIB, which will help the sector to open up well.

    “In the area of transparency we have worked hard to get people know and understand the workings in the industry but till date, many people still have the belief  that the oil sector is marred with heavy corruption.

    “We need to give serious attention to transparency, to encourage investors in the sector,’’ he said.

    The minister noted that 40 billion dollar investment in the sector was not enough for the sector adding that the target was 100 billion dollars.

    Commenting on development in the Niger Delta, he said that region remained a growing concern adding that there was need for a paradigm shift from the way the region was being perceived.

    He said there was need for cross border investment in the region and collaboration of all stakeholders to ensure development.

    He noted that everybody must be carried along including the host communities’ full participation in the sector.

    The minister further projected that for the sector to achieve its goals, much were expected to be achieved in the next five years.

    He named the achievements to include reduction in cost of production, pipeline replacement and finding a way to handover the pipelines to the private sector.

    READ ALSO: IBB, Jonathan absent at Council of State meeting

    Others, he said was full deregulation of the downstream sector in the future and  that passage of the gas policy  for the achievement of  power sufficiency in the country.

    “This will help to drive production and distribution of gas for ultimate result,’’ he said .

    He added that the 27 per cent local content compliance level was commendable but insisted that the target should be 50 per cent in the next five years.

    Kachikwu further said that support for the construction of the modular refineries was important to help reduce forex drain adding that data availability for the sector must be domiciled in the country.

    He called for a re-jig of the education sector to help drive growth and development in the industry .

    “The future is promising, vast opportunity in the African region, we need to tackle fiscal issues  to help empower the people,’’ he said.