Group assures Oshiomole of winning Esan land

Group assures Oshiomole of winning Esan land From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos The Concerned Citizens for Good Governance in Nigeria has assured Edo State Governor of Comrade Adams Oshiomole of more than 2,000 votes from Edo Central in the July 14 gubernatorial election. The group in a statement signed by its patron Mr. Francis Onabis, a Presidential aspirant in 2011 general election, said the group had since commenced rigorous campaign for the governor's re-election bid after an assessment of projects carried out throughout the five Local councils making up the Esan land of the state. Onabis said "Our people are set to turn out en-masse to vote for Oshiomole in order to ensure further transformation of the state and good governance." The group said projects carried out in Esan land by Oshiomole administration remained visible landmark of good governance in the region, thus making mobilizing the Esan people for his re-election easier. He urged Esan people not to be deceived by politicians playing ethnic and money politics in the region saying "one good term deserves another." The group stressed that voting politicians without manifestoes will lead to retrogression and more year of impoverishment of the masses. 'We Esanians believe that re-electing the ACN party in the election will bring more massive developmental projects to the region and indeed the entire Edo." The group however warned politicians contending for the governorship position against introducing ethnic and religious bigotry insisting that election of governor or other political officers should be based on merit and ability to deliver dividend of democracy to the people and not on ethnic sentiment. http://www.peoplesdaily-online.com/politics/politics-today/36369-group-assures-oshiomole-of-winning-esan-land-

PRESS RELEASE

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Taraba State has said it had strictly adhered    to the new posting policy as directed by the Director General Brig. General N.T Okore-Affia for the 2012 Batch " A"  corps members , saying it  will fast track  grassroots development.   NYSC Taraba State Coordinator Hajiya Zainab Isah in a press statement laud the posting policy, she describe as "a welcome development to us in Taraba State." The Federal government had announced a new posting policy of corps members to  only four sectors namely; Health, Education, Rural Infrastructure and Agriculture. Giving a breakdown of deployment of corps members to these sectors, Hajiya Isah said about 130 corps members were posted to Rural Infrastructure and Agriculture respectively; about 260 corps members were posted to Ministry of Health while Education gulped about 780 corps members. She said the state was able to achieve zero rejection of corps members because of the proper arrangement it had earlier made with the ministries before the posting commenced. "initially corps members were posted to establishments according to their areas of specialization yet some establishments rejected or under-utilize these corps members but with the new posting policy corps members no longer face such." She added that the new posting policy was received as a welcome development in the state as the four commissioners overseeing these areas met to ascertain their absorption capacities which enabled us project properly and avoid rejection of corps members by their employers"   Hajiya Isah however urged corps members to be dedicated to duties assigned to them in the interest of national development.   She called on corps members to reciprocate the good gesture and goodwill of the people and government of the state in protecting them by working very hard in contributing to the development of  Taraba state.   She added that the main aim of this new policy is to restore national integration and youth empowerment which are the core objectives of the NYSC Scheme.                                                 #

Media Rights Agenda condemns Bombing of offices of ThisDay and other newspapers

Media Rights Agenda condemns Bombing of offices of ThisDay and other newspapers Ayodele Samuel,Lagos Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has condemned today's bombings of the offices of ThisDay newspapers in Abuja and Kaduna as well as the offices of The Sun and The Moment newspapers in an apparently coordinated plan. The Abuja office of the newspaper was bombed at about 11.30 this morning with scores of lives reportedly lost while several others were injured. At about the same time, a building in Kaduna, housing 'Thisday', 'Sun' and 'The Moment' newspapers, was also bombed with no less than three deaths also reported at the incident. In a statement on behalf of the organization, MRA's executive director, Mr. Edetaen Ojo condemned what he called "a cowardly and dastardly" attack on media freedom and a shocking disregard for human life. He said: "We are extremely concerned by the apparent helplessness of the Federal Government as well as the law enforcement and security agencies in the face of this relentless onslaught on the Nigerian people which has caused hundreds of innocent citizens their lives in the last several months." Mr. Ojo called on the Federal Government to live up to its primary responsibility of ensuring the security and welfare of the people saying that it appeared to have failed woefully in this regard. He asked the Government to devote all the resources at its disposal to find those responsible for these ongoing acts of terrorism and bring them to justice in order to end this climate of fear and impunity which has paralyzed governance, commercial and social activities in many parts of the country.

Tinubu condemns blasts at media houses

Ayodele Samuel,Lagos : Tinubu Media Office Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, national leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), has condemned the blasts at media houses in Abuja and Kaduna, saying it is a serious attack on Nigeria's democracy. He however offered the opposition's cooperation to President Goodluck Jonathan, to curtail the present dire security situation and end the drift in the polity. "The attacks on the Abuja office of This Day and the Kaduna offices of This Day, Daily Sun and The Moment adds a different and dangerous dimension to the level of insecurity in our country," Tinubu said in reaction to the blasts.  "We have never had it so bad in this country." He said the brazen attack on the three newspapers, in two different locations in the country was red signal that it was time to confront and conquer the precarious political situation in the country, adding that a free press was key to democracy, which, he insisted, underscored an American president's saying that given a choice between having a government without the press or the press without government, he would glad choose the press. "The fact that Boko Haram continues to attack buildings and kill innocent Nigerians un-apprehended is a symptom of the failure of intelligence and security breakdown," he said.  "Even then, any government worth its salt ought to be extremely worried about this new but dangerous trend of attacking media houses.  It must therefore be jolted to take actions to stem the tide." However the former governor of Lagos said it was not time to trade blame, but time to put heads together to face and defeat a common insecurity monster, adding that the opposition was ready to work with President Jonathan. "We call on all leaders of thought, and all religious and political leaders to rally and let us together find a way to resolve this problem.  Whether it is religious or political Boko Haram, we must root it out by ensuring justice and fairness," Asiwaju Tinubu appealed. He assured the president that the opposition was ready to work with him on the insecurity question, but stressed that the president must consult wide on this rather delicate issue. "We in the opposition are ready and willing to cooperate with the president to solve this problem," he offered.  "But the president must consult wide and show good faith in a reasoned and collective solution.  That is the way we can solve the problem together." Asiwaju Tinubu condoled with the management and staff of the newspapers involved and sympathised with the victims of the blast. "I wish to sympathise and condole with everyone affected by this avoidable tragedy.  May God comfort them all.

Journalists Forum tasks NYSC, Governors on Corp members' safety

Journalists Forum tasks NYSC, Governors on Corp members' safety The Young Journalists Forum (YJF) has tasked the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and state Governors on the safety of the recently mobilised graduates across the nation. In a statement signed by the forum's President, Ayodele Samuel and Secretary,  Zacheus Somorin, they urged the NYSC to give attention to the security of lives and property of the corp members as the commission will be held responsible for any attack on corp members especially in the Northern part of the country. "We call on all security agencies and Nigerians to partner with the commission in ensuring an absolute protection and safety of all corp members in their states. "The aim of scheme is to achieve national unity and not national disaster in the course of serving their nation and humanity." While recalling that more than 50 corp members lost their lives last year due to insecurity insurgence in the country, the forum hailed the non-posting of corp members to some Northern States. "Twenty-five corp members lost their lives in the April bombing at the INEC office, Suleja, another 11 members in Bauchi during the post election violence that rocked the state and many more were injured in the process. Nigerian youths and the young journalists in the country will not continue to watch helplessly the killings of the nation's futures." The Forum also urged State Governors' to improve their security alerts for the corps saying that they will be held  responsible for any  attack and harassment on any corp members in their state. "We urge corp members to be security conscious, responsible, dedicated and avoid trouble spots where their safety is not guaranteed."

Implementing Free Movement Policy Problematic- ECOWAS

Implementing Free Movement Policy Problematic- ECOWAS Ayodele Samuel, Abidjan The Economic Community of West Africa States ECOWAS has said implementing its free movement policy in the region is problematic. Director of Trade, Industry and Free Movement, Ministry Of African Integration Republic of Cote D'Ivory Directorate, Louis-Philippe Goli Kouame  while delivering a paper tittle, " Contributions of youth Organization to raise awareness and promote the free movement of person within the ECOWAS" said the implementation of the policy remains problematic at Member State level calling on States to develop means for more stringent implementation, including monitoring and enforcement of the policy at local borders. He said the harmonization of community member's national laws and regulations to ease free movement is crucial to the implementation of the policy in various member states. He said Free movement in the integrations process of  ECOWAS is crucial to the growth of the Sub Sahara region, "the ECOWAS region is perceived as a place of extreme mobility of populations. The bulk of migration taking place by land of  Over 15,000 km of borders intra. and 8500 km with their neighboring countries of North Africa and Central the social continuums extending beyond borders: Country Haussa, more than 30 million people from northern Nigeria and Niger; Mande area with 15 million people between Senegal, Mali, Guinea and Côte d'Ivoire country borders Concept" He lamented that the commission cannot oblige any country to comfort with the policy, saying this has this principal weaken the contribution of member state to the growth of the region. He said the ECOWAS policy cannot be implemented by the Head of State, calling on youths to work with government to ensure the successful integration of West Africa communities, "the free movement of persons is paramount need for regional integration in ECOWAS" He said the youth must learn and understand the free movement policy for the purpose of social, economy and political development. Nigerian representative at the meeting, Adeola Aroso, says that the policy is overrated by all ECOWAS member states, "it is all talk, no action, the policy of free movement should be effective  at all West African borders and not on paper and our governments should strengthen its local laws, institution and process on implementing the ECOWAS policy."

Free Movement Policy not Effective- ECOWAS Youths

Free Movement Policy not Effective- ECOWAS Youths Ayodele Samuel, Abidjan Youths from Economic Community of West Africa States ECOWAS yesterday lamented the non-effectiveness of the free movement policy in the region. The youths at the opening ceremony of a three day conference on the ECOWAS Youth Conference in Abidjan, Cote D' Ivory  with  theme "The contribution of youth organizations to raise awareness and PROMOTING THE FREE MOVEMENT OF PERSONS IN SPACE" identify poverty as the major cause of migration from the ECOWAS region. Two delegates each  from the 25 members state of ECOWAS has continue discussion on successful implementation of the policy to boast development in the sub region Speaking at the event Adviser to Spain Consular General in Cote D' Ivory Mrs Garcia   express her country readiness to assist ECOWAS achieve it integration policy, "Spain is involved in the project because migration is very important nowadays, Spain his ready to help ECOWAS to achieve the goal of free movement within the region." She said migration is a major challenge to the region but if well control can be an opportunity of social and economy development. She urge youths and community members to promote the free movement policy within the ECOWAS region  ECOWAS Representative in Cote D' Ivory Ambassedor Abraham Doukoure in his address urged participants at the conference to share ideas and proffer solutions to the problem of barriers to free movement in the region, "This meeting is an occasion for the Youths organization to ponder about the actions that be accomplish in order to reduce constrains to the free movement of persons and good within the region." It his welcome address the President of the NGO Solidarité Jeunesse IVORY COAST,  Stanislas Laurent YAO said interregional movement it's not effective while ECOWAS first principle is based on integration of its members country. He noted that migration policies of member countries constitute the principal barrier to the free movement of goods and persons in the region. He identify lack of proper travel documentation, corruption at borders and disrespect for  ECOWAS Free movement policy by the agents of members state as major hindrance to  successful implementation of the policy in the  region. He added that the objective of the conference is to create awareness about the ECOWAS free movement policy,  "Ignorance of the right among citizen of ECOWAS member state remain major constrain ,we need to pay a particular attention because youths constitute the highest level of migrating movement in the region." Present at the Conference are representative of ECOWAS country missions in Cote D'Ivory, among others At the end of the meeting a network platform of youth organizations and young ECOWAS to raise awareness and promote the ideals of ECOWAS on the free movement of persons and property and the fight against road harassment and borders will be set up. Photo caption: L-R  ECOWAS Representative in Cote D' Ivory Ambassedor Abraham Doukoure, President of the NGO Solidarité Jeunesse IVORY COAST,  Stanislas Laurent YAO, Representative of Ministry of Africa Integration, Ogni Kanga Beniot , Minister for Gender  and Family immigration Mr Doumbia Yakouba and Adviser to Spain Consular General Mrs Garcia at the opening  of the ECOWAS Youth Conference on Free Movement Policy in Abidjan CoteD' Ivory photo Ayodele Samuel, Abidjan