Police didn’t kill our student —Kwara Poly
ILORIN—The authorities of the Kwara State Polytechnic have
reacted to media reports that a student of the institution was killed by
a police escort of one of the banks in the state on May 28, 2013.
A statement signed by the Registrar of the school, M.O. Salami, stated that the student claimed to have been shot dead was still very much alive.
The statement read in part, “You will recall that the reportage of the incident to the public was to the effect that the shot student had died when in actual fact he is still very much alive.
“This unscientific publication aggravated the annoyance of not only the students but, also the general public.This resulted in the destruction of property, disruption of traffic and violent disturbance of peace and harmony in Ilorin metropolis by miscreants and hoodlums who hijacked the peaceful protest from the students.”
Sixteen years after, developments within the facility which is located at 2, Tunde Senbanjo Crescent, Ojodu, Akute Ogun State, appear to have made the orphanage a threat to orphans who live there.
How the Home descended from being a centre for rehabilitation, reformation and reintegration to a source of worry, is better understood by reading the story of its founder Mr. Olatayo Atunde, who is currently being remanded in prison.
It began with allegations by two minors in the orphanage that Atunde had raped them and other girls at various times.
One of the minors (name withheld) had allegedly showed up at school in March with blood dripping down her legs. When questioned by school officials, the minor claimed that Atunde had sex with her.
“Daddy has been having sex with at least 10 of us. We are mostly between the ages of eight and 14. I reported to Aunty Hannah and when she challenged daddy, he laid a curse on me,” she said. Following the allegations, policemen from Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos State arrested Atinude.
The attempted rape of a 65-year-old woman, by 18-year old Nnanna Osondu in Opi Town, Nsukka Local Council of Enugu State, is one case that has left many asking what could have informed the dimension the anomaly had assumed.
Osondu, who had set out in search of an old woman to rape, but had his mission thwarted, narrated how he, in company of other young boys, usually rape old women and widows in Opi community. The tales are endless. Against the backdrop of these incidents across the country, VanguardFeatures, VF, can authoritatively state that rape has become a national concern.
Although, various societies have had to live with it, all through the ages, its sudden increase in Nigeria, spreads fear across the land. There is hardly any week lately without rape cases making the headlines. For instance, the 2012 statistics presented by the Lagos State Attorney- General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye in January 2013, confirmed the rising rate of rape.
Alarming statistics: Ipaye disclosed that 427 rape cases were recorded in the state last year, through the Office of Public Defence. Similarly, President, Zonta Club II, Ibadan, Dr. (Mrs) Omolara Smith had at a forum, convened to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Gender-Based Violence in 2012, said, that cases of rape have gone up from 12.5 per cent to 84 per cent in Nigeria.
In January, a report by the Child Protection Network, a child rights advocacy group, listed 95 child rape cases in five Northern states. The report, which did not indicate a time frame over which the incidents occurred, had Gombe State at the top of the chart with 50 cases.
Kano was next with 22, while Bauchi, Plateau and Nasarawa had 11, eight and four cases, respectively. But some rights groups like CLEEN foundation, indicated that 2,241 cases of rape and indecent assault were reported in 1999; 1,529 in 2000; 2,284 in 2001; 2,084 in 2002; 2,253 in 2003; 1,626 in 2004 and 1,835 in 2005.
Following this frightening statistics, a worried Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina, had in April 2012, decried the alarming rate of rape cases across the country. She said her Ministry was overwhelmed with series of such cases requiring urgent legal attention.
The Minister said: “An overview data of Gender Based Violence generated for 18 states of the federation and covering the six geo-political zones in 2010 revealed that out of 479 reported cases, the result is as follows: 21.08 percent of sexual violation, 44.25 percent of physical violations, 18.37 percent of domestic violence, 11.48 percent of harmful traditional practices, HTP and 2.92 percent of economic violations.”
Why the rising incidence of rape?
The question everywhere is: Why the rising incidence of rape? ‘’As long as rape victims and their parents refuse to show interest in prosecuting the case, the offenders will go free and more of such crime will happen. The victims of rape or defilement are the main witnesses, the police need to send the offenders to prison,’’ Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer Ngozi Braide noted.
Stating her reasons, she said: ‘’The case is a serious offense under the Nigerian law. An offender could be sentenced to life imprisonment if found guilty. We have many people who should be behind bars for violent crimes against women. But because the people concerned are not willing to come forward to assist the police in prosecution, they are walking freely and even committing more of such crime. If offenders are not punished, many others will be bold to commit such a crime.’’
Although the President of Gender Equality and Protection, GEAP, Dr. Christie Idonojie, agreed that inability of victims is partly responsible, she told VF that the laws against rape in Nigeria, are not punitive enough, adding that with such laws still in place, people would still rape with impunity.
Arraigning the suspect at a Makurdi Magistrate’s Court, the police prosecutor, Patrick Sunday, informed the court that one Samuel Tihi had on May 30, 2013 reported to the police in Zaki Biam that the accused allegedly gave the deceased a poisonous substance suspected to be a local insecticide known as wiper which led to his death.
He explained that following police investigation, the accused was arrested and charged to court for culpable homicide.
No plea was taken for want of jurisdiction. However, the prosecutor informed the court that investigation into the matter was in progress and asked for another date for hearing.
In her ruling, the trial magistrate, Mrs. Lillian Tsumba, ordered that the accused be remanded in the Makurdi Federal Prison and adjourned the case to July 23, 2013.
The heavily armed gunmen, who came on 38 motorcycles, invaded the village at about 4 a.m., shooting sporadically at anybody in sight.
An eye-witnesses told newsmen that the attackers set several houses and shops in the village on fire.
The witness said that the gunmen moved from house to house pretending to be residents of the village and shouting for help.
He added that when people came out, the invaders either killed them with their guns or with machetes.
The witness, who pleaded anonymity, said that the gunmen also invaded the residents of the Village Head, Alhaji Lawali Muhammad, the Chief Imam, Alhaji Usman Adamu, and his assistant, killing them.
The Commissioner of Police in Zamfara, Mr Usman Gwary, who visited the village under tight security, confirmed that 32 persons were killed while the villagers claimed that 58 persons lost their lives.
The police chief told newsmen that he had mobilised his men to search for the fleeing gunmen.
The Chairman of Tsafe Local Government Council, Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar, told NAN that the villagers had been living in fear since suspected men of the underworld sent a letter to the head of the vigilance group threatening to kill him.
Following the attack also, several residents of the village were seen fleeing the village for fear that the attackers would return to kill them. (NAN)
Mogaji, died on Saturday evening at her Ikeja residence at the age of 96 and was buried on Sunday at a private cemetery in Ikoyi. The third day Fidau prayer was held yesterday.
This was even as all major markets in Lagos metropolis were, yesterday, shut in honour of the late Mogaji who was the Iyaloja-General of the state.
The development followed the partial closure which was observed on Monday, when several markets were shut in her honour.
Reactions to the death of Mogaji came from the former Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chris Ngige; former Deputy Governor, old Ondo State, Dr. Musa Adebayo Ayeni; Senator Ehigie Uzamere, ACN, Edo South); Reps member, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, (ACN, Ikorodu) and former member of the House of Representatives and ACN chieftain, Hon. Temi Harriman, as well as the National Union of Textile Workers.
In a letter addressed to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and personally signed by Dr. Ngige, who represents Anambra Central Senatorial District at the Senate, the late market leader was described as a “virtuous woman of honour and of many parts.”
Ngige stated that Mogaji “was a mother to all; who showered love, compassion, wise counsels and impacted her sense of purpose and tenacity on everyone she came across.
“Even in the face of adversity, she always stood tall and maintained her dignity. She was a woman of deep faith and a great organiser and community leader, who led the Association of Nigerian Market Men and Women as its President-General.
“She selflessly gave her time, energy and acute thinking for the welfare of the association.”
Also, Senator Uzamere praised her for living a very good life, while Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, in her own tribute said: “She was a mother par excellence. I knew her from my days at the NTA, and my mother also had a shop and she was under her leadership. I covered her activities as a member of staff of NTA and I am ever so amazed at her wealth of knowledge and experience.”
“We thank God for her life, she lived a great life, a worthy mother and a strong and committed woman. I think if you say you are celebrating women, Alhaja Mogaji is a foremost woman to be celebrated because she trained a lot of people all over the world.
“Whatever she said was almost always well thought out and she lived a life of pride and admiration.”
Harriman in her own tribute said: “She lived an illustrious life for the public good, starting out as a formidable trader in consumer goods, which led to the enduring and successful leadership of the Lagos Market Women as the pioneer President-General.
“As I celebrate her life and her remarkable achievements, I pray to Almighty God for her peaceful repose.”
To the former Ondo State deputy governor, Musa Ayeni, late Majaji was a genius. In his message, he recalled how much involved Alhaja Mogaji was in the struggle for the growth and development of commerce and ensuring religious harmony in Nigeria.
“Alhaja Habibat Magaji was a great Nigerian leader in commerce and religion. When I was at the University of Ife, I led a delegation to commend her for her contribution towards building of the university mosque, she not only gave her full support and contribution, but also, encouraged others to also do. Her positive attitude towards religious harmony and peaceful co-existence among Nigerians would forever be missed therefore,” Ayeni added.
Meanwhile, a News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, correspondent who visited some major markets in the metropolis reports that all shops and stalls were locked.
The usual throng of customers at the Rauf Aregbesola Market, Iyana Ipaja, was completely absent as only a couple of traders were seen standing in front of their locked shops.
At AP and Pen Cinema in Agege, only newspaper vendors and a few hawkers were being patronised by some customers as traders in the main market closed their stalls. This was the situation in other markets around Lagos.
Also, customers who had gone to Mosafejo market in Oshodi to buy items were disappointed as the market was not open for business.
Mrs Afusat Buhari, a trader at Balogun market , Lagos Island, told NAN on telephone that the market was a shadow of itself as it was completely devoid of buying and selling.
“Balogun market is closed to honour Mama Mogaji and to enable traders attend the third day Fidau prayers for the late Iyaloja at TBS.
A statement signed by the Registrar of the school, M.O. Salami, stated that the student claimed to have been shot dead was still very much alive.
The statement read in part, “You will recall that the reportage of the incident to the public was to the effect that the shot student had died when in actual fact he is still very much alive.
“This unscientific publication aggravated the annoyance of not only the students but, also the general public.This resulted in the destruction of property, disruption of traffic and violent disturbance of peace and harmony in Ilorin metropolis by miscreants and hoodlums who hijacked the peaceful protest from the students.”
Rape: The reign of randy men
PERHAPS when the Light of Hope Orphanage was being established in 1996, what preoccupied the mind of its founder was how to provide a home for orphans, abused and abandoned children.Sixteen years after, developments within the facility which is located at 2, Tunde Senbanjo Crescent, Ojodu, Akute Ogun State, appear to have made the orphanage a threat to orphans who live there.
How the Home descended from being a centre for rehabilitation, reformation and reintegration to a source of worry, is better understood by reading the story of its founder Mr. Olatayo Atunde, who is currently being remanded in prison.
It began with allegations by two minors in the orphanage that Atunde had raped them and other girls at various times.
One of the minors (name withheld) had allegedly showed up at school in March with blood dripping down her legs. When questioned by school officials, the minor claimed that Atunde had sex with her.
“Daddy has been having sex with at least 10 of us. We are mostly between the ages of eight and 14. I reported to Aunty Hannah and when she challenged daddy, he laid a curse on me,” she said. Following the allegations, policemen from Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos State arrested Atinude.
The attempted rape of a 65-year-old woman, by 18-year old Nnanna Osondu in Opi Town, Nsukka Local Council of Enugu State, is one case that has left many asking what could have informed the dimension the anomaly had assumed.
Osondu, who had set out in search of an old woman to rape, but had his mission thwarted, narrated how he, in company of other young boys, usually rape old women and widows in Opi community. The tales are endless. Against the backdrop of these incidents across the country, VanguardFeatures, VF, can authoritatively state that rape has become a national concern.
Although, various societies have had to live with it, all through the ages, its sudden increase in Nigeria, spreads fear across the land. There is hardly any week lately without rape cases making the headlines. For instance, the 2012 statistics presented by the Lagos State Attorney- General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye in January 2013, confirmed the rising rate of rape.
Alarming statistics: Ipaye disclosed that 427 rape cases were recorded in the state last year, through the Office of Public Defence. Similarly, President, Zonta Club II, Ibadan, Dr. (Mrs) Omolara Smith had at a forum, convened to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Gender-Based Violence in 2012, said, that cases of rape have gone up from 12.5 per cent to 84 per cent in Nigeria.
In January, a report by the Child Protection Network, a child rights advocacy group, listed 95 child rape cases in five Northern states. The report, which did not indicate a time frame over which the incidents occurred, had Gombe State at the top of the chart with 50 cases.
Kano was next with 22, while Bauchi, Plateau and Nasarawa had 11, eight and four cases, respectively. But some rights groups like CLEEN foundation, indicated that 2,241 cases of rape and indecent assault were reported in 1999; 1,529 in 2000; 2,284 in 2001; 2,084 in 2002; 2,253 in 2003; 1,626 in 2004 and 1,835 in 2005.
Following this frightening statistics, a worried Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina, had in April 2012, decried the alarming rate of rape cases across the country. She said her Ministry was overwhelmed with series of such cases requiring urgent legal attention.
The Minister said: “An overview data of Gender Based Violence generated for 18 states of the federation and covering the six geo-political zones in 2010 revealed that out of 479 reported cases, the result is as follows: 21.08 percent of sexual violation, 44.25 percent of physical violations, 18.37 percent of domestic violence, 11.48 percent of harmful traditional practices, HTP and 2.92 percent of economic violations.”
Why the rising incidence of rape?
The question everywhere is: Why the rising incidence of rape? ‘’As long as rape victims and their parents refuse to show interest in prosecuting the case, the offenders will go free and more of such crime will happen. The victims of rape or defilement are the main witnesses, the police need to send the offenders to prison,’’ Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer Ngozi Braide noted.
Stating her reasons, she said: ‘’The case is a serious offense under the Nigerian law. An offender could be sentenced to life imprisonment if found guilty. We have many people who should be behind bars for violent crimes against women. But because the people concerned are not willing to come forward to assist the police in prosecution, they are walking freely and even committing more of such crime. If offenders are not punished, many others will be bold to commit such a crime.’’
Although the President of Gender Equality and Protection, GEAP, Dr. Christie Idonojie, agreed that inability of victims is partly responsible, she told VF that the laws against rape in Nigeria, are not punitive enough, adding that with such laws still in place, people would still rape with impunity.
Dad remanded for allegedly poisoning own son
MAKURDI — A 21-year-old man, John Terver, has been arrested and remanded in Makurdi for allegedly poisoning the food of his three-year-old son, Aondoyima Terver, which led to the death of the toddler.
Terver, an automobile panel beater, hails from Zaki Biam in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.Arraigning the suspect at a Makurdi Magistrate’s Court, the police prosecutor, Patrick Sunday, informed the court that one Samuel Tihi had on May 30, 2013 reported to the police in Zaki Biam that the accused allegedly gave the deceased a poisonous substance suspected to be a local insecticide known as wiper which led to his death.
He explained that following police investigation, the accused was arrested and charged to court for culpable homicide.
No plea was taken for want of jurisdiction. However, the prosecutor informed the court that investigation into the matter was in progress and asked for another date for hearing.
In her ruling, the trial magistrate, Mrs. Lillian Tsumba, ordered that the accused be remanded in the Makurdi Federal Prison and adjourned the case to July 23, 2013.
Gunmen on 38 motorcycles invade Zamfara village, kill 32
Kizara (Zamfara) - More than 32 persons were reported killed in the early hours of Tuesday when gunmen numbering about 150 attacked Kizara village in the Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara.The heavily armed gunmen, who came on 38 motorcycles, invaded the village at about 4 a.m., shooting sporadically at anybody in sight.
An eye-witnesses told newsmen that the attackers set several houses and shops in the village on fire.
The witness said that the gunmen moved from house to house pretending to be residents of the village and shouting for help.
He added that when people came out, the invaders either killed them with their guns or with machetes.
The witness, who pleaded anonymity, said that the gunmen also invaded the residents of the Village Head, Alhaji Lawali Muhammad, the Chief Imam, Alhaji Usman Adamu, and his assistant, killing them.
The Commissioner of Police in Zamfara, Mr Usman Gwary, who visited the village under tight security, confirmed that 32 persons were killed while the villagers claimed that 58 persons lost their lives.
The police chief told newsmen that he had mobilised his men to search for the fleeing gunmen.
The Chairman of Tsafe Local Government Council, Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar, told NAN that the villagers had been living in fear since suspected men of the underworld sent a letter to the head of the vigilance group threatening to kill him.
Following the attack also, several residents of the village were seen fleeing the village for fear that the attackers would return to kill them. (NAN)
Mogaji: More condolences pour in for Tinubu
LAGOS — Associates of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu have condoled with him on the death of his mother, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji.Mogaji, died on Saturday evening at her Ikeja residence at the age of 96 and was buried on Sunday at a private cemetery in Ikoyi. The third day Fidau prayer was held yesterday.
This was even as all major markets in Lagos metropolis were, yesterday, shut in honour of the late Mogaji who was the Iyaloja-General of the state.
The development followed the partial closure which was observed on Monday, when several markets were shut in her honour.
Reactions to the death of Mogaji came from the former Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chris Ngige; former Deputy Governor, old Ondo State, Dr. Musa Adebayo Ayeni; Senator Ehigie Uzamere, ACN, Edo South); Reps member, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, (ACN, Ikorodu) and former member of the House of Representatives and ACN chieftain, Hon. Temi Harriman, as well as the National Union of Textile Workers.
In a letter addressed to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and personally signed by Dr. Ngige, who represents Anambra Central Senatorial District at the Senate, the late market leader was described as a “virtuous woman of honour and of many parts.”
Ngige stated that Mogaji “was a mother to all; who showered love, compassion, wise counsels and impacted her sense of purpose and tenacity on everyone she came across.
“Even in the face of adversity, she always stood tall and maintained her dignity. She was a woman of deep faith and a great organiser and community leader, who led the Association of Nigerian Market Men and Women as its President-General.
“She selflessly gave her time, energy and acute thinking for the welfare of the association.”
Also, Senator Uzamere praised her for living a very good life, while Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, in her own tribute said: “She was a mother par excellence. I knew her from my days at the NTA, and my mother also had a shop and she was under her leadership. I covered her activities as a member of staff of NTA and I am ever so amazed at her wealth of knowledge and experience.”
“We thank God for her life, she lived a great life, a worthy mother and a strong and committed woman. I think if you say you are celebrating women, Alhaja Mogaji is a foremost woman to be celebrated because she trained a lot of people all over the world.
“Whatever she said was almost always well thought out and she lived a life of pride and admiration.”
Harriman in her own tribute said: “She lived an illustrious life for the public good, starting out as a formidable trader in consumer goods, which led to the enduring and successful leadership of the Lagos Market Women as the pioneer President-General.
“As I celebrate her life and her remarkable achievements, I pray to Almighty God for her peaceful repose.”
To the former Ondo State deputy governor, Musa Ayeni, late Majaji was a genius. In his message, he recalled how much involved Alhaja Mogaji was in the struggle for the growth and development of commerce and ensuring religious harmony in Nigeria.
“Alhaja Habibat Magaji was a great Nigerian leader in commerce and religion. When I was at the University of Ife, I led a delegation to commend her for her contribution towards building of the university mosque, she not only gave her full support and contribution, but also, encouraged others to also do. Her positive attitude towards religious harmony and peaceful co-existence among Nigerians would forever be missed therefore,” Ayeni added.
Meanwhile, a News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, correspondent who visited some major markets in the metropolis reports that all shops and stalls were locked.
The usual throng of customers at the Rauf Aregbesola Market, Iyana Ipaja, was completely absent as only a couple of traders were seen standing in front of their locked shops.
At AP and Pen Cinema in Agege, only newspaper vendors and a few hawkers were being patronised by some customers as traders in the main market closed their stalls. This was the situation in other markets around Lagos.
Also, customers who had gone to Mosafejo market in Oshodi to buy items were disappointed as the market was not open for business.
Mrs Afusat Buhari, a trader at Balogun market , Lagos Island, told NAN on telephone that the market was a shadow of itself as it was completely devoid of buying and selling.
“Balogun market is closed to honour Mama Mogaji and to enable traders attend the third day Fidau prayers for the late Iyaloja at TBS.
Vanguard’s Publisher decries child abuse
LAGOS—Publisher of Vanguard newspaper, Mr. Sam Amuka,
yesterday, reaffirmed his organisation’s commitment to fight child sex
abuse in the country, even as Mrs. Kuburat Okoya, wife of industrialist,
Razaq Okoya, said the trend had become a silent epidemic.
Addressing participants during the 5th edition of Vanguard’s Children’s Annual Conference that attracted over 40 schools in Lagos, Mr. Amuka noted that since inception of the programme five years ago, the company has been choosing topics that would advance the cause and welfare of the Nigerian child, especially in curbing child sex abuse.
Represented by Mr. Fred Odueme, Assistant General Manager, Brands, the Publisher said the programme was a way of partnering with children, who are the leaders of tomorrow and therefore, need to be properly brought up.
He said this year’s topic, Role of Teachers in Curbing Child Abuse, was because of the very important roles that teachers play in the lives of children in the society.
Tradition, culture not helping— Okoya
On her part, Mrs. Okoya, special guest at the programme, said: “Child sexual abuse occurs all over the world. But its phenomenal growth over the years in Nigeria leaves much to be desired.
“Do you know that up to one-third of adolescent girls report their first sexual experience as being forced? Sadly enough, tradition and culture have prevented such cases from being appropriately addressed and ultimately taken seriously.
“Sexual abuse of children and public health issue is a silent endemic, which has long term negative effects on the victims.”
She outlined some of the effects to include severe distress, fear, shame, stigmatisation, discrimination and other physical and psychological health issues, which may affect victims throughout their lifetime.
Kiddies Editor speaks
Mrs. Funmi Ajimobi, Vanguard’s Kiddies Editor, who conceived the idea five years ago, said the programme was primarily started to address the increasing cases of child sex abuse in the country.
She added that within the last five years, the annual event had concentrated on creating awareness on how children could protect themselves.
She said: “Child abuse is very rampant in the country and that is why we embarked on this programme to create awareness so that young people especially, could learn to protect themselves.
“I believe that since inception, there has been more awareness, because most young people now know what to do when they are abused. I also believe there have been more improvements in the situation.”
Participants react
Some participating students, who spoke to Vanguard, said they had become more aware of the different kinds of abuses and how to protect themselves.
Rukey Stella, from Rybeka Model College, said: “I have learnt that we should not allow anyone to kill our dreams and that there are different kinds of abuses and I am now better informed on how to protect myself.”
Roll call
Some of the dignitaries at the event were Chief Olufun-milayo Adesegun, wife of the Deputy Governor of Ogun State; Prof. Tunde Babawele, Director-General, Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation, CBAAC, and Deacon Olatunji Belo, Chairman Pearlcourt Residences and Hotels Ltd.
ABUJA — FORMER President of Ghana, Flt. Lt. Jerry Rawlings, Monday said if Nigeria and other parts of Africa must get it right and strengthen democracy, corrupt politicians must not be allowed to go scot-free.
This came as former Interim Head of State, Chief Ernest Shonekan, declared that religious fundamentalism poses a serious threat to the nation’s democracy, including other parts of Africa.
According to Rawlings, Nigeria must not continue to pay lip service to eradicating corruption, especially against the backdrop that poor, petty thieves get imprisoned for several years, while businessmen evade taxes in millions of dollars and politicians embezzle state funds and go unpunished.
Speaking yesterday at a conference on Emerging Democracies in Africa:
Challenges and Opportunities, organized by the National Institute for
Legislative Studies, Abuja, Rawlings said: ‘’We cannot continue to pay
lip service to the strengthening, empowerment and independent management
of our multiple anti-corruption institutions.
“We live in countries where poor, petty thieves get imprisoned for several years, while businessmen who evade taxes in millions of dollars or a politician who misappropriates millions of state funds escape punishment.
“These inequalities are recipes for the retrogression of our democracies and we cannot allow the negative tide to continue. A democracy that cannot provide socio-economic justice cannot be a healthy democracy and will remain vulnerable and fragile.”
He noted that the primary challenge for emerging democracies in Africa was the failure of Western democracy to acknowledge its inherent flaws and encourage a system of democracy that was dynamic, home grown and imbued with the socio-cultural backgrounds of individual African states.
Rawlings, who noted that a practicing democracy that could not create the climate to correct economic ills and corruption, could not and would not be a democracy, adding that a democracy that could protect the sanctity of its electoral process was engaging in a fraudulent electoral coup d’etat.
According to him, equally destructive is the unfortunate practice of using money to buy the conscience of the electorate.
“Democratic institutions across the continent are poorly equipped to offer the best support to governments. As a capacity building institution dedicated to provide professional research, advice, training and advocacy for members of the legislature, your organization is in a unique position to be a pacesetter in empowering our senators and parliamentarians to better serve the interests of their constituents,” Rawlings said.
Speaking at the event which took place at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, former Interim Head of State, Chief Ernest Shonekan, stressed the need for Africa and Nigeria, in particular, to deepen democracy by ensuring that there was internal democracy in political parties.
He said: “Religious fundamentalism is posing serious threat to democracy in parts of the continent, particularly in West Africa, North Africa and in the Horn of Africa. There is, therefore, an urgent need for the countries concerned to constitutionally separate the state and religion and also enforce the provisions of the constitution in this regard.
“Another major challenge to democracy is corruption. Corruption debars progress and discourages foreign investors. It is encouraging that many African countries have established agencies to investigate and prosecute cases of corruption.”
Addressing participants during the 5th edition of Vanguard’s Children’s Annual Conference that attracted over 40 schools in Lagos, Mr. Amuka noted that since inception of the programme five years ago, the company has been choosing topics that would advance the cause and welfare of the Nigerian child, especially in curbing child sex abuse.
Represented by Mr. Fred Odueme, Assistant General Manager, Brands, the Publisher said the programme was a way of partnering with children, who are the leaders of tomorrow and therefore, need to be properly brought up.
He said this year’s topic, Role of Teachers in Curbing Child Abuse, was because of the very important roles that teachers play in the lives of children in the society.
L-R
Mr Fred Odueme Assistant General Manager (Brands) Vanguard Newspaper,
Dr. Mrs Gloria Chioma-Ibe Director Centre For Black African Arts And
Civilization (CBAAC) & Mrs. Olufunmilayo Adesegun Wife of the Deputy
Gov of Ogun State
On her part, Mrs. Okoya, special guest at the programme, said: “Child sexual abuse occurs all over the world. But its phenomenal growth over the years in Nigeria leaves much to be desired.
“Do you know that up to one-third of adolescent girls report their first sexual experience as being forced? Sadly enough, tradition and culture have prevented such cases from being appropriately addressed and ultimately taken seriously.
“Sexual abuse of children and public health issue is a silent endemic, which has long term negative effects on the victims.”
She outlined some of the effects to include severe distress, fear, shame, stigmatisation, discrimination and other physical and psychological health issues, which may affect victims throughout their lifetime.
Kiddies Editor speaks
Mrs. Funmi Ajimobi, Vanguard’s Kiddies Editor, who conceived the idea five years ago, said the programme was primarily started to address the increasing cases of child sex abuse in the country.
She added that within the last five years, the annual event had concentrated on creating awareness on how children could protect themselves.
She said: “Child abuse is very rampant in the country and that is why we embarked on this programme to create awareness so that young people especially, could learn to protect themselves.
“I believe that since inception, there has been more awareness, because most young people now know what to do when they are abused. I also believe there have been more improvements in the situation.”
Participants react
Some participating students, who spoke to Vanguard, said they had become more aware of the different kinds of abuses and how to protect themselves.
Rukey Stella, from Rybeka Model College, said: “I have learnt that we should not allow anyone to kill our dreams and that there are different kinds of abuses and I am now better informed on how to protect myself.”
Roll call
Some of the dignitaries at the event were Chief Olufun-milayo Adesegun, wife of the Deputy Governor of Ogun State; Prof. Tunde Babawele, Director-General, Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation, CBAAC, and Deacon Olatunji Belo, Chairman Pearlcourt Residences and Hotels Ltd.
Corrupt politicians must pay for their sins – Rawlings
…Fundamentalism, corruption threaten democracy — ShonekanABUJA — FORMER President of Ghana, Flt. Lt. Jerry Rawlings, Monday said if Nigeria and other parts of Africa must get it right and strengthen democracy, corrupt politicians must not be allowed to go scot-free.
This came as former Interim Head of State, Chief Ernest Shonekan, declared that religious fundamentalism poses a serious threat to the nation’s democracy, including other parts of Africa.
According to Rawlings, Nigeria must not continue to pay lip service to eradicating corruption, especially against the backdrop that poor, petty thieves get imprisoned for several years, while businessmen evade taxes in millions of dollars and politicians embezzle state funds and go unpunished.
Rawlings
“We live in countries where poor, petty thieves get imprisoned for several years, while businessmen who evade taxes in millions of dollars or a politician who misappropriates millions of state funds escape punishment.
“These inequalities are recipes for the retrogression of our democracies and we cannot allow the negative tide to continue. A democracy that cannot provide socio-economic justice cannot be a healthy democracy and will remain vulnerable and fragile.”
He noted that the primary challenge for emerging democracies in Africa was the failure of Western democracy to acknowledge its inherent flaws and encourage a system of democracy that was dynamic, home grown and imbued with the socio-cultural backgrounds of individual African states.
Rawlings, who noted that a practicing democracy that could not create the climate to correct economic ills and corruption, could not and would not be a democracy, adding that a democracy that could protect the sanctity of its electoral process was engaging in a fraudulent electoral coup d’etat.
According to him, equally destructive is the unfortunate practice of using money to buy the conscience of the electorate.
“Democratic institutions across the continent are poorly equipped to offer the best support to governments. As a capacity building institution dedicated to provide professional research, advice, training and advocacy for members of the legislature, your organization is in a unique position to be a pacesetter in empowering our senators and parliamentarians to better serve the interests of their constituents,” Rawlings said.
Speaking at the event which took place at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, former Interim Head of State, Chief Ernest Shonekan, stressed the need for Africa and Nigeria, in particular, to deepen democracy by ensuring that there was internal democracy in political parties.
He said: “Religious fundamentalism is posing serious threat to democracy in parts of the continent, particularly in West Africa, North Africa and in the Horn of Africa. There is, therefore, an urgent need for the countries concerned to constitutionally separate the state and religion and also enforce the provisions of the constitution in this regard.
“Another major challenge to democracy is corruption. Corruption debars progress and discourages foreign investors. It is encouraging that many African countries have established agencies to investigate and prosecute cases of corruption.”
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