CULTISTS NABBED IN IMO DURING INITIATION

Not less than 25 cultists have been arrested by the Nigeria Police Force in Imo state. Reports had it that they were arrested during a conference initiation exercise which took place in a high bush in Imo State.

Middle-aged boys arrested by the police

Nigeriacamara reports that residents who saw the scene sent quick signals to the police who arrived the venue and picked them.

CL Media is not aware if any prosecution process has been commenced by the police. But, Police spokesperson in Imo State by name Andrew Enwerem told Nigeriacamara that "“These ‘cultists’ belong to the Black Axe Fraternity and they were arrested while holding their national conference in the forest", he concluded.

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PUBLIC TOILETS CLOSURE AND UNICAL STUDENTS' ORDEAL

Public Toilets in University of Calabar were closed down because the staff working in them were removed by the management.The students are lamenting over closed public toilets and want the management to re-open them.

Toilet is one of the most essential public amenities in every society. Apart from the regular toilets installed in the rooms and compounds, individuals, cooperate organizations as well as the government construct toilets in public places like markets and motor parks for the general public’s use.

Public toilets are remedial in some situations. Their importance is most significant when one is depressed by faeces and looking for a place to ease oneself. They save some folks from embarrassments.

Unical is one of the schools with many toilets. Apart from the toilets in the school hostels, some classrooms and offices, there are equally other toilets meant for public use. These public toilets are located at various places with staff deployed into them to make sure that they are properly cleaned up.

When Prof. James Epoke became the VC of Unical, he refurbished the public toilets to standard with ultra modern toilet facilities, cisterns, sinks and Geepee thanks to supply water steadily. Also, some of the toilet buildings with bad infrastructural facilities were equally refurbished.

Public toilets in Unical are very important to students, especially female students. Charity Enung told Campuslife that each time the hostel toilet gets messy, she makes use of the public toilet. “There are times when the female students will mess up the hostel toilets so much. I hate using dirty toilets. Sometimes, the Non Academic Staff Union (NASU), will go on strike and no body will be around to clean the hostel toilets so it gets dirty. What I will do is to go to the public toilets”.

But since 29th February, 2015 public toilets in Unical have been closed. Students who usually hoped on using the public toilets have been severally frustrated. One of them is Etido John, a 200 level student in Faculty of Management Science. He said “the other day I was heavily pressed. I came down to the school to use the public toilets but I was frustrated because all the toilets were locked. I went to the hostel and pleaded with one of the male students and he allowed me to use his toilet. I was embarrassed.

A 300 level student of History and International Studies, Cynthia Ando told CL Media that “it is very frustrating to come to school and be looking out for where to ease oneself. The public toilets are locked. Those in the hostel can easily go down to the hostel and ease themselves, what about those that reside off camp?

But, students that usually use the school classrooms for night class reading would not care if the toilets were closed down. To them, the area around the classroom can make a good toilet. They urinate at any available space they can locate. CL Media was shown a place which was flooded by urine. Students who use the New Art Theatre for night classes were accused of urinating along that area.

Students in Social Science block would not wait till the toilets are reopened before they start urinating. They made use of the area behind Department of Public Administration to urinate both in the day and night hours.

Students in the New Library and students in Natural Science Lecture Theatre (NSLT) would not equally wait for the toilets to be re-opened before they zip-down to ‘pee’. They urinate at hidden corners behind NSLT 1,2,3 and 4.

What about students that make use of the Unical Abraham Ordia Stadium? Micheal Ejiofor, one of the sportsmen told our reporter that “since the toilets here are not open, we pee anywhere around in the field.

One of the cleaners complained to CL Media of the students’ misbehaviour. When our reporter met with Florence, a cleaner, she was sweeping the BPA hall located at Political Science Department. She said: “These students should know that some of us are old enough to be their parents. Why should they be urinating anywhere they see? The other day I picked up a sanitary pad with blood along the corridor. I know it was a girl that used it when she came for night class and left it there.

CL Media was informed that the reason for the closure of public toilets was because the staff who usually worked in the toilets have been sacked.

Mrs. Idiongesit is one of them. She said, “We were sacked since February. The school told us to stop working with them since February. That was why we stopped working. They said they don’t want us again that they want to employ full staff. They asked us to go and you know it is not their fault neither is it ours”.

One of the toilet staff who works at Political Science toilet spoke to CL Media in anonymity. She said: “Initially we were working as part time staff before the school said they don’t want part time workers any longer. They asked us to go. But I am happy they have called us back. Some of us are back now and we have been fully employed as full time staff. Some of us are not yet back”.

Is there any challenge in public toilets? Margaret, one of the staff told CL Media that “when we left, some students broke into our toilets and were shiting in it till it became very full. We cannot flush it again because it is blocked inside. The students were using ordinary paper and carton paper in the toilets. I don’t know why some students will be so heartless. I have reported to the authority so that they will come and excavate it.

One of the staff in Political Science toilets told our reporter that when they were not around, students broke the toilet seat. Pointing at one of the toilets, she said: “This toilet seat was not like this before we left. Now we have come back to see the seats broken. I know it is the handwork of the students who were shiting on it. The door was locked when we left, now the door has been broken and there is shit everywhere. I want the school management to come and fix the toilet facilities.

One of the staff who gave her name as Mrs. Adams said she was owed 10 months salary before she was dismissed. “While we were working as part time staff, we were owed for 10 months. Please I beg the people in charge to pay us. They said they will pay us but we are still waiting for them”.

While few of the toilets have re-opened lot more are yet to re-open. When our correspondent visited the toilets between Pavilion 2 and Pavilion 3, the burglary was tightly locked.

What has the management to say? Mr. Effiong Eyo Bassey is the Information Officer of Unical. He said, “It is true that the public toilets have been locked. I am aware of that. The cleaners who were initially in charge of the toilets were working on part time.

Mr. Eyo continued, “You see, when we employed them, we made it known to them that they were working on part time basis. So it is not something new to them. Now, we are engaging them as full time staff. Their outstanding salaries will be paid to them. It is a matter of time”, he concluded.

Use of public toilets is not free in Unical. To urinate, users will pay N20. To excrete, users will pay N50. One of the cleaners who spoke to our correspondent said the reason for the charge was because the money was needed to fetch water when there is no water in the tank. She spoke in anonymity. “You know, we don’t make money from this place. But we have to fetch water. We have to transport ourselves from house to school every day. This is my business and the school does not pay me when they are supposed to pay. I have children. I have a family”.

Now that the staff will be engaged as full time staff, they will be salaried like staff of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. CL Media gathered that as part time staff, the cleaners were paid N10,000 monthly. Then, students had to pay to use the toilets.

But the students want the management to make the public toilets free of charge for the students. Nkeji Obiora, 300 level Education Administration and Planning told CL Media: “The toilets should be free for the students. I don’t know why they will be collecting money from us. It is in our school fees. The Management should make the toilets free of charge. Those women in the toilets are exploiting us.

To Nathaniel Bamidele in Faculty of Agriculture, “the students should not pay to use the toilets. The lecturers and other visitors in the school should be paying to use the toilets and not the students.

But Mrs. Hope said the money collected does not go to the school management. We use it to fetch water, buy brooms, tissue and soap for the people to wash their hands”, she concluded.

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UNICAL GRADUATE STUDENT LEADERS SWEAR OATH OF SERVICE

Agbor (left) receiving a hand over note from Mbakwe

The newly elected executive council members of the Post Graduate Students Government (PGSG), University of Calabar (UNICAL) has been inaugurated. 

The election which was conducted on the 24^th day of April, 2015 to fill up the executive offices of PGSG, Unical was the beginning of the transition process for the post graduate students in Unical. But, the transition did not go down well with the previous Executive Council as the regime did not enjoy a formal dissolution as usually the case.

The former Executive Council led by Oduba Eyong Ikwa as the President was abruptly disbanded by the Unical management, following the orders from the office of the Dean of Students Affairs, Prof. Eyong Ubana Eyong. In a letter signed by Prof. Eyong, he ordered the immediate dissolution of the graduate students’ government pointing out the “inability of the Executive and the Senate to hold her Congress and sittings respectively and the serious security reports as a result of the leadership crisis rocking the government”.

The letter dated 20th February, 2015 also contained the names of 5 persons who were appointed to serve in the Electoral Committee. The committee was given 2 weeks to conduct election for the Union. Before the election, the Secretary of the Committee, David Ekpenyong told Campuslife that the committee was not formed to protect the interest of anyone. He said: “as I speak to you, the management has not single interest in this election. We, the members of the Electoral Committee didn’t come into the committee with anyone at heart. People should disbelieve the rumor that the Dean of Students or any management official is interested in who looses or wins after the election”.

The election ended as Comr. Prince Agbo M.SC Linguistics and Communication Studies, was declared the winner of the office of the President of PGSG which he keenly contested with Comr. Oliver Ally, M.Sc. Policy and Administrative Studies. Agbo pulled 143 votes while his colligue, Ally chased him with 129 votes. There were 4 void votes.

There are ten offices in all but 5 out of the ten were unopposed. Emem Patrick M.Sc Human Physiology won the office of the Vice President as she contested with her colleague, Chioma Perpetual.

Present at the inauguration ceremony were former leaders of the union, representatives of management officials returning and newly admitted post graduate students in Unical.

The Senate President of the Union, Patrick Ukatu administered the oath of office to the new executive members. Ikechukwu Mbakwe, a PhD student is the chairman of the Electoral Committee.  He was called up to perform the formal handover ceremony. He handed over all the union’s files and documents to the new President and thanked God for a successful election. “There was no bloodshed. 

There was no fight or quarrels. Everything went on smoothly and nobody took us to court afterwards. We thank God and we pray that the good God will be with the new government”, said Mr. Mbakwe.

Before presenting his acceptance speech, Prince Agbor, quickly dissolved every standing committee of the union. He lamented that time was already far spent and there was no single time to waste doing nothing. He said the new executive will commence action immediately without delays. He said that the new government is devoid of tribal influences; “This government will work with every category of people irrespective of their tribal or ethnic identity. We don’t mind if you are from Yoruba or Igbo or Hausa; we shall work with anyone who is interested in the progress of the union. We will not victimise anybody but we shall bring unity in PGSG”.

L-R: Nkanta (Secretary General), Emem (V.P.) and Agbor (President)

The outgoing president, Oduba Eyong welcomed the new executive council and urged them to be transparent at all times. “ I urge you to maintain transparency in everything you do and carry every single student along in all your programs’’.

In his remark, the dean of Students Affairs advised the graduate students to follow the constitution. “The union has a constitution. I urge all of you, both the elected and the electorates to follow the constitution in dealing with every matter that concerns the union. When everyone follows the constitution, there will be peace and understanding”. He condemned embezzlement of union funds and challenged the union leaders to maintain accountability to those who elected them. He noted that one of the serious challenges that is facing Nigeria is lack of accountability, a situation where political office holders spend public money without any show for it. He bade the union God’s assistance throughout the time line of the regime.

Emem Patrick saw her election into the office of the Vice President as a good opportunity to serve her fellow students. She told CL Media that “I will utilise my individual virtues and values for the service of this union. I will give a positive projection of the Union and leave a legacy that is worthy of emulation”.

In a chat with CL Media, Prince Agbo passionately appealed to those who contested together with him and other members of the newly elected council to bury the hatchet and put all hands on board to move the union forward. He reiterated that one of the major problems of the Union is lack of accountability. “Money has been a major problem. I want to assure every graduate student that every single money belonging to this union shall be used in the interest of the union. No one will embezzle the union’s money and we will ensure full accountability”.

In a chat with CL Media, Ejesi Edwin M.Sc Philosophy, one time Secretary of PGSG, disclosed that calmness has resumed in the union following the election of Prince Agbo who he described as a loyal and humble servant. He advised union members to always learn to toe the path of peace in dispute settlement, noting that crisis and chaotic arena does not experience any progress.

While advising the new leaders, Prof. Emeka Okwueze who is the Dean of Graduate school, urged them to consult senior authorities before taking decisions. He spoke against hasty decision making. Prof. Okwueze promised his cooperation to the new executives and advised them to always come close to him as his door is always open for them.

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UNICAL MANAGEMENT CONSTRUCTS LAW LIBRARY

The management of the University of Calabar (Unical) led by Prof. James Epoke has constructed an ultramodern Library building for the Law Students. The one storey library building which was recently commissioned for the Faculty of Law is exclusively for the Law students.

Faculty of Law Library building

CL Media was informed that the building was a gift from an alumnus of the university, Sen. Barr. Ita Enang, as a donation to encourage teaching, learning and research in the Faculty of Law, Unical.

Mr. Eyo Bassey who is the Information Officer of Unical told our reporter that Sen. Inang has displayed a worthy and exemplary behaviour. “Barr. Enang was winnowed by this university and he saw it as a need to construct a Library building for the Faculty of Law through which he passed to be what he is today. It is a worthy thing that he has done to the University and he has shown his love for the future lawyers that will pass through this university”.

The Law Library building is well fitted with offices and convenience rooms both on the ground floor and first floor.

One of the Law Students, Harrison Obike told Campuslife that he was happy to be a beneficiary of the project. “I am happy for the project and I want the university management to do more. I stay there to read and it is a very comfortable place for studies”.

Christabel Effiong said the “Library is of high class and quality. I thank the Vice Chancellor for coming up with such a development. The students are happily enjoying the place”.

Amb. Imah Ayi Ekpenyong, one time President of the Students Union Government, also a graduate of Law, Unical told Campuslife that the University has witnessed huge academic developments in Prof. Epoke’s regime. He said “the Library is a huge investment in a university and as a law student, the weight of your library determines your level of knowledge of law. A poor library is a killer disease to knowledge.

Mr. Bassey noted that Prof. Epoke is fulfilling his promise of not just utilizing the resources of the university to bring development but also attracting investors and individuals to make impactful changes in the university community. He challenged the alumni of the school to always come back to invest positively in the institution that had made them. “I advice the students and graduates to always come back and plant a good seed in the university, not just for people to remember you but to leave a legacy for younger generations to benefit from”, he concluded.

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STUDENTS FROWN AS UNICAL MGT CONSTRUCTS A CENTRAL CAR PARK

A tractor working in the Open Pavillion

Construction work has commenced at Open Pavilion, University of Calabar by the school management following its resolve to convert the multi-purpose Open Pavilion to a central car park, but the students are not happy with that development

The Open Pavilion used to be an event centre used for open-door occasions by the University management such as Matriculation Ceremony, Convocation ceremony among others. 

On some occasions, the Open Pavilion is been given out to other cooperate organization for their events such as the National Youth Service Corps for the Passing-Out Parade of youth corps members. Also, the open pavilion is given out to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for training programs for the ad-hoc electoral officers before gubernatorial or national elections.

Open Pavillion being used for election; Students casting votes

Due to the proximity of the pavilion, the various student associations and kparakpo (traditional student association) groups use it for congresses, ceremonies and other activities. Annually, the Calabar University Electoral Committee (CUECO) used the pavilion for the Students Union Government (SUG) election because of its large size. The pavilion was equally used by the SUG for open-door events such as Inter-Faculty games, football competitions among others. During weekends, some students used the pavilion as recreation centre; they used it to play friendly-matches which often lasted from morning hours till mid-day and sometimes they would resume in the evening. Some students used to also gather at the pavilion for sprinting exercises, gymnastics and body-fitting outings.

During exam periods, students would move chairs from nearby lecture halls and to the Open Pavilion read especially at night. They believe the area is usually more quiet and ambient at night. During the day time, the open pavilion features a bee-hive of activities. Student-lovers hang-out there with their lovers on day times, sharing and making love as hawkers move around displaying various niceties good for launch. Other students used to hang-out there on leisure hours with their friends, having nice times.

Upon resumption for the new academic session (2014/2015), a construction work began at the pavilion. The construction started with land-scraping and dredging. The green-field plants were scraped-off by the earth-moving caterpillars, tractors and hand workers. Trips of red-mud sand were also found at the open pavilion hipped at various corners.

The construction workers and site officials refused to make comments when asked what was going on in the pavilion. One of them said it was not their duty to comment on the project.

In a chat with the Mr. Eyo Bassey who is the Public Relations Officer of the University, he said that the construction is a primary project by the University to convert the Open Pavilion into a car park. “There is an internal complain of car-park challenge around the Main Camp area and you know there is no other place that we can take the cars to. You cannot tell people not to come into the school with their cars. It is not wise enough. So the area will be converted to a car park since it is central and all those cars that do not have specific parking locations will be directed to the central car park where they will be properly kept.

It can be recalled that when Prof. James Epoke took over as the Vice Chancellor of Unical, he introduced a development plan for the university which is expected to last for 5 years, 2010 to 2015. The Development Master Plan as it was code-named is aimed at reviving the university system to be one of the first class universities in the world. In line with the agenda, Campuslife was informed that the Central Car Park is aimed at uplifting the aesthetics of the university so as to give the school the look of an academic environment.

A Professor of Social Science who pleaded anonymity said “if you go to foreign universities, you will see how a university should look like. Everything is well organized. The universities over there have street lights, traffic lights, reflections of fanciful colours. There is no university that has all these features in Nigeria. I applaud the Vice Chancellor coming up with the initiative in order to make the school look good.

The students of Unical seem not to be smiling over the development. Chris Udoh, a student in Faculty of Education said “Open Pavilion is a place where we go sit out during free periods. There is no other place like that where we can sit out with our friends”.

The Students Union Government (SUG) President Comr. Emmanuel Ajang told Campuslife that the development did not go down well with the students. He said: “I was in Abuja for a conference when I received information that tractors and bulldozers were excavating the field at Open Pavilion. I was surprised because there was no prior notice from the management that such a work was coming up. And you know the Open Pavilion is a place the students love so much because of its multi-purpose nature”.

He continued: “Immediately I came back from Abuja, I met with VC to raise that issue. I expressed the annoyance of the SUG regarding the project and especially the fact that the SUG was not informed. The VC apologised for that and noting that the proposal which had been with the Federal Government was recently approved and money was released so it must be done”.

To some students they are not angry with the Car Park project but the demolition of Open Pavilion to be used for the car park. They advised the management on how to make the Car Park a more unique one.

Solomon Okon, a student said “it is good to have a car park but the university should make sure that modalities are put in place to avoid car theft. Circuit Camera Televisions (CCTVs) should be installed in the car park. Josephine Nwankwo, 300 level faculty of Management Science said “Car Tags should be provided so that each car owner will be given a tag. Before a car leaves the park, the owner will return the tag given to them at entrance.

“Nigeria’s situation is such that does not encourage large cluster of vehicles like that. The school management should be security conscious”, said Idiongesit Edem, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences. He said: “The management should equip the security officials with car scanners and bomb detectors. We should not claim ignorant of the current situation in the country”.

“The management should fix fire extinguishers at assessable corners in the car park so that fire incidents can be readily arrested”, said a female student who gave her name as Mary Jane. “There should be good alarming system and ready fire fighters. We don’t pray for these things to happen but we should be ready for them in case they do”, she concluded. Christian Anyanwu said “there should be a regulation that car owners should remove their cars before 6pm daily so that other activities can take place at the park.

Is there any plan of providing another recreation ground for the students?; The SUG President Comr. Ajang has this to say: “We have been holding series of meetings with the management. And right now, we have come to a conclusion that the management will build and develop 3 recreation sites for the students. The VC said we should go round and recommend 3 places within the school the recreation centre will be built. We have recommended the Black and White Pitch, close to the small gate. We have recommended an open field close to the staff quarters. We have also recommended an open field behind hall 6. These places have been lying fallow for some years so we want the management to develop them to standard pitches with requisite facilities for sports and recreation.

The SUG President advised the students to remain calm because Prof. James Epoke’s administration has good plans for them. “He never fails in his promise. He cannot disappoint us. The agreement is that our 3 pitches will be well constructed before the Car Park project is completed. I will make sure I hold the university to ransom; I will hold them on the scrotum till they finish the project. I thank the VC for understanding with us. I want to assure him that we are strongly in support of him”, he concluded.

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NEW REPORT REVEALS THAT CHRIST WAS MARRIED TO MARY MAGDALENE

Jesus Christ did not die on the cross, he had married Mary Magdalene, and the happy couple had two children by the time Christ was crucified. The shocking revelation comes from a lost ‘Gospel’ dating back to 570 AD and written in Syriac — a Middle Eastern literary language used between the 4th and 8th centuries and related to Aramaic, the language spoken by Jesus.

Written on vellum — treated animal skin — it had been in the archives of the British Library for about 20 years. The British Museum had originally bought it in 1847 from a dealer who said he had obtained it from the ancient St Macarius Monastery in Egypt.

For the past 160 years, the document has been studied by a few scholars but has been considered pretty unremarkable.  But after six years of study by Simcha Jacobovici, an Israeli-Canadian film-maker, and Barrie Wilson, a professor of religious studies, a missing fifth gospel was found.

The researchers are convinced they’ve uncovered a missing fifth gospel — to add to the four gospels, which tell the story of the life of Christ and are said to have been written by the evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, in the 1st century AD.

Jacobovici believes that his ‘lost gospel’ proves that Jesus must have a wife. He says: “Jesus is called a “rabbi” in the gospels. And a rabbi, to this day, in order to have a congregation and a ministry, has to be married. If he’s going to lead a congregation, he’s got to be a model for that congregation. In the first century, you reach manhood — you get married.”

To emphasise his belief that Mary of Magdalene was Jesus’s wife, he describes her decision to visit his body on the Sunday after the Crucifixion. “The gospels told us why she went there — to wash and anoint his body. She’s just a follower and yet she’s going to unwrap his naked body? Women do not wash rabbis or male bodies. Only males do it — unless you are the man’s wife.”

And so, could centuries of Christian teaching be wrong and that Jesus was a husband and father? If true, this would make it the greatest revelation into the life of Jesus in nearly 2,000 years. The theory is based on the claims that this ‘lost’ gospel and the ‘encrypted’ story of Jesus’s marriage was the work of a group of persecuted Christians and apparently disappeared from public view around 325 AD.

Source: http://www.naij.com/319990-jesus-married-mary-magdalen-had-children.html

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5 POLY STUDENTS ARRESTED FOR ARMS

Five students of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Abeokuta were arrested by the Police for illegal possession of guns and engaging in cult activities.

The arrested students are Olawale Olaniyi, Adeyemi Azeez, Olufalo Bidemi, Osilaja Hammed and Bashorun Sodiq.

The accused were charged before a Magistrate Court in Ogun State on a three-count charge, ranging from conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearms and belonging to a secret cult by the Director of Public Prosecution.

They all pleaded not guilty to the charges and the case was adjourned till February 19, 2015.

The defendants are already on bail.

Source: http://campusportal.com.ng/mapoly/5-students-moshood-abiola-polytechnic-arrested-possession-guns/25721/#ixzz3Mwd551HX

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FUTA GRADUATES 4,324 WITH 52 FIRST CLASS GRADUANTS

The Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) held the combined 25th and 26th Convocation Ceremonies for the 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 session graudands on Friday December 19th, 2014 at the New Auditorium of the University.

A total of 4,324 students received their first degree certificates with 52 of them bagging first class.

Speaking at the event, the Pro-Chancellor of the University, Dr. Mohammed Shata, implored the graduands to use their new status and the skill acquired to bring about the transformation of Nigeria’s technological, political, social, economic and educational systems.

In his convocation address, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adebiyi Daramola appreciated the Federal Government’s commitment to the development of education by releasing funds under the NEEDS assessment initiative. He pledged a prudent and judicious utilization of the funds.

Prof. Daramola charged the graduating students to remain worthy ambassadors of FUTA and always remember to contribute their quotas to the development of the University.

About 1,761 were conferred with the Postgraduate Diploma, Masters and Doctor of Philosophy Degrees during the event.

High point of the occasion was the conferment of the institution’s honorary doctorate degrees on Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) and Alhaji Bashari Aminu, Chairman Board of Directors of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency for their contributions to national development.

Obinna Michael Okpara of the Department of Biochemistry emerged the overall best student and gave the valedictory speech on behalf of other graduands.

Source: http://campusportal.com.ng/futa/52-first-class-futa-graduates-4324-students/25727/#ixzz3MwbBjYKX

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Buhari’s First Speech After The Military Coup Of 31st December 1983

In pursuance of the primary objective of saving our great nation from total collapse, I, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari of the Nigerian army have, after due consultation amongst the services of the armed forces, been formally invested with the authority of the Head of the Federal Military Government and the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is with humility and a deep sense of responsibility that I accept this challenge and call to national duty.

As you must have heard in the previous announcement, the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1979) has been suspended, except those sections of it which are exempted in the constitution. The change became necessary in order to put an end to the serious economic predicament and the crisis of confidence now afflicting our nation. Consequently, the Nigerian armed forces have constituted themselves into a Federal Military Government comprising of a Supreme Military Council, a National Council of States, a Federal Executive Council at the centre and State Executive Councils to be presided over by military governors in each of the states of the federation. Members of these councils will be announced soon. The last Federal Military Government drew up a programme with the aim of handing over political power to the civilians in 1979. This programme as you all know, was implemented to the letter. The 1979 constitution was promulgated.

However, little did the military realise that the political leadership of the second republic will circumvent most of the checks and balances in the constitution and bring the present state of general insecurity. The premium on political power became so exceedingly high that political contestants regarded victory at elections as a matter of life and death struggle and were determined to capture or retain power by all means. It is true that there is a worldwide economic recession.

However, in the case of Nigeria, its impact was aggravated by mismanagement. We believe the appropriate government agencies have good advice but the leadership disregarded their advice. The situation could have been avoided if the legislators were alive to their constitutional responsibilities; Instead, the legislators were preoccupied with determining their salary scales, fringe benefit and unnecessary foreign travels, et al, which took no account of the state of the economy and the welfare of the people they represented.

As a result of our inability to cultivate financial discipline and prudent management of the economy, we have come to depend largely on internal and external borrowing to execute government projects with attendant domestic pressure and soaring external debts, thus aggravating the propensity of the outgoing civilian administration to mismanaged our financial resources. Nigeria was already condemned perpetually with the twin problem of heavy budget deficits and weak balance of payments position, with the prospect of building a virile and viable economy.
The last general election was anything but free and fair. The only political parties that could complain of election rigging are those parties that lacked the resources to rig. There is ample evidence that rigging and thuggery were relative to the resources available to the parties. This conclusively proved to us that the parties have not developed confidence in the presidential system of government on which the nation invested so much material and human resources. While corruption and indiscipline have been associated with our state of under-development, these two evils in our body politics have attained unprecedented height in the past few years. The corrupt, inept and insensitive leadership in the last four years has been the source of immorality and impropriety in our society.

Since what happens in any society is largely a reflection of the leadership of that society, we deplore corruption in all its facets. This government will not tolerate kick-backs, inflation of contracts and over-invoicing of imports etc. Nor will it condone forgery, fraud, embezzlement, misuse and abuse of office and illegal dealings in foreign exchange and smuggling. Arson has been used to cover up fraudulent acts in public institutions. I am referring to the fire incidents that gutted the P&T buildings in Lagos, the Anambra State Broadcasting Corporation, the Republic Building at Marina, the Federal Ministry of Education, the Federal Capital Development Authority Accounts at Abuja and the NET Building. Most of these fire incidents occurred at a time when Nigerians were being apprehensive of the frequency of fraud scandals and the government incapacity to deal with them. Corruption has become so pervasive and intractable that a whole ministry has been created to stem it.

Fellow Nigerians, this indeed is the moment of truth. My colleagues and I – the Supreme Military Council, must be frank enough to acknowledge the fact that at the moment, an accurate picture of the financial position is yet to be determined. We have no doubt that the situation is bad enough. In spite of all this, every effort will be made to ensure that the difficult and degrading conditions under which we are living are eliminated. Let no one however be deceived that workers who have not received their salaries in the past eight or so months will receive such salaries within today or tomorrow or that hospitals which have been without drugs for months will be provided with enough immediately. We are determined that with the help of God we shall do our best to settle genuine payments to which government is committed, including backlog of workers’ salaries after scrutiny.

We are confident and we assure you that even in the face of the global recession, and the seemingly gloomy financial future, given prudent management of Nigeria’s existing financial resources and our determination to substantially reduce and eventually nail down rises in budgetary deficits and weak balance of payments position. The Federal Military Government will reappraise policies with a view to paying greater attention to the following areas: The economy will be given a new impetus and better sense of direction. Corrupt officials and their agents will be brought to book.

In view of the drought that affected most parts of the country, the federal government will, with the available resources, import food stuffs to supplement the shortfalls suffered in the last harvest. Our foreign policy will both be dynamic and realistic. Africa will of course continue to be the centre piece of our foreign policy. The morale and combat readiness of the armed forces will be given high priority. Officers and men with high personal and professional integrity will have nothing to fear.
The Chief Justice of Nigeria and all other holders of judiciary appointments within the federation can continue in their appointments and the judiciary shall continue to function under existing laws subject to such exceptions as may be decreed from time to time by the Federal Military Government. All holders of appointments in the civil service, the police and the National Security Organisation shall continue to exercise their functions in the normal way subject to changes that may be introduced by the Federal Military Government.
All those chairmen and members of statutory corporations, parastatals and other executive departments are hereby relieved of their appointments with immediate effect.

The Federal Military Government will maintain and strengthen existing diplomatic relations with other states and with international organisations and institutions such as the Organisation of African Unity, the United Nations and its organs, Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, ECOWAS and the Commonwealth etc. The Federal Military Government will honour and respect all treaties and obligations entered into by the previous government and we hope that such nations and bodies will reciprocate this gesture by respecting our country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Fellow Nigerians, finally, we have dutifully intervened to save this nation from imminent collapse. We therefore expect all Nigerians, including those who participated directly or indirectly in bringing the nation to this present predicament, to cooperate with us. This generation of Nigerians, and indeed future generations, have no country other than Nigeria. We shall remain here and salvage it together.May God bless us all. Good morning.

source: Thehearaldng.com 

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THE ‘PANTLESS WAIST’ OF THE CALABAR GIRL 1

Calabar Carnival street (dry-run) party scene, 2014

Well, for those who may not have been privileged to witness the Calabar Carnival, here is a tip of the ice for you.

The Calabar Carnival is an annual event which lasts for 31days-1^st December to 31^st December. But the street party, which accounts for my concern for writing this piece, comes up on 27^th day of December. It is usually a ‘bomb’ of an event. For those that find themselves in Calabar on that day it is usually ‘’all roads lead to Carnival’’. Do you mind to stay back at home? Silence, boredom, loneliness will threaten you because your neighbours, kids and kins would have leaped through the short-cuts to the streets where ‘it is happening’.

Mothers, daughters, fathers, sons; uncles and aunties; lovers and haters roam the streets whenever Calabar Carnival street party comes calling.

Sleeves go up. Zips go down. Kids, girls especially, make request for new outfits which will showcase the ‘natural things’ that the carnival people want to see. They say it is for 18-plus but...“mummy I want to go to Carnival”, cries the teething teen. That is Calabar Carnival for you.

There are different bands that participate in the street party. There is the Master Blaster Band, Freedom Band, Bayside Band and Seagul Band. At the end of the day, which ever band that wins the contest, goes home with some gifts; courtesy of the Cross River State Government.

Calabar Carnival was introduced by Gov. Donald Duke in the year 2004, as a way to liven-up the tourism potentials of the state. Good and fine, that was an objective philosophy and plan a Governor could have for his people.

But very few people are conscious of the moral challenge the street party portends. Very few people are conscious of the wanton nudity, carnality and sexuality which the street party conspicuously displays each day it comes.

I witnessed ‘dry run’ segment of the street party last Sunday. For those who do not know, ‘dry run’ is a rehearsal for the street party. It starts from last Sunday of November and holds every Sunday till the D-day, 27^th December. Any morally-tuned Nigerian would shudder at the sight of what I saw. You may ask, ‘what took you there? Well, I was doing an investigation...

They said participation at the street party was exclusively for 18 years and above. But at the dry-run, I saw girls whose chin, scapular and ankle bones look so sixteen.

Girls were more in number, with skimpy tights and bumb shorts, showcasing the physical ornaments that rocked romantically as everyone beheld them with admiration and dearness.

So much as it has become, the Carnival street party is sending negative signals to Calabar youths. It simply defines social outing as an event which challenges girls to go topless, pant-less and the boys to go in highness. It features a rapid quest for something that lurks for lust and sexuality. It ravages the moral consciences of the youths and makes to me start thinking that Calabar is one place not to train up a child.

At the Carnival, girls are adlib to tread the streets pant-less, topless and sleeveless. Take a look at the picture attached to this article. One girl can be spotted in that picture. The girl who I know may court your attraction was the red-eye of the day. All eyes were on her. To her and other proponents of carnality, she was the ‘hottest’ babe on the street. She was shamelessly rocking her waste and letting everyone know she had no pants. Yes, she had no pants indeed. She was pant-less, pant-less Calabar girl. She only drew the lower seems of the elastic top to cover her waist. Pretence. Was the waist really covered?  Your guess is as good as mine.

When she was gone, I wondered if she had a mother. Where was the mother? Does she have a boy friend or fiancée or both? Where were they? Did they see her dress like this? Does she have friends? Where were her friends when she was matching out with this outfit?

She was among the camp of the Freedom Band. Well, well, well, I can see freedom indeed. Freedom to seduce. Freedom of dressing. Freedom to be nude and go pant-less on the streets of Calabar.

Think of it this way. Carnival is expected to showcase the moral and social vitalities of a nation, a people and a society. It moulds the conception of outsiders and visitors about a society. With the way things are done, Calabar Carnival is showcasing nudity and amorality. It is creating a conception that Calabar is a place where men can easily go and hook-up with ready-to-go hips and rock all day and all night. It is creating a conception that Calabar is guideless in terms of moral sanity. Is that what Calbar really is? That is actually the conception Carnival street party is creating about Calabar.

The Cross River State Government has task to quickly perform before it is too late. The government should quickly introduce a dress code for carnival street party. If the management of University of Calabar can enforce a dress code for undergraduates, I think Carnival participants should be dress-coded too. It is just a matter of policy. But I think before that should happen, it takes a leader who has identified the trending oddities in today’s Calabar Carnival street party.

EMMANUEL SHEBBS

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