Category: Kiddies Corner 

Nigerians Must Be Ready To Fight For Their Democratic Rights _ NOWINTA

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Says “Former Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi Was Right About Elitist Manipulations Of Democracy In Nigeria” A prominent  human rights activist and pro-democracy advocate, Comrade Igbotako Nowinta, has urged Nigerians to be ready to fight for their democratic rights at all times. Comrade Nowinta, an international conflict resolution expert, who doubles as Executive  – Director, Nigeria Good Governance Research Centre (NGGRC), disclosed this in an interview with PEOPLE’S STANDARD. The former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, spoke last week in Abuja, at a national conference on strengthening democracy in Nigeria, where he emphasized that politicians will do anything to remain in power, including stealing, maiming, and killing. Addressing the audience at the event, organised by the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development, Amaechi stressed the need for political vigilance, warning that power must be fought for rather than expected to be handed over. Comrade Nowinta said Rotimi Amaechi, former Minister of Transportation under ex- president Muhammadu Buhari was absolutely correct, when he declared: “You are talking and abusing everybody. Nobody has power and will give it to you—not even me. If you want a pastor as president, go and get one.The politician is there in Nigeria to steal, maim, and kill to remain in power. If you think Tinubu will give it to you, you are wasting your time”. Nowinta posited :”Nigerians must never allow themselves to be intimidated, brow – beaten or cowed into submission, about the facts of the matter concerning democracy in Nigeria. What we have on our hands is a most terrible situation where the votes of majority of Nigerians do not count during election process” According to the full text of the press release: “We at the Nigerian Good Governance Research Centre (NGGC), are of the opinion that democracy is a game of multitudes not a draconian system to be solely and perpetually manipulated by a few individuals for their parochial egocentric desires. And sadly in Nigeria what we see is a barbaric situation where the votes of multitudes are consistently manipulated to serve the wishes and aspirations of a desperate political cabal at the highest quarters” “That is why we are using this medium to state unequivocally that Rotimi Amaechi, ex- Minister for Transportation spoke the naked truth when he declared last week amongst other claims that :”The politician is there in Nigeria to steal, maim, and kill to remain in power. If you think Tinubu will give it to you, you are wasting your time”. “Former Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi was right about elitist manipulations of democracy in Nigeria; he actually made a clarion call to patriotic Nigerians to continue to be alert about placing their political destiny solely in their hands, than expecting any decent democratic behaviors from the elites who are currently grabbing political power after resorting to extreme thuggery, sophisticated electoral manipulations within the system and complete violence”. “No great and prosperous people anywhere in the world got to where they are without furiously and uncompromisingly fighting for their democratic rights, such as we see glaringly in the United States, United Kingdom, and other progressive European countries. Therefore, Nigerians must never allow themselves to be intimidated, brow – beaten or cowed into submission, about the facts of the matter concerning democracy in Nigeria. What we have on our hands is a most terrible situation where the votes of majority of Nigerians do not count during election process”. “It is only the hypocritical beneficiaries of the current suffocating rotten system that will not see anything wrong with what has befallen our country: the consequences of elitist manipulations of the resources of our country is the imposition of one of the most horrific economic system in known history; as the masses are panting for survival”. “We have become captive audience in the hands of a tribe of politicians who are conjuring stories of good governance and economic recovery on total fiction, and a whole bunch of lies and half truths; indeed since May 29th, 2023, our self imposed rulers have perfected a story of heartbreaks, betrayal and dictatorship”. “Because :”The politician is there in Nigeria to steal, maim, and kill to remain in power”, we must no longer allow them to ply their heinous trade recklessly, no artificial climate of fear should deter us, the ephemerality and transience of political power must vigorously ginger us to doggedly and persistently fight for our democratic rights, come 2027, which will enable Nigerian people to take power, that would  ultimately propel our country to the league of progressive nations of the world”.

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A TRIBUTE TO A HERO; EMERITUS PROFESSOR AUGUSTINE A.E.ORHUE

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A TRIBUTE TO A HERO; EMERITUS PROFESSOR AUGUSTINE A.E.ORHUE It was that eventful day, 10/2/2009, on the floor of the Senate of the University of Benin, Prof A.A.E.Orhue stood up and challenged the illegality in the appointment of the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin and subsequently led a walk out of the red Chambers. His voice and action were amplified by the vigilant Press and it became a defining moment to either acquiesce to illegality or vanquish it in the University of Benin. His name became synonymous with the struggle to demolish official deceit and restore law to its pride of place in our University. It was in the cool evening Dr Festus Iyayi as he then was invited me to see him at his private office located in the same building then with Omega Restaurant. Seated with him was a gentleman I had never meant in my life. It was a moment of ecstasy for me as Dr Iyayi said, “this is Professor Orhue .” That encounter was priceless as I found an older and more illustrious version of myself in pursuit of justice! He had volunteered to use the law to challenge the illegally imposed Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin. He demonstrated thus that he had the courage of his conviction. As a personal friend of the substantive Vice-Chancellor that eventually emerged after the struggle, he served with distinction in helping the Vice-Chancellor to navigate many slippery terrains which space will not permit me to enumerate; he also helped to mediate without hypocrisy to resolve issues that would have embarrassed the University. He was a man in whose life divinity intervened to rescue from disgrace. His Inaugural lecture which was cancelled for frivolous reason(s) with some court jesters  revelling in the unkind act became a reality as the 70 years retirement law came into effect on 11/5/2012  and was announced on the very night 14/5/2012  he was deemed to have retired from the services of the University. The Brutus sword was used to assail his unblemished career by those who served unabashedly in a Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee who sought to please an emperor Vice-Chancellor who pretended to have the power of life and death. The legal victory he secured for the wrongful compulsory termination of his appointment though after  his retirement date, imposed punitive fines on the University for the poor and unacceptable conduct towards this great man. The sacrifices made by him whereby for seven years he headed the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology when all his contemporaries left for greener pastures in the Middle East, preserved that Department and as a testament to his influence, on his 75th birthday, his former students who are authorities in the Medical Field in their own rights organised a lavish birthday party in his honour. This Emeritus Professor sought to bring succour to women who were called barren and in the course of his research activities discovered that he could not succeed without the almighty God. Thus in the course of the Invitro Fertilisation (IVF) procedures, a vital component was a praise, worship, bible study and prayer session that lasted an hour. The results he got were astounding and reassuring. He was indeed a true Knight of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He was a man of large heart, generous, dependable, loyal to a worthy cause and friend. In the midst of my travails in the hands of the University authorities in October 2014, he left his house at Ugbor Road at 8:00pm in the night to visit me at Ugbowo Police Station to secure my bail though he was unsuccessful due to the resistance by the Divisional Police Officer acting the script of the powers that were. When my official residence was broken into and all my property were confiscated, he visited the scene of the incident and donated handsomely to enable me begin the purchase of household items anew. Space would fail me to eulogise this great man of many distinctions who served God and humanity with his knowledge and skills, who was villified vigorously, but emerged victorious always, a dependable ally, a courageous soul , a leader of worthy causes, a love slave of truth, a teacher extraordinary, a repository of knowledge, a defender of the weak, a philanthropist and a worthy ambassador of Heaven. The earth was enriched indeed by your presence and we celebrate your passage as a true hero. Adieu Emeritus Professor and Knight of St John International. Emmanuel E.I.Irabor, PhD Professor of Industrial Chemistry University of Benin

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