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News Analysis: Why Govt., Citizens must say no to Illegal Abortion – Stakeholders

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Stakeholders, including clerics, parents and youths, have called on Nigerians and governments at all levels to say no to illegal abortion and its funding.

The stakeholders made the call while speaking with the Newsmen in separate interviews in Ibadan on Tuesday.

Most Rev. Emmanuel Badejo, President, Pan African Episcopal Committee for Communications for The Bishops of Africa (CEPACS), says in every abortion, human life is terminated.

According to Badejo, who is also the Catholic Bishop of Oyo Diocese, abortion is a crime and can never be a constitutional or human right.

“In fact, I call abortion a ‘constitutional wrong’; one can only see insensitivity in any leader or government that funds abortion in Nigeria or in Africa.

“It must either be that such government or leader is completely disconnected from the reality or that powerful interests benefiting from the crime are pushing such government or leaders.

“Our cultures and religions support life, not killing.

“Africa and Nigeria need funding for education, good infrastructure, good healthcare and jobs. To starve these critical areas, which improve the quality of life, of funds and then fund abortion can only be wicked and evil.

“The striking down of the 50-year-old ‘Roe and Wade’ in the United States of America has energised the pro-life movement all over the world. More importantly, it has reversed a grave institutionalised injustice and crime against humanity.

“Human life is equally sacred, but millions of children have already been murdered under the law. May they rest in peace and may God have mercy,” he said.

Badejo remarked that women needed to be taught that pregnancy was not a disease and the unborn baby not an aggressor.

He added that women deserved to be given good education, good health services and employment.

According to him, maternal health should be given priority, along with sincere and counselling services, including information on how to put children up for adoption or welfare.

“Even now, many credible people will like to adopt children, but are not able to. Women who cannot support the children they have conceived need this kind of support, not abortion.

“They need to know that there is no such thing as safe abortion. It is certainly never safe for the baby or for the prospective mother who suffers great trauma, a huge sense of guilt and medical complications that follow.

“These risks have to be revealed to women in a sincere way. It is the pharmaceutical companies and unscrupulous medical personnel who gain from abortion.

“Parents should actually parent their children. They should be alert and resist whatever can ruin the lives of their wards. Youths should also be taught and encouraged to live disciplined and morally-upright lives,” he said.

The Catholic bishop said that a country like Nigeria, with majority Christian and Muslim population, should not be seen to accommodate abortion, which neither of the two religions support.

“Religious institutions and stakeholders should live up to their moral responsibilities by working for a morally- upright society. We all are stakeholders in building such a society. We all will benefit from it,” Badejo said.

To Bishop of Ibadan Anglican Diocese, Most Rev. Joseph Akinfenwa, abortion is wrong, adding that sanctity of life must be maintained.

Akinfenwa said that women in developing countries, such as Nigeria, could be helped through empowerment, education and enlightenment.

He stressed the need for the people, including parents, to take sex education very seriously, explaining, however, that sex should be for married couples, while pre-marital sex should be discouraged.

“Also, religious leaders should always preach the fear of God, to constant remind people to respect life, which only Him can give.

“We should learn to preserve life, so as to avoid the wrath of God,” he said.

Similarly, Very Rev. Olayinka Akande, Presbyter, Methodist Cathedral, Agbeni, Ibadan, noted that the Bible consistently proclaims the utmost importance of protecting life in the womb.

This portrayal, he said, could be found in both the Old Testament and New Testament, especially in Psalms 51 and139; even in the life of Jesus, while resting in Mary’s womb as found in Luke 1.

According to him, in Jeremiah 1:4-5 and Isaiah 49:1b, God clearly emphasises the value of life in the womb and His compassionate care for the pre-born.

“Both passages are similar, as each prophet reflects on his call from heaven. Jeremiah and Isaiah consistently heard from the Lord and were used as mouthpieces to His people.

“They both had long lasting personal relationship with God and claimed they were appointed to complete kingdom work while in the womb.

“So, from God’s perspective, there is no barrier between pre-natal and post-natal life. God sees life from the moment of conception,” he said.

Akande said that the Biblical idea that God could form personal relationships with His people in the womb was another evidence that pre-born children possessed full personhood.

The Methodist cleric said that from both the earthly and Biblical points of view, anti-abortion, and not abortion, should be legalised.

Meanwhile, an elderly man, Mr Francis Oghuma, described the attempt to fund illegal abortion as funding and fuelling illicit sex, prostitution and related vices at all levels.

“Africa is a place of values; it is exceptional. So illegally funding abortion hereto is not an African style. It must, therefore, be seen as absurd and criminal.

“Overturning the Roe v Wade is necessary, because it would have further deteriorated family ties, partners’ trust and promise, sexual abuses, while reducing pregnancy to naught.

“The impact of its overturn is further making abortion illegal and strengthening reproduction integrity and values,” he said.

Oghuma said that rather than funding or legalising abortion, continuous amendment of rights of women at all facets of the polity was germane.

He advocated for women and mothers’ empowerment, social security, welfarism for under-age children and maternal care.

Oghuma advised governments, religious leaders, parents and concerned stakeholders to ensure that sexual relationship and intimacy remained sacred.

“The major cause of abortion is projection or inability to cater for children and non-acceptability of unwanted pregnancy as well as stigmatisation of same in a society, which regards them as bastards.

“So, there is the need for sensitisation on a child’s right to live.

Also, Mrs Grace Olubunmi, while affirming that abortion should not be legalised, advised both the married and singles to curb illicit sex.

According to Olubunmi, the foetus or embryo has the right to live.

“God wants humans to multiply, but through lawful or legalised union.

“We cannot, because of incest and rape, legalise abortion. Rather, its prevention should be legalised.

“Lots of talents and great presidents of nations will end up being victims of abortion, if it is legalised,” she said.

News men reports that the case is not different for the youth.

One of them, Miss Surprise Omolara, said abortion should not be legalised, because of its many negative effects, such as causing premature deaths and damage to wombs.

“Sometimes ago, I heard that a bill was passed concerning illegal abortion. I was happy with the move, because the fear of going to jail will make youths to desist from having premature sex. Even if they must do it, it will be with protection.

“Many people are now regretting due to the abortion they did in the past. If eventually they escaped death, they might now be battling with infection or inability to conceive due to the use of quack doctors or unsterilised equipment.

“Prostitution will also reduce if abortion is eradicated, because if they start getting pregnant without means of aborting it, the shame will make others to stop such practice,” she said.

News men recalls that IPAS, an international non-profit advocacy group, seeking to improve and expand women’s sexual and reproductive rights, recently disclosed that despite Nigeria’s restrictive abortion law, over two million abortions occur annually.

“The Abortion Law in the country permits abortion, only to save a woman’s life, making it restrictive and inaccessible to many women.

“The fact that abortion is legally restrictive in the country has not stopped the large number of abortion procedures.

“Many women end up in the hands of quacks; some die in the process, while many are permanently maimed due to unsafe abortion.

“To quote a past President of International Federation of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, our women are not dying, because of untreatable diseases, but they are dying because the society has yet to make the decision that their lives are worth saving,” the Country Director of IPAS, Mr Lucky Palmer, had said. (NAN)

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Abuja Stampede: Wike Directs Free Treatment for Victims

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Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike has directed government hospitals to provide free treatment to the people that sustained injuries during a stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja.Wike gave the directive in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Mr Lere Olayinka, in Abuja on Saturday.

No fewer than 10 people including children lost their lives while 10 others sustained injuries to the stampede, during the distribution of food items to less privileged and the elderly by the church.
The sad incident occurred around 6:30 a.m on Saturday.Wike said that the FCT Administration would ensure that the injured received adequate medical attention.
The minister, who commiserated with the victims, also directed that henceforth, police permission should be obtained by individuals or organizations planning public distribution of palliatives, either food items or cash.Describing the incident as “painful”, Wike prayed for the repose of the souls of the lives that were lost and fortitude for their families to bear the irreparable loss.He commended the Police and other security agencies for their prompt intervention, saying, “the promptness in which security agencies responded to the incident was commendable.”In a related development, the FCT Emergency Management Department (FEMD), equally commiserated with the victims of the stampede.The acting Director General of the department, Mr Abdulrahman Mohammed, in a statement said that nine out of the 10 injured persons earlier taken to Maitama District Hospital, have been treated and discharged.Mohammed also appealed to organisations that intended to give out food items to the less privileged to involve security agencies or FEMD for adequate planning to ensure safety of beneficiaries.He also advised the use of coupons and segregation of the beneficiaries into groups to avoid crowd and rowdiness that could lead to stampedes.Similarly, the Police Command in the FCT has ordered organisations, religious bodies, groups, or individuals to notify the police when planning public events, charitable activities, or large gatherings in the territory.In a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer in the FCT, SP Josephine Adeh, said that the notification was to enable the police to deploy adequate security measures for public safety.According to her, failure to comply with the directive will result in the organisers being held liable for any incident or loss of life resulting from negligenceMeanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force has issued a warning against the unorganised distribution of palliatives and funfairs, which have led to stampedes and fatalities among vulnerable citizens.The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, gave the warning during a media briefing on Saturday in Abuja.Adejobi explained that the warning came in response to the increasing number of stampedes resulting in injuries and deaths, particularly during palliative distributions. (NAN)

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NDA Records Successes in Military Training, Academics in 2024

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The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), says it has recorded a lot of successes in military training and academic activities in 2024.

The Commandant of NDA, Maj.-Gen. John Ochai, said this at the Nigerian Defence Academy Social Activities (NDASA), held at the headquarters of the academy Afaka  on Friday in Kaduna.

Ochai said the essence of NDASA was to end training activities of the year.

He said the 2024 NDASA was unique because the academy marked 60 years of existence from 1964-2024.

Also of significance, Ochai said,  NDA had passed out the largest number of officers commissioned into the Armed Forces of Nigeria in 2024.

Equally, he said, in the same year (2024), the academy had the largest number of officers trained outside the country.

He emphasised that the NDA does not only train leaders for the Nigerian Armed Forces, but those for the Nigerian nation and humanity at large.

“After five years of training, we imbibe in officers leadership qualities that are everlasting.

”The traditions, ethos, characters that we instill in our cadets follow them forever and become very useful in all spheres of human endeavors,” Ochai said.

Mr Martins Amaram, Country Security Manager, Nigeria Breweries, PLC , who was the Special Guest of Honour, said the event fostered unity, cultural awareness and comradeship among the cadets and the larger community.

Amaram said, “The academy has always been a beacon of excellence in producing military leaders  for integrity, resilience and capacity to face in a dynamic and complex world .

“Beyond academics and military training the academy still values cultural respect and social engagement, recognising the diversity of our great country. Nigeria.”

He commended NDA for creating the platform where cadets can appreciate the rich cultures and build bonds that transit borders.

Amaram added, “The Armed Forces of Nigeria are playing a critical role in ensuring the stability and progress of our nation. “

He urged the academy to continue to record more successes in its mission of excellence and service to the nation.

Report says that awards were given to deserving soldiers who distinguished themselves in 2024.

report says that 22 soldiers were decorated from Warrant Officer(WO) to Master Warrant Officers(MWO). (NAN)

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Corps Member Donates Delivery Kits to Pregnant Women in Katsina

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A Corps member serving in Katsina State, Blessing Ene-Ameh, has distributed free delivery kits to 50 pregnant women in Mani town, Mani Local Government Area of the state

The corps member distributed the delivery kits to the expectant mothers in Mani on Friday as part of her personal Community Development Service (CDS)project.

Eneh-Ameh said that she visited a hospital in the area during one of her group CDS programmes and observed that the hygiene of women in the antenatal and children’s wards was not too good.

The corps member also stated that she had noticed that the turn up of pregnant women for antenatal care was very low.

She said, ”This attracted my attention to the need to educate pregnant women on its importance.

“There is also the need for them to keep themselves and their surroundings very neat to avoid infections for themselves and their babies.

“The aim was also to educate them on the importance of planning for the future of the baby.

”They also need to be staying clean to reduce the risk of contracting infections and other diseases by both the mothers and children, as well as the community in general.

“The training will empower the women to be able to handle and bring up children for the family,”  Eneh-Ameh explained.

The NYSC Coordinator in the state, Alhaji Sa’idu Ibrahim, commended the corps member for her ingenuity and magnanimity to carry out the project.

Represented by the Local Government Inspector, Alhaji Abdulrazak Ismail-Tsiga, the coordinator urged the corps members serving in the state and other parts of the country to emulate her. (NAN)

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