NEWS
Our Service to Humanity is what Distinguishes us-President
The newly inducted president of Rotary Club of Apo, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Rotarian Isaiah Ohaba, on Sunday said that what distinguished rotarians was their service to humanity.
Ohaba said this at the club’s 2022/23 annual Investiture and Project Fundraising of the 21st president of the club, which was held in Abuja.
Newsmen report that the Investiture is an avenue for the newly elected president to present his agenda for the rotarian year.
Ohaba used the opportunity to spell out his seven-project agenda.
The projects are water, sanitation and hygiene, which will cost N1,000 000.
The second is maternal and child care, to cost N3, 000 000.
While the third, which is dIsease prevention and treatment will cost N1, 000 000.
Others are Basic Education and literacy, which will cost N 1 000 000, Community economic development to cost N800, 000, Peace building and Conflict prevention N700, 000.
While the last on the agenda is supporting the environment, which will cost N500, 000 .
Ohaba said that he was honoured to serve Rotary Club Apo for the 2022/23 Rotary year.
“One of the things that distinguishes Rotary from other social clubs is the project we carry out for humanity.
“You will all agree with me as individuals in all facets of your endeavours you have experienced help or given help at one point or the other.
“That is why Rotary has taken it upon themselves to give something out of nothing.
“Even when we do not have for ourselves we believe in service above self.
“So in this Rotary year, I have dedicated my time, treasure and talent to serve and I cannot do it alone without the support of all of you in this hall.
“We have given to so many communities and we have an adopted community where we have provided a medical centre, doctors’ quarters generator amongst others that we have carried our in Apo Dutse.
“We have many projects to be carried out this year like the Street2School project, this project will impact immensely on children from poor communities to be enrolled in school.
The keynote speaker, Prof. Al-Hassan Cinteh, the Ambassador of Liberia to Nigeria, Benin and Equatorial Guinea, congratulated the 21st president of Rotary Club Apo,FCT.
According to Cinteh, i will like to speak to you on why good governance and security are prerequisite for achieving human development in community institutions in Africa .
“For this to happen democratic governace must be scrupulously implemented by putting people at the centre of community development efforts.
“In this context, the humanitarian service of Rotary International and its subsidiary Rotary clubs around the world has been very significant in providing social and community economic services for people.
“Good governance in the sense is regarded as the prudent exercise of the mandate given to community leaders, I heard the past president articulating all his achievements in that respect.
“The mandate to manage the community’s affairs consists of the mechanism, processes and Institution, which citizens and groups articulate their interest to exercise their rights and obligation to mediate their differences as members of an organisation or club.
Security on the other hand is freedom from or resilience against potential harm from external forces and the beneficiaries are club members , who are vulnerable to change,” he said.
Newsmen report that the objective of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular to encourage and foster the development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service.
High ethical standard in business and profession, the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations and the dignifying of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society amongst others.
Newsmen also report that high point of the event was the award and recognition of some exceptional people , who had helped the club to meet some of their humanitarian projects. (NAN)
NEWS
Kebbi Gets New Head of Service
The Kebbi Government has appointed Malami Muhammad-Shekari as the substantive Head of Civil Service of the state.The Chief Press Secretary to Kebbi Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Idris, made this known in a statement in Birnin Kebbi on Friday.Idris said the appointment had been conveyed to Muhammad-Shekari in a letter dated Nov.
1.He added that the appointment took effect from Oct. 28.“The Executive Governor of Kebbi State, His Excellency, Dr Nasir Idris, FCNA (Kauran Gwandu), has approved the appointment of TPL. Malami Muhammad Shekare (mni) as the substantive Head of the Civil Service with effect from 28th Oct. 2024,” Idris quoted the letter as stating. (NAN)NEWS
APC Stalwart Faults Ex-Kogi Gov’s Trial
All Progressives Congress (APC) Stalwart Isaac Onuh and a former Ambassador to Botswana has faulted the trial of former Kogi Gov. Yahaya Bello over corruption charges.In a news conference on Friday in Lokoja, Onuh described Bello’s trial as an “unfortunate witchhunt”.The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has, on Thursday, asked a Federal High court in Abuja to begin the trial of Bello in his absence.
The anti-graft agency has also filed a 19-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N80 billion. But Onuh alleged that the anti-corruption agency was harassing and intimidating the ex-governor.He said that Bello deserved to be respected by government agencies, including EFCC, having served the state for eight years.He alleged that the EFCC had yet to provide ample evidence to substantiate its allegations of financial impropriety against Bello.He noted that Kogi was governed by laws made by the state House of Assembly which established the state anti-corruption commission that consistently gave clean bill to Bello during his administration.But the EFCC insisted that it asked Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, to proceed with the trial of Bello in absentia, arguing that his non-appearance in court for arraignment should not be allowed to frustrate his trial.The EFCC through its lead counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, also urged the court to enter a plea of “not guilty” on behalf of Bello.According to EFCC, Bello is facing trial on 19-count charges bordering on money laundering to the tune of N80.2billion.It notes that the court had summoned him for arraignment six consecutive times.Pinheiro noted that the former governor’s refusal to appear for his arraignment was malicious and that the court should not demonstrate helplessness by not trying him in absentia.(NAN)NEWS
Ebonyi: Police Arrest 4 Suspected Organ Harvesters, 173 Others
The Nigeria Police command in Ebonyi said it arrested no fewer than 177 suspected criminals for various offences in the month of October, 2024. The Command noted that four out of the 177 suspects were alleged to be involved in human organ harvesting and ritual killings. DSP Joshua Ukandu, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) disclosed this in a news conference in Abakaliki on Friday.
Ukandu explained that officers and men of the command arrested a total of 177 suspects which includes 162 males and 15 females. “92 suspects among them have been charged to court, while others would be arraigned once investigations are completed. “On behalf of the Commissioner of Police Ebonyi Command, CP Anthonia Uche-Anya, I want to warmly welcome you to this press conference “I am here to update you on the Command’s achievements within October 2024 and our relentless efforts to combat crimes and ensure a safe and prosperous environment for socio-economic growth in the State. “The command has employed strategic steps through increased stakeholders engagement to help bring crimes to the barest minimum. “Through this approach, we have been able to reduce the incidences of violent crimes, while operatives of the command are not relenting in our efforts to make the state safe for all. “During the month under review, the command arrested 162 males and 15 females, totalling 177 suspects for various offences. 92 suspects have already been charged in court, while others will be arraigned once investigations are complete,” Ukandu explained. On the alleged organ harvesting and ritual killings, the Command’s Spokesman said that on October 11, Mrs Blessing Chikezie reported to the command of her missing husband, Mr Idenyi Chikezie, who left home on September 9 for a business trip to Lagos. “Command operatives from the Anti-kidnapping unit, through a painstaking investigation and credible intelligence, arrested one Innocent Elebe and Eze Elechi; they made useful statements, which led the police to arrest Obinna Nwanguru and Oda Peter. “They confessed to killing Chikezie Idenyi, Chibu Odii and Eze Fabian on different dates while trying to extract their blood/ organs to use it to cure a cognitively impaired person (Down syndrome). “Operatives of the command have recovered the corpses of Chikezie Idenyi and Chibu Odii while effort is ongoing to recover the remains of the third victim,” Ukandu stated. Some other suspects were arrested for kidnappings, murder, robbery and unlawful possession of firearms. (NAN)