Connect with us

POLITICS

We Can’t Achieve SDGs Without Taking Care of Our Children– Don

Published

on

Share

Dr Chidiebere Ezinwa,  a lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication, Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) and a Child Rights advocate,  states that the Nigeria government must take deliberate steps in addressing children’s rights in order to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

He spoke with Gom Mirian

What exactly is the content of the SDGs?

To start with, SDGs simply stands for Sustainable Development Goals.

There are 17 goals and 169 agendas in it. It contains aims for making the world a better place for everybody including children.

 It encompasses all development objectives aimed at improving people, protecting our environment and planet, as well as safeguarding wildlife and marine life.

But here we are trying to say that SDG contains child’s rights that without fulfilling the rights of children we cannot achieve a Sustainable Development Goals, so the rights of the children are integrated in the SDGs so if we do not make efforts to fulfill the rights of the children we cannot realize this goals so that is the main point we are trying to establish, that we cannot separate the SDGs from the rights of children that as we struggle to fulfill the rights of children we are moving closer to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

For instance, you look at Goal 1, that is “No Poverty,” if we deal with poverty in our society,that means that we have dealt with hunger, we have dealt with some of our children not going to school, hawking in the streets to support their families, among others means of survival and forms of social vices.

So we are saying that if we provide for our children and recognize their rights within the “No Poverty” goal we will see that we have recognized the rights of the child to live, the rights of the child  to good health and  education, the rights to adequate nutrition all these rights will be guaranteed. Looking at SDG 2, “Zero Hunger” incorporated within the goal is also child right to live.

 Here we are talking about the child’s right to nutrition that the child should be fed well from the moment of conception which is the duty of the mother to feed well for the child to develop well. There no way a mother that is not healthy will give birth to a healthy child. So you see that the right to nutrition is very critical in the sense that if the right is neglected so many other things will not work out well.

First, the right to health is affected because a poorly nourished child will not be a healthy child, an unhealthy child cannot go to school nor allow the parent to go out to work which will affect the income of the family and the progress of other children in the family is also affected. The goals are human rights-driven and because the child is also a human being we try to incorporate the right of the child in these goals.

Looking at climate change as one of the goals, you see incidents such as drought, flood, famine in different places. Families which are displaced are likely to face hunger, their rights to property will be taken away, their rights to health is also endangered because during flooding there could be incidence of outbreak of diseases because people are moving from different places this is also a problem.

If you look at Goal 6, “clean water and sanitation,” if you are in a dirty environment, it is very likely that the children will be affected with various diseases. Nigeria is ranked number one in open defecation, as reports show that 46 million Nigerians still defecate in the open, so having such a situation on ground, you can imagine how vulnerable our children are exposed to diseases. If you go to some of our schools, you will discover that some of the children are out of school because they do not have toilets in the school, especially the girls. They wouldn’t want to go to school where they do not have the toilet

Which of the goals do you think a country like Nigeria prioritizes and why?

These goals are indivisible, you can’t say one is important than the other. Because just imagine a child is alive but do not go to school, the child’s rights to education is taken away for instance, you cannot compare an educated mother with an uneducated one in terms of parenting and care of the child.

The educated one is more likely to take better care of the child, she also has more power in decision making process in the family also when a child fails to go to school the next step is marriage and you know the consequences of early child marriage.

The Goal 7, “clean and affordable energy.”

Smoke inhaled by our children from indoor cooking, emission from generator set and vehicles pose a danger to the child’s right to health.

So that is why these goals are very critical that we argued that without fulfilling them we cannot achieve nor realize the Sustainable Development Goals. Without taking care of children we cannot achieve SDGs.

SDG is futuristic, the ideal is that we should be careful of things will do today in order not to endanger tomorrow that if we treat the children rights, respect their rights, protect their rights according to law that it is going to ensure a better future for us and that when we do that we are moving closer to achieving SDGs. We are half way into the programme. As at 2019 Nigeria occupied 159 position and in 2020 , the 160 position when you look at other indicators of the goal you will see that we are not doing well as open defecation and malnutrition Nigeria are number one.

Going forward, apart from the government, what must individuals do to achieve SDGs by 2030?

I believe that the media should create that awareness because most of these problems spring from high level of ignorance in our society . When you talk about SDGs many people do not know what it’s all about. So first of all that ignorance should be taken away from the public. People should be educated, the mass media should join in public enlightenment to create awareness about what these goals are the implications and the essence of the goals so that everybody will join hands because Goal 17 talks about partnership and for us to achieve SDG we need to partner, to come together at both local, national and international levels in order to allow for 50:50 contribution by all to achieve the goal.

Individuals also have a lot of roles to play as the universal basic education duty imposes on the parent to take the child to school. So it is not the government’s duty to take the child to school, and also it is the duty of the parent to take the child to health facility for routine immunization and to seek health care when the child is sick.

What are the implications if these goals are not achieved?

The implications are that there will be massive denial of rights of the child and the essence of the goal is that there should be a better future for everybody.

That means if we fail to achieve this goal, it means that the future is bleak because tomorrow starts now. That whatever we are doing today, have implications for tomorrow. The kind of training we give our children today will give us an idea of the kind of future to expect. If these children are not educated, where are we going to get medical doctors, other professionals from? That means we will lack them.

Presently, the rate at which our doctors are leaving the country, you will see that our health care sector is already endangered. 

What does Nigeria stand to gain if these goals are achieved?

If we achieve the goals that means the future will be bright, everybody including children will be happy, there will be reduction in crime, out-of-school children, infant mortality rate, mental mortality rate, conflict and crime.

For instance, you look at farmers- herders issues is also related to climate change, they want to move their animals from where there is no water to where there is water and in the process run into conflict with farmers.

Goal 6, talk about peace, justice and strong institutions.  If we do not have peace like what is happening in Ukraine – Russia and Syria, children will be dying from malnutrition as a result of conflicts. You look at the North-East of Nigeria and North- West where there is conflict a lot of children are malnourished, a lot in IDPs camps suffering. So if we achieve these goals it then means that all this negative forces mentioned will be taken care of.

POLITICS

There Was Never a Peace Accord Between Gov Fubara, Wike – Former APC Chieftain Jackson Ojo

Published

on

Share

By Mike Odiakose, Abuja

A former Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Jackson Lekan Ojo, has dispelled speculations that there is a peace deal between Rivers State Governor Simi Fubara and FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

Jackson Ojo declared on Sunday that instead of a peace accord, what is presently on ground is akin to a political surrender agreement that will render the governor totally impotent politically.

According to him, all items on the agreement are one sided in favour of Wike who was on the negotiation table with his team whereas Governor Fubara was there without any supporter.

He declared that Governor Fubara was overwhelmed and tired of the whole issue and simply surrendered to Wike.

“I wonder why some people say there was a peace accord between Governor Simi Fubara and Nyesom Wike. There was never a peace accord between Wike and Simi. What we saw was Simi surrendered.

“When you are talking about peace accord, let me go this way. Two communities are fighting and people say we want to settle it. What do you expect. You expect the King and the Council of Chiefs from community A and the King and Council of Chiefs from community B, they will talk and arrive at conclusion.

“They will now work on that conclusion when they must have struck a balance.

“But what happened between these people (Wike and Fubara)? It was Wike and his people. Fubara went there alone without any of his supporters. At the end of the day what happened?

“Part of the condition is that out of 23 local government Chairmen we are going to select all 23; the already had members of the State House of Assembly, the Chief of Staff to the Governor could no longer come closer to the government again, your Secretary to the State Government can no longer come to the government again, there are some selected local government Chairmen that must not come to the government again. At the end of the day somebody agreed that you not run for another election again. They say that is a peace accord.

“When they finished it they went to Mr President in the Villa for Mr President to affirm it. Is that a peace accord? That was not a peace accord.

“I think Simi was tired of it and he surrendered without the consent of the people.”

He chided Governor Simi for succumbing to all the demands of Wike, including the unceremonious dissolution of his grassroot support team, the Simplified Movement.

“At the end of the day when they returned what did Simi say? He gathered his Simplified Movement and discouraged them. Those that printed solidarity caps, and other materials for 2027 he warned them that he didn’t send anybody.

“Again, he dissolved the Simplified Movement, his political movement whereas the Zikist Movement of the early 1960s is still alive. The Awoist is still alive; the Ahmadu Bello is still alive; the People’s Redemption Movement is still alive. What are we talking about?

“Wike’s Grassroot Movement is still alive but you went and dissolved your own movement. Today Governor Simi does not have any alternative political platform.

“Today if he comes back he may not have any commissioner nominated by him, he might not have a single councillor loyal to him, today if he comes back he won’t have a single member of the State House of Assembly loyal to him.

“Is that what you call peace accord? No.

“Somebody has submitted to superior political firepower.

“If a sitting governor was conquered with all the paraphernalia of office, with all the economic power, with all the financial and political muscles, and other things; if somebody outside the power in the State is able to suppress the governor who is there to challenge that authority?

“It will remain like that till thy kingdom comes. That is my prediction.”
End

Continue Reading

POLITICS

Obi Personally Funded His 2023 Presidential Campaign — Ex-LP Treasurer

Published

on

Share

The former National Treasurer of the Labour Party LP), Oluchi Oparah, dismissed allegations that former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, misused party funds during his 2023 presidential campaign.

Oparah stated that Peter Obi personally funded his campaign activities and also made financial contributions to the party.

She stated that Obi not only financed his own campaign activities but also played a key role in stabilising the party’s finances upon joining.

“There was nothing of such. Mr. Obi never spent any money meant for the party,” Oparah said on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, when asked to react to the allegation by a chieftain of the LP, Abayomi Arabambi, that Obi spent party funds on his campaign.

“In fact, he lifted the party from zero level to where it is today,” she added.

She disclosed that before Obi joined the Labour Party, it was deeply in debt and struggled to pay its staff salaries.

She noted that Obi fulfilled all the financial obligations expected of him and went further to donate to the party from his personal resources.

“Mr. Obi fulfilled every righteousness financially towards the Labour Party. There was never a time he asked for a dime from the party, unlike other political parties will do,” she stated.

She also explained the campaign financing structure, stating that each candidate was permitted to operate a separate campaign account, independent of the party’s official accounts.

She explained that the Labour Party also maintained its financial accounts for party activities.

“He spent a lot of money on the Labour Party. We have programmes that Mr. Obi solely financed by himself. Obi spent from his money because the Labour Party did not have a dime,” Oparah said during the interview.

She also condemned what she termed the lack of accountability in the current APC-led administration and called on Nigerians to concentrate on holding the ruling party accountable instead of targeting Peter Obi.

She also challenged those accusing Obi of financial misconduct to come forward with proof of the payments they claim to have made to the Labour Party.

“As far as I am concerned, Mr. Obi was the only person who showed interest in contesting on the platform of the Labour Party.

“So, anyone claiming whatsoever should come out to show us the particular account to which they paid whatever thing they say they paid to the Labour Party,” she maintained.

Oparah praised Obi’s charitable nature, describing his charitable activities as a consistent trait long before his time as a presidential candidate, adding, “Anyone that knows Mr. Obi very well knows that his act of charity is five and six, like the air he breathes.”

End

Continue Reading

POLITICS

Osun PDP Confident of Adeleke’s Re-election, Mocks APC Aspirants

Published

on

Share

The Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed confidence in Governor Ademola Adeleke’s chances of securing re-election in 2026, declaring that the contest would be a “walk in the park” regardless of the opposition’s candidate.

In a statement issued by the party’s Director of Media, Oladele Bamiji, the PDP ridiculed the growing list of governorship aspirants within the All Progressives Congress (APC) describing the trend as both “amusing” and “a parade of political irrelevance.

“Osun is not a rehabilitation centre for serial election losers and self-serving political actors,” Bamiji stated.

He challenged the APC aspirants to explain their sudden interest in returning to power, asking, “What exactly did they leave behind at the Abere government secretariat that now fuels their desperation? Is it the backlog of unpaid salaries, the plight of neglected pensioners, or the crushed hopes of teachers and local government workers under their watch?”

The PDP emphasized that Governor Adeleke’s administration has maintained a people-centric approach, and any APC candidate would find it difficult to convince voters to abandon progress for a troubled past marked by “failure, deceit, and arrogance.

“They must be ready to face pensioners and explain why their pain went unanswered. They owe explanations to local government workers whose funds were slashed under their leadership and are still being withheld by the APC-led federal government today,” Bamiji added.

He dismissed the opposition’s media attacks against Governor Adeleke as hollow and ineffective, stating, “Throwing insults at a performing governor does not equate to popularity or credibility. The people of Osun no longer vote for deceptive noise; they vote for results they can see.”

Continue Reading

Advertisement

Read Our ePaper

Top Stories

POLITICS9 hours ago

There Was Never a Peace Accord Between Gov Fubara, Wike – Former APC Chieftain Jackson Ojo

ShareBy Mike Odiakose, Abuja A former Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Jackson Lekan Ojo, has dispelled speculations...

Health9 hours ago

World Breastfeeding Week: UNICEF Engages Media on Field Mission

ShareFrom Mike Tayese, Yenagoa As the World mark the 2025 World Breastfeeding Week championed by World Health Organisation (WHO), United...

NEWS2 days ago

New Medical Doctor Appreciates Ex-Reps Deputy Chief Whip, Hon Adekoya for University Sponsorship

ShareBy Mike Odiakose, Abuja A fresh graduate medical doctor from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State, Dr Ogunmakinju Oluwaseun, has expressed...

NEWS2 days ago

Bandit Tax in Zamfara, Ghost Town in Kwara, signs of Failure – ADC

ShareBy Johnson Eyiangho, Abuja The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has expressed deep concern over the reported extortion of over N56...

JUDICIARY2 days ago

Court Acquits Medical Doctor of Cybercrime Charges

Share The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed cybercrime charges filed by the Inspector-General of Police against a female...

NEWS2 days ago

Oyo govt Denies Fake Pension Verification Notice

ShareThe Oyo State Government has denied a notice currently circulating among pensioners concerning a supposed verification exercise. This is contained...

NEWS2 days ago

Police Arrest Suspects for TCN Vandalism

Share The Police Command in Gombe State said on Friday that two suspects had been arrested for allegedly vandalising TCN...

NEWS2 days ago

2027: PDP Vows to Sanction Members Endorsing APC

ShareThe National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has vowed to sanction its members endorsing the ruling...

NEWS2 days ago

Onitsha Port can Generate N10bn Yearly – Official

ShareThe Onitsha River Port Manager, Mr Martins Osazuwa, says the port can generate N10 billion annually if fully operational. Osazuwa...

NEWS2 days ago

NNPC Sacks Pump Attendant, Suspends Station Manager in Lagos

ShareThe Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC ) Retail Ltd says it has sacked a pump attendant and suspended a Station...

Copyright © 2021 Daily Asset Limited | Powered by ObajeSoft Inc