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FG Approves $1.96bn For Kano – Niger Republic Rail Project

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By Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

The Nigerian government has approved a contract for the construction of 248 kilometres rail line from Kano – Maradi, in the Niger Republic at a cost of $1.96 billion.

The approval was given on Wednesday, during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.


Speaking with State House Correspondents after the meeting, the Minister of Transportation, Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, disclosed that the contract was initiated in February 2018 and was designed to connect three Nigerian states in the north – Kano, Katsina and Jigawa as well as seven senatorial districts.

The rail line, which will start from Kano, will pass through Dambatta, Kazaure, Daura, Mashi, Katsina, Jibia and terminate in Maradi, Niger Republic.


The minister explained that the project when completed, would assist in the supply of crude oil from the Niger Republic to the refinery being built in the border town between both countries.

The Minister also disclosed that another contract was approved for the Ministry, which is for the construction of design, manufacturing, supply, testing and commissioning of a railway crane, for the purposes of clearing rail tracks in situations of accidents.

“Two memos for the Ministry of Transportation. The first one is the award of contract for the design, manufacture, supply, testing and commissioning of one railway crane of 150 ton capacity for emergency and recovery of rolling stocks.

“This is to sort out say situations of an accident on the track. It is for a total cost of N3,049,544,000. That’s the first memo that was approved for the Ministry of Transportation.

“The second one is the award of contract for the development of the proposed Kano-Katsina-Jibia to Maradi rail line in the Niger Republic and to Dutse, the capital of Jigawa, for a total cost of $1,959,744,723.71, inclusive of 7.5% VAT”, he said.

Speaking at the briefing, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, spoke to State House Correspondents on behalf of the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, who also presented memoranda at the FEC meeting, but were unavailable to address the press.

According to Alhaji Mohammed, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, presented two memos, which were approved by FEC.

The first contract would be for the procurement of 1,800 units of laptop computers for three Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) training schools, at the cost of N351,540,000. The second contract, costing N197,843,100, would be for NCS cash management’s software.

“On behalf of the Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning I want to report also that she got two of her memos approved. One is for the procurement of 1,800 units of laptop computers for training school and computer-based test examinations at three Nigeria Customs Service training schools in Gwagwalada, Lagos and Kano for a sum of N351,540,000, with a completion period of six weeks.

“The major advantage of this particular contract is that it saves the department a lot of money in hiring consultants for training and other services.

“The Minister also got another approval for N197,843,100 for the expansion of the Nigeria Customs Service’s cash management’s software in compliance with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS). This is also going to enhance the efficiency of the Department of Customs”, he said.

On the report he delivered on behalf of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, Alhaji Mohammed said “on behalf of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, a memo was presented today asking for approval for the augmentation of the contract for the construction of Petroleum Technology Development Fund corporate headquarters office in Abuja, for the sum of N3,773,784,399.48, therefore raising the initial approval for the contract to about N14 billion.

“However, the important thing about this particular contract is that the building has since been completed, it has since been in use and we inherited this augmentation from 2012, but since governance is a continuum, we are honouring the augmentation, but this headquarters building has been completed, the contractors have been magnanimous while all these arguments about the augmentation were going on, they were magnanimous enough to complete the project and many international conferences have been held in that building”, he said.

Vaclav Havel to the Rescue…By Olusegun Adeniyi

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Popular American author and speaker, Natalie Golberg, has written a lot about writing, including what writers should do when they have no clue about what to write about—a situation I find myself in right now. In such moments, Golberg suggests writing about “What disturbs you, what you fear, what you have not been willing to speak about.” I have several times taken her counsel but it does not work for me this week. There are so many things that disturb me or that I fear or that I would rather not speak about. Take the death last Sunday of Colonel Haliru Bako who was killed in a firefight with insurgents in Gamboa, Borno State.

Although I never met the late gallant officer, I know some of his senior colleagues who speak highly of him. It is sad that the commander of ‘Operation Lafiya Dole’ would die along with his men following an ambush by the same Boko Haram insurgents that military authorities continue telling Nigeria have been ‘technically defeated’. As Boko Haram and terror affiliates step up their capacity to kill, maim and kidnap at will, the Coalition of North East Elders for Peace and Development (CNEEPD) at the weekend said the excuses being tendered by service chiefs were no longer acceptable. The statement, tagged: ‘We are tired of excuses, sack service chiefs now,’ and signed by the group’s chairman, Zana Goni, called on President Muhammadu Buhari “to honour the resolution of the National Assembly and positions of the majority of Nigerians to immediately remove the service chiefs and bring in new hands to effectively confront the security challenges staring us in our face as a nation.”

The North-east elders can say whatever they like but the service chiefs are well aware that they are secure in their positions and that the president will not heed such counsel. Certainly not from some elders. Nor from the general public or even the National Assembly. Which then explains why at a time insurgents are escalating their brutality against civilians as well as our troops, the army leadership is busy funding the production of a Nollywood movie, ‘Fatal Arrogance’, in an apparent move to justify the December 2015 massacre of hundreds of Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) Shiite members in Kaduna which led to the injury and subsequent arrest and detention of their leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat.

Now that the army has moved into Nollywood movie production, I hope the script writers will not forget to include the disclosure by the then Secretary to the Kaduna State Government, Balarabe Lawal, that 347 corpses were given a mass burial in a single grave on the night of 14th December 2015. According to Lawal, 191 of the corpses were recovered from the Army Depot in Zaria and another batch of 156 corpses from the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH). I hope they also included the chilling testimony of the Director-General of Interfaith, Muhammad Namadi Musa: “On 13th December, 2015, I received a phone call from the SSG to come to the Government House after which I was directed to go to Zaria to find out the number of corpses and how they would be buried. I moved in company of the State Commissioner of Police straight to ABUTH, Zaria to ascertain the number of corpses. There we counted 156 corpses. At the Nigerian Depot, the SSG directed me to meet with one Major Ogundare regarding the corpses there. After introducing myself, he refused to let me know the number; but later on, the SSG told me the number. He also confirmed the number while they were being buried; as he counted them one after the other as they were laid in one grave. We left the Nigerian Army Depot with three heavy-duty trucks and 60 young officers who escorted us to assist in offloading the corpses. From ABUTH, Zaria, five small trucks carried the corpses. Most corpses were covered with black materials and they included women and children.”

As disturbing as this Nollywood agenda of the army may be, I would rather wait until the movie hits Netflix before I make my comments. But while we are still about things that disturb, I read a story yesterday that left me dumfounded. On Monday evening in Calabar, Cross River State, two teenagers suspected to be armed robbers were lynched by an angry mob. The story carried two sets of photographs, one showing the apprehended teenagers and the second, showing them in flames. “When we noticed that the boys were robbing; we decided to lay siege and accost them…Two ran through a nearby street; while the one who joined us in raising alarm wanted to escape via Rabana roundabout, he was apprehended and lynched. The other was also lynched and set ablaze,” according to the eyewitness quoted in the report.

Sadly, the Calabar incident is just one of several such cases where lives were taken without due process. A Google search revealed the growing numbers of Nigerians who have been ‘tried and summarily executed’ by mobs for offences they may not even have committed. I did not even know that jungle justice is another sordid emblem for our country until I read Wikipedia, describing it as “a form of public extrajudicial killings in sub-Saharan African, most notably Nigeria and Cameroon, where an alleged criminal is humiliated, beaten or summarily executed by a crowd or vigilantes.” After highlighting the different ways by which this brand of justice is usually carried out in the two countries, Wikipedia now concludes: “This form of street justice occurs where a dysfunctional and corrupt judiciary system and law enforcement have lost all credibility.”

Since even a writer must know when to ‘off the mic’, I believe we should leave that matter for now. Meanwhile, I have received several mails asking why there has been a deafening silence from me on the Edo State gubernatorial election despite all the drama of the past few months. My response to those who asked has been: When two people to whom I relate very well fight each other, if I cannot reconcile them, I try to stay out of their trouble.

In researching my book, ‘From Frying Pan to Fire: How African Migrants Risk Everything in their Futile Search for a Better Life in Europe’ I spent considerable time in the Edo state capital and interacted quite a bit with Governor Godwin Obaseki and many of his aides. So, I knew as far back as November 2018 that all was not well between the governor and his predecessor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who was at that period the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman. I thought I could bring the duo to reach a compromise on the two issues that divided them: One, how to handle local party operatives who the governor said had become law unto themselves and needed to be tamed; and two, the choice of APC candidates for the Edo State House of Assembly in the 2019 general election. I had separate (one-on-one) meetings with both Obaseki and Oshiomhole but nothing came of my efforts at reconciliation. I am also aware of efforts by many other stakeholders that similarly failed.

Several factors shaped the Edo State gubernatorial election and I am going to come back to them one day. But the one being glossed over, yet perhaps most significant, is that Governor Obaseki benefited from the politics of 2023 and the cold calculations within the different factions of the ruling party. Besides, the majority of APC Governors who were not happy about the way their former colleague was edged out, by their nods and winks, were rooting for Obaseki to win and may have supported him. But the pre-election video statement by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was also a needless own goal that provoked the slogan, ‘Edo no be Lagos’ and the nationalistic fervour that worked for the incumbent.

I congratulate Governor Obaseki on his well-deserved victory based on his performance in office but I wish he would take the admonition by President Muhammadu Buhari and be magnanimous. Whatever may be the difference between him and Oshiomhole today, he should not forget yesterday. While he and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that sheltered him with their umbrella (after the conspiracy that denied him the APC ticket) therefore deserve their victory dance, the conventional wisdom in the Yoruba adage that what is after six can sometimes be more than seven will serve the re-elected governor well at a time like this.

However, beyond the drama of personalities, the most significant lesson to draw from the Edo election is the fact that political parties mean nothing in Nigeria. That is an issue we must come back to interrogate. But what I fail to understand is those who query the accolades being given to President Buhari by the PDP and the victorious governor. For the uninitiated, this was the response of former President Olusegun Obasanjo in November 2012 to a remark made by former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau of Kano on the 2003 gubernatorial election in his state at a roundtable on party politics organized by the National Institute for Legislative Studies in Abuja: “I want to thank former Governor Shekarau for what happened to him in Kano. What he did not know, which he may want to know today, is that he won that election with a very narrow margin, and if I had yielded to pressure, that narrow margin would have been changed.”

Since I am not disturbed about the outcome of the gubernatorial election in Edo State, I think we should leave that matter for today. I also want to keep my counsel on the proposed strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (NUC) over the recent hike in electricity tariff and pump price of petrol. Yet, as I was ruminating on how to fill this page today, I received one of those ‘forwarded’ WhatsApp messages from Senator Sanusi Dagash. It was the 28th May, 1991 acceptance speech delivered by the late President Vaclav Havel when he was awarded the Sonning Prize by the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, for his contribution to European civilization. A famous writer, public intellectual and dissident, the late Havel, last president of Czechoslovakia and the first president of Czech Republic, was an unusual politician and that much was reflected in this speech titled, ‘The Temptation of Political Power’. I leave it for readers as I tender my apology for not writing this week.
The prize I’ve been honored with today is usually given to intellectuals, not to politicians. I am obviously what can be called an intellectual, but at the same time, fate has determined that I find myself — literally overnight — in what is called the world of high politics. With your permission, I would like to take advantage of my unusual experience and try to cast a critical eye of an intellectual on the phenomenon of power as I have been able to observe it so far from the inside, and especially on the nature of the temptation that power represents. Why is it that people long for political power, and why, when they have achieved it, are they so reluctant to give it up?

In the first place, people are driven into politics by ideas about a better way to organize society, by faith in certain values or ideals, be they impeccable or dubious, and the irresistible desire to fight for those ideas and turn them into reality. In the second place, they are probably motivated by the natural longing every human being has for self-affirmation. Is it possible to imagine a more attractive way to affirm your own existence and its importance than that offered by political power? In essence, it gives you a tremendous opportunity to leave your mark, in the broadest sense, on your surroundings, to shape the world around you in your own image, to enjoy the respect that every political office almost automatically bestows upon the one who holds it. In the third place, many people long for political power and are so reluctant to part with it because of the wide range of perks that are a necessary part of political life — even under the most democratic of conditions.

These three categories are always, I have observed, intertwined in complicated ways, and at times it is almost impossible to determine which of them predominates. The second and third categories, for instance, are usually subsumed under the first category. I have never met a politician who could admit to the world, or even to himself, that he was running for office only because he wanted to affirm his own importance, or because he wanted to enjoy the perks that come with political power. On the contrary, we all repeat over and over that we care not about power as such but about certain general values. We say it is only our sense of responsibility to the community that compels us to take upon ourselves the burden of public office. At times, only God Himself knows whether that is true, or simply a more palatable way of justifying to the world and ourselves our longing for power, and our need to affirm, through our power and its reach, that we exist in a truly valid and respectable way.

The situation is made more complicated because the need for self-affirmation is not essentially reprehensible. It is intrinsically human, and I can hardly imagine a human being who does not long for recognition, affirmation, and a visible manifestation of his own being.

I am one of those people who consider their term in political office as an expression of responsibility and duty toward the whole community, and even as a sort of sacrifice. But, observing other politicians whom I know very well and who make the same claim, I feel compelled again and again to examine my own motives and ask whether I am not beginning to deceive myself. Might I not be more concerned with satisfying an unacknowledged longing for self-affirmation — a desire to prove that I mean something and that therefore I exist — than I am with pure public service? In short, I am beginning to have suspicions about myself. More precisely, my experience so far with politics and politicians compels me to have these suspicions. In fact, every new prize I receive compels me to be a degree more suspicious.

The third category of reasons for desiring political power — longing for the advantages power brings, or simply getting used to those advantages — deserves special attention. It is interesting to observe how diabolical the temptations of power are, precisely in this sphere. This is best observed among those of us who have never held power of any kind before. Bravely, we used to condemn the powerful for enjoying advantages that deepened the gulf between them and the rest. Now we ourselves are in power.

We are beginning, inadvertently but dangerously, to resemble in some ways our contemptible precursors. It bothers us, it upsets us, but we are discovering that we simply can’t, or don’t know how to, put a stop to it. I will give you several examples.

It would make no sense whatever for a government minister to miss an important cabinet discussion of a law that will influence the country for decades to come simply because he has a toothache and has to wait all afternoon at the dentist’s until his turn comes. So — in the interests of his country — he arranges to be treated by a special dentist, someone he doesn’t have to wait for.

It would certainly not make sense for a politician to miss an important state meeting with a foreign colleague simply because he has been held up by the vagaries of public transport. So — he has a government car and a chauffeur.

It would certainly not make sense for a president or a prime minister to miss such a meeting simply because his car is caught in a traffic jam, so he has the special right to pass cars that are ahead of him or to go through red lights, and in his case the traffic police tolerate it.

It would certainly make no sense for a politician to waste valuable time sweating over a stove and cooking an official meal for a counterpart from abroad. So he has a personal cook and waiters to do it for him.

It would certainly make no sense for the president’s cook to go from butcher shop to butcher shop like a normal homemaker in a post-socialist country in search of meat good enough to offer without shame to an important guest. So special deliveries of supplies are arranged for prominent people and their cooks.

It would certainly make no sense if a president or a premier had to look up numbers in the telephone book himself and then keep trying again and again until he reached the person or until the line became free. Quite logically, then, this is done by an assistant.

To sum up: I go to a special doctor, I don’t have to drive a car, and my driver need not lose his temper going through Prague at a snail’s pace. I needn’t cook or shop for myself, and I needn’t even dial my own telephone when I want to talk to someone. In other words, I find myself in the world of privileges, exceptions, perks; in the world of VIPs who gradually lose track of how much butter or a streetcar ticket costs, how to make a cup of coffee, how to drive a car, and how to place a telephone call. I find myself on the very threshold of the world of the communist fat cats whom I have criticized all my life.

And worst of all, everything has its own unassailable logic. It would be laughable and contemptible for me to miss a meeting that served the interests of my country because I had spent my presidential time in a dentist’s waiting room, or lining up for meat, or nervously battling the decrepit Prague telephone system, or engaging in the hopeless task of finding a taxi in Prague when I am obviously not from the West and therefore not in possession of dollars.

But where do logic and objective necessity stop and excuses begin? Where does the interest of the country stop and the love of privileges begin? Do we know, and are we at all capable of recognizing, the moment when we cease to be concerned with the interests of the country for whose sake we tolerate these privileges, and start to be concerned with the advantages themselves, which we excuse by appealing to the interests of the country?

Regardless of how pure his intentions may originally have been, it takes a high degree of self-awareness and critical distance for someone in power — however well-meaning at the start — to recognize that moment. I myself wage a constant and rather unsuccessful struggle with the advantages I enjoy, and I would not dare say that I can always identify that moment clearly. You get used to things, and gradually, without being aware of it, you may lose your sense of judgement.

Again, being in power makes me permanently suspicious of myself. What is more, I suddenly have a greater understanding of those who are starting to lose their battle with the temptations of power. In attempting to persuade themselves that they are still merely serving their country, they increasingly persuade themselves of nothing more than their own excellence, and begin to take their privileges for granted.

There is something treacherous, delusive, and ambiguous in the temptation of power. On the one hand, political power gives you the wonderful opportunity to confirm, day in and day out, that you really exist, that you have your own undeniable identity, that with every word and deed you a leaving a highly visible mark on the world around you. Yet within that same political power and in everything that logically belongs to it lies a terrible danger: that, while pretending to confirm our existence and our identity, political power will in fact rob us of them.

Someone who forgets how to drive a car, do the shopping, make himself coffee, and place a telephone call is not the same person who had known how to do those things all his life. A person who had never before had to look into the lens of a television camera and now has to submit his every movement to its watchful eye is not the same person he once was. He becomes a captive of his position, his perks, his office. What apparently confirms his identity and thus his existence in fact subtly takes that identity and existence away from him. He is no longer in control of himself, because he is controlled by something else: by his position and its exigencies, its consequences, its aspects, and its privileges.

There is something deadening about this temptation. Under the mantle of existential self-affirmation, existence is confiscated, alienated, deadened. A person is transformed into a stone bust of himself. The bust may accentuate his undying importance and fame, but at the same time it is no more than a piece of dead stone. Kierkegaard wrote ‘Sickness unto Death’. Allow me to paraphrase your excellent countryman and coin the phrase “power unto death.”

What may we conclude from this?

Certainly not that it is improper to devote oneself to politics because politics is, in principle, immoral. What follows is something else. Politics is an area of human endeavor that places greater stress on moral sensitivity, on the ability to reflect critically on oneself, on genuine responsibility, on taste and tact, on the capacity to empathize with others, on a sense of moderation, on humility. It is a job for modest people, for people who cannot be deceived.

Those who claim that politics is a dirty business are lying to us. Politics is work of a kind that requires especially pure people, because it is especially easy to become morally tainted. So easy, in fact, that a less vigilant spirit may not notice happening it at all. Politics, therefore, ought to be carried on by people who are vigilant, sensitive to the ambiguous promise of self-affirmation that comes with it.

I have no idea whether I am such a person. I only know that I ought to be, because I have accepted this office.

How poor phone network aided killing of Plateau traditional ruler; LG Chairman, Commissioner lament killing

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The Chairman of Berom Educational and Cultural Organisation (BECO), Foron, Mr. Sale Dagalang, has said that unknown gunmen killed Da Bulus Chuwang Janka, District Head of Foron in Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area, near his home where he withdrew to answer a call due to poor network reception.

According to him, the sad incident took place at about 8.00 p.m. in Razat village. He said Late Janka got a phone call but due to poor network reception, “had to move outside his residence for better network, which turned out to be his undoing.

“This is because while answering that call, the bandits, who were hiding in a nearby maize farm, swooped on him and shot him at close range before bolting away”.

Recall that Governor Simon Lalong has vowed that the killers would be traced and brought to book.

Meanwhile, the gruesome murder has been condemned by the Chairman of Barkin Ladi local government council, Da Alamba Jock Danladi.

Alamba, commiserating with the immediate family of the deceased monarch and the Foron community at large,
noted with dismay the killing of the royal father.

In a statement by Ms. Jacqueline Dakat, the
Information Officer, Barkin Ladi Local .Government.Council, the Chairman said the killing, coming after all efforts towards total restoration of peace is a ploy to plunge back the area into its ignominious past of violence.

The Chairman appealed to the people to eschew violence, though the death of Da Chuwang is painful. He prayed for fortitude for the family and people to bear the loss

Alamba said he felt especially pained by the killing of Da Janka, a critical stakeholder in peace building in Foron District, Barkin Ladi, and Plateau State at large. He added that the invaluable role played by the royal father would be greatly missed.

Alamba further noted that he would not be distracted by the unfortunate incident coming barely after his assumption of office as Chairman of Barkin Ladi, and when strategies for an ending peace in the area were being fashioned. He pledged to bring to an end the threat to peace and security.

The Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr. Musa Gyang, a native of Foron, decried the killing of the ruler whom he described as committed to the attainment of peace.

He however, called on the State Government and the security agencies, especially the District Divisional Police Officer of Barkin Ladi, to create Police outposts in strategic locations to curtail future occurrences.

He commended the security agents for their timely and rapid response to the incident which has restored hope to the members of the community.

Lalong vows to find killers of traditional ruler murdered in his home, six others killed

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Following the gruesome murder of the Acting Gwom Rwey Foron, Da Bulus Chuwang Janka, Plateau Governor, Hon. Simon Lalong has assured that the killers, who murdered him in his home at Rasat community of Foron in Barkin Ladi Local Government, will he apprehended and dealt with.

Six others, sources told Everyday.ng, were killed in the Monday night attack, believed to have been perpetrated by alleged Fulani militia, in the “usual guerilla-style, hit-and-disappear style” that is getting common in Plateau and southern parts of Kaduna”.

Angry Lalong, according to a statement by his spokesman, Dr. Makut Simon Macham, said the murderers will not be allowed to go unpunished as security agencies in collaboration with ‘local intelligence’ have launched a thorough investigation to arrest the perpetrators and their collaborators.

Lalong said ” the Local Government Chairman and heads of security agencies have briefed me on the sad development and the level of investigation so far. I have repeated my charge to them that the days of unknown gunmen is over in Plateau State as innocent people cannot be killed without anybody being apprehended and put to trial. We are using the concept of community policing to dig into this paarticular case and see to it that the criminals are arrested. If we do not do so, more criminals will be bold to attack and kill our citizens”.

The Governor also appealed to citizens across the State to intensify vigilance against criminals who are bent on rupturing the peace of the State at all costs, assuring that they will not be allowed to succeed.

Lalong sympathised with the family of the Royal father, the people of Barkin Ladi as well as the entire State over the unfortunate incident.

He asked people of the area to cooperate with the Local Government Authority as well as security agencies in not only cracking this case, but also preventing further occurrences.

CAMA contains dangerous provisions, say Falana, Odinkalu

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Oladimeji Ramon

Human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN) and a former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, among others, on Wednesday, attacked the newly passed Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020, saying many of its provisions would allow for gross violation of fundamental human rights.

Falana and Odinkalu argued that the new law gave too much power to the Registrar General of the Corporate Affairs Commission, which can easily be used to arbitrarily clamp down on civil society organisations.

But the RG of CAC, Alhaji Garba Abubakar, speaking through Mr Justine Nidiya, said the new law should be allowed to operate first and given “benefit of the doubt; and if there are challenges we will address them by way of amendments.”

They spoke at a virtual town-hall meeting, with the theme, “CAMA 2020: Regulation or Repression?” co-organised by European Union-ACT; Open Society Initiative for West Africa; Working Group on Civil Society Regulatory Environment;  Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project and the CAC.

Falana, in his remarks, faulted Section 389 of the law that empowers the CAC to suspend the Board of Trustees of an organisation in crisis and appoint an interim committee to manage its affairs.

Describing the section as a violation of the rights to freedom of association, Falana argued that the CAC should allow organisations to manage their internal crisis in line with their constitutions.

He said, “The organisation has been registered with its constitution; the Registrar General of the CAC has no power to throw away the constitution incorporated with the organisation.

“Once you have registered the constitution of an organisation and it has provided for Board of Trustees, it has provided for accountability mechanisms, you must respect such provisions of the organisation’s constitution that has been registered.

“The point being made that we should allow this law to work before we point out these very dangerous provisions will not be the best approach.”

According to Falana, another offensive provision of the law is Section 842, empowering the CAC to take over the funds in the bank accounts of an organisation in crisis.

The SAN said it was tantamount to “obtaining money by false pretence.”

Falana also condemned Section 831 of the law, which, he said, empowers the RG of the CAC to forcefully merge two organisations.

Furthermore, he described as most offensive, Section 851 of the law, which empowers the CAC to set up an Administrative Proceedings Committee, headed by the RG of CAC, to resolve internal disputes in an organisation.

Falana said, “The Administrative Proceedings Committee will be headed by the Registrar General of the CAC; so, he is going to be the accuser, the prosecutor and also the judge to decide who is wrong or right. He is also going to be empowered to impose penalties on any organisation who fails to file returns. These powers are draconian.”

In his remarks, Odinkalu described Part F of CAMA 2020 as a “mish-mash” of borrowed laws from the United Kingdom, hastily copied without the safeguards in the English law.

Also speaking, the Country Director of Amnesty International in Nigeria, Osai Ojigho, said NGOs were already adequately regulated, stressing that the intervention by the CAC was needless.

But the representative of CAC RG, Nidiya, maintained that there was no room for abuse because the Board of Trustees of an organisation will only be suspended after a Board of Inquiry set up by the CAC would have looked into their crisis and made recommendations to the CAC.

Nidiya said, “Our own thinking is that at the Board of Inquiry level, all issues of human rights would have been taken care of because the Board of Inquiry will not just arrive at a decision without giving the parties the right of fair hearing.”

TIME 100 2020: Tony Elumelu named 100 Most Influential People in the World

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TIME 100 2020: Tony Elumelu named 100 Most Influential People in the World

TIME has named Tony O. Elumelu, one of Africa’s leading investors and philanthropists, in the 2020 TIME100, the annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

The list, now in its seventeenth year, recognises the activism, innovation, and achievement of the world’s most influential individuals.

Mr Elumelu, who is one of only four Africans on the 2020 list, is recognised for his track record of business turnaround and value creation, and economic empowerment of young Africans.

Mr Elumelu is the most prominent champion of entrepreneurship in Africa. In 2010, he created The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), the philanthropy empowering a new generation of African entrepreneurs, catalysing economic growth, driving poverty eradication and ensuring job creation across all 54 African countries. Since inception, the Foundation has funded just under 10,000 entrepreneurs and created a digital ecosystem of over one million as part of its ten year, US$100m commitment through the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme. Self-funded, the Foundation is increasingly sharing its unique ability to identify, train, mentor and fund young entrepreneurs across Africa, with institutions such as the UNDP, the ICRC and leading European development agencies.

Heirs Holdings, which serves as a corporate role model for African businesses, and the Tony Elumelu Foundation will both celebrate 10 years of impact in November. Their mission continues to be inspired by Mr Elumelu’s economic philosophy of Africapitalism, which positions the private sector, and most importantly entrepreneurs, as the catalyst for the social and economic development of the continent.

TIME 100 2020: Tony Elumelu named 100 Most Influential People in the World
TIME 100 2020: Tony Elumelu named 100 Most Influential People in the World

The full list of the 2020 TIME100 and tributes appear on time.com/time100.

Muhammadu Buhari, in a statement signed by Femi Adesina, commended Elumelu’s vision of Africapitalism.

According to Buhari, Elumelu’s vision espouses that Africa’s private sector must play a leading role in the continent’s development through long-term investments, entrepreneurship, and regional connectivity.

Buhari said that it was just a matter of time before such caught global attention.

Buhari, in the statement, said that “Elumelu’s commitment to the development of African youths, whom he has given a voice and empowerment, investing $5,000 in 1,000 young entrepreneurs per year across 54 countries, pedestals him as a visionary, with milk of human kindness, ‘and such, among others, must have qualified him for the Time Hall of Fame.’

“The President wishes Elumelu greater successes on all fronts, and recommends his strides to other high networth people.”

VIRGINITY AND FOOD.

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(1) You have heard how it was said in the past, “Keep your virginity because it is your pride; it is the one gift you can ever give to your husband.”

But I say this to you,

Do not keep your virginity for your husband or for any man. No man deserves your virginity. Virginity is not meant to be a gift to any human; both you and your man are supposed to be virgins ordinarily. Do not mix it up!

Being a virgin ordinarily means you are not involving yourself in any sexual sin. In this way, you are pure, both in heart and in body. The reward for purity in the beatitudes is that you shall see the Lord…

If there is any reason why you should keep your virginity, let this reason be your number one: “That blessed are the pure in heart (character inclusive) whose body are the temple of the holyspirit, for they shall see God.”

(2) You have heard how it was said in the past, “Teach your daughters not to allow any man to touch them.”

But I say this to you,

You spend all your energy teaching only your daughters how to be virgins and to be God-fearing without considering your sons. Your neighbours down there also spent all their energies too teaching only their daughters same thing…

At the end of the day,

The sons of your neighbour who were not taught to keep their virginity find your daughters sexually attractive and decided to talk them out of all the virginity lessons you gave them. They fell for it. They had sex!

Then your own sons too, who were not taught to keep their virginity, find your neighbour’s daughters sexually attractive and decided to also talk them out of all the virginity lessons your neighbour gave them. They too fell for it. They had sex!

At the end, you and your neighbours only succeeded in fooling yourselves!!!!!!

(3) You have heard how it was said in the past, “Mothers, teach your daughters how to cook, that is the one way to get into a man’s heart.”

But I say this to you,

Teach yours sons and daughters how to cook. Something as important as food that is meant to sustain, nourish, and preserve life should not be left for just one gender alone…

Besides, it is unfair if your daughters could get into a man’s heart through food, and your sons cannot get into a woman’s heart too through food. Don’t gurls eat too? Why deny your boy a basic survival skills of cooking, something as important as food, simply because he has penis?

Why subject him to be always dependent on females before he can eat? That is unfair! That is wickedness!

When Breach to a Woman’s Right to Self-dignity Occurs at the Workplace, the only Court with Jurisdiction is the National Industrial Court

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When discrimination or breach to a woman’s right to self-dignity occurs at the workplace, the only Court with jurisdiction is the National Industrial Court. Workplaces just like any other should be safe and provide women with a conducive atmosphere for them to operate.
DAPAAH & ANOR. vs. ODEY
(2018)LPELR-46151(CA)

ISSUE: JURISDICTION OF THE NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL COURT-Whether the National Industrial Court has jurisdiction to hear a claim of violation of fundamental right to freedom from discrimination in a workplace by reason of sex

PRINCIPLE:
“Jurisdiction is a threshold issue and very fundamental to every adjudication, it was held in the case of OKORO & ORS. VS. EGBUNOH & ORS. (2006) LPELR-2491 (SC) thus:
“Although jurisdiction is a word of large purport and signification in the judicial process, it is not a subject of speculation or gossip by Counsel as it is a matter of strict and hard law donated by the
Constitution and Statutes. It is a threshold issue, the blood that gives life to the survival of the action, and occupying such an important place in judicial process”. Per TOBI, JSC, (of blessed memory).

It is settled law that it is the Plaintiff or Claimant’s claim that determines the jurisdiction of the Court to entertain a cause or matter. See: INAKOJU VS. ADELEKE (2007) 4 NWLR (PT. 1025) 427 @ 588-589
H-C; ELABANJO VS. DAWODU (2006) 15 NWLR (PT. 1001) 76; ADEYEMI VS. OPEYORI (1976) 9-10 SC 31; TUKUR VS. GOVERNMENT OF GONGOLA STATE (1989) 4 NWLR (PT. 117) 517. It was held in MADUKOLU
VS. NKEMDILIM (1962) 2 SCNLR 341, (1962) 1 ALL NLR 587 AT 594 that a Court is competent when: a. It is properly constituted as regards numbers and qualifications of the members of the bench, and no member is disqualified for one reason or the other; b. the subject matter of the case is within jurisdiction, and there is no feature in the case which prevents the Court from exercising its jurisdiction; and
c. the case comes before the Court initiated by due process of law, and upon fulfillment of any condition precedent to the exercise of jurisdiction”. See also: SKENCONSULT (NIG.) LTD. VS. UKEY (1981) 1
SC 6 AT 62; INAKOJU VS. ADELEKE (SUPRA) @ 588. That was Kekere-Ekun, JSC, in EMEKA VS. OKORO (2017) LPELR-41738 (SC).

It is necessary therefore that a Court has jurisdiction over a principal claim in a matter to avoid multiplicity of action between the same parties, otherwise, it will impact negatively on the proceedings and
its outcome. The complaint of the Appellant here is that part of the claim of the Respondent touching on fundamental rights cannot fall within the jurisdiction of the trial Court.

The Respondent submitted that Exhibit D6 makes it clear that she was not given any notification or advice of no performance as required by the agreement and consequently, the conclusion is that she
was victimized due to her refusal to accede to the 1st Appellant’s amorous overtures and who happens to be her line manager contrary to Exhibit D6 – a Cuso International document which prevents workplace harassment as a policy. The agreement has workplace protection clause in favour of the Respondent which was breached.
Workplace issues are strictly under the trial Court’s jurisdiction. And such issues have a wide coverage area. Section 254C (1) (d), (f), (g), (h) of the 1999 Constitution Third Alteration Act conferred on the
trial Court jurisdiction in the following matters, it says:
“Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 251, 257, 272 and anything contained in this Constitution and in addition to such jurisdiction as may be conferred upon it by an Act of the National Assembly,
the National Industrial Court shall have and exercise jurisdiction to the exclusion of any other Court in civil cases and matters-
(f) relating to or connected with unfair labour practices or international best practices in labour, employment and industrial relation matters;
(g) relating to or connected with any dispute arising from discrimination or sexual harassment in the workplace;
(h) relating to, connected with or pertaining to the application or interpretation of international labour standards; and
Furthermore, Section 254C (2) adds the following:
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this constitution, the National Industrial Court shall have jurisdiction and power to deal with any matter connected with or pertaining to the application of any
international convention, treaty or protocol of which Nigeria has ratified relating to labour, employment, workplace, industrial relations or matters connected therewith”.
The Respondent submitted that Exhibit D6 (2) paragraph defines workplace harassment and from the definition the complaint of the Respondent was established by evidence.

Furthermore, it was not denied in the pleadings, referred to pages 94-97 of the record of appeal. She contended that the 1st Appellant abused his position as her manager and finally terminated her employment because she refused his overtures that the trial Court made findings which were not appealed against, so they are deemed admitted, citing UGO VS. UGO (2017) MJSC VOL. 4-5 (PT. 7) 26 and IYOHO VS. EFFIONG
(2007) 4 SC (PT. 111) 90 on specific finding of a Court.

It must be made out in clear terms that the claim before the trial Court was not a fundamental Rights Proceedings brought under the specialized rules applicable to those class of claims. The claim here
was wrongful termination having its root or origin in sextortion (sexual harassment) in the workplace. A woman has inalienable right to her dignity as a woman and cannot be discriminated on the basis of her being a woman. The Respondent rebuffed all the advances of a male superior in the office resulting in the termination of her appointment and therefore it cannot have or reflect a fundamental right
breach as the principal claim. The breach was intricately connected and it led to the wrongful termination. The 1999 Constitution (As Amended) categorically protected the rights of a woman against such activities of weak men in the workplace. Section 31 of the Constitution provides that every individual is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person and Section 42 guarantees the right to freedom from discrimination and it says:

“(1) A citizen of Nigeria of a particular community, ethnic group, place of origin, sex, religion or political opinion shall not, by reason only that he is such a person-
(a) Be subjected either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or executive or administrative action of the government, to disabilities or restrictions to which citizens of
Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex religions or political opinion are not made subject; or
(b) Be accorded either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or any such executive or administrative action, any privilege or advantage that is not accorded to citizens
of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religious or political opinions.

The trial judge relied on Section 42 and relevant international conventions to which Nigeria is a signatory and which were ratified, they have the force of law and are applicable in this Country. The challenge posed by the Appellant is that the trial Court should not have anything to do with fundamental right, I found an answer in the Constitution and the additional jurisdiction of the trial Court with regards to fundamental right breaches is provided for in Section 254C (1) (d) of the Third Alteration to the 1999 Constitution which says:
“Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 251, 257, 272 and anything contained in this Constitution and in addition to such other jurisdiction as may be conferred upon it by an Act of National Assembly, the National Industrial Court shall have and exercise jurisdiction to the exclusion of any other Court in civil cases and matters-
d. relating to or connected with any dispute over the interpretation and application of the provisions of Chapter IV of the Constitution as it relates to any employment, labour, industrial relations, trade
unionism, employers association or any other matter which the Court has jurisdiction to hear and determine.”
It is crystal clear that Chapter IV provides for right to human dignity and freedom from discrimination which is both human rights amongst other human rights. The trial Court therefore can within a claim
arising from employment or a claim related to where those rights are intricately connected and to which workplace related issues arise have jurisdiction.

It is settled that once the alleged breach of human rights is not the principal claim, the Court with complete or fuller jurisdiction usually hears the claim, therefore, the trial Court can hear a claim for wrongful termination where a breach of human right is alleged as an ancillary issue. The Supreme Court settled the issue of a principal and ancillary claim where human right is alleged as a subsidiary claim in the case of EMEKA VS. OKORO (2017) LPELR-4173 (SC) which held thus:
“When the main or principal relief or redress cannot be raised or enforced under the FREPR; it is immaterial that in the course of committing the cause of action for the main complaint some ancillary breaches of fundamental rights were committed. See TUKUR VS. GOVERNMENT OF TARABA STATE (1997) 6 NWLR (PT. 510) 549; UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN & ANOR. VS. OLUWADARE (2006) 6 – 7 SC. 154; JACK VS. UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE, MAKURDI (2004) 1 SC (PT. 2) 100 – all binding decisions of this Court.”

Again, the apex Court in the lead judgment of Kekere-Ekun, JSC, set out a lengthy exposition on the issue because I find it very apt and it addresses the sole issue in this appeal, I shall therefore reproduce it for a better understanding. It says:
“Relying on the authority of SOKOTO LOCAL GOVERNMENT VS. AMALE (2007) 8 NWLR (PT. 714) 224 @ 240-241 G-A, learned senior counsel for the Appellant argued that the procedure of filing different suits emanating from the same facts is permissible and has received judicial endorsement. It is noted that being a decision of the Court of Appeal, it is of persuasive authority only. Be that as it may, it was held in that case that the case before the Court was not for a breach of or threat to the Respondent’s fundamental right but a claim in respect of land. The Court held that the only option open to the
Respondent in the circumstances was to take out a writ of summons. Reference was made to the decision of this Court in TUKUR VS. GOVERNMENT OF TARABA STATE (1997) 6 NWLR (PT. 510) 549 where it was
held that in an application for the enforcement of fundamental rights it is a condition precedent that the enforcement of the fundamental right should be the main claim and not an accessory claim. It was
further held per Ogundare, JSC, at 576 – 577 H – F (supra) that where the main or principal claim is not the enforcement or securing the enforcement of a fundamental right, the jurisdiction of the Court
cannot be properly invoked, as the suit would be incompetent.

Interestingly, in Tukur’s case, the main relief was for an order quashing the Appellant’s deposition as the Emir of Muri by the Taraba State Government. Some of the grounds for seeking reliefs under the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules were that his right to fair hearing had been breached because he was not given an opportunity of being heard before the order to depose him was given; that he was not given any notice of misconduct pertaining thereto; that the decision did not comply with the conditions precedent to the exercise of powers of deposition by the Military Governor under Section 6 of the Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) Law Cap 20 Vol. 1 Laws of Northern Nigeria 1963, applicable to Gongola State and was therefore null and void and of no effect.

The Appellant sought other reliefs including damages. The trial High Court held that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain some of the reliefs including relief 1 seeking to quash his deposition and sub-reliefs (a) to (c) and 2 on the ground that they raised chieftaincy questions, which ought to have been commenced by way of writ of summons. It however granted the relief for damages.

On appeal to the Court of Appeal, the decision of the trial Court was set aside on the ground that having found that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain the principal claims, it ought not to have assumed jurisdiction to entertain the other claims, which were merely accessories to the main claim. Upon a further appeal to this Court, it was held that the Appellant ought to have come by way of Writ of Summons in respect of all the reliefs. It also held that the proceedings were fatally defective, having not been initiated by due process of law. The proceedings were held to be a nullity. See
also: JACK VS. UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE (2004) 1 SC (Reprint) (PT. II) 100 @ 112 LINES 5 – 23. In this case, the appellant instituted an action before the trial Court under the Fundamental Rights
(Enforcement Procedure) Rules seeking various reliefs arising from her alleged wrongful suspension and dismissal by the respondent on grounds of misconduct. Some of the grounds for the reliefs sought
were that she was not afforded the opportunity of a fair hearing and that the procedure for removing staff of the University on grounds of misconduct as provided for in Decree No. 48 of 1992, was not followed.

This Court found and held that the real cause of action in the suit was wrongful dismissal from employment, which belongs to the common law class of claims, while an action for contravention or threatened contravention of a fundamental right belongs to a constitutional class of action specifically provided for and that the proper procedure must be adopted in each class of action.

This Court reiterated its earlier position in TUKUR VS. GOVERNMENT OF GONGOLA STATE (1989) 4 NWLR (PT. 117) 517 @ 548 and TUKUR VS. GOVERNMENT OF TARABA STATE (supra) to the effect that where the main or principal claim is not the enforcement or protection of a fundamental right, the fundamental right procedure is not appropriate. The case of FRN VS. IFEGWU (supra) relied upon by learned senior counsel for the
Appellant in fact supports the position of the Respondent that for the enforcement of Fundamental rights procedure to be applicable, the principal relief must be for the enforcement of a fundamental
right.”

Furthermore, the trial Court relied on OGUDU VS. STATE (1994) 9 NWLR (Pt. 366) 1 in classifying claims in human right breaches, that they are the rights that must be observed whenever the occasion of
their observance has arise. These are intrinsic and cannot be divorced from the occasion under which they arise and mostly procedural. The second class is those rights that are enforceable under Section
42 of the Constitution.

It is settled therefore that the fundamental rights procedure rules enshrined in Section 46(1) of the Constitution can be invoked when the main or principal complaint in an application is the enforcement or securing of the enforcement of a fundamental right, then the Court could exercise jurisdiction to entertain the application under the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules. That is not the case here, the principal claim and facts pleaded leading to the claim are for wrongful termination of appointment. The fundamental rights aspect are facts that led to the wrongful termination and
therefore the trial Court was on solid grounds to proceed to determine the claim because it has jurisdiction as provided for by Section 254C(1) (d) of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended) which was
reproduced above. The claim of the Respondent is simply that in the course of her employment her fundamental rights were breached leading to her termination, I agree with the Court below that the Court has jurisdiction.

Furthermore, the trial Court was also empowered by the Constitution to rely and apply international conventions which have close bearing to claims related to workplace, employment and labour matters, the claim here falls within such subject areas, therefore even if the constitution did not provide for the Court’s jurisdiction in human right issues, some conventions do and they also allow Courts in Nigeria to enforce their provisions.

Relevant Conventions here are the United Nations Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) & ILO Discrimination
(Employment and Occupation) Convention 1958 No. 111 which has been ratified and is in force in Nigeria, they provide for a platform for construing fundamental rights of women guaranteed under the
Constitution. CEDAW defines discrimination as follows:
“Any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of their material
status, on the basis equality of men and women, of human right and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field.”

The Convention went on to define sexual harassment in the following words:
“Such unwelcome sexually determined behavior a physical contact and advances, sexually coloured remarks, showing pornography and sexual demands, whether by words or action. Such conduct can be
humiliating and may constitute a health and safety problem. It is discrimination when the woman has reasonable grounds to believe that her objection would disadvantage her in connection with her
employment, including recruiting or promotion, or when it creates a hostile working environment.”

Going by Section 254C (2) of the 1999 Constitution as Amended, the trial Court is empowered to apply international conventions, it states as follows:
“Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Constitution, the National Industrial Court shall have jurisdiction and power to deal with any matter connected with or pertaining to the application of any
international convention, treaty or protocol of which Nigeria has ratified relating to labour, employment, industrial relations or matters connected thereto.”

Undoubtedly, discrimination has a negative effect on the woman by the obvious cancellation of equality or equal opportunities and treatment at the place of work, all because of her gender being a
woman and it becomes discriminatory because such untoward advances can hardly be made to a man, I cannot say it can never be made to a man in view recent developments and issues of transgender.

Therefore, when discrimination or breach to a woman’s right to self-dignity occurs at the workplace, the only Court with jurisdiction is the trial Court. Workplaces just like any other should be safe and
provide women with a conducive atmosphere for them to operate and to be who they are, women.” Per NIMPAR, JCA.(Pp.16-32,Paras.E-F).

Silence could mean crisis

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Vitus Kwasi King

I’m in this group of about 135 members. We were all school mates at the University. Daily we throw banters – we “tease” each other, share jokes and we avoid religious, political or any topic that might cause frictions.

We had the Regulars in class, the Once In A While Attendees, The Readers Association and the ones on Mute.

Occasionally, announcements are made that classmates check on each other, and report back. However, when the Regulars stop appearing on the platform, we sometimes assume they are busy, we also tend to neglect the Once In A While Members, and don’t even bother with those on Mute.

There is something we all gloss over, the fact that we are in the group because of a common denominator (classmates of over 20years) therefore, we have come a long way.

We all have our different way of life; some are loud, others playful. We also have quiet ones and prayerful ones. Therefore, if you are a regular in the group, you shouldn’t expect everyone to be like you, and if you are the quiet one, don’t assume others are too loud, it is this mix that makes the group a perfect blend.

The essence of this write up is to reiterate the need to blend as one, the need to create bonds of friendship, and be our brother’s keeper.

In this group, there was this active member, no matter how late in the day, he would sign in and add to the day’s discussion, by posting or forwarding a message. He never missed a birthday.

Sometimes, his birthday wishes come 3 days after the birthday celebration. We used him as a measurement for drawing the curtain on birthday celebrations. Then suddenly, he exited the group, and he was contacted.

He informed the admin that his phone was bad and he would get back once it was fixed. True to his word, he came back after a while, but he never contributed again in the group. Some of us noticed it, but nobody did anything or reached out to him.

We never knew why he went mute, until one of the admins reached out to him, and discovered he had been ill for a long time. He could not afford his treatment, he had to discharge himself from the hospital and started self-treatment at home.

One of the Admins informed the group and asked that we reach out to him. Some did after the announcement was made, but others procrastinated.

We all woke up less than a week later to the heartbreaking news, that our dear classmate had passed on to glory.

Some of us began to blame ourselves for not reaching out when the announcement was made, classmates in the group began to type RIP those on mute, had to unmute themselves to type RIP.

Guess what? If we all had been Each Others’ Keeper, or, if we do regular check up on members in the group, perhaps, one of us would have discovered his condition on time, and we could have been able to assist him financially and otherwise.

Today we mourn a colleague, yet, while alive, we failed to do the simple task of checking up on him or others in the group.

What does it take to check up on a group member? A simple text (SMS or WhatsApp) or a call.
All you need to do is introduce your self, and simply type “just checking up on you, hope you are fine and doing well? If there is any problem or issue you would like to discuss, I am here for you.”

The Admins can set aside a day weekly or monthly, for members to check up on each other. Pick random numbers in the group, and reach out. THAT MESSAGE OR CALL MIGHT JUST SAVE A SOUL.

Silence could mean crisis.

Reach out today, and be your brother’s keeper.