Author: radmin

President Sahle-Work Zewde urged Ethiopians to diligently work for a common narrative, repair the fractures and narrow differences to put the country on solid foundation.

President Sahle-Work addressed the joint session of the House of Peoples’ Representatives and House of Federation this afternoon.

The president highlighted the directions and plans which the government will implement in socioeconomic, political, diplomatic spheres during Ethiopian fiscal year of 2016.

In a speech she delivered, President Sahle-Work said that Ethiopia needs to craft a shared narrative to foster nation state building, which has faced multitudes of challenges.

She also stressed the need for Ethiopians to reach common understanding of major national issues to build a prosperous country.

According to the president, Ethiopia has now embarked on a far-reaching reforms and prosperity journey that will ensure the benefits of the entire people.

Looking back at the history of the country, Sahle-Work recalled that Ethiopians in unison have registered notable victories.

Through the unity of its peoples, Ethiopia managed to overcome many difficulties encountered in the past and ensured its survival, she said.

Together we overcame many difficulties and survived. We have crossed a long way for centuries in solidarity with each other, she said, adding we stood together and defended the enemies that had fought us.

She also said that Ethiopia has made a lot of contributions to humanity.

Most importantly, Ethiopia has served as the symbol of independence through its spirit of patriotism, igniting the black people across the world to rally for independence, the president recalled.

The extreme views and lack of reconciliation we experienced resulted in conflicts and an irreplaceable price which we have paid as a country, the president said, adding that ”we are still paying dearly.”

Noting that Ethiopia is endowed with untapped natural resources, the president urged Ethiopians to utilize our resources for development.

Drawing lessons from developed nations that have realized their growth through compromising their differences, Ethiopia’s past should not be an obstacle for the prosperity and development ambition that we pursue, she said.

We have to be open for reconciliation, President Sahle-Work said, urging fellow Ethiopians to strengthen the multinational unity and strive for common destiny of Ethiopia.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Chapel has condemned the alleged assault on Mrs Philomina Attah, an Editor/Assistant Chief Correspondent of the agency by an official of the Director of the Directorate of Road Traffic Services, FCT Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO).

This is contained in a letter to the director of the FCT VIO titled “PROTEST LETTER AGAINST ASSAULT OF A NAN JOURNALIST, CAUTION YOUR OFFICERS” dated Oct. 5.

The letter was jointly signed by the Chairman, Collins Yakubu-Hammer and Secretary, Funmilayo Adeyemi respectively and copied to the Minister of FCT and Chairman of NUJ FCT Council.

Others copied are the Chairperson of the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) FCT Chapter, Chairperson, Federation of International Women Lawyers (FIDA) FCT Chapter, and the Executive Secretary, National Human Right Commission.

The union expressed sadness over the alleged unprofessional conduct perpetrated by a VIO Officer identified as Officer James, attached to the Idu outpost of the service.

“On Sept. 29, officer James assaulted Attah, an Editor/Assistant Chief Correspondent on her way to work to attend an editorial meeting.

“He stopped her in the middle of the road at the Idu Junction, Abuja and refused to allow her to pull over, claiming her papers had expired, even when it was pasted on her car windscreen that it would expire on Sept. 30, and she had already initiated the renewal process with the service.

“The said officer slapped her, calling her unprintable names. Some few minutes after the humiliation and assault, she got a text message via her phone that her vehicle papers renewal process was successful.

“In as much as the union will not want to press legal charges against the directorate/VIO and the said officer for now, we will appreciate it if you can call your officers to order,” the union said.

The union demanded a written apology by officer James of the Idu outpost of the service.

It also urged the directorate to take disciplinary action against officer James to deter other overzealous staff of the service.

The NAN NUJ pleaded with the director to look into the issue of neatness, civility/decorum, professionalism and sanity of the officers on the road.

“As partners in progress, we will always educate our members to ensure obedience to traffic signs, lights and renewal of vehicle papers as at when due” the union said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Justice Ibironke Harrison of a Lagos High Court has sentenced a police officer, Darambi Vandi to death by hanging for shooting dead a Lagos-based lawyer, Mrs Omobolanle Raheem, on the last Christmas Day.

Details shortly….

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Rep. Ibrahim Almustapha-Rabah (APC-Sokoto) says the National Assembly is fully committed to securing the country.

Almustapha-Rabah, who represents Rabah/Wurno Federal Constituency spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday.

” All of us at the National Assembly are working hard on one issue or the other either individually or collectively, the objective is the same, a better and secure Sokoto State and Nigeria.

” We hope these modest efforts and approaches will yield a positive result in the near future.

“ We are therefore on it securely, proactively and we are as always focused and alive to our responsibilities,” he said

Almustapha-Rabah said the problem of insecurity perpetrated by few of the criminally-minded elements amongst the citizens has eaten deep into the fabrics of the country.

He added that insecurity and its associated challenges had already overstretched the delicate communities.

” These communities were hitherto blossoming economic hubs populated by very active, happy and determined people.

” The landscapes were very green, richly endowed and highly fertile, ready for anything to grow for prosperity and wealth creation.

” Our blessed livestock population provides all we need to support not only our basic needs, but even self – help community projects and to, as well, support others,” Almustapha-Rabah said.

He said those beautiful sceneries have faded over the years, the simple reason being that the fertile lands provide a safe haven to miscreants.

Almustapha-Rabah said miscreants freely move with sophisticated weapons, killing, maiming, seizing livestock and kidnapping for ransom.

The lawmaker lamented that the insecurity situation was an act similar to a war of attrition, economic sabotage and annihilation.

” Unfortunately those criminal elements were nurtured by our collective action or inaction in addressing the identified gaps particularly in education and employment generation.

” The street boys, the out of school children, the Almajiris of the last 20 years are the grown up unemployed population we are managing today.

“ Some of them frustrated and hopeless went into drugs and crime, the nexus being failure to address some basic issues of needs and development in the past.”

He asserted that Education, Infrastructure, and Agriculture remain the major drivers of development and must be taken seriously for the state to succeed.

” At our level, there was virtually nothing we had not raised and discussed at the chambers on way and means and how to go about it,” the legislator said.

According to him, it is therefore going to be a mere repetition and a duplication of effort to continually bring up the issue for publicity sake.

“ More often, the resolutions passed by the National Assembly require time and funding to implement.

” We believe the present administration at both the Federal, under President Bola Tinubu and Sokoto State, under Gov. Ahmed Aliyu are committed to redressing the ugly trend.

”They have this zeal more than ever before to support those concerned security agencies to deliver on their constitutional mandates,” Almustapha-Rabah said.

He said that recently, the governor bought operational vehicles to further support the security agencies.

” We on the other hand as your representatives, having identified some of the gaps and the root cause of the problem, are working hard, though silently, to restore our infrastructure,” the lawmaker said.

Almustapha-Rabah listed some of their projects to include the dilapidated 81km Rabah-Bakura road, solar- powered lights, empowerment for women and recent efforts to restock livestock.

“ Efforts to get our children back to school, creating jobs through alternative and second chance opportunities for school drop-outs in the country among others, are our ongoing projects,” he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria