2014 Int'l Human Solidarity Day (Aired Viewpoint)

A CLARION CALL FOR THOROUGH BROTHERHOOD AMONG NIGERIANS AS WE CELEBRATE THE 2014 INTERNATIONAL HUMAN SOLIDARITY DAY, TODAY SATURDAY DECEMBER 20

Solidarity, in a precise term, could be defined as a complete unity and support among people of a certain group. It can also be addressed as an absolute togetherness showcased by members/occupants of a particular group or locality as the case might be.

Solidarity is identified in the Millennium Declaration as one of the fundamental values of international relations in the twenty-first (21^st) century, wherein those who either suffer or benefit least deserve help or support from those who benefit most. Consequently, in the context of globalization and the challenge of growing inequality, the uplift of international solidarity remains unavoidable.

Surely, the concept of solidarity has defined the work of the United Nations (UN) since the birth of the organization. The establishment of the UN drew the peoples and nations of the world together to promote peace, human rights, social and economic developments. The body was founded on a basic premise of unity and harmony among its Member States. It is indeed in the spirit of solidarity that the union relies on cooperation in solving international plights of socio-economic, cultural or humanitarian origin in order to maintain universal peace and security.

Frankly, solidarity is a very vital tool required to solve problems in our interconnected world. We can only reach our shared goals if people are able to participate in the formulation and implementation of plans, policies, programmes, and what have you, to shape our common future, since it is already noted that commitments without empowerment are merely words without meaning.

Having noticed the effect of solidarity among mankind, there is no need reiterating the fact that thorough brotherhood can only be actualized through indulgence in solidarity. Thus, adoption of human solidarity by any entity is no doubt a pathway towards an arena loaded with undiluted unity, since a thorough brotherhood practice among a group of individuals is an epitome of exemplary oneness.

Today Saturday December 20, the world over is celebrating the 2014 International Human Solidarity Day; the annual International Human Solidarity Day was established on 22^nd December 2005, by the United Nations (UN). Having acknowledged the fact that solidarity is one of the basic and universal values that ought to underlie relations between peoples in the Twenty-first Century, on the aforementioned date, the UN General Assembly decided to proclaim December 20 of each year as Int’l Human Solidarity Day.

Prior to the adoption of the Day by the United Nations, by resolution on 20^th December 2002, the General Assembly established the World Solidarity Fund which was duly set up in February 2003 as a trust fund of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Its motive is to eradicate poverty and promote social and human development in developing countries, particularly amongst the poorest segments of their populations.

Since it is obvious that solidarity, which guarantees absolute unity, is as well a giant step towards alleviating the poverty level of any society, then there is an urgent need for a right thinking citizen of any country such as Liberia, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone among others currently salvaged by poverty to support the ongoing human solidarity crusade as much as they can. In addition, there is also need for a country like Nigeria that is being attacked by insurgency to do everything humanly possible to ensure that solidarity among the citizenry becomes the order of the day.

Nigeria can promote thorough brotherhood among her populace by closing the existing gaps including ethnicity, corruption, nepotism, religious cum social discrimination, chauvinism, and personal aggrandizement that are presently found in the country’s socio-political sector. As the country is fast approaching another era of interregnum, there is need for all the electorates to comprehend the essence of solidarity with the view of actualizing a common goal that would benefit the country in its entirety.

As the global community commemorates the annual International Human Solidarity Day, today, I’m urging the Nigerian citizenry to borrow a leave from the developed nations such as United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, and United States of America in regard to embracing thorough brotherhood, which is indeed a scenario that would yield the long awaited socio-economic emancipation.

 

 

 

          FDN NWAOZOR
Public Affairs Analyst & Rights Activist

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            frednwaozor@gmail.com   

              +2348028608056  

       

2014 Int'l Human Rights Day (Aired News-Commentary)

THE NEED TO UPHOLD THE MANDATE OF ANY CONSTITUTION AS THE WORLD COMMEMORATES THE HUMAN RIGHTS DAY, TODAY WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 10, 2014

In any existing society, everyone is entitled to certain rights or privileges as the case may be, which signifies the value of that person in the society in question. This phenomenon is invariably regarded by all and sundry as ‘Human Rights.’

Human rights are moral principles or norms that describe certain standards of human behaviour and are regularly safeguarded as legal rights in both national and international laws. They are usually seen as undeniable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because he or she is a human being as well as a bona-fide member of that society regardless of the person’s location, language, skin colour, religion, ethnic origin, background, among other statuses.

Human rights are universal and supreme, in the sense that it is being applicable everywhere and at every time; and they are also egalitarian, in the sense of being the same for everyone. They require empathy and the rule of law, and impose an obligation on persons to respect the human rights of others.

Fundamentally, it is forbidden for human rights to be taken away, ignored or overlooked by any person, officer, court of law or any instituted authority, unless as a result of due process based on specific circumstances. Ordinarily, human rights require freedom from unlawful molestation, discrimination, assault, torture, detention, imprisonment, and/or execution, which have recently been the order of the day in most localities or countries.

The doctrine of human rights has been highly influential within national and international laws coupled with regional and global institutions. Actions by states and non-governmental organizations form a basis of public policy worldwide. There is a consensus that human rights encompasses a wide variety of rights such as the right to life, fair trial, prosecution, protection against enslavement, prohibition of genocide, free speech, information dissemination, choice of religion, and a right to education. Though some thinkers or schools of thought are of the view that human rights ought to comprise a minimum requirement to avoid the worst-case abuses while others see the wide variety as a higher standard.

Many of the basic ideas that yielded the Human Rights Movement came up in the aftermath of the Second World War and the atrocities of The Holocaust. The aforementioned ideas or views culminated in the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Paris – France by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in the year 1948. Although the ancient people did not have the same modern-day ideology of universal human rights.

The real forerunner of human rights crusade was the concept of natural rights which appeared as part of the medieval natural law tradition that became notable during the enlightenment by philosophers like Francis Hutcheson, John Locke and Jean-Jacques Burlamaqui, and which featured predominantly in the political thrives of both the American and French Revolutions.

From the above foundation, the modern human rights arguments emerged during the half of the twentieth century possibly as a reaction to slavery, torture, genocide, and war crimes, as a realization of inherent human vulnerability and as being a precondition for the emergence of the anticipated just society.

Due to the supremacy and universality of human rights, every adopted constitution or bye-law creates a special column which categorically stipulates the rights and privileges binding the entire members of the society/group that abides by the mandates of the said constitution, and such provision is bound to remain sacrosanct among the members unless unanimous amendments are made to that effect.

Frankly, sine recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the rudiments of freedom, peace and justice in the world; and since all human beings were born free and equal in dignity and rights, there is an absolute need for the fundamental rights stipulated in any constitution to be duly upheld, in order to put to a stop all forms of human rights abuses taking place in all nooks and crannies across the globe.

Today Wednesday December 10, the world over is commemorating the 2014 Human Rights Day. In 1950, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 10^th December of every year as Human Rights Day, to bring the attention of people of the world to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the common standard of achievement for all peoples as well as all nations.

This year’s slogan – ‘Human Rights 365’, bears the idea that every day is Human Rights Day. It celebrates the fundamental proposition in the Universal Declaration that each one of us, everywhere, at all times, is entitled to the full range of human rights. It also showcases that human rights belong equally to each of us and bind us together as a global community with the same ideals and values.

As the world commemorates the Human Rights Day today, I’m earnestly soliciting that the mandate of any adopted constitution or bye-law regarding fundamental rights and privileges should be treated as sacrosanct or supreme by the overall members of the society in question irrespective of their statuses, and that every member regardless of his/her status ought to be a beneficiary to such provision.

At this juncture, I enjoin all Rights activists and civil societies to be fierce and uncompromising as they strive relentlessly towards upholding the nobility of Human Rights.

 

        COMR FRED NWAOZOR

Public Affairs Analyst & Rights Activist

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          frednwaozor@gmail.com

             +2348028608056  

  

The Truth About Emotional Heartbreak

WHEN A HEART IS ‘BROKEN’

Greetings brethren! I wish to commence with two distinct messages; what you owe me is to grant me a listening ear. Mind you, failure to be all ears might cost you an irreplaceable fortune. To before warned is to before armed.

First: don’t be afraid to give up the good and go for the great. On the other hand; every scar has a story, so you shouldn’t be afraid to tell it. Yes you ought not to be afraid to surrender any good thing in your possession in order to embrace great ones. Also, you mustn’t shy away from telling a story that you experienced no matter how it pains to do so.

Don’t forget; a person who chases two rabbits concurrently, catches neither. Thus you must let go of one of the rabbits if you really want to catch any. Furthermore, for everything you have lost, you have surely gained something else in return.

If you closely and wisely consider the above statements, you would notice that they are talking about two things. Of course the aforementioned messages are discussing the importance of two major factors, namely: sacrifice and sharing. Yes they are all preaching the essence of sacrifice or sharing, or the need to sacrifice something if you are determined to acquire something else as well as the need for one to share his/her bad experience with someone else.

Believe me, it is important to share a bad or unfair experience with someone because a word of encouragement after failure or having encountered a detour worth more than an hour of praise after success. Therefore share any experience with someone because if you wait until you’re ready, I’m afraid you may be waiting the rest of your life. In the same vein, there’s need to sacrifice something in order to obtain something great or for the sake of embracing the ‘Best’; Abraham laid a good example on sacrifice and we are expected to emulate that.

Three weeks ago, I was opportune to find myself in Abuja – the Nigerian capital territory for a certain convention. During the ceremony, which lasted for forty-eight hours, I ran into a colleague who confided in me and told me that he was passing through a heartbreak due to the ‘heartless’ gesture displayed by his purported fiancée. According to him, the lady in question left him for another man who resides in Germany without any prior notice or signal.

Heartbreak can be described as very great sadness or unhappiness. In other words, a heartbroken person is one who is extremely sad and upset. Among mankind, the term ‘heartbreak’ is often used when one is passing through an emotional trauma having being hurt by his/her love-partner; and this is the area where the context of this edition lies. Let’s ride on!

In recent times, heartbreak attributed to love-affairs has taken a different dimension in such a manner that most youths see it as a way of life. This alarming shape of heartbreak has prompted several reactions and counter-reactions among psychoanalysts. Frankly the ongoing mode of heartbreak as a result of love-affairs has called for urgent attention from all concerned institutions and stakeholders.

In this edition, I only have a candid note for that person who thinks that his heart has broken because he/she is being ‘dumped’ by his/her so called love-partner or fiancée as the case might be. I’m personally more concerned in this aspect because I’m of the view that many people have ended up ostracizing themselves or even committing suicide, all in the name of ‘heartbreak’.

If I may ask, what makes you think that your precious life has come to an end because someone just left it? How could you in your right senses think that someone leaving your life is a sign of ‘End of the road’ or ‘End time’? Don’t you know that someone leaving your life could be a sign of blessing? Thus, it often calls for thanksgiving whenever a certain fellow/partner has left our lives, unless in the case of death or eternal demise.

I know it is not easy to completely forget the good moments you have shared with your loved one, but sometimes we should be ready to let go; because the person’s departure could be an avenue of ushering in a better fellow or the person you’re destined to spend the rest of your life with. Therefore we must always be willing and prepared to sacrifice someone for another. If someone leaves your life, it implies that, he/she doesn’t deserve you; and that’s the way you’re expected to see it, rather than witch-hunting yourself.      

Even if the person left your life due to a spell casted on him/her or as a result of ill-health, the only thing you owe him/her is nothing but prayers. And as you pray, you must remain faithful because faith conquers everything. Believe me, faith is the most ultimate among all spiritual factors; it yields patience, optimism, determination, and what have you. I want you to note that despair is one of the greatest sins, if not the greatest, in existence.

And we ought to endeavour to share our experiences with other persons close to our lives, because a problem shared is half solved. The person you shared your plight with, might be the one that would help you to be free from the trauma. For instance, sharing a spiritual problem with your spiritual director or a man of God is definitely a pathway to solving or unravelling the predicament. Also, sharing your emotional plight with a psychoanalyst or psychologist, or an inspirational tutor, is no doubt an avenue required to solve the problem in question.

If death has robbed you of a partner or a loved one, leave everything for God. After all, He was the one who provided the person for you; so He must have a reason for taking him/her away from your life. Besides, death is a certainty and an inevitable scenario, so we must at all time be ready to absorb the pains it brings.

Sometimes we pour too many words on a certain unfavourable circumstance or whenever we are passing through an emotional trauma, thereby constituting more problems not just for ourselves but for generations yet unborn. Most times the only remedy to a predicament is simply silence and prayer coupled with faith. In most cases, silence is expected to be broken when the person involved intends to share his plight with a concerned fellow or one who could be of help.

Sincerely, it is time we started seeing some estrangement as a mark of blessing. At this point I repeat; don’t be afraid to give up the ‘Good’ and go for the ‘Great’. Think about it.

 

FRED NWAOZOR

frednwaozor@gmail.com 

+2348028608056     

Demeaning Reading Culture Among The Youth

DEMEANING READING CULTURE AMONG THE YOUTH

Brethren, have you ever in your lonely mood imagined being blind? I know the question might sound a bit weird considering the gravity of the imagination in question. Please don’t get me wrong; I’m only trying to fathom a certain vague phenomenon that’s presently telling on my person.

Penultimate week during a moment of solitude, I took my precious time right in my humble abode to romance over some ongoing anomalies passing through most societies in the world. Prior to that moment, I was personally and deeply affected by the said factor, which I lately tagged ‘a societal canker’.

Honestly, some of us who found ourselves in the writing profession (field) may on a very fateful day decide to quit or take an eternal leave from the field. I’m glad you actually know the difference between French leave and eternal leave; therefore there’s no need throwing more light.

Of course if writers are not being read by their target audience, then the writing profession would be considered to be worthless by the writers themselves. Same scenario is not unlike seeing a fashion designer whose wares are not being admired by the members of the public.

Frankly, the current demeaning reading culture among the youth is not only negatively affecting the writers, bloggers, journalists, or as the case may be, but the society at large. No doubt, it has eaten deep in the blood vessel of the countries concerned.

The lack of reading habit found amongst our teens is solely attributed to the aforementioned anomaly (culture). Yes, how do you expect the teenagers to appreciate reading whilst the set of people they are meant to look up to is nothing to write home about as regards reading?

Without mincing words, our youths have really derailed in regard to reading, education generally. None of them, or only a few, wishes or thrives towards actualization of academic success via hard work; rather, they prefer indulging in impersonation, examination malpractice, sorting, among others. It is even more pathetic to notice that the so-called parents or guardians seem impervious to these naughty and shameful acts. Let’s ride on!

Even those who spend virtually twenty-four (24) hours daily on the social media find it difficult to digest any educative or informative article/opinion, instead they prefer going through series of gossips, pornographic images, silly write-ups and what have you, as well as watching several indecent movies.

In spite of the fact that the newspapers, magazines and other periodicals can also be read or accessed on the internet or the social media, still you hardly see any youth that takes time to digest the contents of any publication online. The idea of publishing the softcopy of news bulletins online was considered worthwhile by the publishers owing to the fact that many people could not afford to purchase a hardcopy of any of the newspapers/magazines; yet our young ones find it difficult to be informed by those costless news. It is really disheartening.

Each time I remember that my country, Nigeria is taking a lead in this absurd and disgusting tradition, I end up shedding immeasurable bloods. It is no longer news that most Nigerians are invariably misinformed and/or uneducated; this is why they often indulge in inconsequential and childish discussions or debates thereby constituting societal mayhem.

Mind you, being educated doesn’t imply that one had successfully spent some desirable or required number of years in a certain citadel of higher learning. Being educated simply means that the person in question is knowledgeable or learned. And such knowledge is not acquired by attending classes, rather by indulging in enormous study and research works. Thus, learning is not all about attending classes but telling yourself that you ought to know that which you’re yet and meant to know.

At this juncture, I call on various concerned groups and stakeholders such as the civil societies, religious bodies, inspirational speakers, teachers unions, to carry out a holistic crusade, either individually or collectively, with the aim of elevating the level of reading habit among our young ones. They can actualize this by organizing series of seminars, workshops, conventions, conferences, et cetera towards sensitizing the people involved on the dangers of lack of information or knowledge as well as illiteracy.

I want to tell you unequivocally that anyone who lacks knowledge is simply like a blind man. And knowledge or appropriate information can never be acquired by shying away from reading. Think about it!

 

FRED NWAOZOR

frednwaozor@gmail.com
+2348028608056     

2014 World Diabetes Day (Aired News-Commentary)

THE NEED TO INTENSIFY AWARENESS ON DIABETES
       

Diabetes is a lifelong medical condition that causes a person’s blood sugar level to become too high. It is often caused by the insufficiency or lack of the hormone known as insulin, which is produced by the pancreas – a gland found behind the stomach.

The amount of sugar in the blood is controlled by insulin. When food is digested and enters the bloodstream, insulin moves glucose out of the blood and into the cells where it’s broken down to produce the required energy.

However this implies that, if one has diabetes, his/her body is unable to break down glucose into energy; because there’s either not enough insulin to move the glucose or the insulin being produced doesn’t work properly.

There are two main types of diabetes namely: Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes. The former is usually more delicate than the latter which is far more common.

In Type 1 diabetes, the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin. As no insulin is produced, the victim’s glucose level increases, which can seriously damage his body’s organs. Type 1 diabetes is often regarded as Insulin-dependent diabetes; it is also sometimes recognized as Juvenile diabetes or Early-onset diabetes, because it mostly develops before the age of forty (40) or usually during the teenage years.

If one is diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, he would need insulin injections for the rest of his life. He would also need to pay very close attention to certain aspects of his lifestyle and health, to ensure that his blood glucose levels stay balanced at all times.

Type 2 diabetes takes place when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or it cells don’t react to insulin. This type of diabetes is generally known as Insulin-resistant diabetes. Since Type 2 diabetes is a progressive condition, the patient may eventually need medication mainly in the form of tablets.

Type 2 diabetes is in most cases associated with obesity. Obesity-related diabetes is sometimes referred to as Maturity-onset diabetes owing to the fact that it is more common in older people.

During pregnancy, some women possess high levels of blood glucose, which makes their body unable to produce enough insulin to absorb it all. Such condition is known as Gestational diabetes and it affects up to 18 in 100 women during pregnancy. Pregnancy can as well make existing Type 1 diabetes worse.

Gestational diabetes can increase the risk of health problems developing in an unborn baby, therefore it’s very necessary for a pregnant woman to keep her blood glucose levels under control. In several cases, gestational diabetes develops during the second trimester of pregnancy, which is weeks 14 to 26, and disappears after the baby is born. But the truth remains that, women who suffer from gestational diabetes are at an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.

The general symptoms of diabetes, which often take place simultaneously, are as follows:

v Feeling very thirsty.

v Urinating more frequently than usual, particularly at night.

v Feeling very tired.

v Weight loss and loss of muscle bulk.

v Cuts or wounds that heal slowly.

v Blurred vision, caused by the lens of the eye becoming dry.

v Itching around the private part or frequent episodes of thrush.

Type 1 diabetes can develop quickly over weeks or even days. Whilst, many people may have Type 2 diabetes for years without realizing it because the early symptoms tend to be friendly.

Statistics, according to World Health Organization (WHO), show that about 347 million people worldwide are presently suffering from diabetes. In 2004, an estimated 3.4 million people died from consequences of high fasting blood sugar. The most devastating aspect of diabetes is that, almost half of the people suffering from it do not know that they have the disease. In view of this, WHO stipulates that diabetes would be the 7^th leading cause of death by the year 2030.

Many more people worldwide have blood sugar levels above the normal range, but not high enough to be diagnosed as having diabetes. This is referred to as Pre-diabetes. If your blood sugar level is above the normal range, your risk of developing full-blown diabetes is increased. Thus, it’s absolutely very important for diabetes to be diagnosed as early as possible because it would get progressively worse if left untreated.

In general, diabetes carriers are advised to eat healthily, take regular exercise and carry out regular blood tests in order to ensure that their blood glucose levels remain balanced. Above all, they are also advised to maintain a very cordial relationship with their doctors or health experts.

Penultimate two weeks, Friday November 14 precisely, the world over commemorated the 2014 World Diabetes Day. The World Diabetes Day, which is an annual and international commemoration, was instituted in the year 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) to help in raising public awareness on the dangers and control of diabetes.

World Diabetes Day became an official United Nations (UN) Day in 2007 through the passage of the UN Resolution. The day was chosen in honour of the birthday of Frederick Banting who along with Charles Best first conceived the idea which led to the discovery of insulin in 1921. The campaign attached to the World Diabetes Day draws attention to issues of paramount importance to the diabetes community and keeps diabetes firmly in the public spotlight.

As the global community commemorates the World Diabetes Day anniversary, I’m using this avenue to urge the general public to endeavour to live a life that would exonerate them from contracting this dreaded disease that has claimed hundreds of millions of souls as well as maimed several lives both in the past and present. They can achieve this by ensuring that they consume balance diets or by staying away from constant intake of starchy or sugary foods without supplementing them with other required classes of foods.

The sufferers of the disease ought to also note that they can live as long as possible if necessary precautions are always taken, or if they continually stick to the modus operandi surrounding the disease, such as eating healthily, indulging in regular exercise, carrying out blood tests regularly, and consistent intake of the prescribed drugs or frequent consultation of a physician, among others.

Yes diabetes has no absolute cure but it can be prevented, or managed if contracted; thus it is worthy to acknowledge that we have every opportunity to live without the disease or live healthily if being attacked by it. Think about it!

 

         COMR FRED NWAOZOR

Public Affairs Analyst & Rights Activist

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             +2348028608056  

 

My Candid Note To Nigerian Critics

 MY CANDID NOTE TO NIGERIAN CRITICS

Brethren, I want to let us know that we have the right and every opportunity to bring a positive change or revive any anomaly taking place around us. In other words, the change we anticipate or seek for lies in our bare hands. Honestly it is a fact.

It amuses me each time I see most of us who wish to embrace positive change without making any effort or contributing towards actualizing their anticipations. How could one intend to have something without doing anything in respect to the attainment of his/her goal? Doesn’t it sound crazy? Well, let’s leave the dead to bury the dead.

Some weeks ago during my stay in Lagos State, I was passing through one of the major streets situated in the state; and before I could get to my destination, I sighted at a certain vendor spot along the street in question. The gathering was really generating an enormous pandemonium. Out of curiosity, I decided to reduce my motion in order to ascertain the essence of the uproar. Summarily, it was all about the $9.3 million scandal which the current President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) – Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor is allegedly involved.

Having gotten the headline from the roadside analysts, I didn’t bother absorbing the detail of their respective opinions because I was of the view that it would be all about condemnation all in the name of ‘Criticism’.

Most times our so called critics piss me off when I see them condemning a certain anomaly instead of criticizing it. Frankly, we still need to comprehend the difference between condemnation and criticism. And, this is our prime interest in today’s edition.

Criticism is simply an expression of disapproval of someone or something. It can also be described as a comment in which you say that something has a particular fault. From my individual perspective, criticism is a serious and thorough examination coupled with judgement on a certain scenario or an achievement made by someone. In the same vein, a critic ought to be referred to as a person or professional who publicly expresses his/her opinion about an accomplishment or a certain scenario with the aim of restoring normalcy. Let’s ride on!

There are so many things Nigerian critics need to know. There are basic factors that must be considered by a critic if he/her intends to put up a criticism on any occurrence. Thus, anyone who addresses him/herself as a ‘Critic’ is expected to note some crucial facts that surround the practice (criticism).

First, we must understand that criticism is a profession; and a worthwhile one. Therefore any critic is a professional. And, we must note that a society can never thrive successfully without the contribution of the aforementioned professionals – that’s the critics. Yes, every society requires critics to function adequately.

Secondly, any critic must always be willing and ready to proffer remedy to anything he criticizes. Of course the paramount interest of any critic must be to restore normality if he/she feels that aberration has taken place. You cannot just indicate a fault or flaw without rendering solution on how the flaw (anomaly) would be addressed.

Thirdly, we must understand fully that criticism without the aim of restoring normalcy is simply worthless. Such criticism is known as ‘destructive criticism’; therefore it is only targeted at constituting upheavals in the society in question. Rather than solving the alleged problem, destructive criticism invariably ends up heating the polity excessively.

We shouldn’t be fast in condemning anything we tagged ‘unacceptable’; we are expected to thoroughly think over something before setting up an antagonism. A critic’s opinion is highly needed in any area of life such as politics, economy, education, and what have you, but he must be ready to tender reasonable suggestions and ideas with the view of creating a better and more conducive atmosphere. Needless to say; only a constructive criticism is needed in any circumstance.

Definitely, we have the right and every opportunity to bring a positive change or revive anything we see as an abnormality taking place around us but we must be willing to contribute our quota towards actualizing such dream or goal. And mind you, such change can never take place by tendering condemnation or destructive criticism; rather, a constructive one. Think about it!

 

FRED NWAOZOR

frednwaozor@gmail.com
+2348028608056

2015 Elections: A Call For Sober Reflection

 2015 ELECTIONS: A CALL FOR SOBER REFLECTION

Brethren, please let your past make you a better person rather than making you bitter. I’m putting up this advice because the last time I checked, most of us often allowed our past to change us for bad instead of the other way round.

Your past is expected to be seen as a recipe required to create a better tomorrow in your life. But on the contrary, most people misuse their past thereby constituting series of pathetic moments for themselves. Believe me everybody has a past, either a good or bad one; but the way we manage or absorb it, is what matters most. Of course the manner in which one manages his/her past is what determines the kind of future he/she would encounter or have.

Penultimate week, one of my childhood friends called me as usual from Holland where he resides. Amidst our lovely discussions coupled with gossip, he decided to enquire some facts concerning the present state of things in Nigeria especially in the area of politics.

Firstly, he asked how were the electorates preparing towards the fast approaching 2015 general elections; and I quickly told him that the elections in question is a call for sober reflection for all Nigerians and lovers of the country.

Truly anyone who has Nigeria at heart irrespective of his place of residence would be deeply concerned about the awaiting elections. Yes any right thinking Nigerian who thinks good of this country, regardless of where he resides, is expected to be worried or filled with anxiety over the incoming elections. No doubt, some of us have embarked on a perpetual or have already concluded, their fasting and prayers in regard to the said forthcoming political tussle.

Notwithstanding, whatever the case might be, we ought to note that the proposed elections is simply a clarion call for sober reflection among the Nigerian citizenry as well as all the concerned fellows across the globe. Frankly the era we are passing through is a period that requires absolute pampering without using the baby ‘pampers’. If it is in football or sports generally, this is the right time to embrace the drawing board for the sole purpose of having a rethink.

Surely, as we earnestly await 2015, we need to cross-examine so many things, so that, we won’t end up dancing ‘Makosa’ when we are meant to dance Hip-hop or vice-versa. Without mincing words, if we fail to soberly reflect on some certain things at this point, we would have ourselves to be blamed. Let’s ride on!

When Nigeria got her Independence via the collective effort of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Tafawa Belewa, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, et al, little did the nationalists know that Nigeria would still be facing some of the challenges she is currently facing. Even in their grave, they still find it difficult to believe that Nigeria is still, at this point, a purported united nation, or still battling with election rigging. Thus for the fact that Nigeria as an independent country is yet to be totally united, there’s no need reiterating the fact that the forthcoming 2015 elections call for absolute sober reflection among the electorates.

Though, every nation or entity has its challenges, and ours is not exceptional. But what matters is the step we are taking to ensure that we overcome our challenges. We are expected to reflect on some certain factors or better still, ask ourselves a few questions as follows: Are we truly taking a sincere step? Do we really want to leave this country better than we met it just as our forefathers did? And lastly but not the least, do our leaders actually strive towards taking this country to the anticipated promised land, or are they only interested in their personal aggrandizement?

At this juncture, I sincerely challenge the Nigerian youths to form a formidable confraternity as regards rebranding the Nigerian society. It is high time we stopped being used or manipulated by the men in power, rather let’s stand firm and thoroughly independent.

I was informed that the Transformation Ambassador Nigeria (TAN) is a non-governmental body, but you would bear me witness that the so-called NGO has been organizing campaign rallies for Dr Goodluck Jonathan, and other political aspirants under the aegis of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). Who is deceiving who?

I’m not here to create faction or to side any party; rather I’m only calling for ‘Sober reflection’ because I’m of the view that we all have derailed profoundly regarding the forthcoming 2015 general elections. I bet you; if we continue like this, it would take us nowhere.

By now, we ought to have learnt from our past. I want us to note that one who takes reference from his or her past stands to have a better tomorrow. Therefore, challenge us to let our past make us better persons rather than giving it a chance to usher us into a bitter mood. The choice is yours. Think about it!

 

FRED NWAOZOR

frednwaozor@gmail.com          

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Increasing Rate Of Road Accidents

INCREASING RATE OF ROAD ACCIDENTS

Brethren, doing what you like is freedom, whilst liking what you do is simply happiness. In other words, it is only total freedom that can make one to do whatever he/she likes; so if someone does whatever he wishes to do, it implies that he’s completely free.

Freedom is indeed an essential recipe deserves by everyone or, required by the human race in its entirety. But the rate at which it is being abused by most of us remains an alarming anomaly that requires an urgent and severe attention.

I’ve come to realize as well arrived at a conclusion that, freedom no doubts, intoxicates thereby constituting series of cacophonies among mankind. Yes most people often go crazy because they have all the rights to indulge in whatever that pleases them. These incessant anomalies produced due to freedom, invariably lead to aberration.

Today, our paramount concern is on the increasing rate of accidents on our roads. If you are a resident of Nigeria, you would bear me witness that the rate at which accident occurs on our major roads has become quite alarming in recent times. Of course it is longer news that every nook and cranny of the nation has lately been littered by fathomless road accident by the automobiles.

Considering the basic causes of the aforementioned plight, several concerned citizens have been tempted to presume that the acclaimed giant of Africa has no road safety personnel. Perhaps, it is not true that the nation has no personnel that oversee the management of our roads to ensure safety, because surely, they are found all over the country. If the assertion or insinuation of the people is not a fact, then the subsequent question would be: what actually causes these perilous occurrences on our major roads?

Apart from hundreds of thousands of them that took place several months ago, within these ongoing Ember months, there have been incidences of innumerable accidents recorded on various high ways across the country to include, Lagos-Ibadan express way, Owerri-Onitsha road, Benin-Ore road, Port/Harcourt-Aba road, Ekiti-Osun road, among so many others. The most devastating aspect of it is that, it takes place virtually on a daily basis simultaneously on the roads in question.

Frankly, something drastic needs to be done in earnest, so that, we won’t wake up one morning to see every part of the Nigeria’s society in shambles as a result of Road accident. Let’s ride on!

First and foremost, the governments must ensure that all the roads are put in appropriate and desirable shapes without any iota of delay. Due to bad road network, sometimes the commuters prefer to operate on ‘One-way’ which severally leads to collisions.

Secondly, the federal government as well as every state government ought to ensure that a special lane is constructed for the trucks or Lorries. Creating a well designed road for the big vehicles would automatically create an avenue for serenity on the already existing roads or high ways meant for the smaller ones.

Thirdly, a law should be passed by our legislators, stating that, before anyone would be issued a Driver’s License, he/she must had passed through a driving school instituted by the Nigerian Road Safety Corps or an institution duly approved or recognized by the said corps.  By so doing, only real drivers would be seen handling the steering, which would go a long way to curtail or restrict reckless driving often indulged-in, by the so called drivers.

Lastly but not the least, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) should put up a holistic crusade that would ensure that no bad vehicle is found on any of the roads. Most times you would see vehicles that are meant to be thrown to the waste bin operating freely on the road thereby endangering people’s safety.

The above mentioned aberration is solely caused by the motorists or the car owners. Sometimes you would see a ‘driver’ who never cares to open his car bonnet before making use of it. The uncalled freedom assigned to drivers has made them to lousily forget that the fitness or readiness of any vehicle must be properly checked and crosschecked by its driver before it’s being used for the day.

Above all, mobile courts ought to be instituted by the apt authority in order to try any purported driver who goes contrary to the traffic modus operandi or the laws biding the drivers; and, a capital punishment must be allocated to anyone found guilty. To actualize the aim of this proposed measure, the officers of the Road Safety Corps or any personnel involved must endeavour to exonerate themselves from bribery or any form of extortion.

For crying out loud, it’s high time we stopped these bloody occurrences on our precious roads. And this can only be actualized if the governments successfully implement the above recommendations as well as withdraw the inconsequential freedom presently exercised by the motorists. Think about it!

 

FDN NWAOZOR

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Why Blatter Must Be Called To Order

WHY BLATTER MUST BE CALLED TO ORDER

Greetings brethren! Of course it is often said as well as widely believed in all nooks and crannies that, sports generally is the only language or group of languages that unites the world in its entirety. If such theory or philosophy holds water, then it implies that football which is the most popular sport ought to be regarded as the most potent and crucial language found across the globe.

Since football remains the most potent language recognized by the entire members of the universe due to its role in uniting people, then it should be guarded jealously by any concerned fellow, so that, it would continue to maintain its dignity or integrity.

Few weeks ago, Tuesday September 9, 2014 precisely, I was glancing at the headlines of the Punch Newspaper and incidentally I encountered a sports headline that gave me a shock. The headline in question reads, “Blatter seeks fifth term.” I was really bemused by the news.

You would recall that Blatter was re-elected as the President of the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) for the fourth term on 1^st June, 2011. Mr Sepp Joseph Blatter, born on 10^th of March 1936, is a Swiss football administrator who currently serves as the eight FIFA boss. He was first elected on 8^th June 1998, succeeding Joan Havelange whom was the seventh FIFA President. He was re-elected as President in 2002, 2007 and 2011 respectively.

Sepp Blatter was born in Visp-Canton Valais, Switzerland. He studied in Saint-Maurice Switzerland before he bagged a bachelor degree in Business and Economics from the University of Lausanne in 1959. He has had a long and varied career in his native country – Switzerland including posts such as Head of Public Relations of the Valaisan Tourist Board and General Secretary of the Swiss Ice Hockey Federation (SIHF). He was the Director of Sports Timing and Relations of Longines S.A., and was involved in the organization of the 1972 and 1976 Olympic Games.

Since 1975, Sepp Blatter whom has been married three times and presently has one daughter has been working at FIFA. First, he served as Technical Director from 1975 to 1981, then General Secretary from 1981 to 1998; before his emergence (election) as FIFA President in 1998. Subsequently in 2002, he assumed duty for same position for a second term.  He was reelected unopposed for another four years on 31^st May 2007 even though only 66 of 207 FIFA members nominated him. Let’s ride on!

                  

Blatter’s 1998 election to the FIFA Presidency over UEFA President Lennart Johansson occurred amid much controversy. Also, his 2002 candidacy has been marked with rumours of financial irregularities and backroom dealings culminating to direct accusations of bribery.

In 2011, elections were scheduled for the FIFA presidency in which Blatter was again the incumbent candidate running for a fourth consecutive term. The election took place at the 61^st FIFA congress in Zurich, Switzerland. The only other candidate – Mohammed Bin Hamman of Qatar withdrew from the presidential race on May 28 just before the election, after the earlier withdrawal of Elias Figueroa of Chile. Since there were no other nominations, Blatter ran unopposed in the 2011 FIFA elections. On June 1, he was reelected President for a fourth term with 186 of the 203 votes in his favour.

Blatter had stipulated that, if re-elected in 2011, he would never run again for FIFA President; a vow that was cheerfully received and noted by all and sundry in the FIFA confraternity. But it seems that vow has become irrelevant considering the present look of things.

The prospect of Sepp Blatter continuing as FIFA President in his early eighties (80s) was confirmed in September 2014 when he publicly disclosed that he was aspiring for a fifth term in office come 2015 FIFA general elections. Blatter who would be 79 next year (2015) by the special grace of God and whom was first elected sixteen (16) years ago as FIFA President, made his candidature for another term known in a recorded interview transmitted to delegates at the Soccerex Global Convention.

Brethren, the bone of contention is that, someone who truly loves the present FIFA boss – Mr Sepp Joseph Blatter, ought to call him to order in earnest. Frankly, it’s high time we started thinking rightly; else, we might be subjected to an unforeseen doomed state. How could someone who had spent sixteen good years in a certain position, still be nurturing interest for more four (4) years in the said position? Does it imply that there’s no other competent or legible person that can succeed him? I need an answer, please; because the scenario is really telling on my person.

If Sepp Blatter was an African man, I would have been hearing series of rumours from all facets of the globe. Yes if he was an African, by now, people would have been saying that his intention to vie for the post for the fifth time is not unconnected to a typical Africa mentality or tradition. But for the fact that he hails from Europe, Switzerland to be precise, I’ve been longing to hear any of such silly utterances that usually come from the racists among the western race.

The truth of the matter is that, Blatter must be called to order before something unthinkable happens to our beloved football. For crying out loud, the old man should go and rest; he has worked tirelessly, therefore ought to go for a rest. We cannot pay for his selfishness; rather let him alone cater for it. The time to act is now. Think about it!

 

FDN NWAOZOR

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2014 World Food Day (Aired Viewpoint)

A CLARION CALL TO UPLIFT THE NIGERIA’S AGRICULTURAL SECTOR AS THE WORLD MARKS THE WORLD FOOD DAY TODAY THURSDAY OCTOBER 16, 2014

No one has ever boasted of living a healthy life without an adequate food on his or her table. This implies that a healthy living is not unconnected to consumption of required and adequate food.

Food which remains one of the three basic needs of man on earth can only be acquired by continual indulgence or thorough participation in agricultural practices.

Agriculture is simply the act of farming. In a nutshell, farming is the activity of growing crops and/or raising animals on a certain piece of land in a given area or locality.

No doubt, agriculture is an integral part of human existence considering the fact that it is the only means that can guarantee the three paramount needs of man, which are food, clothing and shelter. Of course without agriculture, no one can boast of a clothe or even a shelter. In view of this, agriculture has indeed proven to mankind that it is the epitome of life which was initiated by God himself.

Several countries in the world depend solely on agriculture as regards their internally generated revenue. And those countries jealously safeguard it because they acknowledge that it is the most affordable source of revenue.

Unequivocally, if well harnessed, agriculture is considered as the most important revenue source due to its unending fruitfulness or benefits coupled with easy accessibility that is attached to it. Among all, the fact that no one can live without food is enough reason to say that the positive impact of agriculture on mankind cannot be overemphasized.

The above facts have proven to us that agriculture can function as a revenue source as well as a means of survival to any nation. Suffice to say; sustenance of agriculture remains one of the prime desires of any country in existence.

Due to its challenges, which include access to mechanize farming, undesirable topography, poor climatic condition, unavailability of land, insufficient funds, et cetera, many potential farmers or interested individuals in most developing nations like Nigeria, have over the years lost interest in agriculture thereby endangering the socio-economic status of the nations involved. It is no longer news that lack of participation in either subsistence or commercial farming among the populace of a certain country leads to malnutrition as well as tremendous decline in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country in question.

The most devastating aspect of loss of interest in agriculture is the apathy observed amongst the youth due to their eager quest for white-collar jobs. Frankly, the current lack of participation of most youths in agriculture has contributed immensely to the ongoing scarcity of food witnessed in several nations in Africa and other developing nations across the globe.

History indicates that between 2011 and 2013, a total of eight hundred and forty-two (842) million individuals or about one in every eight persons in the world, were estimated to be suffering from chronic hunger; which simply implies that the said set of people were not regularly getting enough food for themselves to carry out their active life activities.

Due to the unavoidable impact of food on mankind, the World Food Day (WFD) was established during the 20^th General Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) in November 1945. During the conference, all the Member States of FAO resolved that October 16 each year should be commemorated as World Food Day; the Day was meant to coincide with the anniversary of the founding date of the organization (FAO).

The Hungarian delegation led by the former Hungarian Minister of Agriculture and Food, Dr Pal Romany played an active role at the said conference; he suggested the idea of celebrating the World Food Day worldwide. The first commemoration of the World Food Day took place in the year 1946; and since then, the Day is being observed annually in more than one hundred and fifty (150) countries, raising awareness of the issues behind poverty and hunger.

As the world over marks the World Food Day today, I’m using this medium to urge the Nigerian government to wake up from its slumber with the view of ensuring that the country’s agricultural sector is totally and thoroughly uplifted. This can be made possible by providing adequate support for any genuine potential farmer in the country.

I’m therefore soliciting that, the federal government alongside the various state governments through a formidable and reliable Agency, should intercede on behalf of the Nigerian farmers to ensure that the commercial banks are always willing to allocate either soft or hard loan to any potential indigenous farmer. Also, adequate farm land must be provided by any concerned government.

On their part, the farmers in question ought to continually validate membership of all their members and also encourage the intending ones to register, so that through the body, the government or any individual can easily assess all the practicing farmers as well as ascertain the genuineness of anyone who claims to be a farmer.

Above all, the various governments must endeavour to own and manage many mechanized farms in different localities with the motive of supplementing the private owned ones, which would go a long way to see that plenty food is found on our tables thereby creating avenue for diverse revenue sources and more employment opportunities.

 

            

FDN NWAOZOR

Public Affairs Analyst & Rights Activist

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