Opinion I Still On World Refugee Day

COMBATING CAUSES OF ALL FORMS OF CRISES AS THE 2017 WORLD REFUGEE DAY IS MARKED ON TUESDAY JUNE 20

      

        

On Tuesday, June 20, the global community commemorated the World Refugee Day. On 4^th December 2000, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in its unanimous Resolution decided that, from 2001, June 20 of every year would be celebrated as World Refugee Day. In the resolution, the General Assembly noted that 2001 marked the golden jubilee or the 50^th anniversary of the 1951 Convention relating to the status of Refugees.

       

Each year on June 20, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and countless civic groups around the world host World Refugee Day events in order to draw public attention to the millions of refugees and people who are internally displaced worldwide.

       

A refugee can be described as a person who has been forced to leave his or her country due to persecution, which could be attributed to his/her race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or social affiliation, or as a result of disaster, either natural or manmade, such as massacre, genocide, war, inferno, earthquake, terrorism, climate change, and famine, just to mention but a few. In some cases, the internally displaced individuals within a certain country can also be referred to as ‘Refugees’.

       

Recently, the Bornu State government in Nigeria cried foul as well as sought for the financial assistance of the international community in regard to the alarming number of displaced persons recorded in the state owing to the ongoing terrorism of the Boko Haram sect in the area. Such incident is not peculiar to Nigeria, but to many other countries in the world.

       

Statistics show that not less than forty-three million people worldwide are presently displaced as a result of conflict and persecution, which is the highest number since the middle of 1990s. More than fifteen million of the aforementioned figure are refugees who fled their home countries, while the rest are people who remain displaced by conflict within their own homelands and they are generally regarded as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

       

Worldwide, refugees have really suffered an untold hardship in the respective camps or localities they are being hosted or they found themselves; they mostly lack the three basic needs of mankind, which remain food, clothing and shelter. Most of them often feared killed by deadly diseases, or sometimes due to the unbearable hazards attached to the environment they reside in.

       

It is worthy to note that, most of the beggars found on the major roads or streets of most cities in Nigeria, likewise other countries, are refugees. A good number of them who hail from the neighbouring countries to include Niger Republic, Chad, Benin Republic and Cameroon, migrated to Nigeria in search of a lasting succour. This implies that more than half of the world’s refugees are in urban environments, not in camps. This set of people invariably fall victim to human trafficking, which is currently on the rampage in several countries.

       

No doubt, displaced persons are found virtually in all the nations across the globe. Since refugees are mainly victims of either manmade or natural disasters, there is a compelling need to take appropriate and drastic measures that would thoroughly address all forms of disaster or conflict witnessed by mankind virtually on a daily basis.

        

It is noteworthy that, even the natural disasters such as earthquake, depletion of the Ozone layer, climate change, erosion, and what have you, are mostly attributable to human/manmade actions or activities. Needless to say that, any event that could lead to displacement of individuals from their places of residence or country of origin, can be averted by the concerned persons or authorities, as the case may be.

       

To this end, inferno for instance, which usually takes place as a result of man’s carelessness or lackadaisical attitude, can be prevented by sensitizing the public on the fundamental actions that could lead to such disaster. In the same vein, people ought to be professionally directed on where, when, and how to erect various structures both residential and industrial  as well as in the case of drilling of boreholes in order to help avoid future occurrence of earthquake and other related crises.

       

There is also need for legal backing in respect to prevention of the various uncalled attitudes or practices including discrimination, extremism, racism, ethnicity, human rights violation, et cetera, that can result to a life-threatening crisis such as insurgency, terrorism or war. Hence, the bill on prevention of terrorism that is presently lying on the floor of the National Assembly ought to be given a speedy hearing by the 8^th Assembly with a view to passing it into law in earnest.

        

As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark the sixteenth (17^th) commemoration of the World Refugee Day, there’s a compelling need for the various civil society organizations as well as religious bodies to embark on a massive and rigorous awareness crusade that would educate the entire public on the dangers inherent in any form of crisis, which will go a long way to bring a holistic attitudinal change among the overall citizenry. Think about it!

Comrade FDN Nwaozor

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 Twitter: @mediambassador  

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Opinion I Sergeant Attang Must Not Die!

SERGEANT ATTANG MUST NOT DIE!

       

The last time I checked, a good and patriotic Nigerian domiciled in Imo State was seriously down owing to a bravery posture he displayed recently. His name is Sergeant Otu Attang and he hails from Akwa-Ibom State. He was one of the police personnel that were on guard when armed robbers stormed the Zenith Bank situated at Wethedral road, Owerri four months ago, precisely on Wednesday February 22, 2017.

         

It would be recalled that on that fateful day, a group of gangsters followed a client of the said bank to the banking premises and reportedly made away with

2.5 million naira. On storming the banking arena, one of the policemen on duty in the person of Sergeant Chukwudi Iboko, now late, who hailed from Abia State displayed an uncommon gallantry by firing the armed robbers and in the process, succeeded in killing one of them at the spot.

        

The three police officers on duty namely, messers Chukwudi Iboko, Sunday Agbo and Otu Attang who individually performed as expected, unfortunately sustained various degrees of injury as a result of the bullets received during the physical combat. They were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri where they were treated till the early hours of the following day being Thursday 23^rd February 2017 when the two surviving officers were transferred to the Police Clinic, Shell Camp, still in Owerri; it’s noteworthy that Sergt. Iboko gave up the ghost at the FMC as at 4am.

        

When the remaining two officers were in the Police Clinic, Sergt. Agbo who hailed from Benue State equally passed away. According to Sergt. Attang whose right eye was shattered by bullets and had already undergone series of surgeries, when he was in the clinic, the Zenith bank donated #200,000 and #400,000 respectively – totaling #600,000 – on two different occasions. And after that, had ceased to continue catering for him. He disclosed that, he was compelled to leave the clinic for a private hospital named ‘Mercy Hospital’ located in Orji, Owerri North L.G.A because he could not further cater for the exorbitant bills that kept coming on a daily basis while in the former, and only his family was reportedly left to foot the bills.   

        

It’s worthy of note that most surgeries conducted thus far were all carried out during his admission at the Mercy Hospital, and the poor family was mainly the financier of these. In order not to go into much details, which could be inconsequential, this piece was informed by the compelling need to notify the general public on the pressing need of the said surviving officer, though critically ill. As recommended by a well-experienced consultant neuro-surgeon, Sergt. Attang who now wears prosthetic eye still needs to undergo some urgent surgeries.

        

It was gathered that there were bullets still lodged in his skull and jaw, and needs the recommended medical operations to have them removed. The life-saving surgeries are expected to cost about 3 million naira. Since the Police as well as the bank in question had declined from further financial supports, he is left with no other option than to plead with the public, particularly well-spirited individuals, to come to his rescue before he becomes a dead man.

         

Personally, I would have love not to raise any provocative issue, or sound too emotional, on this platform but yet posterity wouldn’t forgive my person if I fail to appraise a few facts herein. Then if I must air my view outrightly, I would like to verify at this juncture why the affected bank, and of course the Police, would refuse to duly cater for the wellbeing of a man who sustained injuries while in active service.

          

I learnt that only after a threat was issued by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Owerri Branch, disclosing its intent to sue the bank and the Police on the ground that the families of the deceased police personnel had been abandoned by the aforementioned institutions, that the latter (Zenith bank) announced its interest to grant scholarship to the their children. But, it’s not about putting up an announcement or telling the entire world that you have accepted to do this or that; rather, it’s all about doing only the needful thereafter. God is indeed watching, and the law of Karma will surely prevail.

        

Worse still, it’s mind-boggling to learn that the critically-ill Sergt. Attang has alongside his family been residing in a batcher, even prior to the incident. Acknowledging this fact, one would begin to wonder why a well-decorated police sergeant in Nigeria could not rent at least a one-bedroom apartment, let alone a single flat. It’s really surprising and pathetic. No wonder why some junior police officers now resort to conniving with miscreants towards carrying out an intended crime, or collecting gratifications on our various major roads, thereby defacing the outlook of the revered institution. However, nothing ought to serve as a tangible excuse for indulging in any form of criminal act.

         

Before I drop my pen, I want to call on the government, that of Imo State in particular, to join hands in coming to the rescue of this fine gentleman – Sergeant Otu Attang – so that he would be proud of being a police officer posted to serve in the state. On the other hand, we should as well immortalize the two that are already dead because they died as heroes. Think about it!

Comrade FDN Nwaozor

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Twitter: @mediambassador

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ShortStory I A Dream Indeed!

A DREAM INDEED!

      “I told you, one day you must be my wife.” The just wedded Dabo cheerily ‘reminded’ the bride as he stepped forward to kiss her as instructed by the officiating priest, immediately after the exchange of marital vows by the partners at the altar of St. Martins’ Catholic Church, Ibadan situated in Oyo State, Nigeria, and eventually grabbed her lips by his.

       “One day I must be your wife?” the bride Sandra thought, starring the groom in silent awe as she reciprocated to the warmth kiss, managed to grin while trying to recall the occasion in which the dude made such a statement that wasn’t just optimistic but authoritative.

        She kept recalling the remark as they departed the altar for their seats right in the church. As she continued to make frantic effort to recollect a bit of the moment when he tendered the above utterance that could best be described as ‘weird’, she remained moody, seemed lifeless but pretended to be observant as she keenly fixed her gaze, albeit perturbed dazzling smile, on a procession comprising the congregants that were headed for offertory. As she thought over and over again, but couldn’t come up with something reasonable, she glanced at Dabo who was seated right beside her, turned to the procession once more and proceeded with her fake smiling countenance.

        Dabo, on his part, never knew he had made an expensive remark while at the altar, thus little did he know how thoughtful Sandra was at the moment. To him, the utterance was meant to serve as a reminder, unknowingly that there was never an event he issued such words to anybody in his life.

        Sandra was a schoolmate of Bisi whose parents lived about five yards away from Dabo in one of the prominent streets in the city of Ibadan, Oyo State. Bisi only came to the street to spend some time with her parents when she had a semester break or any other holiday that worth spending outside her school premises. In one of her breaks, she thought it wise to spend the holidays with her beloved friend and course mate, Sandra, thus she decided to take her home having sought her parents’ consent.

        It was exactly the break that succeeded their third year’s second semester; in other words, they just rounded off their three hundred level, and couldn’t wait to embrace the last lap of their academic pursuit that was meant to commence precisely in seven weeks time.

        It would interest you to note that Bisi had long been a secret admirer to Dabo’s personality. The latter was a practising journalist who had rightly carved a niche for himself as well as written his name in gold in the profession. As a promising and successful bachelor, he had told himself that he need not make mistake when it called for settling down, thus he had decided to remain very careful in relating with individuals of opposite gender. He never knew Bisi admired his person despite the numerous passes she had made to lure him into her net, probably because he was a very serious-minded human being who didn’t pay much attention to side attractions.

         The first day Dabo caught the sight of Sandra when he was driving home on one fateful day after office time, he instantly developed a soft spot for her. On that day, which was the very first day she came to Bisi’s place, both ladies were taking a walk along the ever-busy street to pick some food items from a certain shop situated towards the extreme. When he saw her, having developed an abrupt interest in her person, he didn’t know how best he could approach her, knowing fully that she was apparently the best friend of a lady whom he hardly noticed her presence in the street.

        It wasn’t that Bisi possessed indecent attitudes, or lived a wayward life; the truth remained that Dabo was not in any way attracted to her, perhaps owing to the instructions of his spirit he invariably listened to.

       “Hi dear!” Dabo exclaimed as he walked up to Bisi, the following day after he sighted her alongside Sandra.

        Bisi was standing alone at one of the shops in the street trying to purchase some stuffs. She felt so elated receiving a pleasantry from a man she had longed to be under his arms.

        “Helloo..” She responded in a jiffy, smiling.

        “Please, can I have a word with you?” Dabo requested as he stepped further.

        “Why not?” she cleared, ignoring her initial mission in order to pay him an undivided attention, hoping to receive good news in the process.

        “I saw you with a lady yesterday,” he hinted. “Please, who’s she?” He frankly inquired, though cheerily.

        Bisi instantly felt disappointed over the unexpected question, changed her mood. “Was that why you called me?” she said, sighed and turned her back on him.

        Little did he know that that was the least of the question the lady expected to hear from him, thus he was put totally off-balance by her sudden reactions. He had only saw as well as treated Bisi as his fellow dweller, but this very response of hers had sent a strong but contrary message to his senses. “I am so sorry if I have hurt you.” He tendered as she backed him.

        She hastily turned to him again. “Please…,” she urged, gesticulating. “Leave me alone!”

        At that juncture, he needn’t be told that all wasn’t well, thus ought not to wait for anyone to interpret the scenario. In view of this, he majestically took his leave, hoping for a better day.

        Days passed, Dabo tried to utilize other avenues to disclose his good intention to Sandra but all efforts proved abortive as a result of the barrier set in by Bisi, the aggrieved party. Bisi had vowed he would never get the attention of her friend; hence, she employed every means to actualize her motive. One of the mechanisms she used was that she misinformed Sandra that Dabo was a womanizer.

        In the process of hoping to receive positive reply from Sandra having eventually tendered an unalloyed proposal, Dabo had a very memorable and pleasant dream. He had dreamt of an occasion where he had a date with Sandra and in the outing, he told her, ‘one day, you must be my wife’. Luckily for him, his dream finally came to past as God would have it.

        So, right there at the altar, he was actually reciting the contents of that lofty dream he experienced many months back, unknowingly to the bride, Sandra.

        After the church service, they left for the reception hall. Therein as they were seated in their separate wedding seats, Sandra who couldn’t wait to verify the origin of the statement asked him when he once said she must be his wife someday.

        “Don’t mind me jari..,” Dabo responded hesitantly, though cheerfully. “I just recited a dream.” He informed, tenderly holding her left arm as he looked passionately into her moony eyes.

        On her part, she grinned, felt so elated and relaxed. Sure, she ostensibly needn’t the interpretation of the so-called dream.

FDN Nwaozor

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