Lagos Catholic Archbishop Urges Police To Improve Public Image

Most Rev. Adewale Martins, Catholic Archbishop of Lagos Diocese, at the weekend, urged officers of the Nigerian Police to improve on their image by working according to the ethics of their profession.

Speaking during the inauguration of St. Anthony’s Police Catholic Chaplaincy, built by the officers and men of the police at Highway Patrol Barrack, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, the archbishop urged personnel of the force to work on their public image.

Some dignitaries present were the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ngozi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP); a former Commissioner of Police, Mr. Columbus Okoro (rtd) and CEO Kezbon International Limited, Chief Godwin Nwabuko, amongst others, as they rejoice with the Chaplaincy under the leadership of the Parish Priest, Rev. Paul Omotosho, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP).

At the occasion, which also doubled as a celebration of his one year in office, Martins noted that although the police was operating on a very difficult terrain, they should however expedite actions within the ambits of the law.

“Sometimes, the police operate in a very difficult terrain especially in terms of inadequate resources with which to work or the welfare package which are not good for police operation.

“All of these constitute part of the environment the police work. However, it also remains for the officers even within the limited resources to carry out their professional duties in such a way within the ethics of the profession.

“They should do this so that the kind of perception members of the public have about them become better and better daily. Also, police officers’ children should shun violence and follow Jesus,” Martins said.

Boko Haram Attack On Security Formations In Borno State Leaves 32 Terrorists Dead

At least 35 people have been killed in two separate gun battles between Nigerian security forces and Islamist sect Boko Haram in Borno State, the army said on Monday. Boko Haram, which wants to impose sharia law in Nigeria’s north, and other spin-off Islamist groups, had become the biggest threat to the country’s stability, Reuters reports.

In mid-May, President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency and launched an offensive against the group in its stronghold in the northeast. The insurgency was initially weakened but remains active and is stretching the army.

Boko Haram gunmen on Sunday attacked a police base in Bama, a town close to the Cameroon border that has been frequently hit by violence in recent months.

“Troops have successfully repelled Boko Haram terrorist attacks on a police base in Bama … on August 4,” said military spokesman Sagir Musa.

Musa, a Nigerian Army Lieutenant Colonel, said one policeman and 17 members of Boko Haram were killed during the fighting, while two soldiers were injured.

He said four trucks, three motorbikes, dozens of explosive devices, three rocket-propelled grenades, 10 AK47 rifles and over 100 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the Islamists.

Boko Haram members also attacked a military base used by the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in the town of Malam Fatori, triggering a gun battle that left two soldiers and 15 of its members dead, Musa said.

Sultan Cautions Elite Against Inciting Violence, Insecurity

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, on Sunday in Sokoto warned Nigerians against fanning the embers of insecurity and violence in the country. The Sultan gave the warning when he hosted a 20-man delegation of the Kaduna-based Peace Revival and Reconciliation Foundation of Nigeria at a Ramadan fast-breaking dinner.

Sultan Abubakar noted that in time of crisis, the sons and daughters of the down-trodden Nigerians were always the victims of violence and mayhem.

“These poor and vulnerable youths get killed or maimed while their colleagues in the wealthy and elitist families are often sent abroad for studies.

“This is another form of injustice against the weak, indigent youths and it must be urgently stopped,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the Sultan as saying at the forum.

Speaking on 2015, the Sultan stressed the need to pray for leaders “who will take us out of our present predicaments as a nation.”

He said traditional rulers are not politicians but, “fathers and leaders in the political field…who would continue to pray for Nigeria and her leaders to lead the nation to the promise land.”

Abubakar commended members of the foundation, dedicated to peace building in the north and Nigeria generally, for doing a very patriotic job.

“This is a group of youths from Islam and Christianity who are doing what the elders are supposed to be doing for the country to have peace, unity, security, stability, cohesion and understanding among all Nigerians,” he added.

The monarch urged the youths not to allow themselves to be used by some selfish leaders as “preys”.

The leader of the delegation, Mr Solomon Dalong, a lawyer and human rights activist, said the problems currently facing Nigeria were artificial.

“These problems like insecurity, corruption and poverty, among others were not created by God.

“We had lived peacefully with each other before and the situation now is unacceptable,” he added. (NAN)

Jose Mourinho Pays Tribute To Victor Moses

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says he will have to change his team from match to match but is delighted to have so many options available to him and has paid tribute to Victor Moses’ game-changing potential.

Mourinho has a large squad at his disposal and is particularly blessed with attacking riches after recruiting Andre Schurrle this summer and welcoming Kevin de Bruyne back to the fold after a season on loan at Werder Bremen.

Eden Hazard, Juan Mata and Oscar all impressed last term and Moses also played his part, leaving Mourinho with some major selection decisions to ponder ahead of the new campaign.

But he is glad to have so many good players and plans to rotate his squad to ensure Chelsea enjoy a successful year.

“Where can I can fit all the players in? I hope to play 60 matches,” he said in the Daily Star.

“So we will use a rotation of players that’s for sure.”

Moses has caught the eye with his performances in pre-season and Mourinho believes he is the type of player who can make a huge impact off the substitutes’ bench.

“Victor has been terrific, working very hard,” he said.

“In his position, we have Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne and Andre Schurrle, and with Victor, we can change during a match and give new life to the team.”

Police Appeals For More Information On Man Set Ablaze In Enugu

The Enugu State Police Command on Monday appealed for information that would lead to the arrest of those, who allegedly set a man ablaze in Nsukka. In a statement, the spokesman for the command, Mr Ebere Amaraizu, said the man, Sylvester Ezema, was ambushed at Akpa Edem in Nsukka on Aug. 3, doused with petrol and set ablaze.

He said although the police had a suspect in its custody, further information from members of the public would help the police in its investigation.

Amaraizu said the victim was rushed to a hospital in Nsukka by sympathisers for medical attention but he later died.

He said the corpse had been deposited at Bishop Shanaham Specialist Hospital Mortuary in Nsukka. (NAN)

August 8&9 Declared Public Holidays To Mark Eid-el-Fitr

August 8 and Aug 9 (Thursday and Friday) has been declared public holidays to mark the 2013 Eid-el-Fitri celebration.

The Federal Government said this in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by the Minister of Interior, Mr Abba Moro, and signed by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs Fatima Bamidele.

It urged Muslim faithful to use the spiritual benefits of Ramadan to contribute to the development of the nation building.

Wishing all Nigerians a rewarding and peaceful celebration, the statement also urged them to exploit the spiritual benefits of love, joy and peace in their daily living and use the opportunity of the holidays to reflect on the imperative of peace in the development of the country.

Nigerians Commiserate With Fashola Over Father’s Death

Prominent Nigerians have sent their Condolence messages to the Fashola family following the passage of the patriarch of the family, Alhaji Ibrahim Ademola Fashola, father of the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), who passed away Monday at the age of 79.
The president, in a statement by his spokesman, Dr Reuben Abati, on behalf of himself, his family, the federal government and Nigerians, expressed his sincere condolences to the governor over the passage of his father. In his condolence message to the Fashola family, President Jonathan urged the family to take heart and be comforted by the knowledge that Pa Fashola died a fulfilled man who lived to see his son become a two-term governor of one of Nigeria’s most populous and vibrant states.

“As they mourn Pa Fashola, President Jonathan urges Governor Fashola, his family and people of Lagos State to give thanks to God Almighty for the octogenarian’s very exemplary and accomplished life,” he said.

Also condoling the Fasholas, Senator David Mark said the family should take joy in the fact that the deceased lived an eventful and accomplished life worthy of emulation.

The Senate president in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, urged the governor to bear his loss with fortitude as he was consoled by the fact that his father lived an exemplary life and left a legacy of selfless service to the community.

“Your track record of achievements, especially your excellent performance as the governor of Lagos State, bears eloquent testimony that your father left a legacy of integrity and excellence,” he said.

On his part, Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi commiserated with his colleague on the death of his father.

Fayemi, in a statement Monday, said he could feel the pains of his colleague, having lost his own father four years ago.

But he urged him to be consoled by the fact that the deceased lived a fulfilled life and to a ripe old age.

According to him, the deceased will be remembered for being a disciplinarian and a personality who pursued any cause he believed in.

In his condolence message, Fayemi’s counterpart in Oyo State, Ajimobi, described the death of the elder Fashola as a great loss to the family.

Ajimobi, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, said: “Papa was a devout Muslim, community leader and a shining example of humility and philanthropy, as he shared virtually everything he had with the needy, irrespective of where they came from.’’

The Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola in a condolence message, by the state’s Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, said the death of the elder Fashola would leave a huge vacuum in the extended Fashola family as well as in Lagos social and political circles.

Aregbesola noted that the death of Fashola would deny him and some of his colleagues the elderly counsel and wisdom they had enjoyed.

“The sudden exit of Papa Ademola Fashola invoked a mixed feelings in me, one of costly loss of a redoubtable father and leader and the other of a glorious exit of papa after a well led life on earth,” he added.

The Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun also mourned the death of the father of his Lagos State counterpart.

In a statement by his spokesman, Mrs. Funmi Wakama, Amosun said he was shocked by the news of the death and described the deceased as a model of industry, discipline and integrity.

“He was a dedicated family man and devout Muslim, who trained his children in the way of Allah. It is not surprising that one of his children, Mr Raji Fashola, later rose to become the governor of Lagos, where he has recorded outstanding successes,” the governor said.

Former Lagos State governor Bola Tinubu also expressed sadness at the death of the father of his successor.

Speaking from the United States, Tinubu said the death of the elder Fashola was shocking and saddening irrespective of the fact that he died at a ripe age.

“His demise even at the ripe age of 79 years is a hurtful one and we have indeed lost a true, honest, steadfast and dependable father. Pa Ademola Fashola, a man of integrity was a father no one would want to lose at a time like this.

“There is no greater testimony to this than his son, Babatunde Fashola, the governor of Lagos, who has given a new meaning to good governance and purposeful leadership.”

The late Fashola, a former employee of Daily Times Plc, died at his 31, Oladipo Labinjo Crescent, Surulere residence while Governor Fashola was on a religious pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia along with some top officials of the state.

The governor is expected back in the country Tuesday for his father’s burial.

A statement Monday by the state government, signed by the Chief of Staff to the governor, Mr. Olanrewaju Babalola, confirmed the passage of Pa Fashola, whom it said died after a brief illness.

The three-paragraph statement said the body of Pa Fashola, who was survived by wives, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, would be buried today according to Muslim rites at the Vaults and Gardens, Ikoyi by 1 p.m.