Flood/ Traffic Induces Transportation Hike, Labour Union/ Government Needs To Sit Up!

Its the rainy season and like precursory years, most parts of Nigerian cities experience flood. Lagos -state metropolis is not exempted, Tuesday, June 6th, 2017 rain which started in the early hours of the day and continued all through left its infamous signature behind. 

Mobile Road, off Ilaje bus-stop

 Major roads, residential and business districts was flooded. The drainage where the water was supposed to flow through was not spared; Left, Right Centre all you see is Flood. 

Mobile Road, off Ilaje bus-stop

 Commuters were stranded as transportation fare increased. Reason given by bus (danfo), Motorbikes (okada) and tricycle (Keke) drivers were: Traffic and Flood. 

Mobile Road, off Ilaje bus-stop

 Since there are obviously no 'Governmental/Labour' organisations to protect citizens from gratuitous developments as these, passengers are left with no options than to either 'grudgingly' pay or risk trekking the distance to their destinations ...in the rain. 

Mobile Road, off Ilaje bus-stop

For how long will this continue?

What is the Nigerian Labour Union doing to address baseless increase in transportation fare imposed on helpless Nigerians?

What is the Government, whom the people trustfully voted into 'Power' doing to address flood and exploitation in the form of inexplicable increase in transportation fares when ever it rains?

Evil: Health Worker Abused Special-Need Toddler In Her Care!

A recent story and video published on Bellanaija blogspot, left readers astonished. Why would an individual identified to be Bisola Anthonia Abayomi Ojo, a physiotherapist, believed to have taken the medical oath to treat diseases, injury or deformity by physical methods like massage, exercise and heat treatments, simply decide to instead use her esteemed office to perpetrate heinous crime against a helpless toddler? 

The story below, as narrated on Bellanaija blog, by the victim's mother identified as Bukola Ayinde, Founder of  P4:13 Foundation and Author of Diary of a Special Needs Mum, whose daughter was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy leaves one wondering what has come over us...

The Narrative: 

"I’m Bukola Ayinde, Founder of P4:13 Foundation and author of Diary of a Special Needs Mum.

Getting a diagnosis which says your child has Cerebral Palsy is a parent’s worst nightmare. I had my period of living in denial; wishing the problem would go away, like it was all a dream, but the reality stared me in the face.

My husband and I decided to face the challenge before us squarely.

We engaged different specialists; Neurologist, Paediatrician, Physiotherapist, Speech therapist, Occupational therapist, Special Needs Care Givers. At one point we were scouting for a very good physiotherapist.

A parent of a special needs child recommended a young lady to me. I mentioned her name to one of my daughter’s therapist who confirmed that the lady was very good at her job. However, she also confirmed that the lady could be arrogant. I spoke with another therapist on the field who also confirmed that the recommended Physiotherapist was good at what she does but she could be rude.

Well, at that point of my life, I didn’t mind if she was going to be rude to me or arrogant as far as she was as good as everyone had said, I was fine with that. All I wanted was to see was my child’s improvement, I could take any sh*t in between.

She came on board as my daughter’s physiotherapist. She was very professional and dedicated, but she didn’t come cheap. She didn’t come cheap at all.

My daughter attended a mainstream school that allowed her to use the sickbay as her pullout room for her physiotherapy session.

In June 2016, my daughter’s school proprietress requested that my husband and I should make out time to see her. When we eventually did a week later, she told us that the physiotherapist had manhandled our daughter and she was going to show us a CCTV recording to prove it.

At the back of my mind I felt the woman was exaggerating because therapy could be demanding at times. My child may cry, if she didn’t like the exercise or if the exercise was tasking.

However, when I watched the video, I was shocked beyond words that someone I trusted with my daughter could treat her worse than an animal. I believe that even an animal shouldn’t be treated that way.

I mean, she came highly recommended; she is a Masters degree holder. She is not an illiterate.

Apparently she didn’t remember that there was a CCTV in the room or she felt nobody would be checking the TV at that particular time.

It was heartbreaking to see my daughter treated by a health worker in such a barbaric act.

I watched my daughter as she fell down several times hitting her head on the tiles. There were times she hit her head on the edge of the wooden bed before falling to the ground.

Her Physiotherapist slapped her three times; the third time with her cell phone. She left her head hanging upside for 5 minutes. She twisted my daughter’s hands several times; at a point she sat on her hands, at another point she tied her hands behind her head. I watched as my daughter fell from her chair while her neck was stuck in between the space at the vertical back rest and the flat wood used for sitting down. I watched on as this lady typed on her phone 90% of the time only taking some time off to torture my daughter. Did I mention that she took out time to take her selfie? Up to five times.

After we watched the recording, my husband could not control his tears. My heart bled.

My daughter’s Neurologist said we cannot ascertain the level of damage to her brain because we did not bring her immediately it happened. He said an MRI would have been done to ascertain any damage.

I got her arrested.

She said she was sorry

She claimed depression and ill health

I didn’t believe her then, I don’t believe her now.

I had to make a decision, to leave my daughter in the hands of her nannies at home (which may be another source of abuse) and follow through to ensure the physiotherapist was duly punished. (Bearing in mind the justice system in Nigeria) or drop the charges lodged at the police station and allow Medical Rehabilitation Therapists Board at Yaba to handle the matter.

I dropped the police charges. I decided to stay with my traumatized daughter.

I handed the Physiotherapist over to the Registrar at Medical Rehabilitation Therapists Board at Yaba.

Her punishment:

• Three months withdrawal of her practicing license.

• Three months work in a general hospital under supervision without pay

• She was to undergo a psychiatric test

Like seriously? Are you kidding me?

She had been practicing for a year without renewing her license and all you could do was to withdraw her license officially for a mere three months?

She went back to the Registrar at Medical Rehabilitation Therapists to ask for permission to travel to USA to get treatment.

I called to check on the case, and I was told she had travelled for treatment

I was told not to worry as she cannot practice anywhere else in the world without a letter from the board.

Some months later, I was told by a reliable source that she was not taking any major treatments but attending a Masters programme in US.

So she got away with child abuse, assault, battery, in fact attempted murder.

This is only possible in Nigeria right?

I went back to Medical Rehabilitation Center, I was shocked to find out that the case had gone cold.

What stops her from coming back into the country and working with other children?

How many Nigerians ask for practicing license before employing a professional?

I strongly believe that the least the board should have done was to declare her unfit to work with children.

In respect to my daughter, the signs were there: She had been withdrawn for a while in fact she had stop smiling, interacting with anybody in the house or attempting to answer questions in school. I kept asking the care giver that followed her to school about the sudden change. The caregiver said she had no idea. I came up with my own theory and I brushed it aside.

How would I have known that a health worker, someone I trusted with my child could be so cruel? The Physiotherapist had been with us for over two years. I can only imagine….

Well, I pulled my daughter out of school and started her own mini school at home. I let go of my current caregivers for good reasons and got new ones. With care and love, she added weight, came out of her shell and got better. Right now she attends a school three times a week and we are making progress.

Child abuse is real…from the people you least expect. Protect your children."

Bukola Ayinde wrote.

This is absolutely unacceptable and should not be condoned in any way. 

This lady (health-worker) should be identified and brought to book as soon as possible. 

The Biafran Movement In Review!

May 30th, marks the anniversary of the once existence the Biafran Nation, officially known as the Republic of Biafra. Bordered by the lower part of the River-Niger on the west and the Republic of Cameron on the east, Biafra was made up of the then eastern Region of Nigeria.

The name Biafra was derived from its southern Atlantic bay- "Bright of Biafra". History has it that the Biafran secession, which lasted between 30th of May, 1967, to January 1970, came about as a result of ethnic, cultural, religious and economic tensions across Nigeria. The Biafran story is, to some extent, known by almost every Nigerian through: personal experience, handed-down tales, or from history classes. 

 

The aim of this piece, is not to go into History, but to take a glimpse at the noble aim of the ideologists in the vanguard of the Biafran movement. They were the un-sung 'Nigerian' men and women who joined not only in the Biafran struggle, but in the struggle for Liberation, Unity and Development of the African State. 

The impact of these (mostly unacknowledged) youths, who traveled the length and breadth of Africa, Asia, and the United States of America; in search of allies in the campaign for the liberation of African, can not be over-emphasized. Men and women in their prime, from all walks of life, some of whom have had the privilege of being mentored by some of Africa's finest. The likes the Kwame Nkrumah, and Kenneth Kaunda of blessed memories, to mention a few. Then were times when noble ideologies informed the struggle for emancipation. 

The liberation struggle cuts across continents, and has overtime produced greatness in the persons of: Nelson Mandela, Kenneth Kaunda, Steve Biko, Julius Kambarage Nyerere, Kwame Nkrumah, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ahmed Sekou Toure, Haile Selassie, Marcus Garvey, Malcom X, Mohammed Ali, William Edward Burghardt, Martin Luther King, to list goes on.

In Nigeria,  they were the: Mary Nzimiros, and dozens of inspired young men and women, among whom was my late Uncle, Comrade Chinye Prince Ononye, a member of the Afro-Asian Movement. Young and Old, in their out-standing qualities, were all in the front-line of the Biafran-movement, through their various organizations.

Regrettably, along the line, this noble struggle for a holistic Pan-African economic freedom, slowly slid into the monstrous grips of anti-socialists "ti'gbuo-zo'gbuo" movement we currently witness. 

 

A situation where guerrilla combat is employed, for a share in the natural resources, using ethic-emancipation as camouflage. Killings, kidnappings, the hustle for Oil allocations, became the order of the day. Albeit, can the nobility which informed the Biafran crusade be revived, the answer is up to us. 

The actualization of a true 'Biafran State' entails that the movement be examined within the spotlight of African freedom; embodied in specific program. As Comrade Chinye Ononye, in one of his letters, during the unset of the civil war in 1968, suggested: "The (Biafran) struggle should be transformed from that of mere emotional tribal nationalism, varying on chauvinism, into a Pan- African Economic and Political Liberation struggle". 

 

I think the above suggestion is necessary, particularly in the on-going feud across the nation. Otherwise, if left unchecked, might result in a situation where the wronged, and currently un-organised masses of the Biafran territory, may suffer yet more unnecessary hardship; because of the reactionary policy of the current propagandists. 

For the progress and triumph of the much talked about Biafran Revolution, late Comrade Ononye suggested, that instead of the resources serving just a few cabals incumbent in corridors of power, the wealth should instead, serve for the economic development of the Biafran Region (as against the existing condition), the country as a whole, and possibly, seek ways of attaining a truly United, and developed Africa. The Biafran movement needs to champion an integral cause, without which the struggle is impractical. The ultimate destiny of the Biafran revolution should be philosophical consciensicm, or the blood of our heroes past, have been shed in vein. 

Obianuju Mbanusi writes.

Nigeria Soars by S$500m And US$87m In Sovereign Wealth And Excess Crude Accounts Respectively!

Nigeria's Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo reiterated the Government's commitment to actualise President Muhammadu Buhari's vision of the NigerDelta environmental clean-up beginning with Ogoniland. What is termed a long over-due step to ensure that the "wealth of many will no longer be stolen by or reserved for a few", in order words, to guarantee that the people from the NigerDelta region benefits fully from the Nation's wealth.  

In addition, the vision includes making certain that the impunity of corruption , be it in the public or private sectors , will no longer be standard operating practice; and the vision of a Nigeria devoid of "bandits and terrorists".

In a speech to mark the 2nd anniversary since the Muhammadu Buhari led administration, the Acting President mentioned some key areas the Nigerian government is focused on, they include: 

• Bringing accused corrupt persons to Justice
• Working on strategies to deal with Headsmen/ Farmers clash 
• Saving and Investing to Nigeria's future
• Creating an enabling environment for Small and Medium scale businesses across the countries through soft loans  among others.

Prof. Yemi Osinbajo further disclosed that this administration has in the last two years, added the sum of US$500m to Nigeria's Sovereign Wealth Fund and US$87m to the Excess Crude Account. As against the situation before now, when according to the Acting President, "rising oil prices failed to translate to rising levels of savings and investment".

Prof. Osinbajo ended his speech by imploring for continual prayers for the restoration to full health, strength and the safe return of President Muhammadu Buhari who is currently in London on medical grounds.

Nigeria returned to democratic rule on May 29, 1999, after thirty -three years of chiefly Military regimes. 

Attention LASEPA, Ilaje Bus-Stop Is In A Mess!

Pictures below taken on Saturday, May 27th, 2017, show the messy current state of Ilaje bus-stop at Ajah area of Lekki - Peninsula, Lagos state, Nigeria. 

Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) Ilaje bus-stop and Ilaje community environment is in a sorry state and needs swift attention.

Appeal To Intensify The Campaign Against Child Abuse In Our Communities!

On 20th May, 2017, the down-heartening news of how a 7-year-old boy was reportedly killed by his father in Port-Harcourt, Rivers state, Nigeria, filtered in. People wondered why a father could be that cruel to his own blood. The death of George Tamunoibuemie, was the climax of a supposed prolonged inhuman treatment meted out by a man he called "father".

late George Tamunoibuemie

The sad story of late master Tamunoibuemie who before his cruel death reportedly lived with his father and step mother, was first brought to public knowledge by a concerned neighbour via an Instagram handle @srigeorgeom. who shared the story thus: 

"Just this week, I saw this little boy at a shop, people gathered around him. He stole a doughnut and everyone was blaming his father, saying he wasn’t giving  him food and that, that was  why the boy stole. They said   the father and the boy’s   step mum maltreated   him. I saw scar all over his body. The people he stole the doughnuts from even gave him more doughnuts and soft drink. I took the little boy to my house and interviewed him. He was an intelligent boy. He told me the same thing and even asked me to give him a pencil to school which I did. I also bought biscuits for him, took photograph of him   before he left. I promised to see his father but couldn’t due to my tight schedule this (last week)." 

A couple of days later, the concerned neighbour sent out the following message:

"This morning, I woke up to   hear that his father has killed him. The father beat him to death. The father  is at the Amadi police station now   while the little boy’s  body has been taken to the mogue. I saw the father briefly being held  at the station as he was claiming that he only beat him small”. 

Report has it that the incident happened on Saturday, May 20, 2017, around 12:30am, at Amadi-Ama area of Port Harcourt. 

Varying reports made the round, howbeit, Rivers state Police account through its Public Relations Officer, Nnamdi Omoni, has it that the father, simply identified as Amadi, stated that he (father), had a misunderstanding with his son, and he beat the boy. 

Excuse me...what kind of "misunderstanding" would a grown man have had with his "7-year-old son, that would warrant him beating the son to a pulp...until the child stopped breathing?.

The deed has been done and no amount of "trying to figure out what really happened" will bring back the child. Our concern should be more on: 

...How many children are still out there living under the cruel condition, synonymous to that of late George in his father's house, or with guardians. 

...Are there Policies or Laws already in place to protect the innocents in our society?

...Are there places concerned neighbours, Heads of schools, teachers, good Samaritans etc...can report to, when they notice symptoms of abuse on children, without being tagged "busy bodies"...watin concern you...shebi nah him "papa"...or "mama" or "relation"...leave them now. In order to avoid such occurrence(s) in the future.

...What penalties awaits such accused?

Like many cases, the story of late George Tamunoibuemie might be forgotten with time (if not almost), and the accused freed without duly paying the full consequence(s) of his irrational action. 

As we celebrate Children today (May 27th), this publication appeals to relevant authorities especially across Nigeria and other parts of Africa, to see that adequate measures are put in place to protect children in our communities, and to see that perpetrators are aptly brought to book. 

More so, the face of late George Tamunoibuemie should peharps flag off a campaign against Child abuse and inhuman treatment of any form.

Nigerian Government Signs Order To Support Local Contents In Public Procurement, Promote Transparency And Efficiency!

1. "Promotion of transparency and efficiency in the business environment designed to facilitate the ease of doing business in Nigeria
2. Timely submission of annual budgetary estimate by all statutory and non-statutory agencies, including companies owned by the Federal Government..and
3.  Support for local contents in public procurement by the Federal Government"... are the thrust of the three executive orders recently signed by Nigeria's Acting President, Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on Thursday, May 18th, 2017. 

It is believed that the Executive Order, will significantly change some governmental business and operations in Nigeria.

Present at the event was government officials: Ministers,Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Departments and Agencies among others.