News

Irakpo Faults Fadahunsi, Says Entertainers Should Not Be Exempted in the War Against Drug Abuse

Published

1 year ago

November 26, 2022

Eric

Following the appeal by the senator representing Osun East Senatorial zone, Francis Fadahunsi, that celebrities and entertainers should be exempted in the war against drugs and substance abuse, Anti-drug Advocate , founder /president Silec Initiatives, Sunny Irakpo, has condemned the call, saying that “It is so disheartening, unfatherly, unpatriotic and highly ridiculous that a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who should be a role model and custodian of values would say something as repulsive as this in this critical moment when Nigeria is combating with so many challenges including insecurity, value depreciation and criminality.”

He opined that for a Senator to voice that the Nation Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and other regulatory bodies that are against the use of hard drugs to develop soft spots towards entertainers, simply because he feels that the entertainment industry is arguably one of the most lucrative industries that is accommodating many Nigerian youths in depressing economic condition, this position for me is not logical, belittling, unacceptable and will never hold water .

“The Senator said ” and I quote, “The only area where the youths are doing well is in the entertainment industry. That’s why I’m pleading with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) not to take the fight against drug abuse to their domain.”

As a well known anti-drug and advocacy organization in the forefront of sensitization that has witnessed first hand damages of drug abuse for over a decade in the lives of the youths in the country , we caution the law maker not to use his highly exalted office to promote drugs and cause more family and Nation troubles but rather use his office to educate on dangers of drugs and applause agency such as NDLEA that has done wonderfully in the history of Nigeria under the Buba Marwa’s administration.

Silec Initiatives therefore find this statement ludicrous and highly antagonizing to the incredible work of the Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa-led NDLEA who is saving the youths and Nation from further destruction.

Dear lawmaker since you feels that many Nigerian youths mismanaged the proceeds of COVID-19 palliatives, hence they sought refuge in the entertainment industry, agreed that the entertainment industry a good platform that should be used to absorbed the energies of youths meaningful and Government at all levels should give the industry serious attention so youths can use such channel productively to better their lives ; that should be your take and not you requesting NDLEA not to do their work as required by law . I throw this to you , because entertainment industry is lucrative so youths should deeply engaged themselves in drugs?. I think you are cut-off on reality of how drugs is currently destroying the lives of promising Nigerian youths from the family, community and National level.

You should know that countries of the world are taking drugs issues very seriously and capital punishment await violators of which many Nigerians are in a death roll just to be executed for drug trafficking.

As well meaning Nigerians have come out to challenge a parliamentarian like you with misplaced priority, questioning your motive for making such plea, we join to condemned in totality your uncalculated statement directed as read.

As good as entertainers are ,are you not aware that same entertainers have reck havoc to the lives of some youths who sees them as role model.? Is it that the laws for entertainers should be different from the laws that guide the common man on the street? We have many entertainers who remain good role models such as Alibaba, King Sunny Ade, Chief Ebenezer Obe and many more.

We have reiterated over and over again that no stone should be left unturned in our fight against drugs and substance abuse. We stand on our ground, that no matter whose ox is gored, the law enforcement agency should be allowed to do their job in the continued fight as we strive to cleanse our society of drug abuse. Every sane Nigerian knows the monumental effects of drug abuse and it is so visible to everyone how it has caused so much damages in the lives of many Nigerians, mostly our youths.

Therefore,your position as a serving Senator to maintain this stance for entertainers to have immunity to laws that pertain to drug usage , it is barbarically moved.

Our entertainers/celebrities are supposed to be role models that shouldn’t be indulging in hard drugs or showcasing their weak moral standards at the public space due to millions of followers, or its promotion as seeing with many. If drugs are the source of their inspiration and they cannot do without it, then they are not worthy of emulation. If we must build a Nigeria of our dream, then there should be no compromise in our quest to raise future leaders in all sectors of our economy.

Who says an actor, an artiste, a dancer or a producer cannot do without drugs? What happened to our compass of morality? What happened to our value system?

The level of proliferation of drugs is on the increase because of mindset like this. If we don’t come out and fight this cancer called drug abuse, we shall become victims of it’s colossal effects now and then.

We all most take a stand and condemn hard drugs in it’s entirety in order to save this generation from moral decay, habitual decadence and destruction, Irakpo concluded.

News

WAEC Warns Schools Against Extorting Students for Certificates, Promises Repercussions As SSCE Begins

Published

3 hours ago

April 29, 2024

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

The Nigeria Head of National Office, West Africa Examination Council (WAEC), Mr. Amos Josiah Dangut, has sounded a note of warning to schools in the habit of extortiing money from their students in the name of paying for certificates, to desist from the act henceforth, or face repercussions.

The HNO gave the warning while addressing members of the media on the conduct of the 2024 Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) due to kick-start on April 30, 2024 in four member countries of the Council including Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone and The Gambia.

He noted that the public and the media have not been coming forward with reports of School indulging in the act, and that explains why the hammer has not fallen on some erring schools.

“The more you fail to report the schools involved, the more the act continues, so we encourage you to name schools involved in the act,” he said.

The HNO further noted that the examination, which will last a duration of seven weeks and six days will test a total of One Million, Eight Hundred and Fourteen Thousand, Three Hundred and Forty-Four (1, 814, 344) candidates from Twenty-Two Thousand Two Hundred and Twenty-Nine ( 22,229) schools, whose entries were received. Candidates will be tested in 76 subjects, spread into 197 papers during the period of the examination.

Of much importance, the HNO announced that the results of the SSCE will be released 45 days after the last paper, while the certificates for the students will be printed, and released to the schools 90 days after the release of the results, urging schools to release the certificates to the students-owners without any charges as their registration fees has already accommodated the charges for the certificates.

While advising parents and guardians to encourage their wards to study diligently and desist from engaging in any form of examination malpractice, Mr. Dangut tasks students to take advantage of all the educational platforms created by WAEC to ensure their success, such as the e-learning portal.

News

JAMB Releases Results of 2024 UTME

Published

5 hours ago

April 29, 2024

Eric

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results.

JAMB’s Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, announced the release of the UTME results at a press conference held at the board’s headquarters in Abuja.

According to Oloyede, no fewer than 1.94 million candidates registered and sat for the examination in 118 towns and over 700 centres across the country.

The examination, which began on Friday, April 19, ended on Monday, April 29.

How to check your JAMB results

Step 1: Visit the official JAMB result-checking portal at https://www.jamb.gov.ng/Efacility. The portal is accessible on any device with an internet connection, such as a computer, tablet, or mobile phone.

Step 2: Then, log in to your profile using your email address and password. After accessing the portal, click on the “Check UTME Results” link.

Step 3: Enter your registration number on the JAMB result-checking portal.

Step 4: Once you have entered your JAMB registration number, click on the “Check Result” button. The portal will then process your result and display it on the screen.

Step 5: Print out a copy of your results

SMS option

To check the 2024 UTME result via phone, send UTMERESULT to 55019 or 66019 on the phone number the candidate used to register for the exam.

8,401 candidates score above 300; 64,624 results under investigation

According to the registrar, out of the registered candidates, 1,904,109 sat for the examination. 80, 810 were absent.

He explained that 64,624 results were under investigation for various reasons, such as verification (2,896), procedural investigations (4,594), and prima facie established exam misconduct (78).

He said other results under investigation were centre-based investigations involving 57,056 candidates in 18 centres across the country.

The 18 centres listed for the investigation were 12 in Edo, three in Akwa Ibom, two in Delta, and one in Kwara State.

“The Board witnessed a near-zero infraction situation in the 2024 UTME except for a few cases, which represent just a tiny fraction of what was reported last year.

“This is encouraging, and the board is poised to consolidate on the successes recorded,” he said.

While giving analysis of the results, Oloyede said 8,401 candidates representing 0.5 per cent scored 300 and above; 77,070 candidates representing 4.2 per cent scored 250 and above.

News

Court Vacates Order for Arrest of Fubara’s CoS, Says It’s Mere Academic Exercise

Published

5 days ago

April 25, 2024

Eric

The Order of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja for the arrest of Edison Ehie, the Chief of Staff to the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara and granted by Justice Emeka Nwite on the 31st of January, 2024, has been set aside, today, 25th April, 2024.

Justice Emeka Nwite had on January 31 ordered Ehie’s arrest in connection with the burning of the Rivers State House of Assembly on October 30, 2023.

The police, in the charges, alleged that Ehie and five others masterminded the bombing of the Rivers State House of Assembly amid a plot to impeach Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

The five others are Jinjiri Bala, Happy Benedict, Progress Joseph, Adokiye Oyagiri, and Chibuike Peter, alias Rambo.

Justice Emeka Nwite while reading the ruling setting aside the order given by the court against Eddison Ehie declaring him wanted and granting an order of arrest said it as now becoming a mere academic exercise.

The judge further granted same to the 2nd-5th Defendant/Applicant in same suit.

Eddison Ehie had a team of representation including Falana SAN, Wole Oladoye SAN, Dr Bimpe Ajegbomogun and Barr. Asmau Yakubu

Though Ehie’s name was mentioned in the counts, he was not listed among the defendants.

He said, “He was never invited by the police for anything. All that he saw was that they filed a charge; they mentioned his name in four out of seven charges for murder and arson.”

Aladedoye also argued that it was strange that the Inspector-General of Police left all the courts in Rivers State, where the alleged offences were committed, to file an application before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

“Your Lordship has no jurisdiction to entertain the matter here, “Aladedoye said.

Counsel for the other defendants, Femi Falana (SAN), said the crime his clients were alleged to have committed were state offences.

In the application it was stated that “What is disclosed are state offences; it is our submission that this court cannot exercise any jurisdiction in state offences without the fiat of the Attorney General of Rivers State.”