The reported new editorial policy of the Punch Newspapers to address President Muhammadu Buhari as Major General in his official title and refer to his government as a regime instead of administration, comes to us as totally curious and utterly incredible.
The paper claimed that it is changing President Buhari's official title to General because of his government's alleged disregard for the rule of law.
Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), for that is his title, and he was indeed a Major General, but today retired from that position and now twice democratically elected president of Nigeria – is not the choice of Punch Newspaper’s editors and owners, that is clear.
He is, however, the two-time electoral choice of the voters of Nigeria, those very people who Punch Newspapers described this morning as “lethargic”: a disdaining epithet apportioned to decent,...
...hard-working, everyday Nigerians for not agreeing with, and for not having voted in line with their publication’s editorial and political opinions.
Punch’s editorial today is, however, entirely in line with holding and exercising the right of free speech and freedom of the press, as my friend and colleague, Femi Adesina said earlier today.
Femi, Special Adviser, Media and Publicity said the fact the Punch can insult the President in a front page editorial and they go home to sleep, peacefully, is the best testimony to the prevalence of the freedom of the press and of expression in the country.
To quote him, “rather than being pejorative, addressing President Buhari by his military rank is another testimony to free speech and freedom of the press, which this administration (or regime, if anyone prefers: it is a matter of semantics) has pledged to uphold and preserve.”
In countries around the world where this right does not exist, newspapers do not publish articles such as the one Punch did today; nor do they get to express political opinions contrary to that of government.
The exact freedoms Punch claims are missing are self-evident here – in print, on the internet – for all Nigerians and the whole world to see.
There is nothing wrong with expressing contrary opinions to this government - nor being in opposition to the president: this is the right of very Nigerian.
However, calling for the armed overthrow of the democratically elected administration is a different matter entirely: this Punch has in no way done – but others who they seek to defend, have.
There is the difference. Punch: oppose the government as much as you want to.
We welcome your contribution to the debate. But we ask you not to throw insults at the good voters of Nigeria for not agreeing to your choice at the last election.
It is not within the power or rights of a newspaper to unilaterally and whimsically change the formal official title or the designation of the country's President as it pleases.
It is unprecedented and absurd in our recent political history. The Punch never changed President Obasanjo's title from the President to General, despite the latter's refusal to comply with Supreme Court judgment, ordering him to release N30bn of Lagos State local councils funds.
When General Ibrahim Babangida who wasn't democratically elected assumed the title of President, why didn't the Punch challenge him or address him by any title it so desired?
In fact, IBB closed media houses for several months and years, including Punch.
But the paper didn't stop addressing him as President, despite the fact that he wasn't elected.
It is obvious that the Punch newspapers are playing partisan opposition politics which has nothing to do with journalism.
The Constitution of Nigeria recognises the President as the formal official title of the occupant of that office. Can the Punch newspapers, in their hubris address the President as Prime Minister as it pleases?
Is it within the paper's responsibility or power to change the official title of the man who occupies the office of the President? Does that mean any newspaper is free to address the Comptroller General of Customs a Colonel rather than his official title?
The Punch newspaper should separate journalism from partisan politics. What it is embarking upon is purely political and it is designed to play to the gallery and cause confusion.
Punch Newspaper's double standards in cuddling some of our past dictators and their open contempt for President Buhari clearly show that the paper has sinister motives for its current curious editorial judgment.
Its personal hatred for and animus towards President Buhari should not be allowed to becloud its good judgment.
Chiggsglover: Seems you're a journalist, you're so loaded mehn. I served in kebbi state, its only that new Kano government that pushing in this regard. Ganduje, I bow ooo, truth be told, I've not been following the news, Kano is a small state compared to other states in the north, but it brings joy to my soul to see these things you just presented.
But they really need to tell them to control their birth, it's normal for them to marry more than wife and each of then will have more than 2kids, imagine how a government worker earning minimum age can cope. Believe me, minimum wage is a big money in the north.
Kaduna State also has a bill for an act to ban the almajiri system. It is expected that the bill will be passed into law next year.
bigtt76: The billboard bears the authority's logo and situated within its jurisdiction how come they're not aware of it until now? So its possible for someone to place a directive at the airport to charge anything they like without them being aware? This country and its anyhowness sef
That's the big issue. Although they said that the billboard has been removed, but they also need to state the identity of the person that erected the billboard and the punishment that has been meted out to the person.
fujirice: Guys read that statement carefully, this people think they can play with our intelligence. They keep repeating that passengers are free to be “dropped-off” by any means they chose but are VERY SILENT on “Pick-up” which is the bone of contention here!!!
Guys be wise until they address this issue fully.
That was true of their first statement, it's not true of this statement. Go back to the first post in this thread and read the sentence in bold. It reads:
The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) says passengers are free to use whatever means of transportation they deem fit to arrive or depart the airports across the country.
The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) says passengers are free to use whatever means of transportation they deem fit to arrive or depart the airports across the country.
The agency said this amid complaints and claims that it had restricted taxi companies such as Uber and Bolt from picking passengers at airports.
On Tuesday, a Twitter user said: “So @FAAN_Official has issued a directive via this billboard to state that @UberNigeria @Boltapp_ng amongst others are not allowed to pick up passengers from the airport.
“The fine for this ranges from 10,000 naira. Please be aware.”
However, Henrietta Yakubu, FAAN general manager, public affairs, refuted the allegation.
In a statement sent to TheCable on Tuesday, Yakubu said FAAN is not responsible for the billboard with the restriction notice.
“A group of persons did that without recourse to FAAN management. Please disregard. Members of the public are free to be dropped at our airports by whatever means of transportation,” she said.
Speaking with TheCable, a passenger who simply identified himself as Tayo, said he had a first-hand experience of Bolt.
“When I arrived at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Saturday, I requested a taxi through Bolt. After I located the driver and got in the car, he pleaded that he wanted to delete the app from his phone,” Tayo said.
“When I asked why he said they were not allowed to pick up passengers from the airport and if he is caught he would have to pay a fine. He said the airport taxi drivers are against them.”
There have been clashes between regular airport taxis and cab-hailing services such as Uber and Bolt.
Many airport users say they stopped using airport taxies because Uber and Bolt are cheaper.
The Oyo State Government has launched a "One passenger per okada" campaign and a new device has been launched in support of this campaign.
The chairman of the Oyo State Road Transport Management Authority (OYRTMA), Mr Mogaji Akin Fagbemi, received delivery of over 1000 shelter kits for commercial motorcycle operators in connection with the "One passenger per Okada" campaign, sponsored by Mr Sulaiman Agboola of Sidol Solutions.
Here are pictures of the kits and reactions of members of the public.
Ishilove: Naptu2, do you have more from Herb Alpert? Classics, I mean.
Thank you! Thank you!
You've helped me to solve a riddle.
Someone once told me that this song was used on a radio show, but he couldn't remember what show, so he asked me if I knew.
I replied that it reminded me of a TV show, but I couldn't remember what show. I was certain that it was used on a TV show, but couldn't remember what TV show.
I finally remembered the show just as I was searching for the video for you.
This song was played on Telematch by Transtel, Cologne. It was played while the participants competed.
Chiggsglover: It's not enough, those boys are still wandering about, fatherless, motherless, homeless, educationless and all the less that me and you enjoyed as kids that made us who we are today. They need to outlaw giving birth to excess number of kids and dashing them to learn on the street. They dash out the ones they cant feed, its horrible, the females are the ones that have value to them cos of bride price and other business they carry out before they marry.
Almajiri system worrisome, FG, states must act now – Ganduje
Published August 20, 2019 Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja
The Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, has said the Federal Government and Northern Governors must address the Almajiri system of education in order to tackle the menace of children roaming the streets and begging.
According to him, there are over two million Almajiri children in Kano State with an influx of them from neighbouring countries of Niger and Chad, as well as from Katsina, Zamfara and Borno States.
The governor also reiterated that the federal government should hands off the controversial Rural Grazing Areas as issues raised in the scheme should be left for the states to handle.
He said the controversies raised by the scheme were needless urging states to set up solutions relative to problems in their domain.
The governor spoke at a press conference in Abuja on Monday while reeling out the achievements of his government over the last four years and the plans for the future.
He pointed out that the out-of-school children and the Almajiri system of education needed drastic and concerted measures by Northern governors to arrest the scourge.
Ganduje said governors of the North must ensure restriction of movement of Almajiris from one state to another and check the influx of them from neighbouring countries of Niger and Chad.
“Unless we do this, the problem will not go away. In Kano, we have over two million Almajiri children and we don’t have the facilities to cater to them even our children in the formal system.
“What we are doing is to recruit volunteer teachers with a focus on English Language and mathematics.”
He added that the state would hold a summit on education on September 3 with the active participation of handlers of the Almajiri system of education.
BreconHills: I don't do polar arguments. Please do your manhood dueling elsewhere. There are many people willing to oblige you here if that's your thing.
I was wondering why you replied that guy. He didn't want an answer to the question. What he wanted was a cue, a prompt that he would use to say the things that he had planned to say anyway. You answered the question without giving him the satisfaction that he wanted.
Chiggsglover: It's not enough, those boys are still wandering about, fatherless, motherless, homeless, educationless and all the less that me and you enjoyed as kids that made us who we are today. They need to outlaw giving birth to excess number of kids and dashing them to learn on the street. They dash out the ones they cant feed, its horrible, the females are the ones that have value to them cos of bride price and other business they carry out before they marry.
Ganduje: 95 percent of Almajiri roaming streets of Kano are foreigners
August 01, 19:57, 2019
Abdullahi Ganduje, governor of Kano state, says 95 percent of Almajiri roaming the streets of Kano are foreigners.
He disclosed this while speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting on free on compulsory education held at government house, Kano, on Thursday.
Almajiri is a system of Islamic education practised in northern Nigeria. Almajiri was derived from an Arabic word, rendered “al-Muhajirun” in English transliteration, meaning a person who leaves his home in search of knowledge.
Ganduje said the state government developed a compulsory free education initiative to overcome the situation by coming up with a policy that will bring an end to the trend.
He said the state is planning a special summit where all issues involved in the policy will be deliberated upon.
“We all believe that education is one of the major routes to economic prosperity and a corridor to scientific and technological advancement. It is at the same time, as largely regarded and enunciated, a veritable tool to combat unemployment,” he said.
He said the summit will seek practical ways to achieve the desired goals of the free and compulsory education, from primary to senior secondary school education.
“Part of our stakeholders for this noble policy are experts who specialise in basic education, some in science and technical education, some in assessment and quality control in education, some in examination management and also some would come from Almajiri system of education,” he said.
Ganduje said traditional institution will also form a part of the critical stakeholders in the implementation stage of the policy, adding that “because we believe in the important role they play in the education of our wards and the advancement of the sector as a whole, we said they must be included.”
He also urged the media to “come forward and be good partner for the overall development of the education sector in the state.”
Chiggsglover: It's not enough, those boys are still wandering about, fatherless, motherless, homeless, educationless and all the less that me and you enjoyed as kids that made us who we are today. They need to outlaw giving birth to excess number of kids and dashing them to learn on the street. They dash out the ones they cant feed, its horrible, the females are the ones that have value to them cos of bride price and other business they carry out before they marry.
Kano To Accommodate Almajiri System Under New Education Policy
As a government, we have said that basic education and secondary education will be free; we have also made it compulsory to ensure sustainability.
BY SAHARAREPORTERS, NEW YORK AUG 23, 2019
Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, has said that his administration will integrate the Almajiri education system into the modern academic curriculum to improve the quality of learning.
The governor made the announcement on Friday in Abuja while speaking to journalists during a visit to the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu.
According to Ganduje, education should be made free from basic to secondary school levels for every Nigerian child.
He said, “As a government, we have said that basic education and secondary education will be free; we have also made it compulsory to ensure sustainability.
“We have also resolved to hold a stakeholders’ summit to this effect; the summit will brainstorm on how to take care of out-of-school children which include Almajiri.”
Speaking further, the Kano governor said his administration’s plan was to modify the curriculum in such a way that would tally with the national curriculum.
Chiggsglover: It's not enough, those boys are still wandering about, fatherless, motherless, homeless, educationless and all the less that me and you enjoyed as kids that made us who we are today. They need to outlaw giving birth to excess number of kids and dashing them to learn on the street. They dash out the ones they cant feed, its horrible, the females are the ones that have value to them cos of bride price and other business they carry out before they marry.
Almajiri education: Kano recruits 600 teachers, approves N200m for books
Published October 7, 2019
The Kano State Government on Monday said it had recruited 600 teachers to teach in remodelled Almajiri schools as part of efforts to stop the Almajiri school students from roaming the streets and begging.
The state governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje disclosed this during the induction of the 600 teachers at the Government House, Kano.
Ganduje said that the teachers were recruited under the Best Education for State Delivery for All programme.
Represented by the state Head of Service, Dr Kabiru Shehu, Ganduje said that the government was concerned by the plight of children begging and roaming the streets under the guise of attending Qur’anic schools.
He said that 393 Almajiri schools were selected across the 44 local government areas of the state for the pilot project.
Ganduje added that the pupils would be taught English, mathematics and other relevant subjects on Thursdays and Fridays.
He said that the 600 teachers recruited were not part of the 3,000 teachers to be recruited in the state.
The governor added that the new initiative of integrating Almajiri schools into the mainstream curriculum-based education system was long overdue.
“The new initiative will checkmate the menace of street begging among almajiris because more measures would be put in place to bring forth the dignity and resourcefulness of pupils for the overall development of the state,” he said.
The governor said transport fares would be given to all the Qur’anic teachers.
Earlier, the Executive Chairman of State Universal Basic Education, Dr. Danlami Haido, said that the state government had approved over N200 million for the purchase of books for the Almajiri schools.
He stressed that the state government had declared free education in basic and senior secondary school levels and will recruit 3,000 volunteers teachers in order to reduce teachers’ deficit in the state.
Chiggsglover: It's not enough, those boys are still wandering about, fatherless, motherless, homeless, educationless and all the less that me and you enjoyed as kids that made us who we are today. They need to outlaw giving birth to excess number of kids and dashing them to learn on the street. They dash out the ones they cant feed, its horrible, the females are the ones that have value to them cos of bride price and other business they carry out before they marry.
That is precisely what the policy is about.
1) It is free and compulsory education (so they are not "educationless" )
2) They are forbidden from begging and roaming about (so there's no wandering about)
3) It is western education, so there's no "dashing them out to learn on the street"
4) Outlawing giving birth is a violation of fundamental human rights, so that's not going to happen. What you can do is advocacy, but you can't outlaw it.
Chiggsglover: I'm soooooo happy for this oooo, thank God that they won't be rushing to become mothers without improving their brain, after this the next is Almajiri boys. That one has made me weak since I served in the north.
They said that they are going to integrate "Almajiri" education with Western education.
TV/Movies › Re: What Movie Are You Watching Now? by naptu2: 7:46pm On Dec 11, 2019
