OPINION I Today is World Humanitarian Day

PROMOTING SELFLESS SERVICE TO HUMANITY AS WE COMMEMORATE THE 2017 WORLD HUMANITARIAN DAY

      

By Fred Doc Nwaozor
        

August 19 each year, the world over commemorates the World Humanitarian Day. This signifies that today, Saturday, 9^th of August, the global community marks the 2017 edition of the World Humanitarian Day. 

         

The day is an annual and international day dedicated to recognize humanitarian personnel and those who have lost their lives while working for humanitarian causes. The event was designated by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly as part of a Swedish-sponsored General Assembly Resolution on the strengthening of the coordination of emergency assistance of the UN. 

This year's theme is 'civilians are not a target'. It is aimed towards ensuring that every civilian is duly safeguarded by all means in any arena marred by any form of conflict or violence.

         

The World Humanitarian Day is a time to recognize those who face danger and adversity while helping others. The day was set aside to coincide with the anniversary of the 2003 bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad – Iraq, which claimed twenty-two (22) lives including the live of the then Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General to Iraq in the person of Sergio Vieira de Mello.

          

The invention of August 19 as World Humanitarian Day was the outcome of the relentless efforts of Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation coupled with the partnership of the deceased’s family with the Ambassadors of France, Switzerland, Japan, as well as Brazil in both Geneva and New York tabling and steering the draft resolution through the UN General Assembly. All the efforts of the Foundation was to ensure that the tragic loss of the said hero among his twenty-one (21) colleagues, and all the humanitarian personnel who have made the ultimate sacrifices in relieving the suffering of the victims of humanitarian crises were not in vain.

        

Sergio Vieira de Mello who was a citizen of Brazil, South America dedicated his lifetime spanning over thirty years in the UN, serving in some of the most challenging humanitarian situations in the world to reach the voiceless victims of armed conflict, alleviate their suffering and draw global attention to their plights. His death alongside twenty-one of his colleagues on 19^th August 2003 in Baghdad, Iraq deprived the victims of armed conflict worldwide of a unique humanitarian leader of unmatched courage, drive and empathy who championed their cause fearlessly and clearly engraved their plight on the world map.

          

The tragic event also robbed the humanitarian community of an outstanding leader and intellectual whose thought, philosophy, dynamism and courage inspired all, and remains a timeless legacy to emulate by generations yet unborn. Mindful of this legacy, in 2006 the family of the late humanitarian icon and a group of close friends founded the Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation dedicated to continue his unfinished mission of encouraging dialogue between communities and relieving the predicament faced by the victims of humanitarian crises.

         

 The World Humanitarian Day was commemorated for the first time on 19^th August 2009. Suffice to say that, this year’s commemoration is the eighth of its kind in the history of the worthwhile event. As the international community marks the event today, we are all urged to borrow a leaf from the indelible landmark achievements of the great warrior and legend – Sergio Vieira de Mello. To this end, we are all expected to strive towards promoting selfless service in our respective endeavours at all costs.

          

Surely, the most important thing to any man remains his or her welfare. Welfare could be referred to as one’s well-being, or organized efforts to ensure the basic well-being of people in need. Since the term ‘humanitarianism’ has to do with human welfare, it is of no need reiterating the fact that this remarkable event widely known and recognized as World Humanitarian Day was set aside to sensitize mankind on the cogent need for people to help one another, and for anyone to support any crusade that is targeted to promote lending hand to persons that are in need or victimized.

        

We must be willing and ready to volunteer ourselves whenever our services are required in our various jurisdictions. It’s very disheartening to notice that whenever tragic incident occurred, some persons’ intent is usually how they would benefit from the crisis. Rather than preoccupy our mindsets with such devilish intention, we are bound to take into cognizance that no one who benefits from a crisis scene lives a happy life regardless of his/her status. To this end, it’s our duty to ensure that we bring succour to the needy, or those victimized by a crisis such as war, terrorism, religious extremism, massacre, and genocide, just to mention but a few.            

          

Furthermore, since no one ever wishes to be in a community or society made up of only him or her, thus we ought to ensure that the sustenance of the well-being of our relatives, friends, neighbours, colleagues, associates, or what have you, as the case may be, is at all times our civic responsibility. By so doing, we can boast of a peaceful society filled with thoroughly united individuals.

         

So, as Nigeria joins the global community to commemorate the World Humanitarian Day, I enjoin every relevant body to include the religious institutions, civil society, mass media, governments at all levels and well-meaning individuals, among others, to do everything humanly possible toward ensuring that selfless service to humanity is deeply promoted come rain come shine.

         

In his words, the immediate past UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said, ‘In a world that is ever more digitally connected, each of us has the power and responsibility to inspire our fellow human beings to act to help others and create a more humane world’.

          

WE note at all times that we were all created to be one indivisible body irrespective of our individual affiliations. Hence, we are meant to contribute our quota to ensure that we actualize such laudable motive initiated by nature no matter the challenges.

          

The government on its part ought to equally consider the welfare of its citizenry as their civil rights, thus must be treated as a priority, and not optional. Think about it!

Comrade Nwaozor, a public affairs analyst & civil rights activist,

is the Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub (DRH) - Owerri

(frednwaozor@gmail.com)

 
Edited by: Rostrum

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SAD NEWS: Strike Continues As Latest ASUU, FG Meeting Rises In Deadlock

Strike Continues As Latest ASUU, FG Meeting Rises In Deadlock

         Thursday, 17th August 2017 would have been yet another golden opportunity for the Federal Government (FG) to resolve the ongoing 5-day-old industrial action of the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) as the aforementioned 'warring' bodies met in Abuja - the Nigeria's capital territory - precisely at the conference room of the Labour and Employment Minister on the said day but rose without reaching any tangible conclusion.

         However, the good news was that the parties involved in the negotiations, including the Education Minister Mr. Adamu Adamu and his Labour and Employment counterpart Dr. Chris Ngige as well as the representatives of the aggrieved party (ASUU) led by its National President Professor Biodun Ogunyemi, agreed to reconvene within one week to continue from where they stopped.
         In their separate press briefings immediately after the several-hour meeting, both bodies informed categorically that there was enormous progress 'following offers tendered by the FG and the response of the ASUU on the new offers'.

 
 Prof. Ogunyemi     

          Notwithstanding, when pushed further by the Rostrum crew, none agreed to disclose the 'offers' raised as Prof. Ogunyemi stated that he alongside his delegation team would take the outcome to the ASUU members towards reaching an unanimous agreement on it.
         It would be recalled that the ASUU outrightly embarked on an indefinite strike on Monday, August 14, 2017 over various perceived maltreatments from the FG having exhausted its patience.

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SHOCKING: Macron's Popularity On The Decline, As Working Class Perceives Maltreatment

Macron's Popularity On The Decline, as Working Class Perceives Maltreatment

        Failure to tap into the needs of the French working class has left the reputation of the 39-year-old President Mr. Emmanuel Macron battered, thereby paving way for the far-left leader to pounce.

        At the political tender age of 39, the European Union (EU) favourite Mr. Macron shook up French politics, fighting off competition from nationalist leader Mr. Marine Le Pen as he swept to victory in the French last presidential polls.
        It would be recalled that in his bid to get into the Elysee Palace, the En Marche Movement leader who took over power on 14th May 2017 described himself as the 'man on the move', saying his mission was not to bring together the rightists or the leftists but to 'bring together the French people'.
        However, Rostrum gathered that as against his popularity that was elevated in the polls, Mr. Macron is now under renewed pressure from the working class who reportedly decried that the young president had not lived up to their expectations.

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REVEALED: Why Gunmen Invaded EFCC Headquarters

Why Gunmen Invaded EFCC Headquarters
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         It was undoubtedly a black Wednesday for the management and staff of the Nigeria's 'fearful' anti-graft body - the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) - on August 16, 2017 as well-armed men reportedly attacked the agency's headquarters situated at Wuse Zone 7, Abuja, the country's capital territory in the early hours of the day, precisely at about 5a.m.

         In a Press release from the Spokesman of the Authority, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren who described the incident as 'a serious security breach', a group of heavily armed bandits invaded the premises and began shooting at rampage, leaving vehicles parked at the arena damaged. According to the official report, the attack was repelled by the guards on duty.
        Rostrum Crime crew gathered that the invaders escaped in a getaway vehicle dropping a white envelope containing a death threat to Mr. Ishaku Sharu, a Senior Investigator with the commission.
         Mr. Sharu who currently heads the Foreign Exchange Malpractices Fraud Section, is in-charge of corruption investigation involving several politically exposed individuals as well as top retired military officers.
         It's noteworthy that the attack came barely few weeks after another investigator, Mr. Austin Okwor was shot and severely wounded by unknown assailants in the city of Port-Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
        Rostrum further learnt that the bad omen had already been reported to the police for onward investigations.

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SHOCKING: Bolt Makes a U-Turn To Football

Bolt Makes a U-Turn To Football
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         In what could be described as shocking by his teeming fans, it seems the world's fastest and well-celebrated athlete Usain Bolt wants to make a U-turn. Recent information on his person disclosed he intends becoming a footballer soonest after retiring from his well-cherished track and field profession, and is damn ready to train with the German side Borussia Dortmund.

         Rostrum's Sports gathered that the 30-year-old sprint legend is equally likely to represent the English side Manchester United in a charity football match against the Spanish side Barcelona if he recovers from a hamstring injury in time.
         Bolt is set to line up with Red Devils' legends Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes in a Legends' match at Old Trafford billed for September 2, 2017. But that depends on his recovery from the injury sustained after he pulled his hamstring in the final race of the World Championships.
         Reports indicate that this has been his long-time dream, thus the decision to make a 'U-turn' was not abrupt as could be perceived in most quarters.
     
Stay tuned on Rostrum for further news on 'Bolt Makes a U-Turn to Football'.

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BREAKING: Ghana Lost $3bn Under Mahama Over 'Dumsor' -- Akufo-Addo

Ghana Lost $3bn Under Mahama Over 'Dumsor'
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          The Ghanaian President Mr. Nana Akufo-Addo had on Monday 14th August 2017 at the second National Policy Summit on Trade and Industry held in Accra - the Ghana's capital city - decried that Ghana lost about three billion US dollars in economic activities during the power supply crisis, popularly addressed as 'Dumsor' among Ghanaians, that rocked the nation during the reign of his immediate predecessor, Mr. John Mahama.

                                    Mr. Akufo-Addo

         Pres. Akufo-Addo who quoted figure from the country's Institute of Statistical Social and Economic Research (ISSER) alleged that the nation lost not less than GHc618 million in economic activity in 2014 alone,  which according to him, was equivalent to two per cent of Ghana's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
         The boss who took over the mantle of leadership on January 7, 2017, further said that the four years of Dumsor cumulatively led to a loss of more than $3bn in the country's economy and consequently, thousands of Ghanaians became redundant in their various jobs.
          He equally lamented that, in the period in review, the Ghanaian industrial sector suffered a colossal setback.

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Breaking: U.S. President Considering a Pardon for Ex-Sheriff

U.S. President Considering a Pardon for Ex-Sheriff, Arpaio
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         Pres. Donald Trump may soonest issue a pardon for Mr. Joe Arpaio, the notable former Arizona Sheriff who was found guilty two weeks ago of criminal contempt for defying a state judge's order to stop traffic patrols targeting suspected undocumented immigrants.

                                            L-R: Mr. Arpaio, Mr. Trump

          In his last years as Maricopa County Sheriff, Mr. Arpaio had emerged as a leading opposition to illicit immigration.
          According to Pres. Trump who disclosed his intention on Monday, August 14, 2017, "Mr. Arpaio had done a lot in the fight against illegal immigration". He further stated that "he is a great American patriot and I hate to see what has happened to him". He concluded with a shocking disclosure that the proposed pardon could happen "in the next few days" should he decided to do so.
          Mr. Arpaio, 85, was convicted by the U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton of misdemeanor contempt of court for willfully disregarding an Arizona judge's order in 2011 to stop the anti-immigrant traffic patrols. It's worth noting that Arpaio had afterwards sustained the law enforcement patrols for seventeen months.
          Rostrum gathered that he is expected to be sentenced on October 5, 2017 and could face up to six months jail term. Nonetheless, since he is 85 and has no previous convictions, renowned attorneys opined that he might not be headed for any jail room as being insinuated in most quarters. 

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