20022021 - INSECURITY Give us state police now - Govs

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16—SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 20, 2021 Priesthood doesn’t stop you from following your passion By BENJAMIN NJOKU When an American occupational therapist, Anisha Joshi opined that “following our passion makes us smile, boosts our confidence and makes life more satisfying and fulfilling,” she probably had Rev. Fr. Peter Abiona in mind. Abiona is a Catholic priest by calling, but he also has a strong passion for music. Despite his tight schedule as a priest, Abiona still finds time to do music. And it’s not surprising that the eloquent priest is out with his debut album. The album, with the hit track, “You Are God” contains other tracks including, ”Mo Gbe Olorun(I Lift Up My God)”,”I Weep No More”, and “Instrumental.” Rendered mostly in Yoruba, Igbo and pidgin English, the songs are Rev. Fr Abiona’s way of further propagating the gospel of salvation. Abiona who was ordained in 2017, as a priest, said he’s not doing music because of what he would gain from it. Rather, “It’s something I love doing and it started while I was growing up.” He also revealed that he started playing musical instruments at the age of 6, adding that gospel music spices his priesthood. Many of the parishioners at ‘Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom’ on Ago road readily attest to his talent in singing. “His homilies are always deep and he begins with moving songs,” one of them said, adding “his combination with the parish priest, highly cerebral Reverend Father Eric Onyeoziri is a blessing to our —Rev. Fr Peter Abiona *Says priesthood is my calling, music my passion *Out with debut album parish.” Said Father Peter Abiona: “I have always loved music from childhood. Priesthood is my calling, while singing is my passion, adding “ Becoming a priest, I got to know that music is very important even in the lives of the parishioners. “When you combine preaching with music, it lifts their souls and it makes them come closer to God. It connects them with their maker. Preaching of the gospel is fine, but when it comes to music, people are always responsive of the message being conveyed. My music is helping me to reach out to many people.” Abiona, who’s from the O s o g b o Diocese of the Catholic Church but currently working with L a g o s Archdiocese, dedicated his debut album in thanksgiving to God Almighty on the occasion of his 3rd year priestly ordination anniversary (29/12/ 2017 – 29/12/ 2020). However, narrating what inspired him to delve into gospel music, the Catholic priest said he was always close to the choir while growing up. “I have always been very close to the choir. I was an instrumentalist when I was young before I got into the seminary.” Singing is something Rev. Fr. Abiona started doing while he was a child. He also admits that music runs in their family. “My going into music is generic. My dad sings and my mum was a choir mistress for many years. That’s where I developed my passion for music.” “I started playing instrument at the age of 6. Then I was playing the local drum. When I was in primary and secondary schools, I was good at playing instrument. That made me to join my Diocese drama group because of my skills in playing local instrument. I also learned how to do acrobatic dance too, while growing up,” the priest said. Abiona revealed that he composed the songs during the COVID-19 lock down. “ I have always wanted to sing, but because of the nature of my activities, which couldn’t give me enough time to relax and draw the inspiration to compose songs, it was difficult. But during the last COVID- 19 lock down, I had the time to go back to who I was. So, I composed these songs during the lock down. The lock down really helped me to actualize my dream.” Abiona said his third track, “I Weep No More” was composed in the hope that the deadly COVID-19 pandemic would be a thing of the past, where the people will continue to live their normal lives again. The last track, according to him, is mainly instrumental as a lover of instruments. “The message of my music is at the centre of your life, around you, everything you do, who you are and what you are. The air you breathe, your challenges and sorrows.” Describing the message of his music as “soul-searching, resolving around us and our challenges, the priest said his next project is to shoot the music video of the songs. He’s also planning to put out more soullifting music, stressing that “This is just the beginning of my journey in music.” For the Priest, his music which is currently available on different digital platforms is helping him to proclaim the gospel of salvation to humanity. “When we compose and make it musical, it sings more in the ears and eyes of the people. It’s evangelization, since the nature of my work is to propagate the gospel of salvation. “ So my music which is currently enjoying massive airplay within and outside the shores of the country, is helping me to reach out to many people. I have been privileged to evangelize beyond my territory. Being a musician as a priest is helping me to touch more souls even those who are far from Him because I sing a gospel music” Abiona said. Nigerian Fulani must t stop op foreign Fulani NOW! W! BY Dr Omaghomi Ofioritse At the national level ,there is a dilemma of primordial versus patriotism facing the educated and powerful Fulani clan of Nigeria... This very serious choice between reaction and reason may very well cut the last threadbare stitch holding together, this poor, troubled nation called Nigeria. There are between 20 to 50 million Fulani who live either in settled or nomadic lifestyle across 18 different African countries ( Wikipedia) ; we have to appreciate that it is almost impossible to get an accurate population figure for the Fulani, due to their very fluid itinerant lifestyle. In landmass (5) five of these 18 countries are bigger than Nigeria. Nations like Niger, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Sudan are all larger in land area than Nigeria. Not withstanding the above. Nigeria holds two special attractions for the army of foreign Fulani. First, Nigeria is one of the wettest of these 18 countries ; with an all year round lush green vegetation, secondly, the elite, educated Fulani of Nigeria constitute a huge political block. In a country like ours, this political leverage puts the Nigerian Fulani at a vantage position to dispense wealth and favours and this keeps a large section of the country very loyal and afraid to speak up against their perceived interest. This is because political influence readily translate to economic empowerment for cronies or economic strangulation for dissenters in a developing country with an untoward ease of doing business like Nigeria . The only other country, where the Fulani could have enjoyed huge political patronage, was truncated by Mr Paul Biya; when he out maneuvered Ahmadou Ahidjo, the Fulani civil servant that ruled for the first twenty two years following Cameroon’s independence from France. The above reasons might make foreign Fulani battling desertification, to seek refuge in Nigeria. Another reason is the trouble in Libya, where it is believed that a large section of the criminal Fulani currently disturbing Nigeria had fought on one side or the other of the anti and post Gaddafi turbulence. Others came in from Mali , having fought with rebels and they now see Nigeria as a cash cow. These foreign Fulani are very different from the ones who have lived side by side with the Hausa of Northern Nigeria. Unfortunately, these foreigners are using the Fula ethnic mask to blend amongst indigenous Fulani and then unleash terror and banditry in Nigeria. We sincerely believe that Nigeria will disintegrate economically, if these bands of foreign Fulani, continue to swarm Nigeria in their numbers, due to the fact that Nigeria has very deep challenges of it’s own which have weakened its economy and unity. The first problem is land hunger. Nigeria is one and the half times denser in population than China. This means that if 100 Chinese are found in a hall in China, then that same size of land in Nigeria would have 150 people crowded into it. This land hunger is worse when you compare Nigeria with USA; our land hunger becomes more scary because America is about two times the population of Nigeria. But just two out of America’s 50 States, is far bigger than twice Nigeria’s size, so if you share the entire American population into two and settle each half; one each; into these two states...the population density of people in America will still be less than in Nigeria! and then the remaining 48 states of America will be totally unoccupied!!! Free of people and available for farming !!!. Frankly the population of Nigeria has grown almost five times! since independence , while it’s landmass remains the same. Another present and painful challenge, is that crude oil is now a dying resource, a giant of the past. Electric powered vehicles are now the frightening reality of today and likely the norm of the future. Nigeria is also not a technology or tourist hub; even amongst West African countries. As for manufacturing , the pitiable reality is that we still import common food items like peanut butter. Shame!!! Coupled with the fact that excellence and competence have been killed on the platter of allowing for good geographical spread of public offices... Laudable as Federal character might seem at first, looking at it more closely, one would see it’s fatal draw back; in that strict adherence to federal character, discourages excellence and wealth creation, because competence is not the factor for filling vacancies, rather it is a turn by turn , rotatory federal lottery machine. Hard work is not considered. Laziness , mediocrity, incompetence and unproductivity take over , therefore penury and misery are the end result. From the above it can be seen that the country is weakened. The only thing that can pull us from the brinks is a patriotic decision by the educated , indigenous and hopefully loyal Nigerian Fulani ; to prevent and stop this migration of millions of foreign Fulani into Nigeria. In other words a “Primordial choice” by the Nigerian Fulani elite isn’t innocuous; it is in fact a dangerous option. The right decision would be one of patriotism to the Nigerian nation, by the elite Nigerian Fulani. This is the only way to reverse the telling effects on the Nigerian economy brought about by the wanton invasion of Nigeria by millions of Fulani from North , West and Central Africa. Nigerian Fulani! Nigeria needs you now!!!!
SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 20, 2021—17 Scientists develop blood test to predict environmental harms to children cientists at Columbia University SMailman School of Public Health have developed a method using a DNA biomarker to easily screen pregnant women for harmful prenatal environmental contaminants like air pollution linked to childhood illness and developmental disorders. This approach has the potential to prevent childhood developmental disorders and chronic illness through the early identification of children at risk. While environmental factors — including air pollutants — have previously been associated with DNA markers, no studies to date have used DNA markers to flag environmental exposures in children. Study results are published online in the journal Epigenetics. There is ample scientific evidence that links prenatal environmental exposures to poor outcomes in children, yet so far there is no early warning system to predict which children accessible biomarker measured in a small are at highest risk of adverse health amount of blood to distinguish newborns at to other environmental exposures, and could outcomes. elevated risk due to prenatal exposure. They eventually be made into a routine test. The researchers took a major step toward used air pollutants as a case study, although The researchers used machine learning overcoming this barrier by identifying an they say their approach is easily generalizable analysis of umbilical cord blood collected through two New York City-based longitudinal birth cohorts to identify locations on DNA altered by air pollution. Study participants had known levels of exposure to air pollution measured through personal and ambient air monitoring during pregnancy, with specific measures of fine particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). They tested these biomarkers and found that they could be used to predict prenatal exposure to NO2 and PM2.5 (which were monitored throughout pregnancy), although only with modest accuracy. PAH (which was only monitored for a short period during the third trimester) was less well predicted. The researchers now plan to apply their biomarker discovery process using a larger pool of data collected through the ECHO consortium, which potentially could lead to higher levels of predictability. It might also be possible to link these biomarkers with both exposures and adverse health outcomes. With better predictability and lower cost, the method could become a routine test used in hospitals and clinics. “While further validation is needed, this approach may help identify newborns at heightened risk for health problems. With this information, clinicians could increase monitoring for high-risk children to see if problems develop and prescribe interventions, as needed.” Polymer optical sensor implant for long-term health monitoring Researchers have developed an extremely sensitive miniaturized optical fibre sensor that could one day be used to measure small pressure changes in the body. “Our new pressure sensor was designed for medical applications and overcomes many of the issues of using silica-based fibers,” said research team leader Hwa-Yaw Tam from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. “It is sensitive enough to measure pressure inside lungs while breathing, which changes by just a few kilopascals.” The researchers describe their new optical fibre sensor in The Optical Society (OSA) journal Optics Letters. The sensor, which is based on a Fibre Bragg grating (FBG) inscribed into a fibre made from a new polymer called Zeonex, was able to detect pressure changes of just 2 kilopascals. “Our FBG sensor could be used in various medical applications because, in addition to its biocompatibility, the fibre is chemically inert and also not sensitive to moisture,” said Tam. “Our ultimate objective is to use these types of sensors to monitor various parameters — including pressure, temperature and strain — inside animals and people.” Many fibre optic sensors are based on FBGs, tiny periodic microstructures that can be inscribed onto a fibre. When pressure rises the fibre stretches slightly, increasing the grating period in a way that changes its refractive index and shifts the light output toward the red end of the spectrum. Similarly, a decrease in pressure produces a blue shift. Making an FBG sensor from a traditional silica optical fibre is not ideal for medical applications, especially those involving longterm use in the body, because these fibres exhibit a relatively high stiffness and can be brittle. FBGs embedded in silica fibers also have limited sensitivity to small pressure changes because the material does not stretch and contract very easily. To overcome the hurdles, the researchers turned to the advanced polymer Zeonex. This new material is not only chemically inert and works well in the aqueous environments like those found in the body, but also exhibits a higher light shift in response to a pressure change compared to silica fibres. To demonstrate the new sensor, the researchers compared its performance with a traditional polymer-based sensor of a similar design. They found that the Zeonexbased sensors with the side-hole design produced a response that was linear, repeatable and had negligible lag or errors. The tests showed that the sensor can be used for low pressure measurement up to 50 kilopascals above or below atmospheric pressure with a resolution of 2.0 kilopascals. The sensitivity of the pressure measurement is increased by 80 percent compared to a traditional polymer-based sensor. The researchers are now working to further reduce the sensor’s response time, which is currently few tens of seconds. They also want to expand the sensor to measure other physical and chemical parameters such as pH and to functionalize the probe so that it can detect the pressure of a particular gas. EFCC: Can Bawa challenge Nigeria’s graft gods? By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor •Bawa With the appointment of a young ster, Abdulrasheed Bawa, 40, by President Muhammadu Buhari to head the country’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, many have raised both excitement and concern over the choice. Apart from those criticising his emergence on the ground that only people from Bawa’s tribe have headed the organisation since its inception, others have pointed out that his choice has flouted the law establishing the commission, which stipulates that the chairman should be a police officer, not below the rank of an assistant commissioner of police. But these issues pale in the face of the superior fact that Bawa is duly qualified to lead the EFCC given the fact that he is a trained law enforcement officer with a law-enforcement agency. He can also be said to be the right candidate for the job at the moment given the thinking in the Presidency that it is high time the agency was headed by a non-police officer as has been the case since its inception. Thus, Bawa can be rightly presented as one who has been properly schooled in the art and science of law enforcement, economic and financial crimes investigations and prosecution. Although Bawa, a native of Kebbi State and a graduate of Economics and International diplomacy, appears as an innocuous school boy with a baby face, he comes into the job with at least 17 years experience, having joined the EFCC in 2004 at the time he was only 23 years old. From available records, the Kebbi-born officer, has spent his entire career with the EFCC and risen to the pinnacle of the establishment through the instrumentality of hard work, commitment and dedication to a single course of detecting and punishing economic and financial crimes-bank fraud, cybercrimes, official corruption and fraud cases. Bawa may be young and inexperienced in political intrigues that have plagued many Nigerian leaders and organisations but those who chose him for the tough job might have leveraged on his toughness in pursuing and prosecuting those bent on enriching themselves through economic and financial crimes and impoverishing the nation and its people. But given the ruthlessness of the ‘godfathers’ of graft who define the national political space, picking and choosing those who should hold sway in certain places and time, can Bawa withstand the forces that are already holding Nigeria on its jugular and selfishly and poignantly looting its treasury with impunity? With the EFCC designed to fish out and punish without fear or favour anyone who dips their hands into the national treasury and Bawa’s appointment having to be sanctioned at the highest political level by some of the kingmakers who may be facing some unfinished corruption cases, would he be able to look any culprit no matter how powerful and influential in the face and drag them to court without fearing for his continued stay in office? Not minding the fanfare that comes with Bawa’s appointment, the job is as tempting as it is promotionally huge. He can use the new post to write his name on the right side of history and can as well flounder his name and everything depending on how he goes about doing the tough job, which has already rubbished many and sent them to the wrong side of history while they are still alive. Although his choice resonates with those who have been campaigning for more Nigerian youths to be given prominent positions in government, the euphoria can easily be disrupted if Bawa does not deviate significantly from the malady that has often afflicted some of his predecessors and created furore over the management of confiscated assets, selective arrest and trial of suspects and sometimes ignoring those who have blood on their hands because of their proximity to the corridors of powers. The new EFCC boss, if confirmed by the Senate has an ample opportunity to rewrite the history of the commission by approaching the job with unprecedented ruthlessness and neutrality in dealing with crime suspects and charging them to court promptly so as to send the right message to potential criminals and set a new tone for economic and financial war in the country. His appointment should not encourage the usual grandstanding and flip flop in economic and financial crime fight, which has encouraged many powerful and influential elements in the land to loot with ease and flaunt the illicit wealth with recklessness. Some even use the proceeds of crimes to fight back the system and promote their stooges into high offices in the land, thereby perpetuating sleaze as a way of life that pays to indulge in. That’s why Bawa must learn fast, act fast and settle fast to confront the monster that has eaten deep into our nation’s fabric and dented the image of Nigeria as a catastrophe over the years even with the mantra of ‘fighting corruption’ ringing boisterously across the land. It is either he wins the fight and etches his name in gold or loses it and burns his fingers in the cauldron called EFCC, no matter the good intentions of his godfathers who pushed him into the job. The choice to do good to all manner of people without fear, ill-will or affection in the discharge of this thankless job, rests squarely with him! Welcome on board, Bawa!
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