21042021

14 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 2021
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Don’t be distracted from daily
worship
AMONG the things
that can destroy the
rewards of fasting is allowing
oneself to be distracted by being
engrossed in TV shows, movies,
soap operas, football matches
especially the common European
and English championship;
playing games, idle talk and
gathering among others. These
most times, distract Muslims from
daily congregational prayers and
other ibadah in this month. Some
fasting Muslims also use most
time of the day to sleep so as to
avoid the pangs of hunger and
thus spend the night in
entertainment and indulging in
their desires.
These acts diminish the
rewards of a Fasting Muslim. The
month, both day and night
should be used to the fullest in
gaining the rewards in it. It is
important we have to work,
though, even as we go about our
businesses in the halaal way, we
have to minimise our mundane
involvements and maximise our
acts of worship.
We can change the sinful
lifestyles that have crept into our
lives. To do this, we need to exert
ourselves more in spiritual
matters this period. It is only a
Workers strike over unfair labour
practice by Chinese firm
Group focuses on mental, physical
well-being in movie premiere
AWARD: From right, Security expert, Dr. Ona Ekhomu, the Vice Chancellor, European American
University, Prof. JC Egbuta, the awardee, Dr. Victoria Ekhomu, the Registrar, Dr. Amaechi and Director
of Academic Planning, Dr. Aro Olusegun at the conferment of Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) in
Industrial Security and Risk Management on Voctoria, yesterday.
Benue leaders demand arrest, prosecution
of killers of 12 soldiers in Konshisha LG
By Peter Duru
M
A K U R D I —
BENUE leaders and
stakeholders have demanded for
the arrest and prosecution of
those involved in the Easter
Monday murder of 12 Nigerian
soldiers at Bonta community in
Konshisha Local Government
Area, LGA, of the state.
The leaders also mandated
Governor Samuel Ortom to lead
a delegation from the state to visit
President Muhammadu Buhari
to condole with him and thank
him for his patience and
understanding.
This was contained in the
communiqué issued yesterday in
Makurdi at the end of the Benue
State Security Council/
Stakeholders Meeting on
security challenges in the state.
While condemning any form of
attack on security agencies, the
meeting commended Governor
Ortom and Konshisha
COVID-19: FG laments death of 2, 000
By Ibrahim Hassan Other grievances of the
Nigerians
MEMBERS of the
National Union of
Engineering
Civil
Construction, Furniture and
Wood Workers, NUCEECFWW
have begun a nationwide strike
against China Zhonghao
Nigeria Ltd over alleged unfair
labour practices.
Chairman of the Kaduna
State Council of the Union,
Shola Oyelayo, accused the
company of violating the
nation’s labour law, among
other issues.
“Some of the labour laws that
the China Zhonghao Nigeria
Limited violated included
casualization of workers, noncompliance
with health and
safety standards at work
place,” he said.
TO ease the stress
imposed by daily hustle,
Freak Media Limited,
organizer of Movie X Event
will weekend celebrate its
second edition, billed to be the
first ever outdoor movie
premiere in Nigeria.
In a media chat, the organizer
of the event said the premiere
promises to be a unique one with
an unconventional screening
style of having to see movies in
the most memorable settings,
with wellness theme that
would support physical and
mental well being as a way of
encouraging young adults to do
away with stress and think about
their health just as often as they
consider their wealth.
“This edition would be
premiering a Nevada Bridge T.V.
exclusive movie and have some
month and must be used to the
fullest.
We know that in this month
the Prophet (s.a.w) beside fasting
during the day, prayed for longer
hours at night, exerted more in
Allah’s dhikr (remembrance),
humbled himself before His
Creator, and showed his love and
fear of Allah and special reverence
for this month. This Ramadan we,
too, need to take the minutes and
the hours from our schedules to
exert more in worship of Allah.
This is the only way Ramadan
can positively change our lives
for better.
The Children
Endeavour to encourage your
children to recite Quran regularly
every day even if it be a little.
This will not only instill discipline
in them but will also make them
know more about the words of
God.
Wake them up for Tahajud,
Suhoor and Fajr prayers. Build
their confidence by encouraging
them (especially the younger
ones under ten years old) to fast
even for a few hours or half a day.
Let them perform Salat together
while you pray. Teach them one
new things about Ramadan
every day, on dua, Quran,
Hadith, benefit of fasting and
Taraweeh, Charity, etc.
workers included nonimplementation
of condition of
service, non-payment of outof-station
and transfer
allowances and poor industrial
relationship practice.
Oyelayo lamented that the
union held series of meetings
with the management but
failed to address their demands.
He said the workers
embarked on indefinite strike
after the expiration of 14 days
ultimatum, explaining that the
strike was nationwide and all
the gates of the company
would remain closed till further
notice.
The Director of China
Zhonghao Nigeria Limited, Mr
Liu said the firm would call for
an emergency meeting to
address the workers’ demands.
of the biggest A-list Nigerian
celebrities in attendance,” the
statement read.
The event, which is
scheduled for this Saturday,
is to be aired at the Amore
Gardens, Freedom way Lekki
Phase 1 in Lagos.
The organiser also added that
the event is billed to start with a
red carpet walkway and guests
are encouraged to dress casually,
noting that the event is
positioned to attract a wide media
attention.
“Movie X is more about a
unique experience rather than
the movie itself. Movie X can air
anywhere but the cinema house.
We hope to give people more
options when it comes to movie
screening as against the very
conventional cinema house
style,” the organiser said.
By David Odama
LAFIA—THE Federal
Government yesterday
decried the death of over 2,000
Nigerians due to COVID-19
pandemic and urged
stakeholders to mobilize against
the virus.
The Secretary to the
Government of the Federation,
SGF, Boss Mustapha stated this
at the Presidential Steering
Committee on COVID-19 town
hall meeting on COVID-19
vaccination for North Central
Zone in Lafia, Nasarawa Sate
capital.
According to Mustapha who is
also the Chairman Steering
Committee, CSC, on COVID-19,
over 142 million persons in
Nigeria had contracted the virus,
noting that the country was yet
to receive negative report on the
effect of the vaccine administered
on people since the receipt of the
Oxford AstraZanica vaccine in
March this year.
While noting that the nation
would soon overcome the
pandemic, the SGF disclosed that
travelling out of the country
would henceforth be determined
by COVID-19 vaccination.
Also speaking, Minister of
Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire said
2,060 Nigerians had died of
COVID-19 since the first case of
the disease was confirmed in
Lagos on February 27, 2020.
According to the minister, the
COVID-19 pandemic had slowed
the country’s Gross Domestic
Product GDP by 23 percent due
to the downturn in the economic
activities within and outside
Nigeria as well as the
international trading partners.
•As Nasarawa receives 61, 350 doses of
Astrazeneca vaccine
He said the Federal
Government had successfully
taken delivery of the first batch of
four million doses of the COVID-
19 vaccines on March 2, 2021.
On his part, Governor
Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa
Miyetti Allah leader's peace award, scandalous,
mockery of Tiv nation — MUT
By Peter Duru
M AKURDI—AN
umbrella body of Tiv
speaking people, worldwide, The
Mzough U Tiv, MUT, has
distanced itself from the peace
award given to the President of
Miyetti Allah Kauta Hore, by a
Tiv Unity Forum, TUF,
describing it as scandalous,
mischievous, a blasphemy and
mockery of the Tiv nation.
The MUT in a statement,
yesterday signed by the
President General, Chief Iorbee
Ihagh and Secretary General,
Luther Iorbee in Makurdi, said
Solomon Semakaa of TUF had
no mandate of the union or that
of the Tiv Traditional Council,
TTC, to bestow the said award.
Part of the statement read, “We
want the world to know that TUF
is a sycophantic and a self seeking
partisan organisation which is not
recognised as a socio-cultural
organisation in Tiv land by both
Mdzough U Tiv and the Tiv
Traditional Council. The group
does not have the power to speak,
act and conduct any activity of
such a magnitude for and on
behalf of the Tiv people.
“We view the conferment of
award by this group on the
leadership of Miyetti Allah as
stakeholders for ensuring the
recovery of 11 out of the 12
weapons that were taken away
from the murdered soldiers urging
that efforts be intensified to
recover the remainder
The meeting also commended
the efforts made by the governor
to ensure peace and security in
the State as well as preventing
the escalation of the crisis in
Konshisha LGA.
Part of the communiqué read,
“the meeting recommends
State, announced that the state
received 61, 350 doses of
Astrazeneca vaccine and had
administered most of them on the
people in the state.
He said the state government
would commence second phase
of the jab this May.
scandalous and mischievous and
must not be misconstrued by the
public as a true reflection of the
feelings and aspirations of the Tiv
people.
“It is also an act of blasphemy,
mockery to the Tiv nation and
blunt disregard for the
uncountable deaths of innocent
and defenseless Benue citizens
By Bose Adelaja
THE Executive Chairman
of Igbogbo/Bayeku Local
Council Development Area
(LCDA), in Ikorodu, Lagos
State, Mr Olusesan Daini has
said that the council would
build two more Police stations
and posts within the area.
Daini, who spoke while
rendering his account of
stewardship within 1,358 days in
office, at the Council Secretariat,
said this will improve the security
situation in the LCDA.
The Council Chairman said
with the approval of the state
government, the Police
stations would be cited at
Elepe and Agunfoye areas,
adding that a family has
increased surveillance in Benue
communities while monarchs and
other stakeholders should
support security agencies
through intelligence gathering.
The meeting cautions politicians
against the use of thugs to harass
opponents and charges leaders
at all levels to intensify synergy
in combating criminality in the
state.
“The meeting recommends
that all illegal revenue check
points in the state be dismantled
with immediate effect. The
meeting supports the call for
restructuring and devolution of
powers, as well as a review of the
revenue sharing formula. The
meeting recommends that
security support be provided to
traditional rulers to enable them
discharge their duties effectively
at the grassroots level.”
The meeting had in
attendance political and religious
leaders as well as traditional rulers
from the three senatorial zones.
in the wicked hands of blood
thirsty herdsmen militia over the
years.
“Hence the purported award
is merely a calculated attempt to
jeopardize and scuttle the
collective determination of the
Benue people to protect and
defend themselves from the
orchestrated agenda of the
Fulani herdsmen.''
Council plans more police
stations, clears drainages
donated six plots of land at
Elepe for the project.
According to him, plans were
underway to also cite a Marine
Police post in Ibeshe area of the
LCDA to curtail and ensure
security of lives and property in
the area.
Daini said the council has
embarked on repair works on
canals and clearing of drainages
to make the roads passable ahead
of the rainy season. These, he
said, would reduce flooding,
accidents and ease movement of
motorists during the rainy
season.
He said: “As part of our efforts
to ensure adequate security, we
constructed 63 squadron base of
the Nigeria Police Mobile Force
in Igbogbo Baiyeku.''