By Isaac Eranga  Barr. Asue Ighodalo (left) and Barr. Osarodion Ogie (right) NEW YORK: The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the forthcoming Edo State governorship election- Barr. Asue Ighodaro has promised to imbibe the philosophy of gender inclusiveness by implementing 50/50 affirmative action when elected as governor of Edo State. He said he "could be partial when it comes to women issues and promised to go beyond 40% of the gender policy to 50%". He made this declaration while responding to  questions from Mrs. Louisa Eikhomun-Agbonkhese, the founder of Echoes of Women in Africa Initiative (ECOWA) recently at a Diaspora Campaign Tour in Mariot JFK Hotel, New York. Mr. Ighodalo who was accompanied by his wife-   Mrs Ifeyinwa Ighodalo and his Deputy - Osarodion Ogie, Esq., said his "inclusive agenda for Edo people include security, well-being, inclusiveness, green economy, socio-economic empowerment and justice, etc". Speaking earlier during the question...

By Isaac Eranga  President of Lagos Achievers Lions Club- Lion Imeobong Oluyemi (1st left) and members, during flag off of the tree planting day As part of effort in mitigating the impact of climate change in Lagos State, members of Lagos Achievers Lions Club (LALC) District 404A3, led by the President- Lion Imeobong Oluyemi, 19 July, flagged off the 2024 Annual Tree Planting Day, with the theme - Nuture the Future. According to the Communication/Marketing Chairperson - Lion Sylvia Effah, the exercise which was conducted in collaboration with the Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency was not only to mitigate climate change, but to beautify the environment. She said there was need for deliberate and concerted effort at changing the mentality of the people towards climate change in order to save lives and the environment at large.  "Part of our strategy in attempting to save our environment and to curb the surge of climate change is by tree planting, it’s been proven, it’s been s...

President Bola Tinubu will address the nation in a broadcast on Sunday, August 4, 2024, at 7:00 am. This was disclosed via a statement issued by the presidential spokesman, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, on Saturday. According to the statement, “Television, radio, and other electronic media outlets are enjoined to plug into the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) for the broadcast. “The broadcast will be repeated on the network services of the NTA and the FRCN at 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm on the same day.”

... Calls on protesters to recognize the role of the media  In view of the lingering nation-wide protests, the International Press Centre, Lagos-Nigeria has tasked journalists and other media professionals who may be on duty to adopt necessary safety measures to avoid attacks. The protests, which according to the organisers, is scheduled to hold across the thirty-six (36) states of the country and the FCT, August 1 – 10, 2024, is aimed at pushing for a transformative change, demanding a more equitable society with effective leadership, affordable food, zero hunger and a reduced cost of living. The Executive Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade said the admonition to journalists has become necessary in the light of previous experiences when journalists were assaulted in the course of legitimate duty. “We urge all journalists and media practitioners who will be on the field to cover the anticipated nation-wide protests to adopt and implement safety measures while carrying out their ...

By Isaac Eranga  CLEEN Foundation a civil society organisation, has called on protesters in the planned August 1st nationwide protest to cooperate with the various law enforcement agencies in order to ensure the safety and rights of individuals and security operatives,  urging all participants  to exercise their rights responsibly, conduct the protest peacefully without resorting to violence or vandalism. The Executive Director of the organization, Dr. Gad Peter in a statement on Tuesday, in Abuja  charged protesters to cooperate with law enforcement agencies, respect the rights of others, and be mindful of public property and the safety of all individuals. Peter noted that, the proposed protest is a legitimate form of expression enshrined in International Human Rights Instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and Nigeria’s 1999 C...

Engineer Eugene Okoeguale, Edo P4P coordinator  As Nigerians prepare for a nationwide protest on August 1st, 2024, to register their grievances concerning the economic hardship bedeviling them, the Partners for Peace (P4P) in the Niger Delta, Edo state chapter, has called on the organisers and protesters to make peace their watchword. This call was contained in a Press Statement signed by Edo State Coordinator  - Engr. Eugene Okoeguale and made available to SOCIAL REPORTERS NEWS SERVICE in Benin City. The P4P calls on all stakeholders to eschew violence and go on a peaceful  rally.  "Violence is irreconcilable with an understanding of civil disobedience as a mode of public address or speech.  The civil disobedient is allowed the right to warn and admonish but he/she is not entitled to use violence in order to achieve his avowed aim. "Civil disobedience should be geared towards a vital social purpose. Such a purpose may be achieved either by violating an obnoxiou...

Destroyed property as a result of Igarra flood A feminist civil society organisation - the BraveHeart Initiative (BHI) says over 200 homes were affected, especially vulnerable children and women in the recent Igarra flood incidence. This was revealed in a report of assessment conducted by the organisation and made available to newsmen by the Executive Director of BHI- Priscilla Usiobaifo. The report highlighted Domingo Street, Lawani Street, Market Road, Orere and Alafia Street as the most affected areas. "On July 16th, 2024, the BraveHeart Initiative team carried out an assessment of the affected populations in the hardest-hit areas, to rapidly assess damages and identify the most pressing needs of the victims. About forty-five(45) houses were visited, covering Lawani Street through Old Sege Road, Market Road, Technical Road, Domingo Street, Orere, and Behind Alafia Hospital off Afekhai Street. This assessment was conducted through video/ oral interviews and self-administered que...