Speculation about Luis Suarez - Why would he be a good signing for Arsenal

AfricCon Blogspot Report -
Why Luis Suarez would be a good signing for Arsenal; Since the departures of Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas, the Gunners have lacked a player who can score, or create something, from 'nothing'.

? He's a top quality player who would add goals and that something special to Arsenal's forward line.

BLOG - The good, bad and ugly of Arsenal's Suarez pursuit

In purely footballing terms there's no doubt he'd make Arsenal a better team.

Why Arsenal's pursuit of Suarez is strange.

Having acknowledged his talent, it's now time to turn attention to his character. Some people can overlook this completely, suggesting morals have no place in football. But when a player's behaviour impacts so greatly on their ability to play for their team, then it's foolish to ignore it.

Suarez's disciplinary problems are well documented. Eight matches for racially abusing Patrice Evra. One match for making an obscene gesture at Fulham fans. Ten games (six of which will be served into the new season) for biting Branislav Ivanovic. And of course he arrived at Liverpool on the back of another biting incident at Ajax which earned him a seven game ban.

Considering everything that's happened, and his relationship with the English football authorities, any further indiscretions are likely to be severely punished. The potential for another lengthy ban is obvious...

For a club like Arsenal, whose transfer record is around £15 million, to go beyond £40 million for a player with this track record is a serious deviation from the norm. Liverpool have rejected the £40 million offer too. Will it take £45 million? £50 million? More?

I wrote here last week about why I thought Gonzalo Higuain was a better choice for Arsenal, and I stand by that. It's personal opinion as to whether you think Saurez is a better player, but is he £20 million plus all that baggage better? That's a very hard case to make.

Why Arsenal's pursuit of Suarez is risky

Having seemingly thrown all their eggs in the Uruguayan basket, it looks as if Higuain is going to Napoli. Wayne Rooney, another rumoured target, looks more likely to move to Chelsea than North London, if he moves at all.

Liverpool's owner John W Henry, via Twitter, seems amused by Arsenal's bid and regardless of how you view the professionalism of such a Tweet, it hardly augurs well for their pursuit of the player.

Suarez has gone on record with his desire to leave England because of the hard time he gets from the press (conveniently ignoring the fact that many of them were lauding him as player of the year last season and that if he'd just not behaved like an idiot they wouldn't be paying that much attention to him beyond his football). Whether he realises it or not, the press he claims to hate so much exist in London too.

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New Jobs Openings At Energy Services Company

Career At Energy Services Company

Our Client:
Energy Services Company, seeking to employ suitable qualified applicant for the below positions:

VACANCY - DIVISION MANAGER (BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & STRATEGIC PLANNING)

Job Reference No.: CFO – 002

Job Details:
This role reports to the Managing Director/CEO, and is solely in charge of the Business Development & Planning Division of the company and responsible for designing business marketing strategy, identifying business opportunity, and developing, recommending and implementing process improvement programs to pursue deliverables that are aligned with corporate strategic objectives, as well as ensuring the achievement of revenue, and gross margin targets for the Division,

Responsibilities:
Develop sustainable relationships with clients throughout the business life cycle (from the initial stage of tendering, contracts development, project execution and through closeout)
Develop Strategic Plans and Performance Management Metrics for the company
Design of business marketing strategy.
Develop services/project scorecards and drive continuous improvement through quantitative analysis of value added performance
Develop and maintain best practices, standards and baselines for project execution across the company
Work closely with Project Managers/Head of Projects to identify needs for commercial and technical engagement, and define acceptable parameters and limitations in the acquisition and execution of those projects
Identify, review and negotiate Engineering Services Agreements with clients and align corporate policies
Develop commercial and technical strategy for all major tenders and project, acquisition targets
Review prepared tenders (Pre-qualifications, Technical and Commercials) before final submission.

Requirements:
A first degree in Engineering :
Minimum of 18 years experience (10 years must be in business development function) in Oil and Gas industry including on/offshore or subsea facilities
Project management experience is an added advantage
Must be able to develop and maintain a complete understanding of the business environment, market trend, drivers and issues that will impact the organizations business
Strong Business Development capabilities
A proven track record of Market and Business Acumen at a senior level
Strong technical economics skill, specifically in relation to dealing with regulatory authorities in the Oil and Gas sector
Good leadership skill

Mode Of Application:
Interested applicants should apply at hotjobsnow11@gmail.com within two weeks from the date of this publication.
Kindly note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Current Salary
Required Period to Join
Expected Salary
Current location &
Present Contact Number

Massive Vacancy

Graduates Needed For Immediate Employment in the under listed positions:

 

VACANCY - SALES/MARKETING OFFICERS.
VACANCY - CLIENT/CUSTOMER SERVICE OFFICERS.
VACANCY - HUMAN RESOURCE OFFICERS.
VACANCY - BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OFFICERS.
VACANCY - NUTRITIONISTS.
VACANCY - PUBLIC PRESENTERS.

Job Requirements:
Love travelling & be willing to travel extensively.
Be an extrovert with excellent
interpersonal skills.
Be willing to take up higher level of responsibilities and work under
pressure.
Posses a CAN DO attitude, exhibiting our core values –COURAGE, ACCOUNTABILITY, NETWORKING, DRIVE and ONENESS.
Have good knowledge of Internet usage.

Job Qualification:
Candidate must have a minimum of NCE, OND, BA/BSC.

To Apply:
Simply forward your Cv to: fleetresource@gmail.com

Note: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

FRSC On Investigation Over Patience Jonathan’s Mother’s Death On a Car Accident

Africcon blogspot - News Line...

Africcon blogspot Nigeria Report: The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has commenced investigation into the cause of the accident involving a black Toyota Corolla vehicle, which killed the mother of the first lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan, Mrs Charity Oba and a girl.

The Rivers State Police Command has also confirmed the death of Mrs Oba, in a fatal accident on the Isiokpo-Elele axis of the Port Harcourt-Owerri Road in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Mrs Oba, fondly called ‘Sisi’, was travelling from Port Harcourt to Bayelsa State, in company of her driver and two others when the accident occurred at about 4.00 pm on Monday.

Confirming the incident  to Africcon blogspot Media, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Mrs Agnes Agabe, said that Mrs. Oba and a 12-year old girl, identified as Favour died in the accident while the driver and one other person, who was identified as a woman in her early 30’s sustained injuries.

Agabe, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), further said that corpse of the woman and the little girl have been deposited at Kpaima Mortuary, a privately-owned morgue, located on Elechi Beach, in the Mile One area of Port Harcourt metropolis.

FRSC sector commander in Rivers State Dr Kayode Olagunju told Africcon blogspot Media that the Corps could not specifically disclose the cause of the accident until the investigation is concluded.

Olagunju said; “For now, we cannot say what caused the accident. We are still investigating and will definitely let you know the cause when we conclude the investigation.”

However, a senior FRSC official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that over-speeding by the driver of the vehicle could not be ruled out as the main cause of the accident.

He said; “Though, I was not among the first set of FRSC officials to arrive at the scene of the accident, but watching from where they vehicle veered off the road and tumbled into the bush, you will know that the driver was actually on a high speed when he lost control of the car.”

Efforts to get the reaction of the Rivers State government on the incident proved abortive as both the state commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Seminetari and the chief press secretary to the Governor, Mr. David Iyofor, were said to have accompanied Governor Chibuike Amaechi on an official trip to the United Kingdom.

Life of Mrs Oba

Late Mrs Charity Iwari- Oba hails from the Iwari compound of Oba Dokume House of Okrika in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State. Popularly called ‘Sisi’ by her children and relations, she was the second wife of Chief Lazarus Iwari-Oba.

Sisi, at the time of her death, was believed to be in her late 70s. She became the adopted mother of the wife of the President, Dame Patience Jonathan, after the death of her (Patience’s) mother several years ago.

She was returning to Otuoke in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, the home-town of President Goodluck Jonathan after spending some days in Okrika, in company of her drivers and two personal attendants, when the driver lost control of the car, which tumbled several times into a near-by bush on the Elele-Isiokpo section of the Port Harcourt-Owerri Express Road.

The Isiokpo-Elele Road

The Rivers State axis of the Port Harcourt-Owerri Road was recently expanded from single lane to a dual carriage way at an estimated cost of N24 billion by the administration of Governor ChibuikeAmaechi.

The road has only one bridgeat Isiokpo, near the scene of the accident that claimed the life of Mrs. Oba and the little girl.

 Motorists and officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) are of the opinion that most of the accidents that occur on the Rivers State axis of the Port Harcourt-Owerri Road were not due to bad state of the road but over-speeding.

The scene of the accident was short distance from Ubima Junction, where the Isiokpo zone of the FRSC has a check-point. Ubima is the home-town of Governor Amaechi.

Meanwhile the First Lady is reported to be devastated by the news of the accident.

The First Lady, who had been in Geneva where she was appointed Champion for Child Online Protection by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) at the launch of the Child Online Protection (COP) initiative which is part of the overall thrust to strengthen cybersecurity.

“The First Lady is indeed very devastated by the sad news. We are expecting her back to the country tomorrow (today)”, a presidency source who spoke on condition of anonymity last night said.

Africcon blogspot Media recalls that the late Mrs.Iwari-Oba was in Germany in April to receive treatment for an undisclosed ailment as confirmed by the Presidency.

Mrs AtikuAbubakar Mourns

Wife of former Vice President AtikuAbubakar, HajiyaTitiAbubakar  has expressed her condolences  to the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan on the death of her mother, Mrs.Iwari-Oba, in a car crash.

In a letter of condolence she released in Abuja yesterday, HajiyaTitiAbubakar said that she was personally touched by the sudden and unfortunate death of the First Lady’s mother.

According to HajiyaTitiAbubakar, mother’s love is the deepest experience in the life of her children and for that reason, she said, Nigerians should connect to the First Lady with a sense of sympathy and empathy.

HajiyaTitiAbubakar said that as a child, she experienced a mother’s love and understood what it meant to lose a mother at whatever age.

She prayed to God to grant the deceased eternal rest and the family the fortitude  to bear this immense loss.

Massive Vacancy At Royal world oil Nigeria

Jobs Openings At Royal world oil Nigeria

Our Client:
Royal world oil branch is know in ibadan Oyo-State , Nigeria, we are dedicated in crude oil refining and distribution to south west Nigeria, we are excluded from the subsidy saga in Nigeria through the investigation that prove us innocent.

Our dear company is leading in the distribution of PMS, AGO & DPK.

Royal world oil Nigeria, currently recruiting staffs to fill the following administrative positions in our organization;

VACANCY - SALES MANAGER.

Qualification:
Must possess B. Sc in related course
Must be computer literate
Must have completed the 1 year National Youth Service Corp
Must have working experience.

VACANCY - CUSTOMER CARE REP.

Qualification:
Must possess B.S.C/HND in related course
Must be able to work under pressure as the case may be
Must have good communication skills.
Must be passionate with others
Must have customer relation manner
Must be computer literate.

VACANCY - ACCOUNTANT.

Qualification:
Must possess B.Sc./HND in related field
Must have good accounting skills
Must be able to traveled

VACANCY - MARKETERS.

Qualification:
Must possess OND/HND/BSC in any course

VACANCY - RECORD OFFICER
Same as above

VACANCY - TRANSPORT MANAGER.

Qualification:
Must possess B.SC/HND in related course
Must be able to traveled
Must be able to work under pressure

VACANCY - DRIVERS
VACANCY - SUPERVISOR
VACANCY - CHIEF SECURITY OFFICER

Due Date: August, 2nd 2013

Method Of Application:
Interested application should forward his/her CV to this email: royalworldoil@yahoo.com

Note that only shortlisted candidate will be contacted.

Jobs Recruitment At Fast Moving Consumer Foods Company

Career At Fast Moving Consumer Foods Company

Our Client:
Fast Moving Consumer Foods (FMCG) Company is currently seeking the following professionals to fill the following vacant positions:

Vacancy - Finance Manager.

Requirements:

Applicants must possess/satisfy the following conditions:

BSc/HND in Accounting.

Must have worked as Accountant in structured and computerized environment for not less than eight (8) years.

A previous worked in a reputable audit firm will be an added advantage.

Must be proficient in the use of Ms Word and Excel.

Also the candidate must be proficient in the use of Quickbooks Enterprise Acounting Software.

The applicant must be currently using the accounting package or had used the software in the previous employment.

Must be a member of professional accountancy body preferably ICAN (minimum of 4 years post qualification experience).

Must be willing to travel to any part of the country according to the dictates of the job.

Must not be more than forty (40) years of age.

Must be willing to reside in port Harcourt.

Vacancy - Area Sales Managers North Central

Qualification:

BSc/HND in Marketing or any social Sciences.

Possession of MBA (Marketing) is an added advantage.

Minimum of 8 years experience in business development, sales and marketing.

3 years of which must be in capacity as Area Sales Manager in an FMCG Company.

Must have good knowledge of the market terrain in North Central and its environs.

Must be profificient in the use of Ms Word and Excel.

Must have a valid E-Class License.

Not more than 35 years of age.

Vacancy - Confidental Secretary.

Requirements:

Applicants must possess/satisfy the following conditions:

B.Sc/HND in Secretarial Study.

Possession of professional qualification is an added advantage.

Must possess a minimum of five (5) years cognate experience in a well structured Organization.

Applicants must have the requisite managerial skills and good knowledge of interpersonal relations.

Must be proficient in the use of Ms Word and other Ms Office packages.

Must be living in Port Harcourt or desire to live in Port Harcourt.

Not more than 35 years of age.

Mode Of Application:

Candidates that meet the stipulated requirements should send their CV Only (indicating the Post they are applying for) to: cressjob2013@yahoo.com not later

than two weeks of this publication.

CBN - Blames On Commercial Banks For ATM Fake Naira

Africcon blogspot - News Line...

Africcon blogspot Nigeria Report: The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has blamed operational inefficiency on the part of some commercial banks for the alleged fake naira notes dispensed by some automated teller machines (ATMs) in the country, stressing that some people were not doing what they ought to be doing.

CBN governor Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who briefed journalists on the outcome of deliberations at the end of the two-day Monetary Policy Meeting, yesterday in Abuja, stated that banks are supposed to process currency before they go to the ATM during which fake notes ought to have been identified and taken out.

According to him, if customers find  fake notes in the ATMs it means that somebody in the commercial bank did not do what he/she was supposed to do by just putting in notes without ensuring their due processing.

“It is really an operational issue. Banks are supposed to process currency before putting them in the ATMs and their machines should identify fake notes. So if you find fake notes in an ATM  somebody in the bank did not do what he/she should do.”

He also said that the problem could also arise from ATMs that receive and dispense cash which also suggests that many of the sensors are not working.

He however assured that the deputy governor, operations, is working with the banks to make sure that they are addressed.

The CBN also introduced a new component to its monetary policy instruments with the increase to 50 per cent of the cash reserve ratio (CRR) on public sector deposits in banks in a bid to curb banks’ ‘perverse’ behaviour of lending only to the government at the expense of the private sector.

This means that banks must henceforth keep as reserves 50 per cent of all deposits collected from the federal, state and local governments and all ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of government.

Other decisions taken by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) included retaining the monetary policy rate (MPR), its lending benchmark for deposit money banks (DMBs), at 12 per cent and the symmetric corridor of +/-200 basis points around the midpoint.

With the development, the DMBs handling government deposits would be retaining as reserves an estimated N650 billion of their deposits from public sector, from an estimated N1.3 trillion currently in their balance sheets, thus reducing the amount of government deposits that can be used for lending.

Sanusi, who is chairman of the MPC, said the new monetary measures were being undertaken to contain the increasing liquidity in the banks and the attendant negative implications for naira exchange stability, in order to achieve overall macroeconomic stability in the months ahead.

Sanusi explained that the committee voted in favour of increasing the CRR for public sector deposits to 50 per cent; that measure was taken to effectively manage the liquidity surfeit in the banking system, the need to create appropriate monetary mechanisms to mitigate the likely negative impact of fiscal entrenchment that would characterise the election years and ensuring stable exchange rate for the naira in the face of worrisome developments in the global financial environment.

According to him, the committee observed the build-up in excess liquidity in the banking system, and expressed concern over the rising cost of liquidity management as well as the sluggish growth in private sector credit, which was traced to DMBs’ appetite for government securities.

“This situation is made more serious by the perverse incentive structure under which banks source huge amounts of public sector deposits and lend same to the government through securities and the CBN via OMO bills at high rates of interest.”

Sanusi said:  “We introduced it for a number of reasons; first of all you have got liquidity surfeit in the banking industry. As I speak, we have about N1.3trillion sitting in banks belonging to government agencies. Now the funds are basically there at zero per cent interest and the banks are lending about N2trillion to the government and charging 13, 14 per cent. Now that is a very good business model, is it not? Give me your money for free and I will lend it to you at 14 per cent. Why would I go and lend to anyone else?

“If you want to discourage such perverse behaviour, what you need to do is to basically take away some of that money and therefore the reserve requirement is supposed to make sure that that excess liquidity in the banks’ balance sheets is taken away. We have about six or seven banks that really account for the bulk of this money; we have done the numbers and we are not going to put them into distress.

“Secondly, this is just the beginning. If there continues to be spending and we are concerned about liquidity conditions, we foresee in the future continued increase in the CRR across the board as we continue to maintain the liquidity conditions. Election years everywhere in the world are difficult years, not just in Nigeria. In America, France, in every election year, politicians spend money and spending money means pressure on exchange rate, pressure on reserves, pressure on inflation.

“The next 12 months will be difficult, we will have to respond at every stage and make sure that no matter what happens, we do not have stability threatened. This is a first step in addressing one major chunk. We have not done it across the board, we have done it across public sector deposits and if the government decides that public sector deposits come back to the CBN, then the CRR is zero, but if it is out there, then CRR is 50 per cent,” Sanusi added.

The committee also expressed strong concerns about the risks posed to government revenues from oil theft, less than expected production, new discoveries of shale oil, the fast-increasing number of African oil exporters, and the resultant dwindling market for Nigerian crude.

Sanusi noted that the inevitable fall in global oil prices as well as capital flow reversal may impact the current global (dollar) carry trade, for which Nigeria has been a major beneficiary.

The committee articulated the monetary policy risks of dwindling fiscal revenues to include: the crowding-out effect of government borrowing, depletion of excess crude savings and pressure on the exchange rate. Available data indicates that capital expenditure is the first casualty of dwindling government revenues as available resources were being channelled into funding non-discretionary recurrent expenditure.

B’Haram Suspect Was Arrested In Ogun State

Africcon blogspot - News Line...

Africcon blogspot Nigeria Report: The police in Ogun State on Tuesday said they had arrested a 22-year-old man, Giraima Suri, suspected to be a member of Boko Haram in Isheri-Kara area of Ifo Local Government.

The police said the suspect from Bulunkutu Kasuwa, Maiduguri, Borno State, was arrested by detectives acting on a tip-off.

The command added that the suspect had already confessed his membership of the sect.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, in a statement in Abeokuta said the suspect told policemen that he fled Maiduguri to the South-West following aggressive manhunt for members of the sect by security operatives in the Borno State capital.

Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said, “The suspect also confessed that he participated in the killing of many innocent Nigerians before the declaration of the state of emergency in three states, including Borno by the Federal Government.

“The command commends the good people of Ogun State for their collaboration and sharing of information that enabled the police to be  proactive in preventing crimes and criminality in the state.”

Adejobi further said state Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye, reassured the public of adequate protection of lives and property as well the confidentiality of any  information given  to the police.

Police detain Rivers Assembly majority leader • Senate panel proposes takeover of Assembly

Africcon blogspot - News Line...

Africcon blogspot Nigeria Report: The

But the   Aide-De-Camp to  Governor Rotimi Amaechi,   Debeware  Semeikumo, and  the  Chief Security Officer, Tony Iwelu,  shunned a similar invitation to them.

The Africcon blogspot Media learnt of these just as indications  emerged in Abuja that the Senate might  endorse the House of Representatives decision to take over the  functions of the state  assembly.

Lloyd, Semeikumo and Iwelu were  invited   on July 16   to explain their roles in the  July 8 free-for-all in  which some lawmakers were injured.

The Majority leader, who had earlier been declared wanted by the Rivers State Police Command in connection with the fracas, arrived at the Force Headquarters at   5. 45pm  and   was immediately directed to the Force Criminal Investigation Department, where he was asked to write his statement.

A top Police source, who confirmed the lawmakers arrival, said it was unlikely that he would be released on Tuesday as a team of investigators needed to interrogate him.

“Lloyd came to  the Force Headquarters about 5:45pm on Tuesday and  he was asked to write his statement. It is not certain he would be released today (Tuesday) because he is going to face serious interrogation,” the source added.

As of 11.10pm, he had  yet to leave the police headquarters, indicating that he had been detained.

When contacted, the   Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba,  said he could not  confirm whether Lloyd  was   detained or not.

 But he said that  Amaechi’s ADC, who was captured in a video  fighting a member of the assembly,   and the  CSO  did not  appear  at the FCID as directed.

Lloyd,  who  was also  captured on video attacking  another lawmaker, Michael Chinda, with a  mace, had  claimed  that he was receiving treatment for an injury he sustained during the  fracas  at an undisclosed hospital.

One of our correspondents learnt from another  police  source  that Semeikumo, who is a police officer and Iwelu, a State Security Service operative, might have  absconded from duty, thereby putting their career  in jeopardy.

Asked the implication of such disobedience, the DFPRO  said it would be presumptuous  to talk about the punishment that awaited  them.

  “I can confirm to you that the CSO and the ADC have not reported to the Force Headquarters; but I can’t talk on the implications of this on their career; it would be presumptuous to talk about that now,” Mba said.

When our correspondent in Port Harcourt asked Amaechi’s   Chief Press Secretary,    . David Iyofor,  why the two security personnel had not honoured the invitation, he replied that  his boss was not stopping them from  doing so.

Iyofor explained that the ADC   had gone to seek medical attention after sustaining injuries from an attack   while trying to protect the governor.

He  said, “As we speak, he is being treated and I am sure the police are  aware of this. The police investigators that came to Port Harcourt were clearly told this.

“I am sure the police know how to invite the CSO if they want him.  . However, the question  we should be asking is:  why are   those   who started the fracas   not being invited?”

 Meanwhile, the Senate Committee on States and Local Government Administration,  has recommended that the National Assembly should take over  the functions of the  Rivers assembly  following its  inability to carry out its  functions.

The House of Representatives had  on July 10  passed a resolution, urging the National Assembly to take over the  duties  of  the assembly.

It hinged its decision on Section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution.

The Senate’s committee, which investigated the  fracas by the lawmakers, also  recommended the redeployment of  the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Joseph Mbu, because of  the  rift between him and  Amaechi.

Although a copy of the report was not immediately available, a member of the Kabiru Gaya-led  committee,  told one of  our correspondents in confidence,  that they   found out that the crisis   was fuelled by the conflict between the governor and the Presidency.

According to him, there were indications that the Presidency was supporting the five members of the assembly, who attempted to sack the speaker.

He said, “From our findings, it was clear that the two parties had faults. The Presidency,  on one side backing a faction of the members of the assembly and the Governor on the other hand, supporting the other faction.

“We found  the action of the five members  despicable. The action of the Majority Leader, who used the mace to hit  the head of one of his colleagues was also  despicable.

“We also discovered that the Commissioner of Police and the governor can no longer work together to secure the state. One has to leave and of course you cannot ask the governor to leave. So the commissioner will have to go.

“We are also recommending that the National Assembly should take over the functions of the assembly, given the current state of affairs at the  legislature.”

Majority Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Chidi Lloyd, on Tuesday  showed up at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, exactly seven  days after he was  invited by the police over the free-for-all by some members of the assembly.

Oritsejafor To Lead Protest Against Senators On Child Marriage

Africcon blogspot - News Line...

Africcon blogspot Nigeria Report: President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, on Tuesday said he would lead Nigerians to protest against the Senate resolution to amend Section 29 (4) (b) of the 1999 Constitution under which married underage girls are deemed to be adults.

The association also frowned on the comment credited to former Governor of Zamfara State Ahmed Yerima that the proposal for the deletion of the section contravened Islamic Law.

Oritsejafor,  in a statement, described Yerima’s argument as offensive, saying, “It presupposes that Nigeria, a secular state, is populated only by Muslims.”

The CAN President, who urged the Senate to revisit the child marriage issue, also called on Nigerians to reject the resolution which he described as provocative and dehumanising.

He said, “By the grace of God, I will, personally mobilise Nigerians and lead the street protest against this oppressive and dehumanising resolution. Why would the Senate, after voting recoil, simply because of a point of order premised on religious basis?

“We, Christians, also have Canon Law, which frowns on marriage of girls who are not of age. Christianity abhors such marriages. The protest will be soon.

“Finally, I urge the Yerimas in the Senate to toe the path of the Holy Qur’an, which states that one who kills a person unjustly in effect has killed everyone and one who saves another has saved everyone. They should save these girls and Nigerians the agony of having their children married off at ages below 18 by unfavourable legislations.”

Oritsejafor noted that Yerima’s latest comment would stir up another controversy in the country.

Yerima as a governor introduced the controversial Sharia, the Islamic Legal code, in Zamfara State.

According to Oritsejafor, people like Yerima are approaching Qur’anic teachings from extremes and disturbing the balance.

“It makes me wonder the source of the emotions and thoughts that nurture them,” he said.

The CAN President said as a Senator, whose case of marrying a 13-year-old Egyptian girl was still fresh in the memory of Nigerians, Yerima should “only be seen and not heard in matters of this nature”.

He added, “If now Yerima is commenting on a case in which he has interest, it can only mean the action of a man frenziedly trying to get himself out of the hook through some undeserved legislations. I appeal to those individuals who have been educated along this line in the Senate not to use their rights as lawmakers to harm children below the age of 18, but to choose the interest of these children above their own.

“These girls should be allowed to develop, individually because this resolution, if implemented, would hound girls below 18 years into marriages they know nothing about. This is only one dimension of this tragic resolution.

“I feel that when individuals attain a certain way of thinking and understanding and reach certain status in life, they should be able to comprehend that it is necessary to adhere to conventions in line with best practices the world over and not harm other members of society, no matter their ages within the same society.”