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Catholic Media Practitioners, Muslim Journalists, Others Breakfast In Kaduna
The Catholic Media Practitioners of Nigeria,( CAMPAN) Kaduna and Muslim Muslim Journalists on Friday observed the breaking of the Lenten and Ramadan fasts in Kaduna.
The event attracted the Archbishop of Kaduna, Most Rev. Matthew Man- Oso Ndagoso, Chief Imam Of Uduwa who is also the Morshi of Jamatu Nasir Islam,Pastor Yohanna Buru, NUJ Kaduna Chairman, among others.
Speaking at the event, Archbishop Ndagoso, commended the initiative, the assemblage of media practitioners from the major faiths for break fast of the Ramadan and lent and prayed it should be nurtured.
He said there’s a coincidence in the two religious fasts this year, as the two began days apart, maintaining that it is only when we meet, share and interact as journalists that we properly carry our role of putting the country together, as key stakeholders in the state and country.
Ndagoso further hinted on the Pope’s message as so special that ” it offers us the privilege to draw closer to God, for solidarity, it offers us opportunity to work side by side, adding that our World is in need of fraternity and dialogue ” he said.
Speaking further he said God has a message for both faiths, via our fasts as our world surely is in need of fraternity and dialogue, as that’s what we are doing here as Muslim and Christian journalists and urged others to emulate.
He also prayed that God will give Journalists and media practitioners the power of the pen to bring the country together instead of division ” he stressed.
Similarly, the Chief Imam of Udawa mosque, Iman Ilyasu Hussain, applauded the initiative of bringing Christians and Muslims journalists in Kaduna annually to break fast, and prayed it’s sustained for the the wellbeing of our state and country.
According to him, he has benefited and enjoyed very closed relationships with Christian leaders and colleagues more in the past which had helped him be where he is now in life today, while emphasizing and advocating greater ties among Christian and Muslim faithful to achieve true peace .
In the same vein, Pastor.Yohanna Buru, thanked the Archbishop for the initiative, put together for the Muslim and Christian Media practitioners, describing him as a unifier, one he has known for over a decade in the service of peace in the state and prayed that God will continue to use him to keep the Archdiocese, state and country together.
On his part, Kaduna NUJ Chairman, Mr Abdulgafar Allelebe lauded the event and thanked the Archbishop for giving his media colleagues the platform to have this kind of gathering, and emphasized the need for its sustenance.
He however lamented our past history of religious conflicts in the state, caused by enemies of peace, but assured that, all that is now in the past as many have now learned from the past.
Also, the Chairman of Muslim Journalists League, Mallam Jafaru Yakubu appreciated the invitation by CAMPAN to Muslim Journalists to break fast together, adding that as journalists we have different faiths or beliefs, but work together for peace and stability in our state and country, through professionalism in our reportage.
He called for synergy amongst. Journalists and media practitioners, while emphasizing the need for respect for both religions, and prayed the program is enhanced annually.
Earlier, the Chairman CAMPAN, Kaduna Archdiocese, Mr Nicholas Dekera, said the program of breaking of fast annually was conceptualized to strengthen the bond of cooperation and unity between media practitioners of the two major religions.
Leaning his voice, veteran journalist, elder Tajuddeen Ajibade Tijjani, noted that by this initiative, we have now found a way out of our challenges to peace, if sustained, adding that, if we are peaceful as people of faith, our state and country will also be peaceful.
The Democracy Watch Initiative (DWI) has criticised the recently formed opposition coalition led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai, arguing that they are not the solution to Nigeria’s political and economic challenges.
In a statement signed by its Director of Strategic Communication, Dr AbdulRazak Ahmed, the pro-democracy group dismissed the coalition’s efforts to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a desperate attempt by failed politicians to regain power.
“Their track record is marred by complicity in decisions that have led to the current state of despair in Nigeria,” Ahmed stated.
“Atiku, el-Rufai, and their coalition are not the answer to our problems; they are part of the system that has failed us time and again.”
The coalition, which was announced during a press conference in Abuja, has brought together several opposition politicians, including former members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) who have defected in recent months.
However, the DWI argues that these figures lack the competence and moral authority to lead the country.
The group accused them of failing Nigerians in the past and attempting to rebrand themselves as defenders of democracy.
“Their attempts to repackage themselves as guardians of democracy are nothing more than a thinly veiled ruse aimed at distracting the public from their past failures and the damage they have inflicted on our nation,” the statement read.
The group further criticised Atiku’s political alliances, claiming that his coalition comprises “disgruntled and irrelevant political figures” with no real vision for Nigeria’s future.
It named former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, as one of the prominent figures in what it described as a “shameful display of political theatre.”
“Nigerians are not fooled by their antics. We have witnessed their governance failures, their silence in the face of violence and displacement in the North-West, and their complicity in policies that have exacerbated our economic woes,” the DWI said.
The organisation urged Nigerians to reject the coalition and focus on seeking new leadership that prioritises the welfare of the people over personal ambition.
“It is time for new leadership—one that is genuinely committed to the principles of democracy, accountability, and the welfare of the Nigerian people,” Ahmed added.
An explosion has been reported at Soku gas pipeline along the Soku-Elok (Abua)-Rumuji-Bonny export terminal in Rivers state.
Confirming the development, Christian Otiasah, an environmental manager in Soku community, said the facility is “operated by Renaissance Group”, noting that the explosion triggered a fire that began late Saturday night.
Although the cause of the explosion remains unknown at the time of reporting, Otiasah said the incident occurred between 10 pm and 11 pm on March 22.
“There was an explosion and there was an attendant fire. The fire has been put off. It was put off because the Soku gas plant is automated such that depending on the impact, it can shut down itself,” he said.
“In other words, it can also isolate affected lines and starve off that line. If you starve the source of oxygen, the fire will naturally go off.
“The explosion actually occurred along the delivery gas line, not in the gas plant.”
The spokesperson of Renaissance did not respond when TheCable contacted him for comments.
The incident comes almost a week after an explosion ruptured a segment of the Trans-Niger Pipeline (TNP) in Bodo community, Gokana local government area (LGA) of the state.
The TNP, a critical federal oil transport line, feeds crude to the Bonny export terminal in Rivers.
Now under the control of Renaissance, the TNP was formerly operated by the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC).
The explosion had led to a temporary shutdown and raised concerns about potential environmental damage and oil supply disruption from the facility.
On March 19, Tony Okonedo, Renaissance Group’s spokesperson, told TheCable that operations have resumed at the facility following a “third-party intervention”.
Temitope Ajayi, senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, says President Bola Tinubu made the right decision in declaring emergency rule in Rivers.
Ajayi was reacting to criticisms of the emergency rule by former President Goodluck Jonathan and Wole Soyinka, nobel laureate.
Jonathan had expressed concern that the suspension of democratic institutions could tarnish Nigeria’s international reputation.
The former president added that the decision was a “clear abuse of power by all actors”.
On his part, Soyinka argued that the action contradicts the principles of federalism and over-centralises power in the presidency.
In a statement on Sunday, Ajayi described the criticisms as personal opinions.
“Former President Goodluck Jonathan are respected statesmen. Like many Nigerians that have offered varied opinions on the President’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, the two distinguished Nigerians have also offered their own opinions too,” the statement reads.
“President Tinubu has a country to govern, and he has exercised his power under the 1999 Constitution as amended.
“President Tinubu has a duty to preserve the corporate existence of Nigeria. He won’t allow any part of the country or state to descend into chaos.
“The Supreme Court ruled that there is no functioning government in Rivers State known to the constitution of Nigeria. President Tinubu won’t fail in his sacred duty to protect and preserve the country.”