Make Nigeria Livable, Diaspora Dons Tell FG
WHILE President Muhammadu Buhari was quick to bid Nigerians willing to leave the country farewell, some Nigerian university dons in the Diaspora have equally fired back, by asking the Federal Government to make the country livable, so that her vast pool of intellectuals and professionals could remain at home and work for her development.
They argued that Nigeria has become a living hell,
THERE were unconfirmed reports, yesterday, about the state of health of former Information Minister, Chief Alex Akinyele, who is 80.
Akinyele, born to Pa Akinyele a soldier and an ex-serviceman, attended all Saints Primary School Ondo, Gboluji Grammar School Ile-oluji and St. Andrew’s College Oyo.
He graduated from University of Ife now Obafemi Awolowo University. He was secretary general and president of Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).
A family friend yesterday confirmed that though the Ondo Chief had a domestic mishap, he is alive. where nothing works and Nigerians are being forced to leave in droves.
These were the submissions of successful poets and academics, Professors Niyi Osundare, University of New Orleans, U.S.; Tanure Ojaide, University of North Carolina-charlotte, U.S. and Harry Garuba, University of Cape Town, South Africa, who were at ‘Poets at Large: A Generation in Exile’ panel at the Efe Paul Azino-organised Lagos International Po-
ANon-governmental Organisation, Catalyst for Global Peace and Justice Initiative (CPJ) has called for capital punishment for rapists.
The group, reacting to the alleged rape of 13-year-old Elizabeth Ochanya to death in Benue State recently by her 52-year-old uncle, Andrew Ogbuja, a etry Festival 2018 that ended yesterday in Lagos.
They noted that a lot of Nigerian professionals had no reason to be outside the country, if the right conditions of humane living were accessible at home. Osundare and Ojaide said they left the country, when they could not access proper medical care for their daughters, which America readily offered alongside professorial chairs in prestigious universities. lecturer at Benue State Polytechnic, and his son, Victor Ogbuja called for justice. The duo was said to have kept her as a sex toy for five years.
CPJ Coordinator, Abraham Sam Aiyedogbon, said: “Everybody should rise and stand against rapists. Nobody should directly or indirectly excuse any rapists. Everybody must condemn rape. There is no ground on Osundare was categorical in stating that Nigeria is a failed state. He contended that it was disastrous, when the best brains of a country and a continent reside abroad. He implored youths to be involved in big political decisions that determine their lives.
Garuba also lent voice to the poor living conditions, both in the country and in the universities, which he said made outside attractive to many. which it must be acceptable.”
They called on the Federal Government to ensure immediate arrest and prosecution of rapists and immediate release of Leah Sharibu kidnapped by Boko Haram.
To further drive home its request, CPJ staged a peaceful protest displaying placards with varied inscriptions.