MINIMISING ROAD ACCIDENTS

Of the four forms of Transportation: (air,water,road,and rail) ,road transportation is the most dreaded in the third world countries.In Nigeria for instance,road accidents occur almost every second.Reporting of road accidents by journalists is no longer news,what is news is( when,) after some hours, no accident occur.Not long ago,a driver who loaded to Kano State with over fourteen ( 14) passengers from Gboko had a head on collision with another vehicle killing all the passengers including the driver.The funny thing about the accident was,from gboko to kano is about 800 Kilometers and the driver was yet to do even 5 kilometers before the accident occurred.After the driver was taken to the hospital after he died, hospital officials discovered charms tied around his waist. Such occurences are routine.Most drivers dont believe in the i vehicle's speedometer, or the condition of their vehicle or tyres.they believe in the power of their charms.The question is "what can be done". In Tiv area of Benue State,there is this misconception that 'no body just died unless your people cause it'.Most drivers aware of this drive recklessly with the believe that their people at home are behind him and so nothing will be happen to him no matter his speed.Government agencies like Road Safety,VIO,the Police have not helped matters.They have formed the habit of collecting 20 naira only from motorists and allowing them to pass. It is suprising to see a vehicle that is supposed to carry 6 passengers, carrying over 12 passengers,when he approaches a checking point,the police will only ask of money for their "pure water".Road accident is claiming millions of innocent lives everyday and the Government should mount an intensive enlightenment campaign to educate drivers,Government officials involved in sharp practices on the road should also be shown the way out.Enough is Enough of this waste.

Prof.Ugba and Dr.Suswam:THE WAYOUT

Both prof. Ugba and Dr.Suswam are blood relations.Both are from Logo Local Government.Incidently,both have the same political ambition- to rule Benue state of Nigeria.One has ruled before but wants to continue,The other say 'one time is enough.' And that is the problem Benue is now facing where can a solution come from? Politically,is not possible,because the Gubernatorial election is in dispute. The elders, Traditional rulers, labour etc are all divided:- The courts too may not be able tn settle the case amicable. So where is the solution? The solution to me lies in their ability to sit down and dialogue as brothers and not as political enemies . That is the only way out. What do you think?

YOUWIN:SOLUTION TO UNEMPLOYMENT

The recently flagged off Youth Enterprise with innovation in Nigeria (YOUWIN) Programme,by president Goodluck Jonathan is the most practical and realistic approach towards tackling unemployment in Nigeria. I think the posture of this programme is in line with the administrations transformation goal . The introduction of this YouWIN should be seen as a big challenge to our youths. In the past ,we had complaints of people inventing things, but no sponsors.YOUWIN is here. Nations like USA, JAPAN,KOREA etc are there because of the youth ideas of their youths. It is not enough to continually criticise the Government.It is our duty as citizens to also contribute our quota

Why hide the disease?

Today is world Aids Day.The essence of the day is to allow nations and individuals ponder on this pandemic. In my village,Alabesa what i have noticed is people dont want go for testing.Even those who positive,instead of going for proper treatment will prefer to visit native doctors,some have gone to churches in search of miracles. HIV is a disease like any any other disease.There is no to hide.

Tools of journalism

Every proffession has its tools.Tools may refer to equipment used in executing an assignment In the journalism profession the pen stands out clearly.And then, the paper. Besides these obvious tools, a journalist alse needs training.You need to train yourself before you will know how to go about your duties. Courage is another tool a journalist needs to perform.without courage,you may not be able to perform certain functions as a journalist.You also need to have vision. It is a that vision that will enable you go about your assighnment successfully.

DEATH,THOU COMET TOO QUICKLY!

When we were growing up in those days (in the sixties to be exact) death was a very strange phenomenal.Hearing of death itself was very strange,it was not common. By the time i was 15years, i could recall i winessed only two burial ceremonies -one NAJIME, a male relative and one MBAGEN,one of my father's wives. That is to say in 15 years, only two people died in our house. But in the 80s,death became so common that hardly a day passes without hearing of burial ceremony. Now the situation is worse. People are now being buried enmasse. Vehicular accidents,political voilence,bomblasts and air and sea disasters are taking their tolls on the human population. I had barely finished writing my bit on the death of my inspirator,sir Alex Ibru when i had to do another story on Dim Ojukwu.Haba,death!thou comet too quickly.Rest, for we are not rushing to heaven.Who knows?

THE SUSWAM'S CHALLENGE

When he was voted Governor,most of us thought Dr Suswam at 43 or so was to young for the job. Because all those who Governor of Benue before him were in their 50s and 60s. Iam not a goverment spokesman,and if talk good of not that iam looking for a job. There is one are suswam has done so well that deserves my commendation. This is security.Dr suswam has taken the issue of security of life and property very seriously. The security outfit ZENDA is everywhere.Before suswam became governor,gboko-ihugh and gboko aliade roads were completely in the hands of armed bandits.Thousands lost their money and even lives on these roads to those bandits. In gboko town itself people used to sleep at 6pm but with eyes open for fear of robbers. All these have finished. The provission of electricity , rehabilation of makurdi to mention but a few are the challenges suswam to throwing to in coming administrations.

THE RISE AND FALL OF NIGERIAN FOOTBALL