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WAANSA Seeks Collaboration With CAN To Check Illegal Proliferation Of Small Arms

Published

6 months ago

March 16, 2024

By Uche Onyeali

West African Action Network On Small Arms, WAANSA, has called for a collaboration with the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, to check illegal proliferation of small arms and light weapons.

Regional 1st Vice President of WAANSA, Mr. Martin Igwe made the call when he led a delegation of the network on a courtesy visit to the CAN president, Archbishop Daniel Ok oh, in his office in Abuja on Thursday.

According to Igwe, Nigeria and the entire West Africa sub-region have had their fair share of violent crises which have claimed millions of lives due to the proliferation of small arms in the region.

He noted that to checkmate such trend, the root-causes had to be addressed.

Igwe noted that having observed that people, especially the youths, go into arms struggle as a result of joblessness and poverty, WAANSA took took upon itself to engage women and youths in skills acquisition programmes in order to get them busy and self-reliant.

He appealed to the CAN president to assist the network, especially in the area of connection with other well-meaning individuals to get the youths and women engaged, so as to reduce the rate of arms getting into the hands of the wrong people.
In response, Archbishop Okoh expressed delight on the activities of WAANSA, as he decried the rate of spread of violent crises in Nigeria and the entire West Africa.

Okoh, who decried a situation where very young men in Nigeria now brandish dangerous weapons to threaten the peace in communities, pledged to assist WAANSA in its activities where necessary to check the ugly trend.

Meanwhile, WAANSA has expressed concern over the escalation of attacks by armed groups in Nigeria.

The network in a solidarity letter to President Bola Tinubu, however commended the effort of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, to partner civil society organisations to address the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the region.

The letter signed by the president of WAANSA, Victorien Aka N’Taye, expressed the network’s solidarity with President Tinubu and and people of Nigeria in this challenging period.

It condemned the repeated kidnappings in parts of the country, especially the abduction of 287 pupils of Keriga LEA Primary School and secondary school in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The group further thank the president for listening to the cries of Nigeria s by reopening the country’s borders to ease the economic suffering of the citizens.

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Former Minister Sunday Dare Celebrates Late Brigadier-General Benjamin Adekunle

Published

12 hours ago

September 18, 2024

The Gleamer

…Calls on Ogbomoso to compete for power in Oyo state.

Joel Ajayi

The Agbaakin of Ogbomosoland and the former Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Chief Sunday Akin Dare has joined family, friends, relatives, and good people of Ogbomosoland to celebrate the life of a veteran Civil War hero and an eminent Ogbomoso-born Nigerian Army officer, late Brigadier-General Benjamin Maja Adekunle, otherwise known as Black Scorpion.

In a statement released recently, the Agbaakin of Ogbomosoland noted that the 10th anniversary remembrance of the veteran General is not just a celebration of his history, but a reflection of the bravery and patriotism of a

man who risked his life on behalf of our country and citizens. Chief Sunday Dare acknowledged that: “As a General, he was first amongst equals, and we as his people, are proud of the legacy that he left behind”.

Chief Sunday Dare explained that the sense of purpose and commitment to something greater than one’s self, is a cornerstone of a soldier’s life, which late Brigadier-General Benjamin Adekunle exemplified. He signposted a life of enduring symbol of bravery, and compassion. He served Nigeria well.

“The story of the battle for Nigeria’s soul and eventual unity cannot be complete without a generous mention of late Brigadier-General Benjamin Adekunle, a.k.a Black Scorpion. He was a patriot who loved his country and gave his all. He revealed to the world that Ogbomoso’s sons and daughters were no bystanders or minions. But that, Ogbomoso sons and daughters are brilliant

and brave, courageous and compassionate, patriotic and powerful. And above all, that Ogbomoso is a land of warriors; ever ready to make necessary sacrifices for the unity of her people and her land”.

Furthermore, Chief Sunday Dare stated that: “Late General Benjamin Adekunle has joined the league of Ogbomoso icons like the late Premier of Western Region Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, the late Soun Oyewunmi Ajagungbade III, the late Governor of Oyo State Otunba Alao-Akala, the late Inspector General of Police Chief Sunday Adewusi and many other heroes of democracy from Ogbomosoland who made priceless sacrifices for the unity and peace of Nigeria.

For late Brigadier-General Benjamin Adekunle, no task was a burden and no sacrifice was too high: for he loved his people even as he understood that his call to duty carried a risk to his own life. He brought to life courage and patriotism that remains unequaled”. “Out of curiosity, I searched for the deeper meaning of a Scorpion. General

Benjamin Adekunle was nicknamed the Black Scorpion largely due to his exploits as a soldier. I found out that Scorpions are symbols of protection, transformation, independence, solitude, and intelligence.

In addition, Scorpions are also a symbol of death and rebirth, a symbol of power. We stop here. For us, the spirit of the Black Scorpion must rekindle in us the desire to lead. Not just in our land of Ogbomoso, but in our Oyo State. Let Ogbomoso no longer play the second fiddle in Oyo State. Let Ogbomoso speak with one political voice. Let Adekunle’s spirit summon us all to a new cause in this dispensation.

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