News Break International (2025)

09/01/2025

PARABLE OF A JOURNALIST

DON'T HANG YOUR CLOTHES ON A HIGH TENSION WARDROBE & DITCH UR TRAIN
, By Benjamin Atu

I have resolved not to chase myself out of this life by my actions in 2025. Many persons have chase themselves out of life my hanging their clothes on a high tension wardrobe.You must ditch your train whenever you hangged your clothes on a high tension wardrobe because you must be on a rocking horse, a lot of movement yet no progress. First attempt, no distance cover therefore no work done.

For want of a nail, many of us have lost the hammer. For want of a hammer our horse have drown in the River, and for want of a horse many riders have perish. All for the sake of nail. At the end we only succeeded in chasing ourselves out of life.

One broken wheel can ditch a train. One quarrelsome staff can lead to a sack of ten thousand workers. One wrong decision can ruin a destiny. It's little little things in life that add up to become great things. It's not many decisions that makes a man great. Just one right decision is all you need to be a success, just as one wrong decision is also all you need to be a failure.

People give up in life because they usually hang their clothes on a high tension wardrobe. Don't leave your life depending on another man's pocket. Stage your ground. Don't break your home because you can't make it what the world expected of it.

Don't ditch your home because of that toaster. Don't ditch your education because of that job opportunity. Don't ditch your life because of circumstances. It's when things seem worse that we must not give up. Yes your car must have been burnt, but you can buy a new car. You don't have to ditch your train.

You can get married this year you don't have to ditch your train. Remove your clothes from high tension wardrobe so that you can always have them when you need them without help from anyone. You look helpless because you have made the help from others your only life support. You need support in life but you don't have to be on a life support to get the support of life. Don't ditch your train. You can make it.

You can build that house you don't have to ditch your train. You can complete your education you don't have to ditch your train. If not for the last minute somethings wouldn't have been done. Just hang around your dream don't ditch it. Don't ditch your train for want of a nail. An hammer lost for want of a nail can't be recovered. Why not allow the nail to lost and safe your hammer in 2025.

Are you Ready to say it? Join me to declare it. I won't ditch my train. For me I will not ditch my train. 2025, I'll not hang my clothes on a high tension wardrobe. Did you learn anything? Share to your love once who are facing terrible circumstances and about to ditch their train.

[email protected]

21/09/2024

Breaking News Happening Now:
Hon. Benedicta's life is Threatened,
As Four Siennas Loaded with Police Surrounds Etsako East Chairman's House

The Executive Chairman of Etsako East Local Government Council, Hon. (Princess) Benedicta Attoh, is currently in danger as of 12 a.m. on September 21, 2024, after four Siennas loaded with policemen stormed her Okpekpe residence.

While the Ward 10 Youth have mobilised to oppose any attempt to mo**st the performing Chairman of the Local Government Council, we hereby request that the Inspector General of Police immediately call his men to order to prevent a breakdown in law and order.

Nigerian police were deployed to Edo State to ensure a peaceful election and to protect lives and not to destroy them. The NIgerian Police are currently compromising their position by besieging the home of PDP leaders while APC leaders are moving freely. The Chairman of the Etsako East Council did not request security personnel because her community members had already built a defensive wall around her. This public notice is to notify the Police Force that if there is a breakdown of law and order in the Okpekpe community, the police will be held accountable because the youths are brace up for unprovoked arrest.

Benjamin Atu
Chief Press Secretary
Etsako East local Government Council
[email protected]

10/09/2024

Analyst rejects WTO's call for trade barrier removal.

•Says Globalization has Damaged Nigerian Economy, and increased debt profile.

Benjamin Atu a Political Analyst and Social Crusader has accused the World Trade Organization of hypocrisy, and being economical with the truth saying agents of Globalisation and International Organizations like the World Bank, IMF, the World Trade Organization, and the Multinational Corporations are putting pressures through covert and overt means on the government of Nigeria to accept policies that best serve the neo-liberal agenda while deepening dependency.

"In the same way that Nigeria was forced to amalgamate, we are now being forced into the global economy unprepared. We will seek a break from the global economy in the future, just as we are currently seeking national restructuring".

According to Atu, deregulation that was encouraged by WTO has created more problems than it was established to solve as Nigeria’s wealth has been sold to Multinational Corporations, and taken over by private individuals and companies. Globalisation, by its design, is meant to benefit the industrialized nations, hence, the formation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to continuously pursue the policy of trade liberalization, especially the removal of restrictions on trade. This has had an adverse effect on Nigeria's industrial sector.

"Many manufacturing companies have closed down as a result of the influx of foreign goods into the country. Tariffs and other important restrictions are designed to protect domestic industries. However, globalisation has made Nigeria a dumping ground for foreign goods and services, resulting in a gradual decline and underdevelopment of the industrial sector. The result is loss of jobs and grinding poverty. Even the palliative called Poverty Alleviation Program is in itself a component of globalisation and has not lived up to its name.

Benjamin Atu, a former Media Aide to Governor Godwin Obaseki, was responding to a WTO report titled "Trade and Inclusiveness: How to Make Trade Work for All." In a recent report, the WTO stated, "while trade has played a crucial role in promoting global economic convergence and reducing poverty, some individuals, regions, and economies have been left behind." However, Benjamin Atu, a social critic and political analyst, accused them of spreading false information, describing Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala's reaffirmation of trade's transformative role in reducing poverty and creating shared prosperity as inconsistent with current realities. Nigeria's economy is not matured enough for global integration because globalisation has brought more curses than blessings.

The veteran broadcaster insisted that as Nigeria's economies open up to free trade and international competition, the country becomes poorer and more dependent. He compared the current relationship between Western nations and Nigeria to that of a seed and a tree. A seed must die before it can produce a tree. Nigeria had to be underdeveloped in order to provide development to more developed countries. Africa's nations have consistently provided the Western world with cheap labour and raw commodities such as cocoa, palm, crude oil, groundnut, and so on. Third World economies concentrate on commodities and minerals that the First World needs. Concentration on the development of a single commodity has resulted in Nigeria and other African countries occupying the 'bottom billion' and failing to benefit from trade liberalisation, making Nigeria a dumping ground for foreign products and services.

“The escape from poverty that was promised by trade liberalism is a cruel illusion as the escape route has suddenly turned to a prison of his own against Nigeria and African nations”

He lamented the undue influence of the Western nations on Nigeria due to their foreign aid and loans to Africa which serve more the interest of the donors and the creditors. “The politics of foreign aid by international organizations is used not only to unduly influence the African economy but also control its policies for the benefits of the more advanced nations of the world - the centre-peripheries. An instance was when the IMF issued a query to Nigeria in respect of the N400 billion meant for capital expenditure in the 2001 budget.

He said the World financial institution contributed to drafting the 2001 budget by determining the Nigerian economy direction which serves their interest. Interference in the internal affairs of sovereign nation is a hallmark of globalisation which is perpetrated by its agents. By comparison, he said the amount of aid granted to the Third World is insignificant when compare to what the Third World pays back to them. In 1989 for example, the West gave the Third World 30 billion dollars in aid, but the Third World gave the West 93 billion in debt repayments. This is why African burdens of debt exceed the continent’s Gross National Product.

Benjamin Atu, the National Coordinator of the Nigerian Association for Public Opinion Research (NAFPOR), maintained that trade and financial liberalisation make it easier for investors to move money or capital across national borders. As a result, Nigeria is pushed to implement policies such as currency devaluation in order to compete in the global market. The implications of the above-mentioned policies are obvious and therefore have effects on the Nigerian economy. This is how Western nations supervised the sale of government-owned commercial and merchant banks as well as cement plants. They also saw the government reducing its major stakes in hostels, auto assembly plants, Nigerian Telecommunication Ltd (Nitel), Nigeria Airways, petroleum refineries, and so on. The effect is that, with the withdrawal of subsidies on essential services, individuals have to pay more for these services. Education and health services have become more expensive as a result of deregulation, and more children are dropping out of school, while university education has become more expensive, similar to the ongoing fuel hike, without adequate preparation for these economic shocks, he warned.

Benjamin Atu

M.Sc Comparative Politics and Development Studies

[email protected]

Chief Press Secretary Etsako East LGA.

27/07/2024

NAFPOR to Tinubu: Declare August 1st as National Dialogue Day with Nigerian Youths to End Nationwide Protest.

The Nigeria Association For Public Opinion Research (NAFPOR), has warned against the consequences of unexpressed anger and suppressed depression, advising President Bola Tinubu and others to declare August 1st as an annual National Youth Dialogue Day to address pressing national issues directly with youth in order to de-escalate widespread national protests.

"As a leading organization in conflict management over the last decade, NAFPOR discloses that National Dialogues are an official negotiation forum and a critical tool for the prevention of violent conflict and the management of youth crises as a response to overarching national issues. Since Nigerians are desirous of expressing themselves, rather than attempting to mute them, the federal government should own the protest and create the enabling platform for them to express themselves. Like the force of water, the planned protest cannot be stopped but can be streamlined constructively for the betterment of Nigeria and the safety of the youths."

In a press statement issued today by the National Coordinator, Comrade Benjamin Atu, NAFPOR stated that as a Public Opinion Research Organisation, they have conducted nationwide consultations and engaged Nigerian Youths across the country, and their findings have revealed that the President needs to speak with Nigerian youths and answer their questions in a one-on-one national dialogue to mitigate the impact of protests the same August 1st. The interactive session should be streamed across all online platforms to engage youths on that day and also allow them to ask questions no matter how the questions may sound.

The research institution maintained that, instead of continuing to promote National Protest Day in the media, they propose that the federal government renames August 1st as National Dialogue Day for Nigerian Youths. The President should make free vehicles available nationwide to transport all Northern youths to Kaduna State Stadium, while youths from the South-South, South West, and South East should all congregate at the National Stadium in Lagos. The mere fact that the federal government provides free movement to and fro will naturally calm nerves and shift sponsorship from outside forces to a federal government-owned and led protest. The federal government can then lobby the tone of the protest rather than resorting to force, which may backfire.

Benjamin Atu, former Chief Press Secretary to Dr. Ngozi Olejeme, former Chairman of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), stated that NAFPOR is prepared to voluntarily spearhead a successful National Youth Dialogue Day on August 1st to turn youth attention away from the protest by providing a better meaning to the nationwide protest rather than succumbing to the antics of a few.

"National Dialogues are nationally owned political processes that aim to generate consensus among a wide range of national stakeholders during times of deep political crisis as a viable way to bridge internal schisms and rebuild relationships between groups. Tunisia, where the Arab revolutions began, is an example of a successful nationwide protest that evolved into National Dialogue," they explained."

The Statement urged the federal government to identify civil society organizations that will act as mediators, as Nigerian youths do not want to hear from the political class other than the President and Vice President directly. Members of the Federal Executive Council who are threatening youths with unguarded utterances and chanting war songs, as the FCT Minister is doing, should refrain from doing so, as a dog destined to die does not listen to the Master's whistle, they said.

27/07/2024

NAFPOR to Tinubu: Declare August 1st as National Dialogue Day with Nigerian Youths to End Nationwide Protest.

The Nigeria Association For Public Opinion Research (NAFPOR), has warned against the consequences of unexpressed anger and suppressed depression, advising President Bola Tinubu and others to declare August 1st as an annual National Youth Dialogue Day to address pressing national issues directly with youth in order to de-escalate widespread national protests.

"As a leading organization in conflict management over the last decade, NAFPOR discloses that National Dialogues are an official negotiation forum and a critical tool for the prevention of violent conflict and the management of youth crises as a response to overarching national issues. Since Nigerians are desirous of expressing themselves, rather than attempting to mute them, the federal government should own the protest and create the enabling platform for them to express themselves. Like the force of water, the planned protest cannot be stopped but can be streamlined constructively for the betterment of Nigeria and the safety of the youths."

In a press statement issued today by the National Coordinator, Comrade Benjamin Atu, NAFPOR stated that as a Public Opinion Research Organisation, they have conducted nationwide consultations and engaged Nigerian Youths across the country, and their findings have revealed that the President needs to speak with Nigerian youths and answer their questions in a one-on-one national dialogue to mitigate the impact of protests the same August 1st. The interactive session should be streamed across all online platforms to engage youths on that day and also allow them to ask questions no matter how the questions may sound.

The research institution maintained that, instead of continuing to promote National Protest Day in the media, they propose that the federal government renames August 1st as National Dialogue Day for Nigerian Youths. The President should make free vehicles available nationwide to transport all Northern youths to Kaduna State Stadium, while youths from the South-South, South West, and South East should all congregate at the National Stadium in Lagos. The mere fact that the federal government provides free movement to and fro will naturally calm nerves and shift sponsorship from outside forces to a federal government-owned and led protest. The federal government can then lobby the tone of the protest rather than resorting to force, which may backfire.

Benjamin Atu, former Chief Press Secretary to Dr. Ngozi Olejeme, former Chairman of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), stated that NAFPOR is prepared to voluntarily spearhead a successful National Youth Dialogue Day on August 1st to turn youth attention away from the protest by providing a better meaning to the nationwide protest rather than succumbing to the antics of a few.

"National Dialogues are nationally owned political processes that aim to generate consensus among a wide range of national stakeholders during times of deep political crisis as a viable way to bridge internal schisms and rebuild relationships between groups. Tunisia, where the Arab revolutions began, is an example of a successful nationwide protest that evolved into National Dialogue," they explained."

The Statement urged the federal government to identify civil society organizations that will act as mediators, as Nigerian youths do not want to hear from the political class other than the President and Vice President directly. Members of the Federal Executive Council who are threatening youths with unguarded utterances and chanting war songs, as the FCT Minister is doing, should refrain from doing so, as a dog destined to die does not listen to the Master's whistle, they said.

26/07/2024

Press Statement Friday, July 26, 2024.

Senator Alimikhena's Aide Accuses
Oshiomhole, Danco, Ihonvbere, Akpatasi of personalizing the 5000 and 1500 slots of the 50,000 Presidential Grant to Edo North.

Veteran broadcaster Benjamin Atu has raised concerns about Edo North lawmakers' silence in spreading the 5000 slots of 50,000 each Presidential grant given to them to distribute across Edo North for the benefit of everyone.

"Each Nigerian senator was given 5000 slots to collect names and other personal details of the less fortunate for the ongoing #50,000 presidential grant, while House of Representatives members were given 1500 slots each. The poor and the masses in Edo North are yet to see Oshiomhole and Danco go to the grassroots to get the names of the poorest of the poor; instead, the 5000 and 1500 slots, respectively, are being used to buy votes and rig the election ahead of time by compiling the names of political elite, decampees, and their family members rather than the generality of Edo North on whose Crest they rode to the National Assembly."

ATU in a statement issued today, accused them of insensitivity about the pulse of the public but have decided to develop their own bourgeoisie than impacting the lives of the common man. They join the poor in lamenting rather than removing them from Lamentations. Personifying the Senatorial district as their personal fiefdom where everything have become business for them, they dress themselves up in khaki uniform, build themselves palaces, bring all other traffic to a standstill when they drive and demand the masses to treat them like Egyptian Pharaohs.

According to him, when Senator Francis Alimikhena was in the Senate during COVID-19, a similar grant was shared, and the former Senator directed us to publish it in the media and various forums, asking Edo North residents to send their names and contact information to this email address, [email protected]. Unfortunately, now that Oshiomhole is in the Senate, he has decided to be selfish with the public good by representing only the APC rather than the entire Edo North population in sharing what should benefit the entire region. 5000 Edo North slots are currently being shared by family members and an elite group rather than the poor, as was intended.

Benjamin Atu who was the Personal Assistant, to Senator Francis Alimikhena, maintained that while senators from other states have sent the names of their constituencies online, Edo North lawmakers are playing politics with the public's stomach. The vacuum left in the Nigeria Senate by Senator Francis Alimikhena's absence cannot be filled by a man who is always preoccupied with the next election rather than the next generation.

The Statement therefore called on the people of Edo North to demand their slot from their House of Representatives members and Senator so that their names could be added. "If you are from Edo North kindly write out your details as written in the attached form and send to your lawmakers now for them to add your names to the 5000 beneficiary. We can't be blaming Abuja when those killing us are among us" The grant is intended for the general public and not APC members. Do not close your mouth. Put pressure on your lawmakers in Edo North to add your name before they leave the country for their long vacation abroad, Benjamin Atu said.

19/07/2024

Congratulations to my Daddy and Boss

19/07/2024

Press Statement : Friday July 19, 2024

NAFPOR Knock Nigerian Senate for seeking to create Local Government Independent Electoral Commission

The Nigeria Association For Public Opinion Research, NAFPOR, has described the ongoing Senate Bill to establish a Local Government Independent Electoral Commission, which seeks to establish a federal agency for the conduct of Local Government Elections, as insensitive, given that INEC can create a department for local government affairs.

The group reminded the Senate's leadership that the Nigerian Constitution established States Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs), which cannot be taken over by an entity established by an Act, as the Senate is doing. We therefore advised Nigerian Senators to engage in productive debate on how to alleviate Nigerians' hardship in order to earn their keep, rather than wasting their time on a Bill that will not stand the test of time

In a statement issued today, NAFPOR's National Coordinator, Comrade Benjamin Atu, stated that if the Bill is not repealed immediately, the Association will lead a nationwide protest against the Nigerian Senate.

The Public Opinion Association said the Nigerian public both from the elite class and layman are all against the move of the Senate as their plans can still be achieve through INEC rather than duplication of function. They condemned the Senators for entertaining the Bill and allowing it to scaled first reading on Thursday July 18. "The sponsor of the bill, Senator Sani Musa, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, who is supposed to be prudent, is seeking vainglory to impress his constituents that he is vibrant while strangling and suffocating Nigerians."

They maintained that Nigerians are lamenting the excessive wage allowances for Senators, rather than debating how to cut down on their salary like the House of Reps have done they're adding more burden to the Nation. It is disgraceful that the House of Representatives has become more elderly and concerned about Nigerians' well-being than those who were once thought to be elder statesmen.

According to the Statement, the Nigerian Senate has become an entertainment centre where bear parlour discussions are held. He thanked some House of Representatives members who spoke out against the Bill and the Senate's actions. A member of the House of Representatives who opposes the formation of a new commission for local government elections said,

"instead of adding to the already bloated governmental structure, the National Assembly should focus on streamlining and optimizing existing processes. If we aim to reduce the cost of governance, why not empower INEC to handle local government elections through constitutional amendments? Consolidating these responsibilities under INEC would promote efficiency, consistency, and accountability in our electoral processes. Let's prioritize practical solutions that promote effective governance and fiscal responsibility."

Benjamin Atu, who revealed that they have raised up the issue with other lawmakers, quoted another lawmaker as saying, "This is absurd to say the least. Why do we love wasting government lean resources at little slight opportunity?. It's high time we give INEC more power and responsibilities to conduct local government elections.
Anything outside this is complete waste of resources and time, they said.

The statement also called on other civil Society groups to breeze up and Mobiliser their groups should the Senate refused trash the insensitive Bill. They also asked members of the public to send their reactions to this email address
[email protected]
They stated that the collection of public opinion will continue to be the foundation of the organisation.

Benjamin Atu
Email: [email protected]

08038847596

12/07/2024

Press Release
Friday, July 12, 2024.

Samoa Agreement: National Assembly Disappointed Nigerians (NAFPOR)

* Urges suspension of funds for treaty obligations rather than appearing helpless.

The leadership of the Nigeria Association for Public Opinion Research (NAFPOR) has condemned the National Assembly's action in calling on the President of Nigeria to halt the implementation of the Samoa agreement until all issues are resolved, rather than mandating the federal government to submit the treaty and all other treaties in their possession to the National Assembly for domestication, as required by the Nigeria constitution.

They group described the fears of the lawmakers that the federal government could implement a treaty without their consent as a National disgrace. The fears of the legislature is an indication of an exchange of birthright. The Federal lawmakers have sold themselves for a price by appealing rather demanding for the right thing to be done. It's only when treaties are brought before the lawmakers that they can determine which treaty to trash and which one can become functional.

The National Assembly should put a stop to the ongoing national lamentation over the Samoa agreement through suspension of funds for treaty obligations rather than appearing helpless.

NAFPOR referred to the National Assembly's attempt to revoke the Samoa agreement as a "belated cry," noting that the legislature has consistently failed to exercise its constitutional authority over the executive branch of government.

According to them, the ongoing panic and Lamentations across the country is laughable because no treaty ordinarily should have a force of implementation without the domestication of such treaties by the National Assembly.

"Section 12 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria's 1999 Constitution (as amended), "No treaty between the Federation and any other country shall have the force of law except to the extent that any such treaty has been enacted into law by the National Assembly." The exclusive authority to decide which treaties are ratified is held by the same National Assembly. The National Assembly members' lack of concern for Nigerians is further evidenced by their refusal to challenge the executive branch's decision to withhold all treaties from them for domestication".

Comrade Benjamin Atu, National Chairman of the Association, in a reaction to the controversial treaty signed by the Nigerian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium, Obinna Onowu, on behalf of the Nigerian Government at the OACPS Secretariat in Brussels on June 28, 2024, said "since the Federal Government (Executive Branch) has learn to shoot without missing, the National Assembly members should also wake up to the effective performance of their oversight functions by also learning how to fly without perching."

The group lamented that Nigerians had not benefited from any treaty signed by the federal government because several treaties had been signed without the National Assembly's full knowledge of their contents. Treaties are not supposed to be shrouded in secrecy like the executive council is currently doing. It is a national disgrace that the Nigerian National Assembly is unaware of the exact number of treaties that Nigeria has signed as of today.

Benjamin Atu, a former legislative aide at the National Assembly, also slammed Minister of Economic Planning Atiku Bagudu, reminding him that in a democratic system, the executive cannot implement a treaty unilaterally without the approval of parliament. However, because the federal Executive Council has failed to send a list of treaties entered into to the National Assembly for domestication over the years, National Assembly Members should immediately suspend funding for any future treaty financial obligations rather than lamenting helplessly.

He said the valuable hours of legislative business is currently dissipated on insignificant issues when Nigerians are waiting to see a vibrant and result oriented parliament that will mandate the executive to comply with the provision of the constitution as regards domestication of treaties.

"Nigeria doesn't need strong men but strong institutions. Nigeria's parliament owes us a duty to free us from the clutches of these powerful men in the Executive. The legislature, as the first institution of democracy, must make sacrifices for the people by ensuring that the executive does not cross democratic lines, and in doing so, we must refrain from referring to the misunderstandings that arise from democratic debate as chaos."

NAFPOR maintained that the country has continued to actively sign international treaties while making no effort to domesticate them. Nigeria has ratified several international treaties on the environment, violence, children's rights, trade, Samoe, and other issues over the years, but they are not in effect in the country because they have not been domesticated. According to Nigeria's constitution, a treaty that has not been domesticated cannot become law. Nigerian resources should not be wasted on issues that do not benefit Nigerians. Many treaties have been laying as dead wood in the Presidential Villa since 1999.

The group claimed that the fact that Nigeria has not domesticated treaties indicates that the country is not committed to maintaining global peace.

News Break International

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