The big question here is, is there freedom in marriage or when single?

 Some people will say that when you are single, you are your own boss because you get to choose what you want and when you want it while some will say you give up all your freedom when you are married, everything you want to do has to be discussed and agreed upon with your partner.

When we talk about freedom, we are talking about the ability to pursue happiness not to be hindered by undue stress or pressure and to have a hopeful vision for the future.  In terms of your marriage, this kind of freedom is absolutely attainable that is if you take your time to build and maintain a strong and healthy relationship.

If what freedom means to you is doing exactly what you want, the way you want it, whenever you want it, then you will have to give up on that part when getting married because you are going to live with another person who also want to do certain things in a certain way but with good understanding, commitment and good communication you can do what you want provided both of you understand it or agree. But if one of the couple thinks freedom means to hang out and spend the nights away with their friends, leaving the other behind, then marriage doesn’t work that way. I believe marriage is for people who enjoy their togetherness and family life.

Finding a compatible partner is very significant and many people feel trapped in marriage because they married the wrong person. However, you need to focus on two things; one is the level of your commitment and secondly is finding the right partner.
You and your partner will entangle your lives, most of your chores will affect each other to some extent. Your partner is likely to have opinions about choices you make that affects them but it’s wise to take these effects into consideration when making choices. Even though some partners don’t like thinking about someone else when deciding what to do which is why some people perceive this as loss of freedom hence thinking that they are being used and controlled. Marry someone who respects your autonomy, values and collaborative decision making on issues that affect both of you.

If you get married to a compatible partner and you have a healthy relationship, you won’t lose your freedom. Good relationships do not restrain you, rather they allow you to grow and they support you in exploring the things you want to explore.

Remember, you don’t have to walk into marriage with the same thought of having things done your own way, being your own boss, choose what you want and when you want it, it has to be agreed and done with your partner. When you are single, you may have more freedom to come and go as you please. The reason for that is because nobody cares and marriage is a social contract where we give up certain freedoms for the benefit of what the relationship could bring to us compared to being single.
But you have to ask yourself, is the benefits of a relationship worth the sacrifice of your personal freedom? The answer to that question depends on you and your partner.

Good morning.

WHO APPOINTS OKONJO-IWEALA AS COVID-19 SPECIAL ENVOY

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has named Nigeria’s two-term former Minister of Finance and former Managing Director (Operations) of the World Bank, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, as a Special Envoy for its newly inaugurated Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator.
WHO’s Director-General, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, disclosed this during the launch of the ACT Accelerator, through an online conference that took place in Geneva.

Okonjo-Iweala, who is the Board Chairperson of GAVI Alliance, is to serve together with British Business Executive, Andrew Witty, in the same capacity. They are expected to mobilise international commitment to the initiative.
The initiative is an international collaboration aimed at accelerating the development, production, and equitable distribution of COVID-18 drugs, tests kits, and vaccines around the world.
Ghebreyesus explained: “The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented global crisis that has been met with an unprecedented global response. Research and development have played a central role.
“Since January, WHO has been working with thousands of researchers all over the world to accelerate and track vaccine development – from developing animal models to clinical trial designs, and everything in between. We’ve also developed diagnostics that are being used all over the world. And we’re coordinating a global trial on the safety and efficacy of four therapeutics against COVID-19.
“The world needs these tools, and it needs them fast. Past experience has taught us that even when tools are available, they have not been equally available to all.  We cannot allow that to happen.  Today, WHO is proud to be uniting with many partners to launch the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator, or the ACT Accelerator. This is a landmark collaboration to accelerate the development, production and equitable distribution of vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics for COVID-19.”

GLOBAL CORONAVIRUS FATALITIES TOP 200,000 WITH 2.8MILLION CONFIRMED INFECTIONS

The global coronavirus death toll has now reached 200,000 with 2.8million confirmed infections.


John Hopkins University released the latest figures as some countries began taking their first steps into removing their lockdowns. The true death toll is likely to be higher. The US have started loosening their lockdown measures in Georgia, Oklahoma and Alaska to help ease the economic damage inflicted on businesses despite the US death toll passing 50,000. State governors allowed salons, spas and barbershops to reopen, while Alaska allowed restaurants to resume dine-in service and retail shops and other businesses to open their doors. During a White House press briefing on Friday, President Donald Trump asked people to continue social distancing and use face masks. Despite sounding optimistic about the American economy, Trump signed a $484billion (£391 billion) bill to aid employers and hospitals under stress from the pandemic. Over the past five weeks, roughly 26 million people have filed for jobless aid in America. Trump also said his comments suggesting people can inject disinfectant to fight Covid-19 were an attempt at sarcasm.


In Europe, Norway extended its ban on events until at least September 1 but Belgium have outlined plans to exit their lockdown. It starts on May 4 with the resumption of non-essential treatment in hospitals and the reopening of textile and sewing shops to enable people to have face masks. This will be followed on June 8 by bars and restaurants being reopened. Belgian prime minister Sophie Wilmes warned though that “nothing is set in stone”. Spain will allow children outside to play on Sunday after 44 days but will not be allowed to play with other children. Italy has said that free protective masks will be distributed to nursing homes, police, public officials and transport workers so that the bulk of their workforce are prepared to restart on May 4. Funeral home workers have been working since the lockdown though and Pope Francis asked people to pray for them: “What they do is so heavy and sad. They really feel the pain of this pandemic.” The lockdown in France is expected to be lifted on May 11 with the health minister announcing plans to increase testing to contain the virus if it flares up again. Brazil is close to becoming one of the world’s latest pandemic hotspots. Medical officials in Rio de Janeiro and four other major cities warned that their hospital system is on the verge of collapse or already overwhelmed. In Manaus, the biggest city in the Amazon, officials said a cemetery has been forced to dig mass graves because there have been so many deaths. Workers have been burying 100 corpses a day – triple the pre-virus average. And in Asia India, easing restrictions meant reopening local stores that many of the country’s 1.3 billion people rely on for everything from cold drinks to mobile phone data cards. However, the loosening did not apply to hundreds of quarantined towns and other places hit hardest by the outbreak that has killed at least 775 people in the country. Shopping malls also remain closed nationwide. Last week, India also allowed manufacturing and farming to resume in rural areas to ease the economic plight of millions of daily wage-earners left jobless by the lockdown imposed on March 24. India’s restrictions have allowed people out of their homes only to buy food, medicine or other essentials. Elsewhere in Asia, authorities reported no new deaths on Saturday for the 10th straight day in China, where the virus originated. South Korea reported just 10 fresh cases, the eighth day in a row its daily total came below 20. There were no new deaths for the second straight day.


In Sri Lanka, however, the lockdown was tightened, not eased, confirming a pattern of one-step-forward, one-step-back also seen elsewhere in the pandemic, as authorities juggle public health against the health of shut-down economies. Sri Lanka had partially lifted a month-long curfew during daytime hours in more than two-thirds of the country. However, it reimposed a 24-hour lockdown countrywide after a surge of 46 new infections on Friday, the highest increase in a day on the Indian Ocean island. The new curfew remains in effect until Monday.

POLICE DISMISS COPS FOR FIGHTING ON EDO ROAD


Two policemen attached to the Edo State Police Command have been dismissed by the Nigeria Police Force for engaging each other in fisticuffs along the road in Edo State.

A video capturing the fight between the cops, Corporal Ozimende Aidonojie and Salubi Stephen, had gone viral on Thursday.

They pummelled each other to the ground as some members of the public tried to separate them in the presence of a crowd.

In the background, an onlooker who appeared to be videoing the scenario derided the officials, saying “See Nigeria police o; see them, they are fighting.”

The cause of the scuffle was not disclosed but the Force on its Twitter handle, @PoliceNG, on Thursday promised to investigate what it described as a “show of shame.”

“The two policemen, F/NO 41112 CPL Ozimende Aidonojie and F/NO 516384 PC Salubi Stephen in this viral video have been identified, arrested and detained. They are currently undergoing internal disciplinary sanctions at the Edo State Police Command Headquarters.

“The Force wishes to apprise the general public that this show of shame is certainly not in our character and we will not condone such indiscipline.

“In the best tradition of transparency and accountability, the outcome of the trial will be made public. This, we believe, will also serve as (a) deterrent to other police officers,” it stated.

In a tweet on Friday, tagged ‘Feedback on Investigations into cases of unprofessional conduct by police officers,” the Force announced the dismissal of the two policemen.

“Cpl Ozimende Aidonojie and PC Salubi Stephen captured in the viral video fighting shamelessly in Edo State, have been tried and found guilty. They have been dismissed from the Force,” the message from the Force Public Relations Department, read.

COVID-19 LOCKDOWN: GOVERNORS WANT FREE MOVEMENT, COMPULSORY FACE MASKS

Governors of the 36 States of the federation have advised the federal government to allow internal free movement but with restrictions on large gatherings and assemblies as the second 14-day lockdown on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lagos, and Ogun States in order to stop the spread of the novel COVID-19 ends on midnight Monday. A letter dated April 24, 2020 from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and addressed to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation/Chairman, Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha also advocated compulsory use of face masks in the public.

The letter signed by NGF chairman, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, was written as a follow-up to a teleconference meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday, April 22, 2020.

The governors’ recommendations, if approved by President Muhammadu Buhari, suggested in the letter that the impending broadcast on the lockdown incorporated: “Inter-state lockdown, excluding movement of essential supplies- food, beverages, medical and pharmaceutical, petroleum supplies and agricultural products; internal free movement but with restrictions on large gatherings and assemblies; overnight curfews; lockdown of flights; and compulsory use of face masks/coverings in the public.” “Recall at the meeting it was agreed that the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) articulates the issues that it would want to be included in the next Presidential Pronouncement on COVID-19 so as to have a Uniform and coordinated Policy on COVID-19 at both the national and sub-national levels,” the letter added.

Last Wednesday, the governors “unanimously” agreed to the implementation of an inter-State lockdown in the country over the next two weeks to mitigate the spread of the pandemic COVID-19 virus from State to State.

In a communique issued by the NGF chairman at the end of the sixth COVID-19 teleconference meeting said only essential services would be permitted. The governors also called for the decentralization of the COVID-19 response as the best chance of nipping the spread of the virus in communities with over 25 States now affected by the spread of the virus and increasing evidence of community transmission. The governors reached the agreement after receiving briefing from the governors of Lagos, Bauchi, Oyo and Ogun States who shared their experiences and lessons from the fight against COVID-19. It would be recalled that President Buhari currently imposed lockdown in only the FCT, Lagos and Ogun States to halt the spread of the novel pandemic coronavirus. Some of the States have taken similar measures to fight the deadly virus but there is no nationwide lockdown from the federal government. Health experts say the country may be heading towards the need for nationwide lockdown to stop the virus as confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country as announced by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) jumped above 1000.

OBIANO RELAXES LOCKDOWN IN ANAMBRA, ASKS CHURCHES TO RESUME ACTIVITIES


 The Anambra State governor, Willie Obiano, has relaxed the lockdown on the state and has asked churches to commence full activities.

The governor stated this in a broadcast to the people of the state on Saturday evening.

Before the Saturday broadcast church activities had been restricted for 14 days as one of the measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

But on Saturday, Obiano asked the churches to resume full service, stating that the worshipers must wear face masks and observe the World Health Organisation’s guidelines about the pandemic during worship.

He listed the protocol to include regular hand washing, avoiding handshakes, application of hand sanitizers, and social distancing.

The Governor announced that movements around the state were not restricted, stressing, however, that all boundaries in the state remained closed.

He said, “All food and drug markets in the state are to open with immediate effect.

“I will meet with market leaders on Monday, 27th April, for further discussion. When to re-open the schools as well as when civil servants will be allowed to go back to offices will be announced soon.”

SAUDI ARABIA ABOLISHES FLOGGING AS PUNISHMENT

  Saudi Arabia has abolished flogging as a punishment, the supreme court announced, hailing the latest in a series of “human rights advances” made by the king and his powerful son.

Court-ordered floggings in Saudi Arabia — sometimes extending to hundreds of lashes — have long drawn condemnation from human rights groups.

But they say the headline legal reforms overseen by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have brought no let-up in the conservative Islamic kingdom’s crushing of dissent, including through the use of the death penalty.

The Saudi supreme court said the latest reform was intended to “bring the kingdom into line with international human rights norms against corporal punishment”.

Previously the courts could order the flogging of convicts found guilty of offences ranging from extramarital sex and breach of the peace to murder.

In the future, judges will have to choose between fines and/or jail sentences, or non-custodial alternatives like community service, the court said in a statement seen by AFP on Saturday.

The most high-profile instance of flogging in recent years was the case of Saudi blogger Raif Badawi who was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes in 2014 for “insulting” Islam.

He was awarded the European parliament’s Sakharov human rights prize the following year.

The abolition of corporal punishment in Saudi Arabia comes just days after the kingdom’s human rights record was again in the spotlight following news of the death from a stroke in custody of leading activist Abullah al-Hamid, 69.

Hamid was a founding member of the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association (ACPRA) and was sentenced to 11 years in jail in March 2013, campaigners said.

He was convicted on multiple charges, including “breaking allegiance” to the Saudi ruler, “inciting disorder” and seeking to disrupt state security, Amnesty International said.

Criticism of Saudi Arabia’s human rights record has grown since King Salman named his son Prince Mohammed crown prince and heir to the throne in June 2017.


The October 2018 murder of vocal critic Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul and the increased repression of dissidents at home have overshadowed the prince’s pledge to modernise the economy and society.