Blog

Investigation
By Sunday John
Lafia, Sept. 16, 2018 (NAN) The National Secretary of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Mr Labaran Maku, has urged the Federal Government to investigate shoddy schools contracts in Nasarawa State.

Maku, who made the call on Sunday in Lafia, alleged that all the newly constructed primary and junior secondary schools built by Gov. Umaru Al-Makura government were death traps.

Maku, a former Minister of information, urged the Federal Government, through the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), to conduct the investigation urgently, to avoid collapse that would lead to loss of lives.

“Government must take urgent steps to safeguard the lives of teachers and pupils; the danger in the schools are apparent and must be avoided.”

Maku expressed regret that the structures, built less than four years ago, were already in a dilapidated state and blamed the situation on “substandard construction work”.

He said that the storey buildings were constructed without pillars, thereby compromising the standards.

He advised government to prosecute the contractors who did the shoddy jobs to serve as a deterrent to other contractors with similar intentions of cheating the system.

Maku expressed shock that the jobs which were satisfied to be good, were already dilapidated.

He, therefore, urged the government to emulate advanced countries by being proactive, to avoid any disaster.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the National Parents Teachers Association of Nigeria had recently complained about the poor state of school buildings in the state. (NAN)
SDJ/GOM/NKO
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Edited by Gregory Mmaduakolam/Nkechi Okoronkwo

Avoid empty promises ahead 2019 poll, Anglican Communion warn politicians

Advice
By Ariwodola Idowu
Ado Ekiti, Sept. 16, 2018(NAN) The Diocese of Ekiti West, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), on Sunday advised politicians against making unrealistic promises to the electorate as the 2019 general elections approaches.

It also admonished Nigerians against the practice of vote buying, which it noted, had also been gaining ground in the country, saying that the practice aimed at stifling people from making free choice of their candidates.

These were some of the resolutions reached at the 1st Session of the 7th Synod of the diocese which ended on Sunday.

It was presided over by the Bishop of the Diocese, Rt. Rev. Rufus Adepoju.

NAN reports that the four-day synod which held at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Idagba, Efon Alaaye, in Efon Local Government Area of the state, had as its theme: “Be Ye Steadfast”.

A communiqué issued at the end of the synod, stressed that vote buying could give a bad candidate with loads of funds an undeserved edge to the detriment of the people in the long run.

The synod urged all eligible Nigerians who had registered registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in order to be able to perform their civic responsibility of voting.

The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that the church noted that empty promises had dampened the interest of Nigerians in the electoral system.

“The Synod admonished some of our politicians who are in the habit of making empty promises to desist from such practices, which only heighten people’s expectations only to disappointed at last.

“This practice contributes to disaffection for people in governance and politics. 

“Synod appealed to governments at both states and national level to promptly pay salary and pension arrears to serving workers and pensioners.

“The non-payment of these deserved salaries and pension has brought untold hardship to families, especially those where the husband and wife are civil servants.”

According to the communique, Synod expressed concern over the scourge of political and religious motivated killings, kidnapping and other anti-social behaviours.

It urged the Federal Government to deploy adequate security resources to tackle the menace and eradicate them. (NAN)
ARIS/NKO
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Edited by Nkechi Okoronkwo

Safety
By Sumaila Ogbaje
Abuja, Sept. 16, 2018 (NAN) The Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, has been chosen as “the best improved airport in safety” by Airports Council International (ACI)l, Africa Region.

Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), disclosed this on Sunday.

Yakubu in a statement made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, said that the airport emerged the winner of the category, following an extensive evaluation process that considered entries from several other airports in Africa.

According to her, the letter dated September 13, addressed to Mr Rabiu Yadudu, Director of Airport Operations, FAAN by Mr Ali Tounsi, Secretary General of ACI Africa conveyed the award.

“ACI noted that despite fierce competition, NAIA’s infrastructure and processes were rated the best in Africa for its category.

“It will be recalled that NAIA was in November 2017 audited and certified by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), haven been given a clean bill of health by the regulatory Authority.

“The award will officially be presented to the airport at the next ACI Africa Conference and Annual General Assembly, scheduled to hold in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, from the Oct.14 to Oct. 17t,” she said.

NAN recalls that the ACI team also commenced security audit of the airport on September 10, to ascertain its level of compliance with best standard practices. (NAN)
OYS/CHOM/AFA
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Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Felix Ajide

Vote-buying

Kano, Sep. 16,2018(NAN) Prof Habu Fagge, a lecturer in the Department of Political Science, Bayero University Kano, has described vote-buying as a political corruption which has the imapct of retarding the process of Nigeria’s democracy.

Fagge, who is the Head of department of Political Science made the remark on Sunday in Kano during a public lecture organised by Center for Awareness on Justice and Accountability (CAJA) in partnership with Youth Alive Foundation.

‎”The phenomenon Vote-buying is a political corruption which has the impact of retarding the process of Nigeria’s democracy.

“‎Vote-buying is a serious threat to our democracy and that all Nigerians must join hands to ensure it is eradicated ,” he said.

He said that many people in the country were pesitimistic that if care ‎was not take their rightful mandate would be taken by those he described as ‘political entrepreneurs’.

Fagge said that’ political entrepreneurs in the country employ undemocratic strategy to prey on the existing high level poverty and unemployment.

He added that people who were worse hit are vulnerable people, who do not know what democracy is all about, with less political education and those with who could not say no to the advancement of politicians.

The university don also stressed the need for synergy between political parties and civil society organisations in the country to enlighten the public on the dangers of the ugly trend.

He described the theme of the public lecture” vote-buying risk ‎to democracy” as apt considering how the ugly trend is.

Earlier, the Executive director of CAJA, Mr. Kabiru Dakata, described the growing culture of Vote-buying as worrisome stressing that use of cash to induce voters is a violation of the Electoral Act.

Dakata noted that if care was not taken electorates would end up voting for people who do not have policies and those that are only interested in syphoning public funds.

He said that the center intends to engage other stakeholders on the way forward, particularly on how to intensify voter education and sensitization.

He added that poor people are worst hit by vote-selling , as their limited means makes them to accept the inducement.

In a remark, the representative of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Malam Suleiman Alkali‎, described the growing phenomenon as worrisome stressing that use of cash to induce voters is a violation of the Electoral Act.

‎He said the commission in collaboration with other stakeholders would educate and sensitize voters on vote-buying and selling.(NAN)

MNT/MTM

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Edited by Tukur Muntari.

Lasun refutes dumping APC

Refutes

By Taiye Agbaje

Abuja, Sept 16, 2018 (NAN) The Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr Yussuff Lasun, on Sunday, denied reports going the round that he has dumped the All progressives Congress (APC).

It would be recalled that a pro-Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) group in the House, under the auspices of Parliamentary Democrats Group (PDG), had described Lasun’s defection to PDP as a forgone issue.

The PDG Spokesman, Rep Timothy Golu (PDP- Plateau), while reacting to the alleged plan to remove Mr Yakubu Dogara as Speaker, following his alleged defection to the party, had said in a statement that a principal officer, including many other members had signified interest to join the bandwagon.

“As it is now, not only Speaker Yakubu Dogara, we have many other members, including a principal officer, who have signified interest to join the bandwagon. So we can effectively say that on resumption, Dogara will be presiding over a House with PDP in majority,” Golu had said.

Lasun, who represents Irepodun/Olorunda/Orolu/Osogbo Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, described the reports as the handiwork of his political detractors.

He spoke in a statement made available by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Wole Oladimeji, in Abuja.

The statement reads: ”The defection story of Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Sulaimon Lasun Yussuff to PDP is highly misleading and highly uncalled for.

”Deputy Speaker has said it repeatedly that he is a progressive to the core and remains in APC.

”It is the machinations of his political detractors, who are hell bent in maligning his political image that are spreading the rumour.

”A silence does not mean that he has left the party, the rumour recently being spread is by his political detractors.”

Corroborating Oladimeji’s statement, the Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Abulrazak Namdas (APC-Adamawa), said that there was no truth in the reports.

He said it was another ploy by the opposition members to destabilise the ranks of the ruling party in the House and urged Nigerians to discard the report.

”’There was nothing like that. I am telling you authoritatively that the Deputy Speaker did not defect. He has not defected and he will not defect.

”I don’t know what those spreading this rumour wants to gain, but this is a mere wish that won’t come true. The Deputy Speaker has said it severally, at different fora that he belonged here and will never contemplate leaving the party.

”He is a committed man, he has been tested severally and found to be a man of his words.

”Lasun is a member of APC, that, I am telling you authoritatively,” he said. NAN

TOA/AFA

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Edited by Felix Ajide

2019 Election Budget delay act of sabotage by NASS leadership – Gumel

Election
By Cecilia Ijuo
Abuja, Sept. 16, 2018 (NAN) The lawmaker representing Jigawa North West Senatorial District, Sen. Abdullahi Gumel, has described delay in the passage of the 2019 Elections Budget by the National Assembly as an act of sabotage.

Gumel (APC-Jigawa), told the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) in an interview in Abuja, that the delay was a deliberate attempt to frustrate the effort of the present government towards free and fair elections.

Gumel, who is a member of the committees on Appropriation, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Police Affairs, said that in spite of the urgency of the matter; only committee on INEC had met and concluded work.

The lawmaker, who is also Chairman Senate Committee on States and Local Government Administration, added that the leadership of the other committees were yet to invite members for any meeting in that regard.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s request on July 11 when he sought the legislators’ approval of N242 billion for the general elections.

Buhari had in July, requested National Assembly’s approval of N164.10 billion in the form of virement, to commence preparations for the 2019 general elections.

In the request, the money would be allocated as follows: INEC, N143.51 billion; Office of National Security Adviser, N3.86 billion and Department of State Services (DSS), N2.90 billion.

Others are Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, N1.85 billion; Nigeria Police Force, N11.46 billion and Nigeria Immigration Service, N530.1million.

Gumel said, “you cannot rule out sabotage in this development because the Senate President has decamped to an opposition party.

“I think he will be happy if the government does not succeed because he decamped to a party that is working to take over from us.

“We view it as sabotage because the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caucus has demanded the National Assembly to reconvene and finish up work on the budget.

“From the look of things, we are not reconvening until the date we are meant to resume.

“We have finished the job in the INEC Committee and transmitted back to the leadership but I do not know if the leadership has transmitted it to the Appropriation Committee.

“If they did, the Appropriation Committee did not call us for any meeting. We are supposed to meet to find the source of funding for the election.

“Also, the Police Affairs Committee has not met to deliberate on the Police budget for the election and I suppose other committees on security have not met in that regard as well, ‘’ he said.

Gumel further expressed concern over observations made by Mr President while withholding assent to the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2018, particularly drafting errors.

He said it had become imperative for the leadership of the national assembly to meet with the management to find lasting solution to the problem, adding that it had become recurrent.

He said the matter should be taken seriously as any alteration in the intention of a bill, would lead to misinterpretation when signed into law.

“Those in the drafting unit should be careful to avoid return of bills sent to the President for assent.

“I think it is now pertinent to proof read any bill drafted by the national assembly management to avoid these problems,’’ he said.

On reported crisis in the APC, the lawmaker said recent developments in the party were only synonymous with activities in an election year.

He debunked claims that the party was in disarray, saying “there is no crisis in APC.”

Gumel added that claims of disagreement on the mode of election were not problems, stressing that the party leadership had given states the permission to choose modes that were most suitable to them.

He said that the APC National Executive Council (NEC) agreed to leave it open to various states to choose the mode they prefer.

“A state like Kano state decided to go for direct primaries, while most of the states, including Jigawa rooted for indirect primaries, while a state like Kebbi decided to go for consensus candidates’’.

Gumel expressed optimism that APC would return to power in 2019.(NAN)
CJM/GOM/AFA
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Edited by Gregory Mmaduakolam/Felix Ajide

Olomu stool: Bamigboye heads 30-man Coronation committee

Committee
Omu-Aran (Kwara), Sept. 16, 2018 (NAN) The Omu-Aran community in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara, has inaugurated a committee to organise a befitting installation for Olomu-elect, Oba Abdulraheem Adeoti.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the 30-man coronation committee is headed by Col. Theophilus Bamgboye (Rtd) former Military Administrator of Bauchi and Osun States and has Mr Jide Oyinloye as Secretary.

Adeoti, with his entourage, had on Saturday, Sept. 15 stormed the community from Ilorin, to commence the seven-day traditional seclusion prior to his installation scheduled for Sept. 22.

The development followed his recent approval by the state government being the kingmakers’ nominee to occupy the vacant traditional stool.

Adeoti emergence followed the demise of the last Olomu, Oba Charles Oladele Ibitoye, who joined his ancestors on November 30, 2017, after brief illness.

Mr Muyiwa Oladipo, Chairman of Irepodun Local Government Council, while inaugurating the committee on Sunday in Omu-Aran, urged the members to live up to expectation.

Oladipo stressed the need for members to put in their best and come up with a coronation befitting the status of Adeoti as a first class monarch.

“This committee has been put in place to give the community an auspicious and memorable coronation to depict maximum love and respect in line with our tradition,” the chairman added.

Bamgboye, in his remark, thanked the community leaders for the opportunity given to the committee members in contributing their quota to the upcoming historical event.

Chief Jide Adebayo, Eesa of Omu-Aran and representative of the Olomu-in-council, on his part, expressed the support of the council to the committee in order to achieve the desired objective.

He described the committee members as people of proven quality, competency, integrity and transparency.

Also contributing, Chief Bisi Adeyemi, President, Omu-Aran Development Association (ODA), expressed the association’s optimism in the ability of the committee to deliver as planned.

Meanwhile, the Olasankale descendants in Omu-Aran, has commended the state government over the approval given to the family’s candidate, Adeoti as the new Olomu of Omu-Aran.

The family, in a statement in Omu-Aran signed by its spokesperson, Alhaji Azeez Olawuyi, described the government’s gesture as “unprecedented and heartwarming”.

NAN reports that Olasankale descendant is a component of Ijoko/Olasankale ruling house where Adeoti hails from.

The statement particularly commended the role played by Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara, the kingmakers, the Olomu-In-Council, Omu-Aran Development Association (ODA) and other stakeholders in making the approval a reality.

The descendants, who expressed confidence in the ability of the new monarch in piloting the affairs of the community successfully, also prayed that his reign would witness peace, unity, development and tranquility. (NAN)
ISHO/ESAN/AFA
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Edited by Abiodun Esan/Felix Ajide

2019: Time for N/Central zone to produce president, says Saraki

Saraki

Jos, Sept. 16, 2018 (NAN) Dr Bukola Saraki, President of the Senate and presidential aspirant on the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) platform, says the North Central deserves a chance come 2019.

Saraki made the statement while addressing party faithful and supporters in Jos on Sunday.

He said that the North Central had worked hard for the country and had remained loyal in spite of the seeming division in the country.

“This is our time in the North Central; this is our chance.

1. “We have worked hard for this country; we have laboured so much even with so much division we remain united and loyal.

“I believe that all of us in the North Central are one family.

“The people of Plateau are lucky; they have two presidential aspirants, myself and Baba Jang.

“I call Plateau my home state because I believe that everything that affects one member of a family affects the other,” he said.

The aspirant said that it was time to change the narrative in the country and have a government that would include everybody.

Saraki added that if elected as president, he would ensure that criminals who kill people in the villages in Plateau and all over the country were brought to book.

He said Nigeria needed youths to take over the mantle of leadership as they remained the only hope Nigeria had to be led in the right direction.

“Plateau people have gone through so much; so many lives have been lost.

“With your support if I become president, this will not happen again.

“I will fight day and night to protect everyone and ensure that any criminal that commits a crime is made to face justice.

“We need someone who can stand for the masses and not be intimidated because he is standing for what is right, that person is Bukola Saraki,” he said.

Saraki urged the delegates in Plateau to vote for him during the primary elections, promising to give them a Nigeria that they would all be proud of.

Responding, the state chairman of the party, Mr Damishi Tango, praised Saraki for being bold and courageous in spite of the challenges he was facing as president of the senate.

Sango also lauded the aspirant for his courage in defecting from the APC, sayng that the party in the state would support him in his desire to become the number one citizen of the country. (NAN)

ADY/DOR/YEE

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Edited by Nyisom Dore/Emmanuel Yashim

Amaechi
By Taiye Elebiyo-Edeni
Abuja, Sept.16, 2018(NAN) The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi on Sunday restated the ministry’s commitment to host the 16th edition of the National Council on Transportation (NCT) before the end of 2018.

Amaechi gave this assurance at a news conference in Abuja.

News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) recalled that the 15th edition of the NCT conference was held in August 2017 in Sokoto, with this year edition slated for Bayelsa.

The annual conference, is a policy making council, where all transport stakeholders come together to deliberate on policies that will move the sector forward and also monitor the implementation of previous policies.

Speaking on the delay of this year NCT, the minister said that the ministry awaits the response from the hosting state Bayelsa,

According to him, another state may be approached as a bailout to avoid last minute disappointment.

“The committee should also get a standby state this period as bailout, in case Bayelsa Government is not able to host us; I don’t want us to miss this conference because it’s a yearly thing.

“ If Bayelsa State does not have the money to host us, another state should be able to host us,” Amaechi said.

Earlier, The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Sabiu Zakari, said that a committee has been set up to commence preparations for the upcoming conference.

Zakari, who was represented by the Director of Finance of the Ministry, Mr John Edeigbe, said that letter had been sent to the Bayelsa state government, adding that the committee is waiting for response from the state.

“As soon as the response is received, the date will be confirmed and the event will commence.

“We hope to host the event this year and the committee is working hard toward achieving that aim,” he said.(NAN)
TY/AFA
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Edited by Felix Ajide

Stroke: Physiotherapist recommends constant therapy to avoid further deformity

By Talatu Maiwada

Stroke

Abuja, Sept. 16, 2018(NAN) Mrs Oladunni Ladipo, an Abuja-based physiotherapist, on Sunday advised stroke patients to ensure constant physiotherapy and rehabilitation to prevent further deformity of the body.

Ladipo gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

She described stroke as a condition where partial or full paralysis of a person’s body occurred due to lack of blood supply to the brain.

She said that the rehabilitation involved physical activities that would get patients back to normalcy after a stroke.

Ladipo said that rehabilitation should start immediately a person suffered a stroke depending on the blood pressure of the patient.

“Passive exercise should be done continually to remind the brain to send signals to the paralysed part of the body.

“The need for such therapies cannot be over emphasised because patients unconsciously move their body while the paralysed part of the body develops muscle atrophy and weakens.

“The body works on a principle of use it or lose it and muscle atrophy is the wasting away of muscle due to misuse.

“The patient should be positioned properly on the bed to avoid deformities depending on how bad the stroke is, while the blood pressure is stabilised to avoid reoccurrence.

“The recovery normally comes gradually, but the physiotherapist is needed to help preserve the muscles in order to get the best recovery, ” she said.

Ladipo said that a physiotherapist should teach patients proper breathing patterns “while the limbs, ribs, shoulders and fingers are massaged and exercised using passive movements on both the affected and unaffected parts”.

She said certain positions should be encouraged as careless positioning of a person who had  had stroke might lead to further deformity.

She explained that the patient’s hands should be placed behind the head and carefully positioned and supported with pillows, especially around their shoulders.

Ladipo said that caregivers and family members should be taught some level of physiotherapy to handle patients appropriately.

She advised patients to join group treatment and support groups as such groups would help them psychologically and encourage them in their recovery process.

The physiotherapist said that patients could further consult the services of a psychologist to help manage their emotional setback, how best to stay strong and live positively again. (NAN)

TIM/DOR/TÁ
Edited by Nyisom Dore/Tajudeen Atitebi