Blog

Defection

By Bolaji Buhari

Lagos, Sept.15, 2018 (NAN) A former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Mr Moshood Salvador, on Saturday formally joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), promising to help his new party to multiply its votes in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ex-PDP chairman had on Aug. 27 announced his exit from the PDP following what he called irreconcilable differences with some elders of the party.

At an elaborate ceremony at the Agege Stadium, Salvador and many other defectors officially joined the APC.

Some of those who joined with him are Mr Gbenga Oshinowo, a former senatorial aspirant of the PDP; Mr Idowu Adesanya, a former member of the PDP Elders caucus in the state;  and Mrs Margaret Igwe, a former national officer of the PDP.

They were received by the state Chairman of APC , Alhaji Tunde Balogun and other members of the party executive.

Salvador, addressing a crowd of APC party faithful at the event, said his joining the APC meant that the state had become a one-party state.

He said he was excited to be back in the fold of the progressives he was once belonged to.

“I thank you so much for receiving us with this glamorous celebration.

” Lagos State is now a one-party state. When we add the votes of APC and PDP in the 2015 elections, it will give us 98.08 per cent while the remaining other parties got 0.1 per cent.

“They are insignificant when we talk of political parties in Lagos State.

“The only two existing and dominant parties in Lagos State are the APC and PDP.

“Now that PDP has transformed into the progressives family, there’s no other party in Lagos.

“My responsibility, aim, goal and target in Lagos State is for APC to have 99.5 per cent votes in Lagos,” he said.

Salvador said the APC would score between 2.5 million and 3 million votes for its gubernatorial candidate and above five million for its presidential candidate in Lagos State.

” Write it down, it is is a target; it is an assignment and we are ready to work towards it and achieve it.

“That will be my contribution to support my able Chairman, Alhaji Tunde Balogun.

“I will do all humanly possible to achieve this goal so that APC will have 99 per cent of all the votes cast in Lagos State,” he said.

Salvador urged his supporters to throw away their PDP cards and register with APC across wards and local government areas in the state.

He also appealed to the people of Osun to vote for the APC candidate in the Sept. 22 governorship election to continue to enjoy the dividends of democracy.

Earlier, Balogun said the APC was glad to have Salvador and his teeming supporters in its fold.

He said the defection of the ex-PDP chairman into the party showed that the APC was the party to beat, and that PDP had been completely depleted.

Balogun described Salvador as an accomplished politician who would add value to the APC.

In his remarks, a chieftain of the party in the state, Sen. Anthony Adefuye, expressed delight that APC was waxing stronger both at the state and federal levels.

He said with the momentum the ruling party was gathering by the day, he had no doubt that the APC would surpass PDP”s 16year rule to govern the country for 32 years.

Adefuye commended Salvador for making the decision to join the APC, saying the PDP had been buried with his defection.

“Hon. Salvador in Lagos is the backbone of PDP. What we are doing today is the wake of PDP and by tomorrow, we will bury the party.

“The party is dead and buried in Lagos State,” Adefuye said.

The chieftain also expressed the confidence that the APC would win the Sept. 22 Osun gubernatorial election.

He urged party members to redouble their dedication to the party to take it to greater heights.

The high point of the ceremony was the open shredding of PDP membership cards by the defectors.(NAN)
AYO/BHB/SOA

Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

Youths hold rally to support Saraki’s presidential ambition in llorin

By AbdulFatai Beki
Rally
Ilorin, Sept 15, 2018 (NAN) Thousands of Youths from various associations and groups on Saturday embarked on a rally in support of presidential ambition of the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki in Ilorin, Kwara capital.

The News Agency of Nigeria NAN reports that the rally was led by Olarewaju Oba, an aspirant into House of Representatives for llorin/Asa Federal Constituency, under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The Youths, who ignored the scorching sun, were chanting in favour of Bukola Saraki presidential ambition.

They went through major streets in the state capital and ended at the palace of the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari.

The organiser of the rally, Olabrewaju Oba while addressing newsmen during the rally said the youths in the state embarked on the rally in support of Saraki’s ambition in view of his contribution to the passage of ‘not too young to run bill’.

The House of Rep. aspirant expressed optimism that Saraki will further contribute to the development of youths and nation when he becomes Nigeria’s President.

“The rally was a testimony that youths in the North Central and Kwara are in full support of presidential ambition of the Senate President,” he said.

Oba advised the Nigerian Youths to always utilise available opportunities to be self employed instead of looking for ways of getting rich quick or engaging in drug and violence.

The aspirant promised to further improve the economic fortune of rural women if voted to represent the people at the National Assembly member. (NAN)
BEKl/AFA
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Edited by Felix Ajide

Bridge
Kirikasamma (Jigawa), Sept. 15, 2018 (NAN) The Kirikasamma Local Government Council in Jigawa has commenced erection of a sandbag embankment at Marawaji Bridge to save it from imminent collapse.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bridge, which connects 20 other communities, is being threatened by flood.

Speaking at the project site on Saturday at Kirikassama, the council’s Chairman, Alhaji Salisu Kubayo, said the council had acquired an excavator, a tipper and over 2000 sacks for the project.

“The release of water from Tiga Dam means that disaster will soon befall us if we do not take urgent measures to prevent this bridge from collapse.

“Due to the high volume of water, it washed away the surface leading to the two entrances to the bridge, making movements of people and vehicles almost impossible.

“We are now building a sandbag embankment to stop the water from going out of its way to destroy the bridge,” he said.

Kubayo, who personally took part in the manual labour, distributed over 1000 sacks to Community Based Organizations (CBO’s) for the construction of river embankments in their various localities.

He advised them to avoid being ravaged by flood like the neighboring communities and urged them to use the sacks for the purpose they were meant.

“Do not divert them for personal use, if you use these sacks judiciously, you will save lives and property in over 30 communities currently at risk of being destroyed by flood in Kirikasamma,” he appealed.

The chairman also advised farmers in the council to ensure that crops ready for harvest were harvested and moved to their homes immediately in order to avoid damages. (NAN)
NB/PD/MNA
Edited by Philip Dzeremo/Maureen Atuonwu

Policy

Kano, Sept. 15, 2018 (NAN) The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called for effective implementation of nutrition policy to address malnutrition confronting the country.

The Deputy Representative, UNICEF Nigeria, Pernille Ironside made the call at the National Council on Nutrition (NCN) Sub-Committee Meeting on Nutrition Awareness on Saturday in Kano.

She stressed the need for the state and federal governments to invest in nutrition through adequate funding and prompt release of funds allocated to the sector.

“The reason why Nigeria should invest in nutrition is that early nutrition programmes increase school completion.

“We must invest in nutrition because malnutrition is hampering survival and development of children,” Ironside said.

The deputy rep noted that Kano, Katsina and Bauchi States were among the nine states that contributed to stunted children in Nigeria and called for stringent measures to check the ugly trend.

She lamented that only 156 out of the 774 local government areas in the country were implementing extensive nutrition programme which is 20 per cent of the total number of the LGAs.

According to her, of the 12 million stunted children in the country, Kano State had 1.4 million children.

In her opening remarks, the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed stressed the importance of the interactive meeting.

The minister urged the stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of nutrition policy in their respective states so as to achieve the desired objective.

Earlier in his remarks, the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II said the meeting was aimed to highlight the nutrition situation in the country with a view to finding a lasting solution to the problem.

He said the meeting would also give stakeholders the opportunity to discuss possible ways of addressing the nutrition crisis in the country.

NAN reports that the meeting which was attended by various stakeholders including representatives of the Ministries of Health, Budget and National Planning was held at the Emir’s Palace. (NAN)
MTM/MNA
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Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

Assistance
By Muhammad Nasir Bello
Sokoto Sept. 15, 2018 (NAN) The Sokoto State Zakkat and Endowment Commission, on Saturday disbursed medical assistance worth N7.4 million to various hospitals and pharmaceutical shops committee across the state.

The Commission’s Chairman, Malam Lawal Maidoki, said that the assistance was part of the state government’s monthly support to the commission to assist the less-privileged in the society.

“Every month the state government support the commission with N31.5 million to assist the needy in the area of medical, shelter, food and disaster, among others to improve their living standard.

“Therefore, as usual, we are disbursing N7.4 million to our various partners, hospitals and pharmaceutical shops to assist the needy who cannot afford medication,” he said.

The Chairman further restated the state government commitment toward ensuring quality healthcare delivery for the needy in the state.

“Such has since yielded positive results as some individuals have also engaged our various hospitals’ committees in assisting some patients, who cannot afford medication.”

He commended members of the various hospitals and pharmaceutical shops’ committee for their perseverance and selfless service to the Commission.

Maidoki called on people to make the best use of the opportunity and wealthy persons to support such effort in ensuring a better life for the needy in the state.

The benefitting hospitals include; Kware Psychiatric Hospital, Usman Danfodio University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) and Specialist Hospital, Sokoto.

Others are, Wamakko Orthopaedic Hospital, Maryam Abacha Hospital, Iman Hospital, Binji Pharmacy, Zumunci Pharmacy, Rauda Pharmacy and Maigobir Pharmacy, among others. (NAN)
BMN/ASS/AFA
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Edited by Felix Ajide

Rejection

Benin, Sept. 15, 2018 (NAN) The Chairman of Estako Central Local Government Area of Edo, Mr John Akhigbe, has rejected the health centre renovated by the state government at Ugbekpe-Ekperi.

Akhigbe, who stated this while fielding questions from newsmen in Benin on Saturday, alleged that the contractor did shoddy jobs.

He said he asked officials of the state government not to supply any equipment or furniture to the health center until the contractor did a proper job.

According to him, the health center is one of the 20 health centers being renovated by the Edo Government across the state as a pilot project on the new face of primary health care delivery in the state.

Akhigbe said that what the contractor did was different from what the state government proposed to build.

“I will not accept that job in my local government. We were told it was going to be a standard cottage hospital but the contractor is merely repainting the walls.

“No toilets in the labor room. How could you take a woman in labor outside to urinate?

“I have told them not to bring equipment to that place until the contractor do the right thing,” the chairman said. (NAN)
ESI/FNO/MNA

Edited by Franca Ofili/Maureen Atuonwu

Rustling

Minna Sept. 15, 2018 (NAN) The Director General of Nomadic Affairs, Alhaji Abdullahi Babayo says that the agency has recovered 6,622 cattle in 14 months.

Babayo made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Saturday.

He said that most of the cattle recovered were not the specie of cattle in Niger saying that the rustlers usually took advantage of states that had borders with the state.

“The major problem we are having is that our borders are encroached by cattle rustlers who enter our state.

“The claimers of the rustled cattle usually come from Kebbi, Zamfara and Sokoto to claim their cattle,” he said.

Babayo said that 80 per cent of the cattle recovered were from Kebbi, Zamfara and Sokoto saying that the specie of cattle was different from what they had in Niger.

The director general advocated for states bordering Niger to have nomadic affairs agency to enable them address issues of cattle rustling.

“If other northern states will have this office, I think we will be able to collaborate to tackle the menace of cattle rustlers.

“If Kebbi, Zamfara and Sokoto will create nomadic office, I can assure that rustling will be radically reduced and there will be less pressure on us,” he said.

Babayo said that the agency was working round the clock to see that rustling were brought to the barest minimum especially in the Ember month. (NAN)

MNO/FNO/MNA

Edited by Franca Ofili/Maureen Atuonwu

Commission
Shendam(Jos), Sept 15, 2018 (NAN) Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau on Saturday inaugurated two renovated science Laboratories, technical workshop and 15 other projects at the Government Secondary School, Shendam, his Alma mater.

Speaking at the event, Lalong said that his government placed high premium on education, which was why it released N4 billion as counterpart funding to the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) .

He said the renovation was part of his administration’s efforts in addressing infrastructural decay in public schools and to create conducive learning and teaching environment in the state.

“We have released counterpart funds to the tune of N4 billion to enable SUBEB access interventions from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), for infrastructural development.

“We have promoted more than 15,000 teachers to motivate them to discharge their duties diligently and we ensured the full accreditation of 20 courses at the State University, Bokkos,” he said.

Lalong said over N11 billion had been earmarked for education in the 2018 budget which would be used to renovate 15 schools across the three senatorial zones of the State.

He urged individuals and the private sector to partner government in improving the standard of education in the state.

In his remarks, Prof. Mathew Sule, the Executive Chairman of SUBEB, said education remained crucial in ensuring sustainable development in any society.

“We are here to commission four motorized boreholes with overhead tanks, a renovated block of Library, four blocks of classrooms and dining hall amongst others.

“This is a pilot scheme and same will be replicated in the Central and Northern senatorial zones of the state,” he said.

He said the SUBEB in the last three years renovated and constructed 824 classrooms, distributed more than 34, 000 plastic chairs to schools across the state as well as other learning materials .

Sule said school enrollment in the state had significantly increased by 0.53 per cent and had bridged the gender gap hitherto existing.

Earlier, Mrs Mary Yilzem, the principal of the school commended government for facilitating the donation of 40 computers to the school by an international organisation, adding that they would improve the learning capacity of both students and teachers .

Yilzem also lauded government for approving the recent employment of 4,850 ad hoc teachers in the state.

She assured government that the school authority would ensure that all the renovated structures were adequately maintained.

The principal, however, said the school was still in need of a bus, clinic and beddings among others. (NAN)
MAA/AZA/MNA
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Edited by Polycarp Auta/Maureen Atuonwu

Flood

Agenebode (Edo), Sept. 15, 2018 (NAN) No fewer than 35 communities in Etsako East and Etsako Central Local Government Areas of Edo have been sacked by flood, occasioned by unending rains and overflow of the River Niger.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report that the flood which displaced over 30,000 people, also damaged hundreds of hectares of farmland across the two council areas.

NAN reports that mostly affected by the flood are communities such as Udaba, Anegbette, Usomegbe, Uduchiz among others, all in Etsako Central Local Government.

Similarly, the flood also sacked the entire six Uneme clans in South East Uneme, Okpekpe, among others, in Etsako East Council area.

The Etsako East council boss, Mr Aremiyau Momoh and his counterpart in Etsako Central, Mr John Akhigbe, said the disaster had gone beyond the purview of the council areas.

They called for urgent intervention from both the State and the Federal Governments.

The duo said camps for the Internally Displaced Persons had been placed in strategic locations across the council areas.

Akhigbe said aside the Resettlement Camp built aftermath of a similar disaster in 2012; about five other camps are being prepared for the victims.

Similarly, Momoh said six camps had been opened in Etsako East for the same purpose.

“We have tried our best as far as the councils are concerned, we are hoping and appealing to the Federal Government to urgently intervene on this matter,” he said.

In his remarks, the clan Head of Uzanu, South East Uneme in Estako East local government, Benjamin Ikani, also cried out over the sacking of six communities in his domain by flood.

The Monarch said more than 1,700 persons from the six communities are now displaced looking for where to stay.

Ikani listed communities affected by the flood to include Uneme-Ekwuekpele, Uneme-Ogwoyo, Uneme-Ukpeku, Uneme-Ogbethaya, Uneme-Yeluwa and Uneme-Unubu.

He said he relocated some widows, old women and children to Uzanu community to enable the children go to school.

He said the displaced persons had been moved to higher ground at Uneme-Yeluwa waiting for interventions from the state.

Ikani said he has reported the matter to the relevant authorities but was yet to get any help.

He expressed worry over stranded pregnant women that could no longer get access to ante-natal care.

“The flood started last week. You can see the women and children in my palace. Nobody died in the flood but my people need help.

“The most pathetic situation is the pregnant women because of lack of health care, food stuff, medicine. The people can no longer harvest their crops.

“I brought 18 persons because all of them have left their villages to stay at Uneme-Yeluwa.” (NAN)
ESI/MNA

Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

Electricity
Benin, Sept. 15, 2018 (NAN) No fewer than 444 communities, spread across the 18 Local Government Areas of Edo are without electricity, Mr Yekini Idaiye, the State Commissioner for Energy and Water Resources says.
Idaye made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Benin on Saturday.
He said from the figure, 157 communities were yet to be connected to the national grid.
The commissioner explained that about 32 of the communities were disconnected by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), while 145 communities had faulty transformers.
Idaiye, in addition, said another 110 communities required network rehabilitation.
While expressing the government commitment to ensure every communities in the state is electrified, he stated that Orhionmwon, Uhunmwode and Ovia North East council areas, as the worst hit.
“Indeed, the government is very much worried with this development and has taken a position by setting up “Ward Development Committees” whose mandate is to identify the problem being faced by the communities.
“The committee which is made up of 10 persons per ward also has the mandate of identifying the priority needs of a particular community or ward.
Idaiye said members of the ward committees were drawn from the traditional and religious leaders as well as politicians.
“As you may have rightly guessed, electricity which happens to be one of the priority needs, is been accorded a priority by the state government,” he said.
Idaiye noted that the challenges are age-long and regretted that the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), have failed to be alive to its responsibility in ensuring an effective power supply.
According to him, the BEDC is not helping matter, it is their statutory responsibility to provide electricity and they are not meeting up with this responsibility.
“We have met severally on this issue, yet they are not forthcoming, he said.
In a swift reaction, the BEDC denied ever disconnecting any community in the state and expressed doubt that over 440 communities were without electricity in Edo.
The Company’s Chief State Head, Mr Fidelis Obishai, told NAN that issues of decaying infrastructure are age-long and was inherited by the utility company.
He stated that the BEDC which had since taken over the asset and liability of the defunct PHCN in November 2013, had carried out, and still carrying out, network rehabilitation as well as changed no fewer than 150 transformers in Edo alone.
“To start with, I do not quite agree with the number of communities, the question is, how many communities do you have in Edo that you will have such a figure without electricity?
“On this issue of disconnecting some communities and those with faulty transformers, we do not just go about disconnecting people or communities, rather, they naturally disconnect themselves.
“BEDC is a business entity and a situation where you are owing and you refuse to pay, when you have issue and you come to us we ask you to pay and if you still refuse, we don’t attend to such problems.
“Look at the case of Okpella, where they are refusing to pay and still beating up our staff. What we did was that we simply withdrew our services by not attending to faults from such area, and not disconnection as alleged.
“Since we took over the utility, BEDC has invested a lot to improve on the infrastructure we met on ground, it is an ongoing thing.” he stated. (NAN)
ESI/ASS/MNA
Edited by Maureen Atuonwu