The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Youths urged to be courageous

    YOUTHS have been admonished to emulate the courage and abiding faith in God as demonstrated by a member of the House of Representatives from the Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency of Ondo State, Tajudeen Adeyemi Adefisoye.

    Making the advice, a media consultant, Mr. Wale Adegoroye, reminded youths that with determination, they could achieve unbelievable feats.

    In a tribute to the lawmaker, who is the Vice-Chairman of the House Committee on Army, Adegoroye noted that nobody gave the 35-year-old Adefisoye any chance in the last National Assembly election, when he contested under the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

    According to him, Adegoroye pursued his political ambition on the platform of the relatively-unpopular SPD, only to become a political giant-killer in the election.

    Read Also: Experts urge youths to ensure integrity in business

    He expressed the confidence that the lawmaker would justify the confidence reposed in him by the constituents in the provision of quality representation to Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency.

    The lawmaker has drawn up plans to impact the lives of the constituents.

    “Apart from his plans to touch the lives of his constituents in the areas of primary health, education, sports and provision of potable water; he is also set to roll out a Community Grant scheme’ anytime from now,” Adegoroye said.

    The programme, he explained, has been designed to give quarterly grants to selected market women and artisans in the federal constituency.

    He noted that the courage exhibited by the lawmaker had shown that youths could create a space for themselves on the political space, reminding them that the elders would not yield the space to them unless they fight for it.

  • 831,000 patients attended AKTH in one year, says report

    ABOUT 831,797 patients were attended to by the clinical services areas of the 536-bed Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) Kano in one year, according to the hospital management’s annual report.

    A statement from the Press Unit of the teaching hospital indicated that the patients came from Kano State and neighbouring states.

    The hospital also gave admission to 14,132 patients, of which 12,456 were discharged.

    No fewer than 3,176 babies, comprising 73 twins, three sets of triplet and 156 still births were delivered during the period.

    An analysis of the report, which covered the 2015/2016 period, shows that the General-Out-Patient Department (GOPD) recorded 276,680 patients, with 147,132 patients attending consulting clinics.

    A total of 102,810 patients were recorded in card rooms and 26,738 patients were treated for various injuries and illnesses in the Accident and Emergency section of the hospital.

  • 10,000 for FUDMA UTME screening today

    NO fewer than 10,000 candidates are expected to participate in the post UTME screening exercise for the 2019 admission into the Federal University, Dutsinma (FUDMA), Katsina State, beginning from today.

    The university’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Habib Matazu, told The Nation yesterday in Katsina during a chat that the exercise, which may last one month, will be carried out in batches, as provided in the notification slips already issued to candidates

    Expressing delight at the increasing number of students who are either choosing FUDMA as their first choice or changing their choices in favour of the university, he assured that the process of screening shall remain transparent in line with the anti-corruption crusade embarked upon by the institution

    Read Also: OAU post UTME to hold from August 31

    The Acting Vice-chancellor of the University, Professor Adamu N. Baba-Kutigi, has advised the students and the staff of the institution to embrace the anti-corruption campaign of President Muhammad Buhari’s administration to move the country to the next level.

    The VC, who made the call during the inauguration of the varsity’s ant-corruption and transparency unit, ACTU, said stakeholders in the higher institutions have a huge role to play in ensuring accountability and transparency as well as promoting a new generation of honest and reliable leaders of tomorrow.

  • Don’t abort Buhari’s vision, cleric tells minister-designates

    Founder of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Adamimogo outreach, Prophet Sam Olu Alo has admonished minister-designates to work to achieve President Muhammadu Buhari’s vision for the country.

    The cleric, who spoke in Erio Ekiti, said the president can only succeed if the ministers work in tandem with his vision.

    According to him, the country needs those with uncommon vision to be able to transform the country in all facets. He reminded the designates that their actions and inactions could abort Buhari’s vision and so urged them to be wary of their actions so that the government can operate on the same wavelength.

    Read Also: #RevolutionNow: ‘Protest planned to destabilize Buhari’s government’

    He said: “President Buhari has good plans for Nigeria but those working with him, members of his cabinet, legislature and judiciary, must give him necessary supports to realise the vision and deliver on his electioneering promises to Nigeria.

    “The President’s first term was a bit difficult due to the fact that there was no too good relationship with other two arms of government but he still tried his best. It should not be so this time around.”

    The cleric added that his ministry is organising a programme, tagged “Deliverance from Family Battle” Night of Vengeance, where prayers will be offered for the country and its people.

    The all night programme holds on Friday at Ijokodo area, opposite Gbaremu market, Ibadan, Oyo State.

  • Four permanent secretaries in ‘age forgery scandal’ in Niger

    FOUR Permanent Secretaries in the Niger State Civil Service are allegedly involved in an age falsification scandal, it was learnt yesterday.

    The permanent secretaries allegedly falsified their ages to enable them stay beyond the mandatory 60 years in the civil service.

    Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello had been forced to set up a committee to look into the matter to punish those involved.

    Preliminary investigation by the committee revealed that the permanent secretaries and some senior directors in the state civil service were involved in the scandal.

    A source, who craved anonymity, said it was discovered that the affected people changed their dates of births to enable them remain in the civil service beyond the mandatory period.

    The source said two of the permanent secretaries have been asked to leave the civil service when evidence showed that they doctored their ages.

    Read Also: Polaris Bank takes financial inclusion to Niger State

    The Nation learnt that one of the affected permanent secretaries had sued the state government before the National Industrial Court, challenging his “premature retirement from service”.

    The other civil servant involved is said to be in the process of convincing the government and committee that the civil service had given him a notification to remain in service up till next year.

    The source said going by the age in his birth certificate, the affected permanent secretary ought to have retired in 2018.

    “In 1990, when he joined the state civil service, he quoted in his declaration of age that he was born on September 22, 1958, and this is what is contained in his first appointment letter, meaning that he should have left the service last year, 2018 after attaining 60 years of age.

    “But surprisingly, he submitted another statutory declaration of age in 2010, where he claimed that he was born on October 15, 1963, meaning that he has five more years to spend in service,” the source said.

    However, from the office of the Head of Service and the Civil Service Commission, it was gathered that the notification claimed by one of the embattled permanent secretaries was fraudulently obtained. “There is no law in the civil service backing that one’s date of birth can be altered after 20 years in service,” a civil servant said.

    Efforts to reach the Head of Service, Hajiya Salamatu Abubakar, were futile as she was said to be attending a course at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies in Kuru, Jos Plateau State.

    However, the immediate past Head of Service, Alhaji Yabagi Sule, confirmed to The Nation that two permanent secretaries have been asked to leave the service after an investigation showed that they had overstayed in the service through falsification of their ages.

    Sule also confirmed that the notification being claimed by the third permanent secretary was suspected to be wrongfully gotten since the affected permanent secretary did not pass his application through the office of the Head of Service, which is supposed to be informed of such step, if it were to be taken.

    The lower cadre of the civil service is not taking the matter lying low as it was learnt that series of petitions have been written along with various calls for investigations.

  • ‘Kwara understudying TraderMoni to fight poverty’

    KWARA state Government is understudying the TraderMoni programme of the Federal Government to extend soft loans to traders and reduce mass poverty in the state.

    Spokesman to the Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Rafiu Ajakaye, said in a statement that on Friday, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq visited the Abuja headquarters of the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), the implementers of the TraderMoni initiative, with a view to replicate same in Kwara.

    GEEP, which is supervised by the Bank of Industry, is one of the four sub-programmes of the National Social Investment Office (NSIO).

    Read Also: Is Cuba the Size of Kwara state?

    The statement said the visit was for AbdulRazaq to discuss partnership with GEEP handlers on how Kwarans can further access the micro loans and lift thousands of people out of poverty.

    Accompanied by the former special adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on social investments, Mrs. Maryam Uwais, the governor listened to details of the initiative, including the challenge of implementing it in Kwara and how it could help fight poverty, the statement added.

    “After learning the back-end processes involved, we are looking at the possibility of starting the Kwara version of TraderMoni later this year after appropriate legislation and budgetary provisions,” the statement added.

    The visit came two days after AbdulRazaq visited the headquarters of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency to seek partnership on how to revive the state’s comatose health sector.

  • Ortom seeks unity among Benue indigenes in U.S.

    BENUE State Governor Samuel Ortom has urged indigenes of the state living in America to create a United Benue Forum, where they can harness ideas to support their home state.

    Ortom spoke while addressing the 2019 Convention of Idoma Association in America in New York.

    He said the forum would enable the various groups to brainstorm on ways to benefit themselves better as well as their home state.

    The governor said he had made a similar call during the Mutual Union of Tiv in America (MUTA) Convention a day earlier in Maryland and deemed it necessary to also raise the issue at the Idoma event.

    He hailed Idoma indigenes in the United States for the unity and cooperation they had exhibited over the years, urging them to continue to be good ambassadors of Nigeria.

    A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ortom Terver Akase, quoted the Ortom as saying there was the need for global efforts in tackling the current security challenge in Nigeria.

    He restated the determination of his administration to guarantee the safety of Benue people through constant support to security agencies.

    Read Also: Court dismisses Ortom, PDP, INEC appeals against APC

    The governor also assured delegates to the convention that the achievements recorded in education, agriculture, health and infrastructure in the state would be sustained.

    In a paper presentation, the Senator representing Benue South, Senator Abba Moro, described the security situation in Nigeria as disturbing, stating that urgent measures were needed to end the spate of violence in parts of the country.

    Moro gave assurance that the 9th National Assembly would make laws to ensure the security and general welfare of Nigerians.

    He called on Idoma people in the diaspora to play a central role in supporting the economic growth of the meddle belt and Benue State.

    President, Idoma Association, USA Mr. Ogbole Abu thanked Ortom and other dignitaries for attending the convention.

    He said the event was organised to address the economic and educational challenges facing its members and their people.

  • Emir of Kano Sanusi gets fourth wife

    THE Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has received his fourth wife – four years after the wedding took place.

    The wife, Sa’adatu Barkindo Mustapha, was brought to the Emir’s palace on Saturday while the traditional Budar Kai ceremony takes place yesterday.

    The Emir’s wife, who is the daughter of the Lamido of Adamawa, Muhammadu Barkindo-Mustafa, had just graduated from a university in the United Kingdom (UK), where she went to study immediately after the marriage.

    Emir Sanusi II and the wife were married in a low-key ceremony in Yola on September 25, 2015.

    Read Also: London varsity honours Emir of Kano, others

    Sa’adatu was an 18-year-old secondary school leaver when the wedding was contracted.

    Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje represented the emir at the event and former Adamawa State Governor Jibrilla Bindow played the role of the bride’s guardian, who gave her hand out in marriage.

    The Emir of Kano was at the time away in Saudi Arabia as leader of Nigeria’s delegation to the Hajj.

    The Emir has three other wives – the first wife, Sadiya, who is daughter of the late Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero; Maryam and Rakiya.

  • Southeast governors, others for Igbo cultural festival in Germany

    Five Southeast governors, former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo John Nnia Nwodo, are among special guests expected at the Second Annual Igbo Cultural Festival and Convention in Nürnberg, Germany.

    A statement by the organisers, Oge Ozofor and Joe-blaise Akanazu, said the event’s theme is: “Reawakening the Igbo Spirit in the 21st century”.

    Nigerian Ambassador to Germany Yusuf Maitama Tuggar is also expected at the festival.

    It will hold on August 17 at the Löwensaal am Tier Garten, Schmausenbruck Str. 166, 90480 Nürnberg, Germany.

    Nigerian Consul-General in Frankfurt Suleiman Dauda Umar, Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu, Chief Executive of Innoson Motors Mr. Innocent Chukwuma, and Eze Akajiofo, Eze Chukwuemeka Eri, are also billed to attend.

    Read Also: Southeast Governors reject MACBAN’s demand for vigilance group

    Others are former Anambra State Governor Chukwuemeka Ezeife, former Inspector-General of Police Mike Okiro, elder statesman Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, among others.

    Igbo sons and daughters who have distinguished themselves will be honoured at the event, the statement added.

    The organisers said it will provide a forum for Ndi-Igbo in Diaspora and other stakeholders to network and consult on issues of economic importance and to engender broader cooperation between the German and Nigerian business communities.

    “The event is part of our initiatives to expedite the integration of Nigerians in Germany into national development, by synchronising the activities of our Diaspora groups with home-based organisations.

    “The event is an opportunity to demonstrate our unity, to showcase the richness of our culture, our resilient and adaptable spirit, our unanimity in identifying with the high standard of our forebears and heroes of past,” the organisers said.

  • Nigeria’s change is work in progress, says Abe

    Senator Magnus Abe has described the process of change in Nigeria’s democracy as work in progress. He called on politicians to return power to the people by creating clear processes that could galvanise and determine the wishes of the people, stressing that persons in power must learn to submit themselves to the will of the people.

    Abe, a former Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG), spoke at the weekend. He noted that the time had come for political parties to adhere to the principles of internal democracy thereby making them work to promote the country’s interests rather than serve the narrow interest of a few leaders.

    According to him, strong institutions would boost political stability and discourage violence, bigotry, and rascality, which according to him, was currently playing out in Nigeria’s political environment.

    Read Also: How Amaechi warned me not to dare to vie for Rivers governorship in 2019 — Senator Magnus Abe

    He said: “The time has come for us to address the issue of Nigeria, the kind of political parties we have and what we should do to make the parties work better to serve the interest, not just of its members, but the interest of the country at large.

    “We need political parties that are truly democratic; that have clear rules of internal democracy; that allows the participation and free expression of will by its members. I am concerned about what we can do to make our systems stronger to avoid the kind of violence being experienced in the country because if you look around not much seems to have changed. The same kind of scenarios that we witnessed in Rivers State and in other states is still on.

    “There are no clear cut, all-inclusive procedures that could allow free expression of will by party members. All Nigerians, not just members of political parties, but all citizens, must be concerned about the direction of party politics.”