The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Condolences without change; House-job!!

    Condolences without change; House-job!!

    By Tony Marinho

    Corrigendum: Pls note that in the last article the word ‘Computer Olympics’ is one word and not two words ‘ComputerOlympics’.

    COVID-19 deaths approaching 2,870,000 among 132,000,000 diagnosed cases and 550m vaccinated worldwide; Nigerian cases approaching 164,000 and 2,060 deaths.

    The death of Yinka Odumakin like too many deaths is a disappointing shock to all who have a successful ‘Nigeria for all’ as a goal. The media waves are overflowing with deserved glowing tributes delivered with lightening speed from political and social figures. All mourning. The president, Nigeria’s sometimes resident chief mourner, has from his medical UK visit, joined. He has sent more mourning messages than any other president, a condolence message almost daily for five+years. Victims keep piling up faster than he can mourn them. It is surprising that he actually knew and worked with late Yinka Odumakin during one of his presidential bids. Of what use is a glowing mourning tribute to his life’s fight against tyranny and for true federalism, devolution of powers, true federal character and fiscal honesty, good governance, if his mourners ignore his words? Nigeria is witnessing an aberration that must not become the norm or we will all be mourned or mourners. We must learn from the dead.

    No amount of condolence or congratulatory messages will save Nigeria. We have to take the messages not from the condolences but from words left by the dead and actualise those words in our country before ages of nation-building crumble to dust creating 50-million trans-border refugees. Nigeria needs changes now before it is thrown over the precipice of despair.  We can no longer pretend things are alright when they are all wrong. Politicians have rejected good governance in favour of those features of the military days which late Yinka Odumakin and others were forced to fight so strenuously against. May God grant Yinka and others dying from whatever cause in Nigeria rest in perfect peace.

    Easter is a time of hope. So the promise ‘Death to Life’ personified by the Risen Lord, resonates at this time of IDPs, farm killings so painfully dismissed as exaggerated when even one was too many, a cold-blooded murder, absolutely provoked. Increasingly in Nigeria children are asking ‘Am I going to die?’ Mr. President, the custodian of security. ‘How many more condolence messages will you write before you win the war against violence in Nigeria?’

    More policemen and a reported policewoman murdered. The supreme price. The country must become more accountable. The states need to do much more to correct their criminal lack of security. A principal had both hands cut off and someone has the insensitivity, the hardness of heart to say such unprovoked vile evil unbridled bloodthirsty violence is exaggerated. I am a doctor and have in my life’s work encountered much human-on-human damage from childhood catapult eye injuries to sports accidents to okada attacks and okada high speed murders and mayhem to police brutality to cult stabbings and beatings to rape and domestic violence and now mindless farm murder, village, town and now city disfigurement by local gangs springing up everywhere. What manner of man is this man? Even the Good Samaritan separating fights often gets injured in an eye causing permanent blindness or gets stabbed in the neck or abdomen. And then there is the mental stress from being inflicted with or living at the time of such violence.

    As a doctor, I must resist the attack and misinformation peddled about the institution of the HOUSE OFFICER in medical hierarchy.  The House Officer cadre is the first employment step on the professional life of a fully qualified doctor who must, by law, complete a one-year House Officer-certified rotation of three months each through four specialities: obstetrics and gynaecology, medicine, surgery and paediatrics before full registration. During the period of one year, the fully qualified doctor is given a provisional licence by the Nigerian Medical and Dental Council, NMDC, to practice under supervision of seniors in the profession. The work period is called a ‘house job’ because it is hard, gruelling, run-around, result chasing, blood-taking, technique perfecting 12-20 hour per day for one year. A House Officer has a clearly defined and vital work-horse work schedule within the medical delivery system. It used to be the prerogative of federal hospitals and state governments, and the few private hospitals registered for that purpose who could take and pay House Officers.

    With typical no forward planning for products of new universities, Nigeria now produces more doctors annually than there are spaces registered to its regulatory body MDCN to take them. Unfairly, the backlog or overflow from say year 2018 was not guaranteed places before the new 2019 batch was employed leaving some without House Jobs for two or three years and unable to become fully registered. The new government system is to unify the registration and place the doctors in that central pool into posts nationwide. Typically government is trying to change the rules of engagement and undermine the already rubbish salary structure due the doctors for the house job. Governments must not undermine internationally instituted professional structures. Worldwide, house job is the first paid job on the lowest step on the employment structure of a medical doctor. Why should a serving minister, also a doctor, say otherwise? Why must politicians ruin every profession, even their own former profession, except politics in Nigeria??

  • Honour well deserved

    Honour well deserved

    Editorial

    Lagos State government last week rewarded at least 14 persons who distinguished themselves in their callings. These included Nollywood actress Lanre Hassan a.k.a Iya Awero, who was given a three-bedroom flat, and 13 teachers who got a brand new car each for outstanding performance.

    Iya Awero got the keys to her new apartment at the newly commissioned Prince Abiodun Ogunleye Housing Estate, Igbogbo, on March 24, for her contributions to the country’s film industry. The 70-year-old thespian expressed appreciation to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for the kind gesture: “I don’t know what to say. I am so short of words. I am so happy today. Thank you so much, my governor, may the Almighty Allah continue to bless you.” She is not done: “Also, deputy, thank you so much. I am so grateful. If anyone shelters you whenever you wake up, all you do is pray for the person. God will keep blessing, helping, and supporting you. This our land will be peaceful, God will fix Nigeria and take the country to greater heights. Once again I thank everyone for this gift.”

    We should understand why Iya Awero is this grateful. For her, the gesture came at the nick of time. It was like the scriptural equivalent of God meeting her at the point of her need. According to reports, Iya Awero was about being evicted from her rented apartment when the governor’s gesture came. So, she had every reason to be thankful to the government that saved her from the humiliation that would have attended such eviction. It is not the kind of experience anyone should wish for one’s enemy, especially at old age. More significantly, people like her who made millions laughed away their sorrows for decades should not be left to their own devices when in actual fact the government or philanthropic individuals could afford to put smile on their faces too at critical junctures of their lives.

    We commend Governor Sanwo-Olu for the swift response to Iya Awero’s plight. As the governor rightly noted, such achievers should not be left to their own devices at such a time when a little kindness was all they need to change their situation, and one of the best ways to demonstrate this is to appreciate and reward them while they are still alive. “We don’t need to celebrate them when they die, we can celebrate them while they are still alive. These are our Nollywood stars that have worked for over 30-40 years and they need to be celebrated. Congratulations ma. Thank you”, the governor said at the occasion.

    Similarly, we commend Governor Sanwo-Olu for the car gifts to the dedicated teachers. In Nigeria, teachers seemed to have had their best times in ages past. Despite the fact that they are largely instrumental to whatever many other persons have become in life, they have been relegated to the background for so long. Unlike in the past when they were appreciated and it was indeed dignifying to be a teacher, many of our youths are no longer interested in the teaching profession because they do not think there is a future there. This explains the dearth of born teachers in the country. Many of those teaching now found themselves there for lack of ‘something better’ to do.

    “Today, I celebrate the remarkable teachers who leave no stone unturned in molding lives, building character and preparing our students for a productive future. In Lagos State, teaching is not a thankless job and this annual Teachers’ Merit Award is a proof that Lagos will always reward excellent, committed, and diligent teachers”, the governor said at the Lagos State Teachers Merit Award 2020, held at Alausa on March 30.

    Governor Sanwo-Olu said virtually all that should be said for teachers at the occasion, including the benefits that the state stands to gain from institutionalising the annual award for the teachers. “We are cognisant of the essential role that teachers play in building a formidable society, which is why we are committed to rewarding exceptional teachers on a regular basis. This is one of the key strategies for the actualisation of the Education and Technology Pillar of our development agenda. We cannot thank our teachers enough for the passion they bring to the job and for inculcating in our children the values they require to excel as global citizens.”

    We can only hope that the teachers would reciprocate the kind gesture by rededicating themselves anew to their chosen profession. As the saying goes, to whom much is given, much is expected. The reward for hard work is more work. This is especially so that the Lagos State government is changing the outmoded narrative of teachers’ reward being in heaven.

    It would be more rewarding if other state governments and even the Federal Government can emulate this gesture by the Lagos State government, in order to have a more global dedicated number of teachers, leading inexorably to building a more formidable country, as education is the bedrock of national development.

  • Buhari mourns as official driver dies

    Buhari mourns as official driver dies

    By Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja

    The official driver of President Muhammadu Buhari, Master Warrant Officer, Sa’idu Afaka, is dead.

    The Nation gathered Afaka died at the State House Clinic on Tuesday after a prolonged illness.

    According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, President Buhari has extended his condolences to the family of the deceased.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari extends heartfelt condolences to the family of Afaka on the passing of Master Warrant Officer, Sa’idu Afaka, his official driver, who died at the State House Clinic on Tuesday after a prolonged illness.

    “President Buhari, who also commiserates with the Government and people of Kaduna State, described the late Afaka as an honest, capable and reliable person who handled his job with utmost care and responsibility.

    “The President recalls that in 2016 the soldier, while on pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, picked up a bag containing a large amount of foreign currencies and turned it over to the National Hajj Commission, an action which earned him praises from the Saudi and Nigerian authorities.

    “President Buhari prays Almighty Allah to ‘‘’bless the soul of the departed with an elevated place in heavens’, committing the family and friends to divine comfort and patience,” the statement reads.

  • COVID-19: Buhari replaces PTF with new committee

    COVID-19: Buhari replaces PTF with new committee

    By Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the transition of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 to Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19.

    This was announced during the task force’s media briefing in Abuja on Tuesday by Chairman of the PTF and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha.

    The transitioning of the body, which has managed the nation’s national response to the outbreak of COVID-19, came over a year after PTF was constituted by the President.

    According to Mustapha, the new structure, which will still be headed by him, will function till the end of 2021.

    He also disclosed among other terms of operation of the PSC, Dr Mukhtar Muhammad, who had functioned as National Incident Manager (NIM) of the PTF, will officially take over the office of the National Coordinator from Dr Sani Aliyu, who has returned to the United Kingdom (UK) to resume his private practice.

  • Fed Govt: we will keep administering AstraZeneca

    Fed Govt: we will keep administering AstraZeneca

    By Moses Emorinken, Abuja

    The Federal Government has reiterated that it will continue the administration of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

    It said evidence has shown that asides from being 76 per cent effective at preventing COVID-19, it also prevents severe disease and hospitalisation.

    Head of Public Relations Unit of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Mohammad Ohitoto, stated these in a statement in Abuja.

    The statement said: “Nigeria is continuing in the process of administering roughly 4 million doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, beginning with our frontline health workers and vulnerable individuals. There has been no change to current plans or supply.

    “A huge number of countries around the world are administering the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, including much of Europe, and the United Kingdom, which have administered the most doses of AstraZeneca globally. The World Health Organisation (WHO), British and European health regulators all continue to advocate for the use of AstraZeneca.

    “AstraZeneca’s strong effectiveness against COVID-19 has been demonstrated in clinical and human trials: it has been shown to be 76 per cent effective at preventing COVID-19 and 100 per cent effective at preventing severe disease and hospitalisation.

    “Nigeria’s health authorities followed closely recent pronouncements from Europe’s regulator, the EMA. The head of the EMA stated that, according to scientific knowledge, there is no evidence to support restricting the use of the vaccine in any population.

    “The NPHCDA’s priority is the health and safety of the Nigerian people, and our decisions and advice are guided by best practice and scientific evidence. We are confident in AstraZeneca’s ability to save lives. Vaccines save lives!”

  • Lawan must swear in Jarigbe as Cross River North Senator

    Lawan must swear in Jarigbe as Cross River North Senator

    By Omang C. Omang

    It is obvious that from the Judgements of the Appeal Court and the Supreme Court, Stephen Odey is no longer the Senator representing Cross River North.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has obeyed the judgement of court and issued a Certificate of Return to Rt. Hon. Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe (MHR), which automatically invalidates the Certificate of Return earlier issued to Odey after the by-election.

    The fact that the apex court has ruled on who was the authentic candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is incontrovertible. The candidate remains Jarigbe, as affirmed by the Supreme Court, which struck out the appeal filed by Stephen Odey, challenging the decision of the Court of Appeal. The appeal was struck out due to a defective Notice of Appeal on the 25th of February, 2021.

    Odey sought to be joined as an interested party to the suit and was joined at the Court of Appeal. He went ahead to appeal the judgement at the Supreme Court. He sought some relief, including his affirmation as the authentic candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the December 5th, 2020 by-election for Cross River North. The appeal was struck out, but Odey now claims he was not part of the suit. This is an attempt to approbate and reprobate.

    The man who took the appeal to the Supreme Court was Stephen Odey and not John Alaga. Alaga was one of the respondents at the Supreme Court. Alaga lost his case at the trial court and the Court of Appeal. The appellant at the Supreme Court was Odey, he lost the case to the respondents. On that note, the subsisting verdict of the Trial and Appeal Courts are affirmed and yet to be upturned. It cannot because the Judgement of the Supreme Court is final and infallible. This truth is incontrovertible.

    It is not the duty of the Senate to explicate court judgements. The Clerk of the National Assembly (CNA) is supposed to verify the Certificate of Return issued by INEC and document the elected Senator, in line with the Certificate of Return (latest in time), for swearing in. Senate President Ahmad Lawan has a duty to act in line with the advice of the CNA, based on the brief and advice of the legal department.

    The Senate President is still being expected to obey the court judgements, and recognize INEC’s compliance and issuance of Certificate of Return to Jarigbe, in compliance with the rule of law. The questions: Why is Senator Lawan yet to act on the judgements and INEC’s action? Why is he dwelling on interpretation of court judgements, when there is a valid and authentic Certificate of Return issued? What is going on in the Senate is an illegality taken too far. Lawan should retrace his steps to avoid bringing the legislature to disrepute.

    The general public should advise Barrister Daniel Bwala, who has been hallucinating on this issue, to accept defeat, instead of prevaricating and coming up with half-truths. These are issues that should have been canvassed in court. At this point, it is too late to cry wolf. Attempting to condemn the judgement of the Supreme Court is wrong.

    The case of Hon. (Mrs) Dorathy Mato V. Hon Iorwase Herman Hembe (2017) is a locus classicus on who the authentic candidate of a party is. Hembe was declared winner by INEC but the Supreme Court gave the victory to Mato, who took over the seat at the House of Representatives in 2015. Both Hembe and Mato were members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the suit was a pre-election matter.

    Jarigbe was declared winner of the PDP primary election, monitored by INEC in line with section 85, 86 and 87 of the electoral act. He campaigned and took part in all stages ahead of the election. The judiciary has proven it is the last hope of our democracy. Jarigbe’s victory has been affirmed by the judgment of the Supreme Court. The citations of Bwala are academic and inconsequential at this point. The Supreme Court is final and infallible.

    Omang, a legal practitioner, writes via Omangcomang@gmail.com

  • FG receives additional 100,000 vaccine doses

    FG receives additional 100,000 vaccine doses

    By Moses Emorinken, Abuja

    The Federal Government has received another 100,000 doses of the Covishield COVID-19 vaccine promised by the Government of India.

    The Covishield vaccine, which is the AstraZeneca vaccine produced by Serum Institute of India, and certified safe and effective by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has a 63 percent effectiveness rating against the virus.

    Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, announced this during a briefing in Abuja.

    Indian High Commissioner in Nigeria, Shri Abhay Thakur, said: “These 100,000 doses of vaccines, manufactured at the Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine manufacturing facility, arrived at the Abuja airport from Mumbai via Addis Ababa on 26 March 2021 at 1200 hrs.

    “The consignment was delivered to the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) by the High Commission of India.

    “The Covishield vaccine manufactured at the Serum Institute of India is the first COVID-19 vaccine approved by NAFDAC, Nigeria.

    “The bilateral donation of 100,000 doses of Covishield vaccines is in fulfillment of the announcement made by the High Commissioner of India at that time.

    “Despite the supply shortages, and at a time when the 1.3 billion population of India itself has been administered about 55 million vaccines so far, and when about 3 million daily vaccinations taking place in India, its own needs are huge but India is still supplying vaccines across the world, far and wide.”

  • Work begins on Agbara-Lusada road in 14 days – Abiodun

    Work begins on Agbara-Lusada road in 14 days – Abiodun

    By Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

    Ogun Governor Dapo Abiodun has assured construction of the Agbara-Lusada road will commence in two weeks to ease vehicular and pedestrian movement in the axis.

    Abiodun stated this during the opening ceremony of the 10th Gateway International Trade Fair tagged “Transforming agriculture and commerce in a highly competitive global market” at the Trade Fair Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

    He said: “We will be flagging off the construction of Atan Lusada Agbara road in the next 2 weeks. We are also paying attention to rural roads to boost agriculture and development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

    “We are developing MSMEs clusters across the state that will be provided with full infrastructure of roads, drainage, power, and fiber optics that would be offered at attractive pricing and flexible payment terms to further encourage to incentivise MSMEs.”

    Abiodun also noted it was time for Nigeria to explore other sectors to boost the economy, adding that if sectors like agriculture, trade and manufacturing, were given the needed attention, it would go a long way in making the economy viable and sustainable.

  • We’re touching lives with KWASSIP- AbdulRazaq

    We’re touching lives with KWASSIP- AbdulRazaq

    Thousands of lives are being touched with the social investment programme, which targets the vulnerable and poor, Kwara Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has stated.

    He spoke on Tuesday when he launched an automated command centre for the social safety net of the administration.

    AbdulRazaq said the programme has proven to be impactful for petty traders and vulnerable groups, hailing President Muhammadu Buhari for initiating the safety net programme from which Kwara State had borrowed a leaf and occupying a choice place in national rating and among development agencies.

    The Governor said every beneficiary of the programme — which is currently the largest social safety net by any state government in the country — has a unique identity which is verifiable.

    “We are making real impact with the programme. You can imagine a woman with a net worth of N2000 and you are giving her N10, 000 to scale up her business.

    “Most of our people in the hinterlands could not get credit facilities. So, they are happy getting the money to support themselves,” AbdulRazaq told newsmen in Ilorin, the state capital.

    “In cities, you can think that N10, 000 is too small but when you go to the hinterlands, you will see how it changes lives. N10, 000 means a lot of money in our villages and among the poor.

    “We are here again to launch the KWASSIP command centre. Before the election when I heard about the Federal Government’s social investment programmes, I followed the Vice President to launch the programme in Kwara and we went to the market and I could see the real impact.

    “The World Bank has also adopted the programme under its CARES programme. This is being replicated in other countries. We all saw the impact of the programme during Covid-19 lockdown. Imagine there is no such programme.”

    AbdulRazaq promised to make available more resources to expand the programme.

    “This programme is not open to abuses. It is well documented. The next administration can come and interrogate it. You can talk to any of the beneficiary and track them.

    “We are also mindful that we do not politicise the programme because whoever benefits is from this state and we are also complimenting the effort of the federal government,” he said.

    Chief Operating Officer of the Bank of Industry (BOI)’s Growth Platform Uzoma Nwagba commended Kwara Government for its commitment to transparency which he said differentiates Kwara from others doing the same.

    “Kwara approach is one built on transparency. It is not lack of people who need this intervention and it is not lack of ideas and how it can be done; what is unique is the political will, honesty and sincerity that you want the money to get to the hands of the people fully. It is also good that the state embraces technology to drive the process instead of filling papers,” Nwagba said.

    “I am extremely proud of what the state government has done. I am extremely proud about the vision of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq which made this to happen. We have seen tens of thousands of people who have benefitted from KWASSIP.

    “These are people who ordinarily wouldn’t have such opportunities. Money is one thing but more importantly they now have things like identity such BVN by virtue of being captured. So, they can now get a wallet to transact with.”

    Acting General Manager of KWASSIP Mohammed Brimah said: “We have four programmes under KWASSIP. They are Owo Isowo (TraderMoni), Owo Arugbo (Conditional Cash Transfer), Ounje Ofe (School Feeding Programme) which is about to kick off, and K-Power which is modelled after N-Power. This is focusing on digital training for beneficiaries.

    “For Owo Arugbo, the target is 10,000 beneficiaries across the state. In all wards across the state there are beneficiaries.

    “Each gets N6000 over two months because we disbursed in a cycle. That is six times in a year.

    “And for Owo Isowo, we are targeting 30,000 beneficiaries for the programme. We also involved transporters during the lockdown and we were able to give about 11,000 transporters interest-free loan.

    “Now, we are focusing on petty traders and we are currently on about 20,000 and about 10,000 more to go. Our agents are on the fields in various local government areas of the state.”

    Babaloja General of Kwara State Marketers Association Alhaji Abdullahi Saad said the “experience has been fantastic. We are having a good experience with KWASSIP especially that all their activities are transparent.

    “I am lucky to be in the food security dialogue committee comprising some states, and other states are ready to copy what we do with Owo Arugbo in Kwara State.”

  • Foundation charges FG, Ebonyi to restore peace in communities

    Foundation charges FG, Ebonyi to restore peace in communities

    A humanitarian group, the Ebele & Anyichuks Foundation, has called on all tiers of government to “ramp up their security architecture in order to curb the floodgate of violence and bloodshed in the country.”

    The foundation, in a statement to The Nation by its co-founder, Dr. Ifeanyi Odii, specifically made reference to the carnage in Ebonyi State, saying the Ezza-Effium lingering crisis and last week’s killings in Ishielu Local Government Area, called for sober reflection and proactive actions by stakeholders, especially the government and security agencies.

    Odii, a United Nations POLAC ambassador, however, lauded the Federal and Ebonyi State governments’ efforts to restore peace to the crisis-torn communities in the state but was quick to add that a lot needed to be done.

    His words: “While we commend the governor of Ebonyi State(Dave Umahi) for the many efforts by his government towards securing lives and properties in the state, we call on the government to do more towards providing a lasting solution to the needless pogrom and making insecurity a thing of the past in the state.

    “The foundation is not unaware that the government of the federation and that of Ebonyi State are not folding their arms and watching but have been up and doing to clear the nation and the state of elements intent on making life miserable for Nigerians, including Ebonyians.”

    He therefore admonished the perpetrators of violence, their sponsors and governments to make Costa Robin’s quote: “at the end of the day, we are all human,” their watchword.

    Stressing that “we must relentlessly pursue, maintain and preserve the sanctity of our humanity,” Odii quoted a verse in the Koran(Surat Alma-idah 5:32) that says: “Whoever kills an innocent life is as if he has killed all humanity.”

    Odii, who is also a member of the Lagos State University(LASU) Governing Council, said the foundation would always align itself with Greenspoon’s view that “the hallmark of the human species is great adaptability.”

    The philanthropist, therefore, appealed to all Nigerians, irrespective of their tribe and religion to realise that “one of the greatest attributes humans is our ability to adapt, bear, tolerate and accommodate the imperfections of one another in the interest of peace, happiness, and prosperity.”