The Nation Newspaper

Category: Featured

  • JUST IN: Evans accomplice dies of HIV complications in prison

    JUST IN: Evans accomplice dies of HIV complications in prison

    Chiemeka Arinze, an accomplice of suspected billionaire kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike aka Evans, has died in prison custody.

    Arinze is standing trial alongside Evans, Joseph Emeka, and Udeme Upong, over the attempted kidnap of the Chairman of the Young Shall Grow Motors, Chief Vincent Obianodo, before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of an Ikeja Special Offences Court.

    They are facing seven-count charge of murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, attempt to kidnap and sale and transfer of firearms.

    Read Also: I’m losing my sight, Evans’s co-defendant tells court

    The suspects were to appear before the court on Monday for continuation of trial.

    Sources at Kirikiri Correctional Centre told The Nation that Arinze died on Friday, November 26, 2021 as a result of Cardiopulmonary arrest.

    Souces said Arinze, who has been sick for some time, was rushed from the Kirikiri custodial Centre to a General Hospital on Friday where he later died.

    The medical records from Ajeromi General Hospital, Ajegunle signed by Dr. Salisu B. E. indicated that the deceased,45, was suffering from complicated “Advanced HIV.”

    Details shortly…

  • #EndSARS panel: Adegboruwa, Ubani oppose Keyamo

    #EndSARS panel: Adegboruwa, Ubani oppose Keyamo

    A member of the Lagos #EndSARS panel, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, and a former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Vice President, Monday Ubani, have opposed Minister of State for Labour, Festus Keyamo, SAN, over the legality of the panels which probed police brutality in the States and Lekki Tollgate shootings in Lagos.

    Keyamo, speaking on a Channels TV programme Sunday Politics, questioned the legality of the panels, adding that he spoke as a lawyer and not a Minister.

    “All the Panels of Inquiry set up by the various States of the federation following the crisis that arose as the result of #EndSars protest all over the country are illegal,” he said.

    But Adegboruwa, who among other panel members has been in the spotlight following a controversial leaked report of the Lagos panel, berated the Minister’s view, saying it was formed because the outcome of the Lagos panel did not favour the Federal Government.

    The human rights activist reacted to Keyamo’s assertion in a statement on Monday, titled: “The legality of #EndSARS panels.

    Adegboruwa said: “The Federal Government has recently muted the idea that all the Judicial Panels of Inquiry set up by the various States across the Federation, especially that of Lagos State, are illegal.

    “It has never been part of our legal system in Nigeria, for a plaintiff who approached the court in the first instance, to turn around to challenge the legality or jurisdiction of the court.

    “The #EndSARS Panels were set up at the behest of the Federal Government, through the National Economic Council. In the case of the Lagos Panel, the Federal Government, through the Nigerian Army, voluntarily submitted itself to the jurisdiction of the Panel, the Federal Government called witnesses, it tendered documents and it made very lengthy presentations.

    Read Also: #EndSARS panel was illegal, says Keyamo

    “A party cannot approbate and reprobate at the same time. Thus, a party who initiated a process and willingly and actively participated in that process, cannot turn around, after judgment, to plead illegality or absence of jurisdiction, simply because the outcome is unfavourable. We must strengthen our institutions to make them work.

    “While we all await the White Paper from the Lagos State Government, it is important for the government to build trust in the people in all its dealings and utterances.”

    Ubani’s stated his opposition in an article titled “Legal competence of panels of inquiry on police.”

    Ubani said: “I disagree vehemently with him (Keyamo) and let him know that he erred gravely in law and logic in his posturing tonight on Channels TV.

    Ubani, Chairman of the NBA Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL), noted that the National Economic Council on October 15 2020, presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo SAN, “resolved to institute Judicial Commissions of Inquiry to deliver justice for all victims of the dissolved Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and other Police units.”

    He noted, among others, that Governors set up the Judicial Panels under their Tribunal of Inquiry Laws, thus, acted lawfully.

    Ubani added: “The panels set up by the various states in the federation are constitutional, legitimate and are empowered to inquire into the various allegations of human rights violations committed by the personnel of the Nigerian Police Force as nothing in the Constitution of Nigeria precludes them from doing so with the plethora of cases and samples already cited above.

    “Presently no judicial decision so far has pronounced the panels as unconstitutional despite the grumblings here and there. The feeble attempt by the Chief Legal Officer of the Nigerian Police Force to institute a suit challenging the legality of the Panels was met with a severe reprimand from the top hierarchy of the Force and the said suit was quickly withdrawn from the Court.

    “We do not know of any other pending suit challenging the legality of the panels presently in any of the Nigerian courts.”

    He advised the government to “go the whole hog” in implementing the panels’ recommendations.

  • Security strengthened in Southwest over terror alert

    Security strengthened in Southwest over terror alert

    By Emmanuel Oladesu, Deputy Editor; Precious Igbonwelundu, Lagos and Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

    Security has been beefed up in border communities across the Southwest states, following an alleged plot by suspected terrorists to attack military formations in the areas, it was learnt yesterday.

    Government sources said there is increased surveillance in Yewa, Ogun State border towns and Badagry-Seme borders in Lagos and Oke-Ogun, Oyo State to ward off any attack by bandits and terrorists.

    There was panic at the weekend after the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies were put on red alert to avert attacks.

    In Ogun State, a competent source said Governor Dapo Abiodun has concluded plans to relaunch the “Operation Mesa” this week, following the purchase of more security equipment, patrol vans and other facilities for the outfit.

    Also, the security outfit, Amotekun, has been put on alert for intelligence gathering and combat.

    Special Adviser to Ogun State Governor on Security, Olusola Subair said: “I am not in the country now. I know that there is no cause for alarm. Our men are always on the alert. They are ready for any emergency. Our security outfits are supplied with logistics and other facilities. There is no room for panic.”

    The Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, urged the government and the security agencies to always be on top of every security threat.

    Oba Gbadebo, who spoke to The Nation on the threat, said his people will provide information to the authorities to ensure the safety of Egbaland.

    Read Also; Police kill notorious bandit terrorising Abuja-Kaduna road

    The Alake spoke through one of his chiefs, Baaroyin of Egbaland, Chief Lai Labode.

    He said: “The military or paramilitary always make sure that their first port of call, apart from the number one citizen of Ogun State, is the palace of Alake and paramount ruler of Egbaland.

    “By the size of the population, Ogun Central, which is the home of the Egbas, is by size very large and by population is more than half the population of the state.

    “That means the issue of security in this area is very vital and every chief executive of paramilitary and the military itself always enjoin that the Alake, his chiefs and people of Egbaland to cooperate and the last in the series was the new Comptroller General of Area 1 of the Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun State Command that came last week.

    “And it is incumbent on the Alake and other traditional rulers (in Egbaland) to ensure that information goes to the right quarters as far as security is concerned and our paramount ruler is an ex-serviceman and senior military officer before he retired.

    “Alake has always assured these security officers that they can count on him as far as the security architecture of Egba area as well as other parts of the state are concerned. And on the issue of the threat, whether it is real or a ruse, one can count on what the Alake has been saying since he came to the throne for the past 16 years, which is that we as a nation should always be on top of the situation and he and his people have always been cooperating with the security agencies to (secure his domain).”

    In Lagos, although the Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, did not confirm the invasion of terrorists, he acknowledged the presence of an intelligence report and assured that security agencies were not treating the report with levity.

    He also disclosed that security agencies were working with credible informants to ensure that if the intelligence report is true, fleeing terrorists would be apprehended and brought to justice.

    A high-ranking Lagos State Government official assured that everything is under control in the Centre of Excellence.

    The official urged residents to go about their businesses without fear, saying the security operatives in the state are alive to their responsibilities of protecting lives and properties.

    The official said: “It is not a time for anybody to panic. Lagos State has standing security machinery that is alive 24/7, up to the task and well-equipped.

    “We have a good relationship with the Federal Government and all federal security agencies – the Police, the military and the Department of State Service (DSS).

    “Our Neighbourhood Watchmen are at alert to raise the flag whenever they notice they notice any strange movement.

    “The President was in Lagos on June 10 to join Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in presenting some equipment to security outfits. Presented were 150 double-cabin vans; 150 saloon cars; 1000 ballistic vests; 1000 ballistic helmets; 1000 walkie talkies; 100 moto-bikes, two Armourmed Personnel Cars (APCs) and four high-capacity troop carriers). Twenty more salon cars were recently added.

    “So, Lagosians have nothing to worry over. There is nothing warranting security concern that will put anyone in the panic mode”.

    In Oyo State, a senior government official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said security agencies were working in tandem with Customs authorities to police border towns and forestall an invasion of terrorists at the borders.

    “All security agencies are working with the Customs to check the nefarious activities of infiltrators,” he said.

    In Ondo State, a top government official said: “We are conscious of the security alert. We are relying more on Amotekun, the Civil Defence and police to protect lives and property, and prevent the invasion of suspected bandits and terrorists.”

    In a Northcentral state that is contiguous to Southwest, a source said: “People are concerned that some non-state actors may be hibernating in some ungoverned spaces and we trust that military personnel are on top of the situation. There is no cause for panic”.

    At the weekend, there was anxiety as the Department of State Services (DSS) reportedly raised the alarm of a plan by terrorists to simultaneously attack military bases in border communities across the country.

    The DSS, according to a leaked memo, said it had already put the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies on the red alert to avert the attacks.

    In the leaked letter of November 25, 2021, the secret service specifically mentioned Ogun border communities as some of the targets of the terrorists.

    The memo, according to a Channels report, was addressed to the Customs Comptroller, Ogun Area Command, Abeokuta. It advised that counter-measures be put in place to frustrate the plot.

    According to the Ogun State DSS Director: “Available intelligence indicates plans by insurgents and criminal elements to carry out simultaneous attacks on military posts and bases in various border communities across the nation anytime from now.

    “In view of the foregoing and the likelihood, such attacks not limited to the military personnel only, all law enforcement and security agencies with operational bases at border communities are advised to take note of the above threat and emplace countermeasures with emphasis on personal security of operatives to frustrate the planned attack.”

    Also, last week, attempts by suspected terrorists to bomb an army barrack in Lagos was foiled by operatives of the Nigerian Army.

    No fewer than 13 suspects, including four of those who attempted to bomb the Ikeja Cantonment, were apprehended.

    Among them was a 24-year-old suspect, said to have been caught with eight 600 mm mortar bomb explosives by operatives of the 9 Brigade.

    He and his accomplices were said to have attracted the attention of the operatives as a result of the bag they carried.

    Soldiers on duty were said to have demanded to see the contents of their bags as the men acted more suspiciously.

    Sources said following the search, the uncharged mortar bomb and detonators were discovered. Some of the suspects took to their heels.

    It was gathered that some of the suspects were also trailed to Itapuju area of Apapa while on a mission to wreak havoc, arrested on Friday and immediately transferred to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, for profiling and further action.

    It was, however, unclear if the prime minister was among those moved to Borno or whether he was being detained in Lagos to answer for alleged attempted terrorism charges committed in the state.

  • Buhari to varsities, lecturers: develop vaccines to tackle COVID-19 virus

    Buhari to varsities, lecturers: develop vaccines to tackle COVID-19 virus

    By Moses Emorinken, Abuja, Augustine Okezie, Katsina, Linus Oota, Lafia

    President Muhammadu Buhari has urged Nigerian universities and scientists to intensify research efforts to develop vaccines that can tackle the COVID-19 and its variants, which are  afflicting the world.

    His call is coming on the heels of the new more contagious Omicron variant of COVID-19, which has triggered global alert as more cases were recorded in Netherland, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Israel, Hong Kong, Denmark, Australia, other European countries, just days after it was identified in South Africa.

    The new variants has left governments around the world like the United Kingdom (UK), United States (U.S.), Israeli, Brazil, Indonesia, among others, scrambling to stop the spread.

    President Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of State for Education, Mr. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba at the fifth and sixth combined convocation ceremony of the Federal University Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA), Katsina State, said universities were supposed to be centres for scientific and technological discoveries, inventions, values and character formation as well as drivers of societal growth.

    He said: “The development of the vaccine would fortify Nigerians’ immune system against the virus. My administration remained committed to tackling the challenges of sustainable funding for research, capacity building and employment creation.

    “You all know that in the year 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic began its devastating effect on the education sub-sectors, leading to the disruption of universities’ academic activities.

    “I, therefore, urge and encourage the universities to intensify their research to come up with a more potent vaccine to fortify our immune system against this dreaded virus.

    The President also tasked the universities to explore available opportunities, including research collaboration with allied industries and development partners to create other sources of revenue generation, adding that such drive would support his economic diversification drive.

    Omicron variant not in Nigeria, says NCDC

    But, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) yesterday stated that the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron, is not in the country.

    It stated that, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health, it is monitoring emerging evidence on the new variant and its implication to inform the country’s response to the pandemic.

    Urging Nigerians to ensure strict adherence to the proven public health and social measures in place, the NCDC appealed to business owners, religious leaders and people in authority to take responsibility by ensuring people in their premises wear masks and adhere to physical distancing.

    A statement by the NCDC reads: “The Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) are aware of reports of a new COVID-19 variant — the B.1.1.529 lineage. This SARS-CoV-2 variant has now been designated a variant of concern (VOC) and named; Omicron by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as advised by the independent Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution (TAG-VE).

    “While this variant has so far NOT been detected in Nigeria, a number of cases have now been reported in the UK, Israel, Botswana, Hong-Kong, Germany, Belgium, Italy and counting. However, no deaths have been attributed to this new variant yet. A total of 126 genomes of this variant have been detected globally and published on GISAID, (GISAID is a global mechanism for sharing sequencing data).

    “Given the high number of mutations present in this Omicron variant and the exponential rise in COVID-19 cases observed in South Africa, this virus is considered highly transmissible and may also present an increased risk of reinfection compared to other VOCs.

    “However, the fears about its ability to evade protective immune responses and/or its being vaccine resistant are only theoretical so far. This virus can still be detected with existing Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests. The WHO and researchers across the world are working at speed to gain understanding of the likely impact of this variant on the severity of COVID-19 and on the potency of existing vaccines and therapeutics.

    “The NCDC continues to ensure daily review of surveillance data and uses this to inform public health decision making. Therefore, we urge all States to ensure that sample collection and testing are accessible, so that travellers, people with symptoms or who have been exposed to COVID-19 cases get tested promptly.”

    NMA cautions Fed Govt on border monitoring, closure

    The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) yesterday urged the Federal Government to apply caution in the closure of its borders to inbound passengers from South Africa, even as the new COVID-19 variant called Omicron spreads across the globe.

    The NMA advised that while the government studies the trends and epidemiological characterisation of the variant before taking a decision on border closure, it needs to also increase disease surveillance, ramp up testing – especially at the airports, and ensure strict adherence to non-pharmaceutical protocols of hand washing and use of hand sanitisers, wearing of face masks and social distancing.

    Speaking with our correspondent yesterday, the NMA President, Prof Innocent Ujah, also stressed that passengers from countries in Southern Africa should be compulsorily isolated, quarantined and examined for possible infection.

    He explained that the country is not ready and prepared for the new variant, hence, the need to be extra-cautious.

    He said: “We had the Delta variant before. I think that the mutation will continue because at the moment we don’t even know the biology of coronavirus completely. However, there is better information now than before. All we need to do is to see how we can protect ourselves.

    “We have to ensure that we follow the non-pharmaceutical protocols – hand washing, wearing facemask, and social distancing. As you know social distancing has failed. All we will do is to ensure that we use the facemask and hand washing and sanitisers at every turn.

    “We need to increase surveillance at the airport, particularly of those coming from the Southern Africa countries at the moment. They should be quarantined first for seven days. We must continue to up our game and improve our surveillance and testing. I know that in the United Kingdom (UK), before you leave, you must do a PCR test within 48 to 72 hours before you enter any plane. You also need to have the result which you will show at the airport.

    “At the same time, the Government of Nigeria insists that you must pay for it, come to Nigeria and choose the laboratory where you can do your test.

    “What we need to do is implementation and compliance. Even though we don’t need too many people to infect others, but the volume of traffic from South Africa to Nigeria in my opinion is not so much as to justify the closure of the borders.

    “However, we need to study the trend more. We can also monitor, and if the situation becomes necessary, then Nigeria should shut its airport to Southern African countries.

    “If it becomes necessary, and we get the epidemiological characterisation of this variant, of course, we would advise the government to shut its borders.

    “The problem is we are not even ready if it comes. If Europe and America that are ready are on their knees for COVID-19, then we have to be extra-cautious. Some Nigerians don’t even believe that there is COVID-19. You find a situation where you are doing so much and others are sabotaging the efforts of the government. However, we have to remain focused.

    “If it becomes necessary, the government should shut the airport to those people from Southern African countries because we need to protect our people.”

    Expert: PSC should rethink face mask policy

    A public health expert, Dr. Gabriel Adakole, has called on the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19 to look into the possibility of returning the requirement of wearing facemask/shields following the threats from the COVID-19 Omicron variant.Adakole made the call in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja.

    He added that the PSC should tighten the country’s rules on mask-wearing and on testing of international arrivals across all airports.

    He noted that the committee should return any protections that the country would need in preventing further surge.

    “PSC needs to continue comprehensive and tailored public health and social measures to prevent transmission. The earlier the protective measures are implemented, the less restrictive they would need to be in order to be effective.

    “The more COVID-19 circulates, the more opportunities the virus will have to change and mutate, and the pandemic will last longer,” he added.

    He thankfully expressed that no Omicron variant case, which is believed to be contagious, has been reported in the country so far.

    According to Adakole, “because of fears that the new variant has the potential to be more resistant to the protection offered by vaccines, there are growing concerns around the world that the pandemic and associated lockdown restrictions will persist for far longer than hoped.

    “As you aware, many countries have already imposed travel restrictions on flights from South Africa as they seek to buy time to assess whether the Omicron variant is more transmissible than the current dominant delta variant, so what is Nigeria waiting for?”

    The expert said as the COVID-19 crisis continues and Nigerians need to take the preventive measures seriously, building forward better from the pandemic means all Nigerians must commit to end the Pandemic.

    Meanwhile, he called on the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to scale up surveillance, strengthen public health and social measures.

    “The NCDC must enhance surveillance and sequencing while assessing the risk of importation through international travel based on updated information on circulating variants and response capacities, and take measures accordingly.

    “Though our COVID-19 cases have been declining, the surge in cases elsewhere in the world and confirmation of a new variant of concern is a reminder of the persisting risk and the need for us to continue to do our best to protect against the virus and prevent its spread. At no cost should we let our guards down,” he explained.

    He also called on the PSC to enhance vaccination coverage, in view of the surge in COVID-19 cases globally, and detection of a new variant of concern, Omicron.

    Adakole reminded Nigerians that they must not forget that the pandemic is far from being over.

    NPHCDA boss: six million Nigerians vaccinated

    Executive Director, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) Dr. Faisal Shuaibu at the weekend said 6,242,224 Nigerians have received the first dose of COVID-19.

    He explained further that 3,487,298 Nigerians have received their second dose and are fully vaccinated.

    Shauibu spoke in Lafia during the flag off of the COVID-19 mass vaccination campaign in Nasarawa State.

    “As at November 26, 2021, the total number of eligible people, who have received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria, is 6,242,224. A total number of 3,487,298 have received their second dose and are fully vaccinated.

    “Let us all continue to observe our non-pharmaceutical measures against COVID-19 as we work together towards achieving herd immunity. Six million Nigerians have safely received the COVID-19 vaccines. Six million Nigerians cannot be wrong, Get your jab today,” he said

    He said Nigerian is still far from reaching its target of vaccinating almost 112 million of its eligible population.

    The NPHCDA boss called on Nasarawa residents who are 18 years and above to come out en mass to receive the COVID-19 vaccines to protect themselves, loved ones and communities against the severe effects of the disease.

    He also added that about 15 million persons in Nasarawa State are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination, but only about 8.1 per cent of eligible Nasarawa residents are vaccinated.

    According to him, the mass vaccination campaign is a carefully designed service delivery strategy that aims to rapidly increase the number of fully vaccinated eligible people and fast-track the country’s economic social recovery.

    Also speaking, Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, said the state under his leadership is committed to ensure that every eligible residents of Nasarawa is fully vaccinated.

    ‘Nigerians may soon start looking for vaccine to buy’

    The Emir of Dutse, Nuhu Muhammad Sanusi, has warned that Nigerians may soon start looking for COVID-19 vaccine with money and would not get it.

    The emir stated this at the official inauguration of mass COVID-19 vacation exercise in Kiyawa Local Government, Jigawa State.

    The emir, who was represented by the emirate’s senior councillor, Basiru Muhammad Sanusi (Galadima of Dutse), urged Nigerians to troop out in en masse and avail themselves for the vaccine.

    “At this juncture, I want to use this opportunity to inform our citizens that the vaccine is safe and free. Let everyone comes out and receive the jab.

    “Whatever the government brought is for the betterment of its citizens. President Muhammad Buhari, his family and all his cabinet members have already received their own. Governors, families and their cabinets as well as traditional rulers and their council members have been vaccinated,” he said.

    He, however, urged citizens to complement government and development partners’ efforts to prevent the spread of the virus by availing themselves to be vaccinated.

    The emir, therefore, directed his district heads and religious leaders to champion COVID-19 vaccination exercise to achieve the set target.

    He noted that failure to do so now, those resisting might use their money to look for the vaccine.

  • The Nation wins CITN Outstanding Print Media Award

    The Nation wins CITN Outstanding Print Media Award

    By Collins Nweze and David Orji, Lagos

    The Nation newspaper was at the weekend awarded the Outstanding Print Media Award by the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN).

    The award, which came at the 2021 CITN Annual Dinner and Awards held in Lagos, offered a platform for the tax authority to recognise the newspaper’s contributions to the task of providing the public and businesses information they need to make better decisions.

    Presenting the award to the organisations’ Executive Director (Finance & Administration), Mr. Sunday Adeleke, former CITN President, Kamoru Adigun said CITN was very proud and happy with the role being played by The Nation in nation-building.

    He said: “We are giving you this award to request you to do more in providing the public with the information they need to carry out their responsibilities. Any country that wants to grow needs the cooperation of the press to communicate its message very well to the people and The Nation has carried out this responsibility effectively”.

    “Therefore, we appreciate you for what you have done, what you will continue do for Nigeria. Please, convey our gratitude to the management of The Nation for the good work they are doing and will continue to do.”

    Mr. Adeleke, who said a golden fish has no hiding place, said: “This award came without us discussing with anybody. We only got a letter of nomination from the CITN. The CITN was able to identify and pick only The Nation among all the newspapers in Nigeria which showed that the good work we are doing is seen by the public.”

    Read Also; The Nation reporter wins agriculture award

    According to him, the “Outstanding Print Media Award” will spur his organisation to work harder.

    He said: “As we do more, we know that several awards like this will definitely come. The Nation is in the good books of the taxation authorities in Nigeria, in Lagos and other states including the Federal Capital Territory , Abuja where we remit Pay As You Earn (PAYE) for employees as at and when due.

    “The Nation also remits its Company Income Tax (CIT) and Value Added Tax (VAT) at the right time. We do not know if that also showed in the award consideration, but we are in the good books of tax authorities in Nigeria.”

    Noting that reward for good work is more work, Adeleke said: “Good work is what has become of our character. And character cannot just change overnight. We just want to keep up with the good work we are doing. We will ensure we continue with what we are doing, both in editorial and staff welfare. As we continue to do more, everyone will know that we are a brand to reckon with.”

    Other awardees include: Kebbi State (CITN State Government Award); Nigeria Board of Technical Education (Education Regulatory Award);  Nasarawa State University, Keffi (Tertiary Institution Award).

    The Outstanding Service to Taxation Profession Award went to Prof. Mohammad Mainoma and Outstanding Service to Taxation Profession Award II was received by Dame Olajumoke Simplice, among others.

    In a tough business environment where many newspapers have come and gone, The Nation has weathered the storm and is still going strong. Since its first edition on July 31, 2006, the newspaper has grown in stature and has become a household name, with millions of followers on social media.

    Led by Editor-in-Chief, Victor Ifijeh, The Nation has very strong presence in all the geo-political zones, and ranks among the first three in all indices, including reach and acceptability. And all these indices have come with recognitions.

    The Editor, Adeniyi Adesina, was adjudged the Editor of the Year by the Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA) this year. He is the 2020 winner of the top prize in Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME), the two media grading agencies.

    The Nation has been named the Newspaper of the Year four times by the NMMA and twice by the DAME.

    In 2020, The Nation newspaper emerged the Newspaper of the Year by both the NMMA and DAME.

    This year, the newspaper won the highest number of awards (16) and had the most nominations (35) at the NMMA held in Kogi state. It won 14 honours, also the highest, last year.

    With Truth in Defence of Freedom as its motto, the newspaper has a mission to provide the public with information they need to be free and self-governing in a democratic society.

  • Rescuing the child from nutrient deficiencies

    Rescuing the child from nutrient deficiencies

    While the world still fights the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, Nigerian children battle with malnutrition, which is a long-term, hidden and deadlier disease. MOSES EMORINKEN writes that malnutrition is capable of compromising their immune system, hampering their body and brain development, and destroying their future.

    Double-burden of malnutrition

    Undernutrition  which is another term for micronutrient deficiencies ravages our kids. Again, overweight and obesity threatens their survival. If nothing is done fast, the majority of our “tomorrow’s leaders” will be sickly and weak.

    Statistics from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) shows that Nigeria has the highest number of stunted children in Africa, and ranks second globally, with a national prevalence rate of 32 per cent of children under the age of five, and nearly 20 per cent underweight children.

    Worse still, while an estimated two million children in Nigeria suffer from severe acute malnutrition (SAM), only two out of every 10 children affected are currently reached with treatment. It further states that malnutrition is a direct or underlying cause of 45 per cent of all deaths of under-five children.

    UNICEF stresses that the first 1,000 days of a child’s life offer a unique window of opportunity for preventing undernutrition and its consequences.

    However, the reality in Nigeria is that just 18 per cent of children aged six to 23 months are fed the minimum acceptable diet.

    Experts maintain that while the lack of carbohydrates and protein remains part of the causes of malnutrition, the immediate causes of undernutrition include deficiencies in micronutrients, such as vitamin A, iron, iodine and zinc.

    Also, poor feeding practices for infants and young children, lack of or inadequate access to health care, water and sanitation, and poverty, are underlying causes of malnutrition in Nigeria.

     Poverty, ignorance, fueling the nutrition crisis

    Ignorance is not a defense in the court of law, is an age long maxim. Again, ignorance is never a defense against grave health outcomes.

    Photo: UNICEF

    Findings by The Nation reveal that a significant number of educated and uneducated mothers are still ignorant of the right combination of food that gives their children the kind of nutrients for their growth and development.

    Such is the case of Maimuna-an uneducated housewife, and mother of five, lives in Kwali Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and was a victim of lack of information, a situation compounded by extreme poverty. Aside from regularly travelling long distances to access health care for her child suffering from sickle cell disease, she also looked emaciated.

    Although the health condition of her three-year-old child betrayed his looks, it was clear that the child was also not feeding well and right. As a housewife with five children, they all depend on the earnings of her peasant farmer husband. They can barely afford a three-square meal.

    What Maimuna did not know was that with the right combination of cheap and affordable food items around her and in the market, her household, especially her son, could eat nutritious foods and live healthier.

    Read Also: Emir of Kano, UNICEF warn on spread of COVID-19 as harmattan approaches

    However, after taking part in an intervention project by the International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH), she began to realise that she could feed her child with healthy and affordable meals.

    Interestingly, after she began giving her child the right combination of food-fruits, vegetables, and cereals, among others, his health began to improve drastically. His immune system and overall health condition improved to sustain him. She also discovered healthy ways to locally combine cereals to make healthy meals for children. This has transformed into a lucrative business for her.

    It is easy to lose sight of the grave nature of the malnutrition crisis the country is experiencing with the avalanche of numbers (statistics) being thrown around.

    However, the implication of this is that many infants are not being breastfed with quality breast milk because the mothers are malnourished. Even after the child is weaned, because of poverty and ignorance, he or she is not fed with proper foods with required micronutrients.

    Affordable food combination to the rescue

    In April this year, one of Nigeria’s food and beverage giants, Nestle Nigeria, launched the “Live Strong with Iron” campaign to commemorate the World Health Day. It noted that 68 per cent of children under the age of five are iron-deficient, while 58 per cent of women aged 15 to 49 years are iron-deficient.

    Also, the prevalence of iron deficiency among uneducated and educated women is 64 per cent and 47 per cent, respectively.

    It stressed that the situation of iron deficiency in the country can cause serious economic consequences as it reduces mental and physical agility, thereby reducing productivity. It is also a major cause of stunted growth and reduced motor and cognitive development in school children.

    The healthy combination of micronutrients such as vitamin A, iron, iodine and zinc, in foods, will greatly help combat malnutrition.

    According to the Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Manager for Nestle Nigeria, Victoria Uwadoka, “The impact of Iron deficiency is known most popularly when it comes to pregnant women or women who are menstruating or after birth etc. But there are other segments of the population that are actually impacted by this Iron deficiency and we need to address it. One of the things it affects is your physical and mental agility, and your ability to concentrate at work and be productive. For the young children in school, it affects their ability to concentrate to learn and to retain what they have learnt in class. It also impacts their growth, motor and cognitive development. This is a national issue that needs to be addressed.

    “What we have done is to ‘unbox’ the Iron-rich foods that are available anywhere in Nigeria. Examples are sweet potatoes, ugu, oranges, banana, egusi, palm fruits, cashew nuts, eggs, plantain, corn, soya beans, cray fish, carrots, coconut, water melon, etc. We want to reach at least 50 percent of Nigeria’s population in the next two years with the information about Iron to drive behaviour change and to encourage people to make more informed choices around their nutrition.”

     Compromising children’s immune systems

    In a chat with The Nation, the Head of Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, Abuja, Dr. Ugwu Chukwudi said: “Generally, what you eat is what you are. You are made of cells which are nutrient. The reason for the prevalence of some diseases such as cancer and others is as a result of cell proliferation in different dimensions. All these things revolve around what you eat.

    “The truth is that most children’s immune systems are already compromised because of lack of nutrients. In fact, sicknesses such as malaria cannot proliferate with a stronger immune system.

    “As a result of the prices of food stuffs in the market, mothers now forget buying food stuffs that guarantee healthy food. Therefore, their children do not get the adequate amount of nutrients needed; a lot of diseases will proliferate in the near future. Without proper nutrition for the child, there will be a lot of health challenges. If Nigerians give nutrition a very good pathway, the health of our children, mothers, among others, will be guaranteed.

    “We have almost everything in Nigeria. The nutrients and minerals can be gotten from all the vegetables in the country but a lot of Nigerians are ignorant. Ordinary okro leaf can be a very good source of vegetables. You don’t need the exotic types of vegetables to have all the vitamins and minerals.”

    Food items available, inexpensive

    A Public health advocate and Executive Director of ISMPH, Mrs. Moji Makanjuola, further reiterated that some Nigerian children are exposed to severe acute malnutrition (SAM) because their mothers do not understand the right mix of food that they should take, or the mothers themselves are not eating right.

    “Most of what we have seen is that the majority of mothers are not educated on what they should do, where they should go, what food to mix, especially when they wean the children off breast milk; education is important. We also have to deal with the fact that some mothers are too young to understand what they are to do, maybe because they married too early. So they do not give the right mix of food for children.

    “As you have severe acute malnutrition, you also have obesity with children, especially with mothers of affluence who think if they give their children all the fast food of the world, it is when they are actually feeding their children right. Some mothers are educated but do not know that fruits, vegetables, eggs, and fishes, among others, can make a huge difference in their children’s health.

    “Majority of these food items is available, and is not as expensive as we think they are. Our local fruits are very rich in the nutrients that the children need while growing up optimally. It is amazing that a lot of these foods abound-grains such as millet and guinea corn.

    “Finally, when the child is born, we can have a healthy child. ISMPH is carrying out a project in two local government areas in the FCT that empowers our mothers to overcome poverty. We are on a test-run, not just to educate mothers, but to also teach them livelihood skills so that they can also, at the time the child will need to eat eggs, fishes, and others., they can afford to buy them. That way, the child can be well nourished.

    “We are in a country that is not at war, yet we have children that are so severely malnourished that you will think it is a warfront thing.

    “The government and other relevant stakeholders need to give more attention to those down with severe acute malnutrition,” she said.

  • My 10-month-old baby reason I’ve not committed suicide – Amputee impregnated, dumped by Facebook lover

    My 10-month-old baby reason I’ve not committed suicide – Amputee impregnated, dumped by Facebook lover

    For Cynthia Amaka Okoro, a 28-year-old graduate of Physics and Electronics, life has not been fair. Amputated as a student and impregnated by an abusive partner, she now lives in utter despondency. Gbenga Aderanti writes.

    Her facial appearance portrays her as one of the beautiful models advertising firms would love to introduce to their clients as the face of their beauty products. There is indeed no way anyone without a hint on her life story would imagine the vicissitudes of life she has had to pass through. Cynthia Okpara, a 28-year-old graduate of Physics and Electronics from Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo, became an amputee while she was still a student of the school. As if that was not enough, an abusive partner got her pregnant and she was thereafter rejected and disowned by her mother.

    While she is grateful to her friend, who has been gracious to take her in as a squatter, she says the thought of suicide has not stopped crossing her mind and is only being held back by fear of what would become of her 10-month-old baby.

    Her plight began in 2013 when she was involved in an accident while returning from school.

    A medical report from the Imo State University Teaching Hospital, signed by orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Okafor Bonny, noted that Cynthia was brought to the hospital on February 20, 2013 with the examination done on her showing a mangled left lower limb with no distal pulse present.

    The report added: “The limb was looking pale and extremely cold. So a diagnosis of left lower limb gangrene extending to the proximal thigh was made. The patient had an above-knee amputation of the left lower limb on the 2nd of March 2013.

    “Patient was managed for three weeks and discharged in satisfactory condition on crutches.”

    Cynthia recalled that while she was in the hospital, she enjoyed so much support from her parents, especially her father. Unfortunately, her father, who she regarded as her best friend, died; a situation she said caused her to regret coming into the world.

    She said: “When I look at my situation, my child is the only reason why I’m alive. I would have since ended my own life. My condition is making me to think of committing suicide.”

    Asked what the problem was as she repeatedly gasped for breath while speaking with our correspondent, she said: “I have ulcer and malaria and I have also been stooling blood.”

    Romance gone awry

    For Cynthia, getting amputated was bad, but getting pregnant for a partner she described as abusive was worse. Describing the one year she spent with her partner Okpara, whom she met on Facebook, as miserable, Cynthia recalled how she cried every night and repeatedly asked herself how she found herself in such a mess.

    She recalled that for four months after their first meeting on Facebook, they engaged each other in animated chats. She said she was honest enough to tell Okpara about her physical condition but he did not believe her until they met physically about four months later.

    While they were dating, she recalled that it was love all the way; adding that as soon as she got pregnant, the love that Okpara professed for her literally disappeared.

    She said: “My leg had already been amputated before we met. When we eventually met physically, he said he never knew I was telling him the truth about my leg. We chatted for like four months before I eventually met him.”

    Things would probably have been better if they had any mutual friends, but that was never the case, as they never allowed anybody in their space and neither of them took the other to meet their family members.

    Not long after they met physically, Cynthia said she started staying with Okpara late in 2019 and become pregnant in 2020.

    Cynthia’s mother was exasperated when she realised that her daughter was pregnant and decided that she would not allow her to remain in the family house. The only option left for Cynthia in the circumstance was to stay with Uche, which she eventually did.

    “I have tried to call her and many people have also tried on my behalf but she refused to take me back,” Cynthia said of her mother.

    Reminiscing on her life with Okpara, she said: “His name is Okpara. I was visiting him and along the line, I got pregnant for him and his character changed. He started beating me any time I made any slight mistake.

    “The only time he saw his son was when I gave birth to him. And ever since, he has not seen him.

    “Okpara is a hot-tempered person. He might come and say I did not cook for him and he would start beating me.

    “At times, somebody might have offended him before he came home and he would transfer the aggression to me.

    “He might even come home and see something somewhere; he would start shouting and asking me why I didn’t remove it and it would lead to him beating me again.”

    Cynthia said she never bothered to report what was going on to anyone because it never occurred to her to do so. The only intervention she got was from neighbours who advised her to stay away from Okpara because it appeared as if he never loved her and Cynthia was the one forcing herself on him.

    She said: “Neighbours told me that the boy did not love me and that I should go. They said it seemed as if I was forcing myself on him. Eventually, I thought they could be right, so I later decided to leave.”

    She is however worried that for more than one year now, she has not been able to contact her former heartthrob and she does not know any of Okpara’s family members she can talk to.

    “He never took me to his village while we were together. He only told me that he was from Abia State,” she said.

    She also said she has not been able to access her Facebook account through which she could have reached him, because it was blocked when it was discovered that the account was about to be compromised.

    It was the Facebook account that she was using to raise appeal from well-meaning Nigerians.

    “The phone number I used in opening the Facebook account is also lost. I later went to the MTN office to retrieve the line. They said the name they were seeing on the line was not my name.

    “I explained to them that it was my line and it was the time I had an accident that I couldn’t go out, so I sent my younger sister to go and register the MTN number for me. The MTN people insisted that the girl must be the one to go and retrieve it.”

    She said she made several efforts to make her sister help her in retrieving the line but to no avail. “I don’t know,” she said with a gesture of frustration.

    “Out of frustration, I returned to my mum’s place but my mother couldn’t accommodate me. She said I should go back to the person that impregnated me and that I couldn’t stay in her house. She said I was a disgrace. I pleaded with her but she refused.”

    Reprieve however came her way when her sister invited her to come and stay with her. She said that was where she stayed till she gave birth.

    “Out of frustration, I deleted Okpara’s number from my phone. And when the SIM got lost, I could not retrieve it because of an identity problem

    “When I gave birth, the guy (Okpara) came begging me that he wanted me back. I later went back but he didn’t change his character. He continued beating me even while I was breastfeeding the baby. I later packed my things and returned to my elder sister’s house.”

    Unfortunately, her elder sister refused to take her back, saying that even the first time she accommodated Cynthia, her husband did not like it.

    “She told me that her husband said I should not come to the house again. She advised me to start looking for a place to stay.”

    With the foregoing situation, Cynthia started making contacts on Facebook. Fortunately, she met a lady who was ready to accommodate her.

    “She asked me if I could come to Lagos and I said yes. Eventually, I came to Lagos,” she said.

    “I did beg on Facebook or on the streets. From the little money I was able to gather, I started selling meat pie.”

    But her reprieve was short-lived because after staying a while, the lady in question told her that she wanted to get married, hence she should look for another accommodation.

    Cynthia called one of her ex-schoolmates for assistance and “she agreed that I should come to her house. She is living with her aunt. She said she had seen my posts on Facebook. That was how I went back to Orlu, Imo State where I’m currently staying.”

    How accident altered her life

    Cynthia recalled that she was hit by a vehicle while she was returning home from school on a motorcycle. For close to a year after, she was in the hospital and her leg was eventually amputated.

    She, however, did not allow that to deter her as she continued with her education until she graduated from the institution in October 2016.

    The second born of the family, Cynthia has six other siblings. She disclosed that her father’s support and encouragement was massive and it kept her going. He was a tax official until his death, she recalled.

    Cynthia is currently battling ulcer on account of which she is stooling blood.

    “Since my partner kicked me out, I have not had any contact with him. I actually deleted his number and I later lost that line. He too did not bother to call me.

    “I’m sick and I have taken drugs but they have not been working. Right now, I’m stooling blood.”

    “When I look at my situation, my child is the only reason why I’m alive. I would have ended my life. This condition is making me to think of committing suicide.

    Cynthia does not want to depend on people for the rest of her life. She would like to work and do business if she gets assistance

    She told The Nation that she could sell clothes if she has people to support her.

    “I’ve stopped going to church. I’m tired of going to church. Ever since I started going to church what has that done to my life? I’m no longer interested in going to church.

    “I prayed and prayed and nothing changed. I don’t pray anymore.”

    “I’m calling on all Nigerians to help me so that I can get an artificial leg that can enable me to walk well, and also help me get a shelter and financial empowerment so I can start up a better business and return to Lagos.

    “It was on July 11, 2021, the lady accommodating me told me to leave, that she would be relocating to her husband’s house on the 13th. She said she had given me enough time to get a place to stay and that I was the one delaying her.

    “It was then I started making calls and luckily, one of my classmates called me and said she heard my story. I explained to her that I was stranded and that was how she asked me to come down to her place with the promise that she would welcome me if I can make it down to the East. This was what led me to return to the East.

    I have always had two businesses on my mind which I will love to delve into if I have the resources, namely a boutique or a spa. I really need the help of Nigerians. Account name: Cynthia Chiamaka Okoro. Account number: 6456545011, FCMB.

  • UPDATED: Bandits subdued, trapped after attack on Plateau Correctional Centre

    UPDATED: Bandits subdued, trapped after attack on Plateau Correctional Centre

    Security operatives to Jos correctional centre have subdued bandits who attacked the facility on Sunday afternoon.

    The bandits engaged security officers at the facility in a gun battle in a bid to forcefully gain access to the centre.

    The attackers were said to have pretended to be guests on visit when they suddenly opened fire on reaching the gate of correctional facility.

    The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said five inmates who attempted to escape during the gun battle were promptly re- arrested.

    It was gathered that the invasion was aimed at freeing some inmates.

    At the time of filing this report, there was still a gunbattle while security personnel have taken over major areas around the facility.

    Read Also: ‘How bandits killed our husbands, made us widows’

    Eyewitnesses told The Nation most of the bandits were trapped in the Correctional Centre as joint security operatives of the Operation Safe Haven surrounded the prison and its environs.

    Confirming the attack, the Public Relations Officer of Correctional Centre, Francis Enobore, in a statement titled: Jos custodial centre attacked by gunmen, trapped in yard, reads: ” The medium security custodial centre in Jos, Plateau state came under attack by gunmen, who reportedly stormed the facility in large number with sophisticated weapons.

    “The invaders were said to have arrived at the custodial center at about 17: 20hrs and immediately made for the main gate where they engaged the armed squad personnel in a gun battle, before breaking into the yard.

    ” Although they gained entrance to the yard, they are however trapped within as men from the sister security services were immediately mobilised to condone the perimeter wall and the entire area.

    “Reinforcement from the response squad of the service has also been mobilised to the centre.”

    He said the situation was under control as the attackers’ firing power has been subdue by superior fires from a combined team of security agencies.

  • Grumblings as Makinde takes over S/West PDP

    Grumblings as Makinde takes over S/West PDP

    Amidst allegations that Governor Seyi Makinde has cornered all leadership positions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the southwest zone for his allies to the exclusion of other interest groups within the party, aggrieved chieftains of the PDP in the zone are not about to end their face-off with the Oyo helmsman even as political parties prepare for the 2023 general elections, reports Assistant Editor, ‘Dare Odufowokan.

    With Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state now firmly in control of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the southwest ahead of the 2023 general elections, aggrieved chieftains of the party are left to grumble against his leadership of the party in the zone. Checks by The Nation revealed that in spite of the Oyo governor’s success at installing his allies in all the PDP leadership positions zoned to the southwest, he has been unable to placate most of his ardent opponents within the party in the zone.

    “It is a fact to declare that Makinde, who incidentally, is the only governor from our party, the PDP, in the zone, have taken over the structures of the party in the southwest. But what he has not been able to do is douse the festering crisis within the party in the zone. Many of our leaders are still unwilling to associate with him and this is not good for the PDP as we move towards the 2023 general elections. We still need to reconcile many of our leaders with the governor in order for the PDP to maximize its new strength in the zone,” a source said.

    But the governor’s supporters insist he is providing leadership for the PDP in the southwest in spite of what they described as the ranting of a few disgruntled elements within the party. “It is natural to have a few people unwilling to accept the reality of the day. We have a new order in Southwest PDP. It is an order where Governor Makinde is leading the original owners of the party, the members, to take decision and drive the party towards reclaiming its lost glory across the zone,” another source told The Nation.

    To the Makinde, as the only governor of the governor, he is the leader of the party and should be respected as such. Many observers have wondered what his intentions are but he has been very consistent in claiming that his main concern is repositioning the PDP in the zone and returning it to winning ways. The Oyo governor believes the party needs to take some firm decisions regarding the way it does things if it is to work its way back into the minds of the people of the zone ahead of the 2023 general elections.

    Responding to some of the allegations against him by his party men recently, Makinde had said, “What I want you to know is that I am also a man; I have flesh and blood and I make mistakes. Maybe there are some issues we need to address and we are trying to look at them. I know that wherever we need to make amends, we will definitely do that. I don’t want to believe that I did not do well with some members of the party but some may feel I have not done enough while some may feel I have done the best. But those who think I have not done enough could be right and I think we need to evaluate all of these. Moving on, there is room for improvement.”

     

    A total takeover

    Weeks after the successful completion of the national convention of the opposition party, some prominent members of the PDP in the southwest are allegedly displeased with Governor Makinde over the outcome of the convention. The bone of contention, The Nation gathered, is the alleged cornering of all the National Working Committee (NWC) positions zoned to the Southwest, by the Oyo State governor, leaving other leaders and groups within the party in the zone without any one, contrary to the terms of the reconciliation preceding the convention.

    About three weeks before the convention, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State had brokered peace between Governor Makinde and former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose. Party sources claim the meeting discussed the power struggle between the two PDP leaders in the southwest and proffered ways to end the rift and avoid new ones. “One of the things agreed at the meeting was the need to share party positions among leaders of the party. We were looking forward to the convention at the time and it was believed that positions given to the zone will be shared in that manner,” our source said.

    The Benue State Governor impressed it upon the two party leaders to work together in the interest of the PDP in the Southwest. At the convention, the positions of Deputy National Chairman (South), National Publicity Secretary and Deputy National Secretary were zoned to the Southwest. Amidst allegations that Makinde was working towards pocketing all the positions, his known allies emerged the winners of the three slots at the expense of other contenders, their leaders and their groups.

    The emergence of Taofeek Arapaja, a former Deputy Governor of Oyo state, and an associate of Makinde’s, as the Deputy National Chairman (South) of the PDP, completed an alleged take-over of the control of the party structure in the zone by the Governor. He defeated Olagunsoye Oyinlola, an ally of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, with over 1200 votes. Arajapa got 2004 votes against 705 by Oyinlola. Setoji Kosheodo, another candidate of the Oyo governor from Lagos state, emerged as deputy national secretary while Debo Ologunagba from Ondo state, rode on Makinde’s back to become national publicity secretary.

    Speaking on the development, a PDP chieftain from Ogun State, who preferred anonymity, insisted that Governor Makinde, contrary to the advice of the Ortom committee and others before it, executed a take-it-all-plot at the convention. This, he claimed, escalated the crisis within the PDP in the southwest. “What you are seeing now is the peace of the graveyard. People are now more aggrieved than they were before. I can also tell you the number of those aggrieved now is more than what it was. At least, you saw how Makinde dealt with Prince Oyinlola and his team at the convention, these were people supporting him all along,” he said.

    Another chieftain of the PDP, a former federal legislator, claimed that the silence of the Fayose group on the matter should not be taken as acceptance. “We saw how Eddy Olafeso was denied the right to contest against Makinde’s candidate in Abuja. This will not bring unity. The governor is not the only force to reckon with in Southwest PDP. The outcome of the Southwest zonal congress in which there was just 13 votes difference between the winner and the loser should be enough to prove that the two groups are strongly on ground,” he said.

    Aside from the happenings at the convention, critics of the governor are also citing the recent appointment of new Board of Trustees (BOT) members for the PDP ith all the five people appointed for the Southwest zone allegedly coming solely from the camp of Governor Makinde. “Anybody overlooking the interests of the likes of Fayose, Olafeso, Alh. Adebisi Olopoenia, Hon. Mulikat Adeola-Akande, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, Deji Doherty, Sunday Bisi and many other party leaders in the zone, is not considering the interest of the PDP,” he warned.

    The ratification of Soji Adagunodo, the embattled chairman of Osun PDP, as the South-West National Vice Chairman of the party, is regarded as another political move by Makinde in his quest to control the party in the zone. Adagunodo is an ally of the governor. He replaces Arapaja who has been elected Deputy National Chairman of the PDP. Adagunodo’s nomination was on Wednesday, November 17, ratified by the Southwest Zonal Executives of the party.

    But supporters of the governor are quick to point out the fact that Adagunodo’s nomination was arrived at after an extensive meeting of the Osun PDP elders and leaders which held at the Okuku residence of Oyinlola. “The leadership of the party in Osun indicated that the decision to nominate Adagunodo was approved by all the leaders and elders caucus in a meeting which held at the residence of the former governor. Part of the decision arrived at the meeting is the withdrawal of all pending court cases bordering on the leadership of the party in Osun, meaning that an amicable resolution to all the leadership disputes of the state chapter of the party has been arrived at,” a source added.

     

    Still aggrieved

    A former Governor of Oyo State, Hazeem Gbolarumi, former Majority Leader, House of Representatives, Hon. Mulikat Adeola-Akande, frontline PDP leaders in the state, including Alhaji Adebisi Olopoeyan, Femi Babalola, Nureni Akanbi, Michael Okunlade and many other aggrieved chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, are said to be unrelenting in their rejection of the governors leadership in spite of efforts by various committees to reconcile the two warring factions. At a recent meeting, their group passed a vote of no confidence in the leadership of the Governor.

    PDP leaders who spoke at the well-attended meeting which recorded participants from across the 33 local government areas of the state said the governors sidelined those that worked for his emergence and promised to work against him in 2023. During the meeting, some of the PDP members also asked Makinde to leave the party. “Members are assured that efforts are being made at the state and national levels to ensure that the ownership of PDP reverts back to members of the party. The meeting rose with the passing of vote of no confidence in the leadership of Engr Seyi Makinde on the Oyo State PDP,” the communiqué read in part.

    Following his loss to Arapaja at the convention, Oyinlola’s loyalists accused Governor Makinde of betraying the former governor. Party sources recalled that few weeks to the convention, Makinde had convened a stakeholders meeting where it was agreed that the position of the Deputy national chairman should be zoned to Osun state, with Oyinlola as consensus candidate.

    BoT member, Alhaji Shuiab Oyedokun, who confirmed the decision, said it was based on the fact that Oyo state had produced the zonal chairman. “Those of us who are elders here and are statutory delegates to the convention believe that with the division we have been nursing in Osun State for the past three years, Oyinlola seems to stand out as somebody who can be a rallying point to bring the two factions together. And Oyo already have Arapaja in office as zonal chairman of the party. The lot fell on Osun and we picked Oyinlola,” he recalled.

    Some sources in Makinde’s camp have explained that he decided to push Arapaja forward for the position allegedly because the stiff contest between Oyinlola and Professor Wale Oladipo could not be resolved in good time. But his critics are quick to remind him that the contest between Oyinlola and Oladipo was laid to rest before the convention with the latter agreeing to support the former’s ambition.

    The Osun State chapter of the party had announced the resolution of the contest twenty four hours to the convention in a document jointly signed by its chairman, Sunday Bisi, Oladipo, and Senator Ademola Adeleke. “After exhaustive deliberation on the forthcoming national convention of our party as it relates to the issue of post zoned to Osun state, we the elected and statutory delegates of PDP from Osan state resolve as follows: that the unwarranted, orchestrated and out-rightly illegal exclusion of Prof. Wale Oladipo from standing for election as Deputy National Chairman (South) is nothing but the rape of democracy.

    “The reason is to smuggle in a weak and pliable candidate into that exalted office knowing that Prof. Oladipo has the national reach to get easily elected at the convention. As a result of Prof. Wale Oladipo’s exclusion, Oyinlola remains the only aspirant from Osun state for the position of Deputy National Chairman (South) of our party at the convention. We vehemently oppose the attempt by Governor Seyi Makinde to hijack what has been micro-zoned to Osun State, after all.

    Oyo State already occupies the South West Chairmanship of the party, in the person of Amb. Arapaja, who is a member of the National Working Committee. We therefore, unanimously agreed that all elected and statutory delegates from Osun State to the PDP National Convention should cast our votes for Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola for the position of Deputy National Chairman (South),” the statement by the state chapter f the PDP had read.

    Thus, Oyinlola’s supporters aren’t ready to believe the argument. To them, the governor suddenly stopped trusting Oyinlola who had before then, helped him to overcome Fayose and other political adversaries in the zone. “It is nothing but betrayal. If Oyinlola had not mobilised other South-west leaders to back Arapaja for the position of zonal chairmanship, how could Makinde have had his way during the South-West Zonal congress in Osogbo?

     

    Makinde on track

    A chieftain of the PDP, Chief Wale Oladoja, has advised aggrieved members of the party to stop fighting an unjust course. He said Makinde showing aggrieved members of the party and even opposition the best way to play healthy politics. According to him, it is high time aggrieved party members embraced the olive branch extended to them by the governor. “Makinde as a successful businessman and politician has done it again. The outcome of the just concluded convention is enough to teach our aggrieved members and opposition a good political lesson. We need to join hands to build our party ahead of the 2023 general elections, for oppositions to know we are one big family, regardless of our internal wrangling. PDP is back in the hands of the founding fathers and our resourceful governors across the country,” he said.

    Oladoja congratulated the newly elected executive of the party, especially Arapaja, saying Governor Makinde had done what many governors couldn’t achieve in the fourth republic. “Our past governors in the fourth republic couldn’t install a top hierarchy of the NWC because of their selfish interest, but Makinde has done that in less than three years. This must be commended,” he added. The politician expressed confidence in the leadership of the Oyo state governor and urged his opponents to allow him steer the party to victory in the next general election.

    Similarly, the General Secretary of PDP in the South-West, Rahman Owokoniran, commended Makinde, saying the governor had made the party and the South-West region proud. According to Owokoniran, Makinde is a blessing not only to Oyo State, but the South-West region of the country. “His leadership of the party, his style of governance, his relationship and engagement with people are contributory factors to his success as a true leader,” he said.

    On Makinde’s role in the party, Owokoniran noted that his astute personality and skilful handling of delicate matters contributed in no small measure to the strengthening of the PDP in the zone. “He is a visionary leader who consults widely in decision making. Better yet, his ability to maintain excellent relationship is next to none. His genuine pursuit for peace has further led to his encouragement of PDP stakeholders and party faithful in the South-West to embrace peace and work in unity in preparation for winning 2023 elections,” Owokoniran stated.

    Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun, another chieftain of the party in the zone said Makinde has no inordinate ambition to lead the South-West caucus of the party, as his desire is to work with others towards a regional development. “Governor Makinde is all out for peace within the party and the South-West region, he has been working to use the unity among the leadership of the party in the region to create a hub of development and commercial growth, which other parts of the country will want to emulate. It is normal to see and hear some of these misconceptions about leadership tussle, but I tell you that it is going to fizzle out soon, what really matter is how to unite the leaders for the States to forge a common front for development of the people.”

  • BREAKING: Chelsea remain top after Man Utd force draw

    BREAKING: Chelsea remain top after Man Utd force draw

    Chelsea extended their lead at the top of the EPL to one point after a pulsating draw with Manchester United at the Stamford Bridge.

    The Blues went behind in the 50th minutes after Sancho capitalised on a defensive blunder by Jorginho to score a beautiful solo goal.

    Read Also: EPL: Starting lineup for Chelsea vs Man United

    Jorginho equalised from the spot in the 76th minutes after a controversial penalty call.

    The teams toiled in vain as Chelsea fluffed several scoring chances.

    Details shortly…