The Nation Newspaper

Category: Abuja Review

  • Director hails minister, Perm Sec on prudent management

    Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello and Permanent Secretary, Sir Christian Chinyeaka Ohaa have been commended for ensuring prudent management of financial and human resources.

    FCT Director of Treasury, Ismaila Ishiaku disclosed this while speaking with members of the FCT press corps who were in his office at the FCTA secretariat to celebrate his 59th birthday.

    Referring to the FCT Minister, Ishiaku recalled that Bello came in (office) determined to positively and quickky turn things around.

    He said, “He came in with the feeling of a government that wanted to do things differently. So he was in a hurry to see that things were changed. Thank God his efforts were complimented by the present Permanent Secretary Chinyeaka Ohaa who also is an accountant and has had a stint or an interface with politics.

    “Thank God for my fitting in, in my relationship with him, because the fact of the matter is that loyalty cannot be lopsided…either by any of the tendencies that tend to divide Nigeria. Loyalty is absolute, it is for the interest of Nigeria. That, I must thank him, for accepting me, for us to work together, and for the progress we are making.”

    Speaking about the vagaries of managing a lucrative treasury, The DOT said: “Being put in charge of finances of a big organization like the FCT Administration exposes us to a lot of challenges from both the high and mighty in the society, including politicians and the big business persons from the private sector.

    He however, warned that it behooves on them to work as a team, be honest, transparent, diligent, accountable and incorruptible in office and ensure attainment of government goals through effective service delivery.

    “So frankly speaking, the few years we have ahead maybe so stressful in maintaining our reputation…to make sure that whatever the temptation, we realise that the future is better than now so we cannot destroy it”, he warned

    Speaking about his staff and colleagues, the treasury director went philosophical: “I must thank my staff. I have only two eyes in my front; no eyes by my side; no eyes behind, so their honesty, sincerity and patience are very important.

    “We are supposed to be mature, such that I can guide them, so they too can guide me. If I fail, they have also failed; if there is lack of transparency here, it is all of us that are liable. We are old enough to make sure that the names we have built over a long period of time are not destroyed overnight, and we have children who will bear our names, because if my child is coming to apply for journalism, you will automatically look at him with that mindset.

    The FCT Treasury boss also hailed the media, particularly the FCT Press Corps for always being objective in their reportage of the FCT activities and programmes, adding that because of the objectivity and profeasional journalism devoid of fake news, the FCT Administration was always put on its toes and on the right path in its effective service delivery and world-class infrastructural provision.

    Chairman of the FCT Press Corps, Ikharo Attah who spoke earlier, extoled the virtues of the director and pledged that the Corps would maintain objectivity and balance and be professional in its duties.

  • Six-man committee probes woman’s death at hospital

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has inaugurated a committee to investigate the circumstances leading to the death of Miss Kafayat Abdul-Azeez at Asokoro Hospital about two weeks ago.

    The six-member committee headed by Dr. Evans Onyekele, Director, Medical and Diagnositics, Health and Human Services Secretariat (HHSS) is to, among other things, thoroughly investigate the detailed management of the deceased and determine its adequacy or otherwise.

    Also, the committee is mandated to determine any evidence of negligence in her management on the part of any members of the team that managed her, as well as recommend appropriate sanctions where necessary on any staff found negligent.

    According to the HHSS Director of Adminstration and Finance (DAF), Alhaji Abdulraheem A. Musa who formally inaugurated the committee on behalf of the HHSS Secretary, Adamu Bappah, the committee has two weeks to submit its report.

    Read also: Court remands woman for alleged manslaughter

    Bappah added that the committee is to recommend necessary measures to address any significant fallout from the investigation to forestall similar occurrences in the future; and make any recommendations, which in the view of the committee would enhance the quality of care provided in FCT hospitals.

    Responding, chairman of the committee thanked the Secretariat for deeming it necessary to investigate the unfortunate incident.

    He assured the FCTA of the committee’s commitment to carry out its terms of reference within the stipulated two weeks’ timeframe.

  • Moving to next level

    The coast is now clear for President Muhammadu Buhari and his team to take Nigeria and Nigerians to the next level of governance.

    Nigerians in the past four years have gone through some restructuring pains as a result of the administration’s claim of clearing the mess left behind by the 16-year rule of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Preparing for its campaigns last year towards reelection for another term of four years, the Buhari administration promised that it was poised to take Nigeria to the next level.

    It claimed that it had laid the necessary solid foundation and made substantial progress in the past four years, especially in the three main areas of security, economy and fighting corruption.

    Launching the ’Next Level – APC Road Map’ and flagging off it’s 2019 election campaign on the 18th of November, 2018, Buhari said “The next four years will be quite significant for our country. Nigeria is faced with a choice to keep building a new Nigeria- making a break from its tainted past which favoured an opportunistic few.

    Our choices will shape us – our economic, security and our future prosperity. Nigeria, more than ever before, needs a stable and people-focused government to move the agenda for our country forward.

    “Four years ago, we promised Nigerians real change – in what we do and how we do it. Nigerians sent a clear message in the last election, and our platform offered a new, ambitious plan for a secure, prosperous and corruption-free country.

    “We have worked hard to fulfill our promises – and while the road may have been difficult, over the last three and a half years, we have laid the foundations for a strong, stable and prosperous country for the majority of our people.

    “Foundational work is not often visible, neither is it glamorous – but it is vital to achieving the kind of country we desire. Judging by the prior depth of decay, deterioration and disrepair that Nigeria had sunken into, we are certain that these past few years have put us in good stead to trudge on the NEXT LEVEL of building an even stronger nation for our people.

    “First things had to come first. We were a nation at war – but we delivered on our commitment to secure the territorial integrity of our nation in the face of a raging insurgency that devastated many parts of the Northeast. We liberated 17 Local Government Areas from the grip of insurgency. Brokering and sustaining peace in the Niger Delta has also been crucial to stabilising the polity.

    “Despite the difficult circumstances presented by weak oil prices and reduced oil production, we delivered on our commitment to make public investments to spur economic growth, job creation, and broad-based prosperity. Agriculture continues to expand our economic base, as do our investments in our deficient infrastructure across the length and breadth of this nation.

    “We implemented a responsible and transparent fiscal plan for the challenging economic times that saw us doing more even with lesser oil revenues.

    “The past history of grand-scale corruption perpetuated by the highest office in the land has been nipped in the bud just as the Treasury Saving Account has made it more difficult for ministries, departments and agencies to exercise the unrestrained liberties that helped foster a climate conducive to corruption.

    “Now, for the first time, investments in capital projects to expand infrastructure continue to connect people, goods and opportunities by rail, road and air,” he said.

    He said, “Through the National Social Investments Programme, we are providing direct support to over 12 million Nigerians who need it by giving relief and assistance to unemployed youth, our children, the weak and vulnerable as well as small and medium businesses.

    “But even as we lay the foundation for a stable and prosperous nation, we acknowledge there is still much work to build on. The next level of effort has an immense focus on job creation.

    “From an enlargement of the N-Power programme to investing in technology and creative jobs to Agriculture and others, there is scope for 10 million new jobs.

    “The march away from a mono-economy must continue with our focus on an industrialisation plan coming to fore. With specific plans underway to exploit the comparative advantage of the geo political zones and different states by developing 6 Industrial Parks and 109 Special Production and Processing Centres (SPPCs) across each senatorial district, our incremental move away from oil dependence is assured. In addition, our development of the Special Economic Zones will quickly concretise our Made in Nigeria for Export (MINE) plan.

    “To sustain food production and value addition, our mechanisation policy for agriculture will make tractors and processors easily accessible and available for farmers across Nigeria. We will continue a wide scale skilling policy, prioritising technology to reach the demography of young people within the productive sector on a massive scale even as we create jobs and growth within our economy.

    “We believe that our people who are still in poverty have a direct way out and up through our expanded National Social Investments Programme. We believe we can implement the painstaking and comprehensive work we have done to bring an end to the perennial conflict between farmers and herders- a conflict which is heightened by a struggle for land, water and pasture and the effects of climate change and every now and then, opportunistic and cynical manipulation by political actors.

    “We are implementing a blend of measures that ensures that justice, order, modernisation and new economic paradigms emerge,” he added.

    The President then also added “Perhaps our biggest ambition yet is the overhaul of our education sector. Every child counts – and simply, whatever it takes to prepare our teachers, curriculum and classrooms to attain the right educational goals that grow our country, will be done.

    “We will remodel 10,000 schools every year and retrain our teachers to impart science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics using coding, animation, robotics to re-interpret our curriculum.

    “We know that, to succeed, moral integrity and conscience must continue to form the dominant character of our nation and its leadership. Corruption is an existential threat to Nigeria.

    “Despite the gains we have made in closing the gates, we know that there is still much ground to cover to stop systemic corruption. We are committed to deepening the work we started this first time such that the nation’s assets and resources continue to be organised and utilised to do good for the majority of our people. Join us on this journey to the NEXT LEVEL of a prosperous, strong and stable Nigeria!” the President said while unveiling his plans for Nigeria last November.

    Apart from the natural love many Nigerians have for President Buhari, it’s believed that the next level promise must have made more Nigerians go all out to give their votes to President Buhari and another four years in the saddle.

    So, directly or indirectly, they contributed massively to the final outcome of the 2019 Presidential election.

    The February 23, 2019 election results as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) last Wednesday, had given Buhari 15,191,847 votes against 11, 262, 978 for the People’s Democratic Party Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

    After getting the fresh mandate, President Buhari, showing that the ‘next level’ promise was not just made to win election, still harped on his desire to move Nigeria to the next level.

    Speaking last Wednesday after receiving the certificate of return from the Chairman of the INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Buhari said: “I am grateful to God for sparing our lives to witness another milestone in Nigeria’s democratic development – namely conclusion of the Presidential election in an overwhelmingly peaceful manner.

    “I therefore want to assure that we will continue to engage all parties that have the best interest of Nigerians at heart. Our Government will remain inclusive and our doors will remain open. That is the way to build the country of our dream; safe, secure, prosperous, and free of impunity and primitive accumulation by those entrusted with public offices.

    “The hard work to deliver a better Nigeria continues, building on the foundations of peace, rule of law and opportunities for all. We will roll up our sleeves afresh, and give it our all. We have no other motive than to serve Nigeria with our hearts and might, and build a nation which we and generations to come can be proud of.

    “I am very grateful to the over 15 million citizens who voted for me, those who contributed in many ways in the running of our successful campaign, and those at home and abroad who expressed confidence in me and the APC Government. I thank you all.

    “I can assure that you will see a country moving to the Next Level, as we consolidate on our fundamental areas of securing the country, reviving the economy, and fighting corruption.

    “Many other focal areas, as stated in our campaign manual, will be added, to the good things we plan for our country,” he stated

    With the mandate given to rule for the next four years, it is hoped that the pains to Nigerians, which came through reshaping of the various sectors in the last dispensation, will soon be over.

    Also the solid foundation being laid and progress made in the various sectors should begin to make Nigerians reap the great dividends of democracy.

    Not only should poverty be urgently eliminated among Nigerians, they should begin to enjoy opportunities and benefits corresponding to the huge natural resources Nigeria is blessed with.

     

  • Ballot box palaver

    One of the greatest issues that engaged the polity last week was the Presidential directive on ballot box snatching.

    President Muhammadu Buhari had last week Monday ordered security agencies to ‘ruthlessly’ deal with ballot box snatchers and trouble makers during last Saturday’s Presidential, Senate and House of Representatives elections across the country.

    A ballot box can be described as a temporarily sealed container, usually a square box, and sometimes a tamper-resistant bag, with a narrow slot in the top sufficient to accept a ballot paper in an election.

    But the ballot box is constructed in a way that it prevents anyone from accessing the votes cast until the close of the voting period when it is sorted out and counted.

    There is no doubt that there would be distortion in the final total election result for the polling unit, the state and the nation at large, wherever such ballot box is snatched or destroyed before its content is sorted out and counted.

    Such wicked action could also lead to the declaration of wrong candidates as winners, against the will of the people.

    To ensure they eventually win elections, dubious and desperate politicians were in the habit of masterminding and sending their foot soldiers to snatch and destroy ballot boxes, especially in the areas their opponents may likely have an edge.

    But to ensure that the vote of every voter counts at the end of the elections, the President gave the ‘ruthless’ directive at the All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus meeting in Abuja last Monday.

    At the opening session of the meeting, Buhari said “I do not expect anybody to cause any disturbance. The security agencies have identified hot spots and flashpoints and should be prepared to move. We have made as much arrangement as possible for them as much as the country can afford.

    “Anybody who decides to snatch ballot boxes or lead thugs to disturb the process, maybe that will be the last unlawful action you will take.

    “We have directed the military and other security agents to be ruthless. We are not going to be blamed that we want to rig elections.

    “I want Nigerians to be respected and let them vote whoever they want across the parties. I am not afraid of that. I went round the 36 states and the FCT and I think I have enough support across the country…

    “So, I want to warn anybody who thinks he has enough influence in his locality to lead a body of thugs to snatch ballot boxes or disturb the voting system, he will do it at the expense of his own life.” he stated

    But those opposed to the directive felt that the President was inviting anarchy.

    They also felt that anybody caught snatching ballot box should not be killed but made to face the laws of the land.

    Topmost of this group was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus, who spoke at the party’s 84th National Executive Committee (NEC) last Wednesday in Abuja.

    They urged the security agencies not to obey the President’s directive.

    Secondus said “By that directive, ordering soldiers to kill our citizens without recourse to the law and with impunity, the President has unwittingly given license to APC leaders to carry military personnel on Saturday.

    “The agenda of that directive is clear; to scare away voters and agents, that we have directed to defend their votes, so as to give way to a military protected political thugs to come into the polling booths, and implement their result replacement strategy.

    “The President’s body language alongside that of his party hierarchy appeared remorseless for the damage done to our democracy or the huge private and public resources wasted by the inability of APC hawks acting as contractors and consultants to allow INEC to operate.

    He said, “I can indeed make the conclusion, that from inception, President Buhari, was not ready for free and fair elections, otherwise he would easily have signed the amended Electoral Act, which would have enabled peaceful and hitch free elections in 2019.

    “President Buhari’s disregard for institutions of states, which started with the attempt of the Executive to hijack the Legislature, has continued unabated, with the illegal suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Onnoghen, and the swearing in of an acting CJN.”

    Senate President and Director General of Atiku/Obi Campaign Organisation, Bukola Saraki, last Thursday said that the directive has shown that President Buhari is not a democrat, rather a dictator.

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan also added his voice against extra-judicial killings in the country.

    Jonathan said “Anytime someone dies extra-judicially it reduces the integrity of the country. So, if our security personnel are interested in peace, especially during this electioneering, then they must do everything to suppress extra-judicial killings; because when one person is killed unlawfully, it affects everyone.”

    But the National Leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu corrected the wrong impression created on the President’s directive.

    He said “I was in that meeting; the President was just reinforcing the fact that if you are out there snatching ballot boxes, and causing destructions, you are at risk of your own life.

    “Whatever happens to you; no President will give an order that his own citizens should be shot summarily, No! No, its okay, emotions are running high these days. Any individual including myself can be misinterpreted.

    “These are not his words; he is a law abiding person and he understands categorically and clearly what rule of law is and the lives of individual citizens, that he is in that office to protect.

    “Now, let me run this; he has been fighting Boko Haram, kidnappers and all these before this election, did you hear him asking them to be shot and executed summarily?

    If he has gone through that in the last five years, please give him a benefit of the doubt.” he said

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, also pointed out that the PDP was becoming jittery based on their reactions to the President’s directive.

    He said “This sounds like members of the opposition, specifically the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who have perfected plans to rig the elections and to snatch ballot boxes.

    “They can tell that President Buhari is not prepared to tolerate their antics this time around, and they are afraid. They have shown their intent.

    “Let’s just have free and fair elections and no one need worry about anything. Snatching ballot boxes often entails putting the lives of innocent Nigerians at risk.

    “About 10 years ago, evidence was brought before an election tribunal from one of the states in North Central of the gruesome killing of 26 prospective voters by ballot box snatchers.

    “Their modus operandi is well known. They storm election venues in commando style, overwhelm the law-enforcement agents and seize ballot boxes leaving a trail of death and injury.

    “Anyone who dares to put the lives of innocent citizens at risk in their desperation to rig elections must be prepared for the possibility of losing their own lives because our security agents will certainly not stand by, clap for them and watch them kill and maim.” he stated

    Despite the presidential directive on snatching of ballot boxes, there were however reported cases last Saturday of snatching of ballot boxes in parts of  the country.

    It is hoped that by now the 2019 Presidential, Senate and House of Representatives elections ballot boxes across the country would have been allowed to majorly determine the true will of the people.

    Those boxes snatched and the boxes burnt in some areas last Saturday are hoped won’t significantly affect the total outcome of the elections results.

    The ballot boxes should also be allowed to freely determine ‘who and who’ becomes state governor and member of the various State House of Assembly in the next sets of elections.

  • Diabetes on the rise in Abuja

    According to a report, over 5.5 percent of the country’s population is suffering from diabetes. Diabetes is one of the major problems in the world that is connected with how food is broken down in the body. In some cases, it predisposes the sufferer to heart diseases.

    Medical practitioners in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have confirmed that diabetes is on the rise in Abuja, which they believe is due to lifestyle changes

    This was revealed when the International Centre for Islamic Culture and Education (ICICE) embarked on a humanitarian medical outreach to Karu Village in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    Head of the medical team, Dr. Amina Kumalia said her team noticed an increase in cases of diabetes and hypertension in patients who came for the free medical outreach, adding that the team kept referring cases they could not handle due to their meager resources to hospitals close to the patients.

    She said, “What we notice usually is that patients are always hypertensive and diabetic. So far what we have been diagnosing on patients is usually hypertension followed by diabetes, peptic ulcer and then the most common is malaria which we know is very endemic here.

    “When we consult and see patients here, cases that we cannot manage here, we refer them to hospitals around their areas where they live. Presently, we see that cases of diabetes are on the increase in the country and this is due to our lifestyle changes, it has become very common because most foods we consume now are processed.”

    Director, External Affairs, Research and Consultancy for the International Centre for Islamic Culture and Education (ICICE), Garba Sani explained that the organisation had collaborated with the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to provide the needs of communities in the FCT.

    He added that the humanitarian effort that has been going on for three years goes into communities, check the things needed in some communities and try to meet their needs as best as they can.

    He said, “As a centre we provide a lot of social, charity and security activities in the country including provision of food, clothing, medical outreaches and many other supports. This here is just one of the things we do; we go around localities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) providing such needs as the free medical services.

    “This is not our first outing; we have been doing this for the last two to three years and we have gone to a number of communities. In fact this is the second time we are returning to this community in a year and half. We pick communities anywhere around the FCT, we go in, assess the situation in terms of local facilities there, then we return with our medical team, volunteers and medications as well as other support services.

    “As a centre one of our objectives is to develop, improve and support the socio economic development of communities around us, we pick on areas that will make the most impact. Usually our target is to reach about 500-600 people but sometimes we have more patients than medications available or time to do it.

    “We are mot selective with who with partner with, we simply go around and develop collaborations with embassies, institutions, individuals and organizations with similar objectives of supporting our efforts. In future we hope to improve on the number of charitable activities and carter for more people.”

    One of the beneficiaries, Fatima Suleiman said, “I came so that they will check me and see what is wrong with me, so i will wait patiently for my turn and see the doctors. I will like to appreciate the organisers for this opportunity.”

  • Ballot box palaver

    One of the greatest issues that engaged the polity last week was the Presidential directive on ballot box snatching.

    President Muhammadu Buhari had last week Monday ordered security agencies to ‘ruthlessly’ deal with ballot box snatchers and trouble makers during last Saturday’s Presidential, Senate and House of Representatives elections across the country.

    A ballot box can be described as a temporarily sealed container, usually a square box, and sometimes a tamper-resistant bag, with a narrow slot in the top sufficient to accept a ballot paper in an election.

    But the ballot box is constructed in a way that it prevents anyone from accessing the votes cast until the close of the voting period when it is sorted out and counted.

    There is no doubt that there would be distortion in the final total election result for the polling unit, the state and the nation at large, wherever such ballot box is snatched or destroyed before its content is sorted out and counted.

    Such wicked action could also lead to the declaration of wrong candidates as winners, against the will of the people.

    To ensure they eventually win elections, dubious and desperate politicians were in the habit of masterminding and sending their foot soldiers to snatch and destroy ballot boxes, especially in the areas their opponents may likely have an edge.

    But to ensure that the vote of every voter counts at the end of the elections, the President gave the ‘ruthless’ directive at the All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus meeting in Abuja last Monday.

    At the opening session of the meeting, Buhari said “I do not expect anybody to cause any disturbance. The security agencies have identified hot spots and flashpoints and should be prepared to move. We have made as much arrangement as possible for them as much as the country can afford.

    “Anybody who decides to snatch ballot boxes or lead thugs to disturb the process, maybe that will be the last unlawful action you will take.

    “We have directed the military and other security agents to be ruthless. We are not going to be blamed that we want to rig elections.

    “I want Nigerians to be respected and let them vote whoever they want across the parties. I am not afraid of that. I went round the 36 states and the FCT and I think I have enough support across the country…

    “So, I want to warn anybody who thinks he has enough influence in his locality to lead a body of thugs to snatch ballot boxes or disturb the voting system, he will do it at the expense of his own life.” he stated

    But those opposed to the directive felt that the President was inviting anarchy.

    They also felt that anybody caught snatching ballot box should not be killed but made to face the laws of the land.

    Topmost of this group was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus, who spoke at the party’s 84th National Executive Committee (NEC) last Wednesday in Abuja.

    They urged the security agencies not to obey the President’s directive.

    Secondus said “By that directive, ordering soldiers to kill our citizens without recourse to the law and with impunity, the President has unwittingly given license to APC leaders to carry military personnel on Saturday.

    “The agenda of that directive is clear; to scare away voters and agents, that we have directed to defend their votes, so as to give way to a military protected political thugs to come into the polling booths, and implement their result replacement strategy.

    “The President’s body language alongside that of his party hierarchy appeared remorseless for the damage done to our democracy or the huge private and public resources wasted by the inability of APC hawks acting as contractors and consultants to allow INEC to operate.

    He said, “I can indeed make the conclusion, that from inception, President Buhari, was not ready for free and fair elections, otherwise he would easily have signed the amended Electoral Act, which would have enabled peaceful and hitch free elections in 2019.

    “President Buhari’s disregard for institutions of states, which started with the attempt of the Executive to hijack the Legislature, has continued unabated, with the illegal suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Onnoghen, and the swearing in of an acting CJN.”

    Senate President and Director General of Atiku/Obi Campaign Organisation, Bukola Saraki, last Thursday said that the directive has shown that President Buhari is not a democrat, rather a dictator.

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan also added his voice against extra-judicial killings in the country.

    Jonathan said “Anytime someone dies extra-judicially it reduces the integrity of the country. So, if our security personnel are interested in peace, especially during this electioneering, then they must do everything to suppress extra-judicial killings; because when one person is killed unlawfully, it affects everyone.”

    But the National Leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu corrected the wrong impression created on the President’s directive.

    He said “I was in that meeting; the President was just reinforcing the fact that if you are out there snatching ballot boxes, and causing destructions, you are at risk of your own life.

    “Whatever happens to you; no President will give an order that his own citizens should be shot summarily, No! No, its okay, emotions are running high these days. Any individual including myself can be misinterpreted.

    “These are not his words; he is a law abiding person and he understands categorically and clearly what rule of law is and the lives of individual citizens, that he is in that office to protect.

    “Now, let me run this; he has been fighting Boko Haram, kidnappers and all these before this election, did you hear him asking them to be shot and executed summarily?

    If he has gone through that in the last five years, please give him a benefit of the doubt.” he said

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, also pointed out that the PDP was becoming jittery based on their reactions to the President’s directive.

    He said “This sounds like members of the opposition, specifically the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who have perfected plans to rig the elections and to snatch ballot boxes.

    “They can tell that President Buhari is not prepared to tolerate their antics this time around, and they are afraid. They have shown their intent.

    “Let’s just have free and fair elections and no one need worry about anything. Snatching ballot boxes often entails putting the lives of innocent Nigerians at risk.

    “About 10 years ago, evidence was brought before an election tribunal from one of the states in North Central of the gruesome killing of 26 prospective voters by ballot box snatchers.

    “Their modus operandi is well known. They storm election venues in commando style, overwhelm the law-enforcement agents and seize ballot boxes leaving a trail of death and injury.

    “Anyone who dares to put the lives of innocent citizens at risk in their desperation to rig elections must be prepared for the possibility of losing their own lives because our security agents will certainly not stand by, clap for them and watch them kill and maim.” he stated

    Despite the presidential directive on snatching of ballot boxes, there were however reported cases last Saturday of snatching of ballot boxes in parts of  the country.

    It is hoped that by now the 2019 Presidential, Senate and House of Representatives elections ballot boxes across the country would have been allowed to majorly determine the true will of the people.

    Those boxes snatched and the boxes burnt in some areas last Saturday are hoped won’t significantly affect the total outcome of the elections results.

    The ballot boxes should also be allowed to freely determine ‘who and who’ becomes state governor and member of the various State House of Assembly in the next sets of elections.

     

  • Diabetes on the rise in Abuja

    According to a report, over 5.5 percent of the country’s population is suffering from diabetes. Diabetes is one of the major problems in the world that is connected with how food is broken down in the body. In some cases, it predisposes the sufferer to heart diseases.

    Medical practitioners in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have confirmed that diabetes is on the rise in Abuja, which they believe is due to lifestyle changes

    This was revealed when the International Centre for Islamic Culture and Education (ICICE) embarked on a humanitarian medical outreach to Karu Village in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    Head of the medical team, Dr. Amina Kumalia said her team noticed an increase in cases of diabetes and hypertension in patients who came for the free medical outreach, adding that the team kept referring cases they could not handle due to their meager resources to hospitals close to the patients.

    She said, “What we notice usually is that patients are always hypertensive and diabetic. So far what we have been diagnosing on patients is usually hypertension followed by diabetes, peptic ulcer and then the most common is malaria which we know is very endemic here.

    “When we consult and see patients here, cases that we cannot manage here, we refer them to hospitals around their areas where they live. Presently, we see that cases of diabetes are on the increase in the country and this is due to our lifestyle changes, it has become very common because most foods we consume now are processed.”

    Director, External Affairs, Research and Consultancy for the International Centre for Islamic Culture and Education (ICICE), Garba Sani explained that the organisation had collaborated with the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to provide the needs of communities in the FCT.

    He added that the humanitarian effort that has been going on for three years goes into communities, check the things needed in some communities and try to meet their needs as best as they can.

    He said, “As a centre we provide a lot of social, charity and security activities in the country including provision of food, clothing, medical outreaches and many other supports. This here is just one of the things we do; we go around localities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) providing such needs as the free medical services.

    “This is not our first outing; we have been doing this for the last two to three years and we have gone to a number of communities. In fact this is the second time we are returning to this community in a year and half. We pick communities anywhere around the FCT, we go in, assess the situation in terms of local facilities there, then we return with our medical team, volunteers and medications as well as other support services.

    “As a centre one of our objectives is to develop, improve and support the socio economic development of communities around us, we pick on areas that will make the most impact. Usually our target is to reach about 500-600 people but sometimes we have more patients than medications available or time to do it.

    “We are mot selective with who with partner with, we simply go around and develop collaborations with embassies, institutions, individuals and organizations with similar objectives of supporting our efforts. In future we hope to improve on the number of charitable activities and carter for more people.”

    One of the beneficiaries, Fatima Suleiman said, “I came so that they will check me and see what is wrong with me, so i will wait patiently for my turn and see the doctors. I will like to appreciate the organisers for this opportunity.”

  • Let peace reign

    It is no longer news that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the early hours of Saturday unexpectedly announced a shift in the 2019 Presidential election which was slated for the day, and March 2, 2019.

    But the postponement no doubt left many Nigerians surprised as they had already prepared themselves to vote for candidates of their choice in the first sets of the election.

    Their plans for the following day before they slept last Friday night changed when they woke up on Saturday morning. They were faced with the realities on the ground: no election.

    Announcing the postponement, the INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu had attributed his action to challenges including logistics, poor weather, fire incidents and overwhelmed Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in the last-minute rush.

    He said: “Following a careful review of the implementation of its logistics and operational plan and the determination to conduct free, fair and credible elections, the Commission came to the conclusion that proceeding with the elections as scheduled is no longer feasible.

    “Consequently, the Commission has decided to reschedule the Presidential and National Assembly Elections to Saturday, 23rd February 2019. Furthermore, the governorship, state House of Assembly and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council elections is rescheduled to Saturday, March 9, 2019.

    “This will afford the Commission the opportunity to address identified challenges in order to maintain the quality of our elections. This was a difficult decision for the Commission to take, but necessary for the successful delivery of the elections and the consolidation of our democracy,” he said.

    It should also not be lost on Nigerians that the former INEC Chairman, Attahiru Jega, who conducted the 2015 general elections, described as the freest in Nigeria, at some point had to shift the election due to some challenges, just like he did during the 2011 general elections.

    But reactions to the latest postponement appeared to be dividing the political parties more.

    In their first reactions after the announcement, none of the major political parties publicly identified with or supported INEC in its latest decision. The electoral umpire appeared to be standing alone.

    Also before last Saturday, there have been accusations and counter-accusations, especially between the two major parties claiming that the other party has bought over the INEC.

    This trend continued during the reactions to the postponement of the elections on Saturday.

    The main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) immediately rejected the postponement.

    PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus, maintained that the postponement was a deliberate pre-determined agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari to cling on to power and a grand design by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to thwart the will of Nigerians at all cost.

    “The party will not accept anything short of a well-organised electoral process devoid of manipulation, harassment and intimidation of voters and the opposition particularly members of the PDP.

    “Having failed in all their nefarious options to enable them cling on to power, the APC and the INEC came up with the idea of shifting election an action that is dangerous to our democracy and unacceptable.”

    In the same vain, the PDP Presidential candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, said “This postponement is obviously a case of the hand of Esau but the voice of Jacob. By instigating this postponement, the Buhari administration hopes to disenfranchise the Nigerian electorate in order to ensure that turn out is low on the rescheduled date.

    “Nigerians must frustrate their plans by coming out in even greater numbers on Saturday, 23 February and Saturday, March 9, respectively.

    “Knowing that the Nigerian people are determined to reject them, they are desperate and will do anything in their power to avoid their rejection by the Nigerian people.

    “Their plan is to provoke the public, hoping for a negative reaction, and then use that as an excuse for further anti-democratic acts.

    “As such, I call on all Nigerians to be patient. We have tolerated the maladministration of this government for four years. We can extend our tolerance a few more days and give them our verdict via our votes,” he stated.

    The ruling party, APC, apart from adding its voice to the condemnation of the postponement, also expressed surprise at the development.

    A statement by APC Presidential Campaign Council (Official Spokesperson) and Director of Strategic Communications,

    Festus Keyamo said “We have just received with great disappointment and disillusionment the announcement by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of its decision to postpone the Presidential/National Assembly and Gubernatorial/House of Assembly Elections to Saturday, February 23, 2019 and Saturday, March 9, 2019, respectively.

    “We condemn and deprecate this tardiness of the electoral umpire in the strongest terms possible. President Muhammadu Buhari had since cooperated fully with INEC by ensuring everything it demanded to conduct free and fair elections were promptly made available to it.

    “This news is therefore a huge disappointment to us and to our teeming supporters nationwide and around the world, many of whom have come into the country to exercise their franchise.

    “We do hope that INEC will remain neutral and impartial in this process as the rumor mill is agog with the suggestion that this postponement has been orchestrated in collusion with the main opposition, the PDP that was NEVER ready for this election.

    “We note that all the major credible demographic projections have predicted a defeat of the PDP and it seriously needed this breather to orchestrate more devious strategies to try and halt President Buhari’s momentum. It did the same as the ruling Party in 2015, when it realized the game was up, by orchestrating the postponement of the 2015 elections by six weeks. Now, it may be up to its old trick again.

    “We have earlier raised the alarm that the PDP is bent on discrediting this process the moment it realized it cannot make up the numbers to win this election. We are only urging INEC not collude with the PDP on this.

    “We are truly worried because as early as Friday morning, some known PDP Social Media influencers unwittingly announced this postponement, but quickly deleted the message and apologized to the public that it was fake news. We do not want to be forced to a situation of announcing our  total loss of confidence in INEC, because we know where that would leave our democracy,” he stated.

    Buhari, who had to cut short his trip to his home state, Katsina State on Saturday, said “I am deeply disappointed that despite the long notice given and our preparations both locally and internationally, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) postponed the Presidential and National Assembly elections within hours of its commencement.

    “Many Nigerians have traveled to various locations to exercise their right to vote, and international observers are gathered.

    “INEC themselves have given assurances, day after day and almost hour after hour that they are in complete readiness for the elections.  We and all our citizens believed them.

    “This administration has ensured that we do not interfere in any way with the work of INEC except to ensure that all funds were released to the commission.

    “We now urge INEC to ensure not only that materials already distributed are safe and do not get into wrong hands, but that everything is done to avoid the lapses that resulted in this unfortunate postponement, and ensure a free and fair election on the rescheduled dates.

    “While I reaffirm my strong commitment to the independence, neutrality of the electoral umpire and the sanctity of the electoral process and ballot, I urge all political stakeholders and Nigerians to continue to rally round INEC at this trying national moment in our democratic journey.

    “I, therefore, appeal to all Nigerians to refrain from all civil disorder and remain peaceful, patriotic and united to ensure that no force or conspiracy derail our democratic development,” he said.

    It’s very important for the stakeholders, even after the postponement announcement, to continue to respect the first and second National Peace Accord signed by the candidates of the various political parties.

    Noting that millions of people across the world were praying for Nigeria and its people, the Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland had said during the second peace accord signing ceremony last Wednesday: ”It is a burden that Nigerian leaders gathered here today carry. We call on their party, supporters and public to follow their lead. Elections will come and go, but this great Nigeria will remain.”

    Peace should be maintained at all costs, and just like President Buhari noted during the peace accord signing, Nigeria is the real party, and must be protected.

  • FCTA to employ 500 health workers

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has said that it would employ 500 health professionals to improve service delivery to residents and visitors of the Territory.

    Secretary, Health and Human Service Secretariat, Adamu Abubakar Bappah dropped this hint during inspection of FCTA hospitals and other health facilities in Kubwa General Hospital.

    The Secretary revealed this while responding to requests on employment of more staff for the hospitals, a request that was also made by all the generally hospitals visited by the Secretary and his teams, with a special request for priority to be given to locum or casual staff already rendering services to the hospitals.

    Bappah who disclosed that the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello has already given the Secretariat go ahead to employ, however, appealed for patience from job seekers, explaining that not all of them from the FCTA’s 14 hospitals would be absorbed because their number was quite high. He added that other Nigerians too would be considered.

    On the abandoned accidents and emergency unit in Bwari General Hospital, Bappah said he relied on a suggestion from Head of Works, Hospital Management Board, Effiong Ita to revoke and re-award the project, adding that the earlier contractor died.

    He directed that representatives of the late contractor be called for a meeting with the view to revoking and reawarding it.

    In all the hospitals that requested expansion and acquisition of modern facilities to shore up service delivery, the Secretary pointed out that most of the hospitals lacked space for expansion, promised that the Administration would consult with appropriate authorities with a view to expanding the structures.

    Bappah also paid homage to traditional leaders of Bwari: Sarkin Bwari, Awwal Musa Ijakoro II, and Esu of Bwari, Ibrahim D. Yaro (JP), and solicited their cooperation and support for government hospitals within their domain, which they all obliged and promised to sensitise their subjects on the need to visit only hospitals for treatment and births.

    The team never had it tough until it got to the palace of the Agaba of Jiwa, Alhaji Idris Musa. The fearless and flamboyant royal father who does not mince words, almost scolded the team and the FCT Administration, accusing them of abandoning his ancient chiefdom in the provision of basic amenities, especially health facility.

    The royal father urged the FCTA to provide his area with at least a secondary hospital.

    He said, “It is a shame that as a polio ambassador, I do not have any hospital within my domain. My people are dying, our women and children are dying, and the government is not doing anything. Look at the access road, in case of emergency, how can anyone survive in trying to access Kubwa or Gwarinpa general hospitals.

    “And this is where you have the international timber and building materials market and others. Railway is just 5km away from here.”

    Speaking on plans by the FCTA to relocate him, the royal father warned: “Then you want us to move to where? It will be anarchy because there will be problems between us and the people already living where you want to take us to. We are not going anywhere. We want integration”.

    According to rhe traditiinal leader, lack of government healtj facility within his area has been responsible for proliferation of quack health personnel such as pharmacists, medicine stores and even medical doctors, whom apart from worsening his people’s health conditions, carry abortions, which sometimes led to death.

    The traditional ruler also regretted that Jiwa chiefdom which dates back to 1450 and has a clinic which was established in 1944, but has not been improved upon and has become grossly inadequate due to population increase.

    The royal father therefore tasked the Secretary to quickly apprehend and punish, particulrly the two identified offenders in Jiwa, one of whom the Agaba revealed was suspected to be the same one who disappeared from Kwali and  ran to Jiwa to continue his quack practice when authorities clamped down on such illegal practice there, following an earlier tip of from the Etsu of Kwali, Dr. Shaban Audu Nizazo III during a recent visit.

    The Secretary therefore directed the relevant authority to investigate, fish out and punish the offenders accordingly.

    While responding, Bappah pledged: “Your requests will be looked into with all seriousness”, adding that he would table same, and those of other traditional rulers and medical directors, to the FCT Minister for further action.

    Bappah also commissioned a newly constructed pharmacy unit at Gwarinpa General Hospital and charged the staff to continue to support the medical directors in the delivery of health care service to the people.

  • Why would a man set himself, kids ablaze?

    A man prepares his house as a death chamber where he and his two children burn to death. Neighbours wonder why, FRANCA OCHIGBO

    On December 27, 2018 when people were busy with the euphoria of Christmas and New Year festivities, a man was busy planning his death and that of his family members.

    On December 26, he was sitting with neighbours outside his apartment chatting and at the same time sending the kids to buy firewood for him.

    The neighbours said it never occurred to anyone that the man was going to take his life through any means.

    While they were still outside chatting, he called refuse collectors to ask how much they would buy his sleeping mattress. They bargained and settled at a certain amount. The mattress was sold. Even with that no one suspected or even imagined his intentions.

    Mr. Adakole Ocheke was over 60 years of age, and resided in a village in Nasarawa State, a suburb close to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    He was married with three children, one of them grownup, the other two children. He was of the Idoma tribe in Benue State.

    According to neighbours who were eyewitnesses, a few days to his death between December 24 and 27, 2019, he insisted that his wife move out. She opted to stay with one of the daughters who had just given birth, leaving the man alone with the two kids. It never occurred to her that the husband was planning anything dangerous.

    “Now after selling his mattress, he got cartons [cardboards] to sleep on. When it was night time, they all went in to sleep; he slept on the carton on the ground, and made fire with the wood he bought earlier in the day. The fire was burning when they went to bed. Because he did not have a mattress anymore he had to sleep on the carton on the floor, how the fire ended up burning down the whole house, with him burnt to ashes, the two kids holding each other, bonded and found dead in the morning, is still a mystery no one can explain.

    “The only thing neighbours heard was shout for help at midnight and not coming from his bedroom but from the son’s bedroom. By the time they got there, his side of the bedroom had burnt down completely. They were actually looking for his corpse when they saw ashes gathered on the ground and realised that it could be him, and that he had sold his mattress earlier in the day.

    “The fire was so much that they had to first look for means of getting into the room, they saw the two children bonded together in death; it was the smoke that killed them, their bodies completely intact. The man being who he was, according to neighbours, would never allow the children to open the door. Knowing he would die, he must ensure he did not die alone, witnesses said.

    Neighbours who spoke with The Nation testified that he never provided money for housekeeping, because the wife complained perpetually of negligence, saying if not for her children it would have been hell. The two kids that died with him hardly ever ate. They were very malnourished.

    The only person he managed to take care of is his second wife who lives across the road. She had never been to his house; he went to meet her. Those who knew her said she is younger than the mother of his children who is in the same house with him. He bought things for her, took care of her needs. Even after his death while people were running all over to arrange for his burial and all that, the woman never showed up.

    Some neighbours said may his soul rest in peace; others said his soul cannot rest in peace because of his level of wickedness. While some said he killed himself, others said they are not sure he did.