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  • Atiku, Saraki, doctors applaud WHO

    Atiku, Saraki, doctors applaud WHO

    Some stakeholders in the health sector on Monday described the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s declaration of Nigeria as Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) free country as commendable.

    Speaking  in separate interviews Dr Tope Ojo, the chairman, Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Lagos State chapter, said: “The declaration by WHO is highly commendable.

    “Our response to EVD outbreak was quite laudable, taking into consideration the fact that it took collaborative efforts on the part of the state and federal governments, partner agencies, and the public.

    “In spite of the strike we had then, we had many volunteers who worked to contain the disease. All of them are members of NMA.”

    Also speaking, Mr Avoseh Hodewu, the chairman, Lagos State House Committee on Health Services, said: “It is delightful to hear such positive and encouraging declaration from WHO.

    “For the WHO to declare Nigeria free of EVD is commendable. The past few months have been very turbulent because we were caught unawares.

    “Thank God for the Lagos State Government, Federal Government and other collaborations from agencies like WHO, UNICEF and Ebola Centre.

    Dr Sam Awolola, a medical researcher with the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Lagos, said Nigerians should maintain the achievements recorded in containing EVD.

    “EVD and other related diseases are big concern to public health. So, in the area of hygiene, Nigerians should continue with the level of hygiene imbibed so far.

    “This hygiene practice will keep diseases away from our environments.

    “The Isolation Centres should be used for more research works on other related infections and contagious diseases,’’ he said.

    “We cannot say final ‘hurray’ now because we still need to keep monitoring and improving on all health standards to ensure that we do not have cause to deal with EVD again,’’ he said.

    In declaring the country EVD-free, WHO stated “The lines on the tabular situation reports, sent to WHO each day by its country office in Nigeria have now been full of zeros for 42 days.

    “This is a spectacular success story that shows that Ebola can be contained.

    “The story of how Nigeria ended what many believed to be potentially the most explosive Ebola outbreak imaginable is worth telling in detail.

    “Such a story can help the many other developing countries that are deeply worried by the prospect of an imported Ebola case and eager to improve their preparedness plans.

    “Many wealthy countries, with outstanding health systems, may have something to learn as well.

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said despite Nigeria being declared an Ebola free nation, the country should not go to sleep yet until the last vestiges of the Ebola virus are destroyed.

    In a statement from his media office in Abuja, the former Vice President commended the successful eradication of The virus from the country, a feat he said, would change the negative perception of the country by the outside world.

    He said the Federal Government as well as the Lagos and Rivers States’ governments should be commended for this remarkable achievement in the face of the grimmest medical crisis that the country found itself.

    Atiku explained that the success is a clear indication that when leaders work together for the common good of the society, there was always a ray of hope for the nation and praised the medical personnel who participated in the battle to control the spread of the disease.

    Chairman Senate Committee on the Environment and Ecology, Senator Bukola Saraki in a statement in Abuja entitled :Proud to be a Nigerian. Together we defeated Ebola” said: “I join Nigerians all over the world to celebrate the World Health Organisation declaring our country ‘Ebola free’.

    “This is a significant achievement that must be celebrated by every Nigerian, regardless of what aisle of our numerous political divides that we stand on.

    “The way that we all came together to combat this disease makes me believe that together Nigeria stands as an unconquerable and indivisible nation.

    “We must all commend everyone that played a role in this victory, especially our healthcare workers that stood on the frontlines to halt the Ebola virus from spreading.

    “And as we do so, we must also remember the heroes – our dear and departed countrymen and women – who gave their lives in service of their nation, by maintaining the integrity of the medical profession.”

     

  • Atiku groups lobby Bauchi APC delegates

    Atiku groups lobby Bauchi APC delegates

    The Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation and Atiku Support Group are lobbying potential Bauchi State All Progressives Congress (APC) delegates to the presidential primary to vote for former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

    The groups, led by Mallam Abdulrazak Namdas and Alhaji Abdullrahman Jimeta, the former chief of staff to impeached Adamawa State Governor Murtala Nyako, said they were consulting with and lobbying party leaders and potential delegates in the six Northeast states to support Atiku.

    At a meeting with Bauchi APC leaders and potential delegates, Namdas said Nigeria needed a president that would develop it, unite Nigerians, address insecurity and resuscitate dead industries in the Northeast.

    He said Atiku had the best political structure across the country, adding: “With his strong political structure across the country, if given the APC ticket, Atiku will send President Goodluck Jonathan away in 2015.”

    Namdas urged prty leaders and delegates to critically weigh the chances of the three aspirants before handing over the party’s ticket.

    He said: “Nigerians are tired of the misrule of the present administration and their last hope is the APC. This is why the party’s leadership must be careful in selecting the presidential candidate.”

    Jimeta said: “Atiku is a national politician. He doesn’t know religion or ethnicity, North or South, he knows only one Nigeria. We urge you to give us your support so that together, we can bring about the desired change.”

    Bauchi APC Deputy Chairman Shuaibu Rahma said the party would be fair in its decision.

  • Atiku picks 2015 nomination form

    Atiku picks 2015 nomination form

    The Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Monday picks presidential nomination at the All Progressives Congress national headquarters in Abuja.

    With this development, he became the party’s first presidential aspirant to do so.

    Speaking before collecting his form, the ex-vice president urged the APC leadership to give those interested in contesting next-year’s election the opportunity of doing so.

    On consensus candidate for the party, Atiku warned against foisting any candidate on the party.

    “Actually I thought it was going to be a very quiet process and therefore, we quietly pay and quietly collect our forms. But we have been told that it requires a formal event like this. It is quite understandable because this is a party built on very solid democratic credentials of transparency, equity and justice.

    “I therefore feel privileged and honored to be part of this process. I need not let people know my political antecedents as far as the provision of a level playing field for every member of this party is concerned because that is the only thing that will make the difference between us and the so called ruling party.

    “Anybody who believes he has a democratic right to exercise should be given that opportunity to exercise that right. It is left to the members of this party and the Nigerian public to make a decision,” he said.

     

  • Photo: Atiku, Buhari at Okorocha’s daughter’s wedding

    Photo: Atiku, Buhari at Okorocha’s daughter’s wedding

  • Verdict delays PDP’s doomsday in Adamawa – Atiku

    Verdict delays PDP’s doomsday in Adamawa – Atiku

    Former Vice President and presidential aspirant of the All Progressive Congress, Atiku Abubakar, on Wednesday said the nullification of Saturday’s bye-election in Adamawa State by the Federal High Court, Abuja, has merely postponed the doomsday for the Peoples Democratic Party in the state.

    In a statement issued by his media office in Abuja, the former vice president said the people of Adamawa State were yearning for a change and were prepared to vote out the PDP on Saturday before the judgment.

    Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court had on Wednesday asked the Acting Governor of the state, Umar Fintiri, to vacate office, while directing the state’s Chief Judge to swear in the former Deputy Governor, James Bala Ngilari, as the substantitive Governor with immediate effect.

    Reacting to the ruling, Atiku said the PDP will still be booted out whenever the elections are held, because the people want a change in the state.

    He said, “The judicial verdict that may have tacitly cancelled the governorship by-election in Adamawa State for now was a painful development for the membership of the APC in Adamawa State.

    “As leaders of the party, we shall respect the verdict of the court, but we must be quick to say that the verdict has merely delayed the overwhelming desire of the people of Adamawa State to vote for change and thumbs down the PDP imposition on the people. Clearly we in the APC had the momentum and therefore an advantage going into Saturday’s election.

    “The people of Adamawa want a change. They expressed that desire throughout the nooks and crannies of the state as evidenced in the massive momentum going for the candidate of our party during the electioneering campaign.

  • Atiku to open Ekiti hospital

    Atiku to open Ekiti hospital

    Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, as part of activities marking the fourth anniversary of his administration, will  lead other eminent personalities to the Oba Adejugbe Hospital Complex in Ado-Ekiti today.

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is expected to be a special guest of honour at the event, will inaugurate the  300-bed hospital.

    Also billed for inauguration are the renovated general hospitals in Ijero and Okemesi by the former Governor of the Old Western Region, Maj-Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo (rtd).

  • Atiku welcomes Buhari to APC race

    Atiku welcomes Buhari to APC race

    Former Vice President and Presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has said that the task of rescuing the country is a duty tha leaders of the All Progressive Congress are committed to achieving.

    The former Vice President who welcomed the decision of former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari to join the contest for the opposition party’s ticket for the 2015 general elections said “the more individuals ready to be part of the mission to rescue the country, the better.”

    In a statement personally signed by the former Vice President, “Nigeria has floundered for far too long”, adding “people are yearning for a change and we must listen to them before they lose faith in the ability of their leaders to revive the country.

    “You will recall that during my declaration speech penultimate week, I did mention that my priority, if given the chance to run and serve as the President of Nigeria is addressing the issues of jobs creation and providing decent employment for Nigerians, especially the youths.

    “I believe that it is only when we can provide decent jobs for our young people, that we can have a hope for the decent future for our country. It is also not in doubt that of recent, successive administrations have failed woefully in building the infrastructure that can promote a healthy economy.

    “Our education system is in shambles, public health system is in virtual comatose, we have very poor network of roads totally at variance with the wealth of a country that is the seventh oil producer in the world.

    “I believe that the country has failed in these areas because of the excessive centralisation of functions and resources to the government at the centre. The government that the APC plans to lead in the next few months, by the grace of God, will be fully committed to devolution of powers and resources to the state governments in line with the manifesto of our great party.

    “I also plan to march this resolve with a full commitment to ensuring transparency in all sectors of our national life. I am equally disturbed about the way our people have been divided along ethnic and religious fault lines and how we are steadily and dangerously losing a sense of community where every Nigerian can live together without mutual suspicion.

    “I believe that the next president of our country, who by the grace of God will be produced by our great party, must be someone who is a unifier, bridge-builder and not someone who bears ethno-religious bias. Above all, he must embody a vision of a Nigeria for all.”

    “I have no doubt in my mind that we both share a common concern about rescuing our country from the deadly grip of the PDP and it is on this note that I do warmly welcome him on board in this very important national rescue mission. I look forward to meeting him in an open, free and fair contest for the ticket.”

  • 2015: Atiku needs good luck!

    SIR: Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar says he is the most investigated Nigerian.  Why not?  It is either because he is the most tainted Nigerian or he is the most victimised Nigerian under the sun.  But, of course, he cannot be denied the cap of being the most dogged fighter in the political arena since 1999, having, as it were, fought his former boss, now friend, Olusegun Obasanjo, to a standstill and still lives to tell the story.  Atiku is not only a giant killer, he is also one that knows how to kill generals politically. He did it to Obasanjo, Ibrahim Babangida; and Minister of Defence, General Aliyu Mohammed Gusau.

    One was a former Head of State and former President; another, a former military President; and the other, a security chief of immense connections.  Who says Atiku has not got financial and political clout? But he may soon add another General to the feathers in his cap when he rubbishes former Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari, if he makes the mistake of running in a primary with the tested politician.  And that is it!  None of these men is politically wily enough to beat this politician who is playing on a turf he knows better than them.  They are soldiers, trained in the art of violence, but Atiku is a kettle of fish they cannot contend with.

    Only fellow politicians can neutralise Atiku in a political game. Ask Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and he will tell you how he neutralised the former Vice President in the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).  Atiku ran away from the ACN, politically bruised and bloodied.  Ask Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the sitting president who made political mincemeat of Atiku.  Atiku may have political brains and brawns, he lacks the humility and the cunningness of the zoologist with a truck load of good luck from on high.

    Atiku says he has what it takes to bring people together and turn things around for better, adding that his decision to run for President was borne out of the need for good governance; but the question remains, what did he do with the four years he ran the country while his former boss was gallivanting round the world seeking to impress the international community rather than build a nation?  It is no longer news that it was his activities in those four years that had made him the most investigated Nigerian. And that is when he was number two; what will happen if he has four years as the country’s chief executive and commander-in-chief?

    Other than his fellow political traveler, Buhari, Atiku stands out as the only one who has contested the nation’s highest political office the most since 1999.  But if he is not careful as before, he will have his nose rubbed in the mud again because he has no good luck.  Good luck, for now, resides elsewhere in Asokoro District of Abuja.

    • Chika Onuora

    Asokoro, Abuja

  • Photos of the week

    Photos of the week

  • How Nigeria can be great again, by Atiku

    How Nigeria can be great again, by Atiku

    Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar threw his hat in the ring yesterday, becoming the first member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to announce his intention to seek the party’s ticket to run in the February 14, 2015 presidential election.

    The APC has said it will use the modified open primaries system to pick its candidates for the general elections.

    Atiku, vice-president between 1999 and 2007, in the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo-led administration, ran for president in 2007 on the platform of the Action Congress (AC), a party that metamorphosed into the Action Congress of Nigeria (AC N), one of the legacy parties that fused to form the APC.

    Claiming to be the most experienced man for the job, Atiku said at the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja that security of lives and property and fixing the economy will be on top of his table if he gets his party’s ticket and wins the general election.

    Some of the APC leaders at the event were Senate Minority Leader George Akume, who represented members of the APC Senate Caucus, former Yobe State Governor Bukar Abba Ibrahim, a former member of the House of Representatives, Dino Melaye, APC governorship candidate in the October 11 election in Adamawa state, Senator Jibrilla Bindow, Chairman of the APC in Adamawa State, Hon. Binat Koji and the Director- General of the Atiku Campaign Organisation and former Education Minister Prof. Babalola Borishade

    Atiku is worried that Nigeria is more divided today than it was during the civil war between 1967 and 1970, with a disturbing rise in ethnic nationalism and religious bigotry as insecurity and disharmony thrive.

    He lamented that the gains recorded by the Obasanjo administration had been eroded by the Jonathan administration, with everything practically working backwards.

    He said “good leadership is what it takes to make good things happen”, stressing that the glaring mismatch between the nation’s potentials and its achievements has become for many a frustrating puzzle; for others a topic for national debate; and yet for another group, it is doomsday lament.

    Atiku lamented that while the Obasanjo administration paid off nearly half of the nation’s foreign debt, the Jonathan’s has continued to borrow more money when the price of oil has consistently been above $100 per barrel since its inception.

    Implementation of the budget, he said, has continued to be on the decline since capital projects are poorly cash backed. Some major manufacturing firms have divested from the country while the remaining ones have continued to operate far below installed capacity due mainly to poor infrastructure, the appointment said.

    Atiku continued: “The environment for doing business and our ranking in world competitive index have worsened. Therefore, job opportunities for our teeming youths have become harder to come by. We recall with sadness the avoidable death of job seekers during the poorly-organised so-called Immigration Service recruitment exam just last year. Up to this moment, no one has been held accountable for those needless deaths.

    “Resentment, disillusionment and hopelessness are the emotions on which insecurity and disharmony thrive. Our country is more divided today than at any other time since the civil war.

    “There is a disturbing rise in ethnic nationalism and religious bigotry. This is promoting social tension and mutual distrust amongst the people of Nigeria. All over the country, there are daily breaches of security resulting in loss of lives and property.

    “Armed robbery kidnapping and human trafficking continue to ravage many parts of the country. A bunch of extremist insurgents are hoisting flags on large areas of our territory, claiming to have conquered. Unspeakable horrors are now being committed daily against our people by anti-social elements in the name of religion and other causes.”

    The APC chieftain explained that the government has a responsibility to do everything possible to halt the dehumanisation of Nigerians, adding that rather than do that, “what we have is a serious deficit”. “To put it bluntly, our country seems to be on auto pilot with no one in charge,” Atiku said.

    He added: “We need a strong, dynamic, decisive, competent and visionary leadership that can halt the current drift of state fight corruption, create jobs, rebuild our infrastructure, provide social services and tackle insecurity in a decisive, robust, multi-pronged way.

    “This is the change we want. And deserve and this is the change the APC is primed to offer. And that is why I am a proud member of the platform for change. To fix Nigeria, an APC government will promote a new social political order, which will compel the leadership to always balance power and authority with service and accountability.”

    While admitting that people have asked him many times why he is always seeking to be President, Atiku  said: “My passion for governance is that of a man who wants to do more because there is much to be done in fixing Nigeria. This passion continues to grow as long as this government is not really doing the fixing.

    “I have what it takes to bring people together and turn things around for the better. Therefore, I want to play a leading role in the trans-generational efforts to save this country and improve the lives of our people.

    “With the support of the millions of Nigerians desirous of change and the hardwork by all of us, the APC shall form the next government of this great nation. I have, therefore, decided that I will, along with other respected leaders of our party seek nomination as a candidate of the APC to contest the presidential election of 2015.”

    “I want to lead a government that will rebuild the institutions of governance with zero tolerance for corruption and nepotism, where hard work and dedication are adequately rewarded,” he said.

    The former Vice President extolled the virtues of the APC, saying “at its inception in July 2013 offered great hope for many Nigerians as a potent alternative to the ruling PDP”.

    “Regardless of the loud and lavish political propaganda, deceit, official impunity and unjust applications of powers of patronage and sanction by the PDP administration, let me assure you that our party remains strong and capable of fulfilling the nation’s thirst for change,” he told his audience.

    On leadership, Atiku said: “Some people have argued for a generational shift to get leaders without much experience. However, I believe that it is the responsibility of my generation to offer our political shoulders to the new generation to climb upon, improve their vision and expand their horizon.

    “It is this trans-generational collaboration and partnership that represents the best model to create the future we desire and deserve. This is a well-tested model and the future of this nation should never again be subjected to leadership experimentation or learning on the job”.

    Security operatives drafted to maintain the peace at the venue almost created a stampede at the gate, refusing to allow people in and for over 20 minutes. Reporters and delegates pushed and shoved against the gate until it was forced open.

    The Atiku Abubakar hall of the Yar’Adua Centre was too small for the guests who took over the lobby. Canopies were provided outside the hall.

    An elderly man suspected to be a pick pocket was arrested by some youths and beaten up efore the police came to his rescue and whisked him away.