The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Gang-up

  • Gang-up against Buhari won’t stand, says Presidency

    THOSE ganging up against President Muhammadu Buhari are wasting their time, his Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity Garba Shehu said yesterday.

    He declared that no amount of gang up against the President in the build-up to February 16 presidential election will stand.

    In a statement, Shehu reminded the groups that are ganging up to stop the president’s re-election bid of the futility of their plans, saying their plot will fail as it did in 2015.

    He said: “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is hiding in the bunker of ethnicity to avoid their inevitable defeat but that won’t change anything.

    “The current scenario resembles efforts to stop Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 by the same characters. It is an effort to repeat the old experiment that failed is 2015.

    “They failed to stop him from coming to power in 2015 and they will fail yet again on February 16. If all these groups are ganging up against one person, that is President Buhari, it tells you who is the formidable candidate in the election.

    “This gang up they forged, one more time will change nothing. It is for the people to decide.”

  • Gang up ’ll fail, says Buhari as Obasanjo endorses Atiku

    They’ll lose together, says Presidency

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday endorsed his one-time deputy, Atiku Abubakar, for president — after scorning him relentlessly as unfit for the job.

    But in a swift reaction, the Presidency described it as a gang up that won’t stand.

    On his Twitter handle, presidential spokesman Femi Adesina tweeted: “The harder they come, the harder they fall. 2019 presidential election on my mind.”

    In a statement, the Senior Special Assistant (Media and Publicity) to the President, Mallam Garba Shehu, said Obasanjo and Atiku would lose together in next year’s election.

    At his sprawling Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, Obasanjo, who had in the past vowed never to back Atiku, yesterday made a U’ turn and tipped the Turaki Adamawa for the top job.

    He said he had forgiven Atiku.

    Atiku, who picked the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) presidential ticket at its convention in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital on Sunday, was in Abeokuta to seek Obasanjo’s blessing for next year’s election.

    He went with Presiding Bishop of the Living Faith Church (aka Winners Chapel), Bishop David Oyedepo, Sokoto Catholic Diocese Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah and Kaduna-based Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmed Gumi.

    Others in his entourage were PDP National Chairman Uche Secondus, former Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke, former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel and former Deputy National Chairman of PDP Bode George.

    Lagos lawyer Chief Ayo Adebanjo led his faction of the Yoruba socio-political group Afenifere, to the meeting. It was the second time in 48 hours that he was leading the group to Obasanjo’s home.

    Obasanjo, who once said “God will not forgive me if I support Atiku” explained that the former vice president “has rediscovered and repositioned himself”.

    He and Atiku, he said, had reviewed what went wrong between them, adding that his former stand on Atiku was not personal but based on what he had done against the PDP and the country.

    Obasanjo had accused Atiku of corruption and disloyalty.

    The elder statesman, however, said Atiku had apologised and “I have forgiven him”.

    He said: “From what transpired in the last couple of hours, you have shown remorse, you have asked for forgiveness and you have indicated that you have learnt some good lessons

    “ You have also promised to mend fences and make amends as necessary and as desirable.

    “Whenever or wherever you might have offended me, as a Christian who asks for God’s forgiveness of my sins and inadequacies on a daily basis, I forgive and I sincerely advise you to learn from the past and do what is right and it will be well with you.

    “Obviously, you have mended fences with the party and fully reconciled with the party.

    “ That’s why today, you are the presidential candidate of the party.”

    Obasanjo advised Atiku to appreciate all that the PDP had done for him, imploring him to work with all other presidential aspirants as a campaign team.

    The former president noted that there were still national and international fences for Atiku to mend.

    “ I am convinced that if you continue with the attitude that brought you here with these distinguished leaders of goodwill, with remorse and contrite heart, the rest of the coast within and outside the country can be cleared.

    “And if there is anything I can do and you want me to do in that respect, I will do.

    “I am sure with the right attitude for change where necessary, and by putting lessons learned by you to work, you will get the understanding, cooperation, support and mandate of Nigerians.

    “ With Nigerians voting for you, it will mean that you secure their forgiveness and regain their confidence.

    “It will be with the hope or assurance of a Paul on the road to Damascus Conversion. After all, change and conversion are of man and I believe that with a contrite heart, change is possible in everybody’s life and situation.

    Obasanjo noted that among all PDP presidential aspirants, Atiku possessed the widest and greatest exposure, experience, outreach and possibly the best machinery for seeing the “tough and likely dirty campaign ahead” through.

    He claimed that Atiku has a better understanding of the economy than others.

    “You surely understand the economy better and you have business experience, which can make your administration business-friendly and boost the economy and provide jobs.

    “You have better outreach nationally and internationally and that can translate to better management of foreign affairs.

    “You are more accessible and less inflexible and more open to all parts of the country in many ways.

    “As Pastor Bakare, one-time running mate of the incumbent President said, ‘You are a Wazobia man.’

    ”And that should help you in confronting the confrontable and shunning nepotism.

    ”As you know, along the road to where you are today, many leaders and ordinary people cooperated and overtly and covertly worked hard.  On your behalf, I thank them all.  May their coast continue to be expanded.

    ”And when you become Nigerian President which, Insha-Allah, you will be, remember what we did together in government – we ran an administration by Nigerians for all Nigerians where merit and performance count more than blood relationship, friendship or kith and kin.

    “Although some time and ground have been lost, you should endeavour to start from where we stopped and recover some lost ground, if not time.

    Please uphold truth, integrity, principles, morality and fight corruption, crimes and insurgency.

    “ The fundamental law of the land, our constitution must be scrupulously defended. I make one demand and one demand on you today, I need you to say before God and man that you will always remain irrevocably committed to upholding all the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the whole country will remain your single indivisible constituency.

    ”Constitutionalism, popular participation and inclusiveness are pre-conditions for reversing the deficits of the past three-and-a-half years. They will ensure abiding faith in our indivisibility, oneness and faith in the survival of all against none.

    ”The fundamentals for our development, economic growth and progress are hard and soft infrastructure.  Remember to always give adequate places in your administration to our youth and women.

    “All the authorities involved with the preparations, all processes and conduct of the election must ensure that the election is free, fair and credible.

    ”Once again, congratulations and I wish you well.  My distinguished brothers and leaders of goodwill, thank you for making this happen.  I will now count on you to encourage all hands to be on deck to take Nigeria to the level God has created it to be – autopilot level. God bless you all and God bless Nigeria.”

    Obasanjo advised Atiku to run an inclusive government where merit and performance count more than blood relationship, friendship or kith and kin like they both did between 1999 and 2007

    In his opening remarks, Atiku described the meeting as historic for him, Obasanjo and Nigeria.

    He reiterated that he could not have become relevant without the training and tutelage from Obasanjo’s leadership.

    Atiku, who described the day as one of the happiest days in his life, said it was time for well-meaning Nigerians to come together for the repositioning of the country on the path of unity and prosperity.

    He pledged to dedicate and commit his tenure, if elected as president, to the continuation of the Olusegun Obasanjo- led administration.

     

  • ‘I am not product of gang up against Obiano’

    ‘I am not product of gang up against Obiano’

    Ochudo Martin Agbaso of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) spoke to reporters in Lagos on the party’s crisis. He claimed that Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, entered into an agreement to do just one term in office. Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu reports

    A lot has been said about recent developments in APGA, but is it true that after 2007 governorship election, you abdicated and abandoned your stakes in APGA?

    You don’t have your records right. After 2007, I was in court for four years fighting the injustice that was meted to me. And when the case finally came to an end at the Supreme Court, I helped APGA win election in 2011, when we won two seats to the National Assembly, both at the senate and congressional levels and won the governorship by defeating an incumbent. So, it is not true that I left in 2007, and abdication is not the right word because it is not a throne.

    But there is this report that Governor Rochas Okorocha bargained with you in 2011 to contest the governorship on APGA ticket?

    He did not approach me to cede whatever rights. In fact, what people don’t know, but which I have started discussing in the last few days, is that my battle with Rochas (Governor Okorocha) for the heart and soul of APGA in Imo State, our governorship tussle at the primary, were the fiercest political battle I had ever overcome in my career; because, it was violent, it was just crazy.

    It was towards the end of that tussle that we now relied on the National Working Committee to decide on whose list of delegates should be upheld. Because, basically, he came into APGA and had some people compromised against me; I am synonymous with APGA. He came in from Action Alliance or whatever party; they gave him a line up. So, the issue was whose list of delegates was NWC going to approve? The only time I accepted to work with him was when Victor Umeh told me that Rochas has compromised all the members of the NWC from Imo North, and we have twelve local government councils in Orlu zone out of the 27. Umeh said all the 12 chairmen from Orlu had been compromised, in addition to a few other key people that (Umaru) Shinkafi brought, had been compromised; that the best bet was for me to make peace with him (Okorocha). I told him I wanted us to fight all the way, but he (Umeh) said it was not necessary. Of course, at that time a lot of water had gone under the bridge. Umeh now brokered “the peace” that put Rochas on the slot for four years. He (Okorocha) was to be governor for four years and hand over to me after the first four years. I was to provide the deputy and in my turn, he would provide the deputy. Again, I was to use my structure; this is in an agreement and I can avail you a copy; and also provide funding. That after four years, he also would provide the structure and funding to help me become governor.

    That was the agreement. And we had just two hours to decide on that because at that point we were speaking at about 1.00pm and the NWC meeting that was going to determine our fate was holding by 4pm. So, by the time we had finished the preliminary discussions, I had two hours. I consulted with two or three stakeholders within my (campaign) organisation and people that I knew very well, as well as, my family. Everybody’s attitude was, leave this whole thing and just walk away; it is not worth it, you can see that people you relied on have betrayed you. That Umeh in particular has betrayed you, because what he is telling you that others were compromised, he was the key person that was compromised. As National Chairman, he would have over-ruled those other persons. But, in any case, I have deep-rooted affection for APGA. I said if I walk away, APGA will lose the election, rather let us go and fight. That was what happened. And of course, there was no pecuniary considerations, no money exchanged hands. If anything, I was the one that spent money; I brought the money that was invested in the campaign and the structure.

    Are you suggesting that Governor Okorocha left APGA just to dishonour the agreement he entered into with you?

    I cannot speak for Rochas, but all I know is that from the day one that we reached that agreement, his motives were less than honorable. I don’t think he wanted to keep that agreement.

    Was that also why he caused the impeachment of your younger brother as his former deputy?

    Absolutely! My younger brother worked very well with him, never did anything wrong; they were best of friends. But, because of the agreements that we had, he needed to find a reason to walk away from the agreement.

    What happened to the money in question at that time?

    Well by my training I don’t chase shadows. What was important for me then was to prove to the world that as an Agbaso, my brother will not take bribe, an Agbaso stands firm. I needed to prove that to the world that my brother had nothing to do with the (alleged) bribe money. Of course, I hired forensic auditors who investigated the matter and the money was traced to another person and in Lebanon and Dubai. The records are still there and I can avail you of a copy. It is in the public domain, all over the place and on the internet. The issue should have been how come the authorities never did anything about Imo State money they discovered in Dubai and Lebanon in HSBC bank accounts?

    Is the current crisis in APGA not related to your nomination? 

    What happened in 2004 between Victor Umeh and Chekwas Okorie was completely different. Umeh took two members of NWC and concocted a meeting that they had sacked Chekwas and took over. APGA constitution is that when you suspend a National Chairman, the next in line from the same zone automatically takes over. Umeh was the National Treasurer and Maxi Okwu, the Deputy National Chairman (South). He (Okwu) would have been the next in command, but they out-maneuvered him. Of course, he was not from Anambra State, that was the reason given at that time and he played into their hands. It is a totally different thing. In my case, Oye convened a meeting of the NWC on his own and members of the NWC- I was not a member of NWC- tendered a 13-point charge against him, some of them bordering on criminality, selling nomination forms on cash basis and never reported it to the party. Those issues are being investigated now. So, those are the things his fellow NWC members raised and he could not defend himself. A seven man disciplinary committee was set up to find out from him why he did what was alleged and they affirmed the charges, saying that his answers were not satisfactory. And they suspended him from office, alongside his two deputies, who were his cohorts in that case, because he was running the party as a personal enterprise. So, when he was not leaving the office and still parading himself as national chairman, the NWC, under the leadership of Ozo Nwabueze Okafor, took him to court. They asked the High Court in Abuja, incidentally same Court, where Chekwas and Umeh’s case was thrashed; to order Oye to stop parading himself as chairman and vacate the office. He refused to do that on the grounds that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter. The court ruled that it had jurisdiction and he appealed against that ruling. The appeal has been adjourned to December 14, 2017. Now it was at that point that these gentlemen started exerting pressures in search of someone with enough muscle, character and capacity to turn APGA into a national party, because APGA as a national party cannot be controlled by a small cabal who are just using it as a meal ticket led by Victor Umeh. So they pleaded with me to join the battle to save APGA.

    When they suspended Oye, Ozo Nwabueze Okafor, who was National Vice Chairman, from Enugu State, took over and nominated me as Acting Deputy National Chairman. Unfortunately, on January 8, 2017, Ozo Nwabueze died. We buried him. After his funeral and all that, naturally, as nature abhors a vacuum, on January 30, 2017, I accepted the position of Acting National Chairman. We compiled all these records and sent to INEC. Having waited one week, two weeks, one month and INEC was not reacting, APGA and all its chieftains in Enugu, where this thing happened, went to court, asking the honourable court to determine if due process was followed to arrive at the point where Agbaso is now our Acting National Chairman, and if we acted according to the guidelines and constitution of APGA? We went back and forth and the court, on May 22, 2017, issued an order of mandamus, which is a mandatory order, compelling INEC to recognise me as the authentic Acting National Chairman of APGA.

    INEC and police appealed the matter naturally, and Oye applied to join as an interested party. At the second sitting, INEC withdrew, followed by police through a motion that being a party affair, they had no interest in the matter. Oye now prayed the court to vacate or stay that order. When you stay an order, it means stop the execution. The court weighed the merits of the application and aligned with the decision of the lower court, by affirming that the court took very competent action. That is where we are.

    Are you not a product of gang up against Governor Willie Obiano’s second term?

    If you know my antecedents, I have no time for that kind of thing. I am a beneficiary of God’s mercies; why should I go plotting for another person’s downfall? All I am looking forward to is a way to ensure that APGA becomes a truly national party that will observe internal democracy and run the party the way it should be run, so that it becomes an all-inclusive party and all those who were aggrieved could return. We have lost about 90 percent of our membership and I want to bring them back. People like Peter Obi, Senator Uche Ekwunife; we lost four members of House of Representatives in one day, because of poor leadership. We need to bring all those people back. And we cannot keep running around Anambra. We have to win positions in South-East, South-South and we need to get into the North and Western Nigeria and win positions. In each of the 774 local government councils, if you remove the indigenes, the next in population are Igbo. So, there is no way we cannot take advantage of that mass of people, for the benefit of the party. That is what we are trying to do. I have no interest in vilifying anybody.

    What do you want to do differently in APGA? 

    First of all, all these arguments, skirmishes, law cases and all, I believe will come to an end very soon because there is nothing that has beginning that doesn’t end. APGA has history. These are all strangers. This Oye only got his party membership card the day he was nominated for chairmanship. That day, Victor Umeh wrote it. His party card was not signed by his ward chairman or secretary. It was signed by Victor Umeh, who issued him with the card at the convention ground. There are many people who witnessed that, not just two or three persons. They are living witnesses. So, technically, he (Oye) has only been in APGA for fourteen months before he was suspended. The day he became National Chairman was the day they issued him membership card. So when a character like that talks about Martin Agbaso being a stranger in APGA, it is laughable: a man that has contributed immense financial and human resource into APGA, a man who is synonymous with APGA and won the first congressional seat for APGA in 2003. In 2007, I got elected in the freest and fairest governorship election in this country, but it was canceled and I suffered because of APGA for four years. In 2011, I won for APGA through a proxy, when Okorocha came in, one senatorial seat, through Chris Anyanwu and others. Then here is a man who has never brought one vote for APGA so far, talking about Martin Agbaso being a stranger. Look at Labaran Maku, a character from nowhere, whose tenure in APGA is less than two years. So, technically, apart from these strangers who don’t have the DNA of APGA, who don’t even know how APGA was founded, who don’t know the vision of APGA, we would have closed ranks already, in the old APGA fashion. But, going forward, my assignment when we are through with Anambra election is to carry our message of hope to Nigerians. Look for Nigerians that are completely disenchanted; and there are quite a lot of people you find in that category, who are looking for good governance, who want due process, access to infrastructure, good education, good health; who want windows of opportunities to be opened for their children. Those are the people, who are naturally APGA. And it doesn’t matter what part of this country you are coming from, once you are in that category, you are an APGA. That is the platform we are bringing so that we can have a healthy country, a robust country, where opportunities abound, where it wouldn’t matter where you come from, as long as, you are a Nigerian, you enjoy clear equal opportunity whether you are man or woman. That is the vision of APGA and that is the message we would be taking throughout the country in the coming months.

  • ‘Gang-up against Amaechi devillish’

    ‘Gang-up against Amaechi devillish’

    A former Rivers State Transport and Aviation Commissioner, Glory Emeh, has condemned the alleged politics of blackmail among top politicians in the state against former Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

    The ex-commissioner described the development as a wicked and primitive setback for the state.

    Emeh, who spoke at the weekend with Airport correspondents in Port Harcourt, the state capital, expressed concern that rather than promote brotherly love and truthfulness, such people indulged in the politics of calumny.

    He said: “What we are seeing today is alien to our state and its people. We have never experienced this height of unnecessary hatred, in a game that our forbearers, in their days, made very attractive and inviting.”

    Emeh, who was also a Chief of Staff in the Rivers State Government, said there was no justification in law, facts and morality for the gang-up against Amaechi.

    The former commissioner said those behind the campaign of calumny against Amaechi would incur God’s wrath.

    He said: “Our laws are clear on when someone is confirmed guilty of an offence, which attracts sanctions. This is why Senate President Bukola Saraki is still presiding over the affairs of the Senate, despite the fact that he is on trial in a court of competent jurisdiction. I believe there are no two types of rule of law. A person is considered innocent until he is found guilty, even when his trial has begun.

    “If Dr. Saraki continues to keep Amaechi waiting because he is expecting a report of a spurious petition, it means that he also should vacate his seat in the Senate until his case at the Code of Conduct Bureau is determined.

    “It is interesting to note that in the case of Amaechi’s confirmation for the ministerial appointment, the spokesperson for the Senate has since confirmed that the report of the Ethics and Privileges Committee is ready and has also cleared Amaechi for screening. He stressed that the report is a one-line document, which explains that the matter in question is in court and, as a standing rule in the Senate, it will amount to subjudice, if the Senate entertains any petition on such matter.”

     

  • April 11 Poll: Ondo PDP, APC gang up against Mimiko’s candidates

    Indications emerged yesterday that old members of the People Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Ondo State have concluded plans to work together for the success of the candidates of the APC in the next week state assembly elections.

    It will be recalled that the since the defection of Governor Olusegun Mimiko from Labour Party (LP) to PDP in October 2014, the party in the state has not witnessed peace.

    The crisis rocking the party became deepened when two factions of the party held parallel primaries.

    One of the aides of the state chairman of the APC in the state,Mr. Ayodele Olawande, who spoke on behalf the chiarman of the party, Hon. Isaac Kekemeke, confirmed that the chairman is in a meeting with the Old PDP members led by business mogul, Barr.Jimoh Ibrahim.

    Olawande confirmed that the APC in the state is forming a coalition with the PDP members to ensure that the APC secure majority in the state assembly.

    Since the defection of  Mimiko to the PDP, Ibrahim has spearheaded a suit seeking the rejection of the candidates of  Mimiko’s faction.

    The coalition between the old PDP and the APC further confirms the rumples between Governor Mimiko and Barrister Ibrahim.

  • Gang-up against Jega

    2015: No gang up (gang-up) against Jega-Ondo REC”

    “Niger, Chad troops launch ground, air strike against Boko Haram” International news: Nigerien, Chadian troops…

    “Flying Eagles (by the way, are there eagles that do not fly?) start off on bright note, silences (why?) Junior Lions”

    National Mirror of February 16 comes next this week with four blunders: “…does the situation in Anambra State justify the huge resources that has (have) come into the state since then?”

    “Yero deploys security operatives to (in) Southern Kaduna.”

    “So it is high time Nigeria begins (began) to….” Put differently, it is time Nigeria begins to….

    “Suarez: biting more than he can chew” This way, ThisDay: biting off more than he can chew.

    “Aregbesola’s phone thief bags 45 years jail” All the Facts, All the Sides: 45 years’ jail term

    “Lawmakers pass vote of confidence on (in) Ikuforiji” Confidence in (not on) somebody-the ‘passing’ should not confuse anyone. For those who may not know, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji is the speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

    “The issue of who occupies what political position in the country and under (on) which platform appears….”

    “In advanced (an advanced) democracy like the US….”

    “Dearth of funding slow job creation efforts” Business & Finance: …slows down job-creation efforts

    “The Alade Market incidence (incident)….”

    “Unknown gunmen raid bank, kill three policemen, two others” Yank off ‘unknown’!

    “The same pattern of foreign excesses and Nigerian laxity obtains when the operations of some foreign firms in Nigeria is (are) considered.”

    “Minister commissions (inaugurates) Kwali micro-finance bank”

    “Zonal election into sports federations hold (holds) today”

    “The NGF election has polarized the 36 states (state) governors into two (sic) camps….” Just camps!

    “…I had lot of contracts with many corporate organizations.” Global soccer: a lot of contracts or lots of contracts (depending on context).

    “But industrial relations experts are apprehensive that currently the rate of strikes are (is) undeniably alarming.”

    “Strike actions: Lawful but inexpedient” We certainly do not need ‘action’ here.  Simply strike.  All strikes are action-based.

    “I am looking forward to the next Igbo summit to comprise of all the Igbo-speaking fragments irrespective of where they are located.”  In order not to abort the language dream, delete the first ‘of’ and move to the next two errors from the same medium (name withheld like Nigerian newspaper reportage!).

    “And in Nigeria, subsequent military regimes which held sway finally culminated into (in) the most dreaded era of military rule in the country–the Sani Abacha years.”

    “No wonder therefore that every inaction of these elected leaders only seek (seeks) to further entrench and protect the many years of brigandage on this nation.”

    “Its diverse composition reflected in (on) how its….”

     

    FEEDBACK

    THE copy on Jimi Agbaje is in order.’Busines’ as an important matter to be dealt with is uncountable. Cheers. (Intervention by CHARLES IYOHA, 09099879033)

    COLUMNIST’S COMMENT: Your observation is supported by the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, International Student’s Edition. But, the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, New Edition for Advanced Learners, describes ‘business’ as a MATTER (singular) means a situation or an activity, especially one that you have a particular opinion about or attitude towards: serious/strange/funny, etc business. Example: Leo considers keeping fit as a serious business. (Reactions are welcome).

    …Now a repeat of last week’s copy in question: “Taking care of Lagos is serious (a serious) business.” (Centrespread Advertorial by ‘#LAGOSFORYOU’, The PUNCH, March 4)  STILL on homophones or words that sound alike but have different meanings, the Sport & Style Section of The Nation, January 11, Page 34, quoted Daniel Amokachi in the third column as saying: “Then the issue of jet became everyday discuss (did the interviewer mean

    DISCOURSE? Lord, have mercy!) in Nigeria when it was reported that I bought a private jet.”

    Second, a “senior staff” and “hard-working staff” (an employee, worker or staffer in American usage) died in a gas explosion with his wife at UNIBEN, courtesy The Nation, March 8, Page 8. The word “staff” is a collection of workers, not a singular noun.

    In its cover story on Marital Infidelity on Pages 11-13, Saturday Vanguard, March 7, was not sure of the correctness of “truly” as used on the Front Page or “truely” on Page 11. Please note: “truly” is right, no “e”.

    INEC’s public service announcement on radio states that “the general elections is here again”. The verb “is” should read “are” because “elections” is plural: Presidential, National Assembly, Governorship and State Houses of Assembly polls. (Contributed by KOLA DANISA, 07068074257)

     

    Artist or artiste?

    “ARTIST” and “artiste” are liable to be confused. An artist refers to “a person who paints or draws. E.g. Twin Seven-Seven was a great artist. This word may also refer to “a person who is skilled in something”. The mechanic is a real artist with an engine.

    An “artiste” refers to “an entertainer, such as a singer or a dancer”, e.g. “a list of the artistes in the musical performances”.

    However, the word (artiste) is becoming a little old-fashioned, or obsolescent.

    In the 21st Century, anybody who has a musical talent is an artist (not an artiste)! E.g. for Donna Summer the best safeguard for the artist in her own somewhat shambolic world lies in a personal relationship with God, she says, “whatever kind of musical star she may be, an artist is not a spiritual superstar. Thank you. (From BAYO OGUNTUNASE, 08056180046)

  • Gang-up against maternal, child mortality

    The Japanese government is collaborating with the Lagos State government by providing medical equipment that will help fight maternal, child mortality in the state.

    The development is coming just as the state government today will flagged off its series of grassroots sensitisation on maternal and child mortality reduction across various local government areas in the state.

    The Ambassador of Japan to Nigeria, Mr. Ryuichi Shoji, who led a delegation to the state Ministry of Health, Alausa to present the facilities, described the gesture as way of improving maternal and child health in the state by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency.

    He said: “Looking at the situation of maternal and child health in Nigeria, it is worrisome to note that mortality rate is very high due to lack of health care facilities, medical equipment and medical practitioners. We wish to help remedy this situation by forming a partnership with the Nigerian people. All the efforts made by the Lagos State Ministry of Health in tackling these issues are absolutely notable.

    “This project will provide equipment such as delivery beds and ECG machines, which measures the rate and regularity of heartbeats, to 10 public health centres in Lagos State.”

    State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, commended their gesture, which he said, will be of immense benefit to the people. Idris said a proposed town hall meeting was geared towards informing citizens, especially grassroots pregnant women, about the basic facilities provided by government to them before and after child birth.

    He said since the launch of the maternal and child mortality reduction initiative by Governor Babatunde Fashola in October last year, the government had mapped out strategies to reduce the scourge.