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Tag: Wada

  • Wada to leave hospital ‘in days’

    Wada to leave hospital ‘in days’

    •Jonathan visits

    Hospitalised Kogi State Governor Idris Wada was in high spirits yesterday.

    He was all smiles as President Goodluck Jonathan showed up in his ward. He raised up his body and stretched out his hand for a handshake.

    Wada then pulled up his blue kaftan to show the President his plastered leg, which was broken in an accident last Friday.

    The governor, who is being treated at a private hospital in Abuja, was returning to Lokoja , the state capital, from Anyingba when his Lexus SUV crashed at Emi Woro village.

    His Aide-de-Camp Idris Muhammed, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), died. His driver was injured.

    The President was received at the Cedar Cross Hospital, Abuja by Minister of Health Dr. Onyebuchi Chukwu, and the hospital’s Chief Medical Director (CMD), Dr. Felix Ogedengbe. He arrived at about 3:15pm.

    Dr. Jonathan, who was accompanied by some of his aides, wore a brown stripped kaftan with a red cap and a pair of brown shoes.

    After exchanging pleasantries with the minister who got to the hospital much earlier, the President was ushered into the governor’s ward.

    He joked with the governor, who wore a light blue kaftan with a cap. The governor showed the President his right leg which is in a plaster as the doctor explained the nature of the injury to the President. The Minister of Health listened.

    The President wished the governor speedy recovery before leaving 15 minutes later.

    Dr. Jonathan declined to speak with reporters.

    He seemed satisfied with the state of things at the hospital as he smiled while coming out of the hospital.

    The CMD spoke to reporters at he end of the visit, saying Wada’s health has improved tremendously.

    Dr. Ogedengbe said the governor was doing well after surgery and will be discharged from hospital “in a couple of days”.

    He said: “The governor is already doing step-climbing. He is doing very well at the moment. You know it was a severe injury. We have continued to watch out for any other problem that he might have, but, at this stage, we have not seen any other problem at all.

    “From the medical point of view, he is quite healthy and he should be ready to go back home in a couple of days. I can only at this stage tell you that he will be ready to go back home in a few days, but I won’t be able to tell you specifically which day.

    “He is not going to be in the hospital for weeks, he does not need to be here for weeks.”

    The governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Jacob Edi, said: “The governor is hale and hearty and of a sound mind. He underwent surgery for the broken bone in his thigh and the surgery was successful.

    “He has been receiving high profile visitors and, apparently, to cap it up is the visit of the President.”

    Edi insisted that the governor would not be flown abroad for further medical treatment. He said Wada was receiving adequate attention at the hospital and that the governor has confidence in the nation’s medical system.

    On the reported fear of the governor’s security in the hospital, Edi said: “From the eyes of men, the hospital could be small and there could be the fear of security, but security belongs to God. We believe that God will protect him.”

    Deputy Governor Yomi Awoniyi, who has been on a foreign trip in the United Kingdom on Monday, returned to the country.

    He cut short his trip following the crash.

    Awoniyi ‘s trip was to have lasted 12 days covering the Christmas holiday in London.

     

  • Kogi Crash: No foreign treatment for me –Wada

    Kogi Crash: No foreign treatment for me –Wada

    • SUV tyres burst twice in six days; overdue for replacement
    • Probe blames accident on overspeeding

    Governor Idris Ichalla Wada of Kogi State is not going abroad to treat the injuries he received in last Friday’s auto-crash near Lokoja involving his convoy.

    The governor, whose aide de camp (ADC),Idris Mohammed,an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) died in the crash, wants to complete his treatment in Nigeria.

    He is currently at Cedar Crest Hospital,Garki,Abuja where he had a surgery on Friday night,a few hours after the accident.

    The governor’s physician, Dr.Felix Ogedengbe, said yesterday that he was “fine and in high spirits” after succesfully undergoing a thigh bone operation.

    He confirmed that Wada had opted for medical treatment locally.

    Three governors-Danbaba Suntai (Taraba), Liyel Imoke (Cross River) and Sullivan Chime (Enugu) – are currently abroad for medical treatment.

    Suntai was seriously injured after his light aircraft went down in Yola, Adamawa State in October and was flown to Germany after initial treatment at the National Hospital, Abuja.

    Ogedengbe who is the Chief Medical Director, Cedar Crest Hospitals said: “Let me just add that following the treatment he received, he is back on his feet this morning. “This is just to confirm that his spirit is quite high. He is back on his feet and everything is well with him. “We received the governor into our care yesterday (Friday) and explained his injury to him. “We explained the fact that we have the capacity to treat him here as can be done anywhere in the world. “He immediately agreed to have full treatment here. He isn’t that kind of person that will say I don’t care what you can do; I want to be flown to anywhere else in the world.” He said Wada gave his consent for treatment which was “immediately done” by a team of doctors. He said the injuries Wada sustained did not warrant his being taken outside the country.

    “We have the capacity to handle the situation here,” Ogedengbe said,adding: “It was done as fast as it was needed to be done. There is no immediate need for him to be flown anywhere. He is stable. He is fine. “His injuries have been looked after to a standard that is up to what is available in any part of the world. He quite understands that and he was happy to accept the treatment. And he is quite happy with the outcome of the treatment.” On when the governor would be discharged, Ogedengbe said: “The treatment is ongoing. You know he has been involved in a major accident. “He needs some days in hospital. We need to monitor his progress and see how he is doing. “I can’t give a date of discharge as at now. I will tell you that he will be out of hospital as soon as possible.

    “We received him here in a condition that was very stable. “We were told he had been involved in a car crash. He had already been to another hospital before he was brought here. “However, when he got here, we assessed him. As I said, there were no immediate life threatening injuries. “He was found to have fracture in his thigh bone. That was assessed. “A whole team did a comprehensive assessment on him and we decided to take him to theatre. “He has had the bone that was broken fixed and he had a very good night sleep and he is quite fine now. “He had woken up this morning (yesterday). He has had his meal and is doing very well. “So as much as I can tell you, he is stable. He is not in a condition where his life is threatened at all. He is doing very well at the moment.” The governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Strategy , Mr Jacob Edi said: “ I spoke to him. I shook hands with him. He waved to a lot of people.” On the condition of the driver, Edi said: “The driver, Jibril Isa, is also stable and alive. The driver is stable and alive. He is at Kogi Specialist Hospital,Lokoja.” Armed policemen and plain clothes securitymen were guarding the hospital located in Garki Area 11,Abuja. Leading politicians including Vice President Namadi Sambo have been trooping to Governor Wada’s private ward in the hospital to congratulate him for escaping death and to wish him a quick recovery.

    Other callers include the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Anyim Pius Anyim , Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, former National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Ahmadu Ali,the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, Senators, over 50 House of Representatives members and some notable politicians from Kogi state. However ,the preliminary investigation of the accident suggests that the Friday auto crash may have been caused by over-speeding.

    The crash occurred at Emi Woro village,about 12 kilometres from Lokoja when one of the tyres of the governor’s official car,a Lexus SUV,burst in motion and somersaulted.

    It was the second time in six days the car had a burst tyre,The Nation learnt yesterday.

    It was also gathered that the governor ‘s thriftiness with public funds has often slowed down the release of money for government expenditure including replacing tyres for the governor’s official car.

    The SUV’s tyres, a highly placed source said yesterday, were worn out and overdue for replacement before the accident.

    The source said: “The Federal Road Safety Commission has started looking into the immediate and remote causes of the accident. Preliminary investigation is pointing to over-speeding going by the extent of impact.

    “The governor spent much time at the Igala Education Summit at the state university in Anyigba. He also had an appointment in Lokoja with some traditional rulers who wanted to honour his benefactor, ex-Governor Ibrahim Idris. He wanted to be part of the gathering.

    “The theory of over-speeding is being fuelled by the allegation that it was the second time in six days that the governor’s SUV would have a burst tyre.

    “A few days ago when the governor’s convoy was coming from Abuja, it had burst tyre but because the team was not on top speed, they had no accident.

    “The FRSC will give a more accurate report to the presidency, the state government and after security clearance, it may make it available to the public.”

    It was gathered that the governor had turned down a proposal for the State government to buy three brand new SUVs at N100miliion each.

    He reportedly considered the amount too high.

    The source added: “The governor said he could not spend N100million on a SUV much more N300million on three SUVs.

    “In fact, he said it was better to spend the N300million to provide potable water for some villages than spending same on SUV. Wada runs an austere policy to the detriment of his personal comfort.

    “He wants state officials to justify every kobo. This might have had a backlash on him with this accident.”

    A source familiar with the matter said: “The transport pool had warned about the tyres of the SUV ; that the tyres were due for change after six months because they were bought in May 2012. The pool said ideally the tyres of a busy SUV like this ought to be changed every six months.

    “In the last two weeks, there had been moves to change the tyres but the official process was a bit slow. In fact, the late ADC, Idris Mohammed, wanted to use his personal money to change the tyres and get refund later.”

  • PDP directs members to pray for Wada

    PDP directs members to pray for Wada

    The People’s Democratic Party has directed its members to observe minutes of prayers on Saturday for the speedy recovery of Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State.

    The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Olisa Metuh, gave the directive in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday.

    Metuh said the party was deeply shocked by the news of the accident in which two of his aides died while the governor sustained leg injury.

    “The party has yet to recover from the shock arising from a recent similar incident; we therefore wish to direct all our members to observe minutes of prayers for Governor Wada,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted Metuh as saying in the statement.

    He also prayed for the repose of the soul of the governor`s aides who died in the accident and asked God to comfort those they left behind.

    The governor was involved in a motor accident on Friday on his way from an event in the state and was taken to the Abuja National Hospital for treatment.

     

  • Kogi Gov ‘critically’ injured in crash, ADC dies

    Kogi Gov ‘critically’ injured in crash, ADC dies

    Governor of Kogi State, Captain Idris Wada, was on Friday involved in an auto-crash at Emo-worro village in Ajaokuta Local Government Area of the state.

    The village is about 12 kilometres from Lokoja, the state capital.

    Eyewitness account said the accident was caused when one of the rear tyres of the governor’s car got burst in motion.

    The governor’s Aide De Camp, ASP, Idris Muhammed, died on the spot.

    He was returning to Lokoja from the Annual Igala Education Summit in Ayangba, his home town.

    A source said the critically injured governor was first admitted at the intensive care unit of the Lokoja Specialist Hospital, but was later moved away enroute Abuja when his condition began to deteriorate.

    Although, reports said Wada was being taken to the National Hospital Abuja, he has not arrived at the hospital at the time of filing this report.

    Kogi State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Yabagi Bologi, issued an official statement shortly after visiting the governor at the hospital in Lokoja.

    Bologi said Wada was in a “stable condition.”

    He called on the people of the state to go about their normal businesses.

    The statement officially announced the death of the governor’s ADC who was involved in the accident along with the governor.

    The statement reads: “The convoy of the Executive Governor of Kogi State, Capt. Idris Ichalla Wada has been involved in a ghastly accident.

    “The governor survived the road mishap and is in stable condition. Sadly however, the governor’s Aide de Camp, Idris Mohamed, an Assistant Superintendent of Police died on the spot.

    “The accident occurred Friday afternoon at Emi Woro Village, about 12 kilometres into the state capital, in between Prime Polytechnic and Salem University, in Ajaokuta Local Government.

    “The convoy was returning from an annual Igala Education Summit which the governor declared opened at the state university in Anyigba.”

    A medical personnel at the hospital in Lokoja who spoke in confidence said the governor was “critically injured and at such require more serious medical attention than could not be provided in Lokoja.”

    It is however not clear if any other aide of the governor was involved in the crash.

    Meanwhile, most of his aides have switched off their mobile phones following the accident.

     

  • Flood displaced over one million in Kogi, says Wada

    Flood displaced over one million in Kogi, says Wada

    Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State yesterday said over one million people in the state have been displaced by floods.

    He spoke when he received members of the Senate Committee on Ecology at the Government House, Lokoja.

    The governor said his administration, despite its meagre resources, has resettled the victims in camps.

    He appealed to the Federal Government to assist the state financially to ameliorate the suffering of the people.

    Governor Wada said Ibaji Local Government was submerged by the flood, adding that more communities were on the verge of being taken over by water.

    The Chairman of the committee, Senator Bukola Saraki, said they were in the state to assess the level of damage.

    He said they were concerned about the disaster that had befallen Kogi and other states, adding that the committee would assist the affected states.

    Other members of the committee are Senators Barnabas Gemade and Attai Aidoko.

    Fourteen of the 21 local governments are affected by the flood. Prominent among them are Lokoja, Ibaji, Idah, Bassa and Omala.