Former Nigeria Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (middle); Secretary to Ebonyi State Government, Professor Bernard Odoh (right) and Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dan. Umezurike, during a visit by the Carter Centre to the Ebonyi State Government, at the Government House, Abakaliki today, Tuesday. [myad]
President Muhammadu Buhari has prayed to God to grant the new Ooni of Ife Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, immense wisdom and courage he will require to oversee further progress and greater prosperity for his people.
Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi became the 51st Ooni of Ife yesterday, succeeding the late Oba Okunade Sijuwade.
In a congratulatory message on behalf of the Federal Government and people of Nigeria, President Buhari hailed the choice of Prince Adeyeye by the kingmakers of Ife after a keenly contested but peaceful selection process, and confirmation yesterday by Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State.
The President advised the new Ooni that as he prepares to begin the rites of ascension to the revered throne of his great ancestors, he should commit himself to carrying all his subjects along to a new era of peace, stability and progress in Ife, Yorubaland and Nigeria as a whole.
The President also called on Prince Adeyeye to be prepared to put his new position as Ooni and principal custodian of the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the Yorubas to good use in the service of his people and country.
He asked the Ooni-designate to dedicate himself to building on, and surpassing the worthy legacies of his much-acclaimed predecessor, Oba Sijuwade, and working with government and other traditional rulers across the country to foster greater harmony, peaceful co-existence and faster socio-economic development of his people and all Nigerians.
“As Prince Adeyeye ascends to the grand throne of the Ooni of Ife, the President prays that God Almighty will grant him the immense wisdom and courage he will require to oversee further progress and greater prosperity for his people”
He wished the new Ooni a long and highly successful reign in the service of his people and country. [myad]
Over 3,600 Midwives have taken to the streets in Abuja, complaining that they have not been paid their salaries and allowances for the past 13 months by their employer, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).
The Midwives, through their association: Midwives Service Scheme Association (MSSA), today, took the protest to the Senate during which time they presented a letter, addressed to the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.
In the letter, the association lamented that over 3,600 Midwives employed by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency headed by Dr Ado Mohammed, who were earlier deployed across the 36 States of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja have not been paid by the agency in the last 13 months.
The Association wondered why the scheme which was funded by the MDAS, DRA with the aim of achieving MDGS 4 & 5 and managed by the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency could owe them for this long even when the Association heard on good authority that funds were being released as at when due by previous government of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
The association said in the letter: “major problem confronting the scheme at present is mainly the non payment of 13 months allowance and all efforts to get authorities concern, including the Federal Ministry of Health have not yielded result.”
The letter, which was signed by the association’s National President, Agnes Odeh, alleged that in the course of agitation for payment of their allowances, particularly on April 26th 2015, the Association declined an invitation for a meeting through a text message on the inclination that the Director of NPHDA, Dr. Ado had concluded plans to bribe executives of the association for a soft landing while promising that the allowances would be paid if budget for 2015 was passed into law.
“Based on the resolution of our members, we declined from honouring the invitation on the basis that they may want to induce us. However, to our utmost surprise, 4 delegation from the Ministry pleaded that we should meet them in a Hotel opposite Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital, Abuja in which all our members were present.”
The Association explained that a truce which was reached and a communique issued on 26th April 2015 was flagrantly disobeyed by the agency through the machination of the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Linus Awute. [myad]
Over 3,600 Midwives have taken to the streets in Abuja, complaining that they have not been paid their salaries and allowances for the past 13 months by their employer, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).
The Midwives, through their association: Midwives Service Scheme Association (MSSA), today, took the protest to the Senate during which time they presented a letter, addressed to the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.
In the letter, the association lamented that over 3,600 Midwives employed by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency headed by Dr Ado Mohammed, who were earlier deployed across the 36 States of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja have not been paid by the agency in the last 13 months.
The Association wondered why the scheme which was funded by the MDAS, DRA with the aim of achieving MDGS 4 & 5 and managed by the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency could owe them for this long even when the Association heard on good authority that funds were being released as at when due by previous government of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
The association said in the letter: “major problem confronting the scheme at present is mainly the non payment of 13 months allowance and all efforts to get authorities concern, including the Federal Ministry of Health have not yielded result.”
The letter, which was signed by the association’s National President, Agnes Odeh, alleged that in the course of agitation for payment of their allowances, particularly on April 26th 2015, the Association declined an invitation for a meeting through a text message on the inclination that the Director of NPHDA, Dr. Ado had concluded plans to bribe executives of the association for a soft landing while promising that the allowances would be paid if budget for 2015 was passed into law.
“Based on the resolution of our members, we declined from honouring the invitation on the basis that they may want to induce us. However, to our utmost surprise, 4 delegation from the Ministry pleaded that we should meet them in a Hotel opposite Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital, Abuja in which all our members were present.”
The Association explained that a truce which was reached and a communique issued on 26th April 2015 was flagrantly disobeyed by the agency through the machination of the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Linus Awute. [myad]
Nigerian Air Force Alpha Jets are said to have unleashed havoc on Boko Haram with the successful launching of airstrikes and destroying of the sect’s vehicle workshops, fuel and ammunition dumps in the Sambisa forest.
According to the spokesman of the Nigeria Air force, Air Commodore Dele Alonge, in a statement today, the air raids were carried out after what he called a painstaking Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance efforts by its Unmanned Aerial vehicle and ATR-42 platforms.
“In view of the above, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar wishes to assure all Nigerians that with these successful strikes on the insurgents, their capabilities have been further degraded to pave the way for the final onslaught by the land forces to meet the Commander-in-Chief, President Mohammadu Buhari’s directives to bring insurgency in the North-East to an end.” (myad]
A ministerial nominee, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani (from Cross River State), today, told Senators who were screening him that he had never worked with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in his life.
The nominee was asked whether he has had cause to work with any PDP senator to which he answered: “God forbid.”
The answer angered the senators elected on the platform of PDP, upon which the nominee quickly tendered an apology, as the anger was growing and turning into confusion.
Despite the apology, the PDP senators were not assuaged but tried all they could to block his screening, though their efforts were thwarted by the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, who ruled the lawmakers out of order.
This was even as the power failure sought to mar the screening of the nominees, thanks to the quick intervention of the maintenance unit of the National Assembly.
The senate also screened Professor Adewole Folorunso, Hon. Bawa Bwari, Geoffrey Onyeama, Zainab Ahmed and Mansur Dan Ali.
So far, 31 ministerial nominees have been screened, while 18 have been confirmed as ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. [myad]
A herbal practitioner, Morufu Ajah has told an Igando Customary Court, Lagos, that he gave his wife, Deborah the sum of N7,000 to abort the pregnancy which he said he was not sure that it was for him.
“I gave my wife money to abort her pregnancy because she used to leave home without my consent to unknown destination and come back after 21 days or 30 days. She may even tell me she was going to her parent’s place, after some days, I will call her parent, they will tell me they did not see her.
“So, when she came back home and told me that she was pregnant, I doubted it. I gave her N7,000 to terminate it. She collected the money, lied to me that she had done it but never did it.”
The complainant said that his wife turned his mother into a `punching bag’ that most times, she beat and tore her clothes, saying: “My wife had turned my mother’s clothes to rags as she always tore it into pieces whenever she is beating her.
“She always curse and abuse my mother, calling her a witch and telling people that my mother always fly in the night,’’ he said.
He described his wife as a violent and aggressive woman that she used to hit him first any time they had misunderstanding and that always prompted him to beat her up.
Morufu alleged that his wife was fetish that on three occasions, he came back from work and saw salt sprinkled all over the house., even as he begged the court to dissolve their three years old marriage because he was no longer in love and his mother’s life was in danger.
Deborah, a 30 year old teacher, denied all the allegations, and insisted that the fight in the home was because she refused to terminate the pregnancy, adding: “my husband gave me money to abort my baby, I collected the money but used it for another thing.
“When he later discovered that I did not do the abortion, he started beating me and moved my belonging into the kitchen. He later left the house to unknown destination, it was my neighbours that always contributed money for me to feed till my delivery,’’ Deborah said.
The mother of two said that she never beat her mother-in-law nor tore her clothes.
She pleaded with the court not to grant her husband’s petition because she was still in love with him.
The court President, Adegboyega Omilola, advised the couple to maintain the peace as he adjourned the case to December 7 for judgment. [myad]
A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State and businessman, Otunba Babatunde Onakoya, popularly known as ‘DEBASCO,’ has called on the police and other security agencies to assist him recover property worth N62 million, allegedly swindled him by his wife, Mrs. Olayinka Rasidat Ibidun Onakoya.
Onakoya, who made the allegation as he spoke to newsmen at the Debasco Palace, Atiba-Ijebu, said that his wife moved out her belongings from their matrimonial home when she learnt that he had uncovered all fraudulent acts.
“I am surprised that a woman who is living with her husband can bear four different ‘Mrs.’ for various transactions. In her efforts to swindle me, she opened four bank accounts with different names – Olowoporoku Olayinka Ibidun (Wema Bank), Momodu Olayinka (GTB), Olayinka Hamsat Rashidat (Access Bank), Olayinka Momodu (Zenith Bank).
“While she was in my house, she obtained a passport and visa in another man’s (Momodu) name whom she collaborated with to defraud me and escape to the United Kingdom but their visa applications were not granted. They also made attempts to escape to South Africa. All these matters are before the Ogun State Government Citizens Rights Department”. He stated.
Onakoya, alleged further that materials worth of over N50m, while cash payments of N6.485m were made into the wife’s various accounts under different names through his operational estate office in Lagos.
Similarly, he claimed his wine colour Acura MDX 2010 model worth N6M was allegedly registered by the estranged wife without his consent, the matter, which according to him, was reported at the Odogbolu police station on the 25th of September, same day the wife moved out from home.
Meanwhile, as at the time of filing this report, efforts by our correspondent to get Mrs. Rashidat Onakoya on her mobile phone for her comment, were not successful as her mobile had been switched off. [myad]
The Oyo State Governorship Elections Petitions Tribunal has okayed the election of Abiola Ajimobi as governor of the State.
The candidate of Accord Party (AP), Senator Rashidi Ladoja, had gone to court to challenge the emergence of Ajimobi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the April 11, 2015 governorship election.
The judgment was delivered today amidst tight security.
Ajimobi is the first governor in Oyo State to have secured a second term. [myad]
In Defence Of Garba Shehu, By Chukwudi Enekwechi
An attempt by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, to do a post mortem of the March 2015 presidential election and the campaigns leading to it has unexpectedly elicited a negative reaction from DAAR Communications Plc, owners of AIT.
In what many Nigerians consider to be an overreaction by the broadcast house to a factual appraisal of the events that took place during the presidential contest between President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress and former President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party, DAAR Communications Plc rather than feel sober, decided to denigrate the presidential spokesman.
Despite the strident attempts by the media outfit to rewrite history, by denying obvious facts and attempting to smear a good man, the point remains that Nigerians know the truth and cannot be deceived. As a mass communication expert, I can say that a content analysis of the advertorials and editorial materials used by the broadcast outfit tilted in favour of the then party in power, the PDP.
It is also the belief of most Nigerians that as Mallam Shehu stated at a recent event in Lagos, NTA and AIT denied and refused the APC presidential campaign full access to their broadcast facilities even when they tried to place advertorials.
Though the campaigns are over, yet it is in the realm of scholarship for us to scrutinize the performance of the media during the period under review. The reason why such issues should be put in perspective is to draw the attention of the media to the need to ensure balance in their reportage and coverage.
So many pundits and analysts have attributed the victory of APC in the presidential election to the ingenuity and leadership qualities of Mallam Garba Shehu, who coordinated the media and publicity directorate of the campaign. With his background as a mass communication guru, journalist and editor of over thirty years standing, former president of Nigeria Guild of Editors and media manager Garba Shehu was able to navigate successfully with his team during the campaign on account of his knowledge, expertise and experience in the media world.
Till today, it continues to amaze me that such a man is endowed with sterling qualities, and managerial acumen most times lacking in our clime. To many Nigerians, that Mallam Garba Shehu was able to run a superlative media campaign for President Muhammadu Buhari, is an unprecedented feat in the annals of political campaigns in Nigeria.
It is also public knowledge that some global organizations including the US State Department’s Political Communication and Public Diplomacy units are now understudying the media strategies that Mallam Garba Shehu was able to deploy in ensuring favourable media image for President Buhari despite PDP’s shenanigans.
One does not need to be a prophet or a seer to know that the PDP government used enormous government resources including federal government owned media organs like NTA, Radio Nigeria, VON and the privately owned media like AIT to unleash hate campaigns against the Buhari candidature.
To the eternal credit of Mallam Garba Shehu and his team, they were able to prove to Nigerians the failure of PDP government over the last sixteen years and hence the need for a change. Despite all attempts by the PDP to digress from the cogent issues of the moment, mainly sleaze in high places, Garba Shehu and his team using mass communication channels such as newspapers and magazines, radio, television and social media was able to stay focused on the issues of the campaign which were corruption, security and economy.
At every turn, PDP and its agents made strident efforts using media partners like AIT to divert the attention of Nigerians, yet Mallam Garba and his team were never swayed, and neither did they waiver. There was no doubt that Nigerians were sick and tired of the malfeasance in government, and insisted on realizing the “change” agenda. To most Nigerians, PDP had turned into a “malignant tumour” in their lives and therefore needed to pack and go.
In the light of the above, it can be said that there was no justification whatsoever for DAAR Communications Plc to condescend to the inglorious level of ascribing innuendoes on the person of Mallam Shehu Garba for a remark that many consider innocuous.
For instance, it is unbecoming for the company to describe legitimate requests for discounts in placing advertisements as “unusual requests for discounts”. It is common knowledge that discounts on advertisements vary from medium to medium and in real business transactions which advertisements fall under, there is no cap to the level or amount of discount a client can request. So, what is unusual about normal requests for discounts?
The prerogative of acceptance or refusal for such request lies with the media outfit. In any event, APC Presidential Campaign was hamstrung in terms of funding, and any avenue through which savings could be made was out rightly welcome. In contrast, PDP had a limitless budget for the Presidential campaign, but what mattered to Nigerians most was to be rescued from a system enmeshed in crass opportunism, impunity and drudgery in governance.
In the aftermath of the campaign, it is expected that we bury the hatchet, and join hands with the Buhari administration to restore Nigeria to its past glory. As Nigerians and foreigners alike acknowledge that the future of Nigeria is bright, it behoves all stakeholders to put all hands on deck at ensuring that they don’t rock the boat, and that the ship of state continues to navigate progressively. This is not the time for bickering, but a period for sober reflection and introspection.
Nigeria is lucky that we have a president who is determined and focused towards redirecting the affairs of the nation to the path of rectitude and rediscovery. It is equally gratifying that Mallam Garba Shehu has remained a part of the epoch in nation building and development and for media outfits like DAAR Communications, it is only expected that they descend from their high horse and key into the “change” agenda.
. Chukwudi Enekwechi, a public affairs analyst, resides in Abuja. [myad]