Dr. Okupe Describes APC As A Bunch Of Political Charlatans

November 6, 2014

President Goodluck Jonathan’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe has described the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) as a bunch of political anarchists and charlatans blinded by an unbridled appetite for power.

Okupe, who was reacting to the demand by the leadership of the APC, including its National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, that President Goodluck Jonathan should resign because of the ongoing war against the country by the members of the Boko Haram sect in a statement today, dismissed such call.

“The suggestion by one of the leaders of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Bola Tinubu, that President Goodluck Jonathan resign from office as a result of the activities of insurgents in the north eastern part of the country has once again shown beyond doubt that the former Lagos State Governor and his colleagues in the opposition are a bunch of political anarchists and charlatans blinded by an unbridled appetite for power.

“The assertion by Tinubu at a political rally in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Wednesday that in ‘civilised’ societies, the President should have resigned is unfounded and lacking in historical precedence.

“We challenge him to tell Nigerians which part of his ‘civilized’ world has there been a call on a President to resign during an on-going war.

“When terrorists attacked the United States of America in September, 2001, leaders of the Democratic Party did not demand a resignation of President George Bush but rather they rose in defence of the American Nation to support the various measures taken by the President to defeat the Al Qaeda terrorists.” [myad]

Atiku Advocates well-Funded Welfare System To Protect, Promote Rights Of women, Girl-Child In Nigeria

Greenbarge Reporters

November 6, 2014

Former Nigeria Vice President Atiku Abubakar has come up with a suggestion for the institutionalization of a well-funded welfare system as part of the effort to protect and promote the rights of women and the girl-child in Nigeria. Another ways, he said is for the government to combat sexual violence against women by encouraging them to speak out about sexual violence and other violations of their rights and prevention of all forms of child abuse, such as child labour, child marriage and child abandonment.

Atiku, who is one of the Presidential hopefuls on the platform of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), spoke today at the public presentation/launching of a book: “Re-thinking the legal framework for rights of women and girl-child in Nigeria,” in honour of the founder of Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation (WOTCLEF), Hajiya Amina Titi Atiku Abubakar.

The former Vice President listed the ways to protect and promote the rights of women and the girl-child to include free compulsory basic education for all children under 18 years of age, to be funded by the states and local governments with support of the Federal Government, public health efforts to reduce the rate of maternal and child mortality.

The former Vice President condemned the poor educational, health and social situation of women and the girl-child in Nigeria, even as he criticized the lack of opportunities available to the girl-child.

He, however, commended the effort and foresight of the founder of WOTCLEF and the team that made the endeavour a success.

He described as “very poor and embarrassing, the 2012 Gender in Nigeria report which placed Nigeria at 118 out of the 134 countries in gender equality index stating that the report shows that we are not treating our women and girls well.”

Atiku called on all Nigerians, especially the state and national authorities to do all in their power to redress the situation by complementing the efforts.

Speaking at the event, representative of NAPTIP, Abdulrahim Opotu Shaibu, a director, disclosed that the organization has rescued more than 6,000 trafficked women and children and achieved the conviction of 258 traffickers since the agency came into being.

He praised the role of Mrs. Titi Abubakar in initiating the private bill that led to the enactment of the law providing for the NAPTIP and criminalization of child and women trafficking. [myad]

President Obama Has Lost 69 House Seats, 13 Senate Seats Since 2008

Greenbarge Reporters

November 6, 2014

Since he first took office, President Barack Obama is said to have legislatively decimated the Democratic Party, losing more seats under his watch than any president since Harry Truman.
From 2008, Democrats have forfeited at least 69 House seats, and that number could increase as unsettled midterm election results are announced.

The Hill reports added that the loss of 13 Democratic seats in the Senate during Obama’s six years in the White House has made it obvious that Democratic candidates who blame Obama’s negative influence for their loss have a legitimate complaint. [myad]

Danger: 1, 800, 000 Nigerians Are HIV Positive But Don’t Know, Says Prof. Idoko

Greenbarge Reporters

November 6, 2014

Director General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Professor John Idoko, has said that about 3.2 million Nigerians are living with the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) out of which about 40 per cent of that number (1,280,000) is not aware of their status.
Idoko who spoke at the flag-off of the 2014 NACA/MDG medical outreach and HIV counselling and testing in Kafanchan, Kaduna State advised Nigerians to go to hospital and know their HIV status.
Idoko, who was represented by the acting Director of Programmes Co-ordination Department at NACA, Dr. Priscilla Ibekwe, said: “NACA is working to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS in Nigeria to give opportunity to people to know their status, because it is better for people to know their status. When they know their status and find out they are negative, they will do everything to remain negative.”
Also speaking at the flag-off, Kaduna State Governor, Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, urged the people of the state to take the issue of HIV/AIDS seriously.
“The 9.2 per cent prevalence rate of HIV in the state is currently the highest in the North West zone and it has therefore become imperative for all to intensify efforts to reverse this unacceptable prevalence rate through massive scale up of HIV counselling and testing for the general population.”
Governor Yero, who was represented by his deputy, Nuhu Audu Bajoga, gave assurance of the state’s continued commitment to the fight against HIV/AIDS.
He said this has been done consistently through the funding of KADSACA to enable the body carry out its functions effectively.
“This campaign is timely as it is intended to enable us face the issue of HIV/AIDS in Kaduna State. Let me assure you of our government’s continued commitment to give maximum support to fight HIV/AIDS scourge in the state,” he said.
According to him, the state has received funding support from the World Bank and other development partners like UNICEF, ICAP, DFID, UNDP AIDS Relief, USAID and PATHS 1 and 2 among others to fight the scourge. [myad]

Nigeria Police Set To Send Jeffery Azuka, Accused Of Murder, Back To UK

Greenbarge Reporters

November 6, 2014

Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Suleiman Abba has said that all processes have been concluded for the extradition of a 23-year-old murder suspect wanted in the United Kingdom, Jeffery Azuka Okafor back the UK. Okafor was arrested in Asaba, Delta State, last week.

In a statement by the police spokesman, Emmanuel Ojukwu, a in Abuja yesterday, the police boss said: “all the necessary procedures to enable the handover of the fugitive to the UK authorities have already been concluded.”
The IGP assured the international law enforcement community that the Nigeria Police would always ensure that all fugitives that show up in Nigeria would be apprehended upon request and turned over accordingly.
Abba commended police intelligence operatives for the arrest of the suspect, who fled to Nigeria after the alleged murder of Carl Beatson Asiedu on August 1, 2009, in London.
He was arrested on September 23, 2014 in Asaba, after a diligent search.
The IGP particularly praised the high level of professionalism displayed by police operatives as well as the effective deployment of high-tech equipment in tracking the suspect.
He added that despite the fugitive’s frequent change of identity and locations, the police were able to keep a tab on him without raising any suspicion. [myad]

Indian Hospital Kills Over 4,000 Rats, 10,000 Rodents Are Still Hiding

Greenbarge Reporters

November 6, 2014

A pest control firm in India, Laxmi Fumigation and Pest Control Service Ltd, has announcedthe extermination of 4,400 rats over two days at Maharaja Yeshwantrao in Indore, south of Delhi. a state-run hospital, with thousands believed to still be on the premises.
According to Sanjay Karmakar, Head of Laxmi Fumigation and Pest Control Service Ltd., the hospital is still home to over 10,000 rodents in the complex that consists of seven buildings across about 10 acres.
Karmakar said: “We have only tackled a part of the grounds so far they are riddled with rodent burrows, at least 1,000 of them. Each would have four to eight rodents, we have not started on the buildings yet. The pest control firm is baiting the rodents with different food each day. One day, it is peanuts and clarified butter, another day its roasted chickpeas, potato cakes and so on.
“If one of a family dies after eating something, the other rats will not touch the same food, so we have to keep changing the menu.”
Operation Kayakalp (transformation) began on Oct. 28 and is scheduled to run until Dec. 4.
Karmakar’s company ran a similar operation at the hospital in 1994 soon after an outbreak of pneumonic plague in the neighbouring state of Gujarat.
“We cremated 12,000 rodents at the local electric crematorium in the presence of government officials after Kayakalp I in 1994,’’ Karmakar said.
However, there was no follow up by the hospital authorities and the rodents multiplied again.
Report says the 950-bed hospital is one of the biggest government-run healthcare facilities in Madhya Pradesh state.
It includes a medical college and is visited by over 1,100 outpatients daily.
Officials said that poor refuse disposal was the main reason for the rat infestation. [myad]

2015: PDP Presidential Aspirant, Umar Ardo, Teams Up To Challenge Jonathan’s Eligibility

Greenbarge Reporters

November 6, 2014

A Presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Umar Ardo has joined the original plaintiff who is seeking to reverse a high court judgment that dismissed a suit challenging the eligibility of President Goodluck Jonathan to run for president in 2015.
Cyriacus Njoku, who was the plaintiff at the Abuja High Court, had filed an appeal challenging the judgment of Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi (now a justice of the Court of Appeal) after the judge dismissed his case.
Not satisfied with the judgment, Njoku had approached the Court of Appeal to challenge the judgment. And Umar who was not a party to the suit at the Abuja High Court had applied to be joined as a party in the appeal.
In his application to join the suit, he said that he wanted to contest for President on the platform of the PDP.
Jonathan, through his counsel, Ade Okeaya-Inneh (SAN), had opposed the application on the ground that the applicant did not satisfy the provisions of Section 243 (1) (a) of the Constitution to enable him qualify to be made a party.
However, Ardo through his counsel, Amuda Kannike (SAN), had told the court that he had been cleared thrice by the PDP to contest for the governorship position of Adamawa State, as a basis of preparing himself to seek the highest office in the nation.
He claimed that the decision of the Abuja High Court raised “grave points of constitutional law and jurisprudence that is the first of its kind in Nigeria.” [myad]

National Assembly Outlaws Begging, Prescribes 6-Year Jail Term

Greenbarge Reporters

November 6, 2014

Nigeria National Assembly, made up of the Senate and House of Representatives has jointly outlawed begging in Nigeria, especially by those who use disabled people in public and has prescribed either a six – month imprisonment, a fine of N100,000, or both.

This was among other provisions contained in the harmonized bill, jointly passed by the Senate and House of Representatives last week, which is currently being fine-tuned for presentation to President Goodluck Jonathan.
The bill specifically seeks to ensure full integration of persons with disabilities into the society and to establish a National Commission for Persons with Disabilities to be headed by a physically challenged person as chairman.
A copy of the harmonized version of the bill showed that anyone or group of people who employ or involve a disabled person in alms begging risked the punishment as prescribed.
The bill, also forbids anyone from segregating or isolating people with disabilities except strictly on health grounds or in accordance with the provisions of the constitution of Nigeria.
Part 9, Clause 21 of the bill states that, “Except on medical grounds, or in accordance with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a person with disability shall not be isolated or segregated from the community or compelled to live in a particular area.”
The bill also made it mandatory for all public schools, whether primary, secondary or tertiary to have trained personnel and special facilities for the effective education of persons with disabilities in order to make education accessible to them.
It added that “Braille, sign language and other skills for communicating with persons with disabilities shall form part of the curricula of primary, secondary and tertiary institutions.”
The bill, apart from prescribing free education at all levels for the disabled, also provides for government to ensure that all persons with disabilities enjoy free health care services, employment, accommodation and equal access to all social amenities. [myad]

Nollywood Mothers-To-Be

Greenbarge Reporters

November 6, 2014

The year 2014 has been a blessing to the movie industry in Nigeria called Nollywood. Despite few unpleasant stories that have happened in the year, which ends in less than 60 days, there have been reasons to thank God.

In the area of families, there have been few additions and as you read this, more are expected to be added hopefully before the end of the year.

Mercy Johnson, Damilola Adegbite, Laide Bakare, Sola Kosoko, Dakore Egbuson, Caroline Danjuma and Uche Ogbodo were some of the movie stars who welcomed babies in 2014.

Already, there are few other expectant mothers and there are possibilities that they might put to bed before the end of this year or before the end of first quarter of 2015.

Here are few of the mothers-to-be.

Uche Jombo: She got married to her Puerto Rican husband, Kenney Rodriguez, who is based in the United States of America (USA) in 2012. This talented actress is presently heavily pregnant and will be expecting to give birth to her first child.

Ikpe Nse: This actress is reportedly pregnant for her husband, Clifford Sule and like Uche Jombo, she is also expecting her first child since she got married in 2013. The pretty actress married her long time lover, who she reportedly reconnected with after some years away from each other.

Nuella Njubigbo got married to handsome actor-cum-director, Tchidi Chikere in 2014. The couple’s marriage generated controversies after Nuella was accused of snatching Tchidi from his former wife, Sophia, also an actress. Despite the allegations of husband snatching, just like Mercy Johnson, Nuella went ahead with the marriage. She was even present at the baby shower of Mercy Johnson in the US, where she was delivered of a baby boy in October.

Fans of the above movie stars are wishing them safe deliveries as they join motherhood and have also prayed for those expecting to join the club soon. [myad]

Jonathan’s Administration Thrives On Lies, Says Bola Tinubu

Greenbarge Reporters

November 6, 2014

Leader of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said that the government of President Goodluck Jonathan, in respect of the ongoing war with members of Boko Haram, is full of lies.

Tinubu, who spoke yesterday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, where Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed announced his plan to run for a second term in office said: “I saw the sea of displaced persons caused by the Boko Haram insurgents and the lies coming from Jonathan’s administration. They have exhibited failure, lack of capacity, vision, creativity; the lie of yesterday is what they repeat today and it is what they will repeat tomorrow. They are lying to you.

“They are lying about the security; toying about the security of this country. I don’t have time to explain the logic of their lies. But if you control the armed forces and you are the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic, why should any part of this country be under occupation? And you give us excuses every day. In any civilized country, Jonathan should resign. But if he will not resign, he should wait for our broom, we will sweep them.

“I will come back. This is just the endorsement of Governor Ahmed; that he will be re-elected by the grace of God, with the support of you people here and those outside there. The unemployment situation will be conquered by this administration of APC. We have the vision for the security of the lives of our children.”

Tinubu regretted that the government of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has not been able to provide jobs for Nigerians, adding: “they cannot create jobs and they are starving states of funds to pay workers’ salaries. The best thing to do is to sweep them away through broom revolution. APC is a party of the masses.”

The former Lagos governor said that for him and former Kwara state governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki to mount the same podium and campaign for the same party means that a new beginning has come to Nigeria.

“This is a time of good things and tidings from us. We have brought good luck and commonsense revolution.

“Now it is time to apply commonsense revolution and it is about your lives. It is about your education, your jobs and about the security of this country. We stay together since independence and we will remain together. Anything affecting any section of this country affects all of us.

“I want to thank all of you. Let me forget the protocol, because you are the voters. You are the people who must vote. We bring the greetings and respect of Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ekiti, Edo, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and the entire APC states in Nigeria.

“What I want to beg of you is to be ready to defend for change. The race has started again. We have endorsed Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed for second term in office as he has performed creditably, just like his predecessor, Senator Bukola Saraki.” [myad]

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