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Furtherance to its efforts aimed at empowering women and promoting healthy eating habits amongst women and teenage girls of reproductive age, Unilever Nigeria Plc has entered into a strategic partnership with the Kaduna State government to launch a two- pronged campaign with the ultimate goal of enhancing livelihoods and helping people take action to improve their health and well-being.
The partnership programmes; Knorr Force for Good and Women's Empowerment Shakti, was announced at Government Girls Secondary School, Maimuna, Gwazo, Kaduna, with the Wife of the Governor of Kaduna State, Mrs. Aisha Ummi Garba El-RufaI, top government officials, dignitaries and top management staff of Unilever in attendance.
First Lady, Kaduna State, Hajia Aisha Ummi Garba El-Rufai; Senior Vice President, Unilever Global, Savoury, Cathryn Sleight and Marketing Manager, Savoury, Unilever Nigeria and Ghana, Nnenna Osi-Anugwa at the launch of Unilever Knorr Force for Good and Women's Empowerment Shakti partnership with Kaduna State government today
Shakti is a Women Empowerment Programme, which seeks to address unemployment and reduce poverty trends in the state by empowering women who have entrepreneurial drive but with no access to funds. Knorr force for good is a social mission initiative and a brainchild of Unilever's popular seasoning brand, Knorr.
The initiative seeks to create awareness and champion the fight against iron deficiency amongst women and their daughters while also using the opportunity to educate them on nutritious cooking through a behavioural change programme.
Vice President Foods Africa, Unilever, Frank Harasnape; Savoury Director, Africa, Unilever, James Jakachira; First Lady, Kaduna State, Hajia Aisha Ummi Garba El-Rufai; Unilever Global, Savoury, Cathryn Sleight; Marketing Manager, Savoury, Unilever Nigeria and Ghana, Nnenna Osi-Anugwa and Brand Manager, Knorr Social Mission, Unilever Nigeria Plc, Foluke Femi-Sanda at the launch of Unilever Knorr Force for Good and Women's Empowerment Shakti partnership with Kaduna State government today
Speaking during the event, Wife of His Excellency, Mrs. Aisha Ummi Garba El-Rufai, expressed delight about the partnership, describing it as timely and needful. She thanked the management of Unilever Nigeria Plc, for choosing to visit the State and expressed confidence in the positive impact the partnership will yield to both parties.
In her words,'The women of Kaduna state are most elated that Unilever Nigeria Plc through her programs places high importance on nutrition and women empowerment. This partnership will go a long way in addressing poor nutrition and improving the livelihood of women in Kaduna state'.
Reacting to this, Senior Vice President, Unilever Global, Savoury Cathryn Sleight, explained that the partnership is one that the company truly values as it is aligned with the company's vision of improving the lives of Nigerians. 'For us at Unilever, we believe that businesses must be part of the solution to social challenges, and this is why our business model focuses on tackling issues the world faces with our brands and operations.
"We're working with key partners all over the world to shine a light on some of the global issues that impact the planet and everyone on it. This awareness is what we are spreading across various states in Nigeria and we intend to do more".
Representing Nsima Ogedi-Alakwe – Marketing Director, Foods, Unilever Nigeria & Ghana, Nnenna Osi-Anugwa, Marketing Manager Savoury, Unilever Nigeria & Ghana, in her speech at the event; said, 'Anaemia is a major health issue among women and young female adults in Nigeria and it is caused by a lack of iron.
According to reports by World Health Organisation (WHO), 49% women of reproductive age have anaemia, indicating that majority of the adolescent girls and women did not meet the iron requirements of 20 milligrams per day as recommended by the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO).
This is what we hope to change in Nigeria by introducing women and their daughters to the Knorr Green Food Steps, which underscores the importance of vegetables in meals. We are happy that this partnership allows us to further our advocacy for iron-enriched meals as a means to fighting iron deficiency anaemia.
At the event, the students were trained on simple and easy ways to cook nutritious meals that will help them fight iron deficiency anaemia.
Also, the Shakti women entrepreneurs were trained on basic finance skills and were empowered with means to set up their own businesses including start off 'loan' of Unilever products.
Speaking on Shakti, Unilever Nigeria's Women Empowerment Manager, Mrs. Aviv Okwonkwo expressed that Shakti was created to empower women, and help address unemployment and poverty trends in Nigeria. "SHAKTI's objective is to lift women's self- esteem, confidence and their abilities to support themselves and their families.
The program has successfully moved women who were earning next to nothing to micro- entrepreneurs earning a steady income. The programme is helping to create jobs in rural communities, providing these communities with brands to improve their overall hygiene and nutrition."
Also present at the event were Frank Harasnape, Vice President Foods Africa; James Jakachira, Savoury Director Africa; Folake Awe Customer & Channel Development Manager Unilever Nigeria, Ayodele Alabi, Sustainable Business Manager, Unilever, Ghana, Nigeria, amongst others.
Over the last two years, Unilever has taken the fight against iron deficiency anemia to several schools in different cities across Nigeria including Abeokuta, Sagamu, Sango Ota, Ijebu Ode, Benue, Abuja, etc. SHAKTI which started with 100 beneficiaries in Oyo state, now has over 2000 women registered in 10 states across Nigeria (Enugu, Anambra, Edo, Delta, Imo, Ebonyi, Benue, Nasarawa, Ogun, and Oyo), with Kaduna as the 11th.
The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday approved the issuance of promissory notes for the settlement of debts owed local contractors worth N740 billion. Kemi Adeosun The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, gave the hint while addressing newsmen after the Federal Executive Coucil meeting, adding that debts to GENCOS, DISCOs and state governments stood at N193.69 billion.
"The Memorandum that the Council approved was for the issuance of a promissory note programme to settle inherited debts to local contractors and state governments on the part of Federal Government.
"These obligations had accrued prior to our coming into office and are across a number of sectors.
"We had pension liabilities, salaries some of which go back to 2006; unpaid salaries from 2012 to 2015; pensions to former Nigeria Airways staff from 2009, the Export Expansion Grant which was suspended in 2014; there are actually obligations on that between 2007 and 2014 when they were suspendend.
"What the government has agreed to do is to issue a promissory note, which is effectively an IOU.
"We are going to issue IOUs to the contractors and to those who Federal Government is obligated.
"Those promissory notes would mature over the next 10 years.
"So basically what we are doing is solving a long standing problem of contractor arrears.''
The Minister noted that the obligations were a drag on the economy because many of the contractors owed the banks which in turn had non-performing loans.
She said that the promissory notes had liquidity status meaning that the banks could accept them from the contractors and trade them to improve the banks' non-performing loans.
She said that because of the government debts, there was illiquidity in such places as the power sector, which had reversal of tariff, leading to a debt to GENCOs of about N495 billion.
She said that the debt had held back investments in the power sector.
The minister said the government decided to draw a line on the inherited obligations and issue non-interest IOUs and expecting those owed to negotiate what should be paid to them at great discount.
She also said a very rigorous process was put in place to validate claims, adding that a firm was engaged to do the validation.
Adeosun said government had also directed that agencies feed back their indebtedness every quarter to avoid a repeat.
The minister said that contractors abandoned sites due to the debts and that government wanted them to return.
She also said that government intended to expand export trade with the payment of the export grants.
She further said it was expected that the non-performing loans in the banks would improve.
The minister also said that government had identified that promotion arrears to civil servants had not been paid for long and planed to clear the debt over a three year period.
Also, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, said that FEC approved the 2017 to 2020 strategy and implementation plan for the transformation of the civil service.
She said that it had a strategic implementation work plan which identified the key actors and budget as well as the training and manpower development of workers.
YENAGOA FORMER Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon yesterday urged state governors to stop the habit of abandoning projects left half way by their predecessors.
Gowon stated this in Yenagoa while commissioning the new Bayelsa State Governor’s office, an iconic edifice.
He praised the state Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson for continuing with the projects of his successors and and initiating new projects in the state.
Accompanied by his wife, Victoria, the former Head of State, who was accorded a rousing welcome by Bayelsans who thronged the Government House for the colourful ceremony told the governor, “from what I have heard, you did not abandon anything that your predecessors had done. But you built and improved on them and this is really to your credit. I am sure that there will be no abandoned project.
“While you are here you will complete them and build more. I will like to thank you for doing a good job in this state and your commitment is for the good and well being of the people of the state.
“It is your responsibility and the responsibility of any leader and if you don’t do that nobody will appreciate you. I thank members of your government for giving you all the support you need for good governance”
The former head of state had earlier commissioned the secretariat of the Bayelsa Traditional Rulers Council and was received by the Chairman of the council, King of Twon Brass, King Alfred Diette-Spiff, who incidentally was the first military administrator of old Rivers State which was carved out of the then Eastern Region by his administration in 1967.
In his remarks at the commissioning of the new Governor’s Office, Ijaw National Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, said Nigerian unity was not negotiable.
He recalled that after independence, the country opted for federalism, which he said was distorted later distorted by military coups.
This according to him, has led to the agitations in the country noting that at this point Nigeria must restructure to address all the issues.
“We all agreed that we wanted a federation. And that is what we have today but unfortunately, coups after coups changed the whole concept we back into having a unitary form of government in a uniform of federation.
“So what do we do? It is never too late. Let us restructure this country so that everybody will have a belonging. Whether you are a majority or minority, we are all equal Nigeria.
“So when people talk of good rulers in this country, the humble son of Nigeria in the person of General Yakubu Gowon had again contributed more than any one else. He can go from place to place, he is not arrogant.
“He is a humble man with good family background. Okay am happy today that my son, the executive governor of Bayelsa State has thought it wise to bring my former boss”.
He commended Dickson for bringing Gowon to inaugurate a building he described as the best in the whole country.
“I know that this building will generate good governance. I know this building will bring peace and stability in the country. There is no second class citizen in this country. There is no first class citizen in this country. We are all equal”, he said.
Also speaking, King Diette-Spiff described Gowon as the benevolent father of the nation adding that the former head of state was the architect of state creation.
He said the people of the state would mark the inauguration of the project and the presence of the Gowon as the part of the achievements of the state governor.
Earlier, Dickson had highlighted the qualities of the former head of state describing him as the father of the nation.
“I would like on behalf of the government and people of the state to welcome our leader and father, General Yakubu Gowon and when he landed and we saw him we all thought of our primary school days when all of us used to line up waving the green, white green and singing so many songs.
“But in the end also saying, “to keep Nigeria one is a task that must be done” and the other one said “go on with one Nigeria”. He is the father of Nigeria who led a team of very dedicated leaders.
“We thank you for what you and your colleagues did to give us one Nigeria. Nigeria is not perfect. No nation is perfect. Nation-building is a work in progress”.
On the office complex, he said: “I want to enjoin all of you to pray that this office should be a place where governor’s after me and others will work in peace to lead our stage aright with the fear of God and always in service of our people.
“When we took over, you are all aware that we have been working for the last five years to lay a solid foundation building on what we saw in ground and introducing mire and more things to ensure that our state gets to its desired destination. Today we are here to commission a befitting office that will serve our state for a long time to come”.
The daunting task of surmounting homelessness in Nigeria can be achieved as early as the next decade Mr. Ben Uche Odunzeh, Chairman of EUC Homes Limited has posited.
Odunzeh's EUC Homes Limited, a real estate company located in Lagos and recipient of the City people magazine award of 'Most Promising Real Estate Company of the Year Award – 2017' are already thinking outside the box to help in finding a lasting solution to one of the biggest problems plaguing Nigeria.
Ben Odunzeh
To kick-start this vision, the EUC Homes Ltd boss revealed that he has started the EUC Homes Foundation; a foundation that will come up with guides, publicize successful strategies that will inspire a sustained and strategic philanthropic response to Homelessness, Hunger, and illiteracy.
Since the 1980s when homelessness first burst into this nation's consciousness, a lot have been learned about what works and what does not.
In this light, Mr.Odunzeh stated that practical expert solutions will be provided among other things to help in achieving the bigger aim of ending the three-faced monster of Homelessness, Hunger, and illiteracy.
He said: "It will execute recommendations from foundation staff and experts on what philanthropy can do to help end homelessness, and provide concrete examples of involvement by foundations of all sizes in this issue.
"It would also highlight renewed energy and plans that are fueling a growing consensus that homelessness can be ended in the next decade.
Mr. Odunzeh noted that many foundations have launched important initiatives tailored to specific homeless populations and their urgent needs.
He commended other philanthropic colleagues who are engaged in this work and encourage others to consider homelessness as a part of their grant-making.
"Local and national efforts to end homelessness offer opportunities for any foundation involved in human services to make a difference.
"We now know how to prevent and end homelessness and have an unprecedented opportunity for decisive action—we hope you will join us." He concluded.
While philanthropic involvement in redressing homelessness has remained flat in times past, many are keen to see the real solutions that would be deplored by the EUC Foundation.
By: Kingsley Omonobi Abuja – Constitutional Lawyer and Human Rights Activist, Chief Mike Ozekhome has hailed the judgment of the Supreme Court on who qualifies to be the authentic leadership of the People's Democratic Party saying the judgment has saved Nigeria's slide into a despotic one-party state.Ozekhome
Ozekhome also posited that by the judgment, the judiciary, which had been the 'whipping boy' of our democracy, has again saved 'Nigeria’s wobbling and imperiled democracy'.
In a statement titled 'The Intervention of the Supreme Court in Resolving the PDP Crisis', Chief Ozekhome said, "The apex court of Nigeria in its unanimous judgment today (Wednesday) did two refreshingly invigorating things.
"First, it saved Nigeria’s destructive and annihilating slide into an autocratic and despotic one-party state, where absolutism and lack of opposition were already rearing their monstrous visages.
"Secondly, it saved, unarguably, the most potent opposition, the PDP, from self -destruct and internally generated volcanic eruption".
Continuing Ozekhome said, "There is no doubt that the Ahmed Makarfi and Modu Sheriff Factions were apples and oranges, when compared on an imaginary scale of geniuness.
"One was Japanese, the other, Taiwanese, in terms of originality and imitation.
"While the Makarfi faction appeared to have been fighting for the survival and wellness of the heart and soul of the vertically and horizontally fractured party, which once imperiously boasted of ruling Nigeria for over 60 years in a stupor state of power inebriation, Modu Sheriff and his faction were bent on destroying it completely.
"It must have made the ruling APC green with envy in terms of the Sheriff’s huge capacity to exert maximum damage to PDP’s corporate existence.
"Have you ever seen a supposed opposition party fraternizing with and eulogizing the ruling party on every step taken, never criticizing it, yet tongue lashing its own party?
Have you ever seen where a warring faction became allergic to a settlement that would raise its party up from its nadir of doldrums?
"Once again, the judiciary, the whipping 'boy' of our democracy, has risen to the challenge of saving Nigeria’s wobbling and imperiled democracy.
"A virile opposition constitutes the heart and soul of democracy. The alternative is dictatorship. God bless Nigeria."
Plateau State is a State that is supposed to hold its head high anytime issues of financial obligations to workers arise. This is because of the preponderance of resources both human and natural that dot its landscape. Given a fair exploitation of mineral resources in the state as it is done in states with crude oil, Plateau State should by now be enjoying enormous availability of finance to settle its civil servants as and when due without any snag.
But the over-concentration on oil has left states like Plateau relying almost solely on allocations from the federal level to meet with its numerous obligations. This is coupled with the fact that successive administrations have done little or nothing to develop the enormous tourism and other potentials of the state.
Consequently, the state, just like many others even including oil producing ones, has suffered gross shortage in its income that its obligations are hardly met as the needs keep soaring in galloping-geometrical rate.
Gov. Lalong
Because of this, salaries of workers were not paid and pension of retirees were also not paid over time, leaving a backlog of obligations to clear.
However, at the assumption of office on May 29, 2015, the government of Simon Bako Lalong, made not only the payment of salaries of workers and pensioners a priority, he also took the issue of clearing the backlogs he met on ground seriously.
There is no gainsaying the fact that the governor inherited a badly battered and demoralized civil service, including dehumanized pensioners owing to non-payment of entitlements to them for quite a long time, a situation that led to a statewide strike by the workers, leaving government and governance to suffer almost irredeemably with its attendant negative effects on the state and its people.
To ensure that the situation is reversed and that workers return to work, the Lalong administration put in place some radical cost-cutting measures for all government officials with the aim of redistributing the saved sum to defray the backlog of entitlements owed workers in the state.
Part of this extreme cost-cutting measure was the deliberate refusal of the governor to move into the new government house but choose to live in the old one which is far lesser in cost to maintain and service than if he had moved into the new one.
The other one is the massive cut down on official travels abroad by government officials except in cases where such travels are extremely important, justifiable given the current economic situation and have the potential of making an almost immediate positive impact on the state's economy. The number of those who also travel with the governor when it is extremely necessary for him to do so has also been reduced very significantly.
Also, the government embarked on biometrics exercise for civil servants and pensioners in the state with the aim of weeding out ghost workers and pensioners from its payroll, an exercise that paid off bountifully as government now save some handsome sum monthly from the ghosts detected in that exercise. The sum so saved is ploughed back into settling the wages of genuine workers.
All these show the governor's genuine commitment to the welfare of workers and pensioners in the state.
Despite the well documented dwindling resources of the nation that has also adversely affected allocations to states, Lalong was able to clear workers' salaries and pensioners' gratuities significantly enough for the workers who had before the inauguration of the current administration embarked on an indefinite strike action which crippled the state and brought other economic activities to their knees to call off the industrial action.
In addition to this, staff of the state broadcast corporation, PLRTV, and those of the judiciary, earlier sacked by the previous administration, were recalled by Lalong.
A lot of the civil servants who had not been promoted for up to 8 to ten years were promoted accordingly. The implication of this is that a majority of them received triple promotion and were paid fully for the years lost in line with the entitlements that come with each level of promotion up to date.
All these were done despite the fact that they would eventually add to the state's wage bill and further strain the already drained resources of the state. But Lalong knowing full well as a seasoned administrator that human capital management and development are the best way to get other resources useful for the state, determined not to leave any stone unturned in his drive to ensure that workers get their entitlements as and when due.
He once reminded some top government officials that when a worker is owed his/her entitlement, a whole family is owed and that this could lead to the unintended disintegration of families and its negative impact on the society at large, hence, his passion to make workers' welfare his priority no matter the cost.
Although government has had to borrow some of the funds with which it used to defray workers' and pensioners' outstanding entitlements, it is indeed still a worthy venture as long as the purpose of borrowing these funds is noble, achieved and is properly accounted for.
While this writer takes cognizance of the fact that the Lalong administration has received bailout funds and Paris Club refund, it is also a known fact that while these funds are one-off in coming, the settlement of wage bills of the past does not preclude the continuous payment of salaries and pensions every month by the state. Another fact is that there are one thousand and one things desperately calling for government attention among which is the billions of naira owed contractors which have also been significantly settled while new projects have to also be funded for the benefit of the state and its people.
This is in addition to almost 500 new pensioners added to the wage bill of the state.
Furthermore, there are guidelines set by the federal government on what percentage of the funds can be spent on recurrent obligations and what percentage can be spent on capital obligations. It is gratifying to know that despite the doubts expressed by some people on the prudent utilization of these and other funds accrued to the state, anti-graft agencies have visited the state to check the books and found nothing untoward in the administration of the funds by Lalong. They gave Lalong a clean bill of health unlike the negative verdicts they returned on some other state governors where they had gone to carry out the similar audits.
In all these, Plateau State workers are among the happiest in the country, thanks to a man of conscience, honour and integrity we have as governor. The situation is so good for both workers and pensioners in the state that Simon Lalong has been nicknamed #governoralert, a nickname that comes from the very fact that the workers and pensioners receive bank alert of payments of their monthly entitlements into their accounts on a regular basis, as and when due.
With a good manager of resources at the helm of affairs, it is only expected that workers and pensioners in Plateau State will continue to prosper under Lalong even if resources seem to be scarce.
GIVING back to society through laudable intervention such as crime fighting is one passion held high by a beauty queen, Yetunde Savage, who received an award from the wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, during the Lagos State APC Women Week in Lagos.
Lagos First Lady, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode(2nd right) presents award to Yetunde Salvage(2nd left) flanked by Hon. Jimmy Benson and wife.
The event put together by Hon. Jimmy Benson from Ikorodu Constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly through his ICARE Foundation was in recognition of women in Lagos State that are touching lives through humanitarian efforts.
Yetunde who has been involved in some community projects in Ikorodu Town was recognized among other things, for putting effort to reduce crime rate in the community through an annual Football competition tagged, 'Ikorodu Peace Cup Tournament' held among youths within Ikorodu community to arrest youth restiveness, cultism, kidnapping and other anti-social vices rocking Ikorodu Town of late. Besides, she is involved in other interventions like donation of books and learning materials to some public schools in the community called 'QUEEN YETUNDE INTIATIVE CAMPAIGN'.
Her Excellency, Bolanle Ambode who was pleased with the effort of women in Lagos State, expressed her profound gratitude to the award recipients. She then charged women in the society to always do something that will benefit the people and at the same time urges them not to relent even in the face of gender marginalization, but to braze up and make an impact worth emulating.
Yetunde who is the reigning 2017 Face of Nigeria Beauty Pageant queen also runs a fashion house called "HOUSE OF KIM EMPIRE", a company which houses HOUSE OF KIM COUTOURE, HOUSE OF KIM ONLINE DIGITIAL CATALOG and FACE OF KIMBER ONLINE BEAUTY CONTEST.
According to her, "It's really a giant leap to coordinates all these. Besides, the most important thing on my mind is how to bring succor to my community, Ikorodu, and perhaps, reduce the crime rate to the barest minimum which I started through the youth football tournament and other things.
ABUJA,the ruling All Progressives Congress APC has described Wednesday’s judgment of the Supreme Court which validated Ahmed Makarfi’s chairmanship of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party PDP as not a threat to the existence of the ruling party.
National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, stated this in an interview in Abuja, adding that it does not matter who heads the PDP, saying the APC is actually comfortable with having a virile opposition.
He said; "Whichever way you want to look at it, the ruling has no direct consequence on APC whichever faction the pendulum swings to”.
Mr. Abdullahi added that it would be wrong for anyone to insinuate that the unity of the PDP was a threat to the APC, especially as it had nothing to do with the case.
Also, reacting to the judgment, the newly appointed North-East National Vice Chairman of the APC, Mustapha Salihu, said the party was not threatened by who became PDP Chairman.
He said the PDP failed when it was in power and had the opportunity in government, stressing that the APC was looking at institution not individuals.
"Makarfi or Ali-Modu Sheriff is no threat to us; we are looking at the institution and not the person.''
According to him, PDP is a party that institutionalised corruption and failed to handle the security of the nation.
Youth leader of People's Democratic Party Youth Frontier (PDPYF), Comrade Usman Okai Austin has asked the political gladiators in the party to see the victory at the Supreme court as an opportunity to return the party to the people.Okai
Okai made this declaration on Wednesday following the Supreme court’s judgement which declared Senator Ahmed Makarfi led caretaker committee as the authentic leader
HE said hat the victory was for all and sundry for democracy and that to thrive in Nigeria particularly as the PDP Pplays an opposition role the victory should be seen as no victor,nor vanquished.
He advised both Ahmed Makarfi and Ali Modu Sherrif PDP factions to sheath their swords and walk together as one family so as to return same to power once again to the benefit of Nigerians
Comrade Okai Austin also advised the leaders of the party to guide against the activities of money bags who interest is to hijack the party.
Former Brazilian leader, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, was convicted on corruption charges on Wednesday in the first of five graft trials he faces.
The two-term president was sentenced to nine and half years in prison but would remain free on appeal.
The ruling marked a stunning fall for Lula, Brazil's first working-class president who left office six years ago with an 83 per cent approval rating.
The former union leader won global admiration for transformative social policies that helped reduce stinging inequality in Latin America's biggest country.
Former U.S. President Barack Obama once labeled him the most popular politician on earth.
The verdict represented the highest-profile conviction yet in the sweeping corruption investigation that rattled Brazil for over three years.
This revealed a sprawling system of graft at top levels of business and government and threw the country's political system into disarray.
Judge Sergio Moro found Lula guilty of accepting 1.2 million dollars (3.7 million reais) worth of bribes from engineering firm OAS SA.
The amount prosecutors said the company spent refurbishing a beach apartment for Lula in return for his help winning contracts with state oil company Petroleo Brasileiro
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has described Sen. Ahmed Makarfi's victory on Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership tussle at the Supreme Court on Wednesday as verdict that would bring PDP together.
Jonathan stated this on Wednesday on his tweeter handle in his reaction to the court judgment on the party's leadership crisis.
The Supreme Court in Abuja on Wednesday set aside the ruling of the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt that affirmed Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff as PDP National Chairman.
Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour, who read the judgment of the five-man panel, declared the Makarfi-led caretaker committee as the authentic leadership organ of the party.
Jonathan, who commended the Supreme Court judgment, said "I thank God for this day of justice and May God bless Nigeria.
"I believe in our jurists. We may have issues with some individuals but the Nigerian judiciary deserves respect and commendation.
"Today's verdict is a judgment where there are no winners or losers. It is a verdict that will bring our party together.''
He congratulated the Sen. Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee, adding that "I strongly urge them not to see this as victory for a section of the party but as moral victory for constitutionality over arbitrariness.
"Thus, they must take inspiration from Gen. Yakubu Gowon and declare a 'no victor and no vanquished policy'.
"I hereby call on all those who left the party because of leadership issues to return to their natural home and build the PDP.''
He added that the PDP was an inclusive vehicle, not an exclusive one, saying "we see Nigerians as human beings deserving of the rule of law, separation of power and free market economy that provides level playing ground for all.
"The party that gave Nigeria the largest economy in Africa is a party with large heart enough to find a place for all Nigerians."
Senator representing Lagos East in the Senate, Senator Gbenga Ashafa has called on the Federal Government to intervene in the protracted strike action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, Ogbomosho, Oyo State.
Sahara made the call yesterday, while contributing to a motion Sponsored by the Senator representing Oyo North, Senator Buhari Abdulfatai on the "Urgent need for the Federal Government to intervene in Ladoke Akintola University of Technology imbroglio in Order to save the future of innocent Youths."
Ashafa who is also a Co-sponsor of the Motion stated that both the Oyo and Osun State Governments have failed the Students of LAUTECH who have been at home for a long time due to the inability of the State Governments to meet the demands of the Academic Staff. "
Speaking further, the Senator highlighted the ills of idleness, which the students have been subjected to include social vices like prostitution, drug abuse, cultism to mention a few. In his words, "there are so many consequences for idleness, most importantly the vices that these students have become susceptible to; including prostitution and cultism even off campus like the Badoo group which we have witnessed in Ikorodu and its environs in the recent past."
He concluded by urging his colleagues to support the motion stating that "I urge my colleagues to support this motion and call on the Federal Government to intervene through the Ministry of Education, Nigerian Universities Commission or any relevant department of Government to bring the strike action to an end."
You would recall that the Ladoke Akintola University jointly owned by the Oyo and Osun State Governments has been on strike for over a year now, following the inability of both state governments to pay the salaries of the academic and non- academic staff of the higher institution.
The Senate accordingly resolved that the closure of the University can no longer continue and urged the Federal Government to intervene in the matter and find a lasting solution to the problem, which will ultimately result in the resumption of school activities in Ladoke Akintola University of Technology. —
Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara, has called on traditional rulers in the state to maintain peace and order in their domains.
The governor made the call on Wednesday when traditional rulers from Kwara South paid him a visit at Government House, Ilorin.
The traditional rulers were led by the Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi.
Ahmed assured the royal fathers that all cases of land disputes in the state would be amicably resolved.
"It is very critical to maintain peace and order for development to take place,'' Ahmed said, and described dispute over land ownership as a "recurring thing.''
He said that dialogue was essential in addressing land dispute.
The governor criticized those who use violence to settle land disputes, adding that using violence to resolve land disputes amounted to a criminal act.
He warned that anybody found culpable in any act of violence would be made to face the full wrath of the law.
On the request by the royal fathers for the state to pay the salaries of local government workers, Ahmed said the issue could only be resolved by the National Assembly
Earlier, the Olofa of Offa, Oba Gbadamosi, had appealed to the government to intervene to ensure the salaries of local government workers are paid
He also called for the implementation of findings and recommendations of enquiries into communal clashes arising from land disputes in the state.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi has commiserated with former Osun State Governor and former Interim National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande, over the death of his wife, Madam Omowunmi Akande, who passed on Tuesday.Omowunmi Akande
Dr Fayemi, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Yinka Oyebode, said the passing of Madam Akande was sad and devastating.
The Minister described the late Madam Akande as a truly virtuous woman, a pillar of support to her husband and a humble, loving and compassionate woman who related well with family, friends and political associates of her husband.
"Mama was not only a devoted mother to her biological children, she was a mother figure to Baba's many political sons and daughters. She was an advocate and adviser whose words of encouragement and counsel were quite invaluable", Dr Fayemi said.
The Minister said Madam Akande, like her husband, was very much concerned about the peace and well-being of the country, especially the masses.
"Our condolences to Baba Akande and to the entire family on the passing of mama. Our prayer is that the Lord would comfort the entire family and grant the departed eternal rest.", The statement added.
Also Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Wednesday expressed sadness over the death of Madam Omowunmi Akande, wife of the former Governor of Osun State and All Progressives Congress (APC) Chieftain, Chief Bisi Akande.
Omowunmi, died on Tuesday at the age of 73 in a private hospital in Ibadan.
The Governor in a condolence message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, described late Omowunmi as an epitome of humility, uprightness and one who was a pillar of support for her husband.
"She was a shining example of a virtuous woman, who stood by her husband through thick and thin especially during the period he was incarcerated. She kept the home front together and ensured that his absence did not affect their children adversely," the Governor said.
While praying for the peaceful repose of her soul, he urged her husband, Chief Bisi Akande, to take solace in the fact that she has gone to a better place and draw strength from the joyful years they shared together.
Governor Ambode also commiserated with the children and relatives of the deceased, just as he prayed to God to grant them the fortitude to bear the great loss.
"On behalf of the good people of Lagos, I want to express our heartfelt condolence to the family of Chief Bisi Akande on this great and irreparable loss", he said.
MINISTER of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, has reiterated the need to include entrepreneurial and skills-based courses in the curriculum of Nigeria's tertiary institutions to promote self-reliance amongst the nation's school leavers.
Malam Adamu Adamu
Adamu made the call recently at the commissioning of the United Nations Reading Hub and unveiling of the Model United Nations Association of University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, initiated by Africa Youth Movement (AYM).
The minister who was represented by the Vice Chancellor of UNIUYO, Prof. Enefiok Essien, stressed that the country was vigorously pursuing a functional skill-based and entrepreneurial education, with lesser emphasis on paper qualifications. He added that such foundation would lead to the positive changes and bring about timely actualisation of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the year 2030.
"With proper education, individuals will have more entrepreneurial orientation and skills. This will reduce poverty, which is SDGs goal number one. This will lead to zero hunger, which is goal number two, and will bring about peace, justice and strong institutions which is goal number 16. Education is the surest vehicle for effective change in any society, more so in Nigeria, education in this sense means functional education that is skills-based and not acquisition of degrees, diplomas and certificates," he said.
Vice Chancellor of UNIUYO, Prof. Enefiok Essien, described the partnership as unprecedented, noting that the United Nations Reading Hub in the institution was the first of its kind in the country. He said the gesture would not only benefit the university community but all seeking knowledge. "The reading Hub was conceived as one stop resource centre for news, notices, appointments, opportunities, circulars, conventions, protocols, treaties, instruments and all up to date materials and information by the UN. The information bank will not only avail students and staff of UNIUYO, but also the knowledge seeking members of the public who will have the opportunity to use the university library. The provision of this reading Hub will eliminate illiteracy and enhance education, which are significant road maps of the UN SDGs," he said.
Researchers have developed a new way to non-invasively peer into a person’s arteries, detect inflammation, and possibly ward off heart disease before it becomes too severe to treat, a study said Wednesday.
Heart disease is the top killer of men and women in the United States, accounting for one in four deaths nationwide. Each year, about 750,000 Americans have a heart attack.
For decades, doctors have relied on CT scans and angiograms to detect coronary artery disease, a leading cause of heart attack.
These tests focus on finding vessels that are narrowing due to a buildup of cholesterol and other material, called plaque, restricting blood flow to the heart. But they are far from perfect.
Often, patients with narrowed coronary arteries find out only when their condition is severe.
Nor is narrowing of the arteries always a signal of an approaching heart attack.
Instead, inflammation is the real culprit when it comes to triggering a blockage in an artery that leads to heart attack, said researcher Keith Channon, professor of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Oxford.
“Until now, there’s been no way to detect inflammation in the coronary arteries,” he told reporters on a conference call ahead of the release of the paper in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
“And this is where our new research findings come in.”
The process works by analyzing changes in the fat tissue that surrounds arteries, known as perivascular fat.
This fat becomes more watery and less fatty when it sits near an inflamed artery, researchers said.
Using a metric called CT fat attenuation index (FAI), researchers have found signs of inflammation in existing CT scans.
This indicator points to either stable coronary atherosclerotic plaques, or ruptured plaques in patients who had recently experienced heart attack.
They also found they could track changes in perivascular fat over time, allowing doctors to detect early signs of disease that might be prevented with interventions like cholesterol-lowering statins.
More study is needed before researchers can say how well the approach may be able to predict future heart attacks and save lives.
“If this is confirmed in larger studies, then that will offer an additional option, an additional readout on standard CT angiography,” said Charalambos Antoniades, associate professor of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Oxford.
“I’m optimistic. I believe that, yes it will be able to predict future events. However, we need to wait for the study to be completed.”
The results are expected to be published by the end of the year, he said.
Malta’s parliament voted Wednesday to allow same-sex couples to marry, three years after passing a law permitting civil partnerships in the overwhelmingly Catholic nation.
Lawmakers gave near-unanimous approval to the bill, which represents a major step for LBGT rights on the island, which only legalised divorce in 2011 and where abortion is outlawed.
Traditional ruler of Shangsha , Chief Mutiu Ogundare ,who was abducted by gunmen last Wednesday, along the Center for Management Development,(CMD Road, in Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area, has been freed.
Family sources disclosed that Ogundare was dropped off at Alausa area of Ikeja, blindfolded , at the early hours of yesterday.
Recall that Ogundare received a call from some strangers who invited him to CMD Guest House, Shangisha, after informing him that they were interested in buying a piece of land. He reportedly went in the company of his brother, Mohammed Adams , only for the gun toting strangers to whisk the former away, in their Toyota Venza saloon car , after ordering the later to get down.
Since the purported abduction, no call, was reportedly put across to Ogundare’s family members , to indicate that he could have been abducted,until yesterday, when he was released. Family sources informed that no ransom was paid either.
Vanguard gathered that Ogundare was found walking aimlessly at Alausa, until he sighted a Rapid Response Squad’s van on patrol. He reportedly flagged the vehicle down and introduced himself to the policemen , consequent upon which he was taken him to their office.
While being questioned on his ordeal in the hands of his captors, Ogundare stated that he was not beaten , nor asked to get telephone numbers of any of his relatives. While in the purported den, he stated that he was not blinded folded, adding that his captors only blindfolded him when they were taking him back.
He was thereafter, taken to the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Squad, Surulere , from where his family members were contacted.
But police sources hinted that Ogundare’s case might not be that of kidnap as speculated but might be connected with land matter . Sources further stated there were suspicions that the purported kidnap could have been stage managed, as it lacked common kidnap traces.
Sources said : " From his statement , there is no pointer to the fact that he was abducted. It looks like a stage managed thing. First, contact was not made for payment of ransom as expected in any given kidnap scenario. His phone was switched off during his absence , by his captors . Also, upon arrival, when he contacted one of his relatives on phone, the person at the other end did not show any excitement , he simply said he would meet him at home. From all indication, it looks likes a land matter issue because we are aware of a case involving land matter in the area. Nevertheless, investigation is still ongoing".
A socio-political group, the Osogbo Progressives Circle (OPC), has warned politicians not to drag the Osun State Government and Osogbo community into the criminal allegations leveled against a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Fatai Diekola.
The group, in a press statement signed by its Chairman, Alhaji Sulaimon Adebayo and Secretary, Bidemi Olaniyi said Diekola is having case with the police authority, not the state government, nor Governor Rauf Aregbesola.
According to the group, the warning became imperative following a move to incite Osogbo indigenes against the Aregbesola's administration by supporters of Diekola who are indigenes of Osogbo.
The group maintained that it would not allow 'self-centered politicians' to draw back the hand of development in the state capital by the attempt to incite the community against the state government on Diekola's case.
It explained that the APC chieftain was facing a criminal case of gun running, breach of public peace and conspiracy leveled against him by the police.
Explaining that the APC chieftain's case came up on the heels of confession of two alleged political thugs 'Dada Lawrence and one other who allegedly told the police that Diekola was the person that gave guns to them, the group said Osogbo community does not support criminality.
The group stated that Diekola contributed to the underdevelopment of Osogbo when he led thugs to disrupt the construction of Government House at Okedio, Osogbo in 2003 after Chief Bisi Akande lost the governorship election to Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
"We do not want to join issues with politicians on Fatai Diekola's case before the Osogbo magistrate court, we equally don't want the politicians to misinform members of the public and incite the indigenes of Osogbo against the state government and Governor Rauf Aregbesola.
"Fatai Diekola is son of Osogbo and we know his antecedence. The truth of the matter is that Diekola is have issues with the police authority. The police had invited him about three weeks ago because of his alleged complicity in gun running as accused by the police.
"Diekola did not show up till Monday when he mobilize people to the police station in a campaign rally form. That made the police to charge him for disturbance of public peace. We wondered why Diekola would mobilize hundreds of people to police station to honour invitation. That is the true story.
"Diekola is not fighting for Osogbo and nobody should see his case as such. We recalled that Diekola had led some thugs to disrupt the construction of Government House at Okedio being constructed by Chief Adebisi Akande in 2003.
"We do not want anybody to disturb the peace we are enjoying in Osogbo. Osogbo indigenes should speak out now so that Diekola would not disrupt the development of our collective heritage as he did in 2003. He should answer the allegations against him, his followers should leave Osogbo community out of the matter.
Former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh has congratulated members of the party following the Wednesday's judgment by the Supreme Court which sacked Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and, in a unanimous decision by a five-man panel of Justices, handed leadership of the party to the Senator Ahmed Markafi-led National Working Committee, NWC, bringing to an end the leadership crisis that has rocked the party for many months.
*Olisa Metuh
In a congratulatory message to party members, Chief Metuh also called for the guidance and assistance of the Former President, Goodluck Jonathan whose wealth of experience he said would be of immense help to the party.
"Today, the Supreme Court has delivered its judgment, putting to rest the leadership challenge that confronted our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last 14 months.
"It is therefore in this regard that one must congratulate all members of our great party especially those elected into public offices for their patience, commitment, dedication and loyalty to the party in spite of all odds. The patience and perseverance of our long-suffering PDP staff must equally be recognized and rewarded accordingly.
"As we come out of this challenging experience, the PDP needs the former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to assist in navigating the waters. Indeed, his advice, goodwill, experience and democratic credentials are needed now, more than ever before, to help the party navigate through this very important period in its history.
"As a strong member of the party who has also been in leadership position, the verdict of the Supreme Court is for me a 'no victor, no vanquished' situation. It is a victory for democracy and for the Nigerian people. The fact that this great party stood through this most difficult and challenging times with the preponderance of its members and structures across the country still intact speaks volumes of the strong ideology that binds us together as a family.
"The time therefore has come for us to rekindle the light; to put the past behind us and reach out to our brothers and sisters; those who left before the general elections, those that left during the period of the challenges, and even those who are on the other side of the divide. We must open the big umbrella once again to accommodate all Nigerians seeking for true democracy.
"We need to come together to rebuild our nation and once more collectively enthrone a democratic order that ensures that our nation survives and thrives again as a strong, united and prosperous country where citizens are free and where peace and unity will reign once more."
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