Politics

COVID-19: Active cases now 277 as total number hits 442 April 17, 2020 The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has said the active cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria is now 277. Recall that the NCDC, on its verified Twitter account, on Thursday said it recorded 35 new cases of COVID-19. NCDC said it recorded 19 in Lagos, 9 in FCT, 5 in Kano and 2 in Oyo State. The agency stated that with the majority in stable condition, the total number of cases is now 442. It added that 152 patients had been discharged and 13 deaths recorded. A total of 20 states in the country have recorded COVID-19 infection. “As at 10:20p.m. on April 16, Lagos had a total of 251 confirmed COVID-19 cases, while FCT and Kano have 67 and 21 cases, respectively,” it said. The NCDC recommended treatment of every confirmed COVID-19 case in an isolation centre to mitigate the risk of spread in communities. Post navigation

Aspirants strategise ahead of Edo poll April 17, 2020 Tension is heightening in Edo State as politicians are prepare for primaries and the September 19 this year’s governorship poll. The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are the dominant political parties in Edo State. Barring any unforeseen development, the primary of the ruling APC would hold on June 2. The face-off between the National Chairman and former governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and his successor, Godwin Obaseki may cost the incumbent governor APC’s ticket; thereby opting out of the race or defecting to another political party to be part of the September 19 contest. To say the re-election of Obaseki will be a Herculean task is simply stating the obvious because his benefactor and godfather felt betrayed by attempts of some members and leaders of the party to unceremoniously remove him as the national chairman, in spite of his numerous achievements and contributions to th...

A leader, technocrat, Jibrin Muhammad Barde, a year older April 17, 2020 Today, April 16, 2020, a great and illustrious son of Gombe State, an accomplished banker, a boss, husband, father and brother, Jibrin Muhammad Barde is a year older. He stands as strong as a rock, not by his wisdom alone but by his strong faith in Allah and his keen reflex, his courage and his bull-like determination to pursue a people-driven cause. In 2018, this unassuming and brilliant young man felt the urgent need to serve his people and within few months of consultations, his name became a household name in the state. He became a threat to the political players although he was a different breed of politician. Peaceful but brave and courageous, intelligent, compassionate and a man with a heart of gold. I learned so many things from him. He taught me that when I believe in a cause that is just, there should be no going back. From him, I learnt more that you begin to see obstacles only when you t...

Sule orders arrest of Nasarawa child beggars April 17, 2020 Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has announced the extension of lockdown of the state for another 10 days. The governor also said any child seen on the street begging should be arrested by the security agents. The governor spoke at a press briefing in Government House, Lafia on Thursday, affirmed that all worship centres such as mosques and churches were to remain closed He stated that mobile courts had been established for the purpose of trial of offenders. He said, “The extension of this restriction remains necessary to protect the citizens of the state from the possibility of contracting the disease from infiltrators and to minimise the potential for spread.”

Delta to begin palliatives distribution by weekend April 17, 2020 The Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, has said the distribution of palliatives to cushion the effects of the lockdown against Covid-19 in the state would commence by weekend. Aniagwu said this in a phone chat on Thursday in Warri on Thursday. The commissioner, who regretted the lockdown that had sparked protests in parts of the state, said the aim was to contain the spread of the pandemic. “We recognise the pains our people are going through in this trying time. We will start the distribution of palliatives to the grass roots by weekend to cushion the effects. “Government is interested in saving lives. The lives of the people are more important than the economy. People should support the government in this trying moment. The extension of the lockdown is for the interest of the people,” he said.

remains high risk, says Gates Foundation April 17, 2020 The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation says northern Nigeria remains a high-risk region for the spread of COVID-19 due to its weak primary healthcare system. Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, Mark Suzman, said this during a conference call with select African journalists. Responding to a question on how the pandemic could affect northern Nigeria, Suzman said, “We have worked extensively in the North because it is the poorest part of Nigeria. It does have sort of the weakest overall health infrastructure and facilities and that is also why the region has the highest child and maternal mortality rate. “Those characteristics are shared by several African countries, including in the region that is comparable to the challenges in the other parts of the Sahel and other parts of the continent. “I don’t think there is anything sort of specific you call out other than the risks are obviously greater when you do hav...

ADC rallies support for Buhari’s regime April 17, 2020 The African Democratic Congress has appealed to Nigerians, especially leaders of opposition parties to rally round the regime of the President, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), in order to contain the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria. National Publicity Secretary of ADC, Yemi Kolapo, made the appeal in a statement, on Thursday. The party noted that just like the nation did during the Ebola crisis, this was the time for all to come together and take bold steps to deal with the current global health challenge. While noting that there were still gaps to be filled, she stressed that those in charge of the disbursement of the COVID-19 palliatives needed to change their strategy “because the current one is clearly not working.” Kolapo said, “Nigerians have never complained of not having enough well-constructed speeches, which, most times, end up as empty rhetoric. “The bone of contention has been poor implementat...

Nigeria must return to true federalism — Adebanjo April 17, 2020 Leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, on Thursday, reiterated the call for a return to true federalism. This, he said, was the panacea for the imbalance and injustice in the current political arrangement in the land. Adebanjo said this during a television programme on BCOS in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, monitored by our correspondent. The elder statesman said, “The beginning of our problem in this country was the military coup of 1966. The people who want to do mischief, particularly our brothers from the North, are cheating us under the present structure imposed on us by the military in 1966. “As long as that constitution exists, those of us in the South, who took part in the founding of this nation under our constitutional democracy, would not accept it.” “The constitution created local government councils through which they distribute resources. The North ...

Cross River feeds street children April 15, 2020 The Director General of the Cross-River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong, on Tuesday, handed food items and personal protective materials to street children in Calabar, the state capital. This, she said, were some of the measures being taken by the state government to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in the state. She led a team of government officials to various streets such as: Mary Slessor, Bogobiri, and Cultural Centre within the city where most of the homeless children commonly referred to as “skolombo” reside. Ekpenyong, who also led the officials to sensitise the children, said, “With a geometrical progression in cases recorded on a daily basis globally, the importance of sensitization cannot be over emphasized. “We are here today to ensure that everyone is being carried along. Our dear and passionate Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, has mandated that everyone in the streets ...

PDP demands total lockdown in Edo April 15, 2020 Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, has called for a lockdown of the state as the only option to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The state chairman of the party, Dr Tony Aziegbemi, made the call at a media briefing in Benin, on Tuesday. He said the state currently accounts for 14 positive COVID-14 cases, making it the highest in the South-South zone just as two deaths had also been recorded. The party chairman said a total lockdown was required to secure the lives of the five million residents of the state. Aziegbemi equally said the response of the Godwin Obaseki-led administration to the COVID-19 pandemic was less than satisfactory and scary considering the state’s proximity to the worst-affected states including Lagos and Abuja. He said, “The government of Edo State has failed us all. The best options to contain COVID-19 are total lockdown and massive testing. Since the Edo State Government has ...

‘Enugu has decontaminated 35 markets’ April 15, 2020 The Enugu State Chief Fire Officer, Mr Okwudili Ohaa, on Tuesday announced that the state government had so far fumigated 35 markets and public places across the state as part of efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. He said this while addressing journalists shortly after the decontamination of Orba Modern Market, in the Udenu Local Government Area of the state. Ohaa said, “As we are rounding up the first phase of the decontamination exercise which started on April 1, 2020, I am happy to inform you that we completed over 99.9 per cent of the areas marked out for disinfection, as we decontaminated a total of 35 markets including some public places. “I am giving kudos to the Enugu State Government under the leadership of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, for providing all the logistics that enabled us to perform effectively, as you have seen we also worked on Easter holidays so as to meet our target.” The...

Ogun PDP crisis: Suspended chairman, Kashamu clash April 15, 2020 the embattled Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State, Bayo Dayo, has accused former senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District, Buruji Kashamu, of attempting to bribe him with N10m to compromise the party congresses in the state. Dayo was suspended by the party in the state for alleged anti-party activities. While reacting to his suspension by some members of the executive of the party in the state, Dayo said he remained the party chairman because he could only be punished by National Executive Committee of the party. He said, “They (Kashamu group) came to my house day before yesterday with N10m; they told me to take the money in order to sign their papers. “The paper is to withdraw the letter I wrote to the lawyer. I was also asked to write a letter to INEC telling them we have concluded the congresses of the state. “I resisted, I said I have written a lett...

Nasarawa lawmakers order arrest of SSG’s aides April 15, 2020 The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has ordered for the immediate arrest of four media aides to the embattled Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Aliyu Ahmed, for allegedly instigating the state against the lawmakers. They accused the media aides of spreading false information alleging that each lawmaker collected N11m from the state government for distribution as COVID-19 palliatives to their constituents. The resolution of the House followed a motion on a matter of urgent public importance moved by the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Mr Mohammed Omadefu, during an emergency sitting of the assembly on Tuesday. Speaker of the House, Mr Ibrahim Balarabe-Abdullahi, while reading the resolution also urged the state government to issue a statement to clarify the issue. He explained that such reports if left unclarified were capable of creating confusion. Balarabe-Abdullahi said, “The arrest of...