Eradication Of Polio, One Of The Dividends Of My Govt – Buhari

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June 22, 2020

President Muhammadu Buhari says the eradication of wild polio in Nigeria is one of the dividends of his government.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Friday had said it would soon declare Nigeria free of the wild polio virus, since the completion of its documentation.

In a statement on Sunday, Buhari said his administration had met all financial obligations on fighting the virus since 2015 when he came into office.

“This achievement reflects the resilient spirit of Nigerians, in particular the strength and capacity of our health workers, who drew resources and support from multiple sectors to deal a final blow to wild polio,” he said.

“This achievement is not only one of the great successes of this generation of Nigerians but also one of the obvious dividends of this administration, which is consistent with our progressive investment in the health of our people since 2015.

“This landmark achievement is also a promise kept to all Nigerians. As you will recall, in August 2015, barely three months after we assumed office, I promised Nigerians that: ‘My government shall provide the necessary resources and commitment required to strengthen the health system, routine immunisation and ensure the country is certified polio-free.’

“ When, in 2016, Nigeria suffered a major setback with the outbreak of the wild polio virus in Borno state, after about 2 years without any case, I directed the immediate release of N9.8billion to the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) to contain the outbreak.

“Subsequently, we have been meeting all our financial obligations to bilateral and multilateral agreements, and have also provided the moral support and leadership required at all levels to motivate the men and women in the frontline of polio eradication in Nigeria.”

The president said he is glad that the human, material and technological resources deployed to steadily increase routine immunisation coverage are being organised to implement the fight against community transmission of COVID-19.

The president also appreciated WHO, European Union (EU), Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and other donors in Nigeria.

“Sit Up Or Be Shown The Way Out” – Lawan Charges Service Chiefs

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Alex Enemanna

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June 22, 2020

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Senate President Ahmad Lawan has asked service chiefs to sit up to avoid being shown the way out.

Speaking with reporters after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday, Lawan lamented over the high level of insecurity the country.

Lawan said the national assembly has been pushing for more resources for the security agencies, asking them to improve their service to the nation.

“The country is facing very deep and serious security challenges and I have come to discuss with Mr President what we discussed previously that we should do whatever it takes to improve the security situation in the country,” he said.

“And we believe that the senate and indeed the National Assembly is positively disposed to receiving even supplementary budget purposely to address the fundamental needs of the security agencies of our country. So that we are able to empower them, enable them to fight the Boko Haram in the north-east, banditry and other security challenges across the country.

“Secondly, in the Senate, we believe we need to provide more resources for recruitment by the security yet agencies army, the navy, air force, police, immigration, the paramilitary generally.

“We need to have more manpower or personnel and this is not something you get on a platter of gold. Whoever wants to make an omelette will break an egg.

“Section 14 subsection 2b of the constitution of the Federal Republic Nigeria is very categorical and crystal clear, that the purpose of government shall be to provide for security and welfare of the people.

“Therefore, we must, we have no luxury of any option other than to address the security challenges more than any other thing.

“I think we must tell ourselves the truth, that the security situation in the country especially in the northern part of the country, requires that we give much more resources to the security agencies.

“And those who are heading these agencies especially the service chiefs, must sit up, in fact, we must have milestones and timelines on how we are going to deal with this, we can’t just go on without any time frame for dealing with these issues.

“If after we provide some support and someone is found short of expectations, he should be shown the way out if he refuses to go.

“Because the lives of Nigerians are so precious and therefore must be more important than any other considerations or sentiments. I believe that today, the most essential thing in government is to address the security challenges.”

Trump Planned Stopping $1.5 Billion Aid To Nigeria – Ex-NSA, John Bolton

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Alex Enemanna

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June 22, 2020

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A former United States National Security Adviser says President Donald Trump once argued that the $1.5bn aid given to Nigeria annually should be stopped, while funding for military operations in Afghanistan and Syria should be cut.

The former NSA, John Bolton, stated this in his highly anticipated book titled, ‘In the Room Where It Happened’.

Bolton, who left Trump’s administration last year, said the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, had confirmed that indeed, Nigeria was receiving a lot of money from the US annually.

Trump, however, lamented that despite all the money Nigeria was receiving from the US, Nigeria was still refusing to buy American agricultural produce.

Bolton further claimed that Trump argued that the US should cut funding to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, while funds should be released for the construction of a wall along the US-Mexico border.

He wrote, “Following more chatter, Patrick Shanahan (then US Defence Secretary) turned to the cost reductions that maintaining the counter-terrorism capability would entail. But before he got too far, Trump broke in to complain about Congress’ refusal to fund the Mexico border wall.

“Then he was off, ‘Why can’t we just get out of Syria and Afghanistan? I never should have agreed to the other two hundred (in Syria), and it’s really 400 anyway…Then after literally 45 seconds back on Afghanistan, Trump asked, Why are we in Africa?’

He soon made it clear he wanted out of Africa altogether, expounding for some time on our $22 trillion national debt, followed by the problems of our balance-of-trade deficits, followed by complaining, again, about how Nigeria received $1.5bn annually in foreign aid, as he said the President of Nigeria had confirmed to him in an earlier visit, even though they wouldn’t buy US farm products.

Ize-Iyamu Casts His Vote In Ongoing Edo APC Primaries (Pictures)

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Alex Enemanna

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June 22, 2020

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Favoured Guber Candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu has cast his vote in the ongoing Edo APC guber Primaries.

Iyamu cast his vote this morning at Ugboko Ward in Orhionmwon LGA of the state. Iyamu is rumoured to have the backing of suspended APC national chairman and former Edo state governor, Adams Oshiomole.

The primaries have been going on peacefully despite the crisis rocking the party.

Three PDP Aspirants Refuse To Step Down For Obaseki

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Alex Enemanna

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June 22, 2020

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has so far failed to convince the three aspirants on its platform, to step aside for Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, ahead of their primaries, ThisDay reports.

Gideon Ikhine, Ogbeide-Ihama and Kenneth Imasuagbon are the three men that were screened and cleared by the party for the primary.

However, Obaseki’s decision to dump the All Progressives Congress (APC) for PDP, has changed the complexion of the game.

Obaseki defected to the opposition party along with his deputy, Hon. Philip Shuaibu.

The PDP primary was initially scheduled to hold last weekend but has now been postponed until tomorrow, because of the new developments.

Ahead of Tuesday’s primary, Obaseki has met with Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State; Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Aminu Tambuwal and the Governor of Rivers State Nyesom Wike, to strategise on how to get him the ticket.

Read Also: North Will Not Cede Power To South In 2023 — Arewa Youth Consultative Forum
It is understood that a meeting that held Saturday night between key PDP leaders and the three governorship aspirants ended in a deadlock.

Imasuagbo, Ogbeide-Ihama and Ikhine have so far refused to be yield to pressure from every quarter.

“Yes, there is pressure from them. But it is not about pressure, but about doing the right thing in line with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, due process and the Electoral Act.

“It is disappointing and a big shame in Edo State and the entire nation and it portends danger for the country and the party. Nigerians should rise up against what is happening. We are not in the jungle; it is not a do-or-die affair, but about the process. It is totally unacceptable,” Imasuagbon said.

North Will Not Cede Power To South In 2023 — Arewa Youth Consultative Forum

By

Alex Enemanna

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June 22, 2020

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The Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, AYCF, has reiterated that the North still wanted the presidency in 2023 and would not cede power to the South.

President of the AYCF, Shettima Yerima, said in an interview on Tuesday that it irritates the entire North for some southern politicians to think Northerners will leave power for them in 2023.

“How can you think we will cede power to the South in 2023? The North still want the presidency. The south is in charge of the economy and they have everything, so why would they want to take away the only thing we have.

“What would you call that? Even if we are ceding power to the south in 2023, we should be considering people like Orji Uzor Kalu. He is someone the north trusts and the Northern elders will give him their full support. Most Nigerians don’t know that Kalu’s incarceration emanated from conspiracy and betrayal from his own party, the APC,” he said.

Yerima accused Ohanaeze and some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress, APC, of conspiracy during the travails of Senator Kalu Orji Kalu and thanked the Northern elders for standing behind the former Governor of Abia state and Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu during his six months incarceration at Kuje custodial centre.

He accused the leaders of All Progressives Congress (APC) from the south of conspiring against Kalu because of 2023 presidential ambitions.

He also slammed the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo and its leadership for keeping silent during the entire period of Kalu’s travails

He cautioned the North over the dangers of abandoning the former Governor in custody, adding that Northern elders must be commended for “standing firm for Kalu” who he referred to as their “long time ally, brother and friend.”

“We specifically thank Chairman of Northern Elders Forum, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, for proving critics wrong on the North’s stand on Kalu,” he said.

Yerima also thanked the Supreme Court and Justice Muhammad Liman of the Federal High Court for standing on the path of justice.

“It is very important to appreciate the justices of the Supreme Court and Justice Liman of the Federal High Court for their moral and professional courage to uphold justice. Kalu’s release is a victory for decency, for patriotism and respect for the rule of law. They once again proved that Judiciary is the survival of democracy”.

“However, we question the usefulness of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to Igbo elite. It is a disappointment that Ohanaeze under the leadership of Nwodo specifically did nothing to support their own, yet they want a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction.”

“Please where will this president come from? Kalu is one of their biggest assets but they all kept quiet. It’s only the Ohanaeze youths that spoke strongly for Kalu but Nwodo and his members shied away from the real leadership they ought to render. Who knows if they were also paid to betray their own? It’s very shameful of them”.

“It irritates the entire North for some southern politicians to think they will leave power for them (South) come 2023. How can you think we will cede power to the South in 2023?” He queried the journalists. “The North still wants the presidency. The south is in charge of the economy and they have everything, so why would they want to take away the only thing we have.”

“Some leaders of the party from the south who have become desperate about 2023 presidency wanted to kick Kalu out of the race through the Machiavellian way. They don’t like open competition. I was surprised they have no love. They are full of hatred and they want to be President. The amount of hatred in that party is so much. What’s exactly Kalu’s offence? 2023? Look at what is also happening in Edo state. It’s a pity”

“I remember when Kalu as a governor initiated the idea of publishing the state accounts on the print media. That showed a lot. I think the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, should have a rethink on Kalu’s case. The resources they have wasted on pursuing the case for the past 13 years. Is it worth it?

“My advice is that they should sheathe their swords and let Kalu be. They should not allow some desperate politicians to dictate to them what they should do,” he said.