Abia Speaker Mourns Chief Allen Nwachukwu, Describes Him As Man Of Humane Personality

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June 15, 2020

Speaker of the 7th Abia State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji, has expressed sadness over the passing on of Chief Allen Nwachukwu, father of Honourable Nnamdi Allen Nwachukwu, Member representing Osisioma South State Constituency.

The Speaker in a condolence message to the family, described Chief Nwachukwu, as a man of humane personality, uncommon wisdom, an astute politician and a hard-working individual who dedicated a great part of his life to the service of his people.

“An outstanding personality of Ukwa Ngwa extraction, all these qualities showed in the discharge of his duties as former Chairman of the defunct Obioma Ngwa LGA, former Commissioner for Works in Abia State, former Deputy Chairman of PDP in Abia State, and a former national officer of the PDP, traits which he bequeathed to his children as seen in Honourable Nnamdi Allen Nwachukwu at the Assembly”, he said.

In a release signed by Jude Ndukwe, Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker made available to ABN TV, while praying for the repose of the soul of Chief Nwachukwu, he, on behalf of Members of the 7th Abia State House of Assembly, urged the family to be consoled by the fact that their father led a good life and prayed God to grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

“Abia will miss him greatly”, he concluded.

UPDATE: Resident Doctors Begin Nationwide Indefinite Strike

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ABN TV EDITOR

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June 15, 2020

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The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) of Nigeria on Monday commenced a nationwide indefinite strike. This is coming after the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued on the 30th of May.

The President of NARD, Dr. Aliyu Sokomba, announced this in a press briefing in Abuja.

He stated that the Association’s decision is predicated on the fact that the healthcare delivery system is characterized by the perpetual unavailability of personnel protective equipment (PPEs) for healthcare workers, which has caused an increase in infection rates.

He also noted that in spite of repeated promises, the Federal Government has still not paid the COVID-19 hazard inducement allowance to all health workers across the country.

Also, the implementation of the Medical Residency Training Act in all Federal and State hospitals, which ensures the inclusion of the residency funding into the reviewed 2020 budget, has not been effected.

According to Sokomba, “NEC noted the sorry state of the healthcare delivery system characterized by the perpetual unavailability of personnel protective equipment for healthcare workers in our hospitals with the attendant increase in infection rates, the unnecessary suffering of patients and their relatives, the financial hardship, the obsolete equipment, machines, and technology, etc.

“NEC noted the commitment of the National Assembly speaker to implement the Medical Residency Training Act by ensuring the inclusion of the residency funding into the reviewed 2020 budget.

“NEC observed the insincerity of the Appointees of Executive Arm of Government in paying the outstanding salary shortfall of 2014, 2015, 2016 under the guise of the so-called appeal of the National Industrial Court decision.

“NEC observed non-payment of the COVID-19 hazard inducement allowance to all health workers across the country in spite of repeated promises by the government.”

He added, “NEC observed that the plight of her members in state tertiary hospitals such as the non-domestication and non-implementation of Medical Residency Training Act at the state level, the non-implementation of appropriate salary structure, and the non-payment of owed salaries and recently, the slashing of salaries of doctors and other health care workers by Kaduna and Kogi State government is yet to receive attention by the stakeholders.

“NEC Noted the meddlesome and abuse of administrative power by Professor Henry A.A.”

Sokomba said the National Executive Council (NEC) of the NARD, therefore, resolved to proceed on an indefinite nationwide strike action with the exemption of its members attending to COVID-19 patients at designated COVID -19 treatment and isolation centres for two weeks, after which if things remain the same, they shall also be co-opted to join the strike.

He said this exemption is in recognition of the intervention of the Honorable Speaker, House of Representative, the chairman, house committee on health services Dr. Tanko Sununu, and other stakeholders as well as a demonstration of our goodwill to Nigerians.

The Association, therefore, demands: “The provision of the grossly inadequate appropriate Personal Protective Equipment for all Healthcare workers.

“The universal Implementation of the Medical Residency Training Act in all Federal and State hospitals and ensuring pay parity among doctors of an equal cadre.

“The immediate implementation of the revised Hazard allowance and payment of the COVID-19 inducement allowance as agreed with by the Government and Healthcare Workers 3 months ago.

“The provision of funding for Medical Residency Training in the 2021 Appropriation bill.

“The payment of all arrears owed our members in federal and state tertiary health institutions, arising from the consequential adjustment of the National minimum wage.

“The stoppage and immediate refund of all illegal, unjust and callous cut in salaries of our members by Kaduna State and other state governments.”

The Association urged President Muhammadu Buhari, to call relevant agents/agencies to order for deliberately creating chaos to destabilize his administration.

The National Executive Council meeting of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) held virtually on 14th June 2020, to review the 14-day ultimatum issued to government which elapsed two days ago.

The meeting was attended by over 500 doctors – NOC, NEC, Past Presidents, Caucus leaders, Committee Chairmen, and observers.

Peter Obi’s Dollar Investment As Anambra Governor Now Worth N95bn – Alex Otti

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Alex Enemanna

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June 15, 2020

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The former Managing Director of Diamond Bank, Dr Alex Otti, has cleared the air of doubts in the minds of cynics who believe that the N75 billion savings the former Governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, left for the State was a hoax.

Otti, in a statement, praised Obi for his financial prudence which enabled him to save up N75 billion in both local and foreign currencies for Anambra State as a governor before leaving office.

According to him, the dollar component of the savings is now worth over N95 billion.

Otti explained that it was through a high level of managerial ability that Obi was able to achieve a great financial feat ‘in a state that was reputed to have been owing civil servants and pensioners’, by clearing off all debts inherited from his predecessor and still left behind a fortune for his successor.

Confirming the N75 billion savings, Otti, who was the Chairman of Diamond Bank, one of the banks where the money was domiciled, stated again, as he had done many times before, that Obi left a whopping N75 billion for the future generation of the state.

Speaking on the Dollar component of the savings, he said: “Like yours truly had done in the past, one can attest to the fact that some $155million was invested in the tier two capital of three Nigerian banks with maturities of about 5 years at interest rates of up to 9% per annum to the credit of the State.

“As at the time the investments were made, the Naira equivalent of the funds was about N25b. If those funds were rolled over at maturity in 2019, they would be worth about N62b today.

“If interest is assumed to remain at 9% for the past 6 years, an additional N33.5b would have accrued to bring the present value of the investments to over N95b. This is one of the advantages of prudence and financial literacy”, Otti wrote.

Otti, who said Peter Obi successfully cut off profligacies in governance, described Obi as ‘one of the few leaders of the country that has his head properly screwed on his neck,’ noting that ‘in truth, he is a true example of excellent leadership and accountability in today’s world where such attributes are in very short supply’.

Otti opined that it was the financial imprudence and lack of savings culture experienced at different levels of government that have almost crippled the nation after a few months of lockdown.

He, therefore, urged political leaders and public office holders to borrow a leaf from Peter Obi’s prudence, financial responsibility and savings culture in their public and private lives.

It would be recalled that Obi won the award of “Thisday Governor of the Decade.”

“It Is A Sin To Live In A Rented Apartment” – Pastor Charles Osasuwa

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Alex Enemanna

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June 15, 2020

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Charles Osasuwa, the founder of Rock of Ages Christian Assembly Inc, has said it is a sin to live in a rented apartment.

He said this in a message on his Facebook wall on Thursday.

He went on to explain that it is actually a sin for Christians to live in a rented apartment because they will end up having two lords – Jesus and the landlord.

He said “the tenant is always at the mercy of the landlord. The landlord can call the tenant anytime and he can request to use his apartment anytime. The Christian who is a tenant should work towards freeing himself from the second Lord which is the Landlord.”

Osasuwa also said churches who operate in rented properties are not left out. He said “a church that operates in a rented apartment is having two lords. This should not be.”

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“Traditional Rulers In Katsina Are Aiding Bandits” – Presidency

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Alex Enemanna

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June 15, 2020

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Garba Shehu, the presidential spokesman, says some traditional rulers are aiding bandits in Katsina, the state President Muhammadu Buhari hails from.

Speaking on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme, on Monday, Shehu said these traditional rulers help gunmen escape when security agencies are planning attacks.

Katsina has come under attacks by gunmen in recent times. A number of people have lost their lives and property in the incidents.

Shehu said there are people who are benefiting from the attacks.

“It is not that we are making direct accusations on anyone but it is also true that even in the president’s native state of Katsina, some traditional rulers have been found complicit in collaboration with the bandits to harm their own people,” he said.

“In neighbouring Zamfara, emirs and district heads, quite a number of them have been swept out of office. The thing is there are beneficiaries of whatever rotten system you have.

“At some point, the Nigerian Air Force had to put a number of aircraft in Katsina, they are still there. In the early part of that operation attacking Zamfara which then was the epicentre.

“They realised that once aircraft took off from Katsina airport before it got to Zamfara for operation, telephone calls would have been made and targets would have disappeared.

“In the end, we were forced to be flying from distant places like Kaduna and Kano in order to undertake operations in Zamfara.”

Shehu said the president does not have the solutions to all the problems confronting the country.

“All of us as citizens have a duty to the nation to provide information to our armed forces,” he said.

No Missing N23 Billion In SDGs Office- Presidency

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Alex Enemanna

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June 15, 2020

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Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs) has dismissed claims that N23 billion was traced to the personal account of former staff.

In a statement, the OSSAP-SDGs described the allegation as mischievous and unfounded.

“These reckless publications would have been wished away for what they evidently are but for the need to set the records straight and put an end to these mischievous publications.

“Therefore, OSSAP-SDGs wishes to categorically state that there is no N23 billion missing in the office. Indeed, appropriated and released funds to the office were judiciously utilised in the discharge of its mandate.

“On the transfer of staff from the office, it is pertinent to state that it is completely the prerogative and responsibility of the pool ministry or office to redeploy any of their staff seconded to any Ministry, Department or Agency in line with extant rules and guidelines.

“It is, therefore, a misrepresentation of facts for anyone to interpret this as an attempt to cover-up. It must also be stated that the National Assembly amazed by the spurious allegations in the reports had also debunked insinuations that the allocation to OSSAP-SDGs in the 2020 budget was padded with the sum of N33 billion and absolved both the person of Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire and OSSAP-SDGs of such financial impropriety.

“The Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs is committed to the discharge of its core mandates, including President Muhammadu Buhari’s fight against corruption, and as such will not bow to pressure and distractions in the onerous task of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria.

“The public, therefore, is advised to disregard such publications as they are only designed to malign the office.”

The House Committee Chairman on SDGs, Rotimi Agunsoye, had debunked the claim saying “The House Committee on SDGs got records from the OSSAP-SDGs and appropriation committee which shows the said additional N33 billion was not appropriated for SDGs office among provisions of the 2020 budget earlier assented by Mr President.”

Amaechi: China To Approve Another $5.3bn Loan For Nigeria’s Railway Construction

By

Alex Enemanna

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June 15, 2020

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The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, says China has been very helpful to Nigeria.

He stated this on Friday during a special broadcast which aired on Channels Television to mark the nation’s Democracy Day.

The Minister noted that the People Republic of China and the Chinese people have been very helpful to the Federal Government following the disbursement of cash to fun infrastructure, especially railway.

For instance, Amaechi said the Asian country released $1.6billion for the Lagos-Ibadan railway and is expected to approve $5.3billion by October.

“The Chinese government and the Chinese people have been very helpful to Nigeria. They have released $1.6billion for the Lagos-Ibadan.

“They have agreed to approve (and) we hope that by October, they should be able to approve the $5.3billion for the Federal Government of Nigeria so that we can commence and complete the construction of the Ibadan-Kano railway,” he said.

The Lagos–Kano Standard Gauge Railway is an under-construction standard gauge railway across Nigeria, from the Atlantic Ocean port of Lagos to Kano, near the Niger border.

The railway will run parallel to the British-built Cape gauge line, which has a lower design capacity and is in a deteriorated condition.

The railway is being built in segments. Only the segment between Abuja and Kaduna has been completed so far, and services began officially in July 2016.

The 187 km segment is an important junction point on the existing Cape gauge railway network, where a branch line departs the Lagos–Nguru line for Kafanchan, on the Port Harcourt–Maiduguri Railway.

Insecurity: “You Have Failed Us” – Northern Elders Tell Buhari

By

Alex Enemanna

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June 15, 2020

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The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has lamented over the high rate of insecurity in the north, accusing President Muhammadu Buhari of failing to tackle the situation.

In a statement on Sunday, Ango Abdullahi, convener of the forum, said the situation is getting worse by the day.
He said the constant attacks by bandits and Boko Haram insurgents are indications that the Buhari administration “has failed woefully” in terms of security and welfare of citizens.

“Northern Elders Forum (NEF) is alarmed at the rising insecurity of communities and their properties in the North. The recent escalation of attacks by bandits, rustlers and insurgents leave the only conclusion that the people of the North are now completely at the mercy of armed gangs who roam towns and villages at will, wreaking havoc,” the statement read.

“It would appear that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and governors have lost control over the imperatives of protecting people of the North, a constitutional duty that they swore to uphold.

“The situation is getting worse literally by the day as bandits and insurgents appear to sense a huge vacuum in political will and capacity which they exploit with disastrous consequences on communities and individuals.

“Abdullahi said the north has never experienced this level of insecurity, accusing Buhari of issuing threats and promises that have no effect. As a responsible body, the forum has joined millions of others in prayers and in giving advice and encouragement to all authorities that have the responsibility to protect our communities,” he said.

“It is now time to say, enough is enough. Our people are known for their patience and respect for constituted authorities, but all governments must be aware by now that all Northerners have been pushed to the wall.

“The forum is aware that some citizens are contemplating peaceful protests, which are their constitutional rights, to draw the attention of President Buhari and all levels of authority to the plight of people of the North.

“The forum urges all citizens to conduct themselves in a peaceful and responsible manner & it urges governments to respect the rights of citizens to express their opinions peacefully.”

Abdulahi said NEF is consulting other groups and organisations which share its goals in order to come up with demands from the government over the “unremitting assault” on the lives and livelihood of northerners.

“The Forum reminds President Muhammadu Buhari that provision of security and pursuit of the economic welfare of citizens are the only two constitutional responsibilities of the state which all leaders must achieve,” the statement read.

“Our current circumstances in the North clearly demonstrate that President Buhari’s administration has woefully failed to achieve either. This is unacceptable.

“We demand an immediate and comprehensive improvement of our security in the North. We are tired of excuses and verbal threats which criminals laugh at, and our fellow citizens see as a clear failure of leadership which they see as part of them. Enough is enough.”