Author: oduduwanews

Some unidentified persons suspected to be hoodlums have beaten up the publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday.

The former presidential candidate was roughed up having been denied entry into the court premises to observe the trial of embattled Indigenous Peoples of Biafra leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

The Nation reports that Sowore was slapped and punched by the 20 unkempt looking individuals right in from of the security agents who allowed the assault until onlookers raised alarm.

The publication added that the hoodlums left the scene left without being apprehended by the security agents.

Irked by the ignorance of the security operative, the members of the public then chased the hoodlums to apprehend them as the security operatives looked on.

The security operatives were said to have eventually intervened after the situation got rowdy.

Before the incident, Sowore said: “A courtroom is not complete except people are there to witness proceedings. I want to sit right in front of the judge and witness it all.

“They have assured us that Kanu will get justice. He is my friend and I should be here. But the security agencies are still not allowing me in.”

Aare Gani Adams, Aareonaka­kanfo of Yorubaland, has said religious bigotry would not help Nigeria to move forward and reclaim her glory.

Adams, whoholdstheposition of an apostle in the Cherubim and Seraphim Church, called on Nigerians to embrace religious tolerance and refuse to see one religionassuperiortotheother.

He said it would be helpful if Nigerians see their different religions as potent tools in ad­vancing the nation, stressing that neglect of the promotion of indigenous culture and reverence of deities, includ­ing Olukun, can be linked to stunted economic growth in the country.
The convener of the annual Olokun Festival made the ob­servations on Wednesday in Lagos at the special prayers for Nigeria in commemoration of the 2021 edition of the festival, adding that the pandemic pre­vented the event from holding last year.

Adams, who played host to leaders of the Christian, Mus­lim and traditional religions, led praise and prayer sessions, noted that the place of prayer cannot be overemphasized, es­pecially in combating the kill­ings, banditry, insecurity, fall in naira value, rising cost of living and other challenges Nigerians are presently faced with.

While addressing the Yoru­ba, he called on them to pro­mote their culture. He, however, alleged that a particular tradi­tional leader in the region has taken it upon himself to spite Yoruba deities and culture.

According to Adams, the traditional leader’s conduct was appalling as it contradict­ed the Yoruba tradition.

Meanwhile, Dr. Philip Abio­dun, in his closing remarks, ap­preciated the religious leaders and participants, while praying that the tide would turn in fa­vour of Nigeria.

Oyo State government, on Wednesday, has announced its renewed plans to bring back some of the mendicants who have left the provided Akinyele Resettlement Centre back into the facility.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Alhaja Omolabake Kafilat Olayiwola, stated this during an assessment visit to the facility, saying that the state government is willing to accede to some other urgent requests made by the destitute.

She appealed to philanthropic residents to patronize beggars, destitute urchins at the Akinyele resettlement, saying this is the best way to treat the destitute.

She explained that adequate care has been given to the evacuees at the new facility, which, according to her, is more habitable and conducive.

She said: “Firstly, I want to appreciate the effort of the governor concerning what he has done here. We even have some people in other states who have acknowledged the fact that the good things happening here are not being experienced in their own states. So, it is a great privilege.

“Concerning those among the destitute leaving this settlement the state government has provided for them, we have interviewed them and they told us that it is because those who give them food no longer come inside the settlement. So, they had to be going outside to get the food from those people. They said if the people will be coming inside to give them food, they won’t have any cause to go outside of this environment.

“In view of this, I want to urge some of our people who give them food to always try and come into the main resettlement centre because this is the best way to treat the destitute. We should stop giving them stuffs outside.

“In any case, I have assured that some of the requests they have made will be tabled before His Excellency, who we know is very kind and I believe the requests will be granted. Also, we will take every necessary step to ensure that those that go outside are returned and remain inside.

“Another good development about this is, we are making provision for food for them and they don’t complain about that. I have walked round this resettlement and I have seen that the state government has really done well for the destitute. I commend the government for the infrastructure put in place for them and I believe many more things will come for them.”

While speaking with newsmen on behalf of the Commissioner, the permanent Secretary, Mrs Christiana Abosede expressed satisfaction on the state of the resettlement centre, stressing that the state government would continue to take good care of the Residents, in as much they stay in the designated camp.

She maintained that efforts are on top gear to recapture those that have absconded the camp to continue their begging business in some major streets of Ibadan.

“We bless the name of the Lord, thus far. God has helped us and Oyo State Government has been trying to see to the welfare of the destitute that have been evacuated and resettled at this centre.

“As you can see, they are doing well as regards medical care. The Ministry of Health has been up to the task and they have been feeding well. They took rice and fish in the morning, Eba and okro soup this afternoon. So far, so good, the Honourable Commissioner, the new commissioner for the Ministry in the person of Alhaja Khafilat Omolabake Olayiwola, has deemed it fit, as part of her familiarisation tour to visit the people here, and to assure them of government continuous support of the centre.

“That is why she is here and she is here too to listen just to get some feelers from them so that when she meets with His Excellency, she will be able to deliver some of their requests.
“Some of the destitute that were evacuated, we all see that some of them have strayed back to the street and effort of the ministry is to ensure that all of them are captured in.

“Even as part of the interview conducted with the seven elders that they have here, they complained a lot. They said they never liked the way some of them went back to the street and that they wanted Government to bring them back here.

“So, we are going to continue the evacuation exercises which we will be doing together. They have been feeding well as far as the Ministry in charge is concerned,” She said.

In their reactions, destitute, beggars met on the ground appreciated Governor Makinde led administration for providing basic needs for them within the camp,

They however charged the state government to maintain its stand and dislodge those beggars that are floating other colonies in major streets of Ibadan.

One of the protesters wore a white garment outfit while carrying a placard, while the other claimed he was a journalist. The two persons are currently cooling off in a black maria van.

Details later.

The Governor of Osun, Adegboyega Oyetola, on Monday inaugurated the Outbreak Response to Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio as part of efforts towards advancing healthy living of the citizens, particularly the children.

Oyetola said the initiative was designed to produce an army of healthy children who will inherit and sustain the administration’s Development Agenda and be the face of the Osun dream.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, held at Ayegbaju international market, Osogbo, Oyetola said by inaugurating the exercise today, the State was trying to prevent Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio which are in some states in Nigeria from getting to Osun.

He added that the initiative would serve as a booster to the health segment of the Administration’s Development Agenda which encompasses adequate, quality and equitable healthcare delivery in all its ramifications.

Governor Oyetola who disclosed that his Administration had adopted adequate and prompt strategies to remedy and revitalise the health sector.

According to him, the Administration’s healthcare delivery is a holistic, expansive and interconnected exercise hence, the polio exercise targeted at further enhancing the health of the children.

He enjoined the residents, particularly parents and guardians, to take maximum advantage of the initiative, saying, “I urge our mothers to cooperate with government by visiting our health centres to avail the chidren of the available facilities.”

He further said: “Today, we are widening the healthcare delivery net by flagging off the outbreak response to circulate vaccine derived polio to give our children good health attention and put the minds of their parents at rest.

“You will all recall that Nigeria was confirmed to be polio free on August 25th, 2020 with zero cases of the wild poliovirus. The nation was the last polio endemic country in Africa and was officially certified free from polio after making three consecutive years since the last case of wild polio had been identified.

“However, what we are trying to prevent today is Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio which are in some states in Nigeria today so as to prevent it from getting to Osun.

“This vaccination will be given to our children who are within the age range of 0-59 months. The main vaccination will be for a period of four days while there will be mop up for two days so as to get to areas where there could be missed Children.

“I am therefore appealing to mothers not to be afraid of the exercise. Mothers should bring their children for vaccination so that the health of their children can be boosted and guaranteed.

“This exercise is proactively designed to produce an army of healthy children who will inherit and sustain our Development Agenda and be the face of the Osun of our dream. I urge our mothers to cooperate with government by visiting our health centres to avail the chidren of the available facilities,” he added.

While enumerating some of the interventions made to revamp the health sector, Oyetola said, “Since coming into office, we have adopted adequate and prompt strategies to remedy and revitalise the health sector, including battling the Coronavirus pandemic, eliminating open defecation, and drastically reducing child and maternal mortality.

“Our School Free Feeding Programme which is targeted at children at the elementary school stage to enhance their health and mental alertness is also on course.

“Our renovation and revitalisation of nine General Hospitals and 332 Primary Health Centres programme, one per ward, which was flagged off three months of our coming into office, has reached an advanced completion stage as over 300 of them have been completed. All the Centres have qualified staff and adequate and quality drugs.

“We have also instituted the Osun Health Insurance Scheme with affordable premiums for workers and zero premiums for the vulnerable, including the aged and persons living with disabilities to provide affordable healthcare for our people.”

Earlier, in his welcome address, the Chairman, Osun State Primary Health Care Development Board, Leke Ogunsola, applauded the Administration of Governor Oyetola for taking the health and general well-being of the citizens to the front burners.

He said the Board has been working hard to ensure smooth delivery of immunisation to all households across the nooks and crannies of the State.

“The performance of this Administration in all sectors has been nothing short of stellar, especially in the area of health, with much focus on healthcare delivery at the grassroots.

“The first round of this Polio Outbreak Response Immunisation Exercise held in September this year, and it was observed that some children didn’t get immunised as a result of the reculcitrant attitude of some parents in refusing to present their children for immunisation.

“The second of the programme has already commenced on the 16th of this month, with the active implementation ending on the 19th and a mop-up exercise between 20th to 24th.”

Also speaking, the State Coordinator, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Mrs. Modupeola Oyesiji, commended the Governor on his prompt response to health related matters, saying this has proven his determination as taking the sector to the next level of development.

Dr. Oyesiji who described the provision of quality health as non-negotiable to every serious, responsible and responsive government, hailed the Governor for being resolute in his commitment to advancing the course of the citizens as reflected in the myriads socioeconomic and infrastructure development in the health sector.

She said, “We are very grateful for your timely and prompt payment of salaries which has been the motivation to enhancing the health sector. You have really assisted us in the health sector by assuring us that it is your priority. We have all the machineries in place to let us succeed. The immunisation is the right of every child and we will do everything to ensure that our children get immunised.”

The Representative of World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr. Bello Hammed, commended the Governor for being faithful to his electoral promises, particularly for allocating the recommended percentage to health sector in the Year 2022 Budget.

He said, “It is worthy of note that Osun is among the few states that have earmarked the required percentage to health sector as requested by WHO.

“I must also commend the tremendous achievements of the government to reposition the health sector. No doubt, the State is doing well in improving the health of the citizens as it has taken full ownership of their health.”