President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan congratulates Governor Olusegun Mimiko on his declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the winner of yesterday’s governorship election in Ondo State.
President Jonathan also commends the dutiful, patriotic and law-abiding electorate of Ondo State as well as the INEC personnel and security agencies who ensured that the elections were peacefully and successfully conducted in keeping with his Administration’s commitment to making elections in Nigeria progressively better organised and more credible.
As Governor Mimiko looks forward to the commencement of his second term in Office, the President urges him to be prepared to work even harder to justify the fresh mandate given to him by the people of Ondo state who voted for his re-election on Saturday.
President Jonathan assures Dr. Mimiko that the Federal Government will continue to engage constructively and positively with the Ondo State Government in collaborative efforts to achieve faster socio-economic development and better living conditions for people in the state and all other parts of Nigeria.
He wishes Dr. Mimiko a very successful second term as Governor of Ondo State.
Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State (right) and Mr. Ewuho Jimoh, Comptroller of Prisons, Edo State after the Governor granted amnesty to Monday Odu (left) and Calistus Ikem; two prisoners on death row, last week
Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has faulted the claim of the National Human Rights Commission that he has signed the death warrants of two convicts, Callistus Eke and Olu Fatogun, saying the commission got its facts wrong before making statements to the international community
The governor, who was reacting to a petition signed by the Executive Secretary of the Commission and other human rights bodies, said “incidentally, the state government has actually not just granting Calistus Eke pardon but released him from prison. We have done much more than the people are asking us to do. So they got their facts wrong. Secondly, the human rights commission got it wrong to assume that Fatogun is to be executed”the governor noted.
He said: “the case of Olu Fatogun was reviewed by the Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy and they recommended that his death sentence be affirmed and carried out, but I refused the prayers, rather I ordered that the death sentence be commuted to life imprisonment. Again the Human Rights Commission is wrong to say that I have authorised his execution”.
According to the governor, “I refused the recommendation of the Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy to have him executed. The Human Rights Commission got their facts wrong. They were acting on the recommendation without waiting for my confirmation.”
Comrade Oshiomhole who said he took the decision on the 26 of September noted that however, there are two other persons whose conviction I have approved in respect Daniel Nsofor and Osayinwinde Agbomien.
He explained that Agbomien killed his victim, dismembered his body and buried the parts in different places to avoid detection. He said when the convict was taken to court, he said his offence was a mistake but the manner in whicjh he treated the body indicated that it was gruesome, premeditated and wicked act.
Monday Odu (left) and Calistus Ikem; two prisoners on death row granted amnesty by Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State last week.
The Governor quoted excerpts of the Supreme Court judgment upholding Agbomien’s death sentence and according to the apex court “the likes of Agbomien belong to Hades (hell)”
On Nsofor, Oshiomhole said he approved his death sentence because after robbing his victim, a woman, of her possessions he subjected her to horrendous torture and experience and thereafter killed her.
According to the Governor, “the National Human Rights Commission was wrong. They must be seen to be painstaking in matters of life and death. They must check their facts right. The state does not exercise mercy on such persons. I decided to free those who didn’t kill to go and sin no more. however, we must send a clear message to criminals that they have no right to kill and live.”
INEC declares Dr Olusegun Abdrahman Mimiko as winner of Ondo gubernatorial poll with 260,199 votes, ACN – 143,512 votes and PDP 155,961 votes. – Governor Segun Mimiko of the Labour Party has emerged victorious in the Ondo State governorship election which ended yesterday
With malice towards none, former Abia state governor Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu Sunday took his campaign for Fair Play to higher dimensions, proclaiming that the North would not stem Igbo Presidential aspirations in 2015.
Apparently set to prove that Nigerians up north were not overshadowed by a ramrod stiff bunch of power drunk politicians, Kalu deflated the reasoning that the South-East cannot get justice in the next Presidential arrangement.
He said, “We are not being fair when we say the North will not compromise. On June 12 1993, Chief Moshood Abiola, a Yoruba, defeated Alhaji Bashir Tofa in his northern backyard. In 1999,they chose Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, another Yoruba. So, all things being equal, something similar will happen in 2015 in favor of the Igbo”
Kalu delved into history to show that the Igbo trusted and maintained ties with the North. “Four Igbo sons who affected the march of history-Dr.Nnamdi Azikiwe, Gens Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi,Emeka Ojukwu and Maj.Nzeogwu spoke fluent Hausa. In fact, Zik and Ojukwu were born in Zungeru. Ironsi appointed Lt. Col.Yakubu Gowon as Army Chief, Late Alhaji Ahmadu Bello’s relation, Hamzat Ahmadu Private Secretary; his escorts were led by Lt. William Walbe. These were all northerners.Ojukwu’s driver as Battalion Commander was Yusuf Azi,Gowon’s kinsman, his orderly Abdulkadir Kanabe was Hausa. Nzeogwu was known as Kaduna”, the ex-governor revealed.
The north also showed some regards. In his words, “Although Nzeogwu killed the Premier of the Northern region in the January 15,1966 coup, when the former died on the Biafran side during the war, Gen.Gowon made sure his remains was flown to Kaduna for full military honours at the Cemetry. Even Second Lt. Emeka Omeruah one of the subalterns ordered by Nzeogwu to storm the Sarduana’s house and who fought for Biafra as an Army Colonel, found his way back to the Nigeria Air-Force later where he rose to be minister under three northern Generals[Muhammadu Buhari,Sani Abacha, Abdusalami Abubakar]respectively, and Governor under General Ibrahim Babangida.His younger brother, Paul Omeruo was also governor under Abacha.”
Kalu cited more intimate ties between the Igbo and the North which should bring both parties to a pact in 2015.”There is no present Northern leader who does not feel at home in Igboland. Babangida’s father-in-law Ogbueshi Leo Okogwu was a wealthy Asaba Chief who married Hajia Asabe Mohammed King of Minna,Maryam’s mom, and aunt to Gen.Garba Duba.Gen. Ike Nwachukwu’s maternal home is in the Katsina Emir’s Palace,Brig.Alabi Isama’s Kwale dad married the sister of the Emir of Ilorin.Alhaji Abubakar Atiku,Adm.Murtala Nyako have Igbo wives.The Deputy Governor of Imo state, Jude Agbaso and General Buba Marwa are in-laws.Yes,we can sit down to agree on equity.”
Abia State Government says there is no going back on the planned probe of former Governor of Abia State Orji Uzor Kalu.
In a press statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ugochukwu Emezue government says that one of the areas that the probe will focus on the activities of the former Governor as far as the Abia State Infrastructural Fund is concerned, as money is believed to have been mismanaged.
Mr. Emezue maintained that the probe which has been welcomed by Abians, will help in ascertaining the level of corruption during the eight years of the ex governor. Commenting on the claims by Kalu that Chief T. A. Orji has properties in Abuja and other cities, the Chief Press Secretary challenged him to substantiate his claims by publishing documents relating to such properties.
Mr. Emezue said that rather than explain to Nigerians how he suddenly acquired his multi-billion naira mansions in Potomac which is on sale, Houston, Miami, Atlanta, and the acquisition of Slok airlines, banks and other businesses that are barely paying staff salaries, which he acquired while in office, Kalu is busy playing to the gallery with his deceitful Igbo Presidency agenda in 2015. He stated that Kalu will soon be exposed.
Mr. Emezue insisted that the huge debt Kalu left in Abia has remained a sour point in his existence, little wonder he is always angry when this issue is raised. He stated that this sour point will continue to haunt him.
The Chief Press Secretary insisted that Kalu who is seeking relevance, having lost out of the power equation in the State, has the penchant of levelling unsubstantiated allegations against those he considers as threats to him as he did to Ohakim, Anenih and Obasanjo. Emezue stated that it is on record that Kalu and his mother after such media allegations when they were in charge of the state, went to beg Anenih and Obasanjo, hence he should not be taken seriously, since everything about him is “gamji”.
Kalu, the Abia state spokesman hinted is envious of the excellent relationship between the Governor and his aides which is based on mutual respect, and not mutual “Okijaism” which he used to dehumanize those that worked with him.
The Governor Mr. Emezue said is not a business man and has not travelled to Asian countries for any business, as being insinuated by Kalu.
Mr. Emezue stated that Kalu will not be dignified with further response, until the mother Eunice, who in actual fact ruled Abia, comes out from her hiding to speak.
As former Vice President, Chief Alex Ekwueme celebrates his 80th birthday on Sunday, October 21, 2012, President Jonathan has eulogized him as a living personification of the highest ideals of patriotism and selfless service.
In a congratulatory letter to Chief Ekwueme, President Jonathan extolled the former Vice President’s laudable contributions to national development over the years, saying that his “unassailable integrity and consummate diligence” have made him one of Nigeria’s most respected elder statesmen.
“On the occasion of your landmark 80thbirthday anniversary, I join your family, friends, and well-wishers in thanking Almighty God for the richly fulfilled life He has blessed you with.
“A thorough-bred professional, an accomplished administrator and leader of men, an epitome of the highest ideals of selfless service and unwavering patriotism, your unassailable integrity and consummate diligence have combined to make you one of our most respected national icons today.
“Over the years, you have consistently invested the benefit of your inspiring attributes in dedicated service to our dear country, while continuing to avail our generation of leaders of your enduring wise counsel. It is my prayer that Almighty God continues to keep and prosper you even as He blesses you with robust health and a life of perpetual fulfilment,” President Jonathan wrote.
On behalf of his family, the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the President wished Chief Ekwueme very happy birthday celebrations.
Imo state governor, Owelle Rochas Anayo Okorocha has again appealed to the national assembly to create additional state in the south east to bring the zone at par with other zones in the country.
The governor who spoke during the grand cultural carnival to celebrate the 80th birthday of Dr. Alex Ekwueme at Okpara Square, Enugu, said the agitation for additional state for south east should be accorded the priority it deserves and not to be treated in the same basket of requests by other zones.
“The issue of additional state for south east is justifiable and long over-due considering the fact that south east has only five states as against six and seven other zones have. On the basis of equity and fairness, we deserve at least one more state before considering requests by other zones. Therefore, I appeal to the presidency to send this request as an executive bill to the national assembly as a birthday gift to Ndigbo and our great leader, Dr. Alex Ekwueeme, who symbolizes many things in our nation”
Gov. Okorocha described Igbos as great people carefully created by God that have made several sacrifices to sustain the unity of the nation and added that Igbos as erroneously perceived are not marginalized in some quarters but would surely assume their pride of place at the appointed time.
He added that time is up for Igbo leaders to close ranks and make sacrifices in the pursuit Igbo common agenda and overall development of the zone.
Gov. Okorocha, however described Ekwueme as that selfless leader who at the age of 80 has remained a blessing to Igbo nation.
He said “Today, we are celebrating our own, a man that we suppose to have been celebrating as a former president if we had gotten our political equation from the beginning. For me, Dr. Ekwueme represents many things to the Igbos and we will continue to celebrate this man that has made us proud”.
Mohammed Megaryef singled out Bani Walid as one of the final strongholds of Kadhafi loyalists (AFP/File, Gianluigi Guercia)
TRIPOLI — The new Libyan authorities said on Saturday the country has not yet been “fully” liberated, exactly a year since the killing of Moamer Kadhafi and against the backdrop of clashes in one of his last bastions.
“The campaign to liberate the country has not been fully completed,” Mohammed Megaryef, the head of Libya’s national assembly, said in remarks broadcast on state television.
He singled out the oasis town of Bani Walid, scene of deadly clashes over the past week and one of the final strongholds of Kadhafi’s dictatorial regime during the 2011 revolution that ousted and killed him.
Megaryef, president of the democratically elected General National Congress, gave a sombre assessment of the post-Kadhafi period and warned that remnants of the former regime still pose a threat.
He pointed to “delays and negligence” in the formation of a professional army and police force, and the failure to disarm and integrate former rebels into state institutions.
The national assembly chief stressed that delays in reactivating and reforming the judiciary had also hampered national reconciliation in what marks a critical transition period for the oil-rich nation.
“This situation has created a state of discontent and tension among different segments of society and contributed to the spread of chaos, disorder, corruption and weakness in the performance of various government agencies,” said Megaryef.
This benefited “remnants of the former of the regime which have infiltrated the organs of the state, maybe even its leadership, and are plotting against the revolution with the help of others who are abroad.”
The weakness of the state, he continued, has allowed groups with or without ties to the former regime to defy the law and carry out arbitrary arrests, torture, blackmail and looting.
“They even dared to establish their own prisons,” Megaryef said in apparent reference to armed militias, some of which have their own detention centres and act as a law unto themselves.
Libya’s top official reserved his sharpest criticism for the town of Bani Walid, which is seen by many as a hideout for regime loyalists and criminal gangs, and endorsed military operations there.
“Bani Walid’s misfortune is that it has become a sanctuary for a large number of outlaws and anti-revolutionaries and mercenaries,” Megaryef said.
Forces linked to the army, the majority of them former rebels, encircled the hilltop town this month in a bid to bring to justice the men who kidnapped and allegedly tortured an ex-rebel credited with capturing Kadhafi.
Fighting around Bani Walid this week has killed more than 10 people.
Megaryef stressed that the operations underway “do not target this brave city or its people, rather they target culprits, wanted people, the accused and infiltrators among its honorable residents.”
Ondo State Governorship Election (Update 2): Ondo Commissioner for Special Duties arrested
with 6 AK-47 guns, Election materials delayed, ACN agent barred
HIGHLIGHTS:
– The Ondo State Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr. Niran Sule, and the Chairman of Owo
Council, Mr. Akinrogbe, have been arrested and stripped naked after they were found with six
AK-47 guns in the early hours of Saturday. They have been whisked to Akure for interrogation.
– ACN agents in several polling units, including Mr. Kolawole Babawale of Ondo West, Ward 4
Unit 6, are being barred from the polling units because INEC allegedly made a mistake by not
inserting ‘ACN’ in the agents’ tags it issued to him. Mr. Babawale is now being threatened with
arrest.
Absence of materials and Insecurity:
At Units 13 and 14, Apoi III in Ese Odo Local Govt – As at 9.50 a.m., there were no election materials and no polling clerk.
At Ugbo Ward I, Ilaje – No voting has commenced as at 9.58 a.m. as no materials have been brought to the ward
At Idanre ward 1, Aladura polling unit – A notorious thug known as AJAJA is on Rampage and he is perpetrating violence in and around the polling unit and the entire Local Government
At Irele ward 7, Units 4, 6, 17 and 18 – No security agents and no form EC60M are available in all the polling units of the ward.
At Ese Odo LG ward 1 Unit 11 – Election materials are yet to be brought and no election officials as at 10. 45 am
At Okitipupa LG, Ayeka Ward Unit 6 – INEC personnel are nowhere to be seen.
At Akoko North-east Edo Ward Unit 4 – An LP supporter came with photo copied voters’ card to be accredited
At Okitipupa LG Ward 2 Unit 6 – ACN members are being denied accreditation by the Caretaker Chairman, Hon Ogunmade.
At Iramuje Commander Village of Idanre local government – Suspected political thugs working with Gov. Olusegun Mimiko and the Labour Party have attacked and chased away all the electorates in and a guy was also shot by the hoodlums.
At odi olowo in Akure – No voting materials and there are long queues.
In 2010, the UN Secretary-General’s Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health highlighted the suffering of women and children around the world caused by lack of access to life saving commodities. Life in the developing world is filled with stories like that of the woman who, just after child birth, dies from excessive bleeding because the health centre is stocked-out of the medicine to save her life; the child with a simple case of pneumonia who cannot be treated because the needed antibiotic is not registered for use; and the 45-year old woman who finds out she is pregnant for the seventh time, after almost dying the last time she gave birth because she does not have access to modern methods of family planning.
The overarching health system and financial impediments for governments and end-users to access life-saving commodities is made worse by the lack of awareness of how, why and when to use them, preventing women and children from accessing and using appropriate commodities. Other system barriers to these commodities include the severely under-resourced regulatory agencies in low-income countries, which lead to delayed registration of commodities, lack of oversight of product quality and general inefficiencies; market failures, where return on investment is too low to encourage manufacturers to enter the market or produce sufficient quantities; and user supply and demand challenges such as limited demand for the product by end-users, local delivery problems and incorrect prescription and use.
The UN Secretary-General’s Global Strategy called on the global community to work together to save 16 million lives by 2015 through increasing access to essential medicines, medical devices and health supplies that effectively address leading avoidable causes of death during pregnancy, childbirth and childhood. This challenge has been taken up by the UN Commission on Life-Saving Commodities for Women and Children, with a focus on the world’s 49 poorest countries.
The Commission recognises that if the needs for modern contraceptive methods were fully met in these countries, an estimated 53 million unintended pregnancies would be avoided, about 90,000 women’s lives would be saved and an estimated 590,000 newborn deaths would be averted. In addition, many of the over 800,000 deaths of children each year from diarrhoea could be prevented with oral rehydration solution and zinc that cost less than US$0.50 per treatment.
The Commission has identified 13 overlooked life saving commodities that, if more widely accessed and used, could save the lives of more than 6 million women and children. These are; Maternal health commodities such as Oxytocin and Misoprostol (to prevent and treat post-partum haemorrhage) and Magnesium sulphate (to prevent and treat eclampsia and severe pre- eclampsia); Newborn health commodities such as injectable antibiotics (to treat newborn sepsis), Antenatal corticosteroids (to prevent respiratory distress in preterm babies), Chlorhexidine (for newborn cord care) and resuscitation devices (to treat newborn asphyxia); Child health commodities amoxicillin (to treat pneumonia) and Oral rehydration salts and Zinc (to treat diarrhoea); and Reproductive health commodities such as Female condoms, Contraceptive implants and Emergency contraception.
To deliver on the promise of saving the lives of millions of women and children, the Commission recommends actions which focus on the need for improved global and local markets for life-saving commodities, innovative financing, quality strengthening and regulatory efficiency, improved national delivery of commodities and better integration of private sector and consumer needs. The scaling up of access to and use of these 13 commodities is not only a moral obligation, but one of the most effective ways of getting more health for the money invested.
It would make a significant contribution to put maternal and child health in a trajectory to end these preventable and tragic deaths. The Commission estimates that the scale up will cost less than USD 2.5 billion over five years and save over 6 million lives. These estimated costs per lives saved are low and represent excellent global development investments.
The Commission has also developed a detailed plan for implementation with cross-cutting and commodity-specific actions and clearly stated national, regional and global activities and associated costs. Recognizing that many commodity-related obstacles are linked to financial barriers and rooted in broader health system challenges – such as poor governance, inadequate human resources, ineffective local supply chains and insufficient information systems – the Commission calls for further links between the identified solutions and priority actions and other global and national initiatives for strengthening health systems
The Commission believes that it is possible to overcome seemingly entrenched barriers when partners work together. The success in substantially reducing the price of antiretroviral drugs for HIV is testimony to the effect of partnerships, with 6.6 million people in developing countries receiving these drugs at the end of 2010. Initiatives such as aggregating orders, and improving the forecasting, financing and manufacturing capacity of insecticide-treated nets in sub-Saharan Africa increased their supply from 5.6 million in 2004 to 145 million in 2010, leading to substantial reductions in deaths due to malaria.
When auto-disable syringes for immunization were introduced in 1992 to prevent infections from re-use in developing countries, the cost was over six times that of normal syringes. The price difference is now near equal and use near universal due to sustained increased demand following initial GAVI Alliance support for their use. These previous achievements give us the confidence to call on local communities, National authorities and the global community to once again rally around an initiative that will save millions of lives in the poorest countries of the world, this time by improving the availability, affordability and accessibility of these 13 proven life-saving commodities.
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Dr. Jonathan,President Federal Republic of Nigeria and Rt. Honourable Jens Stoltenberg,Prime Minister, Norway are co-chairs of the UN Commission on Life-Saving Commodities for Women and Children.
