Kaduna relaxes 24-hour curfew, tension persists

11:53 PM News No Comments

Despite the relaxation of the 24-hour curfew by the Kaduna State Government on Monday, the ever-busy Ahmadu Bello way in the metropolis was still deserted.

The state government had relaxed the 24-hour curfew imposed on the state as a result of the outbreak of violence following the bombing of three Churches in Kaduna and Zaria two weeks ago.

However, even as the curfew was relaxed, residents restricted their movements to the vicinity of their residence.

After a Security Council meeting at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House, Kaduna, on Monday, the government announced that residents were free to move about from 12 noon to 4pm.

The state added that as from Tuesday, residents in Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Igabi and Chikun local Governments of the state would be free to move about from 7am to 4pm.

The statement added, “The 19 remaining local governments in the state, people can move freely from 6am to 6pm.”

But the relaxation of the curfew appeared not to have made any difference as the metropolis remained deserted.

The ever-busy Ahmadu Bello Way, Independence Way, Ali Akilu Road, the Central Market and the Kawo Motor Park were deserted. Only few vehicles plied the roads. As at the time of filing this report, shops along the Ahmadu Bello Way remained closed.

As a result of the crisis, which left many people dead, some residents that spoke with our correspondent vowed never to go out of their houses to the city centre until they were sure that normalcy had been restored.

One of the residents said, “I will not step to the town until I am sure that everywhere is peaceful. If my employers wish, let them sack me, but I cannot compromise my life for their work.

“Many people were killed on Tuesday when the government relaxed the curfew and we thought all was well.

“I have my shop in the town, but I will not go out tomorrow until I am sure that there would not be trouble again.”

Meanwhile, the umbrella body of the North, the Arewa Consultative Forum, said on Monday that the sacking of the National Security Adviser and the Minister of Defence was a reaction to the outcry across the nation.

The National Publicity Secretary of the organisation, Mr. Anthony Sani, told our correspondent on Monday in Kaduna that the appointment of retired Col. Sambo Dasuki “may or may not solve the security challenges” the country was currently facing unless conscious efforts were applied in containing the insecurity in the land.

Sani said, “The sacking of the National Security Adviser and the Minster of Defence by President Jonathan is reaction of outcry across that nation that the government need to do more in its campaigns against the security challenges.

“The appointment of Sambo may or may not solve the problems. It depends on how conscious efforts are applied towards containing the security challenges.

“The constitution of Nigeria only provides that each state of Nigeria must have at least one minister. It makes no reference to how portfolios are distributed.”

BY DAVID ATTAH, KADUNA

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Asset declaration: Jonathan violates PDP manifesto – Investigation

11:50 PM News No Comments

The refusal of President Goodluck Jonathan to openly declare his assets was against the Programme and Policy Trust of the Peoples Democratic Party, investigation byThe PUNCH has shown.

Jonathan during his Sunday’s media chat broadcast on television said he did not declare his assets publicly and that he only did so as Vice President because his late boss, Umaru Yar’Adua, compelled him.

“The issue of asset declaration is a matter of principle. I don’t give a damn about it, if you want to criticise me from heaven. The issue of public declaration I think is playing to the gallery. You don’t need to publicly declare any assets. If I am somebody who wants to hide it is what I tell you that you will even believe,” the President had said.

The PDP states in its Manifesto, Programme and Policy Trust for 2011-2015, committed that it will work to ensure that its elected officials openly declare their assets.

Under its Anti-Corruption Policy Thrust, the party promises that the primary objective of a “PDP-led government is to substantially reduce corruption in Nigeria and to develop and promote the mechanisms and institutions for preventing, detecting, and bringing offenders to justice.”

It says that one of the road maps aimed at achieving this will be to “persuade officials to make public their assets declaration records and support a legal backing for compulsory open declaration of assets.”

It was, however, not clear if the party persuaded the President to openly declare his assets and he refused.

However, a former Minister of Defence, Dr. Haliru Bello, who was a former Acting National Chairman of the party when the document was produced, also failed to openly declare his assets.

Bello even wrote the foreword to the booklet.

“This manifesto and Policy Thrust will continue to guide the party and PDP government at all levels to build on the successes of the party and procure a safe, stable and prosperous future for Nigeria,” Bello writes in the foreword.

A member of the National Working Committee of the party, who spoke on the issue on condition of anonymity, however frowned on the refusal of both Jonathan and Bello to openly declare their assets “as a good example for others.”

The anonymous PDP chieftain wondered how the leaders who failed to obey party guidelines would be able to impress it on others to also toe the path of openness by openly declare their assets.

But the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Olisa Metuh, on Monday said the said Programme and Policy Trust of the Peoples Democratic Party did not pass through the party’s National Working Committee. He also defended Jonathan’s refusal to openly declare his assets when he became President on May 29, 2011.

Metuh said, “That document did not pass through the NWC. But let me say that the President has not done anything wrong constitutionally by not publicly declaring his assets.

“The President did so as vice-president and has also acted as the law requires now. He has not done anything wrong constitutionally.

“Like he said, open declaration of assets has nothing to do with fighting Boko Haram.”

Meanwhile, the Congress for Progressive Change has faulted the President over his statement on the declaration of assets.

It expressed concern about Jonathan’s assertion that he was forced as the Vice- President to declare his assets against his desire.

“Should this mean that this President is not principled, otherwise he ought to have resigned his appointment if he was forced to act against his desire,” the CPC argued in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Rotimi Fashakin.

Fashakin said that the President’s demeanour on the issue of asset declaration left many questions unanswered.

He said that the president had not even told the nation that he declared his assets after his inauguration on May 29.

Also, the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, and Education Rights Concern on Monday in Abuja condemned the refusal of Jonathan to declare his assets openly.

This CACOL said the President’s refusal to declare his assets publicly was a deliberate act of justifying corruption.

The Chairman of CACOL, Debo Adeniran, noted that the President’s action smacks of disrespect.

BY NIYI ODEBODE, OLUSOLA FABIYI AND FRIDAY OLOKOR

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UNILAG students applaud court decision on name change

11:49 PM Education, News No Comments

UNILAG main gate
| credits: File copy

Students of the University of Lagos have expressed excitement over the interlocutory injunction restraining the Federal Government and the National Assembly from renaming their institution to Moshood Abiola University of Lagos.

In a statement, the President of UNILAG Press Club, Tosin Adesile, said that the students were satisfied with the court ruling that directed that the name of UNILAG should be retained pending the determination of the suit filed by the past students of the institution.

He said, “The student population on receiving the court outcome went on jubilation and gave cheers to the judiciary. Stage one has been won and we students hope the case will favour us at the end of the day. Students will not in any way be happy if Nigerian factor is introduced in this case to favour President Goodluck Jonathan. This is a democratic nation and it is through such process we can have true democracy and thereby show good example to other countries in Africa.”

However, Adesile said that he acknowledged the President’s speech on Sunday concerning the UNILAG renaming where he stated that he strongly believed in the rule of law.

“We hope the rule of law won’t be cut short. President Jonathan will not win this battle. With this ruling, the judiciary has restored our hope. We students are certain that all would be well. There is no going back.”

A Law student, Oladiran Ayodele, said that the latest news was an assurance for students that UNILAG would remain UNILAG forever.

“The court order has proved to be the last hope of the common man and also reminded the Federal Government that we are in a democratic dispensation where the Constitution and the rule of law are supreme.

“For democracy to endure in Nigeria, our leaders must understand that supreme power does not reside in anybody or group or persons. The only supreme power is the ground norm from which all other laws derive their powers and that is the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.

Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students’ Lagos Axis has condemned the renaming of UNILAG after the late Moshood Abiola by the Federal Government, describing the action as “unpopular and controversial.’’

The group made this known in a statement by its General Secretary, Mr. Salami Oriyomi, on Sunday in Lagos. He said immortalising M.K.O. Abiola was long overdue but due consultation and proceedings should have been followed.

He said, “We do not support its renaming without carrying stakeholders along; we want Abiola adequately immortalised but definitely not in this unpopular and controversial manner.

“We hereby want the Federal Government to enlist Abiola into the league of past presidents of Nigeria and June 12 of every year should be declared public holiday throughout the federation.”

BY MOTUNRAYO ABODERIN AND SODIQ OYELEKE

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Dana: Insurers must pay victims’ families, NAICOM insists

11:47 PM Business, News No Comments

Commissioner for Insurance and Chief Executive Officer of the National Insurance Commission, Mr. Fola Daniel
| credits: File copy

The National Insurance Commission has said the lead insurer of the Dana Air plane that crashed in Lagos on June 3, 2012, Prestige Assurance Plc, and the foreign reinsurer, AON Reinsurers of London, are largely responsible for paying the families of victims of the accident.

The Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Fola Daniel, who said this in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Monday, gave an assurance that the victims’ relatives would be promptly and appropriately settled in line with the contracts entered into by the underwriters and Dana Air.

There had been anxiety that the victims’ families might not be adequately compensated following a story by THE PUNCH on Tuesday that the crashed plane was not properly insured because the lead underwriter did not pay the premium due to the local companies that collaborated with it to insure the plane.

However, Daniel said the issue of non-payment of premium to the co-insurers would not disturb the payment of compensation because the lead underwriter of the plane had already commenced the claims settlement procedure.

He said, “I have called Prestige Assurance and it has said that the claims will be 100 per cent settled; there is no problem with that.

“Seventy per cent of the risk was well insured abroad, Prestige Assurance is responsible for the total claims payment and it has assured that the relatives will be promptly settled.”

The Managing Director, Prestige Assurance, Mr. Anand Mittal, also told our correspondent that so far, the company had received 22 applications from relatives of the victims to collect the claims of their deceased members.

The company had led six other local insurance firms to insure 30 per cent of the risk locally, while the remaining 70 per cent was reinsured abroad by AON Reinsurers.

The local co-insurers are Nem Insurance Plc, Aiico Insurance Plc, Continental Reinsurance Plc, Leadway Assurance Company Limited, Sterling Assurance Limited and Standard Alliance Insurance.

“So far, only 22 families have approached us for the insurance claims of their relatives who died in the crash; funds have been made available to settle them,” Mittal said.

The lead underwriter, however, said that the insurers and reinsurers of the aircraft would pay $100,000 or N15.7m to the relations of each of the victims, which was the internationally acceptable standard.

According to him, two centres have been opened in Lagos and Abuja for the relatives to process their insurance claims upon the presentation of necessary documents.

The insurer said the claims payment to the third party victims, which would cover both lives and properties lost, would commence immediately the amount was ascertained.

While responding to the question on non-payment of premium to the co-insurers of the plane, Mittal said, “The account is an ongoing thing, there are so many accounts; it is not only Dana that we co-insured, there are accounts where premiums are either to be paid or taken.”

He also explained that Prestige used to retain only 10 per cent of the risk in the country, but recently increased it to 30 per cent because of local content policy of the government.

“What matter most at this moment, he added, is to ensure that the claims were promptly paid to the relatives of those who died in the crashed plane,” he said.

Some of the co-insurers of the plane had told NAICOM at a closed-door meeting that they had not yet received premium on the policy as at the time loss was recorded.

BY NIKE POPOOLA 

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B’Haram, foreign groups sharing bombs, money – US

11:45 PM News No Comments

ACTIVITIES of the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram, may get worse given revelations that the group is sharing funds and swapping explosives with two other terrorist organisations in Africa.

Commander of the U.S. military’s Africa Command, General Carter Ham, said indication of cooperation between Boko Haram, al Shabaab in East Africa, and Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb could signal a dangerous escalation of security threats on the continent.

The three organisations are said to be the continent’s most violent and they are believed to be sharing money and explosive materials while training fighters together.

Reuters reports on Monday quoted Ham as saying, “Each of those three organisations is by itself a dangerous and worrisome threat.

“What really concern me are the indications that the three organisations are seeking to coordinate and synchronise their efforts. That is a real problem for us and for African security in general.”

He spoke at an African Centre for Strategic Studies seminar for senior military and civilian officials from Africa, the United States and Europe.

The United States classified three of the alleged leaders of Boko Haram, as “foreign terrorists,” on June 20. But it declined to blacklist the entire organisation to avoid elevating the group’s profile internationally.

Police confirmed that members of the sect seized a prison in Damaturu, Yobe State, on Sunday and freed 40 inmates.

Islamist militant group al Shabaab is active in war-ravaged Somalia and has been blamed for attacks in Kenya. Last year it claimed responsibility for the death of Somali Interior Minister, Abdi Shakur Sheikh Hassan.

Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, an affiliate of al Qaeda based in North Africa, is mainly a criminal organisation operating in the Sahel region. It kidnaps Westerners for ransom and aids Africa’s drug trade, according to intelligence officials.

The U.S. and regional officials fear that a power vacuum in northern Mali following a military coup in March may open an expanded area of operations for Islamist militants. Some western diplomats talk of the country becoming a “West African Afghanistan.”

Ham said AQIM was now operating “essentially unconstrained” throughout a large portion of northern Mali, where Islamists have imposed a harsh version of Shariah law.

“The group was a threat not only to the countries in the region, but also has “a desire and intent to attack Americans as well. So that becomes a real problem,” Ham said.

Emphasising that the U.S. military played mainly a supporting role in Africa, Ham said the US was providing intelligence and logistical help in the hunt for Ugandan warlord, Joseph Kony, whose Lord’s Resistance Army was accused of abducting children to use as fighters and hacking off limbs of civilians.

The International Criminal Court in The Hague had indicted Kony for crimes against humanity in 2005, and his case hit the headlines in March when a video entitled Kony 2012; put out by a U.S. activist group and calling for his arrest went viral across the Internet.

Ham said he was confident that Kony would ultimately be apprehended by African troops.

“This is an African-led effort. It is the African Union increasingly taking a leadership role with a little bit of support from the United States military. We think that is the right approach,” Ham said.

Meanwhile, Ham said on Monday that the U.S. military was increasing its operations on the continent as terrorist groups began to work closer together to carry out attacks in the region.

He said the terrorist threat in Africa was growing and that the U.S. forces under his command were focused on al Shabab, al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb in the north, and Boko Haram.

The US new defence strategy calls for a greater focus on Africa, but only with a limited presence of U.S. personnel to train and assist the militaries of countries on the continent to counter security threats.

Last year, President Barack Obama authorised the deployment of about 100 U.S. troops to Africa to help the armed forces of Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic in their campaigns against Kony and his LRA.

Ham said that enabling the militaries of partner nations was a more effective approach than sending the U.S. forces to do the work in the vast area where the LRA was operating.

“We can help in terms of logistics, some information and intelligence sharing, of communications, and a little bit of mobility. I think that’s the best way for us to provide what I would term unique U.S. military capabilities to assist our African partner,” Ham said.

The US has only one permanent military base in Africa, in Djibouti, with about 2,000 American personnel.

Ham said there were no plans to build any other base on the continent.

Punch

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Nigerian breaks academic record at John Hopkins University

11:44 PM Education, News 2 Comments

A 22-year-old Nigerian has emerged one of the top graduating students of John Hopkins University in the United States. He obtained a Grade Point Average of 3.98 out of a possible 4.0 to earn a degree in Neurosciences, SEGUN OLUGBILE writes.

A 22-year-old Nigerian, Emmanuel Ohuabunwa, has made history at John Hopkins University, United States of America. Ohuabunwa from Arochukwu, Abia State, has done the nation proud by becoming the first black man to make a Grade Point Average of 3.98 out of 4.0 to bag a degree in Neurosciences in the university. He was also adjudged as having the highest honours during the graduation that was held on May 24 this year.

For his efforts, he has won a scholarship to Yale University to pursue a degree in medicine. Besides, he has been inducted into Phi Beta Kappa Society, a prestigious honour group that features membership of 17 US Presidents, 37 US Supreme Court Justices, and 136 Nobel Prize winners.

According to Wikipedia, The Phi Beta Kappa Society is an academic honour society. Its mission is to “celebrate and advocate excellence in the liberal arts and sciences” and induct “the most outstanding students of arts and sciences at America’s leading colleges and universities.”

It was founded at The College of William and Mary on December 5, 1776, and thus it is the oldest honour society for the liberal arts and sciences and among the oldest undergraduate societies in the US.

In an online interview with our correspondent, Ohuabunwa, who was born in Okota, Lagos and attended Lilly Fields Primary School, Lagos, said he left Nigeria after his junior secondary school education at Air Force Comprehensive School, Ibadan, Oyo State.

“My parents moved the whole family when I was 13 years old. I was about to begin SS1 at Air Force, Ibadan. When I got to the US, I was enrolled with my age mates, which meant at 13, I was in middle school. I went to Fondren Middle School, which was in the middle of the ghetto. That was one of the darkest years for me because I encountered a lot of peer pressure. Some of the students, ignorant about Africa, bullied me and called me names such as ‘African booty scratcher’ because to them, Africans were dirty and scratched their butts all the time.

“Some asked me if I lived in mud huts and ate faeces for breakfast. I remember one day, when I was walking to the school bus, a boy came from behind and punched me in the face, called me an African and walked away. It took everything in me not to retaliate. I knew that God had put me in the U.S for a purpose and it did not involve fighting or selling drugs or doing the wrong things.

“My experience during that year gave me a thick skin. I learned to stand for what I thought was right even when the opposition seemed insurmountable. I also learned to look at the positive in all situations. Even though these kids were bullying me, I was still gaining an opportunity to school in America and nothing would stop me from making the best of this opportunity.

“The shocker was that the kid that punched me in the face was black. I would have expected the blacks to be nicer to me. Nevertheless, I don’t blame those kids because they were ignorant about Africa. All they knew about us was the stuff they had watched on TV or documentaries, showing primitive African tribes, living in the jungle and making noises like monkeys.

“In regards to the whites, there might have been some minor episodes but again I don’t blame them for it because it is a problem with stereotypes,” he said.

But in spite of this humiliation and racial prejudice against him, the first in a family of three was not discouraged. He faced his studies and was always coming top in his class. After he completed his middle school education, he passed the entrance examination to DeBakey High School for Health Professions. It was at this school that his interest in neurosciences and medicine started.

“By the second year of high school, we were able to interact with doctors, nurses and other administrators in the hospital. The more I learned about medicine, the more it felt like the thing God was calling me to pursue and by being in the US I got a lot of people to support me to do this. Even though in high school, I got to see first-hand what it meant to be a doctor. We studied advanced anatomy and physiology, learned medical terminology, and learned important skills, such as checking blood pressure, pulse rate, and many more.

“I knew I wanted to go to the best school in the US. I had heard that Johns Hopkins Hospital had been ranked the number one hospital in the US for the past 21 years and I wanted to be in that environment.’’

Worried that his parents might not be able to sponsor him to the university, Ohuabunwa purposed to work very hard. He did and when the result of the PSAT came, he performed so well that he won the National Achievement Scholar.

By virtue of this award, he received certificates of recognition from various organisations including senators from the Congress of both Texas and the US. He also received scholarship from the University of Houston; Rice University, Texas A&M Honors College and many more.

He had also won the Principal’s Award during the annual awards ceremony at DeBakey High School.

“During our graduation ceremony at DeBakey, I also won the Award for the Most Outstanding Senior Young Man and the student volunteer award for my volunteer activities in the State of Texas,” he said.

But his breakthrough came when he won the Bill and Belinda Gates Foundation full scholarship to any university of his choice. He worked hard and gained admission to Johns Hopkins University to study Neurosciences.

But why Neurosciences, Ohuabunwa said, “I studied Neuroscience, because I was fascinated with the brain, its control of our behaviours and how various diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, lead to a decline in its activity. I also minored in Psychology because I wanted to understand disorders in the psyche. What causes bipolar disorders or schizophrenia. I did not just want to label them as crazy but to understand what causes these conditions and how we can treat them,’’ he explained.

But what does he consider to be the missing links in the education sector of Nigeria when compared with that on offer in US, Ohuabunwa said unpredictable academic calendar, corruption, examination malpractice and inadequate funding were some of the problems confronting his home country’s university sector. These, he said, were absent in the US.

“There were a few problems with Nigerian higher education that contributed to our emigration in 2003. The first was the number of strikes that occurred in schools. It took my uncle seven years to graduate with a degree that should have taken him only four years. A second problem was the corruption. We had heard of people going into universities, because they paid someone to look the other way. I also heard of a few cheating scandals, where people would pay someone to take their exams for them or get a copy of the exam a few days before,” he said.

But is he saying that US university system has no such problems at all? Ohuabunwa said, “Although this sometimes occurs in the U.S, it is less common because of the strict security. I remember when taking the Medical College Admissions Test, test required before one can matriculate into medical school, each student had to get his fingerprints taken every time we entered and left the hall. The whole place was packed with cameras and security staff that monitored everything we were doing. The exam was computerised to make sure that no one saw the test before the actual date.”

Another difference, he said, is that America rewards hard-work while the system also emphasises on a balance between academic life and extracurricular activities.

On how he won the scholarship to Yale, Ohuabunwa said his 3.98 GPA in Neurosciences, and many awards he had won and God’s grace, contributed to his winning the scholarship.

“As at the time of my application for medical school, I had a 3.98 GPA of a 4.0. This made me the only black student inducted into the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa. I was also awarded the Becker Family Scholarship for being the most outstanding student in the Neuroscience major at Johns Hopkins University. Furthermore, by God’s grace, I took the MCAT and scored in the top five percentile.

“That, combined with my hours of volunteer service in different hospitals across the US allowed me to gain acceptance into every medical school I applied to, including Harvard, Yale, Johns Hopkins, Columbia, and Cornell. As the time came to make a decision, I had narrowed it down to Harvard and Yale. Both schools, I enjoyed visiting. Nevertheless, while my parents prayed, they asked God to give us a sign of what school to attend. A few days later, I received a letter from Yale Medical School, offering me a full ride scholarship for all four years. That was the sign from God,” he said.

But would he come back to Nigeria after the completion of his programme, he said yes.

“I am absolutely interested in the health care policy decisions in Nigeria. Because there are many changes that need to occur, I will not rule out the possibility of coming back after my studies, in order to join hands with the leaders to make these changes possible.’’

He added that his ambition is to become a medical doctor specialising in brain surgery.

“Two weeks ago, my grandmother passed away after a long battle with strokes. Even during emergencies, it was difficult for her to get to the hospital, let alone get treatment. This is a common theme not only in the health care system of Nigeria, but in different countries in the world, where the poor get neglected.

“Second, Nigerian hospitals lack the infrastructure required to compete with major hospitals around the world. It would be an honour to one day contribute to this transformation that is necessary for improvements in Nigeria’s health care sector,” he said.

He, however, advised Nigerian youths who have the wherewithal, to go abroad to study. Ohuabunwa also called on wealthy Nigerians to invest more in the education of the poor rather than in acquisition of material things.

Ohuabunwa, however, said that his parents, who he described as his greatest role models, contributed a lot to his academic feat through Godly training, counsel and guidance. He also did not forget the impact that his short stay at Air Force school had on him.

“I was definitely not the brightest at Air Force. At that time, I felt like I spent more time running away from seniors than focusing on my studies. Nevertheless, I learned three things at Air Force that have served me well in the US. I learned discipline, adaptability and resilience. These attributes helped me a lot in US,” he said.

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NUC suspends part-time programmes in universities

11:41 PM Education No Comments

The National Universities Commission on Monday announced the suspension of all Part-Time Programmes run by universities in the country.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the Executive Secretary of the commission, Prof. Julius Okojie, also announced the results of accreditation of courses run by the National Open University of Nigeria.

Okojie said the suspension of the part- time programmes was to enable the regulatory body “streamline’’ them.

He said the work of the universities’ regulatory body was becoming more difficult because of the “products of the system’’ and urged the institutions to cooperate with the NUC to evolve a more focused and credible system.

“For now all part time programmes have been suspended. We are going to streamline them.

“No university should have more than 20 per cent of their student population on part-time with excess capacity to teach.

“All part time programmes must be located on campus. We do not want satellite campuses anymore,’’ he said.

The executive secretary said henceforth universities must score over 70 per cent in all areas of assessment, including the provision of library facilities before it would be accredited.

“But if your library facilities are poor or sub standard, even if you score over 70 per cent, you will not be considered fit enough for accreditation,’’ he stated.

Okojie said that out of the 31 programmes evaluated for the NOUN, 30 were accredited.

He said that four programmes of the university were granted full accreditation, 26 others accredited on interim basis while one programme was denied accreditation.

Punch

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New pentavalent vaccine will save 30,000 children in Nigeria annually, says GAVI

11:35 PM Health, News No Comments

THE introduction of the pentavalent vaccine in Nigeria, is estimated to save the lives of at least 30,000 children from death as a result of vaccine preventable disorders every year.

Launched with support from the GAVI Alliance, the pentavalent vaccine protects against five deadly diseases and GAVI estimates that 72 GAVI-eligible countries will be using this life-saving vaccine by 2013 in their routine immunisation systems.

According to a recent report, Nigeria is highly strategic for GAVI which aims to reach the final 20 percent of the world’s children who still do not have access to routine immunisation. Africa’s most populous country accounts for an estimated 1.7 million of the 19.3 million children who did not receive routine immunisation in 2010.

In 2013, Nigeria is set to introduce pneumococcal vaccines, helping to protect against pneumonia, still the world’s biggest killer of children under the age of five.

When the pentavalent and pneumococcal vaccines are fully rolled out, Nigeria’s child mortality rate will drop by an estimated 17 percent, preventing some 30 000 child deaths every year.

Meanwhile the GAVI Alliance has commended the leadership and generosity of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for its US$ 1.5 million gift and the volunteer work of LDS members to support immunisation programmes through the GAVI Alliance.

The donation will be doubled as part of the GAVI Matching Fund by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, making the Church-sponsored LDS Charities the seventh public-private partner in the programme.

The Gates Foundation and the British Government have agreed to match contributions to GAVI from corporations, foundations, their customers, employees, business partners and members to raise US$ 260 million for immunisation through 2015.

By SOLA OGUNDIPE

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Church formally announces Okotie’s divorce

11:31 PM News No Comments

LAGOS — HOUSEHOLD of God Ministry, yesterday, released an official statement, announcing the dissolution of the marriage of its founder/General Overseer, Pastor Christopher Akpoborie Okotie, to Stephanie Henshaw.

The statement signed by the spokesman for the church, Pastor Ladi Ayodeji, stated: “Pastor of our church, the Household of God, Oregun, Lagos, Rev. Chris Okotie, announced his separation from Stephanie, his wife of four years, at the end of service last Sunday.”

Stephanie Henshaw. and Pastor Christopher Akpoborie Okotie,

Ayodeji, in the three-paragraph statement, said both parties arrived at this decision after careful review of the prevailing circumstances which pointed to the fact that it is the best option for them at this time, adding that both Pastor Okotie and his second wife, Stephanie, have agreed to be silent on detailed reasons for the separation.

“They also agreed not to divulge details of this incident for personal reasons,” the statement added.

Rev. Okotie thanked concerned friends and well-wishers and asked for understanding, while expressing the “hope that their decision would be respected as no further details would be given on this issue.”

On August 7 and 8, 2008, the former musician, popular pastor and presidential candidate, Rev. Kris Okotie married Stephanie Henshaw. The wedding was a colourful celebration of the couple who had both been previously married.

The former musician, a law graduate, had been divorced from his first wife, Tyna, for over a decade while then 38-year old Stephanie had tasted two earlier marriages and had three children from the earlier marriages. Okotie’s marriage to Stephanie was his second attempt at matrimony. He was first married to Tyna for 17 years, but the marriage packed up without any child.

The Household of God welcomed the new bride. Though she did not have a formal role within the church, Stephanie was well-loved by the congregation.

Therefore, when Pastor Okotie announced on Sunday: “Stephanie and I are no longer married. We have separated. You can see she’s not in church today. It’s due to irreconcilable differences…you should please respect our wishes at this time because there is no going back;” it caused a great deal of confusion and discussion.

No additional details have been released on the specific cause of the split.

Okotie, a charismatic preacher that often sends his audience into ecstasy, maintains a regular television and radio programme known as ‘The Apocalypsis,’ where he always reveals his knowledge of the Bible Book of Revelations beyond the ordinary and in a very complicated language which has prompted many to go to church with one or two dictionaries.

By Sam Eyoboka

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JAMB bars 262 institutions from admitting students

11:30 PM Education, News No Comments

UMUAHIA – JOINT Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB Tuesday said it had barred 262 institutions of higher learning from participating in next year’s admission exercise for non-compliance with admission guidelines.

JAMB Registrar, Professor Dibu Ojerinde who spoke at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia state, at the opening ceremony of the 3rd Combined Policy Committee meeting on Admission to degrees, National Diploma, NEC and National Innovation Diploma-Awarding institutions for 2012/2013, however, said 14 of the institutions affected had complied with the laid down guidelines.

Students of Elkanemi School of Islamic Theology in Maiduguri, marking the UN Day Against Drug Abuse in Maiduguri on Tuesday (26/6/12). NAN Photo

According to Ojerinde, the meeting would consider first choice of most preferred institutions of candidates and noted that the affected universities were sanctioned because they refused to abide by the board’s admission laid down guidelines, saying that in JAMB, it was no longer business as usual.

According to him, “From our exercise of verifying admission compliance for 2011/2012, about 262 institutions were penciled for delisting from next year’s admission exercise. However, about 14 have so far complied with the laid down guidelines and regulations. We are going ahead as directed by the Government to de-list the institutions with effect from 2013 admission exercise.”

The Registrar charged participants in the meeting to “follow the guidelines which stipulate a 70:30 technology/non-technology ratio for National Diploma programmes and 60:40 Science/Arts ratio for the universities and colleges of education.”

Ojerinde urged them to adhere strictly to the Federal Government guidelines on 45% merit, 35% catchment and 20% educationally less developed, saying “All stakeholders are to adhere strictly to these guidelines as the Federal Government is desirous of giving all Nigerians equal opportunity to mix and educate in every part of the country.”

He also told them that the board expected every university to include in the admission print-out, the criteria used in admitting the candidates and that all admissions must come to an end by the end of October 2012.

Declaring open the meeting, Governor Theodore Orji who commended JAMB for how it conducts admissions, asked that un-utilized 20% allocated to states adjudged educationally backward be given to states like Abia willing to take them.

BY ANAYO OKOLI.

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TERRORIST ATTACKS: Foreign diplomats cry out for protection

11:29 PM News No Comments

ABUJA — Following increasing wave of terrorism in the country, foreign diplomats, yesterday, cried out to the Federal Government for protection.

The diplomats took their case to the government on a day Senate President, David Mark warned the Boko Haram sect that there is a limit to which the country can tolerate their bomb attacks which have claimed several lives.

From left: Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu; Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba; Senate President, David Mark and President Goodluck Jonathan during the opening of Senate 2012 retreat in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, yesterday. Photo: State House.

The Senate President therefore challenged northern leaders to own up if the problem of Boko Haram is beyond them, saying the sect’s terrorist activities will break up Nigeria if they fail to stop them.

The foreign embassies in Abuja, worried by the security challenges in the country, yesterday, took their worries to the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Administration for proper assurance on the security of their offices in the territory.

High Commissioners of Trinidad & Tobago, Rwanda and Mali who visited the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed in his office sought improved security around the diplomatic community in Abuja and appealed to the minister to ensure improved protection of lives and property of diplomats in Abuja. The three diplomats are High Commissioner of Trinidad & Tobago to Nigeria, Ambassador Nyahuma Obika; Rwanda High Commissioner, Joseph Habineza and Malian Ambassador, Mahanane Amadou Maiga.

Though, the ambassadors promised to strengthen trade ties between their various countries and Nigeria, they, however, called for enhanced security of the diplomatic community.

The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed assured the ambassadors of the safety of the members of the diplomatic community saying their safety is of utmost importance to the government and that security agents are on top of the security challenge in Nigeria.

According to him, “we will do all it takes to protect lives and property of all residents of the Federal Capital Territory, including members of the diplomatic community”.

There’s limit to patience, Mark tells Boko Haram

Meanwhile, Senate President David Mark warned yesterday that members of the Boko Haram sect who engage in massive bombings thereby killing innocent persons must know that there is limit to patience, just as he urged northern leaders to own up if the problem is beyond them.

Speaking yesterday in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital at the Senate Retreat, Mark also said that if these bombings by the sect do not stop soon, there was the fear of religious war which would break up the country. He, however, called for political solution to the insurgency, noting that military solution has failed, but that, “there’s limit to patience and, people have to be told that.”

The retreat with the theme: “The National Assembly and National Security: Securing the Future for Development, is being attended by all the senators.

Meanwhile, except for the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur who gave his goodwill message, Chairmen of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN; Congress for Progress Change, CPC; All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP; Labour Party and All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA shunned the Retreat even though they were on the programme to give their goodwill messages.

Preachers to be licensed

The Senate President who expressed worries over the killings and destruction of property by the insurgents, said that issuance of licences to preachers will be considered as that will help guide what the preachers tell their listeners, adding that a situation where a preacher would tell his listeners that when you engage in an act, you will have access to over seventy virgins in heaven must be checked.

Senator Mark however rejected the excuses of poverty, unemployment and illiteracy being cited as reasons for the current spate of violence by members of the Boko Haram sect, insisting that it was all about religious fundamentalism, adding that there was the urgent need to investigate the source of funding and training of the group.

Mark admonished Christians to leave vengeance to God by not seeking reprisals even when churches were attacked, arguing that reprisals by Christians would mean victory for the deadly sect as that was their target.

North has suffered under development

He regretted that the northern part of the country had suffered enough underdevelopment and that terrorist acts of Boko Haram was tantamount to double tragedy for the region, just as he called on northern state governors, leaders and elders to think properly on how to stop the violence before the activities of the sect bring the north to its knees.

According to him, “the problem we have in this country today as far as security is concerned is Boko Haram. Whatever name you want to give to it is just getting round the issue. People have given reasons for the action of the Boko Haram sect, they say it is poverty, to me if every poor man decides to become a suicide bomber, Nigeria will cease to exist. Secondly, people are saying it is lack of education, I agree that could be an issue, but we cannot overcome that overnight.

“To me if everybody in this country who is not educated decides to become a suicide bomber, who is going to remain in this country; I don’t think that there is any country of the world where everybody is gainfully employed.

“I read in the papers the other day about the Islamic position on the issue of suicide bombing; it is the same as the Christian stand that if you commit this crime, you are going straight to hell. So who are these preachers who are telling them that a suicide bomber will go to heaven and have seventy-seven virgins, something is definitely fundamentally wrong there.”

Mark noted that there can be dialogue with members of the Boko Haram sect if only they come out or their leaders could identify themselves with the government to dialogue with, adding that the government cannot dialogue with leaders it does not know, even as he said that northern leaders should come and say the problem has overwhelmed them.

In his goodwill message, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur who urged all Nigerians, regardless of their faith, to rise against lawlessness of whatever type, especially terrorism, stressed that the indivisibility of the country should not be compromised.

Also in his remarks, Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal stressed the need for synergy by the National Assembly with other agencies of government in addressing the security challenges in the country, adding that Nigeria as a country is bigger than any individual or group.

Jonathan seeks Senate, Reps’ support on law against terrorism

Meantime, President Goodluck Jonathan has said that as part of moves to address the security challenges in the country, the federal government will continue to reposition the security agencies for effective and efficient service delivery.

Speaking yesterday in Uyo, at the Senate Retreat, President Jonathan warned that as a country, we must not play politics with the present terrorist acts of members of the Boko Haram sect.

President Jonathan who strongly condemned their activities, however, promised that the government will not relent in taking very serious and decisive actions to put an end to these wanton killings and bombings by the Boko Haram sect.

The President who called for the support and endorsement of the National Assembly on the need to promulgate laws that will give the government the teeth to deal with the situation, however said that Nigerians should not pretend to be ignorant of the root cause of the current spate of violence in the country, which he attributed to what he called “politics of bitterness”.

According to President Jonathan, “it is unfortunate that politics has become a major source of insecurity as evidenced in the do-or-die politics of some practitioners. Bitter and inflammatory statements, emanating from some politicians have, at different times in the history of this country, consumed thousands of innocent lives and the foundations of our nation. We must return to politics as espoused by the late Ibrahim Waziri: “politics without bitterness”.

‘’Terrorism, which has become a global phenomenon, is now unfortunately a direct experience in this country. A faceless group of enemies of our democracy and prosperity of our nation has continued to carry out terrorist attacks on innocent people in our nation.

‘’This development is one that particularly concerns me as the president, and is one I will continue to decisively deal with. It is one on which I seek the support and cooperation of the Senate and the House of Representatives. We must work together under a new social and political contract, to safeguard our nation”.

According to the president, whether the root causes of the Boko Haram malaise lie in weak moral foundation, poverty, dirty politics, poor governance, unemployment, religious intolerance and fanaticism as being generally suggested by the public, the solution must be “stronger union, employment generation and wealth creation for all; equity and justice; transparency and accountability; and above all the fear of God.”

According to him, the binding ligament of the strength of the nation was its unity in diversity, just as he regretted that those who were out to weaken the nation had driven a knife into the bowel of that unity. “We refuse to be weakened. Let us unite to defeat the forces of darkness. Let us unite to prosper”, he said

Speaking further on the need for all the arms of government to act as a common bond in the defence of the internal and external integrity of the country regardless of the doctrine of Separation of Powers, the president said, “I am committed to mobilizing all citizens to achieve our national security objectives. Although our system of government rests on separation of powers amongst the three arms of government, this principle does not call for working in silos; it calls for synergy and commonality of purpose.”

By Henry Umoru & Favour Nnabugwu

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Jonathan congratulates Egyptian president-elect

11:28 PM News, Politics No Comments

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has congratulated Dr. Mohamed Morsi on his emergence as Egypt’s President–Elect following the country’s recent run-off presidential election.

In a congratulatory message to Dr. Morsi, President Jonathan described his victory in the elections as well deserved, noting that the elections were an important milestone in the history of modern Egypt.

“I write to offer my warmest congratulations on your election as President of the Arab Republic of Egypt. The election in which you triumphed – the culmination of a long process of political transition – marked an important milestone in the history of modern Egypt.

“Your success in the keenly contested election is well deserved and is a just reward for your tenacity, courage and vision. It is not just an important victory for democracy but for the resilience of millions of your compatriots who have over the years, especially in the past one year, sacrificed so much for democracy in their country.

“As you prepare to assume the mantle of leadership, I extend my hand of fellowship in the expectation that we will work together to strengthen, even further, the strong bonds of friendship and solidarity between our two countries and peoples,” President Jonathan wrote.

He wished Dr. Morsi continued good health and a successful tenure.

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