Taraba’s Healthcare Revolution: Mobile Clinics to Boost Government Hospitals

Taraba State Government, under the leadership of Governor Kefas Agbu, is set to enhance healthcare services by introducing mobile clinics across all 16 local governments in the state. During a meeting with principal medical officers from government hospitals, the governor emphasized his administration’s commitment to prioritizing the welfare of the people.

In a gathering of prominent figures from the healthcare sector, including principal medical officers, discussions revolved around improving and refining services within government hospitals to make them the top choice for healthcare in the state. Governor Kefas Agbu expressed his readiness to collaborate with these officers to rebuild trust in government hospitals and elevate their standards of healthcare delivery.

As part of this effort, the administration is planning to launch mobile clinics to complement the existing hospital infrastructure. The meeting proceeded to hold a closed-door session, and later, the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Bundiya Buma, revealed that their resolutions emphasized the need to enhance hospital structures and improve the well-being of healthcare workers.

Governor Kefas Agbu’s administration is firmly committed to creating an enabling environment for healthcare personnel to excel, ultimately benefiting the people of Taraba State through improved healthcare services.

Federal High Court Restrains Police from Reinstating APC-Elected Chairmen in Plateau LG Crisis

In a recent development regarding the Plateau State local government dispute between the sacked APC-elected chairmen and Transition Committee chairmen, the Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a restraining order against the Inspector General of Police. This order prevents the police from allowing the former APC-elected chairmen access to the local government secretariats.

The Inspector General of Police had previously opened the sealed local government secretariats for the elected chairmen, causing concerns about potential violence. However, the Plateau State Government filed an ex parte motion urging the court to prevent the police from enforcing the order issued by the Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Julius Alawari, which directed the suspended democratically elected chairmen and councillors to resume their duties.

Justice A.B. Mohammed signed the order, emphasizing that the police have no authority to reinstate the chairmen and councillors while the matter is still before the court. The court’s order includes an interim injunction that restrains the police from using force to reinstate the former local government council chairmen in Plateau State until the motion on notice is heard and determined.

Furthermore, the court ordered that this injunction be served to the police, along with the motion on notice seeking an interlocutory injunction and the originating summons. The next hearing for the plaintiff’s motion on notice seeking an interlocutory injunction is scheduled for September 14, 2023.

How Herders Invaded Plateau school, killed Newly-wedded Couple –Wife’s Uncle

Newlyweds, Barnabas Rwang, 27, and his wife, Sandra, 24, were allegedly shot dead by herdsmen in Plateau State on August 14. Sandra’s uncle, Davou Mang, in this interview with JAMES ABRAHAM, demands justice.

What relationship did you share with the couple?

The wife was my niece, and we are from the same village as the husband. We were just generally related to the husband and some others within the same village. The couple got married on March 25, 2023. You know, the man and the woman were neighbours. They were in the same village, and their houses were just a few metres away from each other. They grew together. So they fell in love, and eventually married. I attended the wedding, and you could see the love between them during and after the wedding.

What were their professions?

They were both teachers at BECO Comprehensive High School Kwi in the Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.

How did they meet each other?
The woman was in school. She was about to finish the NCE programme. She eventually finished and got the certificate in July, but the man had earlier finished his NYSC (National Youth Service Corps) and was teaching at the BECO.

Somehow, their parents asked them to wait for the woman to finish her NCE before they married, but they said no! They had made up their minds to marry. The deep love they had for each other was what impressed me, and I knew that, by the grace of God, they were going to live in a very happy family.

Unfortunately, just a few months after their wedding, they were killed at their place of work by herders. Their deaths are very painful.

Can you give a graphic description of how they were killed?

On that fateful day, I was in Jos, and then I got a call from my younger brother. You know, I told you the woman was our relative. My younger brother called and told me what happened at the school. You know the school compound is partially fenced. The staff members were having a meeting. They were preparing to have their speech and prize-giving ceremony. They were having a staff meeting, and behold, cows entered the school compound. So the school security man told the herdsmen to move away with the cows. I think some of the staff members also went and told them the same thing.

Unknown to them, the herders came with arms. The next thing they heard were gunshots. So it looks like it was a premeditated attack. If not, how come people just told them to move away from the school compound, and they just opened fire on them?

I learnt that they shot the woman first. She wanted to run away, but the herders stoned her legs, and she fell before they shot her. They came with guns. She was unarmed.

The husband ran over to rescue her and told them not to hurt his wife. Some people narrated that the man said, “Just kill me and leave this woman alone.”

But the killer herdsmen did not listen to his pleadings. After shooting her, they shot the man too.

So, how is the family taking it? Is it not a big blow to the family?

You should know that they were a very young couple. The woman was just 24, and the man was about 27 years old or thereabouts. You could see they were a very promising young couple, and all of a sudden, this kind of thing happened. Not that they were sick; somebody came and snuffed life out of them. You should know that it was very devastating for us as a family and as a community. We were devastated to see how a very young, innocent, harmless, and unarmed couple would just be shot at directly for doing nothing harmful, including the man. We were devastated. We couldn’t find answers to what went wrong or why the killers were callous. Why did they come to the school compound? Why did they come with arms in broad daylight?

What is the security situation in the area?

For now, the security situation is relatively calm. The sector commander of Operation Safe Haven in charge of the area has been on the ground. He has been doing his best. He swung into action immediately the incident happened. He went to where the suspects were said to come from. They went there, but the killers had deserted the place. I learnt that some had been arrested, but the real culprits were still on the run. So the community is pleading. We appreciate what he is doing, but if we want this security situation in the state to be stable and to avoid a recurrence, the real culprits must be arrested.

They must be brought to the book so that everybody will be satisfied and will bring closure to this kind of wickedness. We are even saying that whichever party commits a crime, whether it is the farmer or the herder, there should be justice. Justice must be done. For this particular couple, there must be justice. For us, justice could only mean arresting the culprit and persecuting them. Let the community know that those people have paid for their crimes. Then, at least, it would stop people who have similar intentions from committing further atrocities. But are you following up on the matter with the security people?

Yes, we are following up. The sector commander communicates with us himself. We follow up and find out the progress. Even on the day of the burial of the couple, the sector commander came, and the state governor sent the Commissioner for Higher Education. A lot of groups who were touched by the killing attended the burial. The late couple were members of the Peace House Couple Fellowship, and the husband was the coordinator within that area. The Peace House representative came. The sector commander understood the mood of the people, and he assured them that he was going to make sure that justice prevailed in this matter. If not, the solution to the security challenges we face may not come.

What do you think should be done to address the security situation in other Plateau communities?

Only justice will solve the problem. Let me give you an example of the sector commander who was in the Barkin Ladi LGA. When he was there, there was a really deep calm in Barkin Ladi Ladi. What did he do right? He made sure that whoever committed a crime, whether it was the Birom, non-Birom, or Fulani, that person must be brought to book and brought to justice, and people saw it. So, even the herders were afraid of committing the crime of grazing on farms or bringing down crops.

If you commit a crime, you will not go free. The people who kill cows will also not go free, so there was relative calm. I think this can be applied to Mangu, Bokkos, Riyom, Barkin Ladi, and Bassa… Everywhere there is a crisis, if justice is done, this situation will cool down. In Riyom, let me give you an example. Even in the Kwi community, when this happened (the killing of the couple), the herders also burnt down the crops. Nobody was arrested, nobody was caught, and nobody was held responsible for it.

SOURCE: The Punch

The Botched El-Rufai’s Ministerial Confirmation

Out of the 48 ministerial nominees sent to the Senate for screening and confirmation by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Mallam Nasir el-rufai, the immediate past governor of Kaduna State failed to make the final list. His problem begun when Sunday Karimi, the Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District waved a petition bothering on security against the former.

At that point it was clear to El-Rufai himself that he was at a cross-road as he sought the leave of Senators to address the issue. However, the Senate President Godswill Akpabio seemed to have saved the situation by emphasising that even if there was a petition against the nominee, it was not within the ambit of the Senate to discuss a petition not before it.

At the end of the close-door-session, the Senate emerged without the name of El-Rufai on the confirmed list. His rejection by the Senate has become a topic of national discourse since then. In fact, the news of his non-confirmation was received with mixed feelings.

Prostatitis Symptoms? They Will Disappear in 3 Days!
Prostatitis Symptoms? They Will Disappear in 3 Days!
Xenoprost | Sponsored
1 Tablet in the Morning Clears Blood Vessels and Achieves 120/80 Blood Pressure in 7 Days! Available at Pharmacies
1 Tablet in the Morning Clears Blood Vessels and Achieves 120/80 Blood Pressure in 7 Days! Available at Pharmacies
ST Heart | Sponsored
credit icon
El-Rufai’s supporters have risen in defence of their man detailing his stand and support for Tinubu in time of political need. His performance as the former minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was also an achievement always on the table whenever it matters to El-rufai. They also brandished his sterling performance in infrastructural development especially road construction in Kaduna as major achievements.

These are reasons behind El-Rufai’s botched ministerial confirmation. First, fear of his duplicity and proclivity to manipulate. The original Tinubu loyalists from the days of Alliance for Democracy (AD) would not accommodate the likes of El-Rufai who is seen as a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Second, strategic positioning for power and permutations ahead of 2027 within the north was said to have worked against El-Rufai. The likes of the Vice President Kashim Shettima, George Akume and Nuhu Ribadu would like to leverage on their positions to consolidate their powers, thus, would not like strong contenders or obstacles to their aspirations.

Stories were rife on how he allegedly betrayed his benefactor – former Vice President Atiku Abubakar who raised him from the ashes of obscurity to political lime light. As the Chairman of the National Council on Privatisation, Atiku appointed him the Director–General of the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) but when succession drama between Olusegun Obasanjo and Atiku brewed, El-Rufai pitched tent with Obasanjo.

At the end, Obasanjo summed up the man El-Rufai thus in his book, My Watch Vol.II, “Nasir’s penchant for reputation savaging is almost pathological. Why does he do it? I recognised his weaknesses; the worst being his inability to be loyal to anybody or any issue consistently for long, but only to El-Rufai. He barefacedly lied which he did to me against his colleagues and so-called friends. ….”. His high handedness is second to none. Nobody says no when El-Rufai has said yes despite how reasonable. To conclude that he is arrogant and wielded authoritarian powers even in democracy is to say the least.

Since 2003 when he became the minister of FCT, El-Rufai has capitalised on taking undue political advantage of situations to enrich his political resume. Before 2023, he was one of the closest allies of Muhammadu Buhari who sources say nursed presidential ambition. In fact, he was a latter day apostle of Tinubu’s candidacy.

The precarious security situation in Kaduna which led to the death of at least 1,266 and kidnap of 4,973 persons in one year according to sources was the last straw that broke the Carmel’s back. His nonchalant attitude to the incessant killings and kidnapping of innocent travelers along Kaduna-Abuja expressway with little or no effort to tame it was an established case of negligence.

Numerous attacks on communities in Southern Kaduna by terrorist groups and bandits known to be of Fulani ethnic nationality and his indifference to their plight was one sour point of his administration. Petitions bothering on human right violations against him were rife. The killing of over 300 Shi’ia members in Zaria in 2015 under his watch has continued to reverberate.

Many court cases challenging demolition notices government served communities, land matters and seized or destroyed properties of individuals are legal issues he had left behind for the new administration in Kaduna to sort out. His penchant for demolishing what he called illegal structures, new communities, schools and rationalisation of the state civil service will continue to bear witness against El-Rufai.

Nothing last forever not even our lives. Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has straddled the political firmament of Nigeria like a colossus for over two decades. Apart from beneficiaries of El-Eufai’s hegemony and those who pick crumbs from his political table, street opinion of good governance if carried today will not favour him.

People take note and often refer to the role one plays to raise or destroy the political fortunes and profile of leaders at one point or the other. Therefore, becoming relevant in a new political dispensation is determined by how people view your take on power, position and authority. How those you vilified or crushed with power at your disposal years ago on account of your influence and position see you today matters.

There is always a payback time. The fate of El-Rufai today is a compensation for his good deeds of yesterday. Being in position of authority is a trust to do good to all without fear or favour. Political power is transient. What goes round comes around. That’s the way the cookie crumbled.

Eze, a Media and Development Communication Specialist wrote via: sunnyeze02@yahoo.com
08060901201

SOURCE: The Guardian

Harnessing the Power of Social Media: Influencers Unite to Boost Security in Katsina

A determined group in Northern Nigeria, spearheaded by renowned Hausa singer Dauda Rarara, is championing a unique approach to tackling regional challenges. They aim to counter the damage caused by misinformation and disinformation, which have been impeding the progress of developmental journalism and security measures in the area.

The group’s strategy involves mobilizing over a thousand social media influencers from all 34 local governments in Katsina State. The goal is to reshape attitudes toward governance and foster sustainable development and improved security using the far-reaching platforms of social media.

In addition to contributing to security efforts, the group believes that involving social media influencers in addressing the region’s issues will generate meaningful employment opportunities for the local youth.

Driven by their mission, the organizers are keen on extending these gatherings to influencers from different regions throughout the country, aiming to shift the mindset of the youth on a national scale.

Farmers/Herders Clash: Tinubu will tackle Insecurity, Benue Senator Zam reveals

The Senator representing Benue North West Senatorial zone, Titus Zam has assured his constituents that President Bola Tinubu would soon tackle the problem of farmers-herders clashes throughout the country.
Speaking at an interactive session with his immediate constituents from Gwer West Local Government Area area, on Saturday, in Makurdi, Benue state capital, Zam disclosed that the president and the Service Chiefs, George Akume, have mobilized security personnel to tackle insecurity, especially against farmers, so that they can go return to their farmlands.

Zam, who is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Business and Rules, spoke on the sustained herdsmen attacks on his Ityoshin communities, saying they are political.

It was learnt that out of 15 council wards in the Gwer West Local Government area, 13 have been occupied by suspected armed herdsmen who are grazing on farmlands after setting their houses ablaze.

He said during the screening of the Service Chiefs, he drew their attention to the worsening security situation in his immediate communities and they assured him that, with time, the problem will be over.

He appealed to his people to be patient with him saying: “I’m less than 100 days in the office, and I have four years tenure, so gradually most of the critical issues would be solved.

On the total collapse of the Makurdi- Naka – Adoka federal highway which the contractor has stopped work, Zam said a new minister of works has been appointed, and he has tabled the matter before him, saying that the contractor would soon return to work.

He described the Secretary to the Government of the Federal, SGF Senator George Akume, as his leader and will continue to work with him.

Zam said: “I will work with Senator George Akume, and if anyone is not happy I’m sorry. Akume made me a senator, I have been with him for more than 20 years, and I can’t leave Senator Akume.

He promised to continue the interactive session with his people, just as he advised them to support President Tinubu, Senator Akume, and all APC candidates and avoid insulting elders on social media.

Earlier, the guest speaker, Professor John Ajai, and the chairman of the occasion, Kenneth Iyo Iharev commended Senator Titus Zam, for the interactive session, and appealed to him to attract development projects to the people of Gwer West in particular and zone B in generally.

The duo of Iyo and Ajai pointed out the perennial water scarcity in Naka town, which is the headquarters of Gwer West Council, unemployment of graduates among others as areas that need the urgent intervention of Senator Zam.

SOURCE: The Nation

The Fear Of Coups In Africa

By Ayo Oyoze Baje

“Most of wars or military coups or invasions are done in the name of democracy against democracy” –Eduardo Galeano (Uruguayan journalist)

My dear faithful reader, let us begin with the all-important questions: Why do the citizens in the African countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and most recently that of Gabon involved in military coups take to the streets to rejoice with the putchists? Secondly, why are the current presidents of Rwanda and Cameroun making frantic efforts to rejig the military architecture in their countries, in a rapid response to the coup in Gabon? And what really is a military coup and who are afraid of it and why? The answers to these questions are not far-fetched; going by the empirical evidences on ground.

According to Wikipedia, a coup d’état which in French stands for ‘stroke of state’, or simply a coup, is “an illegal and overt attempt by the military or other government elites to unseat the incumbent leader”. On his part, Edward Luttwak , American writer states that: “A coup consists of the infiltration of a small but critical segment of the state apparatus, which is then used to displace the government from its control of the remainder”.

Ordinarily, lovers of democracy would want to distance themselves from coups because as the Russian President -Vladimir Putin explained: “Respect for sovereignty means to not allow unconstitutional action and coup d’états, the removal of legitimate power”. This position however, triggers the pertinent question-is democracy being practised as it should in the African countries so far affected by coups-both military and civilian-instigated variant of it? It would be interesting to note that the recurring reasons given by the coupists for taking over political power from the democratically elected presidents, all dovetail to persisting insecurity, enslavement to some foreign colonialists, economic doldrums and corruption as reflective of course, by poor governance. These have been similar reasons given for that from the Sudanese coup d’état on April 11, 2019, following mass demonstrations calling for the ouster of President Omar al-Bashir, deposed by the Sudanese Armed Forces through to the Malian coup d’états on August 18, 2020 and that of May 24, 2021.

In a similar vein were the reasons given on July 26, 2023 for the coup in Niger Republic ,led by General Tchiani, an ex-UN peacekeeper who seized power and blamed rising insecurity and a lack of economic growth under the Mohamed Bazoum-led government.On their part, the Gabonese army officers who staged the coup on August 30, 2023 under the aegis of the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions to oust President Ali Bongo from power after 56 years of his family’s firm grip on power had their salient reasons for doing so. They stated that: “We are therefore forced to admit that the organisation of the general elections of August 26, 2023, did not meet the conditions for a transparent, credible and inclusive ballot so much hoped for by the people of Gabon.

“Added to this is irresponsible and unpredictable governance, resulting in a continuing deterioration in social cohesion, with the risk of leading the country into chaos”. With all these thought-provoking reasons given by the coupists African leaders should have a moment of sober reflection and ask themselves the significant questions. For instance, the right feature to begin with is that of election. Was the election that brought me to the pedestal of power free, fair, credible and of international standards? Am I the right choice of the people, or have I deployed the Machiavellian, dictatorial doctrine of might-is-right to foist myself on the hapless people?

As for those who are currently holding the reins of political power it has become expedient to find out if the government is being run by the dictates of democracy. This brings to the political spectrum the matrix of governance that is in sync with the rule of law, with policies, programs and projects evolving from the collective wishes of majority of the people, instead of the vaulting ambition- as William Shakespeare would put it- of a few greedy, self-serving and avaricious political jobbers brow-beating their wishes on them. That brings us to the history of how democracy evolved from Ancient Greece.

According to H.A Clement, the author, of ‘The Story of the Ancient World’: “ At first the Greek tribes who had founded the city-states were ruled by the kings, but about 700BC the kings had been expelled in most of the cities…Monarchy then gave way to aristocracy, when only a few of the wealthy, noble families ruled. But this was found to be unsatisfactory…because the poor people were often ill-treated. Subsequently, “many cities came under the rule of one man again..who was not called a king but a tyrant,.. many of who were overthrown. It was then (500BC) that many cities adopted the third kind of government, democracy.” Kindly take good note of this aspect. “Their cities were small enough to enable all the citizens to meet together to make decisions, and they did not need to elect representatives as we do”.So, let us fast forward to the current African type of democracy. The situation raises some questions again. What is the cost of accessing political power? In a country such as Nigeria where presidential aspirants have to pay humongous sums of between N40 million to N70 million for nomination form , has the space not been overtly skewed in favour of the richest of the rich, not minding if they have the pedigree or the love of the people at heart? And what manner of political structure do we have on ground? In a situation whereby enormous political powers are placed at the executive arm of government –to literally do and undo at their whims and caprices-just how pro-people is that structure?

The answer is patently obvious. It means therefore, that by the time the winners get into office, the huge pay structure, appointments and the running of government would swing in favour of the rich rather than the vast majority. As it relates to some African countries that makes it a government of the rich, by the rich and of course, to satisfy the epicurean tastes of the rotten-rich individuals. So, when they begin to flounder and the people get poorer why would they not take to the streets to rejoice with the coupists? That explains the position of the former President of Algeria, Ahmed Ben Bella that: “Everywhere that the struggle for national freedom has triumphed, once the authorities agreed, there were military coups d’etat that overthrew their leaders. That is the result time and time again”.

Good governance, that is tailored towards satisfying the crying needs of the masses-to pull them out of the ignoble pit of poverty, ignorance and diseases- has therefore, become the alternative to the series of military coups in Africa.

SOURCE: The Sun