PRESS RELEASE: PDP officials are paid with SURE-P funds, says APC

The All Progressives Party (APC) in the Federal Capital Territory has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of diverting monies meant for the Subsidy Re-Investment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) for funding its party activities.

Speaking, Tuesday, in Abuja during the inauguration of the Interim Ward Executives in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), the Interim FCT Publicity Secretary, Yakubu Mohammed Adamu, said the people of Abuja have not been feeling the impact of the SURE-P projects because the PDP in Abuja has hijacked the programme and turned the monies allocated for it to party slush fund.

Adamu said, “Every government has its own policy on how to alleviate poverty. When the Federal Government introduced SURE-P we all embraced it, thinking that the funds would be channelled to the masses who are supposed to be the major beneficiaries.

“But in the FCT, what we are seeing is a totally different thing, because the PDP using the SURE-P fund as a political slush fund. They are using it to pay their Executives; their 18-member ward exco in every ward are paid with these funds. They pay their ward chairmen and their local govt ward exco, and even their state executives. They are using it to pay salaries.

“So because of this, none of the people who are supposed to benefit from this fund are benefiting. The situation is that you cannot benefit from SURE-P if you are not a card-carrying member of PDP, or ward official, local govt official or state official in the FCT, which is not supposed to be so. That is why we are against it, and we will continue to be against it, and we will expose them to the people.

“Many people are not aware of what is happening in FCT Government, so we have to make sure people are aware of the ills of this present FCT administration and all the dubious ways they divert public funds. We want every resident of the FCT, every voter to know the money that is meant for them is being diverted for political purposes.”

The Publicity Secretary, who was the representative of the FCT Interim Executive at the AMAC swearing –in ceremony, used the opportunity to charge the new ward executive members to carry the message of change and hope to the people in their different wards because APC is poised to bring change to Nigerians who are frustrated with the current government.   

 “We are now educating our people on the procedure and the process on how a member should be registered. And how the interim executives shall handle their offices to ensure every member should be registered. We will make sure in every nook and cranny of the FCT, party supporters shall be registered and have their party cards and that will help them in constituting the main executive of the party during the party congresses,” the Publicity Secretary said.

Also speaking at the event, the interim AMAC Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu Kandido, said that the nation-wide membership registration of the APC should be utilised to make the new party a household party because in every nook and cranny of Nigeria people want to identify with the change that APC is bringing.

Kandido reminded the newly sworn in ward officials that they have a short time to work before the party congress which would elect substantive Executive members, and so should ensure that peace and cooperation reign in their different wards.

The APC nationwide membership registration drive was flagged off last weekend in Lagos by the party leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and starts today, Wednesday, 5^th February, and is scheduled to last for five days.

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Unbelievable! Photo Of A Dilapidated Police Station In Benue State

Above is a photo of a real(not from a Nollywood movie) Police station located at Eupi Otukpo, Benue State.

Before now, I've seen many photos of police stations in ruins, but this by far is the worse. I was shocked when I saw the photo.

What makes it even worse is that the police station in question is located in Senate President David Mark's state of origin.

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Dame Jonathan Saving Precious Lives Through Her A. Aruera Heart Foundation

By  A.O. Adesugba

It is February! This is the beautiful month to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Many of us are thinking of buying fancy heart shaped gifts and candies or heart shaped cards for the person who makes our heart miss a skip. The subject of my discourse however, is not about love and romance, or the way we are mesmerized when we look in the eyes of the person of our dreams.

I am writing about the human heart, one of the most important organs in the body. It pumps blood which carries all the vital materials that help our bodies function and also removes the waste products that are not needed.

Unfortunately, heart problems are one of the leading causes of death globally and Nigeria is no exemption. Some people are born with heart problems, known as congenital heart disease. Others, develop heart disorders as a result of infection, high blood pressure, diabetes, a sedentary lifestyle or the constant intake of rich fatty foods that are high in cholesterol.

The cost of diagnosis, treatment and very often, surgery for people with heart ailments can invariably be too expensive for families who have children with heart problems. Some indigent mothers have often turned to faith healers or traditional medicine in a bid to find the cure for their children. This has sometimes had disastrous consequences for the child. Some public spirited individuals and philanthropic organizations have been a God-send in helping to treat children with heart problems free of charge or for a token amount. This humanitarian gesture has helped save the lives of thousands of children in Nigeria. The A. Aruera Reachout Foundation is an example. The Foundation is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organization established in 2008 by Dame (Dr.) Patience Faka Jonathan, the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The A. Aruera Reachout Heart Foundation has a medical unit which sponsors the treatment and surgery of children and some adults with heart conditions. The Foundation conducts Children’s Clinics periodically to diagnose the condition of each child needing assistance. During these clinics, Consultant Paediatric Cardiologists from the National Hospital Abuja, the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital and the Apollo Hospital Chinnai, India evaluate the health condition of the children.

Those diagnosed with heart problems that can be successfully treated in Nigeria are referred to the National Hospital Abuja, while those with heart conditions that cannot be treated within the country are sponsored to the Apollo Hospital in India. The Foundation has technical partners not only in India, but also in South Korea and America. Some very serious cases can undergo treatment in any of these countries.

The Heart Foundation also conducts post-operative, follow up checks on children who have undergone surgery overseas and have returned to the country. This is the group that the First Lady received on Monday, February 3^rd 2014, in the State House Abuja. They were the last batch of the 2013 beneficiaries of the Heart Foundation. They paid a courtesy call on their benefactor, the First Lady. The children were accompanied by their parents. They were led by Dr. Ebiasuode Stevens Daubry, the leader of A. Aruera Reachout Foundation Medical Team.

In the formal report he presented to the First Lady, Dr. Daubry informed that eleven (11) of the children that came for the visit had undergone open heart surgery. He also stated that the first batch of the 2014 Heart Foundation recipients were on their way to India for treatment, while some had already started receiving treatment in Nigeria.

Speaking on the occasion, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on OAFLA and supervising SSA of the First Ladies NGOs, Mrs. Yemisi Oyewole stated that, “heart problem is not a cheap problem,” but thanked God that heart surgeries sponsored by the A. Aruera Foundation had recorded 100% success rate.

One of the beneficiaries, young Aisha Aliyu Bala, expressed her gratitude to the First Lady while the mother of another beneficiary, Hajia Habibat Abdussamad and a father, Mr. Anto Ambi Ogah profusely thanked the First Lady for her philanthropic gesture and said they were encouraged that the Foundation was constructing a hospital for children with heart ailments. 

The First Lady in her remarks congratulated the children on their successful surgery and said that she was delighted to see them looking healthy after their medical interventions.

She enthused that this was yet another high point in efforts of the Foundation to make the beneficiaries realize their dreams in good health. She observed that the anxiety of the parents and family members would be over as all the children had received corrective procedures for their heart ailments. She observed that some of the children who were seen required urgent surgery to save their lives.

Dame Jonathan assured them that she would continue to offer her support to the less privileged in society. She also disclosed that the state-of-the-art A. Aruera Children’s Heart Hospital under construction will ensure that more people with heart problems benefit from corrective procedures in Nigeria.  She stated that the hospital would be a model for Africa and called on public spirited Nigerians to give support to the project by donating medical equipment.

The First Lady expressed her appreciation to the team of consultants and cardiologists who were offering their time, skills and expertise free to the foundation. She especially commended, Dr. I. Bosede Babanyi, Consultant Paediatric Cardiologist,   National Hospital Abuja, Dr. Richard Onalo, Consultant, Abuja University Teaching Hospital, Dr. Ebiasuode Stevens Daubry, the leader of A. Aruera Reachout Foundation Medical Team and the foreign technical partners, especially those in the Apollo Hospital, India.

To date, over 700 children have benefited from the A. Aruera Reachout Heart Foundation. This demonstrates the caring and maternal nature of Nigeria’s First Lady. God has used her as an instrument to positively touch the lives of some of our nation’s sick children, to make them healthy and happy through the appropriate medical intervention. Dame Jonathan has set a pace for others to emulate. People of goodwill will be inspired.

PIX OF THE FIRST LADY DAME DR PATIENCE JONATHAN MIDDLE CARING A BABY WITH OTHER BENEFICIARIES OF HART SURGERY FROM THE ARUERA FOUNDATION FLANKED BY LEFT MRS YEMISI OYEWOLE SSA (OAFLA), HAJIA BOLA SHAGAYA MD PRAT OIL, MRS NWANNEKA EKWERENMADU WIFE OF DEPUTY SENATE PRESIDENT AND DR STEVENS DAUBRY THE MEDICAL TEAM LEADER IN A GROUP PHOTOGRAPH AT THE VILLA, ABUJA WHEN THEY VISTED, MONDAY.

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How Newswatch Assistant Editor Was killed in Lagos

Toyin Obadina, an Assistant Editor with Saturday Newswatch Newspaper was shot in the stomach by unknown gunmen while on his way from work on Friday January 31. He died two days later on Sunday February 2nd after a surgery was done to extract the bullet that was lodged in his stomach.

Recounting what happened, his wife said Obadina was approaching the Parafa end of Imota Road in Ikorodu when 2 SUVs coming from the opposite lane intercepted his car. Obadina came down from his car and surrendered to the men, asking them to take all they want but not harm him.

She said the men slapped him and shot him in the stomach. When he attempted to run, he was shot in the stomach a second time before the robbers fled.

Obadina was rushed to Gbagada General Hospital and later to Lagos State Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, where he died on Sunday. He was 50 years old. He is survived by his wife, three children and an aged mother. May his soul rest in peace...amen.

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Cleric cautions against reprisal as slain Islamic scholar Albani is buried

Sheikh Muhammad Albani

Mr. Albani was killed Saturday night.
An Islamic cleric, Musa Mai-Shawi, has cautioned against reprisal attack following the assassination of a popular Islamic scholar, Muhammad Albani, in Zaria, Kaduna State.
Speaking in Zaria during late Mr. Albani’s funeral prayer, Mr. Mai-Shawi said the plea became necessary in view of the tension caused by the sudden death of the popular cleric.
Mr. Mai-Shawi, who is the chief Imam of Darul Hadith, a school established by the deceased, said although the death of Mr. Albani was painful, everything should be left to God.
“There are no two ways about it, everybody is aggrieved about this sad development. However, I urge you to take heart and leave everything to God. God Almighty be my witness and you people around here be my witnesses, that I have conveyed the message,” he said.
He cautioned against revenge “by any means”.
“Malam is already dead and no action will bring him back. God knows who are behind his brutal killing and He knows how to deal with them,” he said.
The funeral prayer was led by Musa Maikwano-Gusau, while final interment took place at Dambo graveyard, Jos road, in Zaria.
Mr. Albani, a fiery preacher of the Salafi school of thought, which believes in the strict observance of the Quran and Sunnah (way of life of Prophet Muhammad), was killed alongside his wife and their child.
A resident of Zaria, Abdullahi Barau, told PREMIUM TIMES the cleric was shot around the Gaskiya Area of the city, where he has a school, shortly before 10 p.m.
Mr. Barau said the cleric’s wife died on the spot while Sheikh Albani Zaria was rushed to the nearby St. Luke’s Hospital where he was declared dead.
A colleague of the late Mr. Albani Zaria, Abbas Isa, told the Hausa service of the Voice of America that the late cleric’s car was blocked by the assailants who opened fire on the car.
(NAN)

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IT IS TIME TO MOVE TO APC -- Atiku

Below is a press statement personally signed by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar announcing his resignation from the ruling People’s Democratic Party to join the opposition All Progressives’ Congress.

AFTER CONSULTATION, IT IS TIME TO MOVE TO APC. LET THE BRIDGE-BUILDING CONTINUE

In 2006, as a result of my firm stand in defence of our constitution and our democracy, my supporters and I were pushed out of our party, the Peoples Democratic Party, a party that we worked tirelessly with other compatriots to build as a vehicle to restore democracy to our country. We later returned to that party in 2009 when a new leadership of the party and the country promised a new direction, a direction of inclusiveness, of internal democracy, of an end to impunity, adherence to the rule of law and respect for the dignity of members and Nigerians.
Sadly, however, those promises have not been kept. In addition, the PDP continues to be beset with many crises, mostly leadership-induced crises. It has since lost touch with Nigerians and efforts made by many well-meaning members and stakeholders to bring it back to the vision of the founders have been rebuffed. To demonstrate the seriousness of the challenges and bring public attention to it I and some other leaders and stakeholders staged a walkout during the party’s last convention in Abuja.
As I speak, most of the issues that led to that walk-out are yet to be addressed. Many founding members of the PDP, I included, continue to be marginalized and excluded from the affairs of the party. For instance as a former Vice President, I am by virtue of the PDP constitution, a member of the party’s Board of Trustees and its National Executive Committee. However, I am not invited to the meetings of those organs nor consulted on their decisions, apparently because I dared to exercise my right to contest in the party’s primary election for a chance to be its flag-bearer in the 2011 elections. We have, therefore, concluded that that party cannot be redeemed. In short the PDP has abandoned Nigerians, the very people who gave it life and many electoral victories.
More worrisome though is the danger posed to the continued existence of this country by this culture of impunity and arbitrariness. We continue to have threats from officially protected political extremists. Increasingly our people are recklessly being divided along the lines of religion, ethnicity and region for political gains. Our history and that of many other countries in Africa and Eastern Europe ought to teach us that this is very dangerous and must stop.
We can and we must do better. Our people deserve better.
It is against this background that we should understand the visit by the leaders of the APC and their invitation to me to join hands with them to save the country. Consequently, I have been consulting my supporters and associates, my family and friends for the past few weeks. My decision may not satisfy some of my friends and associates. In the end, however, I have to put the interest of our country first. This country has done so much for me personally and it deserves all that we can do to help rebuild it and serve our people better.
Following this extensive consultative process, I have, therefore, decided to cast my lot with the APC, a party of change committed to the improvement of the lives of our people and to the continued existence and development of Nigeria as one indivisible country. My resignation letter as a member of the PDP will be delivered to the party tomorrow.
This is the right decision. As in 2006 it is the struggle for democracy and constitutionalism and service to my country and my people that are driving my choice and my decision. Let me emphasize that this is not about me. We have to have a country before people can aspire to lead it, but as it is today we may be losing this country. That is not acceptable.
I encourage my political associates and friends to register and join the APC once the registration exercise commences, so that together we can change this country for the better.
The process of building a nation, of securing and deepening democracy is indeed difficult. And it is not a lineal process. There would be alignment and realignment of political forces. There would be ups and downs and zig-zags, triumphs and challenges. Amidst all that, patriots must remain focused and do what has to be done to save and build the country and serve our people better.
That is what I have decided to do. I will do all within my God-given powers to help the APC win elections all over Nigeria and bring true change to our country and its long-suffering people.
Thank you and God bless Nigeria.
Atiku Abubakar, GCON
(Turaki Adamawa)
Former Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria.

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