By Angela

The Director Media, Yahaya Bello Campaign Organisation, Dr Yemi Kolapo, has said that Bello, a Presidential aspirant on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), remains the hero of the oppressed.

Kolapo made this known in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, following the just concluded Presidential primary of the APC, which she described as peaceful by highly compromised.

She said that amidst the compromise by some selfish elite, Bello stood as a leader for the downtrodden without a voice and name.

The All Progressives Congress presidential primary elections have come and gone. The process was largely peaceful but highly compromised.

This is, however, not new in a country where democracy is defined as the government of the oppressors by the oppressors and for the oppressors.

It is sad to note that those who should know and who many progressives had thought of as leaders with integrity are the ones working against the people they were selected to represent for egocentric reasons, she said.

According to her, in this process, one leader stands out, according to the majority of Nigerians. And that leader is one that has proven to the downtrodden and those regarded as Nigerians without surnames.

That regardless of agelong intimidation by the elite, the best of our people can stand tall without compromising the values that we should have been known for as a nation.

That leader, I say with all sense of fairness, is Gov. Yahaya Adoza Bello of Kogi State. He is the hero of this process and has made his point loud and clear to the admiration of even his worst enemies, she said.

Kolapo stated that if there was a clear, desperate gang-up by northern governors and the leaders of a party against one person, and that person never for once disappointed his teeming supporters but rather fought to the very end.

She stated that Bello fought till the end for the interest of the masses not minding the crooked process and should be celebrated by the constituency he represents, the youth.

Kolapo lamented the mode of the primary elections, where delegates were obviously bought by the highest bidder of political parties.

A mode of primaries whereby delegates who have largely been pocketed by their paymasters and who defer to the highest bidder are made to choose flagbearers of a political party is as warped as the process itself.

It is obvious that in a bid to prove that he is not one of them, enemies of this project, Nigeria, went beyond speaking with delegates and oiling their palms to ensure that votes that did not represent Yahaya Bellos popularity were counted against his name.

But they have unwittingly made him the hero of the moment. We do not have to talk much but to pray that God Himself would deliver Nigerians from the hands of enemies of democracy.

Poverty is a tool they have used for long to keep Nigerians poor. At the right time, however, this jinx must break!

We only wish that this obvious crack in the ceiling would not eventually make the ceiling cave in, Kolapo stated.

Kolapo appreciated the media for their immense support in spite of persecution and mischievous information being churned out by detractors, describing them as partners in progress. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

By Salisu Sani-Idris

Coalition of FCT Concerned Youths has intensified call on the need for the FCT Administration to ensure inauguration of the newly-elected six area councils chairmen in the territory.

The Convener of the youths, Mr Joshua Dangiwa, made the call at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello has suspended the planned inauguration of the Six Area Council Chairmen and Councilors scheduled for May 20.

Bello, in a statement on May 19, said the suspension was due to the communication of a judgment by a court in the FCT directing the suspension of the inauguration.

The minister explained that the judgment, based on the recently signed Electoral Act of 2022, which stipulated that the tenure of office of the Chairmen of the Area Councils in FCT would now be four years instead of three years.

According to him, the existing Chairmen whose tenures were meant to expire or end on May 19, have another one year to continue, based on the new law.

So, as a law-abiding government, the FCT Administration has no option than to suspend the planned inauguration of the Six Area Council Chairmen of the FCT who were duly elected some weeks ago as a result of this injunction of the court.

The youth leader said the coalition believed that the minister stood for fairness, equity and justice, saying, we are sure that he will do anything within his purview to ensure that the six Area Council Chairmen are sworn in.

We therefore strongly insist that the newly elected Area Council Chairmen be sworn in to their respective offices, to commence the job that our people have elected them to do.

Failure to comply will leave us with no other option than to carry out a peaceful protest on all the major roads leading into the FCT, which will cause a restriction to vehicular movements.

This is in a bid to register our displeasure which also is an exercise of our fundamental human rights as enshrined in our constitution. (NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru/Grace Yussuf

Source: NAN News

By Christian Ogbonna

The Federal High Court in Ebonyi has nullified the rescheduled People Democratic Partys (PDP), primaries in Ebonyi and declared Dr Ifeanyi-Chukwuma Odii as authentic gubernatorial candidate of the party for the 2023 polls.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the party rescheduled and conducted a fresh primaries on June 4 and 5 after its Initial primaries in Ebonyi on May 28 and 29 that elected Odii a governorship candidate.

The Court ruled that the primary elections that produced Sen. Obinna Ogba and other candidates were illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.

The Presiding Judge, Justice Fatun Riman said the repeated primaries in the state on June 4 and 5 was not monitored by the Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to Riman, the rescheduled PDP primaries in Ebonyi is null and void.

One, the rescheduled primaries was conducted when the suit filed on May 30 was already pending in the court.

The primaries was not monitored by INEC, therefore, the rescheduled exercise of June 4 and 5, that elected Senator Obinna Ogba as another gubernatorial candidate and others are hereby nullified, the Judge stated.

Mr Mudi Erhenede, Counsel for Odii, popularly known as Anyichuks thanked the court for the judgement.

According to Erhenede, the ruling has interpreted constitution of the party.

Selfish individual or group interests will by no means supersede the partys interest. Good thing is that Justice has been done over the matter.

Efforts to reach the Counsel of Sen. Ogba were abortive as they left the court earlier before the judgment. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

Source: NAN News

By Ijeoma Okigbo

Team Nigeria has arrived Kigali for KwibukaT20 Womens Cricket tournament, with 24-man contingent, comprising 16 players and officials.

Nigeria joins Uganda, Botswana and Brazil to arrive Rwanda for the tournament scheduled to begin on Thursday to June 18.

Its Nigerias second outing in Rwanda after they finished fourth place in 2021.

The countrys first game is against 27th ranked Brazilwho are nine places ahead of the West African country, on Thursday.

Meanwhile Kenya, Germany and Tanzania are still expected in Kigali. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

By Hamza Suleiman

Fatima Mustapha, a 42-year-old divorcee, is one among thousands of women who live under excruciating life conditions due to Vesico Vaginal Fisticula (VVF) across many communities in northern Nigeria.

Her condition is worsened by growing stigma against people living with the health condition.

Fatima, a resident of Maiduguri, the Borno capital and epicenter of the Boko Haram insurgency, has been abandoned by family and other members of the community who have found it difficult to bear the stench oozing from her body.

Her condition is caused by the uncontrolled discharge of urine associated with VVF.

In medical parlance, VVF is an abnormal congenital opening between the bladder (Vesico) and the vagina causing continuous involuntary discharge of urine into the vaginal vault.

It is often caused by prolonged labour, especially for teenage mothers, during childbirth and can also be as a result of violent rape of minor.

Narrating her ordeal, the mother of two traced her condition to an injury sustained during child birth.

I gave birth at 12 and sustained a wound in my private part.

At the beginning, my husband endured the condition, but later he divorced me and I had to move
to my mothers place to seek some remedy to my condition.

Nobody wanted to associate with me. No one was ready to share anything with me.

I faced a lot of rejections in the community as people always feel uncomfortable relating with me. At a point, I almost gave up before I finally got help, she said.

Another victim, Fatima Isa, 40, said that she had the problem during her fifth childbirth and had lived with the condition in the past 17 years.

Life is not really easy because I am separated from my loved ones, including my sisters. I have been stigmatised by my families, friends and members of the community.

Nobody accepts anything from me or share his food with me. I dont go to social gatherings because of stigma. People get irritated when I go close to them, she said.

Isa said she was treated at a hospital but the condition continued unabated till she received medical surgery sponsored by humanitarian organisations.

The organisation supported me, along side other women, with free surgery at the Borno State Specialist Hospital, 10 months ago.

It also empowered us with skills training through Borno State Ministry for Women Affairs and Social Development.

Currently, Im into cap knitting and Im happy that I regain my normal life, she said.

The two women are among the 600 fistula survivors who underwent repairs surgery supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

UNFPA and KOICA signed an agreement on a 5-year VVF support programme to be implemented from 2018 to 202.

The project tagged: Fostering Resilience and provision of basic medical services for women and girls in Borno State, Nigeria, focuses on providing free medical surgery and skills acquisition training to VVF survivors.

Mr kelvin Chukwuemeka, Sexual Reproductive Health Specialist, UNFPA, Maiduguri office, said that an ultra-modern Fistula Centre has been established at Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri.

He said that 626 women, who lost the hope of living normal life free of the involuntary dripping and leakage of urine, benefitted from free Fistula repairs at the centre.

The project, he said, was also designed to build resilience through the restoration of access to basic medical and social services in conflict-affected communities.

The project aims at enhancing access to comprehensive maternal and child care, fistula care and improve capacity for result-based data management system.

We conducted 600 fistula repair surgeries, supervised 47,429 deliveries by skilled health workers, while 108,561 survivors of Gender-Based Violence received specialised services with health and social cohesion within the last four years.

In spite of the challenge of COVID-19 pandemic at the onset of the project, its implementation was not derailed throughout the four years, Chukwuemeka said.

The UNFPA official said the women received starter packs at their treatment centres to enable them to set up their businesess and encourage their economic stability and resilience.

The beneficiaries are from Jere, Konduga and Maiduguri Local Government Areas of the state.

Available records showed that 40,361 people were reached with life-saving sensitisation messages on the prevention of Obstetric Fistula. The exercise sought to mobilise communities and create awareness on fistula repairs.

The UN agency also trained 37 surgeons and nurses to update their surgical skills to conduct fistula repair surgeries effectively.

Also, 27,598 individuals were reached with direct comprehensive and lifesaving Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services in supported health facilities while 126,099 individuals were reached through mobile medical outreaches to the most affected communities within Konduga, Jere and Maiduguri.

The records further indicated that 225 frontline health and social workers comprising doctors, nurses, community health workers and GBV case workers were trained on Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP), Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (EmONC), Family Planning and Maternal Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR).

This is to adequately provide quality reproductive and maternal health as well as specialised GBV services in an integrated form, Chukwuemeka said.

He said that 10 mini ambulances were procured as part of mobile clinics to support referral of individuals with emergency conditions from their homes to the health facility.

Hajiya Falmata Gambo, Director in the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, says that the project has made tremendous positive impact on the lives of women and girls in Borno.

Gambo said that the UNFPA supported the survivors and mobilised them to come to the fistula centre for free surgery.

According to her, the UN group usually provide accomodation, feeding, counselling and psychosocial support up to the period victims get repaired.

After the successful surgeries, they are being refered to the ministry for rehabilitation and psychosocial support through various skills acquisition and livelihood support.

At the end, they are provided with grant and starter kits for the skills they are trained on, so that they can continue their lives and be accepted in the society and by their family members, she said.

She said that research had documented several factors responsible for the prevalence of fistula in Nigeria, major among them being early marriage and pregnancy.

On causes of VVF, she said accidental surgical injury related to pregnancy, lack of education coupled with low socio-economic status and poverty among young women, had resulted to the prevalence of the condition in the state.

About 87 per cent of rural childbirths take place at homes, she fumed.

Speaking on the development, Hassan Abdulrahman, a maternal and child specialist, said that Nigeria was one of the countries with the highest number of VVF cases globally.

Abdulrahman said that the prevalence of the condition in the country was due to failure of the government to address issues of sexual and reproductive health rights of women and girls.

To address the scourge, Hassan advocated for a law to ban child marriage.

This law is necessary to save the country from the evil effects of VVF. It will tone down the number of women subjected to life of misery and stigmatisation due to obstetric fistula, he said. NANfeatures. (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ephraims Sheyin

• *If used, please credit the writer and the agency.

Source: NAN News

Arrest

Abuja, June 7, 2022(NAN) Security agents on Tuesday arrested three suspected handset snatchers at the entrance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Special Convention in Abuja, after they snatched a journalists cellphone.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the suspects who were gorgeously dressed took advantage of the commotion at the gate of Eagle Square, venue of the convention to snatch the handset from the journalists pocket.

The journalist, name withheld raised an alarm after he discovered his phone was missing, attracting the attention of the security agents who rushed to the scene immediately.

But the missing phone couldnt be found even after a search on the three suspects, as they had thrown the cellphone under a nearby security vehicle.

An eagle-eyed officer however, salvaged the situation as he sighted the phone under the vehicle, leading to the arrest of the suspects.

A police officer who spoke on an anonymous condition told NAN that the suspects would be taken to a nearby station for investigations and eventual prosecution.

NAN reports that security agents had in March arrested three suspected pickpockets at APC National Convention in Abuja.

The police had also arrested 10 pickpockets at the Peoples Democratic Partys (PDP) Special Convention at the National Stadium on May 28.( NAN)

Edited by Julius Toba-Jegede

Source: NAN News

By Abbas Bamalli

The Consolidation Ambassadors (TCA), says only former Lagos State governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu can defeat Alhaji Atiku Abubakar during the forthcoming 2023 presidential election.

The group said this in a statement titled, Our Stand, signed by Dr. Adelanke Peter, issued to newsmen on Tuesday in Katsina.

He said for Nigeria to consolidate on the achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari, a bold, frank, independent, transparent, intelligent, smart-thinker like Tinubu was needed.

Peter said, Although the TCA is not biased towards any presidential aspirant contesting to be the presidential flag bearer of theAll Progressives Congress (APC).

We, however, owe it to the party and party members to guide them in terms of direction ahead of the National Convention.

Partisan politics is not all about Pierre de Coubertin, sports philosophy guiding participation in contests; it is not all about winning.

The Consolidation Ambassadors (TCA) with its firm foundation within 36 States of the Federation and FCT, emerged as worthy Ambassadors of the APC who recognised and appreciated the progress made by the President Buhari led administration.

Especially in the areas of infrastructure, human capital development, agriculture, anti-corruption, digital economic transformation and all inclusive governance.

The group said it resolved to identify and unify all political structures and supporters of the aspirants that contested elective posts under the umbrella of the APC.

Particularly the 23 presidential aspirants by providing the necessary support to the flag bearers after the primaries.

It is for this reason, after due consultations and considerations, that we suggest that the party should field a candidate that can stand shoulder-to-shoulder, eye-ball-to-eye-ball, kobo-for-kobo, tactics-for-tactics.

And also strategy-for-strategy, popularity-for-popularity and national-acceptance-for-national-acceptance; with international recognition and respect.

A candidate with national acceptability, who after winning can consolidate the legacies of President Buhari, said Peter.

He said TCAs National Organising Secretary, Dr. Awwal Shafiu, with the support of other national executive members, declared the groups unflinching support for Tinubu.

Our collective resolve to support Tinubu emanates from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) choice of their presidential candidate.

It is a political development that needs careful analysis, consideration and realignment.

Without any iota of doubt, Tinubu is APCs most influential politician, his mentoring of top politicians is legendary and his national acceptance is no doubt a nonnegotiable fact that can usher our party to success come 2023 election.

In order to achieve our collective resolve to sustain, renew, unify, reinvigorate and to consolidate President Muhammadu Buhari legacies, we call on all rank and file of APC members and all Nigerians to support him, said Peter. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Salif Atojoko

Source: NAN News

By Aminu Garko

The Commissioner of Police in Niger, CP Bala Kuryar, on Tuesday decorated 460 newly promoted personnel of the command with their new ranks.

Speaking at the Command headquarters in Minna, Kuryas said that the personnel from several divisions of the command were promoted based on their commitments to their duties.

He commended the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba-Alkali, for recognising the commitment of the personnel and assured that officers of the command would continue to provide security for the state.

While decorating the officers, Kuryas congratulated and charged them to justify their elevation to the next rank with good performance and professionalism.

We will continue to do our best in the discharge of our constitutional responsibility and we urge residents to volunteer reliable information that could aid the personnel of the command in apprehending men of the underworld, he said.

The CP in decorating the promoted officers was assisted by DCP Shawulu Dan-Mamman, DC OPS, DCP Ali Hayatu Kaigama and DC SCID DCP Aboki Danjuma amongst others.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abigael Joshua/Isaac Ukpoju

Source: NAN News

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC) on Tuesday stormed the Eagle Square venue of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Special Convention in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the officials went round the convention venue before finally they took strategic positions.

However, the officials declined comment when approached by NAN correspondent at the convention.

NAN reports that EFCC officials had made similar appearance at the PDP Special Convention in Abuja on May 28, without making any arrest.

The visit might not be unconnected with recent social media reports indicating that delegates were paid hugely by presidential aspirants for votes at the convention.(NAN)

Edited by Buhari Bolaji

Source: NAN News

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development (SCDDD) has re-constituted the Council of the Wise to assist in continuous engagement of critical stakeholders nationwide in tackling the challenges of nation building.

The Executive Chairman of the centre, Amb. Sani Bala, inaugurated the council under the leadership of Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, former President of the Court of Appeal on Monday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other members of the council include Malam Yazid, a management consultant, Prof. Remi Sonaiya, an educationist and politician, Eng. Ebele Okeke, former Head of Service of the Federation and others.

Bala said the inauguration of the council was very fundamental to the existence and progress of the country, adding that national unity and cohesion were key to progress of the nation.

He said that without unity no community or country would achieve its objectives, saying if there is unity then sky is the beginning not the limits.

But if there is no unity certainly there will no progress, there will be confusion, chaos and there will be deaths. Nigeria is facing very serious challenges but we thank God.

Nigeria is endowed with large number of capable and able human resource that can mitigate all the challenges. We have what it takes except one thing, the willingness to do it.

And activities such as this are meant to bring out that will out of the people so that we agree to unite, overcome, look at our differences and challenges and forge ahead as a united nation.

Bala expressed optimism that the activities of the council of the wise would contribute immensely to the unity of the country.

In her speech, Bulkachuwa explained that the potential and real contributions of the council would include but might not necessarily be limited to: unifying the various ethnic, religious, political and socio-economic groupings in Nigeria.

According to her, this will be achieved through strategic advocacy and engagements to promote constructive engagement to enhance national unity, good governance through inclusivity, justice and fairness.

She said that resurgent insurgency in the Northeast, banditry and cattle rustling in the Northwest, herder-farmer clashes in the North Central, and kidnapping, cultism, communal clashes, among others in the South, continue to threaten the peace and security of the nation.

The centre is worried that all these developments, if continuously not precisely handled could impact very negatively on the 2023 general elections and national unity.

The SCDDD has established the Council of the Wise, comprising non-partisan, non religious, reputable and committed men and women with local and national voice, who would act in interlocutory and mediatory capacities.

More importantly, the council of the wise also consists of critical stakeholders in the nation-building process and project, and who will in their respective roles utilise their enormous influence, skill, moral positions and convening power to foster a peaceful 2023 election that focuses on nation building.

She noted that with the forthcoming general elections, the Nigerian state no doubt needed help to save it from the machinations of its adversaries.

In this direction, an enormous sense of responsibility and patriotism would be required to which voluntarism and patriotism are crucial.

It is in this particular regard that the Savannah Centre in 2015 first constituted the council of the wise under the leadership of retired Justice Mohammed Uwais, Chief Justice Nigeria and today, the same committee is being re-constituted under my leadership.

Bulkachuwa commended the board and management of the centre for finding her and colleagues in the council worthy of being assigned the nationalistic and selfless duties.

Earlier, a retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Mr Aderanti Cornelius, emphasised the need for government to address the problem of social inequality to enhance national unity beyond the 2023 elections.

There has to be an appreciable and corresponding change in the socioeconomic conditions of citizens for them to buy into the Nigerian project.

To achieve social equality, the safety nets of the society must be developed and sustained wherein citizens are motivated to act towards a national cause rather than personal or ethic ones.

Clearly, the future of this country lies squarely in uniting the people. Unity will promote peaceful coexistence. Peace will engender greater national productivity and economic progress and Nigeria will take its rightful place in the comity of nations.

Rev. George Ehusani, the Executive Director, Lux Terra Leadership Foundation, Abuja advocated a network of thinking Nigerians from among Christians, Muslims and diverse ethic nationalities to give the country a sense of direction. (NAN) www.nannews.ng.

Source: NAN News