By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has again shifted its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting earlier rescheduled for May 10 to May 11.

The partys National Secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, made the announcement in a statement he issued in Abuja on Thursday.

Anyanwu stated that the earlier date clashed with the local governments delegates election involving all members of the party.

He added that the venue of the meeting remained the partys NEC Hall at the PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja.

In a separate statement, Anyanwu also declared that the partys National Caucus meeting earlier scheduled to hold on May 10, would now hold on May 11 at the Akwa Ibom Governors Lodge. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Chijioke Okoronkwo

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo says he is the most prepared of all aspirants in the 2023 presidential election.

Osinbajo made the submission on Thursday in Yenagoa when he paid a courtesy visit to the Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers in continuation of his consultations ahead of the 2023 presidential election.

The vice-president said he had the requisite experience needed to pilotthe affairs of the country.

The chief objective of my comingis to formallylet you know, in a domain where I am a chief,of my intention to run for the presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

I made the formal declaration on April 11.

All of us are aware, I have served as the vice-president and God helping us, I will serve until May 29, 2023 in that capacity.

It is my desire that come that day,I will succeed our currentpresident as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

As vice-president, I have served under a president that has given me the opportunity to see for myself and observe at very close quarters, all that is required to run this very complex, very diverse nation, Nigeria.

I have also served on many occasions as acting president when the president was away.

All of that have given me more than an insider view of how to effectively run the affairs of this country with its various challenges.

I will say of all the contestants, and I will say so mosthumbly, clearly that I am the most prepared to hit the ground running.

I will be ready on the first day of the assignment because I have seven years training; I have the experience, Osinbajo said.

The vice-president said that in no distant time, he would have acquired eight years of experience as vice-president.

He said hebelieved that the reason God gavehim theopportunity was so that he couldoffer such services to the country when it was most required.

And I believe that those services are required even now.

I ask for your prayers and your support; I know that I have your good wishes already, the vice-president said.

Earlier, KingBubaraye Dakolo, Chairman, Traditional Rulers Council of Bayelsa State, welcomed the vice-president and acknowledged him as a traditional title holder in the state.

The traditional ruler wished Osinbajo well on his pursuit andpresented a book he authored The Riddle of the Oil Thief to the vice-president.

We have before us here the vice-president on a briefvisit; as you all know; he is the EbidouOwei 1 of IzonLand, our own chief.

Your other mission is well known; it is season for politicking; so, I wont go into that but I will wish you the best in your endeavour.

Just to underscore the fact that Bayelsais an oil hub;it has been producing oil for the past 70 years.

We have all kinds of issues about oil exploration and production.

I am not going to say much about it because I am presenting a book to you on that subject; it shall be of great interest to you, the chairman of the traditional rulers told the vice-president. (NAN) ()

Source: NAN News

Isaiah Eka

Sen. Godswill Akpabio, former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, says he joined the 2023 presidential race to consolidate the achievements of the President Muhammadu Buhari in office.

Akpabio said this at his declaration in Ikot Ekpene on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC).

I, Sen. Godswill Obot Akpabio, with great humility, hereby submit myself for your kind consideration as your next president. Therefore, my declaration is a trumpet call for unity and action.

My dear compatriots, I am determined to pay the debt of gratitude I owe our nation for the opportunities to serve in high offices of public trust and am determined to let our nation drink from the deep well of experience acquired in these offices, he said.

Akpabio lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for giving the opportunity to serve.

I pay tribute to President Muhammadu Buhari for the patriotic work he has done as our President, he has given hope and direction to governance and fought corruption with uncompromising zeal.

He has touched lives and empowered people, he has made great advances in agriculture, human capital development and indeed in all sectors of our economy.

He has uplifted the integrity of the Nigerian nation. A lot can be said about all his amazing successes and achievements, but suffice it to say that I have come to perfect his marvelous works.

Although absolute perfection belongs not to man nor to angels, but to God alone, he said.

He urged Nigerian youths to ensure they maintain peace and support the good works of Buhari.

Akpabio said he believed in one Nigeria and that the country would shine one day as a strong nation.

The declaration was witnessed by APC faithful across the country. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Source: NAN News

By Lilian U. Okoro

The Federal Neuro-psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, has raised the alarm over the growing number of abandoned mental health patients in the hospital as over 25 per cent of the patients on admission could not pay.

The Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Olugbenga Owoeye, who raised the alarm in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos, called for the general public assistance in the treatment and welfare of the patients.

Owoeye urged Nigerians to help the indigent and abandoned psychiatric patients to offset their medical bills and meet their daily needs.

He said it had became pertinent that the public come to the aid of the patients because the burden of their welfare, medications and upkeep had been totally upon the hospital for a long time.

According to him, the current bills and welfare upkeep of the patients, especially the indigent and those abandoned by their relatives, were currently weighing the hospital down financially.

He noted that most of them have been spending the rest of their lives in the hospital premises until death takes them away.

We have quite a good of indigent patients, as well as those patients abandoned by their relatives; who the hospital is currently catering for their feeding, clothing, medication and overall upkeep.

As I speak, over 25 per cent of the psychiatric patients on admission in the hospital are unable to pay their bills and do not have anybody or relation whatsoever to assist with the payment.

Most of these indigent and abandoned patients have lived in the hospital for years and as a result might not to trace or locate their families and relatives.

By our calling and the spirit of humanity regarding our profession, we cannot leave them to go out of the hospital care and premises as they will constitute danger to themselves, others and property.

So, we are calling on good spirited Nigerians, especially philanthropists, groups and faith-based organisations to come to our rescue in this aspect; to at least offset their bills, Owoeye said.

Owoeye further regretted that many mental health patients were still roaming the streets without anyone caring for them.

According to him, the hospital occasionally picks some of the mental health patients on the streets for treatment and care.

He, however, assured that the hospital would continue in its efforts to treat, care and assist the indigent and abandoned mental health patients.

But there is a limit to what we can do, which is why we are soliciting philanthropic gestures to assist to meet up their daily needs and care, he said.

Source: NAN News

By Stephen Adeleye

Some youths in the APC Kogi Central have inaugurated a campaign council to canvass support for Kogi Commissioner for Works, Abubakar Oheres ambition for Senate in 2023 General Elections.

The Youths under the aegis of Ohere Youth and Students Campaign Network (OYSCN), formally inaugurated its Central Committee and Local Government Coordinators on Wednesday in Okene, Okene Local Government Area (LGA) of Kogi

In his inaugural speech, the Director General of OYSCN, Omeiza Audu (Troy), said the group comprised 17 different interest groups in APC across the five local government areas of Kogi Central Senatorial District.

According to him, their meeting in Okene was to discuss about how to unite and deliver Ohere, as the next senator to represent the good people of the district in the 2023 General Elections.

The local government coordinators were drawn from the five local government areas of Kogi Central, and their excos selected from eleven wards from each of the local government areas.

The groups have resolved to work in harmony and canvass for votes for Engr. Oheres emergence as the APCs senatorial candidate for Kogi Central in the forthcoming party primaries, he said.

He, therefore, admonished all members to work together in unison towards ensuring that the aspirant, Ohere, is propelled by the group to attain his enviable height.

He further urged them to make sure they work hard to see to his emergence as the APC flag bearer for Kogi Central, and as member of the next Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Other excos include Mohammed Eneji, the General Secretary; Abdulsalam Salis (Adavi), PRO; Godwin Alao (Ogori/Magongo), Financial Secretary; Saidat Oziohu Jimoh (Okehi), Women Leader; and Victoria Daniel (Ajaokuta), Treasurer.

Other members are Gomina Habib (Ajaokuta), Bilal Asuku (Okene), Isah Ozovehe Abdulbaki (Okehi), and Abdulrahman Abdulmumuni (Okehi).

The local government coordinators are Ismail Mustapha and Ohida Otohinoyi Samson, Adavi LGA; Idris Abubakar and Yakubu Ahmed, Ajaokuta.

Others are Adesina Obas and Taye Akpata- Ogori/Magongo; Bashiru Umar and Victoria David- Okehi; and Abdulmumuni Amoka and Juliana Peter- Okene LGAs. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari says Nigeria remains grateful to the United Nations and some world leaders on their steadfast partnership in fighting terrorism.

The Nigerian leader said that the spotlight on Russia and Ukraine could have easily distracted the world from other pertinent global challenges.

The presidents spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, in a statement, said the president gave the commendation when he received the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.

Buhari noted that the country and the African continent were already concerned that the attention on Russia and Ukraine would crowd out other issues, but the ongoing visit of the UN scribe clearly showed that the world has not forgotten us.

According to the president, terrorism remains a threat to global peace, security and progress, with many already killed, while millions have been displaced by the insurgents over many years.

When we assumed office, the North-East was the major security problem we inherited in 2015, but we have been able to make people understand that you cannot kill people and shout Allahu Akbar (God is great!).

It is either you dont know what you are saying or you are simply stupid. God is a God of justice, so you cannot kill people and say God is great. Luckily the people understood our message and it has made great impact, he said.

President Buhari told the UN scribe that the government had started a gradual, but steady process of resettlement and reintegration where citizens get encouraged to return to their farms, businesses and other pursuits in life.

He thanked the Secretary-General for the maiden visit to Nigeria.

In his remarks, the UN scribe, who had been in Borno on Tuesday, said what he saw was a departure from the pictures of hopelessness and despair painted, adding that people exuded hope.

Yesterday, I visited Maiduguri where the United Nations is supporting the internally displaced. I was deeply moved by their stories and struggles.

These include the struggles with hunger, with the World Food Programme projecting 4.1 million people in the North East of Nigeria to be food insecure in the upcoming lean season, he said.

Guterres said the United Nations had called for an additional 351 million dollars as part of the overall 1.1 billion dollars for the humanitarian response plan for Nigeria.

But despite all they have seen and endured, the people I met remain hopeful and committed to returning to their communities and resuming their lives.

To that end, I welcome the establishment of the Presidential Committee on the Repatriation, Returns and Resettlement of Displaced Persons in the North East.

This spirit of hope amidst hardship and solidarity in struggle was also at the centre of my discussions with the Presidency today, he added.

The UN scribe said discussions with President Buhari also touched on laying groundwork to ensure peaceful and democratic elections in 2023 and the full participation of Nigerias women and young people.

At the media stakeout, the UN Secretary General told newsmen that measures to address security challenges in the country, Lake Chad and Sahel were discussed, which included the UN Integrated Strategy for the Sahel.

Guterres thanked President Buhari for his unwavering support of the Multinational Joint Task Force and the Lake Chad Basin Commission.

He assured of more commitment from the UN on COVID-19 vaccinations, vulnerability of countries to global warming, global food crises response and reform of UN Security Council.

He said the war in Ukraine would make things worse on global food, energy and financial systems.

Gutteres said, Thats why, in the earliest days of this war, I established the Global Crisis Response Group on Food, Energy and Finance, involving all UN agencies and international financial institutions.

The Steering Committee is chaired by Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed.

Source: NAN News

By Fortune Abang

The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, on Wednesday reaffirmed the organisations commitment to supporting Nigeria for the good of the citizenry.

Guterres said this at the wreath-laying ceremony in Abuja on the sideline of his two-day official visit to Nigeria.

The visit is in commemoration of the 11 anniversary of the Aug. 26, 2011 terrorist attack on the UN House Abuja.

He decried the attack as tragic and resulted in killing 23, injured 60 UN employees and partners, saying the event burnt in collective memory of UN family.

He decried the tragic loss of UN staff and Nigerian civilians, saying staff who lost their lives were heroes, who served Nigerians throughout the organisations operations.

Guterres said, Clerks, receptionists, drivers and national professional officers, associate experts, monitoring and evaluation specialists and shipping assistants all worked for our organisation and supported Nigerians, UNDP, UNICEF, UNAIDS and UNODC.

They were also mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters and cherished friends, all but one were Nigerian nationals; today we mark their tragic death.

We celebrate the love and joy they brought to their colleagues and loved ones and inspiration they provided, while we continued to carry out our vital roles over 10 years.

Today we stand in solidarity with the families of the victims, as well as women and men who work at the UN House every day, to support and serve Nigerians.

We stand in solidarity with all Nigerians; in our victim support approach, every perpetrator must be held accountable; we remain steadfast in our commitment to supporting a peaceful Nigeria for all Nigerians.

Mrs Pauline Tallen, Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, later told newsmen that the outcome of closed-door women group meeting with Guterres was reassured of UNs support for Nigerian women.

She said that discussion with the UN boss centred on womens participation in politics, gender-based violence, inclusion of women in decision making and need for global treaty to end violence against women.

Tallen commended Guterres support for women and children, adding that he was a man with a large heart, committed to promote the wellbeing of Nigerian women and children.

Guterres visit to Nigeria gives us hope, we know that he will lend his voice to all issues affecting women, gender-based violence, early marriage and lack of implementation of some of our laws.

The VAPP Act, the Childs Right Act and the justice system by the grace of God, Nigeria will key in like other African countries that have prioritised women and children issues, Tallen said.

Also, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, Emeritus Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, said the meeting with Guterres on religious leadership in Nigeria hinged on chatting way forward for the country.

He reported Guterres to have expressed shock at the large number of talented Nigerians across the world, but that such should be replicated in the development of the country.

Religious leaders have a duty to have good examination of conscience; what are we doing, we should do better, what can we do to make our followers better? These are issues we discussed.

We referred to Easter and end of Ramadan, whereby religious festivities merged by providence, Christians and Muslims were kept in mood of religious reflection about ways to live better lives, Onaiyekan said.

Meanwhile, Dr Betty Edu, National Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said that they they attended the meeting to advocate rights of Nigerian women participation in politics.

She said APC would mainstream women, in spite of high charges for purchase of election form for candidates, saying women in APC and the disabled would receive their forms free of charge.

Beyond this, we are working to see that we ensure women scale through the primaries into the main election and come out as elected winners at different levels.

Today the message was clear that for Nigeria to achieve SDGs, it is important for political parties to support the country achieve SDG and its policies.

They must ensure women are mainstreamed and prioritised as we go into the 2023 elections.

Source: NAN News

By Fortune Abang

The Founder, Zanang, an NGO, Mrs Maryann Shekari, on Wednesday called on parents to teach children to become role models by showing them good examples.

Shekari made the appeal at a one-day fashion exhibition, titled: Option one-concept True Stars, in Abuja.

The Option one-concept seeks to encourage young people to believe and imbibe the attitude of role models who will do all they can to achieve desired goals in life.

According to her, the idea of bringing up children to become role models will promote the culture of excellence among young people in society.

So, children can express themselves for who they are; there is so much potential imbedded in children, therefore the need to encourage them develop such skills.

We want children to be encouraged to imbibe the culture of excellence in whatever they are good at, which they want to become in life.

Zanang means talent; there is so much talent deposited in children, which is thenreason we want this platform to encourage talent development among children at their early stages of life.

It pays when parents teach their children to become role models to their peers, rather than make them always dependent, she said.

Also speaking, the Co-Founder of Zanang, Mr Rijo Shekari, said that the move to bring up children to be role models had become imperative to help reduce youth indulgence in crime.

He said children could become models for good morals irrespective of their body size, weight or colours, adding that as role models they can hold good behavioural patterns early in life.

We live in a society where most people are often after Instagram likes and comments and, other negative comments that even affect teenage mental health negatively.

Modeling is a good tool that can be used to encourage children to express themselves, be confident and not subject to body shaming, whether they are tall, short, big or small.

We live in a world that is not just about what you know, but talent, how you can communicate, therefore the need to bring up children to become models in their act of expression and dress sense, he said.

Shekari therefore appealed to the Federal Government to overhaul the nations education sector through review of the school curriculum, to enable children compete favourably with their peers globally.

In a separate interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), a parent, Mrs Bose Olarenwaju, said that the first step to teaching children to be role models was by dressing.

According to her, parents need to dress properly as first models before their children, because their appearance reflect what children think about them at the home front.

Teach children to be confident by putting on their dress to look decent, because it is through what they put on that will make people to know how to address them.

The problem in our society today is equally from parents who have gone wrong teaching children to put on skimpy clothes.

When you teach your child to imbibe good morals by showing them good examples, particularly in the ways you appear and do them, they will follow such good steps to become models.

The highpoint of the event was fashion exhibition by young people through display of variety of decent articles of clothing that are suitable for children as role models. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has met behind closed door with former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that one of the Presidents Personal Photographers, Mr Sunday Aghaeze, confirmed this in pictorial reports on Tuesday night in Abuja.

NAN reports that the agenda of the meeting between the president and the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) could not be ascertained as at the time of filing this report.

NAN reports that Tinubu had on Friday picked the ruling APC presidential nomination and expression of interest forms at the its national secretariat in Abuja.

James Faleke, a member of the House of Representatives, representing Ikeja Federal Constituency, picked the forms for APC national leader, who had since informed the president of his presidential ambition in 2023.

Folake was accompanied by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal and hundreds of members of the Tinubu Support Groups (TSG) to the partys secretariat.

NAN reports that Tinubu had recently returned from Saudi Arabia, where he performed the lesser hajj alongside some of his political associates and family members. (NAN)

Source: NAN News