Tokunbo Abiru

By Yemi Adeleye

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Mr Tokunbo Abiru, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as winner of Saturdays Lagos East Senatorial by-election.

The INEC Returning Officer for the by-election, Prof. Ademola Oremosu of the University of Lagos, declared the result at Somolu collation centre at 7:20a.m. on Sunday.

Oremosu said that Abiru polled a total of 89,204 votes to defeat his closest rival from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Babatunde Gbadamosi, who scored 11,257 votes.

Declaring the winner, Oremosu said: I, Prof. Oremosu Ademola, certify that I am the Returning Officer for the 2020 Lagos East Senatorial by-election held on the 5th day of December Year 2020. The election was contested.

That Abiru Mukhail Adetokunbo of All Progressives Congress, having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of votes is hereby declared the winner and returned elected.

According to him, Muyiwa Adebanjo of Action Alliance (AA) got a total of 96 votes, Mercy Adeoye of African Action Congress (AAC) scored 248 votes, while John Kome of African Democratic Congress (ADC) polled 376 votes.

He said that Adebowale Ogunlaru of Action Democratic Party (ADP) polled 535 votes, Olusola Babatope of Allied Peoples Movement (APM) scored 202 votes, Florence Trautman of Labour Party (LP) got 58 votes, while Adijat Lawal of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) polled 52 votes.

Oremosu said Akin Olukunle of National Rescue Movement (NRM) got 65 votes, Saheed Aluko of Social Democratic Party (SDP) scored 35 votes, while Taiwo Temitope of Young Progressive Party (YPP) scored 208 votes.

According to him, out of the total registered voters of 1,261,673 in the district, the total accredited voters was 104, 894, the total vote cast was 104, 405, the total valid votes was 102, 336, while the rejected votes were 2,069.

Commenting, Mr Dele Oshinowo, the APC Party Agent for the Senatorial election, expressed gratitude to residents of the district for voting Abiru, saying the candidate would not let them down.

Oshinowo, who is Chairman, Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area, Lagos State, commended INEC and security agencies for conducting a peaceful and credible by-elections.

The NRM agent, Mrs Temilola Akinade, who described the election as free and fair, said that the party would buckle up and forge ahead to gain acceptability.

Mr Olusegun Jaiyeola, the party agent for YPP said: To be candid and fair, the election is fair from what I could see. Other political parties need to come up, re-strategise because the gap was too much.

However, the turnout was too low than expected, especially after the EndSARS protest. People need to take election more seriously. Nigeria needs ballot revolution.

Deacon Segun Aroyewun, the PDP party agent, said that the desperation for political power was increasing day by day, hence the need to checkmate it.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 12 candidates of various political parties contested in the election necessitated by the demise of former occupant, Sen. Bayo Osinowo.

The APC defeated PDP in all the five local government areas in Lagos East senatorial. district

In Somolu, APC polled a total of 17, 728 votes to defeat PDP which polled 2067 vote while in Epe, APC scored 22, 213 votes to defeat PDP with polled 1826 votes.

In Ibeju-Lekki, APC polled a total of 16, 336 to defeat PDP candidate which scored 937 votes, while in Ikorodu, the APC polled 19, 204 votes to defeat PDP which scored 3766 votes.

In Kosofe, the APC polled a total of 13, 723 to defeat PDP which scored 2661 while 10 other political parties that participated in the elections got less than 200 votes in each of the LGAs. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

COAS Tukur Buratai

By Sumaila Ogbaje
The District Head of Faskari, Katsina State, Alhaji Aminu Usman, has commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, for restoring peace and security to the community.

Usman gave the commendation in a letter of appreciation to Buratai, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Sagir Musa on Sunday in Abuja.

NAN recalls that Faskari is one of the Local Government Areas that had suffered attacks from bandits in the last one year with wanton destruction of lives and properties.

This prompted the establishment of Army Special Super Camp 4 and commencement of Operation Sahel Sanity in Faskari by the Chief of Army Staff in June.

The district head also commended the Nigerian Army for the execution of Civil-Military relations projects in his domain.

He also said that the people of Faskari within and outside Nigeria were proud to be associated with Nigerian army.

Usman also commended the General Officer Commanding 8 Division, Maj.-Gen. Aminu Bande, the commander 17 Brigade and the Camp Commander for their sacrifice towards safeguarding lives and properties of his people.

The letter reads: On behalf of the good people of Faskari Communities, I hereby write to extend our appreciation over your contribution with regard to the improvements of general Security situation in the entire District and the Local Government in particular.

The timely intervention through establishment of the Nigerian Army Super Camp IV is indeed commendable and well appreciated by us.

Similarly, we also recognise and appreciate your approval in the payment of compensation to the farmers whose farm land and crops were affected by the work in the Super Camp.

We also appreciate the ongoing rehabilitation of our health facility as an implementation of corporate social responsibility under your good office, he stated.

Source: NAN News

farmers

By Rabiu Sani-Ali
Farmers in Bagwai Local Government Area, Kano State have called on the state government to rehabilitate the Watari Irrigation dam to enable them cultivate their farmlands during the dry season.

A cross section of the farmers made the call in interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday at Sector 1, Water Irrigation Project in Bagwai.

Alhaji Danladi Yahaya, Chairman, Farmers Association in Bagwai, also called for the construction of access road to ease movement of their farm produce to the market.

Apart from water scarcity, lack of access road is also affecting our activities.

We call on the relevant authorities to rehabilitate the reservoir and canals as well as construct access road in the area, Yahaya said.

Malam Salisu Dandawak, a farmer said the call was imperative to ensure that the reservoir and canals under the irrigation scheme were rehabilitated to supply water to the farmlands.

Dandawaki said that farmers in the area had relied on rain water to cultivate their farmlands, which limited their activities to rainy season.

He said that water should be released from the Bagwai dam to feed the reservoir and supply the farmlands under Sector-1 of the Watari Irrigation scheme.

Farmers relied on rain-fed agriculture, water should be released from the dam to enable us cultivate our farmlands during the dry season.

Rehabilitation of the reservoir and canals will facilitate supply of water to the farms for dry season activities, he said.

Mr Nasiru Sabiu, another farmer, said that the lack of water supply from the reservoir was discouraging as small holder farmers were forced to abandon their farms during the dry season.

Sabiu said absence of tube wells was making it difficult for them to cultivate their farmlands during dry season.

Also commenting, Mr Bashir Rabiu-Kwa, the Project Manager, Watari Irrigation scheme, said the release of water to the plantation was stopped to pave way for the maintenance work.

He said that the project was designed to open up 1,562 hectares of irrigable lands, adding that 962 hectares had been developed and cultivated by farmers.

Rabiu-Kwa explained that of the 962 developed hectares; 162 were under Sector-1, 168 under Sector-2, 217 under Sector-3, 72 under Sector-4 and 273 under Sector-5.

The manager said work on the development of the remaining 600 hectares of land was currently ongoing under sector-6 and sector-7 of the project.

Source: NAN News

HIV self-testing

By Philip Yatai
Many secondary school students in Sokoto State do not know much about HIV and AIDS due to cultural and religious restriction to sex education in schools in the state.

Some of the students, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews in Sokoto on Sunday, expressed little knowledge about the virus, mode of transmission, prevention and care.

One of them, Abdullrasheed Umar, a Senior Secondary I (SS1) student at Sultan Bello Secondary School, Sokoto, said: I have heard of HIV, but I have no idea what it really is.

All I know is that it is a terrible disease and nothing more.

When asked if there is HIV club or any form of sex education in his school, his response was negative.

Sex education is not allowed in schools. No one talks to us about that, he said.

Bello Mohammed, another student at the school, said he was ignorant of the disease and its implication in the human body.

Similarly, Hussaini Abubakar and Abdul Mukaila, students of Community Demonstration Secondary School, told NAN that they had no idea what HIV was, or what it does to infected persons.

Also, Abdullahi Nura, a Junior Secondary School II (JSS II) at Sheikh Abubakar Gumi Memorial College, Sokoto said he only heard of the name HIV, but nothing more.

But Yunusa Mohammed, another JSS II student at the college, said he had some useful knowledge about HIV.

Mohammed said: I heard that the disease is dangerous and one that can be infected through the use of sharp objects or blades used by an infected person. That is all I know, he said.

Alhaji Umar Alkammawa, Executive Secretary, Sokoto State Agency for the Control of AIDS, Tuberculosis and Leprosy (SOSACAT), confirmed that culture and religion had made it nearly impossible to sensitise students on HIV.

We have not been fair to ourselves by rejecting sex education in schools.

But there is no way you will bring HIV education in schools without talking about sex and sex education is a no-go area in Sokoto State, Alkammawa said.

Mohammed Garba, Deputy State Coordinator, Civil Society for HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (CiSHAN), also said that the connection between HIV and sex had made it difficult to carry out HIV sensitisation in secondary schools.

Garba explained that corps members, under the Peer Educator Trainers (PET) programme, used to create awareness on HIV/AIDS among young people in secondary schools.

The corps members conduct HIV sensitisation campaigns and most importantly train secondary school students as change agents among their peers, immediate families and communities.

But about 10 years ago, the programme was stopped by the states ministry of education on the ground that the corps members were teaching students sex.

But in the past three years, CiSHAN has been training youth corps members on HIV and reproductive health, after which they go to Churches, Mosques and other public places to sensitise people, he said.

Source: NAN News

Farmers

By Rabiu Sani-Ali

Some farmers in Bagwai Local Government Area, Kano State have called on the state government to rehabilitate the Watari Irrigation dam to enable them cultivate their farmlands during the dry season.

A cross section of the farmers made the call in interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday at Sector 1, Water Irrigation Project in Bagwai.

Alhaji Danladi Yahaya, Chairman, Farmers Association in Bagwai, also called for the construction of access road to ease movement of their farm produce to the market.

Apart from water scarcity, lack of access road is also affecting our activities.

We call on the relevant authorities to rehabilitate the reservoir and canals as well as construct access road in the area, Yahaya said.

Malam Salisu Dandawaki, a farmer said the call was imperative to ensure that the reservoir and canals under the irrigation scheme were rehabilitated to supply water to the farmlands.

Dandawaki said that farmers in the area had relied on rain water to cultivate their farmlands, which limited their activities to rainy season.

He said that water should be released from the Bagwai dam to feed the reservoir and supply the farmlands under Sector-1 of the Watari Irrigation scheme.

Farmers relied on rain-fed agriculture, water should be released from the dam to enable us cultivate our farmlands during the dry season.

Rehabilitation of the reservoir and canals will facilitate supply of water to the farms for dry season activities, he said.

Mr Nasiru Sabiu, another farmer, said that the lack of water supply from the reservoir was discouraging as small holder farmers were forced to abandon their farms during the dry season.

Sabiu said absence of tube wells was making it difficult for them to cultivate their farmlands during dry season.

Also commenting, Mr Bashir Rabiu-Kwa, the Project Manager, Watari Irrigation scheme, said the release of water to the plantation was stopped to pave way for the maintenance work.

He said that the project was designed to open up 1,562 hectares of irrigable lands, adding that 962 hectares had been developed and cultivated by farmers.

Rabiu-Kwa explained that of the 962 developed hectares; 162 were under Sector-1, 168 under Sector-2, 217 under Sector-3, 72 under Sector-4 and 273 under Sector-5.

The manager said work on the development of the remaining 600 hectares of land was currently ongoing under sector-6 and sector-7 of the project. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Rev Tajan Moltok, the Jos Resident Pastor of Shepherd House Assembly International.

By Martha Agas

A cleric, Rev. Tajan Moltok, the Jos Resident Pastor of Shepherd House Assembly International, has condemned the use of sex toys for sexual gratification, saying it is a perversion of nature.

In his sermon titled: Understanding the Anointing, the cleric condemned the act during the anointing service on Sunday in Jos.

He said that the act was a sin of lawlessness and a degeneration of morality in the society, cautioning that children of God should not indulge in it.

This act reminds God of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Masturbation is becoming a lifestyle, people do not have control over their sexual urges. Do not give Satan a chance, he said.

He said the church must return to God and be sanitised to live aright to His glory, saying anointing is what makes the difference in the life of a believer.

The church must come back to God . You cannot be in church and you are keeping malice with someone for one year. The anointing will give you a forgiving spirit, he said.

He said the children of God needed the anointing because of the wickedness in the world.

Moltok urged the congregation to yearn for Gods anointing, as it would renew their strength and empower them to be victorious against their foes.

He also conducted special anointing prayers for protection, wisdom and mercies of the Lord.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

The Sekumade of Ipakodo Kingdom, Oba Basiru Sotonwa, assisting a beneficiary of the Sight Project with her glasses.

By Oluwafunke Ishola

The Ipakodo Lions Club in Ikorodu, Lagos State, has conducted free eyes screening and distributed eye glasses to about 100 residents of the area.

Lion Lucky Duru, President of the Club, said at the event on Friday that 80 per cent of all visual impairment could be prevented or cured, if detected early.

Duru noted that sight preservation was one of the major health issues adopted by the Lions Clubs globally to assist the needy and vulnerable in the society.

According to him, Lions Clubs have played a key role in reducing preventable blindness through eyes screening, provision of eyes glasses, surgical interventions, sensitisation on eyes health and strengthening of eye care facilities, among others.

We partnered with medical professionals and community leaders to screen the residents of Ebute/Ipakodo community to identify those with vision impairments or at risk for vision loss.

It is our way of giving back to the society, and part of the Clubs activities for the 2020/2021 Lions year, he said.

Also, Lion Taiwo Anifiowoshe, Project Director of the Club, disclosed that 60 people among those screened were identified as needing eyeglasses, while others were provided with eye drops.

Anifowoshe said that Lions Clubs commitment to preserving the precious gift of sight made vision a priority service of the club for more than a century.

A beneficiary of the Sight Project, Mrs Funmilayo Edema, a retiree, commended the club for its generosity and service to humanity.

I have challenges with my sight, and was given eye medication to help. The provision of this pair of glasses has made my vision clearer, and Im happy that I will again be able to read my Bible, she said

Another beneficiary, Mr Olawunmi Akinola, a Civil Servant, who said that he noticed a decline in his vision as he ages, noted that the eyes glass had helped to improve his vision.

Commenting, Oba Basiru Sotonwa, Sekumade of Ipakodo Kingdom, commended Lions Club for their humanitarian service, and efforts to ensure that corrective vision problems doesnt hinder people from seeing clearly. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

ADC and APC logos

By Ibrahim Kado

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and African Democratic Congress (ADC) have announced plans to merge in Adamawa ahead of the 2023 governorship election in the state.

The parties said this would enable them to wrest power from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

Speaking at a meeting between the two parties on Saturday in Yola, Prof. Tahir Mamman, of APC and Chairman, North East Caretaker/Extraordinary National Convection Planning Committee, said the mandate was to resolve all grievances within the party for success.

He said that it was high time they joined hands and resources to takeover the governorship position from the PDP.

You all knew that we were together in power in 2015 and at the end, we broke up which resulted to our failure during the 2019 general elections in the state.

If we merge, definitely we will succeed since all the stakeholders will contribute to ensure that the party is successful come 2023, he said.

Alhaji Ibrahim Bilal, State Chairman of the APC, said the party would soon begin membership registration and urged its supporters to register.

We all know who we are; we should forgive one another and work together toward our success in 2023, he said.

Alhaji Yahaya Hammanjulde, State Chairman, ADC thanked the APC for understanding the previous mistakes.

He thanked the party supporters for their patience, understanding and urged them to continue for more success.

In his remarks, Sen. Abdul-Aziz Nyako, 2019 ADC Gubernatorial candidate in Adamawa, commended efforts and commitment of all stakeholders which led to the dialogue between the two parties.

He urged ADC supporters to pray for the best out of the merger before the party would make its final position known to the APC in a few days. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

AfDB President, Dr Akinwumi Adesina

By Temitope Ponle

President of African Development Bank (AfDB) Dr Akinwumi Adesina on Saturday tasked leaders in the banking sector on audacious leadership to navigate challenges of COVID-19 pandemic and restore hope and confidence in Africa.

Adesina gave the charge at the 2020 Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) Fellowship Investiturewith the theme, Financial Services in a Post COVID-19 Environment: Strategic Imperatives.

The event, held in Lagos and also attended virtually, saw severalleaders in the banking sector across the country and the continent being conferred with awards as Honorary Fellows, Elected Fellows and Honorary Senior Members.

The bank president expressed delight at being decorated with the emblems of admission and recognition.

Today, as we are being honored, consider us as security-backed assets. Our integrity is our honor, and our honor is our security.

We wish to express to the Council of the CIBN, our commitment to carry these awards with dignity, integrity and honor.

Leadership from each one of us is needed in these challenging times of the Coronavirus pandemic, he said.

Adesina charged leaders to work to grow back the country and continent safer, healthier and with greater resilience.

He stressed that honorary awards were deposits of trust that came with great responsibilities of selfless work, being exemplary and role models in the profession and for the society.

Now, let us arise and collectively support Nigeria to recover and build back, stronger, better, with greater economic resilience. Lets join hands and deliver greater prosperity and hope for Nigeria.

For Nigeria to be at its best, it deserves the best from all of us.

As Honorary Fellows, we promise to continue to be beacons of hope, carrying with dignity, the green and gold emblems of the CIBN, Adesina said.

The AfDB president noted the challenges that the pandemic had on African and global economies and development.

He, however, reiterated the contributions of the AfDB to ease the effects of the pandemic.

Adesina assured of the banks readiness to support African countries, financial institutions and the private sector to accelerate Africas economic growth. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Gov. Yahaya Bello

By Kola Adeyemi

Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi on Saturday, donated N300 million towards the educational development of Ebiraland and its environs.

Bello, who made the donation in Okene, while speaking at the maiden Ebira Education Summit, organised by Ebira Youth Congress (EYC), disclosed that the money would be paid in tranches over a period of three years.

The governor, who also used the occasion to inaugurate the Ebira Education Foundation, restated his administrations resolve to provide quality education across the state, because of his conviction that it was only through quality education that the potentials of the state and its people could be actualised.

Bello, who was represented at the occasion by his Chief of Staff, Mr Abdulkareem Mohammed-Jamiu, spoke about the newly established Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara, saying that it was meant to create an enabling environment for the educational development of the state.

According to him, CUSTECH, had thrown up the urgent need to train youths to actively partake in the development of the state, hence his decision to donate to the trust fund, to sponsor qualified Ebira sons and daughters for professional courses up to university level.

He called on the leadership of the EYC to put in place a Board of Trustees of reputable individuals, to oversee the activities of the trust fund, so as to ensure probity and accountability.

Bello called on the EYC to also check the rising wave of cultism, drug abuse and other forms of criminal activities in Ebiraland in the interest of peace, progress and development of the area.

Highlight of the event was the Award of Excellence conferred on the governor, who in turn dedicated the award to the memory of his late mother, Hajia Hauwa Bello.

In his address, the President of EYC, Mr Ateiza Obio, said that the Education Trust Fund, was established to complement the state governments efforts in providing quality education in the state.

He assured that the money realized by the fund, would be utilized for the education of all qualified Ebira youth, without discrimination, stressing that the EYC wouldensure transparency and judicious use of the funds.

Obio lauded the governor for the establishment of CUSTECH, saying that it would bring development to the area and create opportunities for youths to realize their dreams.

The Chairman of the occasion, Mr Mamman Yusuf, in his remark, urged the youths of Ebiraland to take advantage of the fund and get themselves educated. (NAN)

Source: NAN News