Jubilation in Kwara community as indigene wins U.S. congress election

By Olayinka Owolewa

There was wild jubilation in Omu-Aran community of Kwara on Wednesday as its indigene, Adeoye Owolewa, was declared winner of the U.S. Congress election for Columbia District.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that residents, especially members of Igangu family where Owolewa hails from, embarked on celebration across the metropolis as news of the election victory filtered in.

NAN also reports that residents, led by community leaders, had earlier on Tuesday held a night vigil which featured inter-religious prayers for Owolewas victory

Scores of residents had besieged the Igangu compound of Owolewa as early as 10 am on Wednesday to felicitate with the family over the election victory.

NAN gathered that the results for the Columbia District congress election showed that Owolewa of the Democratic Party polled 135, 234 votes representing 82.65 per cent of the total vote cast to defeat his closest rival Robinson-Paul Joyce of DCG, who scored 15, 541 votes.

With the victory, Owolewa becomes the first Nigerian to be elected into the U.S. Congress.

The Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba Abdulraheem Adeoti, described Owolewas victory as unprecedented in the history of the community.

According to him, it is not only a historical landmark for Omu-Aran, but Kwara and Nigeria as a whole.

This is an unprecedented thing of joy for every son and daughter of Omu-Aran, Kwara State and our dear country, Nigeria.

We are happy that our son, Adeoye Owolewa, has put the name of the community, Kwara State and Nigeria on the world political map in a positive way.

Our prayers are that God will bestow on him His divine wisdom, guidance and protection to excel in his new assignment so as to continue to promote our image positively, he said.

Also speaking on the election victory, the Eesa of Omu-Aran, Chief Jide Adebayo, described Owolewas victory as a heart warming development.

According to Adebayo, a former Acting Managing Director of NAN, the election victory is a reflection of the high level of exposure and capabilities of Nigerians in the global political arena.

Its historical and heart warming for Omu-Aran, Kwara and more importantly Igangu compound where Owolewa hails from to have produced the first Nigerian-American democratically elected representative into the U.S. Congress.

We are more elated by the fact that the said election is very unique as it is for the Columbia District in Washington DC, the famous capital of the U.S, Adebayo said.

Alhaji issa Abdulsalam, an Islamic cleric and uncle of Owolewa, described the election victory as a prayer answered.

Though we were far away from the election but we were with him (Owolewa) in prayers and today we can celebrate because Almighty Allah has answered our prayers, he said.

NAN reports that 31-year-old Owolewa holds a Ph.D. in Pharmacy from North-Eastern University, Boston.

Sharing the news of his election victory on his Facebook page, he wrote: Good morning.
Looks like we did it! I want to thank everyone, from family and close friends to DC residents.

Because of your contributions and sacrifices, I stand before you as Americas first Nigerian-American congressman.

In this role, Im going to fight for DC statehood and bring our values to the lawmaking process.

While today is a day for some celebration, the hard work also follows. Again, thanks so much for everything. I wouldt be here without you. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Ms Esther Agbaje

By Maureen Okon

Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), has commended another Nigerian-American, Esther Agbaje, for winningthe Minnesota Representative ticket in the United States.

This was contained in a statement signed byAbdur-Rahman Balogun,Head, Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit (NIDCOM), in Abuja on Wednesday.

Dabiri-Erewa rejoiced with Agbaje for being the first Nigerian-American in the Minnesota legislature.

According to the congratulatory message, the NIDCOM boss was excited that more Nigerians are showing their interest in impacting good governance in their countries of residence.

She said the election of Agbaje in the Minnesota House of Representatives was a testimony that Nigerians were capable of being trusted with position of authority.

Dabiri-Erewa, a three-term lawmaker in the House of Representatives between 2003 and 2015, wished her continued and unparalleled success.

NAN reports that Agbaje, 35, who contested to represent District 59B in the Minnesota House of Representatives on the platform of Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, an affiliate of the US Democratic Party, is a Nigerian-born American.

Agbajes victory makes her the first Nigerian-American in the Minnesota legislature. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

#EndSARS protesters

By Ismaila Chafe

The ministers from the South-West zone have urged the Federal Government to support Lagos State to restore damaged facilities occasioned by the EndSARS protests in the state.

They particularly appealed for the immediate repair of those facilities related to the maintenance of law and order, and the administration of justice such as police stations, court buildings and forensic laboratory in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ministers made the appeal in a report they submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari during the meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in Abuja on Wednesday.

The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, confirmed this to State House correspondents at the end of the Council meeting.

Fashola said that the report of the ministers was the outcome of their meetings with stakeholders in their home states in the aftermath of the protests.

Buhari had in Oct. 21 sent members of the Federal Executive Council to their home states, with a view to solicit the support of stakeholders including political, traditional, religious and community leaders against the violence that emanated from EndSARS protests.

The presidential directive was also meant to douse tensions that resulted from the EndSARS protests across the country.

Fashola said: The other matter in which I briefed council on behalf of ministers from the South-West namely, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, representing Ekiti; Rauf Aregbesola, representing Osun, Sunday Dare, representing Oyo, Olamilekan Adegbite, representing Ogun, Olorunimbe Memora, Lagos and Tayo Alasoadura, representing Ondo, was in regard to how we executed the directive on the Oct. 21 to ministers, for us to visit our states governors in our states.

So, we first met and then met with governors. After meeting with the governors, the position of the governors was that Lagos being the epic center, commercial and strategic city state in the South-West is where we should all go.

That was what informed our visit to Lagos.

So, I just briefed council about the reports that were presented to us by the Lagos State Government when we visited.

He revealed that about 15 police stations were either burnt or damaged, while commercial undertakings especially the ones in Lekki and many other parts in Surulere were damaged.

Some schools were also damaged, private property were also damaged and public buildings like the Lagos City Hall, the Lagos High Court, Lagos Forensic Laboratory and DNA Center, the Nigeria Ports Authority, were also damaged as well as the palace of the Oba of Lagos and many others.

The highlight of the brief was to make recommendations to the federal government to support Lagos State to restore damaged facilities, especially those related to the maintenance of law and order and the administration of justice such as police, court buildings and forensic laboratory.

To also consider supporting the Lagos High Court Judges, either with the provision of some office accommodation as a temporary relocation when that requested is made, of course it was hinted during the visit.

He said the ministers also urged federal government to consider short to medium term support to small and medium businesses who were affected by the looting and arson which took place in Lagos and other parts of the country.

Fashola also quoted the ministers to have called on government to see if something could be done for the victims through the Central Bank Intervention Mechanism under the COVID-19 funding or any other related funding mechanism.

We also urged that federal government should undertake a thorough investigation into what happened in the Lekki Toll Plaza, particularly the role of the military, and ensure that the outcome is made public with a view to achieving closure on the matter.

We recommended that the federal government re-mobilize critical organs and agencies such as National Orientation Agency and formal educational institutions to focus on ethical re-orientation, inculcation of family values into the school curriculum.

We recommended focus on etiquette, local reasoning, critical thinking, solution seeking, empathy, self respect, civic duty and human rights.

We also recommended the Federal Government to actively seek and support the process of justice for all by ensuring that any of those apprehended and identified to be involved in the perpetration of this carnage be speedily brought to justice and fairly tried.

We also urged the federal government to implement the maintenance of facility management policy approved by FEC in 2019 for Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies and to encourage states to do the same.

We do this because we see this as a usual vehicle to help absorb and create immediate employment of skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled labour, in order to address huge unemployment and poverty related part of the problem.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Group wants bursary for PWDs in tertiary institution

By Diana Omueza/ Ruth Oketunde

The Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent De Paul, a Catholic congregation of reverend sisters, has appealed to Federal and State Governments to award bursary to students with disability in tertiary institutions.

Rev. Sr. Fidelia Unigwe, the National Coordinator of Child Empowerment Programme an NGO of the organisation, made the plea on Wednesday in Abuja, during its Disability Learning Exchange programme.

According to Unigwe the financial support if awarded yearly, quarterly or monthly, would cushion the various challenges that PWDs encounter in their academic pursuit.

Disability bursary disbursement is an international practice that should be adopted and domesticated in Nigeria, to encourage education for PWDs and to ease the burden on parents and guardians.

Bursary awards should be given to young persons with disability in the university to support their education both in federal and state institutions.

Governments and learning institutions whether private or public should make deliberate efforts to practice a disability friendly bursary disbursement, as this practice would boost self reliance and sustenance.

Unigwe urged state governments to make necessary budgetary provisions and allocations for construction and rehabilitation of school structures for the benefit of PWDs, with emphasis on those on wheel chairs and the blind.

She said that if funding was channeled into disability course in the education sector as a whole, the level of PWDs living in poverty would decrease.

She commended the organisations major funding partners, the Liliane Fonds in the Netherlands, for faithfully contributing to the alleviation of poverty in Nigeria.

The Liliane Fonds in the Netherlands have contributed immensely to payments of school fees, surgery fees, medical bills, and general elevation of livelihoods, like trainings on vocation skills and various empowerments for more than 40 years.

We need more donors to commit to funding of PWDs education, livelihoods and social programmes, she said.

She said the group, organised the exchange programme for its local partners including, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and relevant boards responsible for disability affairs at state levels.

Mrs Nkechi Onwukwe, the Director, Rehabilitation Department of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, said that no child should be disadvantaged due to disabilities.

Current emerging issues and dynamics in the area of disability as predicted by the 2030 Sustainable Developments Goals known as leaving no one behind have necessitated the need for more inclusive approach to development.

We need a society where everyone is given equal opportunity both as a contributor and as beneficiary in order to reduce barriers to inclusion.

Onwukwe, however, assured of the ministrys support and willingness to collaborate on disability related issues.

Mr Oguntoye Oyewole, the Executive Chairman, Lagos State Office of Disability Affairs (LASODA), commended the organisation for championing the course for inclusive education for children with disability in the country.

He said that Lagos state government had been a leading state in championing the course of PWDs in the country for almost a decade.

According to him, the state government is doing a lot to ensure inclusive education by establishing more schools to address challenges of proximity to schools for special needs children.

Lagos state government has increased the number of schools in the state; this is to tackle issue of proximity from home to the school as one major issue of special needs children is distance.

The state is also ensuring that there is no segregation in schools because we found out that schools practice segregation instead of inclusion which ought not to be.

Children with special needs are not to be kept in separate classrooms from their peers, the state is trying to ensure that since all schools run the same curriculum every learner is kept or placed in the same classrooms.

Also, teachers and non-special needs children are being thought disability friendliness and approaches, Lagos state is ensuring that its schools are totally inclusive for all children, Oyewole said.

He urged all other states across the country to establish a disability office, enact, adopt and domesticate a disability law to address the needs of PWDs in the state.

Source: NAN News

Some social media logos

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected alleged moves to regulate social media in Nigeria.

The party in a statement issued by its national Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, in Abuja on Wednesday described it as unconstitutional, anti-people and attempt to silence Nigeria.

Ologbondiyan said that the attempt to censor the social media was targeted at muzzling outspoken Nigerians.

This according to him is particularly against youths, media and civil society organisations demanding for accountability and competence from government.

He said it would also silence citizens from exposing cases of corruption, injustice, human rights abuses and constitutional violations by government officials.

Our party rejects the claims that the regulation bill is targeted at checking fake news.

This is because our nation already has enough implementable laws to counter the dissemination of fake news and punish offenders.

Ologbondiyan said that instead of curtailing citizens constitutionally guaranteed rights, government should rather take steps to reassure Nigerians of efforts to address corruption, treasury looting, abuse of human rights, nepotism and unaccountability.

He advised the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government to become more accountable, particularly in exposing corrupt officials including those alleged to be involved in diversion of funds voted for COVID-19 palliatives.

Ologbondiyan said while the PDP did not in any way condone the dissemination of fake news, it rejected the attempt to hide under fake news to use regulation of social media for selfish political reasons.

The Northern Governors Forum had on Monday expressed support for the ongoing efforts to regulate the social media in order to check the spread of fake news in the country.

The Forum expressed its support in a communique issued by its Chairman and Governor of Plateau, Mr Simon Lalong, after its meeting in Kaduna with traditional rulers and other key stakeholders in the region.

Source: NAN News

Manchester United slump to defeat at Istanbul

Manchester United suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at Istanbul Basaksehir on Wednesday, the English sides first loss in three Champions League group matches.

The win for the hosts was the Turkish champions first victory in Europes premier club competition.

United fell behind after 12 minutes when Edin Viscas long pass found Demba Ba in acres of space and the striker ran forward before finishing neatly past goalkeeper Dean Henderson.

Basaksehir doubled their lead five minutes before halftime after Deniz Turuc nicked the ball from Juan Mata and passed to Ba who set up Visca to score.

Anthony Martials header two minutes later gave United hope but despite enjoying plenty of possession in the second half, they were unable to break down the Turkish sides disciplined defence.

Basaksehir scored their first Champions League goals and clinched their first points in the competition on a historic night for the club.

We played well in the first two games too, but finally we secured a win. This is a big result for us, we are really proud, Visca said.

United, who beat last seasons runners-up Paris St Germain and RB Leipzig in their first two games, top Group H with six points from three matches.

Basaksehir have three after their first victory in the competition. Leipzig host PSG later on Wednesday.

United, who have made a poor start to the English Premier League season with three losses in their first six games, played poorly in the first half.

Although they showed greater urgency after the interval, they only managed one more effort on target.

Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sent on Paul Pogba and Edinson Cavani as substitutes and in stoppage time Alexandru Epureanu brilliantly cleared off the line to prevent an own goal.

The shocking defeat also meant that Uniteds 18-match unbeaten away run in all competitions ended.

Source: NAN News

Nasarawa State House of Assembly

By Mohammed Baba Busu

Mr John Osewu (PDP-Doma South) of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, on Tuesday defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC).

Osewu, who has just recovered from sickness, announced his defection to the APC shortly after he assumed duty at the assembly.

The issue surrounding my health condition was a terrible experience for me. It makes me uncomfortable, some people even said that I had died.

Some even said that the Speaker hid me, but I thank God, I am here now, together with my colleagues, staff and you people, gentlemen of the Press, he said.

He thanked God, Gov. Abdullahi Sule, the Speaker of the House, Balarabe Abdullahi, and other legislators, as well as the people of his constituency and well wishers for their prayers, support and understanding.

Osewu, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary, also commended the development strides and leadership style of Gov. Sule and the Speaker, which he said,encouraged him to leave his party, the PDP, and join the APC.

So that together we will provide the much-needed dividends of democracy to the people.

I want to formally and officially inform you that after consultations with my people, I have left the PDP for the APC.

This is to enable me to fully support the good things Gov. Abdullahi Sule is doing for the people, that is the kind of leadership we want, he said.

The Deputy Chief Whip of the House, Ibrahim Alkali, who is the Deputy Chairman of the Judiciary committee and Member, representing Lafia North, welcomed Osewu to the APC.

He thanked God for his recovery, saying that the House had missed his contributions.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the lawmaker who fell sick seven months after his inauguration, was moved out of the state for medical treatment on Jan.6. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo

By Rukayat Moisemhe

Prof Yemi Osinbajo, Nigerias Vice- President, has charged corporate leaders on the adoption and entrenchment of high ethical standards and good governance to engender business sustainability.

Osinbajo gave the charge at the Institute of Directors (IoD) 2020 Annual Directors Conference which held both physically and virtually on Tuesday in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Conference had as its theme: Business Ethics, Leadership and Sustainability as New Frontiers of Corporate Governance.

Osinbajo said that good ethical behaviour, especially by those in position of leadership, remained an indispensable factor for organisational success.

According to the Vice-President, organisations with good corporate governance maintenance culture and great stakeholders relationship will enjoythe unflinching support of stakeholders and organisational prosperity.

He stressed the need for corporate organisations to be socially responsible and environmental friendly.

Corporate organisations that give out false information to stakeholders and practice other unethical behaviours are bound to crash and are bound not to attract favour.

On the other hand, organisations that uphold good governance and carry all stakeholders along are bound to obtain or receive the favour of the stakeholders.

We must pay close attention to good corporate responsibility and its impact on the society, he said.

Osinbajo also commended the IoD for its exemplary role in standardising the code of corporate governance in Nigeria.

Chief Chris Okunowo, President and Chairman of Governing Council, IoD urged faithful implementation and vigorous commitment to the new business and corporate ethics as defined in various international and African regional standards.

Okunowo blamed the level of corruption in public and private sectors on middle and professional classes abandoning the ethical impulses and quadrails that should anchor both professional and private life.

The IoD President urged business organisations on corporate social responsibility as a way of giving back to society, to build a better, egalitarian, humane, just and kind society.

When set against the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the events of the past four weeks, which signaled the revolt of the youth, it beckoned on the IoD to design and pursue imaginative and pragmatic responses through which to channel our collective will in service to nation and society.

For this reason, I believe that this conference is taking place at a critical crossroad in the history and development of both our country and IoD.

Businesses and Nigeria need to take a closer look and critically examine the various aspects of corporate governance and proffer sustainable solutions.

This would address emerging leadership and sustainability gaps in our business and public sector spheres, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Drugs

By Usman Aliyu

Dr Adedayo Aderibigbe, Vice Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Kwara chapter, has blamed the high cost of drugs in the country on his importation levies.

Aderibigbe stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Ilorin.

The medical practitioner lamented that most of the drugs that could cure serious ailments were not being produced locally.

Nigeria cannot produce most of the drugs. Even the vaccines that we give those children in government hospitals were donated to Nigeria.

That is why they say in most hospitals that they are not charging you for vaccine but for cotton wool and spirit.

Unless government engages pharmaceutical companies to produce those drugs locally, they will remain expensive and out of the reach of an average Nigerian. This is because the importation depends on exchange rate.

These are some of the factors responsible for the high cost of drugs, especially the ones for non-communicable diseases like hypertension and diabetes.

On what the NMA was doing to address these challenges, the NMA chief said it was beyond the powers of the association.

Aderibigbe said that some of the pharmaceutical companies in the country could produce drugs at more affordable prices, if an enabling environment was created for them by government.

He also called on relevant regulatory agencies in the country to ensure production of genuine products.

Most of the drugs you see in Nigeria today are either fake or substandard.

When you go to hospital and they give you 500mg paracetamol. Subject the drug to laboratory test and you will discover that it is only 200mg as against the 500mg that was put on it.

How will it then work? How will the person on whom the drug was administered get better?, he queried, adding these are some of the problems we are having. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19 test

By Abujah Racheal

The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, has threatened to sanction travelers who refused to present themselves for a mandatory in-country Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test.

The Chairman of the PTF and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, made the disclosure in a media briefing on Tuesday in Abuja.

Mustapha said that the need had arisen to activate the sanctions which included the suspension of passports of such defaulting individuals for a period of six months minimum or outright visa cancellation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the PTF had earlier urged individuals traveling to Nigeria from any country to take a COVID-19PCR test and have a negative result before traveling.

He also urged them to stay in self-isolation for seven days on arrival in Nigeria and take another COVID-19 PCR test on day seven.

Mustapha raised alarm over failure of some Nigerians who arrived from abroad to present themselves for the in-country PCR test which they signed up to and paid before arrival.

It has, therefore, resolved to revoke passports of travellers that fail to conduct the mandatory COVID-19 PCR test, he said.

According to the SGF, only one out of three Nigerians who arrived have complied.

Recall that on Sept. 18, the Federal Government had announced that it required a negative COVID-19 PCR test within five days (120 hours) before departure.

The PTF had also in September said while Nigerians will get six- month passport suspension, foreigners face outright visa cancellation.

The PTF had said Nigeria placed travel bans as part of the global lockdown measures to contain the spread of the pandemic in March 2020.

It had stressed that it was mandatory that travellers have the PCR test done on day 7th upon arrival.

It had also said all returning travelers to Nigeria must have tested negative for COVID-19 through PCR testing in the country of departure.The PCR test must now be administered no more than 120 hours before departure.

Nigeria resumed International flights on the 5th of September and the update followed the announcement by Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA,) that the maximum number of passengers of each incoming international flight must be 200 passengers.

Mustapha said that the PTF was highlighting these issues repeatedly because they remained at risk of importation, having opened the airspace and massive spread as a result of the protests.

The next week or two remain critical. The PTF has noted with sadness the failure of Nigerians who arrived from abroad to present themselves for the in-country PCR test which they signed up to and paid before arrival.

Statistics emerging from our records show that only one out of three passengers have shown up for the in-country test.

As you may recall, the PTF announced the guidelines on the reopening of the airspace and the obligations of arriving passengers.

The SGF said as part of the strategy of the PTF to deepen community engagement, he addressed an emergency session of the National Executive Committee of the National Council of Traditional Rulers Tuesday.

He noted that the contributions of traditional rulers to the successes so far recorded in the National Response could not be overemphasized.

Accordingly, I acknowledged and thanked all our traditional rulers for their support and urged them to continue to do more especially in the areas of risk communication and community engagement.

Adherence to the Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions measures and the need for people to come out for testing were emphasized.

Finally, I wish to inform you that the PTF has revised its meeting and briefing frequency to once a week, to allow members carry out other functions and activities.

This does not preclude the need to call for emergency meetings and briefings when the need arises. With effect from Thursday, 5th November, 2020 therefore, the national briefing will only hold once, weekly. (NAN)

Source: NAN News