Nation
Commissioner Wants Jonathan To Tackle N’Delta Problems
Mr Raymos Guanah, the Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Urban Development in Delta, on Friday advised President Goodluck Jonathan to urgently tackle the problems of the Niger Delta region.Guanah gave the advice in an interview with the newsmen in Asaba.He said that the amnesty programme initiated by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua recorded some success with militants dropping their arms and carrying out less attacks on pipelines.“ President Jonathan should sustain the tempo of the programme, being someone from that region who has had personal experience of the problems, deprivations and degradation there. “He should be able to adequately deal with the issues of the Niger Delta,’’ Guanah said.The commissioner said that having been sworn in as president, Jonathan should do something for the country for which he would be remembered. He advocated for support for the new president from all well-meaning Nigerians considering the complexity of the country.The commissioner also said that although there were challenges in various sectors of the economy, the president should tackle the most crucial ones such as power and electoral reforms.“The president will be writing his name in gold on the sands of time if he is able to achieve success in the two areas,” Guanah said. Following the swearing-in of former Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, as substantive president of the country on Thursday, Special Adviser to Rivers State Governor on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Godknows Tam-George has called on the new head of State to declare a state of emergency in the region, Dr Tam-George who gave the charge while speaking with newsmen in his office on Friday, expressed shock over the death of President Yar’Adua on Wednesday night.While recalling the contribution the late leader made to transform the Niger Delta, he said by declaring a state of emergency in the region, there would be speedy development that would better the lives of the people. He stressed that special attention should be given to infrastructure development, economic empowerment and human resources transformation in order to address the long years of neglect the area has suffered. The problems of inequality, neglect, marginalisation, poverty and employment has eaten deep into the fabric of the area and needed to be reversed, he said. The Governor’s aide called on the federal government to speedily approve this year’s budget for the NDDC, in order for the agency to carry out its primary duties.He stated that although the location of the Niger Delta remain a choice site for industrial activities, there was need to embark on massive reclamation of land, including dredging of some of the canals in the region, boost marine transportation and tourism.For him, Nigeria can tow the path of developed countries which gives priority to its tourist potentials, which in his view are in abundance in the Niger Delta. He expressed the belief that Dr. Jonathan knows the problems and plight of the people and would use his good office to redress the wrongs of the past.Dr Tam-George expressed happiness that the country was able to transit despite the tension created by late Yar’Adua illness and prayed God to give President Jonathan the wisdom to pilot the affairs of the nation.
The Rivers state Government has identified six local government areas with the highest burden of maternal and Neonatal mortality in the state.
State Commissioner for Health Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh said this in an interview with newsmen at the Maternal and Neonatal Reduction innovation initiative ( Mamii)Rivers state activation workshop and state engagement meeting in Port Harcourt.
The event was organized by The Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with its Rivers state counterpart in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh also restated the preparedness of the state government to support current efforts by the federal government towards the reduction of maternal and infant mortalities in the country.
She mentioned the affected Local Government Areas to include, Andoni,Akuku Toru and Ahoada West
The rest according to the Commissioner are, Bonny, Etche and Emohua Local Government Areas.
She said the workshop will enable the team from the federal ministry of health and social welfare to brainstorm with the view to finding solution to the problem.
The Commissioner also gave reasons why the Mamii initiative was the best as far as finding solution to maternal mortality was concerned.
“The uniqueness of the Mamii initiative driven by the federal ministry of health and social welfare was that we used evidence to elicit the reasons for this deaths, so that the solutions will be context specific and tailored to the particular environment where those deaths are occuring
“For us in Rivers state we have six Mamii LGAs , nationally we we have 172 local government areas “the Commissioner said.
Earlier in her opening remarks,Dr Oreh said the state government is prepared to work with the federal ministry of health and social welfare to check the rate of maternal mortality in the state.
She commended The Minister of Health and Social welfare Professor Ali Muhammad Pategi for driving the Mamii initiative across the country and expressed optimism that the programm will see to the end of maternal mortality in the country.
Also speaking the National Coordinator Nigeria health sector Renewal Initiative Dr Adam Ahmed said Rivers state is the last state among Mamii states in the country to host the team.
He said the team will visit the affected Local Government Areas with the view to interacting with the people on how to check the trend.
He expressed the hope that with continuous efforts, maternal mortality will be checked.
Also speaking the permanent secretary Rivers state Ministry of Health Professor Justinah Jumbo said the government is not leaving any stone unturned towards reduction in maternal deaths.
The permanent secretary said Governor Siminalaye Fubara is a health friendly Governor who is desirous in improving the quality of health of Rivers people.
John Bibor
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rivers state has declared a one day fasting and prayer to seek divine intervention on the political crisis rocking the state.
The Association said this at a media briefing in Port Harcourt.
State chairman of the Association,Most Rev. Dokiboeriya B. Kaladokubo said the fasting and prayer which holds February 5th at the Ecumenical center Abonnema wharf was in furtherance of the Association peace, advocacy, good governance and political stability in Rivers state.
He said the Association has observed with disappointment the dangerous trend and and gradual descent of governance in Rivers state into uncertainty and near oblivion, adding that the trend has exposed Rivers citizens to insecurity, economic hardship, loss of livelihood and the destruction of lives and property.
Kaladokubo said the association has also watched with dismay the unfolding political crisis in the state, stressing “what we see today is not merely a disagreement among political actors,it is a dangerous drift that threatens the very foundation of governance, peace, security and the collective well-being of our people”
According to him,”as the custodians of the spiritual and moral conscience of Rivers state,we can not remain silent while the state is pushed steadily towards chaos, institutional breakdown and avoidable suffering
“We are not oblivious of the fact that Rivers state like some other states in the federation often experience tension between the Executive and the Legislature “adding”when disagreement escalate they can hinder governance, delay budgets ,erode public trust and impede peaceful, constructive development”
The Christian body stressed the need for parties involved in the conflict to seek for peaceful resolution, stressing that as Christians and children of God “we should seek the path of peace and reconciliation as Christ Himself taught us”it said
The Association further encourage the both arms of government to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness and prioritize good governance in Rivers state
“We also advised all the parties in these conflict to call their supporters to exercise restraint in all their utterances and de-escalate tension in the interest of peace in Rivers state ”
CAN also described as disturbing the role some elder statesmen and individuals in the state have played and continue to play in the crisis when they should have serve as voices of wisdom, restraint and unity
“Rather than guiding the process towards peace, some have taken sides,fueled division and encouraged instability becoming more dangerous than those currently holding power”,it said.
John Bibor
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