Nation
Kogi Poll: No Ethnicity Issues-Minister
The Minister of Steel Development, Alhaji Shuaibu Audu, has said that issues of ethnicity are totally dead and buried in Kogi State as far as the November 11 governorship election is concerned.
The Minister made the assertion in Anyigba, Dekina Local Government Area of the state, during the All Progressivee Congress (APC) Zonal Campaign rally.
The Tide’s source reports that Audu’s remark sunk into the people of Kogi East Senatorial District, who trooped out in their thousands to demonstrate their support for the APC governorship candidate, Usman Ododo.
Audu, who is the Director General, Kogi APC Governorship Campaign Council, said the only agenda for the APC was the Kogi agenda, adding that the party’s candidate is coming to build and consolidate on the laudable legacies of Governor Yahaya Bello.
“The only agenda for the APC is the Kogi Agenda. The party has the interest of the whole state. Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo has a vision for the development of the entire State. He will build and consolidate on the legacies of Governor Yahaya Bello.
“We are proud today that Kogi is the most secure State in North Central Nigeria. The APC will provide massive jobs for our teeming youths through agricultural revolution.
“The APC is working on expanding the capacity to be able to produce several agricultural produce, particularly in Kogi East.
“I urge you to support the APC and Alhaji Ododo. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who appointed me as Minister of Steel Development, is interested in the vision and success of Kogi State through the development of Ajaokuta Steel.
“This will enable the provision of massive jobs for the entire youths of our dear State. He has asked that we do not hand over the State to a hustler government or to an opposition government.
“The President is concerned about the state and has said we cannot afford to handover a strategic state to the opposition”, he said.
The State Chairman of APC, Alhaji Abdullahi Bello, expressed satisfaction with the massive turnout and enthusiasm displayed by the people of Kogi East and urged them to sustain the tempo to pave the way for landslide victory in the governorship election.
Also, the lawmaker representing Kogi East in the National Assembly, Sen. Jibrin Echocho, called on the people of the zone, who had yet to come into the APC fold, to embrace the party, noting that elections are won on party structures.
“Let me appeal to our people to be passionate with the APC. Our candidate is marketable. Elections are won based on party structures. The people of Kogi East voted APC in the general election. We cannot afford to do otherwise in the forthcoming election”.
“Governor Yahaya Bello has laid a solid foundation in infrastructure, human capital development across the state. His achievements have done the major part of the election. Let’s all join hands in ensuring collective victory for the APC”, Echocho said.
Addressing the people, the Deputy Governor of Kogi, Mr Edward Onoja, urged the people of Kogi East to vote on the strength of continuity and cautioned against sentiments, saying that elections are about political parties and not tribe, religion or region.
Also, the State Governor, Yahaya Bello, cautioned the people against ethnicity, stressing that tribal politics has no place in this time and age.
“Ethnic politics is selfish interest. Igala agenda is about job creation, development, prosperity. Don’t be deceived. The APC will win landslide. Victory will be ours at the election. Alhaji Usman Ahmed Ododo is a refined gentleman with cognate experience in public service and in politics.
“On assumption of office, we met a state divided along ethnic and other fault lines. We have been able to cement all those fault lines. Today, issues of ethnicity have been buried. Fairness, equity, justice have replaced mediocrity, ethnicity.
“We have raised youths and women across board. We have built and distributed projects, infrastructure and empowerment across board. So much has been achieved in the state and we cannot afford to go back to our dark days”, the Governor declared.
Addressing the unprecedented crowd, the APC governorship candidate, Ododo, said his aspiration was about the people, progress and unity of the state.
“Let me appeal to the people of Kogi East. Let’s build a united and stronger Kogi state which we all can be proud of. Let this election be about our people, development, unity and prosperity. It is my fervent appeal that I’m ready to be a servant leader with no barrier”, he said.
The APC governorship falgbearer thanked Bello for his outstanding achievements and promised to build on the legacies.
While reminding Igala people that it would be counter-productive to play ethnic and minority politics, he specifically thanked Tinubu for his outstanding leadership and commitment to the growth and development of Kogi and Nigeria at large.
The Tide’s source reports that the rally was climaxed by the official welcoming of defectors from the PDP, SDP and other political parties to the APC.
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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