Researchers Developing 20 Coronavirus Vaccines Globally [LEADERSHIP]
As coronavirus continues to hit parts of the globe, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has hinted that more than 20 vaccines are at development stages globally, while several therapeutics are in clinical trials.
The coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak which originated from China has spread to all the continents except Antarctica.
The disease is a novel virus, and as such there is no known treatment or vaccine to combat it. This has led to the spread of the disease to over 49 countries with over 2000 deaths.
Resource-sharing director-general of WHO, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the continued increase in the number of COVID19 cases and the number of affected countries over the last few days had become an issue of great concern.
Since the disease broke out, the UN health agency has been working closely with China to understudy the disease process and what medication seems to be working or not.
A WHO-China Joint Mission has also made some recommendations on their findings so far on the outbreak.
The WHO chief said the WHO-China Joint Mission has published its report “and it is available in English on the WHO website and will also be posted in China on the National Health Commission website”.
He continued: “The report includes a wealth of information, and 22 recommendations for China, for affected and unaffected countries, for the international community, and the general public.
“It calls for all countries to educate their populations, to expand surveillance, to find, isolate and care for every COVID19 case, to trace every contact, and to take an all-of-government and all-of-society approach – this is not a job for the health ministry alone”.
Ghebreyesus said while research was ongoing, governments and the people need to take responsibility for the safety of everyone.
“We don’t need to wait for vaccines and therapeutics. There are things every individual can do to protect themselves and others today. The key to containing this coronavirus is to break the chains of transmission,” he said.
According to him, epidemiologists from the WHO had been “monitoring these developments continuously, and we have now increased our assessment of the risk of spread and the risk of impact of COVID19 to very high at a global level”.
He added: “What we see at the moment are linked epidemics of COVID19 in several countries, but most cases can still be traced to known contacts or clusters of cases. We do not see evidence as yet that the virus is spreading freely in communities.
“As long as that’s the case, we still have a chance of containing this coronavirus, if robust action is taken to detect cases early, isolate and care for patients and trace contacts. As I said Thursday, there are different scenarios in different countries, and different scenarios within the same country.
“Your risk depends on where you live, your age and general health. WHO can provide general guidance. You should also follow your national guidance and consult your local health professionals”.
China Shares Treatment Procedure With Nigeria
China has shared its treatment procedure of the coronavirus (Covid-19) with Nigeria, Health minister, Osagie Ehanire, has said.
Ehanire, while briefing journalists in Abuja on the newly confirmed case in Lagos, said China has shared with Nigeria some of the treatment knowledge gathered while treating patients with the disease.
He said China did that out of its good gesture and relationship with the country.
Nigeria on Friday confirmed its first case of the coronavirus disease which originated from China in December and has since spread to about 53 countries.
While Nigeria is just experiencing its first case and the third country in Africa after Egypt and Algeria, who confirmed a case each, many countries in Europe and the Middle East have been reporting the outbreak and deaths from the disease.
Ehanire said, “China knows more about the disease and they have made some successful treatments.
“We have received a lot of cooperation from the Ambassador of China who had come to visit twice to reassure us of his commitment and to give us the support in anyway.
“They have sent us a treatment protocol because they have succeeded in treating over four or five thousand people in their country and we have sent the protocol to our centres here to study and add what they already know. They have shared the treatment procedures with Nigeria and this will assist in the treatment of confirmed cases.”
He added that this will help the country and the experts will not be fighting blind like China did because the virus is a new one “and it’s behaviour is not yet very well known.
He, however, said the country will also keep watching out for new information and results from ongoing researches on the virus and updating when necessary.
Officially, the exact cure of the disease has not been determined, but over 20,000 infected persons have recovered from the disease in China.
US Records First Death
Meanwhile, one person has died from Coronavirus in Washington State, the first death from the virus in the US, health officials confirmed yesterday.
The person died in King County, Washington, the state’s Department of Health said. More information was expected at a press conference.
“It is a sad day in our state as we learn that a Washingtonian has died from COVID-19. Our hearts go out to his family and friends. We will continue to work toward a day where no one dies from this virus,” Gov. Jay Inslee said in a statement Saturday.
“In partnership with the Washington State Department of Health, the Washington State Department of Emergency Management and local and community health partners, we are strengthening our preparedness and response efforts. I am committed to keeping Washingtonians healthy, safe and informed,” he added.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump will speak at a press conference at 1:30 p.m. ET at the White House about the latest developments in the outbreak.
The Washington state death came a day after health officials in California, Oregon and Washington State reported four new apparent cases of the novel coronavirus, named COVID-19, raising concerns that it is spreading through West Coast communities.
Authorities said three of the cases – an older Northern California woman with chronic health conditions, a high school student in Everett, Washington, and an employee at a Portland, Oregon-area school – had not recently travelled overseas or had any known close contact with a traveller or an infected person.
Lagos Patient Stable, Moved To New Facility
Lagos State government has said the victim of Coronavirus disease is stable but has been moved to a new facility.
The state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi who revealed this to journalists said, “I have spoken to him myself, he is doing very well, he is comfortable; he was comfortable yesterday and he is comfortable today”.
The Commissioner noted that the patient was initially kept in a single isolation room for his privacy when he was brought in because part of the facilities at the Mainland Hospital was being renovated. He added that the patient has subsequently been moved to one of the newly renovated wards.
He continued: “We were renovating part of the facility, so we kept him in a single isolation room for his privacy but we have subsequently moved him to one of our completed wards recently renovated with full complements of facilities, so he is right there now and he is comfortable.
“As of this morning, his condition has improved, he hasn’t developed new symptoms but he still got a mild fever and we will be running test to see what the situation is with the virus in his body and as soon as we get a negative screen, we will keep him for another two or three days and repeat the test to make sure that there are no more virus particles in his saliva and that means that he will not be contagious. Then, we give the OK for him to be released back into the community”.
Answering question on the vulnerability of health workers who works at the Mainland Infectious Disease Hospital, he responded that the staff at the facility have been specially trained to deal with patients who have pathogens of high consequence.
“They are experts in infection prevention and control and they do not go into the isolation unit without full personal protective equipment. This is a specialist facility and there is no level of carelessness going on in this facility. The staff here including the staff in the bio-safety level laboratory are well trained and certified biosecurity specialist, so there is no unprofessionalism in this environment”, Abayomi said.
On the issue of availability of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), the Commissioner assured that a stock of several hundred kits are available at the mainland hospital adding that PPEs have also been distributed to all the general hospitals and major primary health care facilities.
“So we are stocked up for now, if we need to buy more, we know exactly where to get it, so we are not worried about PPE supply”, he added.
While restating that the State government is prepared to contain and break the circle of transmission of the virus, he explained that the Lagos State Government have been building capacity for any biosecurity threats to Lagos since the Ebola virus incident of 2014.
“We have been preparing since Ebola incident of 2014 and as soon as Lagos was certified Ebola, we have been building capacity. This is evident in the level of sophistication in some of the facilities here at Mainland hospital. We have not been sitting down or relaxing, we don’t want to experience what happened in 2014 again, so we are ready and we will continue to build that capacity year by year”, Abayomi stated.
The Commissioner disclosed that the reformation plan for the Mainland hospital is a step by step process but very advanced adding that new facilities are being designed for the hospital with the ultimate goal of making it a centre of excellence for infectious diseases with a large capacity for isolating patients if there is any major outbreak.
“Presently, we are refurbishing the facilities to make sure anybody will bring here is in comfortable position. We are trying to improve the internal facilities of the wards; one ward is complete, it can hold 14 patients, the tents are complete, they can hold another 20 patients each, the fourth ward will be completed in another two days, that would hold another 14 patients”, he said.
3 Quarantined In Plateau
Fear of the spread of Coronavirus has gripped residence of Wase local government area of Plateau State as three Chinese citizens have been quarantined in the area.
The state commissioner for Health, Dr Nimkong Nda, who confirmed the development to journalists yesterday, said the Chinese were suspected of arriving the state on Friday from Ethiopia for mining activities.
He said the suspects had been isolated at a centre for proper investigation by the health workers who had been sent to the area since Friday.
Meanwhile, Plateau State government has debunked the rumour going on the social media that there is a suspected case of Coronavirus in the state.
According to a statement issued in Jos by the commissioner for Information and Communication, Hon Dan Manjang, there were three Chinese miners in Wase local government area who flew from China recently to Nigeria through Abuja to Plateau State.
He pointed out that for that reason, the Plateau State Ministry of Health has placed them on Isolation to determine whether they have contacted the virus or not.
CAN Goes Spiritual, Calls For Prayers
The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called for prayers against Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), saying the three tiers of government must rise up to the challenge now that the country has recorded its first case.
In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja yesterday, signed by its general secretary, Joseph Bade Daramola, CAN stressed the need for the federal government and the other tiers government to be proactive in order to contain it and prevent its spread.
The association said it would not cease praying until the disease was chased out of the country.
Daramola said, “According to Deuteronomy 28:61, is a curse of the law but according to Galatians 3:13-14, Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law. Therefore, we have been redeemed from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and every other terminal disease in Jesus Name.
“The God who answered our prayers when the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), which is deadlier, came calling is still on the throne and that same God will also grant us victory over the COVID-19 in Jesus Name”.
CAN, however, called on the nation’s politicians not to politicise it but join hands together to ensure the disease does not spread as we also advocate cooperation and understanding between every state and the federal government.
“CAN urges every church to make water, soap and sanitisers available for worshippers before and after service, beginning from tomorrow. We appeal to all Nigerians, irrespective of their religious and political persuasions, to embrace simple rules of hygiene regularly for safety reasons,” it added.
Beware Of Fake News On Coronavirus, Lagos Govt Warns
Meanwhile, the Lagos State government has warned the general public to be wary of fake news being disseminated by certain individuals bent on aggravating coronavirus outbreak in the state.
The state, in a statement signed by the commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, said its attention has been drawn to various false stories, particularly on the social media, in respect of the identification and quarantine of the 44-year-old Italian, who tested positive to Coronavirus, on his return from a business trip to Turkey.
Omotoso said, “One of the stories alleged that the patient became angry and attempted to escape from the isolation ward due to what it described as the unsuitable condition of the Infectious Diseases Control Hospital in Yaba.
“Another said that an individual, who claimed to have driven the Italian to Ogun State, escaped from hospital and has threatened to spread the virus all over Nigeria. He is said to be seeking N100million for his family to deter him from the ‘suicide mission.
“It is disheartening that some mischief-makers are handling the coronavirus issue with levity and peddling fake news at a time medical science is focused on how to stop the infection.”
The commissioner further said the situation calls for vigilance and soberness, not wicked jokes and frivolities.
He explained that the state government, in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Health and the Ogun State government, remains focused on entrenching measures to contain the infection and would not be distracted by activities of those who seem to be unconscious of the gravity of the situation.
Don’t Panic, NOA Tell Nigerians
Sequel to the confirmation of the first case of Coronavirus Disease (COVID19) in Nigeria by the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has called on Nigerians not to panic.
Director- general of NOA, Dr. Garba Abari, made the call in statement made available to newsman by his assistant director of press, Mr. Paul Odenyi, after a one-day in-house enlightenment programme to create awareness on coronavirus disease and also equip staff of the agency with basic prevention and sensitisation tips, in Abuja.
Represented by the director, Special Duties and State Operations, Mrs. Mette Edekobi, Abari admonished Nigerians to be cautious and apply necessary preventive measures including regular washing of hands with soap and water or use of alcohol containing sanitisers.
“Other measures were to avoid touching the eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands; covering the nose and mouth with napkin, handkerchief of nose mask while coughing or sneezing and; keeping at least five feet distance from anyone coughing or sneezing. The federal government, through its health authorities have activated necessary strategies to control and contain the disease,” he said.
Kaduna Sets Up Emergency Centre
The Kaduna State government has constituted an Emergency Operational Centre (EOC) to respond to any eventuality of Coronavirus.
This followed the announcement of the first case of Coronavirus (COVID -19) in Lagos last Thursday.
A statement issued by the ministry for Health yesterday stated that the committee would be chaired by the commissioner, Dr Amina Mohammed Baloni, adding that it was set up to respond quickly, in the event of an outbreak of the disease.
Ondo Govt Calls For Caution
Following the outbreak of coronavirus in Lagos and Ogun States, the Ondo State government has appealed to residents of the state not to panic but take certain actions which could help in the situation.
The government, in a statement issued by the commissioner for health, Dr Wahaab Adegbenro, said maintaining hygienic environmental and health enhancing practices such as constant hard washing would go a long way in curbing the spread of the disease to the state.
Adegbenro noted that the health and welfare of the people of the state has always been the priority of the Akeredolu led administration in the state.
The commissioner said, ‘’Following the outbreak of coronavirus in Lagos, which is just a few hours’ drive from Ondo State, It has become imperative to sensitise the public on this looming danger, which is threatening the entire human existence.
“Corona virus also known as COVID 19. is a new viral illness that was first detected in China, late last year. Since then, the disease has spread to several other countries (above 50 as at today).
“The disease is characterised by a flu-like symptom of fever and cough which Is often associated with shortness of breath, It can rapidly progress to pneumonia and later, complicated by respiratory failure.
“Several tens of thousands of people have been infected worldwide and over 2,000 have died of the outbreak. Prior to the outbreak in Lagos, the federal government had taken several tentative steps to prepare for its detection among arrivals at air and sea ports, as well as provide isolation and quarantine centres.
“With the confirmation of a case in Lagos a few hours away, it has become imperative for all stakeholders to join hands to prevent its outbreak in the state”.
ACF, Obasanjo Differ On Terms Of Restructuring Nigeria [LEADERSHIP]
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) yesterday disagreed on the clamour for restructuring Nigeria.
Obasanjo and secretary general of the ACF, Mr Anthony Sani, expressed divergent views at an occasion to mark 25 years since Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) was founded and one year anniversary to mark the demise of its founder, Dr Federick Fasehun, in Oshodi area Lagos State.
Obasanjo said there was the need to restructure the country and that failure to heed the call may lead to the emergence of self-determination groups calling for the breakup of the country.
He noted that when he was president, the call was for true federalism but because of the many problems facing the country today, the demand for restructuring has become too strong.
Obasanjo added that Nigerians need to sit down and determine their terms of living together as different ethnicities and tribes.
He said that till he dies, he would always fight for the unity of Nigeria but not the kind of unity where he would become a slave in his country or where his children would become second class citizens or maybe his race becoming slaves in Nigeria.
He noted that those were the ideals Dr Fasehun stood for when he was alive, and that he was a detribalised Nigerian.
Obasanjo noted that if Nigeria was not restructured now, it would be difficult to get it restructured in the future, maintaining that it was better now when the country has intelligent and knowledgeable people who can discuss the problems.
He also called for a new constitution to be drafted for the country, stressing that the amendment done by the national assembly was not the way out.
He said, “When I was in government, people clamoured for true federalism, but the people did not have the same point of view on it. Nigerians are not talking of true federalism now but, restructuring.
“It is good the country can be restructured. If we don’t do it, it may be difficult to get it done. Where we are going now, the language the people employ in expressing their grievances is no longer civil, we have moved away from civility, the language we use is uncouth,” he said.
Obasanjo maintained that insecurity was a major problem confronting the country and nobody can say exactly the objective of the Boko Haram insurgents, and despite the impression the federal government gave that it has decimated the group he said, they were still waxing stronger.
Expressing his own views, the ACF secretary general, Anthony Sani, countered that the problem of Nigeria can’t be solved by restructuring, just as he said that the atmosphere in the country at the moment was not suitable for restructuring.
He explained that Nigeria had undergone many political and economic restructuring, and despite that, it did not solve the problem confronting it as a nation.
Bayelsa Gov Donates N40m Supreme Court Fine To Church [LEADERSHIP]
Bayelsa State governor, Senator Douye Diri, has donated the N40 million awarded by the Supreme Court against the All Progressives Congress (APC) after quashing its case it filed seeking a review of the February 13 verdict to the church to promote the work of God.
Governor Douye Diri, who made this known during a well-attended Church service in Yenagoa at the weekend tagged, “Victory Thanksgiving”, to appreciate God for His intervention in the state, was full of gratitude to God and Bayelsans for their support and prayers.
He described last Wednesday’s verdict by the apex court as an act of God that became a reality through the wisdom and courage of the apex court.
He said, “What has happened only proves the fact that there is a God that rules in the affairs of men. His decisions are final and supreme. There is no Supreme Court greater than the Supreme Court of God. He gave that judgment through the learned justices and some people felt they had to question Him. And God spoke through that woman that delivered the judgment. According to her, who are you to question the supremacy of the Supreme Court?
“And so for desecrating the temple of justice, a cost of N10 million each was imposed on two of the senior lawyers that represented the other party to be paid to three of the respondents, which included me and my deputy. Without even consulting my deputy, I have decided that both of us will surrender our N20 million each, that is N40 million, to the work of God in the church.”
Diri underscored the need for the opposition APC in the state to embrace the olive branch extended to them for the sake of peace and sustainable development of the state.
According to the governor, intelligence report at his disposal indicated that some opposition elements were still bent on fomenting trouble over the victory of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) at the Supreme Court.
He warned them to desist from all unwholesome activities as his government would not hesitate to deploy the full weight of the law to maintain peace and order in the state.
“As a people, let us learn to move ourselves upward. We need to build on the prevailing peace in this state so that investors can come in and we can also create employment for our young ones who want to work”, he added.
Coronavirus Fever Grips States [SUN]
■ 3 Chinese miners isolated, placed under observation in Plateau ■ FG resumes screening of inbound passengers like during Ebola period ■ CAN urges Christians to be cautious at worship centres ■ States activate surveillance, emergency response mechanism centres
Following the confirmation of the first reported Coronavirus case in Lagos, the first in sub-Saharan Africa, the governors of the 36 states of the federation said they have initiated mechanisms for surveillance and emergency in all the states to ensure quick response and attention to anyone showing symptoms of the disease.
This is even as they have assured that emergency responses at the sub-national level have been strengthened.
An Italian citizen, who works in Nigeria and just returned from Milan, Italy on February 25, was confirmed positive with the virus at the Virology Laboratory of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, which is part of the Laboratory Network of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire who confirmed the case, said the patient was clinically stable, with no serious symptoms, and is currently being managed at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba, Lagos.
The Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, in a statement he personally signed said: “Since the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was designated as a global epidemic, state governments have been strengthening emergency response preparedness and capabilities in conjunction with the Federal Government and all other relevant agencies.”
Covid-19: How We’re Coping In Wuhan, China [SUN]
…Musa, Nigerian PhD student living in city reveals how Coronavirus started, how they have so far handled the disease ■ Says there’s no cause for alarm
Mr Abdulraheem Inobemhe Musa, a Nigerian, is undergoing a doctoral degree in international law at the Zhongnan University of Economics and Law in Wuhan, China.
In this interview with Sunday Sun, Musa opened up on the outbreak of the Coronavirus from Wuhan, China, where he lives, saying that he had no intention to be evacuated from the city.
Musa, a native of Agbede in Etsako West Local Government Area, Edo State, disclosed that Wuhan is calm and peaceful, even as he said he had no regret choosing China as a country of study.
What has been your experience so far since the outbreak of the 2019 novel Coronavirus in Wuhan?
Since the advent of the Coronavirus in Wuhan, China, I, at first, experienced a lot of anxiety and apprehension. But as the days went by, I am now calm and at ease due to better understanding and preventive measures open to us on how to prevent ourselves from getting infected with the virus and also how to manage ourselves during this time.
How did you receive the news?
I was very sad when I heard the news as I felt that my life was at risk.
Were you scared when you heard the news of the outbreak?
Yes, I was scared when I heard the news.
Why didn’t you leave Wuhan immediately you received the news?
I really don’t know. It didn’t cross my mind. I was thinking of what I could do to try and help citizens of Wuhan, which I consider as my second home to battle the epidemic.
What is your take on the decision by the House of Representatives that the government should not evacuate Nigerians in Wuhan?
I really wasn’t concerned with what they were deliberating on. This is because I wasn’t going to leave Wuhan.
Are you in touch with your family?
Yes, I am in touch with my family everyday.
What is the current situation in Wuhan?
The city is calm and peaceful. There is no evident panic or hysteria. And there is large display of solidarity between the inhabitants.
How are you fairing?
I am fairing and coping well, though it isn’t as rosy as it used to be before the advent of the virus. There is no cause for alarm.
As a PhD student in Wuhan, what do you think led to the outbreak of Coronavirus?
The Coronavirus was said to have started from the sea food market in Wuhan. Human beings got infected from infected animals they unknowingly consumed.
Going by reports in the media, Nigerians in Wuhan are requesting for evacuation from the government. Are you not among those asking for evacuation?
As earlier mentioned, I personally am not thinking about any form of evacuation for myself.
What do you think the Nigerian government should do?
I believe initiating a welfare package for all Nigerians in Wuhan would help Nigerians in Wuhan a long way. I also believe the communication gap between the government and Nigerians in Wuhan should be bridged. This would create a room for better understanding and assessment of the present situation.
Since the outbreak, have you ever nursed any fear of contracting the virus or something unexpected happening to you?
Yes, I have which I consider normal when you are in an environment, which tries to curb and curtail the emergence of a new epidemic.
The Nigerian Ambassador to China, Baba Ahmad Jidda, was said to have donated 20,000 RMB to Nigerians in Wuhan. How far did the money go in alleviating the shortage of funds Nigerians in Wuhan are said to be grappling with?
It was thoughtful of the ambassador to donate that money to us because it helped us in one way or the other and we appreciated his gesture. But we need more assistance. Some of our citizens are working here and there are also students. The epidemic has affected their means of sustenance.
Why did you choose China in the first place as your country of study?
It was a great opportunity for me to further my education and also experience a wonderful and amazing culture. It is an opportunity I do not regret.
Coronavirus: Lagos, Ogun Identify 100 People Who Had Contact With Patient [PUNCH]
In furtherance to the placing of the patient of the Coronavirus disease, a 44-year-old Italian, in a quarantine centre, Lagos and Ogun state governments have identified at least 100 persons who had contact with the index case of the disease in the country.
Subsequently, the contacts are being followed up as a precautionary measure against the spread of the virus in the states and the country at large.
Nigeria had been spared of the coronavirus outbreak, which was first recorded in Wuhan, China, until it was detected on Thursday on an Italian businessman aboard a Turkish Airlines flight arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos from Milan, Italy, having transited through Istanbul, Turkey.
The victim arrived in Lagos on Monday night and was said to have spent the night in a hotel around the airport area before leaving for business in Ogun State on Tuesday morning.
He was said to have fallen ill, after which he tested positive for the virus. He was thereafter taken to the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba, Lagos.
However, authorities said the patient was clinically stable.
Speaking on Saturday, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi, said the patient was clinically stable and had no signs of respiratory symptoms which could make his infection contagious.
Abayomi also said over 100 contacts with the Coronavirus index case had been identified and followed up.
In an interview with Channels TV, which was monitored by one of our correspondents, the commissioner stated this at the Emergency Operation Centre at the Mainland Hospital in Yaba, where the patient was being quarantined.
“By Saturday, his symptoms had subsided. He hasn’t developed any respiratory symptoms and we are quite happy about that because if he has respiratory symptoms like coughing and sneezing, which makes the disease more contagious,” Abayomi said, adding that the 100 persons the Italian had contact with were being jointly monitored by Lagos and Ogun states.
Earlier in an interview with Arise TV, which was monitored by one of our correspondents, Abayomi said the authorities had identified the hotel room where the Italian patient lodged on Monday night.
“We’re going there this morning (Saturday) to decontaminate the room and the entire hotel. We will identify all the people who had contact with him in the hotel,” he said.
Don’t Allow Restructuring Agitation Lead To War, Obasanjo Tells Buhari [PUNCH]
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said the present government needs to heed the agitations of those clamouring for restructuring before such agitations develop into self-determination.
Speaking in Lagos on Saturday at the first memorial lecture organised in honour of the founder of the Oodua People’s Congress, Dr Fredrick Fasehun, the former President advised the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) to heed the call now before it would be too late.
He said Nigeria could not afford to be plunged into another war because the nation might not survive the second civil war.
Obasanjo, who said insecurity was a major concern in Nigeria, commended the South-West governors for establishing the Western Nigeria Security Network popularly known as Operation Amotekun.
He particularly commended Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde “for his leadership on this matter and for sharing their thinking with me.”
The former President said no section of the country should think it would be easy to quell any other region that might want to secede if the agitation for restructuring was not addressed.
He stated that the agitation while he was in office was for true federalism but now it had changed to restructuring.
He said, “President Goodluck Jonathan’s effort of a National Conference did not even get to the National Assembly. Today, the agitation has moved up to restructuring. Thanks to Buhari’s administration and its impunity and all. With the fractional political division, poor management of the economy, the non-protecting security and the politics of uncertainty in the land, we should not allow restructuring agitation to degenerate to self-determination.
“There is still a window of opportunity for us to nip in the bud a possible and indeed likely agitation for self determination that will be violent, destructive and all-empowering. We have descended to lack of civility bordering on uncivilisation, indignity, mutual disrespect and crudity in the language of our debate, dialogue, discourse, address, comments and remarks across tribe, section, religion, region, ethnicity and community.
“If not halted, it will degenerate and poison the atmosphere to the tipping point or point of no return.”
Obasanjo, who played an active part in the Nigerian Civil War, said the military then planned that it would crush the Biafran soldiers between three and six months. He, however, said Nigeria almost lost to Biafra but managed to defeat the agitators after 36 months.
He said, “And before we descend any further, let me warn, from experience, those who are beating the drums of war and domination from all quarters. I joined late Bisalla, under General Hassan Katsina, to write the appreciation and the operational instruction for the (Nigerian) Civil War.
“We estimated that Federal Government would suppress the Biafran rebellion within three months. To make allowances for the unforeseen, we allowed six months. But it took us 30 months, five times what we allowed for, and what is more, we nearly lost the war. And as a field commander at the end of the war, I can attest that we fought with all Nigerian tribes, including Igbos against Biafra.”
He said the National Assembly appeared to be aware of the lurking danger and wanted to be proactive but he said the constitution did not give them the power to write a new constitution but to amend the existing one.
“What is required is a new constitution to meet the agitation and aspiration of all Nigerians and to allay all fears. The executive and the legislature need to work together to establish a Constituent Assembly.
He continued, “And if after over 10 years of fighting Boko Haram, the terrorist group is still waxing strong, let nobody out of self-delusion think that a war of self-determination by one or more geopolitical zones of Nigeria with the present disenchantment would be easily suppressed by the rest of what may remain of the country.
“Some will fight to the last drop of the blood of their group rather than suffer the indignity of slavery, oppression, domination and atrocious injustice in the land of their birth and the only one that they can call their country.
“If Boko Haram can get an outside support, any geo-political zone opting for self-determination may equally get an external support. War may not necessarily go as planned, estimated and predicted. “Everything must, therefore, be put in place to avoid a war, the end of which no one can precisely predict.
“There is no assurance that Nigeria can survive a second civil war. But rather, we should seek political solution and avoid a destructive civil war.
“This is the situation today. Let us put our experiences to work and fashion out a political order and arrangement that will strengthen our togetherness while making room for healthy and useful competition within the one entity, Nigeria.
“We need not go the way of Yugoslavia or Sudan and certainly not the way of Rwanda and Somalia. But none of these countries knew the avoidable and divisive end from the beginning. Let us learn from the experience of others and of our founding fathers who resolved their political differences through dialogue and debate without resorting to violence and separation but accommodation, telling themselves hard truth, tolerance and give-and-take spirit. That was the foundation of Nigeria at independence and let it continue to be.
“If all we are interested in is power and not holding the country together harmoniously and wholesomely, we may hold the mirage of power and lose the nation or the country bequeathed to us by our founding fathers.
“Today, we can still collectively debate, dialogue and lead our country to where, by consensus, we will want it to be as a united, strong, harmonious, dynamic, fast developing, productive, fast growing and progressing nation with sufficient leeway for autonomous development and management by component units on the basis of healthy competition, mutual respect, caring and sharing for one another, within one nation and one destiny, with shared values, common goals and venerated diversity.
“There are still people of goodwill who can speak up and speak out and take effective and positive actions individually and collectively that will corporately save the country from rudderlessness and disintegration. We must allow a stitch in time to save nine, so that we are not pushed to the realm of the unknown and which may be for all of us, undesirable.”
The National Publicity Secretary of the Arewa Consultative Forum, Anthony Sani, who spoke before Obasanjo, said although there was no harm in restructuring, he said he did not believe the time was ripe for restructuring now.
He said, “While I do not oppose restructuring, the problem might not be restructuring and I am not sure that restructuring, at a time when there is so much distrust, will be the solution.”
The new President of OPC, Prince Osibote, expressed worry about the insecurity in the nation.
Osibote said, “We are saddened by the state of insecurity in the land. The challenge is exacerbated by unbridled poverty, illiteracy and ignorance coupled with lack of vision and character by a section of the Nigerian political class.
“We frittered away ample opportunities that came our way to consolidate on our strength, human capacities and natural endowments.
“We unambiguously denounce the spilling of blood in the land, banditry, abduction, and other forms of heinous crimes that have almost made life miserable in some parts of the country.”
One of the children of the late OPC founder, Olubunmi, appreciated those present at the ceremony.
He said, “I want to appreciate you all for coming to honour our late father. We now know that you loved our father when he was alive. “
Among those present at the lecture were former Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; Oyewole Fasawe; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, who was represented by the Asoya of Isoya, Oba Muraina Adebanjo; the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, John Nwodo who was represented by the Lagos State Chairman, Chief Solomon Ogbonna.
Lawyers, CSOs Kick As Court Okays Jumbo Pensions For Ex-Govs [PUNCH]
Payment of pensions to former governors and ex-deputy governors will not end anytime soon as the National Industrial Court in Abuja has validated it in a recent judgment.
Saturday PUNCH stumbled on a recent judgment of the court delivered on January 22, 2020 validating the laws creating the payment of pensions and gratuities to former governors and their ex-deputies.
This was despite the criticism of such payment by a judgment delivered by the Court of Appeal in Abuja on May 20, 2019 and another judgment delivered by a judge of the National Industrial Court in Jos, prohibiting it on December 9, 2019.
Payment of pensions to former governors and their ex-deputies has drawn much of public outcry, especially as the various levels of government struggle to generate enough revenues to fund public projects, and pay the N30,000 new minimum wage.
Declining revenues at both state and federal levels continues to plunge the country into more foreign and domestic debts, with some states giving excuses why they could not pay the minimum wage, yet such states have never ceased to pay ex-governors and their deputies’ their pensions.
In response to the public criticism, the Zamfara State Government recently repealed the law stipulating provision for former governors and deputy governors of the state.
However, Sunday PUNCH on Friday obtained a copy of the National Industrial Court’s judgment validating and declaring as constitutional the laws made by the various states stipulating pensions and gratuities for former governors and their deputies.
The judgment was delivered by the President of the NIC, Justice Benedict Kanyip, in the suit which had 40 persons and civil society groups as claimants.
The claimants sought the nullification of such pension laws which they said were sources of “waste of public funds”.
They sued the governors and the Houses of Assembly of the 36 states, the Attorney General of the Federation and the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, as the first to the 74th defendants.
Only Adamawa State governor, the governors and Houses of Assembly of Bayelsa and Kwara states defended the suit.
The claimants argued only the 74th defendant, RMAFC, had the exclusive constitutional power to set the remuneration of such public officials as governors and their deputies, adding that their pension was part of the remuneration of public officials.
They, therefore, contended that any law stipulating pensions for such public officials already covered by the constitutional mandate of the RMAFC, ultra vires, null and void.
But in dismissing the suit, Justice Kanyip held that “the power of the RMAFC under Section 124(1) is one that relates to ‘salaries and allowances’,” adding that “pension is not mentioned at all; and the ‘salaries and allowances’ talked of are those ‘paid to the holders of the offices mentioned in this section’.”
He faulted the main grounds of the claimants’ suit to the effect that Houses of Assembly lacked the power to legislate on pensions or gratuities for former governors and former deputy governors.
He noted that contrary to the claim that the National Assembly and the RMAFC were the rightful bodies constitutionally charged with that responsibility of handling such matter, “the power of the RMAFC under section 124(1) relates to ‘salaries and allowances’, not pensions.”
“The word ‘remuneration’ used in paragraph 32(d) of Part I of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution does not include pensions.
“While Section 124(l) donates the power to prescribe remuneration and the salaries of governor and other public office holders subject to the amount as shall have been determined by the RMAFC, Section 124(5) did not subject the power of the House of Assembly to that of the RMAFC in granting pension or gratuity for former governors and their deputies.”
Coronavirus: Number In Ogun Quarantine Rises To 39 [NATION]
•Lagos relocates infected Italian to new facility •Ogun: No one escaped from isolation ward •Govs pledge massive response to curb spread
Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta/ /Kelvin Osa Okubor/ Erik Ikhilae, Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja
ELEVEN more people have been quarantined in Ogun State on account of having physical contact with the Italian carrier of Coronavirus.
They include the driver who picked him from a hotel in Ikeja and those that served him food and drinks in the hotel.
The Ogun State Government on Saturday dismissed speculations that the taxi driver of the coronavirus patient was on the loose.
The Italian himself has been relocated from his original isolated ward to a renovated one, according to Lagos State Health Commissioner Akin Abayomi, while the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) promised to ensure the deployment of all resources to promptly respond and contain the spread of coronavirus in the country.
There are now a total of 39 people quarantined in connection with the index case of coronavirus in the country.
Twenty-eight were originally taken in by Friday.
Giving an update on the situation yesterday at Ewekoro, Ogun State, the Industrial Director of Larfarge Africa Plc, Mr. Segun Soyoye, said the guest house where the Italian stayed and the vehicles including the ambulance used to convey him had been sealed off.
He spoke during an assessment visit to the company’s premises by a combined delegation of the Ogun State government, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
He said the Italian was at the factory to inspect some installed machines brought from a Swedish firm.
He said the man did not go beyond the company’s guest house at Ishofin Estate and he was evacuated as soon as he developed abnormal temperature indicative of coronavirus.
Soyoye added: “The Italian came for a business visit. He was in Lagos on Monday and slept at Airport Hotel, Ikeja. Our driver took him there, and when we observed abnormal temperatures and symptoms, we quickly instituted an Emergency Response Team which is led by the Company CEO.
“We had to find a way of analysing and identifying not only the Italian but also the other contacts.
“The contacts are now 39 and we have quarantined them, the house and clinic as well as the vehicles. We don’t take chances. That is why they are put there.
“Today is Day 3.They will be there for 14 days. We will continue to observe them, we have their database, showing their biodata and other information.
“The doctor is here and what he is doing is to check them on a regular basis. So far everybody is stable. They are not symptomatic. We are providing everything for them over there.
“The other thing that I have not said is that the clinic that was used for the infected person is closed; disinfected and we moved everybody out.
“All the guys on duty that day, they were also quarantined. So they will be there for 14 days as well.”
No one escaped from isolation centre – OGSG
Earlier on Saturday, the Ogun State denied a social media report that the taxi driver of the coronavirus patient in the country was on the loose.
Government described as fake news, the social media report which quoted the ‘driver’ as demanding the sum of N100m (One hundred million naira) from the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker and threatening to spread the disease if not paid. Nothing can be further from the truth.
“Everyone that had any link with the Italian victim of the dreaded virus since he arrived the country has been quarantined. The others, who these primary contacts also had interactions with are equally being monitored,” Kunle Somorin, the Chief Press Secretary to the state governor said in a statement.
He said: “We wish to put it straight that there is nothing of such. It is the figment of the imagination of some unscrupulous elements whose desire is to incite fear in the members of the public.
“As a government, we assure that all the people already quarantined are in good spirit and they are cooperating with our medical personnel.
“Besides, we already have the phone number of some few other contacts the Italian national came close to and they are being monitored.
“There is no reason to panic. The situation is being controlled and contained.
“It is therefore important we do what is expected of us as individuals in terms of personal hygiene and in ensuring that we sensitize those suspected of symptoms associated with COVID-19.”
Infected Italian relocated
The Lagos State Government debunked a report that the index case of Corona Virus Disease isolated at the Lagos Mainland Hospital tried to escape from isolation.
Health Commissioner Akin Abayomi said the patient never expressed any desire to leave the facility to the doctors and nurses who look after him.
“I have spoken to him myself, he is doing very well, he is comfortable; he was comfortable yesterday and he is comfortable today,” Abayomi stated.
The Commissioner noted that the patient was initially kept in a single isolation room for his privacy when he was brought in because part of the facilities at the Mainland Hospital was being renovated. He added that the patient has subsequently been moved to one of the newly renovated wards.
Said he: “We were renovating part of the facility, so we kept him in a single isolation room for his privacy but we have subsequently moved him to one of our completed wards recently renovated with full complements of facilities, so he is right there now and he is comfortable.
“As of this morning, his condition has improved, he hasn’t developed new symptoms but he still got a mild fever and we will be running test to see what the situation is with the virus in his body and as soon as we get a negative screen, we will keep him for another two or three days and repeat the test to make sure that there are no more virus particles in his saliva and that means that he will not be contagious. Then, we give the OK for him to be released back into the community.”
Border closure: Buhari Orders Crackdown On Rogue Security Agents [NATION]
•Furious over unauthorised release of 295 petroleum tankers seized from smugglers
PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has commissioned a security outfit to check illegal operations and activities of government officials and suspected smugglers at the country’s borders.
The creation of the outfit, codenamed ‘Operation Swift Response’, followed discovery that some officials are neck deep in deals with smugglers to perpetrate illegalities.
The President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said in a statement yesterday that the security committee has since seized different illegally moved goods at the borders.
He said: “As part of the federal government’s effort to ensure food security and improve local production of goods at competitive prices, President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned ‘OPERATION SWIFT RESPONSE’ as a border drill exercise to checkmate the illegal activities of smugglers across our borders.
“The border drill has been hugely successful and has led to the interception and seizure of large quantities of foods, materials, minerals and petroleum resources illegally trafficked across our borders. The president commends the security agencies for a job well done.
“He, however, finds it disheartening to learn that 295 smuggled petroleum tankers were released without due authorisation on 17th December, 2019 by some security officials charged with the responsibility of protecting our borders.
“Sequel to this act, the National Security Adviser (NSA) was directed to set up a Board of Inquiry to investigate the crime, and it was recommended to the president that all officials (civilian or security operatives) found to have connived to undermine government’s efforts should be withdrawn from the border drill and severely sanctioned by their respective organisations.
“The president has accepted the recommendations and directed the immediate withdrawal and replacement of all those found culpable. He has also directed that their respective organisations should mete out immediate appropriate disciplinary actions to them.”