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A8 News Osun Denies Outbreak of Lassa Fever GBENGA FATUROTI OSOGBO Osun State government has denied outbreak of the dreaded Lassa fever in any part of the state. A statement issued and signed by Mr. Sola Fasure, Media Adviser to the Governor, the government said there is no confirmed case of outbreak of the fever in the state. The government noted that the case of a corpse brought from Lagos, which death was linked to Lassa Fever, was subjected to laboratory test and tested positive to the fever but was buried before the autopsy report came out. According to the statement, the State’s Ministry Of Health promptly put the relatives of the corpse on a 21-day surveillance but none of them exhibited any symptoms or signs of the fever. Government also said that there is round the clock surveillance going on across all the local governments in the state to make sure that the people are protected, prevented and safe from the disease. Government therefore directed that the people should be on red alert and take necessary and proactive interest in what goes on around them so as to report any strange symptoms to the authorities on time. Stop Sale Of Unauthorised Drugs, NAFDAC Warns Dealers DANIEL ABIA P/HARCOURT The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAF- DAC) has called on Patent Medicine Dealers in Delta State to desist from selling unauthorised drugs and vaccines in their premises. Jude Ndekile, the state NAFDAC Coordinator, stated this in Asaba while displaying some unwholesome products confiscated by the agency. “In course of our routine inspection we have observed that some patent medicine stores sell drugs that are beyond their mandate,” adding that drugs such as high dose tramadol of 120ml, 200ml and 250ml were being sold in patent medicine stores while banned drugs like anlagen injections, gentamycin 20 injections and other injectables were found in some stores.” /<strong>Independent</strong>ngr @independentngr www.independent.ng Our Achievements In Office Are Undeniable, PDP Replies APC ROTIMI AKINWUMI ABUJA The war of words between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has refused to abate as the opposition party insisted yesterday that it performed excellently in office as against the abysmal report the APC is ascribing to it. Since last Saturday when the former President, Goodluck Jonathan, openly at the non-elective convention of the PDP gave pass mark to the administration of the PDP before the advent of the APC government, both parties have been firing salvos at each other. The opposition party in response to the latest diatribe by Garba Shehu, Special Assistant Media to the President, said that the government of the day is making efforts at undermining its achievement in office. In a statement signed by Prince Dayo Adeyeye, National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, the opposition party said the attempt by various members of the APC to downplay the achievements of PDP was borne out of ignorance. Faulting the APC further, the PDP insisted that the ruling party is obviously being economical with the truth because it has not been able to make any meaningful impact on government over two years into its four year mandate. “We have read comments made by the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC), Alhaji Bolaji Ojo-Abdullahi, Mallam Garba Shehu, Special Assistant to the President on media and other senior members of the ruling party such as former Governor Segun Oni and Dr. Osita Okechukwu, the Director General of the Voice of Nigeria where they attempted to rubbish the comments made by former President Goodluck Jonathan that his administration performed well during his term in office. “It is our firm belief that these statements were INDEPENDENT WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2017 borne out of ignorance, are lacking in depth and are devoid of the sort of critical thinking that one would expect from highly placed government officials. “However, these officials seem bent on continuing what has become an official position of the ruling party to reduce commentary on public issues, and indeed the art of governance, to comedy. “It is shameful and embarrassing that having been in power for two and a half years, the ruling party is unable to point to cogent, convincing and data driven achievements. “Instead, it has spent the bulk of its time designing and implementing a communication strategy around massive propaganda, half-truths and outright falsehood in an attempt to continually deceive the Nigerian people.” The party insisted that its achievement are visible and should be accepted so by the ruling party. For the sake of emphasis, we reiterate our position that the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan performed well during its term in office. “There are no indices anywhere in Nigeria, or indeed in the world, by which the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari can be measured as performing better than any PDP administration since 1999. “For the avoidance of doubt, some of the achievements of our party while in power include: As at May 29th, 2015 Nigeria was the largest economy in Africa valued at over $500 billion. A combination of the incoherent policies and the incompetence of the ruling party have significantly shrunk the size of the Nigerian economy since the inception of the current administration.” “As at May 29th, 2015 Nigeria was the No 1 destination for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Africa. Up to that point, investors responded to the policies designed and implemented by the Jonathan administration by investing billions of Dollars in the Nigerian economy.” Godwin Obaseki, Governor, Edo State, addressing intending pilgrims, during his visit to the hajj camp in Dumez Road, Benin City, Edo State on Tuesday. U C H E N W O S U UMUAHIA Ude Oko Chukwu, Abia State deputy governor, has asked journalists to be objective, fair and unbiased in their reportage in line with the ethics of their profession, even as he urged them to collaborate with government to enthrone a durable democracy. In a statement signed by Orji Francis Okpe, his Personal Assistant, the Abia number two citizen explained that journalists as the conscience of the society, must focus on development journalism, ensure factual reportage by investigating their sources of news thoroughly and balancing stories before going to press. Oko Chukwu, who was reacting to reports linking him with the arrest and detention of one Prince Dan Iyke, a critic of the state government in Ohafia, Abia State, condemned the incessant attack on public office holders by media practitioners who publish without verifying their stories. He lamented that several public office holders had been condemned in public without having the opportunity to react to allegations made against them and urged media practitioners to resist the urge to vilify public office holders and strive to verify their reports before going to press. “My attention has been drawn to reports making the rounds that I masterminded the arrest and UPP Suspends Chidoka, Others For Anti-Party Activities CHUKWUJEKWU ILOZUE AWKA Anambra State chapter of the United Progressives Party (UPP) has suspended indefinitely two of its governorship aspirants, namely former Aviation Minister, Chief Osita Chidoka; and Chief Chudi Ofodille for alleged anti-party activities. The party also announced the suspension of the party’s National Treasurer, Mr. Flint Obiekwe, and National Assistant Secretary, Nwabueze Anyichie, following its emergency meeting in Awka on Monday. The state chairman of the party, Dr. Sylvester Igwilo, addressing the press said their suspension subsists pending the determination of their case by the party’s disciplinary committee of seven members set up in line with Article 21, Paragraphs 3 and 4 of its Constitution. He stated that Chidoka and Ofodille who defected to UPP from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) did not show documentary evidence of their resignation from their former party as required by Article 7 Paragraph B of the UPP Constitution. According to him, both aspirants introduced money politics into the party as well as inducing members to gain advantage. Reeling out their infractions, he said that the duo “introduced money politics by inducing members with cash donation, which tends to bring the image of the party to ridicule; going to Abuja to deposit illegal N5 million without consent and approval of state Executive Committee; appearing for a purported screening without the approval and authority of the state Executive Committee outside the provision in the party’s constitution Article 16(d).” Be Objective In Your Reportage, Abia Deputy Gov Charges Journalists detention of one Prince Dan Iyke. This allegation is unfounded. The purveyors of such information went to the public without verifying their reports. I have no hand in his arrest. “Those accusing me of masterminding his arrest should rather contact the Police to ascertain why he is being detained. I have no hand in his arrest,” he said.
INDEPENDENT Politics WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2017 Our View Stop The Brain Drain In Health Sector Now A recent report that about 2,500 Nigerian medical doctors of different cadre are going to leave the country in search of better opportunities abroad in September is worrisome. D6 Why Fayose And Buhari Must Work Together – Owolabi A government is the reflection of the society; no government can perform better than the ability of the components of the society. D3 Quote Of The Week “If you don’t see anything wrong when leaders flash the images of their sibling’s matriculation or graduation ceremonies in some of the world’s most prestigious or elitist universities, you shouldn’t see anything wrong with ASUU strike and demand for a better deal for Nigerian Universities. Giving some children the best of education and denying some children same is aimed at entrenching and sustaining a political, social and economic dynasty of class order.” - Shehu Sani, Senator Representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District. /<strong>Independent</strong>ngr @independentngr www.independent.ng Temidayo Akinsuyi +2348051334311; temidayo.akinsuyi@independentnig.com •Interview •Our View •Your Views Constitution Doesn’t Require Buhari To Disclose Health Status – Shehu Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity was a guest on Channels Television on Tuesday where he spoke on the calls by some Nigerians that President Muhammadu Buhari should resume or resign. He also responded to claims by a human rights lawyer, Ebun- Olu Adegboruwa that Nigerians are being ruled from the United Kingdom (UK).TEMIDAYO AKINSUYI who monitored the session brings the excerpts: You recently issued a statement that those asking President Buhari to resume or resign are overstepping their bounds. Why did you say that? This is a democracy and we respect the rights of citizens to protest. Yes, it’s not a bad thing that about a dozen or so people congregating there to raise placards to ask those questions they are asking. The problem is that when you probably know where they are coming from; when they are vassals of the opposition political party and their antecedents are written all over their faces. We wish that they were more dispassionate individuals, honest Nigerians who really have the interest of the country at heart and not agency of the opposition political party. Does it take away the credibility of what they were saying because quite a number of people also share their view? We just had Ebun Adegboruwa this morning who is not a known member of any political party and he said he believed what the protesters are asking for is quite right. How do you respond to that? I am surprised that he (Adegboruwa) as a lawyer has spoken so recklessly on so many matters about which he showed lot of dispassion about those matters. That was reckless of him because he said things that are just completely untrue. This man that has just spoken with Nigerians said this country is being run from the United Kingdom (UK). He said memos are being sent to the UK and that ministers are reporting to the president. That is false. He doesn’t know what he is talking about. Let me tell you this story. I am aware that senior officials of government have gone to President Buhari in the UK and taken some documents to him and asked him to deal with it. The president said ‘ No, I won’t! The man responsible for the country is in Abuja, go back to him’. So, I think the idea is to make President Buhari look as if he is in charge but it is even disrespectful to the Acting President. The very fact that you mentioned that such a scenario arise was one of the things Mr. Adegboruwa pointed to and that is loyalty. He said the loyalty Shehu of the ministers will continue to lie with the president who appointed them and not the Acting President. What is your take on this? That doesn’t follow. Anybody who said that doesn’t understand the implications of the constitution of this country. Once the president has transferred power to the Acting President, if you are the Inspector- General of Police and the Acting President said go and do these things, you are fired if you refused to do it. So, nobody will joke with their jobs. Yes, we are loyal to the president but everyone knows that this is the locus of authority. Shouldn’t the people who tried to undermine the authority of the Acting President be fired? No. Maybe they are mistaken. That is to underscore to you that this is a law and order president. If this is a president who wanted power for his own sake, he would probably have been giving directives from over there. But he said ‘no, I have done the right thing. I have handed over to the Acting President. Deal with him’ and that is how directives should be done. The law has specified what should be done if the president falls ill, but when you look at the political situation, can the law really handle that? The law and the constitution have foreseen it and I think constitution is very fair to individuals, in this case President Muhammadu Buhari. The constitution gives him the process by which he can go and take care of himself. I also believe that the constitution is also fair to the country because by handing over the reins of authority to the Acting President, the constitution is also fair to the country. For how long can the president be away for? The constitution of Nigeria is an evolving document. As we are speaking, it is an open-ended thing. There is no timeline. As long as the right thing has been done, which the president has done by handing over to his deputy, it is off the table. D3 D6 D7 D1 We all wish the president well, but if he feels the illness will take a long time, maybe six months and he has just four years, do you think it will be fair for Nigerians to ask him to resign or for the president to say I may not be able to continue? In choosing the president, we had a ticket which is a candidate for president and a candidate for vice-president- one team. So, therefore once that team is in place, you have lost nothing. Do you think the president has moral grounds to tell Nigerians if he will not be able to continue? You said morality, I have no competence placing morality in the realm of politics. However, I must say that I think the president has done the most that anybody can do in this circumstance. What I am saying is that there is politics and there is morality and they don’t always mix. That is not to say that you can ask this question from the president if the president had said to you that ‘ I will give full disclosure, one hundred percent of my health situation in all circumstances’. If the president fails to do that, then he has a moral problem. When he campaigned, he said that I will declare my assets publicly. He got to office and lawyers of many colours are saying ‘sir, you don’t have to do it because there is no basis for it in law’. But because that commitment had been given, on the 99th day of the 100 days promise he made, the president published his assets. The vice- president also published his assets. Therefore, had it been the president had reneged on this promise, people would have raised the issue of morality. As it now, we are dealing with matters of law. The constitution of this country doesn’t make it a requirement for him to say that he must disclose his health situation. He went to the UK in January and when he returned, without the prompting of anyone, he faced the television cameras and said this is what I went through. So, let’s give him the benefit of doubt and a little bit of patience. President Buhari will return. I will not be surprised if he stands before everyone and says ‘this is what I went through and it’s all over’.
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