26052020 - We'll jail parents who enrol children into Almajiri system

12 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2020
:Vanguard News
:@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058
Nwodo, Reps Minority Caucus, Igali, Ogieh
celebrate EK Clark at 93
.…I'll continue to speak out against injustice, marginalization, lack of equity — Clark
By Victor Young, Henry
Umoru, Tordue Salem,
Dennis Agbo, Gabriel
Ewepu & Perez Brisibe
ENUGU—PRESIDENT Gener
al of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide,
Chief John Nwodo has stated
that Nigeria's former Minister of
Information and the leader of Pan
Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, Chief
Edwin Clark is still very desirous
and passionate of Nigeria becoming
a greater nation, even at his 93
years of age.
Nwodo described the nonagenarian
as a rare patriot and an extra
ordinary nationalist that Nigeria
should be proud of.
In a birthday goodwill message
to Clark, who turned 93 years, yesterday,
Nwodo said, "Since the Independence
of Nigeria nearly 60
years ago, Chief Clark has remained
dogged in the struggle for
a just and equitable society. I admonish
young leaders to learn a lot
from the selfless quality in Chief
Clark and eschew the self aggrandizement
that is inherent in the leaders
of today."
He wished him more prosperous
years ahead.
Also, Minority Caucus in the
House of Representatives has commended
the leadership qualities,
patriotism and relentless commitment
of elder statesman, Chief
Clark.
The caucus, described Chief
Clark, who clocked the age 93, as a
quintessential statesman.
Minority Leader of the House of
Representatives, Mr Ndudi Elumelu,
in a statement, yesterday, described
Clark as "a leading light, a
forthright, fearless and outspoken
leader, who has remained steadfast
in his commitment towards the unity,
stability and development of our
dear nation, Nigeria.’’
Elumelu congratulated Chief
Clark on his 93rd birthday and
prayed God to grant him more years
in good health to continue in his
good works for the nation and humanity
at large.
Similarly, former Nigerian Ambassador
and Permanent Secretary,
Dr Godknows Igali, celebrated
Clark on his 93rd birthday.
Igali said: "Today, we celebrate a
true 'living legend,' an Iroko of our
common aspirations and a pride of
our great heritage as a people, Chief
Clark, as he clocks the enviable age
of 93 years."
He prayed for Chief Clark, father
of Niger Delta and Ijaw Nation, to
live long and continue his fatherly
role in nation building and making
sure there is equity and fair play in
the polity.
Also, tradition Prime Minister of
Tuomo kingdom in Delta and Bayelsa
States, Chief Mike Loyibo, has
felicitated with Chief Clark on his
93rd birthday anniversary.
Loyibo said: "Your patriotism and
commitment to peace in the Niger
Delta region is unquestionable as
you have continued to play a vital
role for the development of the region.
"As an elder statesman, you have
continued to show maturity while
speaking good to all Nigerians, promoting
the South-South quest for a
new developmental vision and supporting
the cause of the poor and
vulnerable."
On his part, Delta State Head of
Service, HoS, Mr Reginald Bayoko,
described Pa Clark as a true patriot,
whose worthy selfless contributions
to the evolution of the Nigerian
State and its development,
saying he is an embodiment of virtues.
In a statement in Asaba, Bayoko
said, at 93 years, Chief Clark has
continued his significant and impactful
contributions to Nigeria's
growth and the peaceful co- existence
and had championed rights
and progress among the diverse
groups towards overall growth and
development of Nigeria.
According to him, "In life, public
and private, Pa Clark has demonstrated
beyond the reach of words
and human capture, undying commitment
to the growth and development
of the Nigerian nation, the
strategic Niger Delta region and its
people by regularly speaking the
truth. Chief Clark's contributions to
the advancement of education as a
Commissioner for Education in the
then Bendel State, has remained indelible
in both Edo and Delta states."
Also, Managing Director and
Chief Executive Officer of Delta
State Oil Producing Areas Development
Commission, DESOPA-
DEC, Bashorun Askia Ogieh described
Chief Clark as a towering
pillar and source of strength to many
he has mentored.
In a birthday message, Askia said:
"It is with a heart full of pride and
thankfulness to God Almighty that I
celebrate you on your 93rd birthday.
We give Him all the glory for giving
you a very robust good health and
the wisdom that have guided you
all these very fruitful years.
"Gogorogo, you are very deep, so
when you call to the deep, the deep
quivers. The very reason those of us
COVID-19: Delta records 8 new cases
• Bayelsa confirms 4 new cases, 1 discharged
• UNHCR supplies 76,000 Cameroon refugees in C'River food, preventive items
By Jimitota Onoyume,
Festus Ahon, Ike
Uchechukwu, Emem
Idio & Francis Efe
ASABA—DELTA State has re
corded eight new cases of
Covid-19, bringing the number
of cases in the state to 39.
State Commissioner for Information,
Mr Charles Aniagwu
confirmed the eight new cases to
Vanguard on telephone, saying
that active cases in the state were
now 21, discharged 12 and deaths
six.
Aniagwu did not however, give
details on the local government
areas where the new cases were
recorded at press time.
Bayelsa confirms 4 new
cases, 1 discharged
Bayelsa State Task Force on
COVID-19 has confirmed four
new cases in the state, bringing
the total number of confirmed cases
in the state to 11.
A statement, yesterday, by the
Deputy Chairman of the state
COVID-19 Task Force and Permanent
Secretary of the Ministry
of Health, Dr Inodu Apoku, further
disclosed that one case has
been discharged after meeting the
clinical criteria for discharge and
a negative repeat COVID -19 test
result.
His words: "In the past three
days, we have recorded four new
confirmed cases of COVID - 19
in the state. The NCDC announced
one of the cases on May
22, and three just Sunday. This
brings the total number of confirmed
cases in the state to 11.
"The case announced on May
22, is a single lady in her late 30s.
She is a businesswoman and lives
within the Yenagoa metropolis.
She called our emergency lines
with complaints of fever, cough
and malaise and requested for a
COVID -19 test. The state Rapid
Response team investigated her
case and collected samples for
testing even though she did not
admit to any travel history. She is
not epidemiologically linked to
any previous confirmed case in
the state."
He pointed out that the state
Task Force team has been testing
more cases daily following the use
of the University of Port Harcourt
Teaching Hospital, UPTH, Port
Harcourt Reference COVID -19
Laboratory, adding that an average
of 25 samples been sent to
the facility daily.
• EK Clark
UNHCR supplies 76,000
Cameroonian refugees
in C'River food,
preventive items
Meanwhile, United Nations
High Commission for Refugees,
UNHCR, in collaboration with the
National Commission For Refugees,
Migrants and Internally
Displaced Persons, yesterday,
supplied food items and Covid-
19 protection items to the 76,000
Cameroonian refugees in Cross
River.
Head of UNHCR sub office in
Cross River, Mr Mulegeta Zewdie
who led a delegation to the
refugee settlements at Adagom,
and Ukende/Akpakpanga in Ogoja
Local Government Area of the
state said, the foodstuff and items
were part of measures to mitigate
against spread of the pandemic
among the refugee community.
Items supplied include bags of
rice, noodles, garri, soaps, sanitizers,
nose masks and payment
of allowances to the refugees
along with portable water supply
for regular hand washing and
domestic use by the population.
"We have taken steps to quarantine
refugees who show symptoms
of the virus by mapping out
an isolation centre in Adagom
settlement, so if you see anyone
who shows symptoms of the infection,
report to the health centre
immediately, let the person be
taken to the isolation centre."
Also speaking the National
commissioner for Refugees, Migrants
And Internally Displaced
Persons,A buja represented by
Madam Maria Edet, said the
items were meant to promote hygiene
and the health of the refugees
especially at this challenging
period of covid-19 global emergency.
who are your political children are
never tired of drinking from your
very deep well of knowledge and
political sagacity."
Meanwhile, Chief Clark, has
vowed not to change in his position
of speaking out against injustice,
marginalization and lack of equity,
just as he thanked God Almighty
for taking him this far and keeping
him alive.
Speaking with Vanguard on
phone yesterday, the South South
Leader, who decided to mark his
birthday alone at his Asokoro residence,
Abuja, with no presence of
family members, friends and associates,
noted said that he decided
to do that in line with the stay at
home order by the Federal Government
following the outbreak of the
Coronavirus pandemic.
He said, "I thank the Almighty
God for bringing me this far and up
till today. It is God that owns life, life
belongs to Him. He gives long life
and shows mercy to whoever He
wishes and nobody can query that.
I pray for many more years.
"I believe in one Nigeria. I am
here today alone because of Covid-19
and directives of the President
that we stay in our homes underside,
all my friends, my people
would have been here to celebrate
with me. I am here alone and even
my children are not with me because
I have to adhere to the directives
of the Federal Government.
"I pray that life will come back
again, the economy will come back
again and every other thing after
the COVID- 19 pandemic. This is
the time to stand by the government,
irrespective of party affiliation and
to pray for the country."
Tidi takes covid 19
campaign to Muslims
Muslim clerics in Warri South
Local Government Area, Delta
State have been urged to thoroughly
sensitize the Muslim community
in the council to adhere to
measures put in place by the state
government to curtail the spread
of the dreaded corona virus.
Chairman of the council, Dr
Michael Tidi made the appeal
while congratulating Muslims on
the Eid-El-Fitri celebration.
He urged Muslims in the council
to continue to promote the value
of peace, stressing that the
council being a cosmopolitan one,
is home to both indigenes and non
indigenes doing business in the
area.
Tidi has intensified sensitization
effort across communities in the
council to curtail spread of the virus.
Olu of Warri lauds VSF
over donation of
palliatives to Delta
The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli
has lauded the Victims Support
Funds, VSF, Covid-19 Task
Force for donating palliatives to
Delta people.
Ikenwoli gave this commendation
at his palace in Warri, when
he took delivery of palliatives donated
to the people of Warri by the
non governmental organisation.
The items include, rice, beans,
salt, and vegetable oil, Personal
Protective equipment, PPE, which
include hand sanitizers, face
masks, hazmat suits, protective
googles and boots.
Ogiame Ikenwoli said, "I am
happy and delighted to see you
here today. I am also happy that
TY Danjuma, who is our friend
and in-law is associated with good
thing. I must thank you for your
selfless sacrifice to make Nigeria
good and better.
"Everything has come to a standstill
due to the coronavirus and we
pray that people should begin to
regain their lives and jobs. I pray
God will reward you and bless you
in a larger way, for this gesture,"
Ogiame Ikenwoli said.
Ayade declares PDP counselorship candidate, 34
others wanted over cult activities
By Ike Uchechukwu
CALABAR — GOVERNOR
Ben Ayade of Cross River
State, yesterday, came hard on
cultists in the state by declaring
a People's Democratic Party, PDP,
counselorship candidate, Cyril
Bassey and 34 others wanted
over their alleged involvement in
cult activities including killings.
Vanguard learned that Ayade's
order was on the heels of the recent
cult killings in the state ,
particularly in Calabar metropolis.
Vanguard gathered that the
ward 6 PDP counselorship candidate
for Calabar-South LGA,
Bassey was among the 35 persons
declared wanted.
A letter with reference number
:SSG/SSO/430/S.I/400 dated May
22, 2020 signed by the Permanent
Secretary on Security in the Governor’s
Office, Dr Alfred Mboto,
sighted by Vanguard stated that
the 35 persons listed on the letter
have been declared wanted over
the spate of killings and violence
in the state.
The letter read, "The spate of
killings and violence taking place
in the Calabar metropolis over supremacy
of various fraternities is
alarming and unacceptable to the
government and people of Cross
River State.’’