​Don’t negotiate with Myetti Allah to return to South West, Yoruba leaders warn S/W governors

Prominent Yoruba leaders have warned the six governors in the South West zone not to negotiate the continued stay of Fulani herders in their states, urging them to toe the path of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) by issuing eviction notice to the violent herders.

The leaders under the aegis of Yoruba World Assembly said if they allow the herders to stay, it means residents in the zone are still not safe because the herders will still continue their atrocities.

Led by Chief Taiye Ayorinde, the leaders through the Secretary General of YWA, Dr Victor Taiwo, the Yoruba leaders also warned the Federal Government not to toy with the corporate existence of this country by arresting Chief Sunday Adeyemo aka Igboho noting if they do, they have assaulted the whole Yoruba nation and not Sunday Igboho.

YWA which is an umbrella body of 15 other associations said this while speaking with newsmen ahead of a security summit fixed for February 4,2021 in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

While calling on all governors in the zone to see the issue as a collective struggle devoid of political coloration, he said the same method used in 1840 when Fulani elements from Ilorin were repelled by combined Yoruba forces, drawn from all supporting towns of Oyo power, in line with defence arrangement perfected by Yoruba leaders led by Alaafin Atiba should be adopted.

On the meeting of the South West governors in Akure Taiwo said,”It is too late to cry when the head is off. We have had enough of Myetti Allah people. We don’t think anything good can come out of it.”

“They have killed us, messed us up enough. We have had enough patience in the land. Brigands come killing, maiming our people. To now come and say you’re meeting with Myetti Allah is a concession that they are the ones causing mayhem.”

“The only way forward is to protect ourselves. These people are incorrigible because they have godfathers who are propping them. They have given them license to do whatever they like.”

“Buhari is a tribalistic Fulani man and he is not pretending. He doesn’t care what happens to others as long as Fulani exist. So, why are you negotiating with them. They have done enough havoc to us. We only need to protect ourselves”.

​I remain an APC member, there’s need for good people in APC, PDP to merge — Okorocha

Former Governor of Imo State, and the Senator representing Imo West Senatorial District, Rochas Okorocha, yesterday, said that he is still a member of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Okorocha stated this in Owerri through a statement from his Special Adviser on Media, Sam Onwuemeodo, after a meeting with members of APC of his rescue mission and that of Daniel Nwafor’s leadership where he reacted to report that he is planning to form a new political party.

According to Okorocha: “Our Party is APC. Don’t be confused when I said that there were bad people and good people in both APC and PDP. And that the good people in the two parties should come together for the good of the nation. I was talking about a movement and not party.

“I have not left APC. I am still in APC. Nobody has stake in APC more than me. The worst insults I had in Imo and in the South-East in 2015 were because of APC and President Muhammadu Buhari. APC was formed by President Buhari, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, myself and few other people. But those on congratulation trip, have taken over the Party.”

Okorocha said that “Daniel Nwafor and others duly elected as the executives of the party remain as such. Those who want to destroy the party lied to President Buhari. The judgements on the issue all stated that the NEC of the party or the governor, cannot remove the Party Excos. The party Executives can only be removed by Convention.

“Whatever they do here without the duly elected Party officials in the State, including the planned registration exercise, expected to begin on Monday, would be null and void. We do not recognize Governor Uzodinma’s APC in Imo. That’s not APC in Imo State. How many APC members are among his more than 120 appointees? None of Course.”

​Maternal, child mortality: I’ll change the narrative in Lagos —Sanwo-Olu

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has expressed commitment to change the narrative of maternal and child mortality indices in Lagos, just as he renewed his promises to provide affordable accommodation to the masses in the state.

Sanwo-Olu said this while commissioning Nigeria’s first Edge-Certified Lagos State Eco-Friendly affordable public housing scheme, comprising 252 units of two-bedroom bungalows, unveiling a new Maternal and Childcare Centre, and the School of Anesthesia, located in Idale, Badagry Local Government Area, and Badagry General Hospital, respectively.

He said: “I am immensely proud to handover the newly constructed and equipped four-floor 110-bed Maternal and Child Centre, and the School of Anesthetic Studies, Badagry, to the people of Badagry.

“Maternal and child mortality is so close to my heart that I am ready to do everything within my personal and official capacity to put an end to it in Lagos State. In most developing countries including Nigeria, there are disturbing maternal, newborn and child mortality indices, but under my watch, Lagos State will change the narrative.

“Through consistent action and smart investments, our women will no longer die while giving birth; we will eradicate infant and under-5 mortality in our State.”

While noting that his administration would not pay lip service to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, Sanwo-Olu said that his administration was taking steps to ensure that residents have greater access to all they need for a peaceful and prosperous life in every sphere.

The Governor disclosed that the facility, since commencement of operation late December, 2020, had recorded 3000 out-patient clinic attendance, adding that 49 normal deliveries and 60 caesarian sections were also carried out at the centre.

He said: “With the inauguration of this Maternal and Child Centre, the people of Badagry and adjoining communities now have increased access to quality and safe healthcare, reduction or even complete eradication of maternal and infant mortality as well as general improvement in all maternal and child health indices in this local government.

“All these benefits will in turn have a positive ripple effect on the development of socio-economic indices of Badagry.”

​Int’l Education Day: Adefulire commends Buhari over reduction in out of-school-children

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, Princess Adejoke Orelope Adefulire, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari on the drastic reduction in the number of out-of-school children in the country.

Adefulire’s commendation came against the backdrop of the recent revelation that the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria has reduced from a 10.1million in 2019 to 6.95 million in 2020.

Recall that the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu had disclosed during his ministry’s annual press briefing that the reduction was through the Federal Government’s Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) initiative.

Reacting to the development in a statement she issued to mark the 2020 International Education Day, Princess Orelope Adefulire said the reduction in the number of out-of-school children was a reflection of the importance attached to education by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

She also commended the Minister of Education, the World Bank, and other stakeholders who contributed to the achievement.

The International Day of Education is being marked on Monday 25 January this year.

The day is being marked under the theme ‘Recover and Revitalize Education for the COVID-19 Generation,’ in recognition of the unprecedented disruptions of learning by the pandemic across the world.

Princess Orelope-Adefulire noted that like all other countries, Nigeria has not been spared the negative effect of the pandemic on her educational system.

But she noted that the recent decision of the Federal and State Governments to reopen schools is a step in the right direction while appealing to all stakeholders in the educational sector to ensure strict adherence to all protocols fashioned out to stop the spread of COVID-19.

She said: “In this vein, I commend our leaders at the national and sub-national levels for their commitment which has resulted in the safe return of our children to schools across the country as well as our teachers for helping to keep our wards safe by ensuring that they adhere to all the necessary protocols to limit the spread of COVID-19.”

Adefulire promised that her office will continue to contribute its quota as well as support other stakeholders in efforts to achieve Goal 4 of the 2030 Agenda of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promotion of lifelong learning for all.