Mutiny: Okoh Urges Jonathan, Military to Forgive Convicted Soldiers

THE Primate, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, has appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan and the military authorities to spare the lives of the Nigerian soldiers sentenced to death over allegations of mutiny.

He noted that even though military laws are very strict, there was the need to temper justice with mercy considering the huge number of lives lost in the country in the fight against insurgency.

Answering questions from journalists at the 2014 Communicators Conference in Abuja, the Primate said:

     "The soldiers have invested
      their lives in the defence of the
      nation, they shouldn’t only see
      their error; they should equally
      see the good they have done. It
      is left for Jonathan to
      reconsider. Human beings can
      make mistakes; it is a good
      thing to forgive. The war
      against Boko Haram has
      consumed so many people and
      we shouldn’t add more."

     "Military law is a very strict law
      but we appeal that they temper
      justice with mercy and spare
     their lives."

He stressed the need for Nigerians to shun violence, insurgency, religious bigotry and tribalism, adding that we should build a country that gives hope to the future generation.

According to him, Nigeria was supposed to be very mature at 54.

     "We are not where we ought to
      be because we have not been
      fair to ourselves; we have
      brought a lot of obstacles to
      our march to progress like the
      issue of Boko Haram,
      kidnapping, tribalism and
      sectionalism and other vices
      that have brought setback to
      our growth and development."

     "We need to allow the overall
      common good of the people
      otherwise we can’t make it. This
      administration should be our
      transition into the fuller life;
      there should be no
      retrogression.”

Guardian

Fresh violence in Plateau

In this report, the Vanguard says renewed violence has erupted in four villages in the Bachit District of Riyom Local Government area of Plateau State as 12 persons were reportedly killed by suspected Fulani herdsmen and many houses including that of late Senator Gyang Dantong burnt.

The midnight raids which took place Thursday also saw one security personnel attached to the Special Task Force, STF killed.

A villager who did not want to be named said the four villages were attacked simultaneously at about 1am and hundreds of people displaced.

However, Majority Leader and Member representing Riyom Constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon. Daniel Dem who confirmed the attack said nine people were killed in a simultaneous attack carried out by Fulani herdsmen who also burnt houses including that of late Sen. Gyang Dantong.

Dem added that rumours had been ongoing since last week about impending attacks on the communities but no one believed them because of series of meetings which had been held and the fragile peace which residents were enjoying for sometime now.

He said normalcy was restored as a result of intervention of the operatives of the Special Task Force, but called for adequate security measures in the affected communities to enable the villagers continue with normal activities.

Hon. Dem also called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to assist the victims with relief materials to cushion the effect of the attack.

Politics: Tinubu, Mark visit Obasanjo, held separate closed-door meetings

Obasanjo’s Hilltop residence in Abeokuta played host to Senate President, David Mark, and former Lagos State Governor and national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Friday.

Both men held separate closed-door meetings with former President, Olusegun Obasanjo. And after their meetings, they said the issues discussed bordered on the state of the nation.

Emerging from the venue of the meeting, Tinubu who came ahead of Mark, said he had discussion with Obasanjo on "some of his former boys" who would vie for elective positions in the 2015 general elections, especially the Presidency.

He said,

     "We are here to pay homage to
      our former President and
      discuss with him because he
      has a number of influences in
      the political sphere."

     "We need to talk to find out his
      thinking about Nigeria and the
      future. We need to seek his
      observation on some of his
      former boys who are running
      for Presidency in our party."

He, however, said there was nothing worth celebrating about Nigeria’s 54th independence anniversary since the country remained “an invalid baby in incubator.”

Mark who arrived later at about 2 pm, also described Obasanjo as the father of the nation with a wealth of experience.

The Senate President told journalists after the meeting that he had come with his team, including Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan; the PDP Women Leader, Mrs. Josephine Anenih; and Senator Polycarp Nwite, among others to discuss with the former President and raise some basic issues that affect both the party and the nation.

He said,

    "We discussed issues that will
     move Nigeria forward because
     Chief Obasanjo’s love for
     Nigeria is unquantifiable. So,
     we had a good discussion with
     him."

Boko Haram: 4-day curfew imposed in Borno by military

The military y e s t e r d a y
announced a four-day curfew in
Borno State following intelligence
report indicating plans by Boko
Haram to attack public buildings,
places of worship and markets.

Spokesman of the 7 Division of the
Nigerian Army Maiduguri, Colonel
Sani Usman, a Deputy Director of
Army Relations (DDAPR), said
intelligence available to security
agencies in the state shows that
Boko Haram planned to attack
various places including praying
grounds during the Muslim festival
using improvised explosive devices
(IEDs). The curfew, according to
him, takes effect from Friday
evening till Monday morning.

“Report at the disposal of the
security agencies reveals that
Boko Haram terrorists have
perfected plans to launch multiple
bomb explosions in Maiduguri
metropolis and other major towns
across Borno State during the Eid-
El-Kabir celebrations 2014 using
motorcycles, tri-cycles, etc. Their
main targets include Sallah praying
grounds, markets and other public
places.

“In view of this, all manner of
vehicular movement are banned in
the entire state from 5pm on
Friday, October 3, 2014 to 7am on
Monday, October 6, 2014.

Members of the general public are
advised to perform their Eid-el-
Kabir prayers at praying grounds
nearest to their respective
residences,” Usman said through
the statement.

He said necessary security
measures are being implemented
by security agencies in the state
but warned residents “to comply
fully with this embargo.” He said
defaulters will be severely
sanctioned, adding that workers on
essential services such as hospitals
and fire services with clear
identification will be exempted
from the restriction of movement.

He appealed to people to report
any “suspicious movement of
persons or vehicles around their
environment to the nearest
security agencies.”

Sun

US SENDS MEDICAL EXPERTS TO STUDY HOW NIGERIA TACKLED EBOLA

HEALTH PERSONNEL IN PROTECTIVE KITS AT THE NATIONAL HOSPITAL IN ABUJA ON TUESDAY (12/8/14).
Photo Credit: VanguardNgr.com

Stunned by the entrance of the Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, into America, the United States’ Center for Disease Control and Prevention has despatched its personnel to study how Nigeria contained the killer disease.

The US reported on Tuesday that it has discovered a case of EVD in Dallas, Texas, but its health officials said “the crisis is under control and the public has nothing to fear.”

A statement released by US CDC Director Tom Frieden said “it’s clear the nation needs a quick and thorough response to its first Ebola patient.”

He said although Nigeria was not completely out of the woods, “their extensive response to a single case of Ebola shows that control is possible with rapid, focused interventions.” Apart from Nigeria, the US will also visit Senegal to study its model.

Frieden said “the best practices in Nigeria and Senegal suggest the U.S. should monitor all individuals who may have been exposed to Ebola and establish a dedicated management and response system.”

Senegal has had no new reported cases of Ebola since Sept. 18 while Nigeria has not reported new ones since August 31, US health officials are expected in Nigeria which it claimed had the best practices in combating Ebola Virus disease which entered into Nigeria through Liberian born American citizen Mr. Patrick Sawyer whose index case was reported on July 20, 2014.

Nigeria is expected to officially announce today that the remaining two potential Ebola patients will exit the 21-day observation period.

How Nigeria stopped the spread of Ebola

According to US CDC, “Nigeria’s first reported case of Ebola surfaced July 20, when Patrick Sawyer landed in Lagos from Liberia and exposed 72 other passengers to the virus. Nigeria’s Health officials quickly issued notifications and tracked everybody who may have been in contact with Sawyer.

“Nigeria also established an Ebola Incident Management Center to handle the potential outbreak and developed a staffing plan that executed a social mobilization strategy that reached more than 26,000 households of people living around the contacts of Ebola patients.”

The deadly virus has killed more than 3,000 people in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia in the largest outbreak ever recorded.

How Senegal contained Ebola

Senegal confirmed its first Ebola case Aug. 29 after a man, traveling from Guinea on Aug. 14, took ill and showed symptoms of the disease. This prompted a quick response, including an experienced and trained staff that was prepared to contain the Ebola outbreak.

The procedure led to the identification of 67 contacts who were placed under quarantine, monitored for 21 days and showed no symptoms of Ebola.

Panic in America

The man who imported Ebola into US was found to have travelled to Liberia without informing the authorities and did not disclose the nature of his ailment to the nurse that attended to him.

Reports from Texas yesterday said that the Nurse who attended to the man has also taken ill for Ebola in Texas.

A spokesman for Texas Health Presbyterian said the patient had walked into a Dallas emergency room on September 26, without knowing that he contacted the deadly virus and left after he was treated. He then returned to the facility on September 28 where it was determined he likely had Ebola and was isolated. He tested positive Tuesday, health officials said.

Following the lapse on the part of the hospital officials, questions are being asked amid panic across the country. The CDC has thus advised that all medical facilities should ask for patients with symptoms consistent with Ebola for their travel history.

Source: VanguardNGr

For Love

Today, I'll pour out my inky emotions
On these thirsty pages of love
So they can spur my overflowing passion
To your pinnacle of billowing care

Today, let me go back to time immemorial
And chew on the reminiscent of your smile
That inspired my heart crust
And made me a persona of sweet tingles

Today, Let me stare into oblivion
Wishing I could capture the sky
And pluck an emollient star
To be presented anytime you made a wish

Love, I am baptised by your care
Soaked by your understanding
For you gave me your heartbeat
When I cracked mine on the rock of selfishness

Lo, like the law of demand
As  the price of time fades
My quantity of glee for you basks higher

Let us forever be -always affection
Stapled on the grace of the lord-to caution
Soar in his mercies of peace with moderation
Forever, till death do us path-ne'er division

I LOVE THE CHURCH

SAD: FAMILY OF 5 DIE OF FOOD POISONING IN THEIR HOME

Nigeria’s independence day, which was widely celebrated yesterday, has turned sour in Itamaga area of Ikorodu as a family of five, including four boys and their mother, were found dead in their residence. The bodies were found in their uncompleted building located on 8, Kunle Owooade Close.

According to eyewitnesses, they were last seen on Friday before their bodies were found on Tuesday, with three of them already decomposing. One died on the way to the hospital.

Three of the children were found in one room, while their mother had soiled herself and was with her last born in another room when sympathisers broke into their apartment.

The alarm was raised around 8pm on Tuesday, when neighbours noticed an offensive oozing out of the building.

They had called emergency numbers in the state, which did not yield a positive result until yesterday.

According to the residents, sympathisers were astonished that they could not receive any assistance from the much publicised emergency numbers.

The sympathisers also invited Policemen from Ikorodu Division who rushed to the scene, but did not offer any assistance, suspecting a case of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease.

The incident has been generating controversy in the neighbourhood as some attributed it to food poisoning.

Naijezie