Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 2, 2017
Senator Abe commends three trekkers on his victory Amaka Agbu, Port Harcourt
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Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, representing Rivers South East Senatorial District, on Sunday received three youths who trekked from Port Harcourt to Bera, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, to congratulate him on his re-election in the December 10, 2016, legislative rerun election in the state. The three young trekkers had embarked on the journey on Wednesday December 14, 2016, and arrived Bera, Gokana LGA on Thursday December 15, 2016. However, they could not meet with the then Senator-elect until yesterday when he publicly received and honoured them. The trekkers are Nuhu Taminu (24 years) from Nasarawa State, Monday Joseph (20 years) from Nasarawa state, and Blessing Peter (23) from Abia state. Receiving the youths at his residence in Port Harcourt, Senator Abe said that it was unfortunate that he could not meet them when they arrived Bera, Gokana, his home town, because of his trip to Abuja for his swearing-in. “I was actually in Abuja when I heard that they had embarked on a walk from Port Harcourt to my village to come and congratulate me. I didn’t have the opportunity to receive them then. I heard they were threatened by some PDP thugs along the way but they persisted and insisted that they must keep to their promise. That is why I decided to send for them to acknowledge them publicly and to say that
Gunmen abduct Kogi traditional ruler, demand N20m ransom ÏÏÏ
Some unknown gunmen have abducted a traditional ruler in Kogi, a family source said in Lokoja on Sunday. The monarch, whose name was given as Alhaji Isah Achuja, the Ohi of Ajaokuta, was returning from Lokoja, the state capital, on Saturday when his vehicle was intercepted on the LokojaAjaokuta road at gunpoint and the ruler taken to an unknown destination. A member of the royal family, who did not want his name in print, told newsmen that an aide to the traditional ruler and his driver narrowly escaped being hit by the bullets of the abductors. He said the abductors had already contacted the family and demanded a N20 million ransom. Contacted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the State Police Command’s spokesman, ASP Williams Aya, said the incident had not been reported to the command. He, however, promised that police would swing into action in a bid to to rescue the monarch as soon as the details of the abduction were available.
Nigeria remains a free country and people in this country are free to do what their minds tell them; they are free to walk to any part of Nigeria that they want to walk to in order to express themselves,” Senator Abe said. He commended them for their courage, stating that their resistance is a reflection that freedom, which was a tenet of democracy, was a right of citizens for which the Nigerian constitution guaranteed and congratulated them on their discipline and commitment to un-
dertake the journey. Senator Abe pointed out that what they had displayed was a statement that Nigeria was a democracy where citizens had a right to express their feelings unmolested in accordance with the law. According to him: “You are a symbol of the Nigeria that we want to build; a country that cuts across ethnic and religious lines; a country where people can express themselves freely without fear. You are also the symbol of courage that we want to see in the young people of
this country.” The former Secretary to Rivers State Government said his problem with PDP and Gov. Nyesom Wike was that “they do not want the people to exercise their freedom in the choice of their candidate rather they prefer to intimidate the people and select winners.” Senator Abe said his election has showed that the will of the people will triumph if only the Nigerian state will protect and guarantee their right of freedom against the enemies of democracy.
L-R: Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris; wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode; Mother of the new born Baby, Mrs. Aderonke Akande; Her Husband, Olumide during, the presentation of gifts to new year baby at the Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, Lagos… on Sunday. Photo: OLAWALE ROTIMI.
Immunise your children against killer diseases, Ambode’s wife counsels mothers
Benjamin Omoike
ÏÏÏWife of Lagos state governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, on Sunday urged mothers to always immunize their children against killer diseases, just as she encouraged pregnant women to cultivate the habit of washing their hands to avoid infection. Mrs. Ambode, who spoke during the presentation of gifts to first babies of the year at three different health centres in the State, said it was important for mothers to always ensure that children have the full complement of routine immunization, while expectant mothers should always attend ante and post-natal clinics. The Wife of the Governor, during the celebration, presented gifts to first babies of the year at Badagry General Hospital, Amuwo Odofin Maternal and Child Centre and Lagos Island Maternity Hospital. The annual First- Baby- Of-TheYear celebration started in 2000
and the Office of the First Lady, through the initiative, celebrates the first baby born from 12 midnight on new year’s eve. Speaking at the occasion, Mrs Ambode said nursing mothers should take advantage of routine immunization provided by the State Government through the primary healthcare centres to protect their children. She said: “I would like to encourage mothers to always ensure that children have the full complement of routine immunization available in all the primary healthcare centres across the State, and to also make good use of family planning services. “Expectant mothers should cultivate the habit of washing their hands to avoid infection and should attend ante natal and postnatal clinics regularly,” she noted. Mrs. Ambode commended the State Government for transforming the health sector through massive infrastructure upgrade,
personnel training and provision of modern equipment, adding that the new health insurance scheme planned for commencement soon, would significantly boost the State’s health credentials. She also thanked the corporate organizations that had partnered all the hospitals chosen for the first baby of the year programme and the State Government in the pursuit of excellent healthcare delivery, while urging other organizations to step up their corporate social responsibility efforts on worthy causes. Mrs. Ambode, however, counseled parents on the importance of birth registration upon delivery. Mum’s packs, baby essentials and other baby gifts were presented to the babies and their parents by the Wife of the Governor. The first baby was delivered in Badagry and Island Maternity at 12:01am simultaneously, both male, weighing 2.8kg and 3.1kg respectively.
19 News Olokoro Professionals challenged over innovation, advancement in technology Sunday Nwakanma, Umuahia
ÏÏÏOlokoro
Professionals have been challenged to make innovation and advancement of technology part of their culture and called for the establishment of a polytechnic in Olokoro, a community in Umuahia. The resource person and traditional ruler of Amangwo-Olokoro autonomous community, Umuahia South L.G.A, of Abia state, HRH Eze Dr. Chris. N. Onyegbule made the challenge during the maiden conference of Olokoro Professionals’ Forum (OPF) worldwide, last week, held with the theme ‘Olokoro in the 21st century: Prospects and Challenges in Development and Empowerment.’ Presenting a paper on the theme at Olokoro civic hall, Eze Dr. Onyegbule said with the favoured topography of Olokoro, the people should think about development of clusters of small scale industries, adding that in the face of a competitive and technology driven 21st century, the people of Olokoro need to engage in serious strategic planning (at least for a period of five years) with a view to determining where they want to be in the future and develop benchmarks. The royal father said in order not to lag behind in the world that is now very competitive, the community needs to go for qualitative and motivational leadership at all levels of the clan, adding that such leaders must undergo regular training to ensure effectiveness. Interacting with newsmen shortly after the event, the OPF coordinator, Don Ndubuka said the forum is about moulding the future of Olokoro by connecting people, ideas and resources and to cater for the welfare of members, inspire the people to be best they can be in the clan. He said the theme of the conference is apt and timely as it will encourage Olokoro people to know where they should be in the 21st century. “The conference has achieved its goal because the message has been delivered, the people will now take the message home, that our people should respond to the modern trend of life that is visible in the 21st century”. The coordinator advised Olokoro youths to be innovative in what they are doing. “For instance, a young man whose parents happened to be traders should try to understand how his parents were able to make it through trading and were able to pay their school fees through trading. So, if your mother or father is a trader and you are an engineer and there is no engineering job for you, what do you do? You buy into the trading your father is into and that is what we call comparative advantage. Instead of carrying your certificate, going around the town, looking for job, there is already developed business in the system for you. That is the advice we are set to give them”, Don Ndubuka pointed out.