₦airaland Forum

The All Progressives Congress, APC, National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Saturday, said that the blood that runs through his veins is the same blood that runs in every Nigerian veins.

Tinubu who paid a condolence visit to Senator Aliyu Wamakko (APC- Sokoto) on the demise of his daughter, Sadiya Aliyu, called for unity, noting that the country could achieve nothing without unity.

Recall that former President Olusegun Obasanjo had said that Nigeria is fast drifting to a failed and divided country, noting that mismanagement of diversity and socio-economic development is one of the major reasons behind the country’s ordeal.

His words: “Today, Nigeria is fast drifting to a failed and badly divided state, economically our country is becoming a basket case and poverty capital of the world, and socially, we are firming up as an unwholesome and insecure country.

“And these manifestations are the products of recent mismanagement of diversity and socio-economic development of our country.

“Old fault lines that were disappearing have opened up in greater fissures and with drums of hatred, disintegration and separation and accompanying choruses being heard loud and clear almost everywhere.

“It would appear that anybody not dancing to the drum beat nor joining in chorus singing would be earmarked as ethnically unpatriotic or enemy of its tribe or geographical area. In short, the country is fast moving to the precipice.
But happily, I observed that the five socio-cultural political groups gathered here have been getting together to find common ground, areas of agreement or accord for moving Nigeria away from tipping over.

“Before continuing, let me say that we must remind those who are beating the drums of disintegration and singing choruses of bitterness, anger and separation that if even Nigeria is broken up, the separated parts will still be neighbours. And they will have to find accommodation as neighbours or they will be ever at war. And those who prevent justice to be done invite violence to reign.”

Harping on unity, former Lagos state governor opined: “We have to unite to develop our country. The blood that runs in my veins is the same blood that runs in every Nigerian veins.

“Whether I am Yoruba and you are Fulani, Hausa or Igbo, the essence of our life is that we are Nigerians.

“Therefore, we should always dwell and take Nigeria first in everything we do for the good of our country,” he said.

EXCLUSIVE: President Buhari’s Powerful Nephew Mamman Daura Flown To UK For Urgent Medical Treatment

Mamman Daura, a nephew and close confidant of President Muhammadu Buhari, has been flown to the United Kingdom for urgent medical treatment over an undisclosed ailment, SaharaReporters has reliably gathered.

Daura, 79, was said to have been flown in a private jet to the UK on Wednesday (today) after exhibiting respiratory difficulties with symptoms similar to Coronavirus since last Friday.

The former journalist, who is an integral member of the 'Cabal', a group of influential individuals around President Buhari, who help him make key decisions, is said to have had a history of renal crisis and had regularly visited the West for medical attention.

Recall that earlier this month, Daura came under widespread criticisms after he said that zoning of the Presidency in Nigeria should be jettisoned for competence.

Speaking with the BBC Hausa, he said the zoning formula had failed Nigeria and should be abandoned.

In April, another 'Cabal' member and late Chief of Staff to President Buhari, Abba Kyari, died from Coronavirus complications.

A key member of the Buhari's administration, his demise sent panic across Nigeria's seat of power, forcing drastic safety measures to be adopted to protect the President, who has himself battled an undisclosed ailment and had visited UK several times in recent years for medical attention.

The Oyo State Government has said that a total of 441 First Class graduates in different fields applied for the computer-based test that commenced in Ibadan on Tuesday.

The Chairman, Oyo State Teaching Service Commission, Pastor Akinade Alamu, made the disclosure during the monitoring of the exercise at the University of Ibadan computer-based test centre.

It was learnt that the exercise, billed to run till Saturday, attracted applicants from all the zones of the state.

Alamu said the interest of the First Class candidates in teaching was a significant turnaround for the education sector in the state, as the present administration would ensure the judicious application of available resources.

He said, “The government of Oyo State is desirous of lifting education to a higher level, so that we will have as much as the best among our applicants.

“We want to bring back the pride attached to teaching in the old; it is the best profession and if we have the best hands joining, it is a good omen.”

The state Chairman, Nigerian Union of Teachers, Samson Adedoyin, said the computer-based test was the first of its kind, as it depicted love for probity and professionalism in public service.

Lagos State Government Thursday said it spends between N100,000 and N1m daily on each of the coronavirus patients in the state.

The Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, stated this at a briefing to provide an update on efforts being taking by the state in managing COVID-19.

Abayomi said for mild and moderate cases, the state government spends averagely about N100,00 daily, while it costs the state government about N500,000 and N1m to treat a patient with a serious or intensive COVID-19 case.

He, however, said it is very difficult to calculate what is cost the state government to treat a COVID-19 but what he provided was a rough estimate. According to him, in arriving at the cost he provided, he factored in the treatment, cost of feeding, accommodation, the services provided by the healthcare givers among others.

The commissioner said the state government discontinued the idea of using Rapid Diagnostic Test kits to test patients because research sponsored by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu failed validation, as it provided inaccurate results.

Abayomi also disclosed that 2036 COVID-19 patients have not been picked from the community in the last two weeks due to preferring home treatment, logistic issues, wrong information provided in their forms and inability to reach such patients because their phones were switched off.

On the advisory by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 that some local governments in Lagos be lockdown due to the high positive Coronavirus recorded in such local councils, the commissioner said because of the impossibility of implementing the lockdown made the state government not to consider it.

He added that unlike other states where there are distinct boundaries, Lagos does not have which would make it impossible to implement because residents would move across local governments without knowing they have.

He disclosed that 60 per cent of the positive COVID-19 cases in Lagos were shared among five local councils of Eti-Osa, Alimosho, Kosofe, Ikeja and Oshodi-Isolo, though Eti-Osa tops.

According to the commissioner, the state government would be increasing the bed capacity of its isolation centres by 220 beds, as a 70-bed space would be commissioned today at Ajao Estate while another 150-bed space would be unveiled next week in Yaba.

He warned residents against patronising laboratories not accredited by the state government to carry out COVID-19 test, maintaining that not all labs can conduct coronavirus tests. He further said that more private labs would be accredited to join the seven already approved. He disclosed that the seven labs have conducted 1538 tests in the last 14 days.

Abayomi stated that the state hopes to reach its peak in rising COVID-19 cases in August, which would then be followed by a flattening of the curve and decrease.

He further said the government would launch its home-based care management in the next few weeks, promising to continue to increase its testing capacity from one to about two to four thousand in the coming days.