₦airaland Forum

Nigerian constitution is supposed to surpass any personal sympathy, especially when it has to do with the concerns of about 150M ppl.

Secretary to the Govern-ment of Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Yayale, has explained why the Executive Council of the Federation (EXCOF) did not invoke Section 144 of the constitution to declare ailing President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua incapacitated and remove him from office.
He said it was borne out of “deep sense of responsibility, concern and sympathy”, and the resolve not to “give more pain or injury to the personality of the president, to the dignity of the president and his immediate family”.

Addressing a World Press Conference at the National Press Club, Washington DC, USA yesterday, Yayale, who is also a member of EXCOF, described the leadership crisis that trailed Yar’Adua’s illness as Nigeria’s “most trying period”.
Responding to a question from THISDAY on the speculations that the newly inaugurated EXCOF may declare President Yar’Adua incapacitated, Yayale said: “Possibilities are possibilities and you don’t throw out any possibility. The most important thing as far as the president’s health is concerned is the way we are managing it. Managing it with deep sense of responsibility, concern and sympathy, so that any action that the Nigerian government does take, of course it is his own government, does not give more pain or injury to the personality of the president, to the dignity of the president and his immediate family.
“Therefore, in any given situation or circumstances, it demands that you conduct yourself in a very responsible manner and since government work is moving on, we do not think we should divert our attention on something which will not make any difference on how we resolve as a nation to move forward.”

Delving into the political uncertainty that enveloped the nation because of President Yar’Adua’s health, Yayale said: “We have also recently witnessed from the political angle, certain challenges following the unfortunate illness of our President, Umaru Yar’Adua. Our constitution made provision on how to deal with that. But the constitution, however perfect, may not have the solution to all our problems. In case our president falls sick, Section 145 requires him to transmit to the National Assembly, before going on holiday that he will not be able to perform before this or that time. When the transmission is effected, it means that the Vice President will act as president.

“The constitution did not envisage a situation whereby the governor or the president will undertake a state visit, or say our president going to Ghana for example, and then falls sick or even in coma. No section takes care of that and no way would a president in that kind of position be able to transmit a letter. So what do you do? And no doctor would certify that the president will not come back. So do you stay till the next six months until the President revives or what do you do? Can anybody transmit on his behalf? These are some of the issues that the constitution cannot really give answer to.
“That is why in the wisdom of the National Assembly, they sat and passed a resolution that in the absence of the President transmitting physically, the vice president should assume responsibility and applied the doctrine of necessity which saved the country from this leadership tussle.”

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=170465

Even though they did not give details of the health condition of the president for fear of misrepresentation, they had confirmed that Mr. Yar’Adua is sick.

Source: 234Next
[quote][/quote]Dont we know he is sick before?

IF YOU DRESS WELL AND WALK THRU NEW BENIN MARKET IN BENIN, YOUR OWN DON FINISH, EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT CARRYING ANY LAPTOP. B4 YOU KNOW IT NEW BENIN POLICE MEN WILL ROUND YOU UP IMMEDIATELY AND TELL YOU STRAIGHT THAT YOU ARE A YAHOO BOY.
YOUR PHONE WILL BE COLLECTED, AND IF ANY INTERNATIONAL NO. IS FOUND, WAHALA DON SET. EVEN IF ITS YOUR FATHER,S NUMBA, OR UR RELATIVE ABROAD THEY DONT CARE, THEY WILL SAY YOU ARE A YAHOO BOY AND YOU WILL BE DRAGGED STRAIGHT TO THE STATION.

IF YOU ARE SEEN WITH A FLASH, YOU DON DIE BE THAT,THEY WILL FORCE YOU TO WRITE STATEMENT THAT THE FLASH CONTAINS FRAUDULENT THINGS.

THIS IS NOT JUST JOKE, IT IS SO EMBARASSING AND PAINFUL.
MOST TIMES, THEY EVEN HANG-AROUND WESTERN UNION OFFICE, TO ARREST ANY YOUNG GUY COMING OUT AFTER CASHING $

I EVEN KNOW OF A GUY THEY CAUGHT AND LOOK AT HIS PALM AND THEY SAID FROM HIS PALM THEY KNOW HE IS A YAHOO BOY AND THEY BUNDLED HIM INTO THEIR BUS.

As Nigeria’s acting president, Goodluck Jonathan, inaugurates a new cabinet next week, he appears bent on carving his own legacy by dropping ailing President Umaru Yar’Adua’s famous Seven Point agenda.

Mr. Yar’Adua had reduced his blueprint for the socio-political and economic transformation of Nigeria into seven sectors which his government promised to revitalise before the 2011 general election. The failure of his government in revitalising any of those sectors has been the bane of his administration.

Shortly before he dissolved the Executive Council of the Federation therefore, Mr. Jonathan was under severe pressure from influential Nigerians to dump the ailing president’s agenda, which had formed the pivot of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) programme.

Growing pressure

A presidency source disclosed that the agenda is scheduled for review once the new federal cabinet is inaugurated.

“There is a growing pressure on the acting president to review and possibly streamline the seven point agenda for a lasting and effective performance,” said the source. “A decision will be reached soon.”

The source said Mr. Jonathan will be substituting Mr. Yar’Adua’s agenda with something more practical. Speaking in the same vein, Ima Niboro, the acting president’s spokesman said, “Too much emphasis has been put on the seven-point agenda, particularly in the media. It is not a living document; just a set of guidelines that the Yar’Adua administration has used to implement key strategies. It would be foolish of us not to build on the very good work that has been done in the past three years. Some of the things will be adopted by the Acting President and yes other things will also be brought in. We are not completely discarding the ideas which have been proven to work.”

PDP keeps watch

As Mr. Jonathan considers changing the policies outlined in the Seven Point Agenda, it is not known how the change will be received by the PDP whose National Working Committee continues to watch the situation in silence. The opposition Action Congress (AC) has however advised Mr. Jonathan to throw out the seven point agenda without further delay.

According to Lai Mohammed, the party’s national publicity secretary, the government should concentrate on just three key areas of governance.

“Our position in the AC is that the acting president should just concentrate the government’s focus on the three major areas of electoral reform, Niger Delta and power instead of continuing with seven point agenda,” he said. “While the others are no less important, he should concentrate mostly on electoral reform. This is because electoral reform forms the basis and foundation of good governance, which is necessary for the country’s development.”

Mr. Mohammed’s view was echoed by Festus Iyayi, a former president of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, who also urged the government to concentrate on just three prime areas of governance.

“If I have to advise the acting president, especially as he has a short time to spend, he should concentrate on just two or three agendas instead of wasting time on a long list of seven points that are not achievable,” Mr. Iyayi said. “The government should address the problem of Niger Delta within the context of energy and work towards the provision of infrastructure. In terms of the processes leading to the formation of a government, Acting President Jonathan must address the problem of electoral reform properly.”

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5549557-146/jonathan_drops_seven-point_agenda__.csp

Sun of god:
His tongue was cut out to patch up his leaking liver,

And then his prick was cut off and used to replace his tongue

Propagandist - The guy is dead - Believe nothing else!

LMAO

Watching football is not peculiar to only Nigeria, all over europe, asia, other african countries, america, it has become popular. Especially America, their college students partake in so many other sports like basketball, hockey, and the popular rugby. These ppl still do well acadamically. Even in most junior world cup events, most of the players of these nations are college students, and i have not heard such funny news like this. All schools organise sports activities and it is been encouraged.

In universities, almost everyone is a fan of a particular football teams and dont miss matches, European champions league match is never missed.
Maybe you should just walk into a hostel common room during a live premiership match between 2 big teams or during a champions league then you will see the addiction.

Many of these students are still scholars acadamically. It is just a matter of discipline. Watching football will not in any way affect your acadamic performance if you discipline your self. Infact there are so many social activities, even more time consuming that ppl engage in apart from football, and they are still doing very well.

So this is a universal thing and only nigeria should not just take its stand.

The testimony by the Chief Imam of the Abuja National Mosque Sheikh Musa Mohamed last night about his encounter with the ailing President Umaru Yar’adua substantially confirms Daily Trust’s lead story of Monday, March 22, which reported that though Yar’adua has made much progress physically, he appears to be suffering from a loss partial of speech.

Chief Imam’s account of their meeting indicated that there was minimal communication between Yar’adua and his four visitors, though he participated actively in the prayers said for him. Daily Trust’s earlier report, quoting sources close to the president, said Yar’adua does not communicate effectively and had brought with him a speech therapist from the King Fahd Hospital in Saudi Arabia.

Quick checks on the internet showed there are as many as 58 likely medical causes of speech loss. They include early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, Angelman Syndrome, poisoning, cerebral hypoxia, brain tumour, cerebral infection, epilepsy, head injury and Huntington’s disease.

Other possible causes are motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke and transient ischaemic attack. Of course, only the President’s doctors could say what caused his partial loss of speech.

http://www.news.dailytrust.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=16682:yaradua-possible-causes-of-loss-of-speech&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=119

@Kobojunkie

Listen, we have qualitative information and quantitative information as well. A qualitative information will give you the presence or indication of something without telling you the details. That is why i said the news is qualitative enough. If you have been in this country, you are supposed to know the quantitative (detailed) aspect of the news as to who are the cabals. I already said before reading the news i already knew Aondoakaa was involved. so likewise, you can know the others. Someone posted a thread here sometime a go for a list of the cabals, i quite over 90% agreed with the names metioned.

Listen, this is not tribalistic ok, and i dont think Aondoakaa is a northerner anyway.

But dont worry, if the news is true and the investigations is sincerely carried out, your quest will be satisfied

As the nation continues to  look  for solution to the problem of mass failure of candidates in public examinations, the Emir of Minna in Niger State, Dr Umar Farouq Bahago, has blamed the trend on addiction of Nigerian youth on the English premier league and other football leagues around the world.

Dr Bahago’s observation came as the Niger State government ruled that it would no longer sponsor candidates that fail its mock examination for the West African Examination Council and the National Examination Council.

The monarch noted the attachment of students to the European league at the expense of their studies, adding that those not involved were either concentrating on hip hop music or other unnecessary things.

The Emir, who spoke at the Annual General Meeting of the Minna Emirate Education Foundation, also blamed parents for their failure to monitor the educational pursuits of their children, saying that things of the world had taken over the attention of parents.

He said that for the education sector of the country to be revived, all stakeholders must rise to check the current downward trend, warning that if this is not done, the future of the country could be in jeopardy.

Niger State Governor, Dr Muazu Aliyu, who had persistently expressed his concern over the poor performance of candidates in public examinations,  reeled out series of policies that the government had put in place to correct the downward trend.

@Kobojunkie

I feel you, but the news is qualitative enough to tell you that these cabals have hidden agenda in the way the issue of Yar, Adua has been manipulated
i had suspected this all these while.
even before reading the news, i already know the notorious Aondoakaa was involved
I cant wait for the day that man will be jailed

Fresh troubles may be in the horizon for members of the kitchen cabinet of ailing President Umaru Yar’Adua as they are said to be explaining how they disbursed a whopping N70 billion allegedly on behalf of the former Katsina governor as security vote between November 2009 and January 2010.

Sources claimed that two former close allies of the ailing leader who failed to make it back to the newly reconstituted cabinet by acting President Goodluck Jonathan, are said to be answering questions over the manner the money was spent and for what purpose.

Yar’Adua left the country for Saudi Arabia on November 23,2009 and was spirited back into the country after spending 93 days at King Faisal specialist Hospital where he received treatment for acute pericarditis.
Security sources also added that the passports of the two former Presidential aides have also been impounded.

Although the name of a third top aide of the ailing leader also, allegedly, came up during the investigation into how the money was spent when the President was on sick bed in a Saudi hospital, the source could not confirm whether his passport has equally been seized.
The seizure of the passports, it was learnt, was to frustrate the former key members of Yar’Adua’s cabal “from fleeing the country and compromise efforts by the Goodluck Jonathan’s administration to hold some former cabinet members accountable for their deeds while Yar’Adua was away”.

Sources claimed that the two aides were responsible for the disbursement of the money while Aondoakaa also gave endorsement to some of the spending. They, allegedly, disbursed huge sums of money running into billions while Yar’Adua was in Saudi Arabia.
The source said, “ before the budget was signed in December 2009, one of the aides who happens to be a point man to Yar’Adua allegedly spent over N16 billion without recourse to the then Vice President, while the other allegedly gave his consent to the disbursements.

Sources said that while part of the N70 billion went into the fight to sustain the Yar’Adua Presidency during his sojourn in the Saudi Hospital, a huge chunk of it went into private pockets and were salted away into some foreign accounts.

The source added that the missing fund is believed to have been used to fund the unrelenting propaganda embarked on during Yar’Adua’s stay in Saudi Arabia and since he was brought back to Abuja.
Part of the money, it was learnt was also used to sponsor various litigations to challenge the proclamation of Jonathan as acting President.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/apr/04/national-04-04-2010-001.htm

Hotstepper:
instead of asking us here, why dont u and your friend go and ask the doctor the reasons.
If he doesnt trust the doc. then he should do it and lets see what happens

Frankly speaking, if you were in his shoes can you ask the doc. such question, especially when you are not marriaged.
Its shameful girl!

xterra2:
@violent-Well thats why there is an April Fool Day a time in a year to say funny jokes
In this section.all day we hear bad news lets keep the bad news for a while and have som fun okay?

Violent does not like fun, he's a sick dude!

Beaf:
[size=14pt]Jilted Java teenager cuts off Joystick, throws it into well[/size]
By Agency Reporter, Published: Wednesday, 31 Mar 2010


Devastated by the news that his girlfriend was going to marry another man, a teenager from a village in Central Java cut off his own Joystick in a fit of despair.

Any hopes of reattaching the severed member were dashed after the 19-year-old threw the appendage into a well and it could not be found by residents of Bantasari village.

According to Indonesian newspaper, Jakarta Globe, director of Cilacap General Hospital, Dr. Sugeng Budi Susanto, said on Monday that it was extremely fortunate that medical personnel were able to save the life of the teenager, who was identified only by the initials AMD.

He arrived at the hospital last Thursday in critical condition from blood loss, Sugeng said. “It was a critical time,” he said. “Cutting off a Joystick can be fatal.”

Sugeng said that after several days in the intensive care unit, the teenager had been transferred to a standard recovery room, though he was being provided with additional security to ward off the swarm of journalists besieging the hospital.

Sugeng appealed to journalists not to bother the family given the sensitive nature of the injury.

“The patient is in shock over what he experienced,” he said. “Reporters can ask the family about this case, but do not interfere with their comfort.”

Though family members declined to comment, a source confirmed that AMD had cut of his Joystick after he discovered his girlfriend intended to marry another man.

“The sliced-off Joystick has not been found,” the source said. “Allegedly, AMD threw it into the well with the intention of committing suicide because he thought nobody would be able to save his life.”

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art2010033113101867

Beaf:
. . .meanwhile, the female population increased by one.

You are fond of bad news, i wonder where you dug out this one.

MRbrownJAY:
8weeks at best depending on how easy/fast the person heals but the important part is that if he trusted that doctor to operate on him then he should trust his judgment on how soon he can have s e x again (doc might have some plausible serious reasons why)

What might be the reasons? I dont really see any connection s ex and the kinda operation had

My friend had an operation, appendicitis and the doc. advised him not to have Xex in the next six (6) months.
This is a young guy (mid 20) that cannot stay a day without.
His life has become misery and he needs urgent help.
Pls whats your suggestion, I think the doctor is wrong.
How can blowing affect appendicitis?

violent:
Now am positive that you are totally incapable of understanding even the simplest things.

Have you in any way seen in any of my post, where i write to support the president's disappearance?

Dude!. . . i was even part of the protest march that took place here in the UK some months back. . .where were you then?

All i'm saying, and this time i really hope you can get it into your numb skull is that, the information about the state of health of the president can simply be confirmed from his specialist!

Lemme break it down further into simpler bits given your unimaginable extremely low IQ.

All his doctor has to say is

"President XYZ was diagnosed of Bleep, on 18th of October 1920, he was rushed to King Faisal hospital on 19th of August 2009. Ever since he has been on admission i and a team of other doctors have seen to it that he receives the best medical care ever. However, on the 19th of September, he fell into deep coma and he is currently recovering, but in my own medical opinion, he is not fit to continue as the president of the federal republic of Nigeria".

That piece of information is enough for Senate to make their decision!


Kapeeesh?

Isnt it funny how you quote and unquote yourself. Initially you said no need to announce the health report cos its confidential, after a better thought you are talking of his specialist announcing the health report of patient XYZ(Yar'adua).Is this not the same thing the group asked for? why then did you now critice this from the begining. Now i see your skull is empty-there is no white substance called brain in it.

violent:
Read through Obama's health report again!

The report says he occasionally smokes, mostly to relieve the pains of tendinitis on his left knee but was given a clean bill of health and was certified as exceptionally fit to rule. . . In America and UK, the fact that someone smokes does not mean he isn't in a good state of health!. . . Most Americans smoke anyway

If the dude had some disgraceful medical condition that is capable of ridiculing the office of the president of United States, you really think US will allow such comprehensive reports to flow through world wide media?-------if you answered yes, then you must really be dumber than i thought.

As for Yaradua's report, all the senate needs is a sincere testimony from his personal doctor on his capacity to rule, that is enough to decide whether to commence impeachment proceedings against him or not.

Publishing his degenerating dying state in national newspaper is certainly a ridicule!. . . the fact that he is the president does not mean he should be denied basic fundamental human rights!

You cannot deceive ppl forever, one day they will wise up. Somebody has not been seen for about 4 months on health issue and up till now he is still called president and you are saying we dont have to know his health status. Can this happen anywhere in the world. Dont you even connect this to US because Obama can never be away for 1 week without American citizens knowing his whereabout.

Guy why cant u just wake up from your slumber. Even when Egyptian president were to underdo an operation in Germany, we all knew his health situation and he honorably handed over to the prime minister.

Its amazing how some foolish folks support what they know is bad and keep wallowing in darkness. I pray your eyez should open one day.

violent:
I am amazed at the level of your ignorance!

The fact that it happened in America does not necessarily mean it should be the standard!

How many times have you read the comprehensive health report of Ariel Sharon, Israeli former prime minister who suffered a massive stroke in 2006?

Wake up people. . .Obama allowed his health report to be released just because he is in a perfect health state, otherwise, such information would only be marked as Classified!. . . . No country is proud to display a dying and degenerating president for public's delight

If you read my earlier posts, you will find out that i ve never been or will never be in support of the fact that Nigerians are side shadowed over the current state of the president's health.

However, trying to compel his doctor to release his comprehensive health report in National newspapers sounds totally senseless to me!. . .a doctor's first duties to his patient is in the line of confidentiality, and unless with the patient's consent or in issues dealing with National security should not release the health report of his patient just because a few individuals will like to amuse themselves.
From all indications, asking for the president's health report to be released in the Newspapers translates more to an object of ridicule rather than a progressive step towards development of the country, besides such thing is only bound to generate a more violent scenario than we are currently witnessing.

Even if the president's comprehensive health report is to be released it would have made sense if it was released to the higher chambers of the senate, who in turn will take actions towards impeachment proceedings if they deem him incapable to ever perform as the president.

You guys really need to start thinking. . . . its really annoying when people think because Obama wears g-strings, presidents all over the world ought to follow suit!

The more you talk, the more you verbalise your ignorance! Who told you Barrack Obama was is a perfect health before his health report was released, did you ever read the report- it even showed that he smokes and he was advised to quit smoking. Try and go thru it before fooling yourself here.
And even if Yar, Adua health report is released to only the senate, i bet it will get here on Nairaland and all of you will definately see it-so whats the point?

Let me ask you a simple question: Are you insinuating that the way the whole issue has been hidden is the perfect way to handle the health issue of a president of over 150M ppl?

violent:
I'm only trying to say its jobless for a group of people to ask a court to compel a doctor to release the medical reports of his patient in a newspaper. . . where in the world is such a thing carried out?

It is meant to be confidential and not something every Tunde, Tayo, and Taofeek can read about over a cup of tea! they should focus their energy on something else.


He is a public citizen-yes! ------but it doesn't mean that anyone who will like to know the colour of his boxers has a right to!

Dont say what you dont know, who says the medical health report of a public office holder like a president is confidential
Few weeks back, Barrack Obama's health report was published in all newpapers all over the world, Check Nationonline for confirmation!
It think you support the cabals or you are just dull

slap1:
So, poster, what is the connection between this report and your silly headline?

you are sick!

ABUJA, Nigeria — A rights group has sued the personal physician of Nigeria's ailing and absent president, seeking medical records about what illness has kept him from public view for months.

The lawsuit by the Socio-economic Rights and Accountability Project asks a judge to force the doctor to publish a report on President Umaru Yar'Adua in major national newspapers. It also asks for the names of those treating Yar'Adua, who hasn't been seen since leaving the country in November for a Saudi Arabian hospital.

Yar'Adua returned Feb. 24 to Nigeria, but still hasn't been seen or heard from.

Yar'Adua's doctor previously said the leader suffered from an inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart. The National Assembly later empowered Vice President Goodluck Jonathan to take over in Yar'Adua's absence.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hW8uWhgiqtcuunO2WIHnk8o2iw6gD9EOBDTO1

Many of you will easily sweep such sensitive issue under the rug, do you think if the PDP insists on maintaining his fraudulent zoning arrangement, will any northern candidate put there to complete the remaining 4 year of Yar adua not be tempted to go beyond 2015 and want to do a 2nd term till 2019? then the 8-8 yrs zoining arrangement will break, so lets consult "method man' who said: why break me up tomorrow when you can break me up today.

The zoning arrangement is evil and its causing tribalism which we are supposed to be preaching against .Why cant they just pick the best candidate since we are all Nigerian, must it come from a region?

Goodluck you can leave pdp and move elsewhere and since you are CIC, stand on a free and fair election. I doubt if pdp has ever won a free and fair election.

Aondoakaa, who was redeployed from the ministry of justice by acting president Goodluck Jonathan said:" I dont have anything to handover. I am still new in the ministry;I resumed work on Tuesday and the cabinent was dissolved Wednesday; I have only treated two files"

The Nation

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, 81, has handed presidential powers temporarily to his prime minister while he undergoes surgery on his gall bladder, state television reported.

Prime Minister Ahmad Nazif would run the country until Mr Mubarak returned.


It said the surgery would take place on Saturday morning.

Mr Mubarak, who on Thursday gave a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, had also temporarily delegated power to Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif in 2004 when he had back surgery.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/egypt/7380465/Egyptian-president-hands-over-power-to-Prime-Minister.html

The sight of a fresh human skull recovered from a gang of ritualists caused a major uproar at the Police Headquarters in Ilorin on Wednesday as those who could not bear the gory sight hurried away from the scene.

The skull, which was covered up in a black polythene bag was said to have been found in possession of one Ibrahim Adamu who said he travelled with the skull from Abuja to Ilorin.

Adamu, a Fulani of about 22 years, told our correspondent that he had contacted one Hassan Ajala, an old man of about 85 years in Kwara, who promised to increase his herd of cows and “produce’’ N35m for him if he could deliver a human skull.

He said that he saw a corpse of a man floating in a river in Gwagwalada, Abuja, and cut off the head and dump the rest in the river.

This was, however, disputed by his accomplice, Samuel Gudugba, who told our correspondent that Adamu had revealed to him that he clubbed the man to death when he saw him bathing in the same river and later cut off his head.

Hassan, suspected to be a native doctor, who looked very frail and could barely walk, however, stated that he was a farmer and knew nothing about the case.

While parading the suspects before journalists in Ilorin, the police authorities, led by Ezekiel Dabo, said they had a tip-off that Adamu, Ajala and Gudugba were in possession of a human skull , prompting them to despatch a team of detectives led by an Assistant Superintendent of Police, Alaku Arijugu, to Ajala’s house.

He said on interrogation, Ajala confessed to committing the crime and led the police to the hideout of his accomplices.

Dabo said that the case had been referred to the anti-homicide section for further investigations.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201001130592550

Presently, about 47,000 HIV/AIDS victims have registered in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The victims registered at 17 Comprehensive Service Centres in the Federal Capital Territory, said the project manager of FCT Agency for the Control of AIDS (FACA), Dr. Oche Okoro. The project manager revealed this recently during the celebrations of the World Aids Day in Abuja.

According to him, "FCT occupies the third position in HIV prevalence cases in Nigeria, with 9.9% which is above the national average of 4%."

He said they are 36 'Heart to heart' centres that offer free HIV/AIDS tests in the territory, adding that anyone found to be infected is documented and enrolled into FACA's programme.

Earlier, FCT Secretary for Health and Human Services, (Mrs) Precious K. Gbeneol, said the World AIDS Days reminding is important in people that HIV has not gone away as well as for stakeholders to ensure that the promise is kept on universal access to HIV treatment care support prevention services. She stressed that in line with this year's theme: Universal access and Human Rights, the present administration is determined to reverse the HIV/AIDS trend in the FCT."

Among the activities outlined for the World AIDS Day celebration are candlelight procession a motorized rally which will kick-off from FCDA, Area 11, as well as a picnic slated for Area 10 Cultural Centre.

http://leadershipnigeria.com/index.php/news/fct/10734-47000-hivaids-victims-in-fct

Dont really know what to say about this

High level intrigues that involved key principal officers of the Presidency and some lawmakers led to the failure of a debate on President Umaru Yar’Adua’s absence for 50 days on health grounds without handing over to Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan.

It was gathered that the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Dr. Abba Aji, played a key role in a covert meeting with the Speaker of the House, Mr. Dimeji Bankole and some key lawmakers.

Also, Northern lawmakers led by Alhaji Farouk Lawan and Dr. Shehu Matazu - a Yar’Adua kinsman, coordinated efforts to nip the debate in the mud.

Shortly after the House adjourned, Aji, a former senator, was said to have greeted the Speaker, apparently for “a job well done.”

Aji was reported to be smiling as he acknowledged Bankole’s deft handling of proceedings.

A source also said that the Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources, Dr. Abba Ruma, was also prominent in the scheming that killed the planned debate.

It was learnt that the Speaker had prepared list of lawmakers that would make contributions during the executive session to avoid having an unmanageable parley.

Besides the Speakers, others that spoke were former Minority leader, Mohammed Ndume, Minority Whip, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, a former Majority leader, Alhaji Abdul Ningi, former Speaker, Mrs. Patricia Etteh and Alhaji Farouk Lawan.

Bankole, the source went on, opened debate on the matter by urging the lawmakers to be mature in handling the Yar’dua health saga.

He added, “There are people waiting to take us to ground zero.”

Also, he used the opportunity to confirm to the lawmakers that he spoke with the President and his wife, Turai, from Saudi Arabia , in a telephone conversation that lasted for about four minutes.

Bankole reportedly disclosed that the ADC to the President called him and handed over the phone to the President during which he (Bankole) asked him how well he was getting.

“I am getting better,” Yar’Adua allegedly retorted.

Ningi, a lawmaker from Bauchi State , it was learnt, spoke at length and enjoined his colleagues to be careful in discussing the Yar’Adua matter.

It was learnt that he reportedly proposed the resolution that a delegation be sent to Saudi Arabia to wish the President well.

He also drew members’ attention to the handicap that the House faced in invoking Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution.

The section states that the Vice-President can be made Acting President during temporary absence of the President, “whenever the President transmits” letters to leadership of Senate and the House.

Etteh in calling for caution, repotedly noted that any human being could fall sick, the way the President had.

Lawan, the leader of Integrity Group in the House, was said to have cautioned his colleagues not to over hit the polity with debate on Yar’Adua’s absence, stressing that the Constitution provided a framework for dealing with the matter.

Ndume also preached for caution among his colleagues.

But Gbajabiamila was reported to have opposed moves to stop the debate.

But when the Action Congress Leader could not persuade the PDP majority lawmakers to toe his line, he gave a-48-hour deadline to the Presidency to activate Section 145.

A dissatisfied lawmaker, said, “The argument of those who masterminded the failure of the debate on Tuesday is that anybody who wants the President to handover power is guided by selfish reason.

“They believe that giving Jonathan power is bringing Obasanjo back to reckoning.”

A PDP lawmaker from the South-South expressed disappointment with the House leadership for the way the issue was handled.


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