Bayelsa Govt Raises Alarm Over Worsening security Situation

...Blames opposition leaders for recent upsurge in crime

...Says it will challenge moves to truncate the peace of the State  

The Bayelsa State Executive Council has condemned in strong terms the worsening security situation in the state, occasioned by the frequent change of Police Commissioners.

The State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson stated this in Yenagoa while briefing the media on the outcome of the council's 99th meeting.

He said the erratic deployment of security operatives across the country, ostensibly for political reasons in opposition states like Bayelsa "calls for serious concern and demands the need for urgent action to be taken to address the situation". 

Iworiso-Markson stated that in the last three months, Bayelsa has had eight commissioners of police which is very worrisome and called for caution. 

The Government spokesman said they view the action as highly subversive, capable of threatening the existing peaceful, harmonious, united and conducive environment the Restoration Government has worked so hard to put in place, which has also ushered in rapid and massive development in the state.

He said: "Indeed, it is an act of subversion bothering on treason for security heads to give control of security agencies to former governor Timipre Sylva, the junior minister of Agric, Heineken Lokpobiri and their cohorts who are using the ruling party at the centre to undermine the security of the State.  

"This is more so that these persons are known to have criminal tendencies and are clearly working with criminal elements and cultists in the State. To this end, we wish to state as follows: That there is a lawfully and legitimately constituted government in place with a mandate to ensure and provide for the security, safety and stability of the State, and as such, we will not condone or allow anybody, no matter how highly placed, to get away with acts of subversion.

"We, therefore, call on citizens of our State to be wary of the subversive tendencies of some persons, who have all in the name of politics, set out to create and carry actions, that are intended to undermine the security and stability of our State. 

"All Bayelsans must be at alert and be ready to reject the return of the deadly "Operation Famou-Tangbe" in whatever guise, shape or form. We will also not allow Operation Doo-Akpo which was created by the Restoration Government and which has in the last 7 years earned the respect, trust and confidence of our people as a reliable, professional, quick response and credible crime fighting outfit devoid of politics to be rubbished by anyone. 

"Those who want to terrorize our people should set up their own crime fighting outfit like they did with "Operation Famou-Tangbe." But on our part, we will continue do all in our power to keep our state safe and secured"

"We wish to sound a clear note of warning to all, that in the interest of peace, even as the elections draw near, that this State is bigger than every one of us and nobody, no matter how highly placed, will be spared from facing the wrath of the law, if found wanting. 

"Those who are interested in taking control of the state by seeking to undermine the security should be ready to face the consequence of their action should there be any breakdown of law and order".

The Information Commissioner called on the political leadership and other key players in the nation's political space to give the requisite attention to the sustenance of peace that the state government has enthroned and avoid acts that could truncate it through subversive means as shown in the incessant deployment of Police chiefs. 

He stressed that the exploitation of state security apparatus to harass and intimidate perceived political opponents is not healthy for the state, saying it is simply a display of excessive use of political power which will be challenged by the state Government. 

The mouthpiece of the Bayelsa State Government equally called on the Federal Government and the heads of all security agencies in the country to respect the authority of the State Government and refrain from doing anything that will jeopardize the peace, order and stability of the state. 

While also calling on Bayelsans to be law abiding and peaceful even in the face of provocative actions by those said to be enemies of peace and stability of the state, the Commissioner expressed  profound appreciation to youth groups, the leadership and members of the State Vigilante and Volunteer Service.

He also commended community leaders and other stakeholders for rising to the challenge and apprehending criminal elements who are out to destabilize the state.

According to him, Governor Seriake Dickson will formally convey the position of the government for the umpteenth time to President Muhammadu Buhari  for appropriate action just as it will commence appropriate legal actions to defend the authority of the government of the state.

Seiyefa Appointed Pro-Chancellor And Chairman, Governing Council of the Niger Delta University

Mr. Matthew Seiyefa

The Bayelsa State Governor,  Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson has approved the appointment of a new Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of the Niger Delta University.

According to a press release by the Hon. Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Bayelsa State,  Daniel Iworiso-Markson, he is Mr. Matthew Seiyefa, who recently retired as the Director-General of the Department of State Services, DSS.

He takes over from Professor Steve Sinikiem Azaiki, who has since resigned his position to run for the Yenagoa/Kolokuma/Opokuma Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Governor Dickson has also approved the appointment of Captain Olubunmi Jari Williams as the Managing Director of Bayelsa Airport Company Limited.

Both appointments are with immediate effect.

Delta PDP Hails Urhobo Nation As It Celebrates 87th Anniversary

.......Calls  for unity and togetherness in Delta State

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Delta State Chapter, has congratulated the great Urhobo ethnic nationality and the good people of Delta Central Senatorial zone, on the occasion of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) Worldwide 87th Annual Urhobo National Day, on November 30, 2018.

State Publicity Secretary of Delta PDP, Dr. Ifeanyi Michael Osuoza delivered the congratulatory message and felicitations, which extolled the excellent virtues of sophistication, industry, bravery, deep intelligence and a distinct cultural style and flamboyance which has defined the Urhobo essence and established the sense of pride and distinguished uniqueness in their traditional identity, inherited and transmuted across the generations over the years.

“The Delta State PDP heartily congratulates the great people of Urhobo ethnic nationality and rejoices with the entire Delta Central Senatorial zone, on the auspicious celebration of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) Worldwide 87th Annual Urhobo Day, on November 30, 2018.

“It is indeed with great pride and a sense of appreciation that we particularly felicitate with the Urhobo nation, in recognition of the

unparalleled contributions of great Urhobo sons and daughters, not only in the shaping and evolution of our nation as a sovereign independent entity but indeed in the periodic metamorphosis and transformation of the Delta State we now enjoy today.

“We are eternally indebted to the Urhobo nation, both as a State and a political party, to the visionary foresight and political sagacity of great Urhobo leaders, traditional institutions and monarchs, statesmen and women and our other leaders, youths, women, elders, and the entire peoples of Urhoboland, for their tenacious commitment and dedication to the equitable political balance that has hallmarked the power rotation covenant amongst the ethnic nations in the State and largely contributed to the unity and togetherness which we all enjoy as One Delta since creation, in 1991.

“The sophistication, industry, bravery, gallantry, deep intelligence and a distinct cultural style and flamboyance which has defined the Urhobo essence and established the sense of pride and distinguished uniqueness in their traditional identity inherited and transmuted across the generations over the years, has remained indelible in the annals of global cultural references and added glamour, colour, and distinction to the ethos of our State.

“We especially extend our sincere gratitude to the Urhobo nation for the conferment of the title of ‘The Ochuko R’Urhobo’ to our leader and Executive Governor of Delta State, His Excellency Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa. The entire Urhobo nation and indeed the Delta Central Senatorial zone has been the solid pillar behind the PDP over the years and we are fully confident that this wonderful bond will continue in 2019, so that the Ochuko R’ Urhobo will not only deliver even more dividends of democracy and prosperity to all Deltans in the Senatorial zone but ensure that equity and fairness is maintained and sustained at the appropriate time.

"Once again, hearty Congratulations to the great people of Urhobo nation and the entire Urhobo ethnic nationality in the Delta Central Senatorial zone. Let us all resolve as we enter into the campaign season, to shun violence, eschew rancour and other things that will tend to divide us as a united people and instead, embrace peace, unity and the things that will usher peace, progress, development and togetherness as one big Delta family. 

We wish you a happy and most successful anniversary celebrations. God Bless the Urhobo Nation,  the statement concluded. 

Bad Leaders Promote Cultism, Criminality - Gov. Dickson

Bayelsa State Governor, Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson, has decried the use of privileged positions and access to power to stir up violence and criminality.

The Governor, who expressed his worries on Thursday during the Monthly Praise Night for November 2018 at the King of Glory Chapel in Government House, Yenagoa, charged politicians to take advantage of their positions to work toward promoting and supporting development at all times.

His Special Adviser on Public Affairs, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted the governor to have said that bad leadership by some persons in authority, who promote cultism and criminality, have corrupted the system and resulted to teenagers engaging in despicable acts of murdering fellow citizens in the state.

"Politics is not about promoting violence to destabilise the state. But it is rather about using privileged platforms at the state and federal levels to create a positive mark in the communities, local governments, state and the country at large.

"All those planning evil, planning to lead and serve our people but every meeting they call is about how to kill our people, buy weapons, get young men to kill more people and how to get together more cult people. One terrible thing that has happened is that because of what these people have done, some of the killers are about 12 and 13 years. That is what bad leadership has done in the state.

"If I were in authority at the federal level from a state that needs development, I will be working hard every day to see what difference I can make positively in  my state, community and local government. If it is the wish of God that those people should use their privileged positions and access to work to promote criminality and instability in this state, then they will prevail. But if it is not, His judgement will consume them," he said.

Governor Dickson appreciated the people of the state for their perseverance during the recent flood and urged Bayelsans not to relent in their prayers and continue to work collectively to promote peace and stability.

He also solicited their continued prayers for his family while informing the congregation about the funeral programme of his late mother, Ma Goldcoast Dickson. He explained that it would run for three consecutive days, kicking off with the service of songs at the Ecumenical Centre in Yenagoa on December 6, an all-night wake in his community, Toru-Orua, on December 7 while her remains will be committed to mother earth at her father’s compound in Toru-Angiama, Patani Local Government Area of Delta State on December 8. 

He added that a special thanksgiving service will hold on Sunday, December 11, after the interment.

Earlier in a sermon titled "Understanding Praise," the leader of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Hon. Peter Akpe, said praying and praising God with understanding yields outstanding results.

He admonished Bayelsans that their interest to praise God should not diminish even after the Dickson administration, stressing that Bayelsa is a testimony of the reward of praising God.

Highlighting 10 rewards of praise, Hon. Akpe, who is also a pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, prayed against anything that would lead to shame in the lives of Bayelsans as they glorify God.

UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital Project Well-Thought-Out - Alakija

The Chancellor of Osun State University, Dr. (Mrs) Folorunsho Alakija has said that the institution's teaching hospital project was well-thought-out.

According to Dr. (Mrs) Alakija, the idea of the hospital which she donated was borne out of her love for children, mothers and humanity in general and for the advancement of medical education.  

She noted that since the University has been given approval to recommence its medical school, she decided to donation a full-fledged Ultra-Modern Teaching Hospital to the institution.

She commended the people of Osogbo for donating a 30-acre piece of land for Osun State University Teaching Hospital.

The Chancellor and her husband also commended the tenacity and dynamic driving force of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Labode Popoola, who has continued to work hard in his rebuilding and restoration agenda at the university.

Before he completed his tenure as the Governor of the state, Mr Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola ensured that he laid the foundation for the 250 bed Osun State University Teaching Hospital (UNIOSUNTH) on Thursday, 22nd of November 2018  in Osogbo , the state capital.

The foundation laying ceremony was witnessed by Aregbesola's successor, Alhaji Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola and the Chancellor of the university, Dr. (Mrs) Folorunsho Alakija who was accompanied by her husband Mr. Modupe Alakija.

While laying the foundation, Aregbesola said "this project gives me so much joy. Few years ago, I had to stop and suspend the medical program of this university because of the inability to even do any skeletal practicals due to lack of clinical facility, my intention then was to provide a befitting medical and clinical facilities which requires a huge amount of money". 

"To the glory of God and delivery of quality medical education, the foundation stone of Osun State University Teaching Hospital (UNIOSUNTH) donated by Modupe and Folorunso Alakija is laid today 22nd day of November, 2018", Aregbesola said.

Aregbesola also extolled Prince (Engineer) Tunde Ponnle for his bequeathal of his property in Ada for Medical Training and outreach to the university. 

The Vice Chancellor of Osun State University, (UNIOSUN), Osogbo, Professor Labode Popoola assured that with the the 250-bed UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital, the institution is on tract to produce world-class medical doctors.

At inception in 2007, UNIOSUN commenced the MBBS programme and the programme was granted full accreditation by National Universities Commission (NUC).

but the programme was later suspended partly, due to inability of the university to provide a teaching hospital for student’s clinical training in line with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) requirements

Professor Popoola said the Senate and Governing Council of the University have approved the process of re-accreditation of the Medical and Dental Council’s (MDCN) programme. 

He noted that the decision to recommence the MBBS programme is based the need for the university to play a significant role in the training of Medical Doctors in Nigeria.

Popoola said considering the importance of the programme and the need to demonstrate the continued relevance of the university to the society, the university authority considered it a challenge to proceed with the process of getting the programme back on tract.

"When completed, UNIOSUNTH will consist of a Community Health Unit, Maternity & Neonatal Medicare, Research and Diagnostic Laboratories, State of the art operating Theatres, Cutting edge Diagnostic Imaging, inclusive of C.T Scan, M.R.I Scanning Facility, Ultra-Sound Scanning Facilities,  X-ray and Radiotherapy Suites, Lecture rooms, Necropsy and Morgue", he said.

The 3-D image of the project was unveiled by  the Chancellor of the university, Dr. (Mrs) Folorunsho Alakija who was supported by her husband Mr. Modupe Alakija. The couple donated the facility to the university.

Prof Popoola praised the philanthropic spirits of the Chancellor who pledged to build and furnish the 250-bed Uniosun Teaching Hospital at Oke Bale located along Ibokun road in Osogbo. 

Zamfara State: Police Arrest Eighty-Five Suspects, Recovered Twenty Seven AK47 Rifles

• Police Joint Intervention Force Kill 104 Bandits, Destroys Fifty Bandits Hideouts In Three Camps, Recovers Over Five Hundred Cattle And Seventy Nine Sheep In Zamfara State And Loss One Police Personnel With Twelve Others Injured

The Police Joint Operation Team on Thursday, 29^th November, 2018, repelled ambush attacks from Armed Bandits at Mahanga Forest in Birnin Mogaji LGA of Zamfara State and in the process killed One Hundred and Four Bandits, destroyed over Fifty bandits hideouts in Three Camps, recovered over Five Hundred Cattle and Seventy Nine Sheep from the Bandits, but unfortunately loss a Policeman and Twelve Policemen wounded during the attacks. The Police Team has restored normalcy and peace in the affected areas.

At a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, the Force Public Relations Officer, Ag DCP Jimoh Moshood said that the Inspector General of Police on 9^th November, 2018, deployed Police Joint Intervention Team of about One Thousand (1000) Police personnel comprising the Seven (7) Units of Police Mobile Force (PMF) headed by an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), Police Anti-Bomb (EOD) Squad, and conventional Policemen to Zamfara State to rout-out, arrest and prosecute Armed Bandits, Vicious Kidnap for Ransom and Cattle Rustling Gangs operating in some parts of the State.

“The Team have recorded significant progress in the arrest of more than Eighty-Five (85) suspects, recovered Twenty Seven (27) AK47 Rifles and Fifty-Two (52) locally fabricated rifles and other dangerous weapons, Two Hundred and Sixty-Nine (269) Cattle, One Hundred and Nine (109) Sheep already handed over to their owners.

The Police Spokesperson further said that consequent on the ambush attacks on the Police Joint Team which were successfully repelled by the Police Team, the Inspector General of Police yesterday, 29^thNovember, 2018 deployed DIG Department of Operations to Zamfara State to be the overall commander of the Police Joint Intervention Force and add new impetus to the Operations. The DIG has already arrived in Zamfara State overnight with Hundreds of Police Special Forces Personnel, Counter Terrorism Units (CTU), additional Police Mobile Force (PMF), Federal SARS Personnel, Three (3) Surveillance Patrol Helicopters and crew members to Zamfara State to coordinate the operation to completely rout-out all Armed Bandits from Zamfara and other contiguous States.

DCP Jimoh Moshood said also reiterated that the DIG, Department of Operation and the Police Joint Team have been mandated to also coordinate the Commissioner of Police, Zamfara State and personnel of the Command to sustain and restore lasting peace throughout Zamfara State.

It will be recalled  that on Thursday, the Force PRO paraded Armed Bandits arrested by the Police Intervention Force in connection with armed bandits attacks on villages, cattle rustling, kidnappings and killings of innocent people in Zamfara and Sokoto States. 

Exhibits recovered from them includes; Seven (7) Ak47 Rifles, One (1) Dane Gun, One Hundred And Ninety Seven (197) Ammunition, Nine (9) Magazines, Thirty Six (36) Swords, Eight (8) Suspected Fake Military Camouflage Uniforms, Hard Drugs And Charms

“Members of the public with any information or in distress in any part of Zamfara State should call the following Police Joint Intervention Control Centre through the following numbers 08037025670, 08033210966, 08033312261, 08123829666, 09053872244, 07082351758, 08091914752, DCP Moshood concluded.

Save Our Soul From Gov. Wike’s Killer Militia - TCCO

The Tonye Cole Campaign Organisation said it has come to their attention that the federal government with the help of soldiers of 6 Division Nigerian Army today dislodged over a hundred persons Gov. Nyesom Wike recruited and have been giving illegal military training at Nonwa, Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State, adding that the action should have been taken the very first day those individuals were assembled.

A statement circulated to journalists in Port Harcourt, Rivers State by the Chief Chidi Lloyd, Director General, Tonye Cole Campaign Organisation (TCCO) stated that Gov Wike embarked on the illegal recruitment and training of these hapless job-seekers preparatory to deploying them to kill, maim and rig the 2019 elections for him. Gov. Nyesom Wike had proceeded to recruit these persons and some military personnel as instructors despite a subsisting matter in an Abuja high court questioning the exercise.

The statement reads: “Disappointingly, the federal government until now appeared to treat such a sensitive matter bordering on treason under national security with kid gloves.

“We are aware that Gov. Nyesom Wike has already procured illegal arms for the private army he is setting up. Afraid that his illegal arms procurement and distribution may leak, he recently raised a false alarm alleging that the federal government was plotting to plant 800 arms in Rivers State. His false charge was to create an opportunity to blame the federal government should his deal be busted. He will simply claim that the arms were planted by the federal government as he earlier warned.

“It has become worrisome to the APC, law-abiding people and residents of Rivers State that the federal government allowed Gov. Wike to carry on with criminality in Rivers State with such reckless abandon. We ask: is it that the federal government has abandoned the law-abiding people of Rivers State to the vagaries of Wike’s whimsical and capricious mischievousness and wickedness?

“The governor knows that he embarked on an illegality of very serious proportion. If he was recruiting for a legal and noble cause, he should have publicly advertised the process so that the public will take advantage of it. He should have followed one of the key tenets of public procurement by emulating the federal government processes such as the N-Power which is advertised on print, electronic and online media for maximum reach.

“Gov. Wike should have known that the federal government will not sit by while he (Wike) recruited and trained militia to levy war on Nigerians and the Nigerian state. We cannot keep quiet and watch Gov. Wike employ his militant and cultist allies to kill, maim and rig elections for him. Of course, we will resist it even if the federal government did not respond.

“There are quite a number of serious things that will positively impact on the lives of our people which Gov. Wike should apply our commonwealth on instead of grooming a killing machine to turn Rivers State into a killing field as was the case in 2015 and has remained so ever since then.

“Gov. Wike should deploy our money to pay suffering pensioners. These largely senior citizens spent their useful lives serving the State. Today many of them are either living in penury or even dying because they cannot afford a single meal a day or treatment for their ailing health.

“We expect Gov. Wike to promote civil servants and pay them appropriately. He should even follow in the footstep of his predecessor who in one fell swoop employed 13,200 teachers and 400 doctors to fill up a yawning gap in the educational and health sectors respectively. In over 3 years in office, Gov. Wike has refused to promote civil servants while employment is a taboo to him. He fancies spending Rivers money on PDP and close lackeys while our people are left stranded in all the sectors.

“We would like Gov. Wike to realise the fact that Rivers State is bigger than him. We will not allow him to run the State like his fiefdom; Rivers State cannot be his gangster enclave where he alone holds sway, determines who lives and who dies.

“We know that we have unfortunately found ourselves under Wike’s insipid and dubious leadership but we cannot allow him to push his luck too far. Recruitment for whatever purpose should be transparent, reflect a cross section of Rivers society and not done under the table for a few hirelings of the governor.

“The governor seems to have created endless biometric exercises to punish civil servants and retirees just to deny them what is due this group of our people. Instead of using endless biometric exercises to play on the intelligence of workers and retirees, he should deploy our common patrimony to pay workers and retirees with the money to be saved from his dubious recruitment and training of militants and killers.

“We commend the military and particularly the Chief of Army Staff for rising up to the occasion today by nipping in the bud a process that would have spelt doom for our people. The federal government should, for once, stand up for us in Rivers State and put an end to this brazen affront on the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria and lack of respect for constituted authorities by Gov. Nyesom Wike.”

Police Parade 59 Notorious Kidnapping, Armed Robbery And Cattle Rustling Gangs

The Nigeria Police has paraded 59 notorious kidnapping, armed robbery and cattle rustling gangs at the Ibrahim Coomassie Divisional Police Headquarters,  Gurara Local Government,   Gawu Babangida, Niger State. 

Speaking at the a press briefing on Thursday at Niger State,  the Force Public Relations Officer,  Ag DCP Jimoh Moshood, he said that on 24^th November, 2018, the IGP Special Strike Force on violent crimes attached to Operation Absolute Sanity in Gawu Babangida, Niger State led by DCP Yusuf Kolo, working on actionable intelligence in a follow up of a case of Criminal Conspiracy, Armed Robbery and Kidnapping of the Vice Chairman of Abaji Area Council and four others along Suleja-Minna Road, Niger State, trailed and arrested the suspects in their hideout at Tunga Maje Forest along Zuba-Gwagwalada Road, Abuja, where the syndicate plan their operations and keep hostage of their kidnap victims.

The Police spokesperson further said that the suspects on sighting the Police Team opened fire and engage in a serious gun battle with the Police Team that lasted for over an hour. The superior gun power of the Police Team led to the death of three of the vicious and notorious kidnapping/armed robbery gang members and the arrest of Seven other members. 

He stated that Seven AK47 Rifles and One Hundred and Eighteen Rounds of Live Ammunition were recovered from their possessions and Four victims rescued from their captivity  

"The suspects arrested have confessed and admitted to be responsible for the kidnap of the Vice Chairman of Abaji Area Council and Four (4) others. They have also revealed their various criminal roles in the armed robbery/kidnap operations and murder of the Vice Chairman of Abaji Area council who was one of their victims in the kidnap operation, DCP Jimoh said. 

"Consequent on recent complaints and reported cases of armed robbery/kidnapping, armed banditry, cattle rustling and other violent crimes in some parts of Nasarawa, Niger, Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto States, the IGP Special Strike Force on Violent Crimes attached to Operation Absolute Sanity, under DCP Kolo Yusuf, working on actionable intelligence further and relentlessly embarked on raids of criminal hideouts, identified kidnappers den and follow up on cases in its effort to continue to actualize its mandate to rid the country of unscrupulous elements, vicious and notorious criminals. These operations led to the arrest of the above mention Fifty-Two criminal suspects. 

He stated that the suspects have confessed and made useful statements to the Police Investigation Team on their various criminal roles in the recent incidents of kidnapping/armed robbery and other violent crimes in the mentioned States and the above listed exhibits recovered from their possessions. Some of these suspects arrested have also been on the watch list of the Police for quite some time now. 
       

"The operation is on-going and more efforts are being intensified to arrest other members of the gangs to bring them to justice. All suspects will be arraigned in court on completion of investigation. 

Exhibits recovered from them includes: Eight AK47 Rifles, One G3 Rifle, Two Single Barrel Gun,  One Dane Gun, One Revolver Pistol, One Hundred and Forty Five Ammunition,  Five Live Cartridges,  Sixteen Swords,  Three Operational Vehicles of the gangs, Two Bajaj Motorcycle and Charms among others. 

The Nigerian Left And The Constitution

By Edwin Madunagu

For some time in the early part of Nigeria’s Second Republic (1979-1983), several groups in the Nigerian Left debated what the movement’s relationship with the opposition People’s Redemption Party (PRP) should be. Several Leftists had been involved in the formation of the party while several more joined after formation. But the bulk of “hard core” Leftists, particularly Marxists, remained outside the party which, today, would be described as “radical left-of-centre”: left-of-centre on account of its ideological placement and radical in its methods. Of the 19 states into which the country was then divided, PRP controlled the governments of two: Kaduna and Kano—where Kaduna included the present Katsina State and Kano included the present Jigawa. The party was modestly represented in the National Assembly.

That PRP controlled the governments of old Kaduna and Kano states and had a presence in the national seat of power in Lagos meant that the party and the governments it controlled accepted the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1979. They operated that Constitution and were bound by it. This legal relationship with the Constitution was one of the greatest subjective and ideological obstacles to the formal entry of several Leftists into the PRP. And this was the setting for a respected veteran Leftist to charge, in a closed meeting, and then in an international Marxist journal, that those Leftists who refused to join the PRP on account of the latter operating the Nigerian Constitution were ignorant and lazy arm-chair revolutionaries.

More directly and substantively, the comrade declared that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1979, was sufficient for the Nigerian Left to make a revolution if it was actually interested in making a revolution! The “gates of hell” broke open after this charge. Comrades did not go to blows only because there would be no one to separate the fight. Besides, if fighting had broken out and the police had come in there would have been sufficient evidence to charge the two sides with any offence – ranging from “rioting” to “treasonable felony”. That was more than 35 years ago.

This near-violent debate over the possibility of using the Nigerian Constitution to make a revolution, in the particular way the question presented itself in 1980 or 1981, has since been resolved by history and transcended ideological and politically by the Nigerian Left. But the general question of the relationship of the Left to the fundamental law of the Nigerian State remains. So, what is this fundamental law, this constitution? How does the Left see it? How should the Left see it? Should the changing of the Constitution—including “popular Democratic restructuring”—be one of the current key demands of the Left or one of the key elements of the People’s Manifesto? If the Left comes to power today—alone or in a coalition—will changing the Constitution be one of its immediate priorities?

Let me quickly dispose of the last question. As important as a radical review of the Constitution may appear, it cannot be one of the first acts of a Left government on coming to power. Radical and massive redeployment and redistribution of the nation’s resources in favour of the working, toiling, poor and de-classed masses and lifting of layers of burden from their shoulders will be the first symbolic and substantive acts. And these will be carried out not by initiating a constitution-review process—a long process—but by stretching to the limit the provisions of the present Constitution. No law will be broken, no court order will be disobeyed. Only two defensive steps will be taken: placing the revolutionary measures directly before the people and summoning people’s lawyers across the land. Constitution-review will be carried out later: not much later, but later. 

Now to the other questions. The Constitution, in the sense we use it here, is the fundamental law or body of laws instituted by a state or adopted by a state to rule over a defined territory. Logically, the Constitution starts by defining the state whose instrument of rule it is. It then defines the People covered by the authority of that state and the operation of the Constitution. Somewhere in the introductory segments of the Constitution a claim is made—in one form or another—that the Constitution is an embodiment of the will of the people. 

This claim is neither completely false nor completely true. Rather, it is ideological. For the people must have been involved—in one form or another, in one marginal or superficial way or another, at one level of deception or another—in the production of that document. But the Constitution is, in essence, the will of the state. And the state is, in essence, the will of the ruling classes.

The Constitution makes the claim of “universal” representation because the state uses it to rule over the entire territory and the whole people—and not a fraction of the territory or the ruling class alone. And because the Constitution makes such a claim it is compelled, regardless of the process of its coming into being and without mitigating its essence, to agree to some concessions to the people in content and in form (including the use of language). A ruling class or a state which refuses to make concessions and compromises is reducing the roads to change to only one: revolution. No state, no ruling class wishes to be permanently in a state of siege or turmoil. And the means of preventing this—as long as possible—is through concessions and compromises, including constitutional reforms. These concessions and compromises, as minor as they may appear when they are snatched from the ruling class, may be called into a decisive role at a future critical moment. 

A Constitution which is a bundle of lies, and nothing else, will lack all credibility and will be useless to the ruling class and the state. It is these compromises and concessions that the 1980 “Leftist protagonists” of the 1979 Constitution insisted could be used and should be used to advance the popular struggle. What they did not say or did not say convincingly or were not allowed to say was that this use of the Constitution would not exhaust the forms of struggle or be the highest form of struggle in the revolutionary arsenal of the Nigerian Left.

What the “Leftist protagonists” of the 1979 Constitution were therefore saying can now be appreciated through the prism of 2018 and set out in a series of connected propositions: One: Although historically, the reform struggle, including the struggle for a more democratic constitution, has been an integral part of the revolutionary struggle in Nigeria, the latter cannot and should not be reduced to the former. In other words, the agenda of the Nigerian Left is much wider and deeper than the reform struggle, including the struggle for a new constitution. Two: The limited democratic provisions in the Constitution could be used to wage both electoral struggle and general popular-democratic struggle in a manner that the ruling class and the state had not envisaged. 

Three: Exposing the limitations of the Constitution is a revolutionary struggle which, in certain conjunctures can be more effectively waged in actual popular-democratic engagements—including elections and, when possible, actual governance. Four: In participating in electoral and governance politics where the Left is not in power—even if it is marginally in office—participating Leftists should seek, obtain and retain organized revolutionary backing.

Madunagu, mathematician and journalist, writes from Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. 

Atiku, PDP Appoints 35 Year Old As Campaign Finance Director.

In one of his first major indication  towards Youth Inclusion, Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has appointed 35 year old PDP National Financial Secretary, Hon. Abdullahi Hussaini MaiBasira as the Director of Finance for the 2019  Atiku - Obi Presidential Campaign Council. The appointment of a youth into this vital position is unprecedented in the history of PDP's and possibly national campaign councils in Nigeria.  MaiBasira is currently the youngest member of the PDP National Working  Committee and is the immediate past National Youth Leader of the Party. 

By this appointment,  MaiBasira becomes the youngest person ever to serve in two successive Presidential Campaign Councils as Director.  In 2015, then President Goodluck Jonathan appointed MaiBasira his Director for Youth and Student  Mobilization. MaiBasira possesses two Masters degrees in Agricultural Economics and the other, in Strategic and Security Studies from the Nigeria Defense Academy, Kaduna. An old boy of Kings College, Lagos,  MaiBasira has been tutored in Oxford, Harvard, Westminster as well as the Lagos Business School.

It could be recalled that Atiku had promised an accelerated youth and women inclusion agenda in his government when elected . This latest action is seen as keeping with that commitment as evidenced by the appointment of other vibrant young minds like  Hon Ude Okoye; Current National Youth leader  of the party to serve as Director of youth mobilization for the campaign and Segun Showunmi who served as Atikus Spokesman.

Atiku has consistently proven his passion and desire to involve young people in nation building. Atiku is also believed to be the largest single private employer of Labour in Nigeria after the federal government. Nigeria has so far lost  over 9 million jobs and unemployment rate is at an all time high of 23% according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). As Vice President to President Olusegun Obsasanjo; Atiku was credited with bringing in some of the youngest and most vibrant brains  at the time who made  significant contributions to national development from 1999- 2007. Nigerian Youths have decried the APC Buhari administration for not having a single young person in his current  Cabinet or at any sensitive position of responsibility thus not living up to their 2015 campaign promises.

APC Reconciliation Team: Don't Waste Your Time With Abe, Eze Advises Aregbesola-led Team

.... .... Commends Wike for Exposing Abe's antics

The reconciliation committee set up by the All Progressives Congress (APC), headed by immediate past Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, had been advised not to waste its time persuading Senator Magnus Abe to return to the mainstream of the party in Rivers State as he has gone too far in his destructive mission against the party.

Giving this advice in a statement issued and released in Port Harcourt on Thursday, a chieftain of the party in Rivers state, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, noted that it would be a waste of the precious time of the committee, which is tasked with sorting out issues and disagreements in all the chapters of the party in the six States of the South-South region, noting further that Senator Abe had shown that he still remains in the party only to destroy it.

Eze also advised Senator Abe to stop blaming his self-inflicted political woes on the Minister of Transportation, who is also the Director-General/Secretary of of the Buhari Campaign Organisation (BCO), Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, saying that the allegation that the Minister 'humilaited' the senator in the presence of his wife was a disinformation, simply targeted at winning sympathy.

According to him, Amaechi offended Abe for telling him, just like he told the likes of Dr Dakuku Peterside, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, Dr. Davies Sekonte and other leaders of the party, that were interested to fly the flag of APC in Rivers State to shelve his political intentions temporarily, to enable all well-meaning members and stakeholders rebuild the party in the State, adding "all agreed to shelve their ambitions to allow the party to be rebuilt, but Abe who had other plans went ahead to continue with his plan of weakening and polarising the party structure in the State".

According to Eze, "the crisis in APC in Rivers state is now beyond Abe as he lacks the mandate to decide of coming back to APC as those sponsoring him are hellbent on ensuring that APC is decimiated and President Buhari doesn't win the relevant votes in the State as a ploy to pull down Rt. Hon. Amaechi as a retilatilation for ensuring the victory of APC in the 2015 presidential election. 

Given credence to the fact  that the struggle to destroy APC in Rivers State has gone beyond Senator Magnus Abe, Eze highlighted the recent move by Gov wike's attempt to secretly secure an exparte order few days ago from the  Federal High Court, praying the court to declare all APC candidates in the forth coming general elections vacant as a result of Justice Chinwendu  Nworgu's judgement showing that Wike knowing the futility of this step if he has any knowledge of elementary principle of law that he was neither a member of APC or contested the APC primaries to qualify him  to seek the intervention of the court on internal affairs of APC. 

Eze notes with happiness that "what Wike have achieved by this latest strange step is to expose his collaboration with Magnus Abe all these months to destroy APC in Rivers State but it is a pity that his latest plot will not only hits a brick wall but will lead to his formal ouster from the Brick House come 2019 as the entire Rivers State people are tired of his visionless administration and extra four years of his misfortune administration will not only strangulate the State but will bring more hardship and shame to the State. 

"It is sad that Abe could because of politics continued to malign the person and personality of Amaechi by sponsoring the blackmailing,spreading of falsehood and decimation of Amaechi whose inputs towards his present political career need not be over-emphasised. Does Amaechi's idea of pleading for unity amongst the stakeholders for a stronger and purposeful APC now culiminate to humiliating anybody?

"For Barr Wogu Boms former Attorney General and Commissioner for justice during the administration of Amaechi now a strong tool in Abe's Camp in the plot to destroy APC for obvious strategy of keeping Governor Wike in power till 2023 to tell the world that Amaechi is planning to destroy APC is the most regrettable statement any sound mind could make talkless of a fellow whose incompetence was so exposed and benefitted so much from the administration of Amaechi", Eze said. 

The APC chieftain, however charged Abe to retrace his steps and abandon his alliance with Governor Nyesom Wike and his party, the PDP, noting that he should have already seen enough signs that the project is a stillbirth, especially as many of the corner routes the Governor and his cohorts have taken had so far led to a dead-end and most importantly Pastor Tonye Cole the APC Standard-Bearer have become a movement in the politics of Rivers State and nothing will stop his swearing in ceremony come 29th May, 2019 as the Governor of Rivers State. 

Reactivate Forgery Charge Against Aregbesola, Osun PDP Tells Police IG

Osun State chapter of the Peoples' Democratic Party has called on the Inspector General of Police to reactivate the charges of forgery and conspiracy to forge a police report for which the former governor of Osun state Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola was standing trial before assuming office in November 2010.

The PDP recalled that Mr Aregbesola and one other person were facing a six count charge before an Abuja High court for forging and presenting a fake police report to an election petition tribunal in 2007.

According to the PDP chairman, Hon Soji Adagunodo who issued a Press release in Osogbo on Wednesday, now that Mr Aregbesola no longer enjoys constitutional immunity, the Inspector General of Police was duty bound to arrest him and present him before the court to prove his innocence in the charge.

While recalling that it was on the basis of the forged police report that the Appellate tribunal in Ibadan ordered a retrial of Ogbeni Aregbesolas petition in 2009, Adagunodo said it was curious that the former governor and his party abandoned the report when their petition went back for trail in the same year.

The PDP chairman added  that while forgery itself is a weighty crime, forging a security document like a police report should be a matter of concern to the public and must not be swept under the carpet in any guise. 

The Party said since time does not run against the state in criminal matters, the Attorney General of the Federation and the Inspector General of Police have no excuse whatsoever to abandon the case of forgery against the former governor. 

The PDP also called on genuine Civil society organisations to take on the matter and ensure that the Inspector General of Police continues with the case for which Aregbesola was standing trial before taking his oath of office.

Court Remands Deji Adeyanju, Daniel Abobama and Boma Williams To Keffi Prison

The Nigeria Police on Wednesday arraigned Deji Adeyanju, Daniel Abobama and Boma Williams at Karshi Magistrate Court, Federal Capital Territory for criminal offences of Joint Act, Criminal defamation, Disturbance of public peace, Threat to public security and safety and inciting public disturbance under the Penal Code Law.

In a press release by the Force Public Relations Officer,  Ag DCP Jimoh Moshood,  he said that the lawyers to the suspects were equally in court. Deji Adeyanju, Daniel Abobama and Boma Williams were remanded to Prison custody in Keffi, Nasarawa State after they failed to meet the bail conditions. The matter was adjourned to 21^st January, 2019 for hearing.  

It will be recalled that Deji Adeyanju, Daniel Abobama and Boma Williams were arrested by the Police within the powers provided under the constitution, Police Act and Regulations, the Penal Code Law and Procedures to prevent crime and ensure safety of all Nigerians. The Constitutional rights of every Nigerian as stated in first paragraph above i.e Sections 38, 39, 40 and 41, these rights are not absolute as section 45 of the same Constitution provides for derogations to these rights.

The Police Spokesperson further said that  Deji Adeyanju, Daniel Abobama and Boma Williams contravene the law and were arrested for Criminal Conspiracy, Joint Act, defamation of character, public nuisance, disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant, disturbance of public peace, inciting public disturbance, threat to public security and safety, criminal defamatory and derogatory conduct against constituent authority and breach of law and order under sections 96, 113, 114, 152, 183 and 391 of Penal Code law. They are already arraigned in court in Abuja for prosecution.

DCP Jimoh Moshood further reiterated that Deji Adeyanju, Daniel Abobama and Boma Williams have been making criminal defamatory comments and utterances, that is capable of inciting public disturbance, threat to public security and safety, criminal defamatory and derogatory conduct against constituent authority and breach of law and order pasted by Deji Adeyanju on his Facebook page.

USAID Concludes Activity Supporting 625,000 AIDS Orphans, Vulnerable Children And Their Caregivers

Sonia Gambo, a beneficiary from Bwari Area Council in the FCT

In a ceremony on November 28, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) concluded a five-year activity that provided support for 500,000 children orphaned or made vulnerable by the AIDS epidemic, and 125,000 of their caregivers.  

Since 2013, the $45.3 million Sustainable Mechanisms for Improving Livelihoods (SMILE) activity, funded by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), has scaled up support services for orphans and vulnerable children (in 47 local government areas across five states (Benue, Edo, Kogi, and Nassawara) and the Federal Capital Territory.  

Presiding at the ceremony was a representative of Mrs. Ifeoma Anagbogu, Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry for Women Affairs and Social Development, joined by Dr. Zohra Balsara, Director of the USAID Office of HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis Control, along with a host of state commissioners of Women Affairs and Social Development. 

“Support to these vulnerable populations is critical for the future of Nigeria, a country whose human capital is its greatest strength,” said Dr. Balsara.    

To achieve these results, SMILE provided grants to civil society organizations under a consortium led by Catholic Relief Services.  SMILE helped establish referral networks, improve HIV/AIDS related service delivery, and support to households affected by the epidemic.  The activity worked through schools on health education and school access, provided psychosocial support to AIDS victims, and trained their caregivers on parenting skills. 

Sonia Gambo, a beneficiary from Bwari Area Council in the FCT, said she thought her life was over after her initial diagnosis.  “I was dead,” she dramatically told ceremony participants before recounting how the SMILE project helped her secure a loan and seed money to plant crops and start a firewood business, while coaching her on how to be a better wife and mother despite her illness.  “SMILE taught me how live positively with HIV.”  

Mrs Atiku Condoles With Gov. Dickson, Wife On The Death Of Ma Goldcoast Dickson

The wife of former Vice President, and Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Mrs. Jennifer Atiku Abubakar has visited  Governor Henry Seriake Dickson and his Wife, Dr. Rachael Dickson, to condole with them on the Death òf Ma Goldcoast Dickson.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, said in a statement on Wednesday that Mrs. Abubakar came to visit the Governor, his wife and members of the family because the late Ma Goldcoast Dickson who passed unto glory on August 8, 2018 would be be buried on December 8, 2018.

Mrs Atiku Abubakar said that she was in Bayelsa to condole with the Governor and to pray for God to give him and the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

She stressed that it was not an easy thing for anybody to lose his or her mother no matter how old.

“I am here with my friends to condole with the Governor on the death of his mother. It is not easy to lose a mother. No matter how old our mothers are, we don’t want to allow them to go.

Speaking also, the Governor thanked Mrs Abubakar and her entourage for the visit. 

The Governor said that he and the family were deeply appreciative of the visit adding that the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, had paid an earlier visit.

He said that the family would be starting the funeral rites on December 6, 2018 while she would be interred on the December 8, 2018 in her ancestral home of Toru Angiama in Patani Local Government Area.

Masari Inaugurates 25 Brand New Commercial Buses

The Katsina State Governor, Rt. Hon Aminu Bello Masari on Wednesday commissioned 25 brand new buses for inter-state transportation across the federation.

Katsina Media and Publicity reports that the event took place today at the Katsina State Transport Authority Motor Park along Batsari road where the Governor lamented over the poor management of the Transport Authority.

Masari said all over the world, transportation is subsidised by government and in his own view, Nigeria should not be an exception to that.

He narrated his experience that led to the ban of the State Transportation Authority then in the 90's and how his effort as the then Commissioner of Works, Housing and Transport saw the re-establishment of the agency for the benefit of the common man.

Cautioning the leadership of the authority, the Governor warned against personalising the public property, adding that "we procured the buses to better the lives of the have not, and that the have not/Masses are the once that need subsidies".

Earlier, the Commissioner of works,  Alh. Tasiu Dandagoro, appreciated the gesture of the Governor for purchasing of 25 brand new buses to the tune of over N1bn explaining that 10 are coaster buses with capacity of 30 persons at a time and 15 Hiace with capacity of 14 persons and all these are 2018 model.

The General Manager, Alh. Haruna Musa Rugoji on his part said this is part of the restoration project that will have  direct impact to the lives of the good people of Katsina State.

@katgovmedia reports that Rugoji, who gave a strong warning to the Drivers as to handling the vehicles and their operations within the legal work adding "we will not hesitate to collect the vehicle and give it to who is helping us".

It would be recalled that the State Governor had commissioned 84 number of vehicles to the private sector, all in an effort to alleviate the suffering of the masses in the state.

Itesiwaju LG To Offer Free UTME Forms To 100 Best Students

As part of its commitment to educational development and rewards for good performance of her students, the Itesiwaju local government area of Oyo State under the Executive Chairmanship of Hon. Niyi Adeagbo, has started giving out free application forms for the 2018/2019 Unifed Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). 

The exercise, which kick off today will end on Friday, 31st November 2018. According to the Education Department of the council area, over 300 willing applicants across the 11 senior, secondary schools of the LG have so far picked up their forms at no cost.

Hon. Adeagbo while flagging off the exercise said, "education is primal to social development, peace and stability, progress and economic transformation globally; this is why we are giving underprivileged students this support, because when we have educated youths and populace, the local government develops politically and economically".

The council boss stated that his administration has partnered with the Local Inspectorate of Education and the school principals in the council area towards the conduct of free, fair and credible qualification examination for the applicants. "The L.I.E and the principals are the examiners for the yet-to-be announced qualification exams. Therefore, I urge all our students who are interested in the next year UTME to come to the education department of the council to obtain free forms before the deadline date" he said.

Adeagbo reinstated his commitment towards educational development in the LGA, noting that more of such developments will characterize his tenure. "The gesture is part of our administration's efforts to reward good performance of our students in the basic, secondary and tertiary education" he said.

PDP To Oyetola: You Are An Interim Governor, Lacking Legitimacy

The Peoples' Democratic Party has described the candidate of the All Progressive Congress, Mr Gboyega Oyetola who was declared winner of the September governorship election in Osun state as an interim Governor whose legitimacy is questionable in the eyes of the public. 

The State chairman of the PDP, Hon Soji Adagunodo stated this in release issued on the occasion of the swearing in of Oyetola at the expiration of Ogbeni Aregbesolas tenure as Osun state governor.

The PDP said the process which led to the declaration of the APC candidate as winner of the Osun governorship election by INEC, was riddled with  the most brazen form of electoral robbery ever witnessed since the return of democratic rule in Nigeria. 

According to the Party, the shameful conduct of the supposed electoral umpire and security agents especially during the supplementary election held on the 27th of September leaves a sour taste in the mouth of everyone with  conscience and has remained a talking point in local and global political discourse.

The PDP said what further makes the legitimacy of the man being sworn in as governor  stand on a shaky ground are the myriad of damming reports issued by a combination of local and foreign observers, the Nigeria Bar Association, the US, UK and EU missions and several others who witnessed the horrendous brutalisation of voters, harassment of journalists, open display of bias by electoral and security officials as well as other infractions committed against the people of Osun state during the so-called supplementary election.

The Party said while the court of public opinion has affirmatively and loudly decided on who truly won the Osun governorship election, it is hopeful that the court of law will soon do justice on the matter and restore the mandate to the PDP candidate, Senator Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke.

Adagunodo advised Mr Gboyega Oyetola to tread very cautiously and act responsibly while he temporarily presides over the affairs of the state in order to avoid worsening the already battered condition of the economy occasioned by the wide spread corruption and profligacy of the Aregbesola administration. 

Concerned Citizens Tell Buhari To Release Basic Health Care Provision Fund To Save Millions Of Nigerians From Untimely Deaths

Mrs Chika Okoh, DFID Federal Partnership Facilitator, addressing participants at the Strategy Session on advocacy for the implementation of BHCPF

Concerned Nigerian citizens, civil society activists and experts in the health sector have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to release the Basic Health Care Provision Fund without further delay to save millions of Nigerian citizens from dying owing to inability to get medical treatment.

The Basic Health Care Provision Fun (BHCPF) is the minimum of one percent of the consolidated federal government revenue and contributions from donor grants set aside to fund the basic health need of the citizens.

50 percent of the fund is expected to be used for the provision of basic minimum package of health services under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) while 5 percent is meant to cater for emergency health interventions.

45 percent of the fund is expected to be used for provision of primary health care under the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA). Out of this 45 percent for NPHCDA, 20 percent is meant for provision of essentials drugs and vaccine, 15 percent is meant for provision and maintenance of facilities, equipment and transport for eligible primary health care facilities while 10 percent is meant for the development of Human Resources for Primary healthcare.  

But the fund which was provided for in the 2018 budget was not released up till now as the year is coming to an end. The failure of the Federal Government to release the fund has continued to generate concerns amongst the citizens, particularly the experts, civil society activist and groups advocating access to healthcare delivery for the citizens, especially the pregnant women, infants under age five and the downtrodden.

The Executive Secretary of Osun Health Insurance Scheme (O’HIS), Dr Niyi Oginni sent a “Save Our Souls” plea to President Muhammadu Buhari, urging him to release the Basic Health care Provision Fund to stop children, pregnant women, the aged and other vulnerable citizens from untimely death.

Oginni noted that the fund was in the 2018 budget that was passed by the National Assembly and that Osun has met all the requirements to benefit from the fund. He lamented that the Federal Government has not release the fund just one month to the end of the year.

Also, concerned citizens who spoke at a Strategy Session on advocacy for the implementation of BHCPF organised by Engaged Citizens, Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn, EC-PERL, a programme of the Department for International Development (DFID) frowned at the non-release of the fund.

The strategy session which was organised by EC-PERL in collaboration with Health Sector Reform Coalition, (HSRC) was attended by stakeholders including health experts, civil society health advocacy groups and journalists.

The DFID Federal Partnership Facilitator, Mrs Chika Okoh expressed the need to sustain the advocacy for the implementation of BHCPF so that the fund would be released and used to enhance improvement in the healthcare delivery services for the good of the people.

The National Media Engagement Adviser, Engaged Citizens Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (EC-PERL), Hadiza Abdul-Abubakar charged the media to amplify the voices of the citizens on the demand for the release of the fund.

Abdul-Abubakar said the release of the fund would enhance the delivery of healthcare services to citizens without facing catastrophic heath expenditure and prevent avoidable deaths in the country.

Also speaking, a Research and Development expert, Dr. Emmanuel Abanida has said that President Muhammadu Buhari can save lives of millions of pregnant women, children under age five, the elderly and other numerable citizens with the release of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund which is in the 2018 budget.  

Abanida who is the Senior Technical Adviser for Development Research and Project Center (DRPC) said this in lamented that the non release of the fund was delicate and dangerous given its importance to health care delivery in the country.

Abanida warned that failure to release the fund signifies means that more pregnant women, children and other citizens would die needlessly when such could be averted.  

He frowned that it was worrisome that the fund which was captured in the 2018 budget was not released a month to the end of the year and that this was a dangerous indication for provision of health care services for the citizens.

Abanida urged President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure the release of the fund immediately to save lives of the indigent citizens who need access to health care services.

Speaking further, Abanida said failure to release the money was having a negative effect on health care delivery in the country, especially in the rural areas as it could have been handy in the revitalisation of primary health care centres. The fund is expected to help reduce out of pocket spending on health care through the National Health Insurance Scheme.

“As we move to the end of the year, if we do not get this money, obviously, when they are doing the 2019 budget they will put zero application to 2018,” he said.

He lamented that because the year is already running to an end, whatever is released now would be mopped up by December otherwise it must be returned to the government treasury.

“In 2018 we are talking of about N 55 billion and people have given reasons why it is not forthcoming, like the discordance among the three health agencies to utilise the fund when disbursed,”.

“If we see health as a topmost priority, then they should start getting their money. We cannot continue running from Geneva to London, London to Paris looking for money whereas we need to tack basic care of our people.

“I believe that the political will to make sure that it happens is not strong because if it is strong, it will certainly come. Health in Nigeria is not a priority. We prioritise security, power food security but you need to be healthy to be able to provide food. It is when you are healthy that you can solve security problem and the Human Development Index (HDI) will certainly improve,” Abanida said.