Tag Martins Odeh

Coalition

By Martins Odeh

Abuja, May 2, 2020 (NAN) The coalition of All Progressives Congress (APC) Support Groups  and Presidential Support Committee, South South Zone on Saturday urged the party’s national leadership to ensure an all-inclusive leadership strategy to solidify the party.

The coalition gave the advice at a news conference in Abuja by the coordinators of the coalition —– Elijah Ettah, Atasia Uburu and Hosanna Abel.

They said the group had worked for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari and all those who contested on the party’s platform across the South-South region.

They however said it would be fair for the group to be carried along.

The group said it was incumbent on the party’s national leadership to develop a template that considered the strengths and weaknesses of the party’s several support groups to have a chance of winning the 2023 general elections.

According to the coordinators, the South-South zone coalition is emphatically demanding all-inclusive leadership strategies which would usher in democratic deliverables for its members across the Niger Delta region.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the coalition, among other demands, urged the party’s national leadership to influence the inclusion of two of its members on the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

“The APC-led Federal government should ensure that it accommodates the  duo of Rivers  Chairman of the APC Support Group, Mr Ene Jack, and  the South-South Zonal Coordinator of the Presidential Support Committee, Doris Uboh, on the board of the commission.

“The support group has worked for the party both in the region and nationally and should be carried along so that it can mobilise its groups to monitor projects in their respective domains and report back to them.’’

The coalition further said the group was aware that the position of the Director of Projects had been zoned to Rivers, adding that this informed the need for the latest demand.

On the controversy surrounding the N5.47 billion allegedly approved to tackle Covid-19 in the Niger Delta states, the coalition said that no such contract had been awarded yet.

The contract was alleged to have been awarded for the purchase and supplies of Personnel Protective Equipments (PPE) for the nine states of the Niger Delta.

“The widespread insinuation that a contract for an emergency procurement of specialised medical PPE in the nine states of the Niger Delta region was awarded by the interim committee is false.

“Some individuals in the region who have vowed that they will never allow the zone to make any form of progress and development have constituted themselves as detractors.

“The coalition wishes to appreciate the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, for his doggedness in treading were others failed and refusing to turn blind eyes to the corruption in the NDDC which has adversely affected the region over the years.

“We will continue to remain grateful to President Muhammadu Buhari for his zeal, perseverance and steadfastness in ensuring that NDDC makes progress in the face of strong opposition by those who have made the commission their cash-cow over the years,’’ the coalition said.(NAN)

OMO/KAY

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Edited by Kayode Olaitan

Relief

By Martins Odeh

Abuja, April 25, 2020 (NAN) The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT, on Saturday began distribution of various food items to its members as part of efforts to ameliorate the impact of the lockdown occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chairman of the council’s Committee on Covid-19 Intervention and Awareness, Osaretin Osadebamwen said this in a statement in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Emmanuel Ogbeche, Chairman of the council had on April 6 inaugurated the committee with the task to source intervention for its members in the frontline covering COVID-19 activities across FCT.

Osadebamwen said a total of 350 of the media practitioners listed as first batch of beneficiaries had so far collected their items ranging from 25kg bags of rice, noodles and yams.

“The committee wishes to assure all members of the union whose need assessment were collated through a survey via online that their items would be delivered sooner than later.

“We are expected to take delivery of more palliative items from men and organizations of goodwill as the day progresses,’’ he said.

The committee chairman said Chief James Umeh, founder of   Unubiko Foundation, Vastovers Stemordz Limited, Joy Osaro Onaiwu Foundation and Samson Itodo of YIAGA Africa provided the items that were distributed.

“Sequel to this, the committee is obliged to express its profound pleasure and gratitude to the show of love and philanthropy by the donors.

“As our members go about their duties, in these difficult times of our national life, we are firmly aware of the danger that lies ahead.

“We, therefore, solicit the compassion of well-meaning Nigerians to assist in whatever way to keep the morale of Journalists in the FCT boosted as they continue to keep the public informed on activities in tackling the COVID-19,’’ Osadebamwen said. (NAN)

OMO/SH

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Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Relief

By Martins Odeh

Abuja, April 25, 2020 (NAN) The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT, on Saturday began distribution of various food items to its members as part of efforts to ameliorate the impact of the lockdown occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chairman of the council’s Committee on Covid-19 Intervention and Awareness, Osaretin Osadebamwen said this in a statement in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Emmanuel Ogbeche, Chairman of the council had on April 6 inaugurated the committee with the task to source intervention for its members in the frontline covering COVID-19 activities across FCT.

Osadebamwen said a total of 350 of the media practitioners listed as first batch of beneficiaries had so far collected their items ranging from 25kg bags of rice, noodles and yams.

“The committee wishes to assure all members of the union whose need assessment were collated through a survey via online that their items would be delivered sooner than later.

“We are expected to take delivery of more palliative items from men and organizations of goodwill as the day progresses,’’ he said.

The committee chairman said Chief James Umeh, founder of   Unubiko Foundation, Vastovers Stemordz Limited, Joy Osaro Onaiwu Foundation and Samson Itodo of YIAGA Africa provided the items that were distributed.

“Sequel to this, the committee is obliged to express its profound pleasure and gratitude to the show of love and philanthropy by the donors.

“As our members go about their duties, in these difficult times of our national life, we are firmly aware of the danger that lies ahead.

“We, therefore, solicit the compassion of well-meaning Nigerians to assist in whatever way to keep the morale of Journalists in the FCT boosted as they continue to keep the public informed on activities in tackling the COVID-19,’’ Osadebamwen said. (NAN)

OMO/SH

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Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Covid-19: Centre advises against jeopardising Nigeria/China multi-lateral cooperation

Cooperation

By Martins Odeh
Abuja, April 24, 2020 (NAN) The Centre for China Studies has advised against invitation to deliberately jeopardise the age long Nigeria/China multilateral cooperation over allegations of mistreatment of some Nigerians in China.

The centre’s Director, Mr Charles Onunaiju, gave the advice while briefing newsmen on Friday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that informations emanating from China indicated that Nigerians and black Africans were racially abused and made targets of inappropriate COVID-19 testing procedures.

Onunaiju said the seemingly provocative actions of few Chinese security officials could not have been Chinese government directive, adding that the government had clear policy against racism and racial abuses.

“Few chinese officials may have behaved in a certain manner not in line with official directive when handling the COVID-19 testing of Nigerians and Africans.

“Let not the obvious exigency of the time vitiates the positive relationship that exists between the two countries. China’s multilateral cooperation with Nigeria has delivered quite some good results.

“The centre can authoritatively testify that China has good intention for Nigeria and black Africans. China cannot deliberately practice racism or abuse Nigerians.

“The new China is pure lover of African continent and, especially Nigeria, and we should not allow misinformation about COVID-19 theories to truncate this relationship,’’ Onunaiju.

He also said: “ The Federal Republic of Nigeria and the People’s Republic of China share strong symbolic identities as one obtained independence and the other secured national liberation on the 1^st of October in 1960 and 1949 respectively’’.

“China is the largest developing nation in the world, just as Nigeria is the largest developing country in Africa.

“A diplomatic cooperation established in 1971 between the two countries has nurtured profound and dynamic exchanges and since 2005, transformed into a quality brand of strategic partnership.

“The Nigeria-China cooperation has deepened considerably and constitutes a strategic pivot to the dynamic prospect of China-Africa relation.

“We view with concerns some recent issues relating to the outbreak of the Covid-19 and the ramifications of several measure adopted by different countries to control and contain the virus,’’ he said.

According to him, both China and Nigeria are currently in line to vigorously combat and contain the virus.

Onunaiju explained that the reported misunderstanding was not unconnected with the stiff measures adopted by China to combat the virus, adding that the approach put enormous pressure on their citizens and visitors.

On whether the country’s demand of debt cancellation by China was justified, Onanaiju explained that China was already spearheading the campaign for debt cancellation for third world nations to allow their economies to stay afloat while fighting the pandemic.

“China is magnanimous in writing-off debts from low income nations in Africa. They have continued to oblige African nations with concessional loans. It has been a routine,’’ he said.

Onunaiju, however, urged the media not to give visibility to the fifth columnist bent on spreading misinformation aimed at destroying the country’s healthy multilateral cooperation with China. (NAN)
OMO/PDE
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(Editing by Peter Ejiofor)