Nigeria Content Online

In a bid to boost the health sector of the country, the federal
government has promised to offer free loans to private medical institution
owners. It also said that it would encourage public/private partnership, and
give support too in the provision of modern facilities for the needs of
Nigerians.

The Minister of Health Onyebuchi Chukwu made this known over the
weekend in Abuja during a free prostate cancer screening exercise organized by
a private clinic, Chivar Clinic and Urology Centre in collaboration with the
Ministry of Health in commemoration of the 2011 World Cancer Day.

Mr. Chukwu urged Nigerian men to test for prostrate cancer,
insisting that early detection can lead to a cure. He also said that the
ministry would embark on free public cancer screenings in all the local
governments in collaboration with the Association of Local Governments of
Nigeria. The minister and his entourage got screened for prostate cancer after
which they went on a tour of the clinic’s facility and equipment.

Earlier in the day, the minister had flagged of the public HPV
vaccination of girls from age 9-15 who received the vaccine freely at the
conference hall of the Ministry of Health.

Meanwhile, the chief medical director of the Chivar Clinic and
Urology Centre, Uzoma Azodo, said that figures showed that two new prostrate
cancer patients were seen every two weeks at the National Hospital, Abuja.

Nigeria’s largest
helicopter company, Bristow Limited, has said that the federal
government’s amnesty programme for militants has improved the level of
aviation safety in the area. Describing the amnesty initiative as one
that has “positively worked” for the aviation industry, the carrier
whose major operations in the country revolves around the Niger Delta
region explained that prior to the pardon for militants in the region,
its operations and those of other airlines were hampered as the
combative youths occasionally attacked their facilities with arms.

“The amnesty has
worked. Before the amnesty, we were concerned because we needed to fly
at a very high level to avoid arms fire. As long as our clients tell us
that it is a hot area, we don’t go there,” said Akin Oni, managing
director of the helicopter company, during a briefing at the company’s
head office in Lagos over the weekend.

Mr. Oni explained
that before the amnesty, Bristow and other helicopter companies and oil
firms within the region had been working together in the sharing of
intelligence in order not to fall victim to assaults from the
militants, adding that carrier, which has over 90 percent of its
investment in the Niger Delta often stayed away from the area whenever
there was trouble.

“Once again, I will
say that the amnesty has worked. The oil companies have been very
cooperative; we are not a military service. Once there is possible
trouble in the area, we don’t go there, so we work on the intelligence
to avoid losing our facilities,” he said.

Last year, the
federal government of Nigeria through the Niger Delta Development
Commission declared amnesty to militants in the region, who before the
official pardon from the government, engaged in the destruction of
lives and property in a bid to press home their demands.

“You will agree
that the level of unrest in the Niger Delta, which had drastic effects
on the economy of the country, was calmed after the government
intervened in the form of amnesty last year,” said Beggi Fidelis, camp
support staff and an ex-militant during the recent unveiling of 212
transformed ex-militants in Lagos being prepared for vocational
training in Ghana.

Meanwhile, Mr. Oni
disclosed that the airline was working to ensure that safety in the
industry is sustained, as he noted that the forthcoming safety and
security seminar being organized by Bristow would focus on the need to
guarantee an accident-free aviation sector in Nigeria.

“There are
insinuations that it is not possible not to have accidents, we believe
it is possible. Accidents don’t just happen, several things happen
before you get to that terrible situation where you have to go and
clean up blood,” he said. “What we are interested in is zero accident
and that is what we are doing.”

Former governor of Lagos state, Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday in
Osogbo, Osun state restated his call for true federalism as the only panacea to
the nation’s political and economic problems. Speaking at the official
unveiling of the coat of arms of the government of Osun state and its flag, Mr.
Tinubu stated that the only path to economic growth was for the country to
return to a federal system of government.

“For this country to return to the path of progress, honour and
economic buoyancy; there is need for us to return to true federalism,” he said.
“This will allow every federating unit in the country to develop at its pace.”

The ACN leader urged the people of the state to give the
governor, Rauf Aregbesola, maximum support in his efforts at restoring the
state to the path of honour and economic independence.

“It’s about time for us the progressives in this country to
translate the country’s potentials into reality,” he said. “Let us show that we
can turn around the country for the benefit of all of us.”

The state governor, while unveiling the new coat of arms for
the state tagged “Ipinle Omoluabi” at a programme to commemorate the rebranding
of the state, called on the people to return to the old golden era and put the
interest of the state above theirs. He explained that the rationale behind
rebranding the state was to return the state to the old era of governance where
service was the hallmark of governance.

Mr. Aregbesola who recalled the achievements of the premier of
the defunct Western region, the late Obafemi Awolowo, stressed that the Yorubas
had always been at the forefront of development in the country. He restated the
commitment of his administration to good governance, democracy, due process and
rule of law.

Tinubu’s attack

In his speech, Mr. Tinubu faulted the reported claim by the
speaker of Osun State House of Assembly, Adejare Bello, that the former
governor of the state and now the national chairperson of the ACN, Bisi Akande,
lost the 2003 governorship election to the People’s Democratic Party because of
Mr. Akande’s retrenchment of civil servants in the state.

Mr. Tinubu stated that Mr. Akande lost the election to the
PDP’s rigging which was bent on chasing out the progressives out of the
southwest by all means. The event was witnessed by Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka
and the national chairperson of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Bisi Akande.
Others included the son of late human rights activist Gani Fawehinmi, Mohammed
and Akinwumi Ishola.

President Goodluck Jonathan has asked members of Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) who were defeated in the party’s recent primary elections
to have a spirit of sportsmanship.

He stated this at a dinner in Abuja at the weekend where he
formally dissolved the Jonathan/Sambo Campaign Organisation, which handled his
campaign for the primaries.

Apparently jolted by the rate at which failed aspirants on the
party’s platform were defecting to other parties as well as the threat by
others to do so, Mr Jonathan said such action does not only portray them as
non-committed members, but amounts to anti-party activities.

“I advise people who did not secure their tickets not to leave
the party even if you were not a candidate today you will be one tomorrow. It
is anti-party to leave PDP and pick ticket from another party only to return to
the PDP. You should rather remain there,” Mr. Jonathan said.

Vice President Namadi Sambo in his remarks called on party
members to join hands to ensure the collective victory of the party at the
general elections while also reaffirming the ‘one man one vote’ assurance of
the government.

Also speaking, Senate President, David Mark urged the losers to
behave like Hillary Clinton by joining the winners to campaign for the victory
of the party.

Scores of PDP members across the federation who lost during the
governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly
primaries have either left the party or are at the verge of leaving.

Former vice president and presidential aspirant, Atiku Abubakar,
who lost the Presidential primary, has already dragged Mr Jonathan to the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) alleging that the exercise was
marred by bribery, coercion and rigging.

Mr Abubakar had previously said he would not leave the ruling
party but stated last week that he was ready for dialogue.

Mr Jonathan assured those at the dinner, including governors,
ministers and party chieftains that if those planning to defect change their
minds they will be accommodated in the party.

He thanked the governors for their tireless efforts,
cooperation, contributions and for assiduously working hard to ensure his
victory in the primary.

The president announced the formal disbandment of the
Jonathan/Sambo Campaign Organisation, saying it was imperative to pave way for
a larger campaign structure to be constituted by the PDP national leadership to
oversee the preparation for the main presidential election, which comes up on
April 9.

Campaign kicks on

Stating that it will be the beginning of the real campaign, Mr
Jonathan said that his nationwide campaign will be flagged off today (Monday)
in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital in the North Central geo-political zone
after which the campaigns train will move to the five other zones.

The campaign will move to Ibadan (South West), Bauchi (North
East), Enugu (South East) and Port Harcourt (South-South).

Also speaking at the dinner, the acting national chairman of the
PDP, Bello Mohammed expressed gratitude to the Jonathan/Sambo Campaign
Organisation headed by the Dalhatu Tafida, Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the
United Kingdom.

He added, “PDP is the party to beat and Nigerians have realised
this. That is why PDP’s ticket is worth fighting for. So what we are witnessing
within the party is not fighting as a lot of people term it but competition for
tickets because it is the winning party and in President Jonathan we have found
a sellable candidate that will take us to the Promised Land.”

Mr Mohammed said that the party is ready to face the challenges
of the elections, saying “the way to earn respect and confidence of the people
of this country is to reach out to them. I say this because while PDP was going
round campaigning, a lot of our opponents were busy going to court.

“Once we launch the campaigns, we are not going to rest until we
deliver victory come April 2011. This time around, the President has promised
‘one man, one vote.’ We are going to win fair and square. PDP is for all
Nigerians and we are all co-founders and co-joiners.”

The acting chairman pledged to accommodate members of the organisation in
the larger campaign outfit to be constituted by the party.

“We are in a marathon war, and in this particular fight, we will
fight it to its logical conclusion.”

That was the pronouncement made by the Governor of Ogun State
Gbenga Daniel yesterday as he addressed supporters at the inauguration of
campaign committees held at Valley View auditorium in the government house,
Abeokuta.

Two factions headed by Mr. Daniel and former Nigerian president,
Olusegun Obasanjo, held parallel primaries to select the People’s Democratic
Party candidates for the forthcoming general elections in the state. Tunji
Olurin had emerged as the PDP gubernatorial candidate for the Obasanjo faction
while Gboyega Isiaka was elected in Mr. Daniel’s faction. Now both groups are
embattled in a series of legal suits to determine who will ultimately get the
top nominee spot.

“We have started this war since 2006,” the governor told his
supporters, “and I want you to shine your eyes.”

The governor claimed he had done everything possible to appease
the Obasanjo faction of the PDP, “yet the camp had remained difficult”.

“Therefore, at the stage the situation gets now, you cannot be
in the river and complain of cold,” Mr. Daniel said.

He added that those pushing Tunji Olurin to become governor, knew
that he (Olurin) could not win an election even in his Ilaro hometown.

War song

“They even used opposition media to fight us, an indication that
they are working together with [the] opposition party to destroy our party and
later move out,” said the governor.

Continuing the allegations against Mr. Obasanjo’s faction, Mr.
Daniel said that the political war against him started in 2006, with the
stealing of his administration vouchers as a way to implicate him. The governor
recalled that a number of his cabinet members were quizzed by the Economic
Financial Crimes Commision (EFCC), but eventually came out unscathed.

“Those who steal vouchers to nail me, where are they today?” he
said. “We were harassed and intimidated, but God was on our side. I am not
personally surprised with what we are witnessing today. You should not be
shocked because of what we have been facing.”

Insisting that his camp would produce all the candidates to contest the
elections, Mr. Daniel who also sang some Yoruba war songs, assured his
supporters that “by May 29, we will successfully transit to the government of
our choice.”