Day: March 25, 2023

The AU Commission has reaffirmed its commitment to creating the enabling environment for sustained political will, needed to eliminate TB and improve the health of Africa’s people.

H.E. Amb. Minata Cessouma, Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, African Union ?Commission (AUC), made the remarks in a message to mark 2023 World Tuberculosis (TB) Day.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that World Tuberculosis (TB) Day is marked annually on March 24 and the theme for 2023 is : “Yes! We Can End TB!”.

According to Cessouma, the global theme for the day induces a fresh perspective of hope for collective power, ?attention, and energy to end TB.

“As Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development of the AUC, I join the rest of the world to commemorate the 2030 World TB Day.

“The message comes at a time when we are encouraged by ongoing collaborative works between governments, scientists, healthcare workers, development partners and communities to produce more effective TB treatment.

“ All the TB-related policies – AU Agenda 2063, Africa Health Strategy (2016 – 2030) ???and the Catalytic Framework to End AIDS, TB, and Eliminate Malaria in Africa by 2030 – champion partnership for sustainable development and prosperity in Africa.

“We must join efforts to ensure that ?all the hard work is amplified to result in improved TB awareness, prevention, detection, and treatment.?’’

According to her, it is well understood that TB infection is influenced by social and economic development determinants such as HIV infection, malnutrition, diabetes, smoking and alcohol use abuse.

“The significant impact of HIV co-infection among TB patients in Africa calls for stronger integration of TB and HIV-enhanced services.

“The AU Commission’s social development agenda 2063 is premised on delivering a human-centred approach to promote socioeconomic wellness, human rights and dignity.

“I believe that addressing the social determinants of health, such as ?housing, income and access to culturally-appropriate health care, can potentially drive down the TB epidemic.? ?

“Advancing the implementation of the AU Theme of the Year 2022 on Nutrition and Food Security will also increase food security sustainability,? thereby reducing TB disease prevalence.

She said it had become crucial to protect vulnerable groups affected by humanitarian emergencies, including children, people with disabilities, and older persons, and preserve their social welfare.

“This is as they are vulnerable to severe direct and indirect financial and economic costs that pose barriers significantly affecting their access to TB diagnosis and treatment.

“ Increased investment in strategies to reach vulnerable populations is crucial to fulfilling the End TB Strategy ?(2023-2030).

“The Strategy envisions reduced TB incidence by 80%, TB deaths by 90%, and eliminated catastrophic costs for TB-affected households by 2030; it is achievable if we all work together.’’

She said that ensuring equitable access to prevention, treatment and care for this disease across all ?AU Member States required adequate funding for TB and TB/HIV services and relevant advocacy, research and innovation activities.

“The 2022 Global TB Report illustrates a decline in global spending on essential TB services.

“ The “Addis Ababa Commitment towards Shared Responsibility and Global ?Solidarity for ?Increased Health Financing Declaration” (AU Assembly ALM ?Declaration) calls for mobilising adequate domestic resources for health care to reach all who need it.

“There is an urgent need to intensify efforts to mobilise additional funds from domestic sources and international donors.

“The 2023 UN High-Level Meeting on TB in ?September will allow leaders to renew their commitment to accelerate efforts to end TB.?

“When leaders speak boldly about TB, and other communicable and non-communicable diseases, it breaks barriers created by ?stigma and inequality. ‘’

Cessouma urged all AU Member States to join hands to demonstrate bold, ?accountable leadership towards ending TB.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Lagos State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has congratulated Gov. Ademola Adeleke of Osun on his Appeal Court’s victory.

The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) reports that the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Friday annulled the Osun Governorship Election Tribunal’s decision and upheld Adeleke as the rightful governor of Osun in a unanimous decision by a three-man panel headed by Justice Mohammed Shuaibu.

It would be recalled that the Osun governorship election tribunal annulled the July 16, 2022 election of Adeleke and declared the incumbent, Gov. Gboyega Oyetola the winner.

Reacting, Lagos PDP Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Hakeem Amode told NAN that the chapter was happy the appellate court affirmed the mandate given to Adeleke at the poll.

“”The entire leadership and members of PDP in Lagos state are elated with this victory. It is heartwarming.

“We are looking forward to getting justice in all our court cases across the country,” Amode said.

Commending the judiciary, Amode said that the judges were expected to be above board without being intimidated or influenced by corrupt politicians in any matter before them.

“The Judiciary is supposed to be the hope of the people but what happens nowadays in our clime worries so many people.

“Where do people run to if judges and justices meant to stand in the gaps and dispense justice now allow themselves to be influenced because of money?

“Our society is what it is today because of the compromise in our justice system.

“The only way our society can be saner and compete favourably with the western world is when evil people, no matter their influence and affluence, power and position, can no longer evade justice in the law court.

“We are happy with this judgment and wish justice will be rightly dispensed in all cases of electoral frauds in the just-concluded general elections,” he said.

According to him, if Nigerian leaders and citizens, have the consciousness that there will be consequences for actions, everyone will sit tight and change negative attitude in the society.

Amode urged the judiciary across levels to rebuild Nigerians’ confidence in the justice system of the country.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Dr Victor Oye says his position as the party’s chairman is not in dispute because the Supreme Court has not delivered a fresh judgement on the matter.

Oye said this at a news conference on Friday in Abuja.

He said that the briefing was to make some clarifications on the rumours that the Supreme Court had given fresh judgement on the chairmanship tussle between himself and Mr Edozie Njoku which was settled on Oct.14,2021.

He said that the supreme only sat on Friday to correct a clerical error.

He said that following a judgement which purportedly affirmed the factional National Convention of APGA held in Owerri,Imo, he approached the Court of Appeal in Kano to set aside the judgement.

He said that consequent upon that,the Court of Appeal delivered a judgement on Aug.10 ,2021 which allowed the Appeal Court to set aside the judgment of the Jigawa High Court and the Supreme Court also upheld the Appeal Court’s judgement on Oct.14 ,2021.

He said that it was an act of mischief for people to contemplate that the Supreme Court delivered another judgement on March 24.

“The news have been going around about a purported judgement by the Supreme Court today ; there was no judgement by the Supreme Court. No fresh judgement by the Supreme Court at all.

“The Supreme Court sat today for less than 10 minutes, to correct a clerical error on page 13 of the judgement that they delivered on Oct. 14, 2021.

” What was the clerical error? At the Jigawa Birnin Kudo High Court, Edozie Njoku’s name was mentioned there as having purported suspended by the party,a fact alleged in the summons filed at the Jigawa High Court which was thrown away by the Appeal Court Kano.

“So that clerical error was just on page 13 of the judgment of the Supreme Court, just one name ,Edozie Njoku to replace my name there because my name was not mentioned at the Birnin Kudo High Court.

“This is because I have never been suspended by anybody; I have always been the National Chairman of the party because I was duly elected by a national convention of the party held on May 31, 2019 in Akwa monitored by INEC,” he said.

He reiterated that on Oct. 14 2021, the Supreme Court affirmed the judgement of Court of Appeal Kano after the appeal affirmed him as National Chairman, resting on the judgement of an Awka High Court which had not been appealed till date.

He said there was no basis for a fresh case because the Supreme Court had affirmed the judgement of the Court of Appeal and dismissed all applications for joinder.

“It was dismissed ,so there was no way the Supreme Court would have sat in judgement over its own judgement , because as far as we are concerned that judgement is Res judicata ,it has been dealt with and gone forever,so Njoku cannot be Chairman.”

Oye expressed disappointment over some media reports on the issue which were without clarification or balancing, adding that the story indicating fresh judgement was fake news.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Ansar-ud-deen Society of Nigeria has urged leaders at all levels to fear Allah and ensure equality of all citizens irrespective of their religious, tribal and political affiliations.

The Chairman, Northern States’ Council Missioners of Ansar-ud-deen, Sheikh Muhydeen Ajani-Bello, made the call at the 28th Annual Ramadan lecture and Special Prayer for the nation held at the society’s Mosque, Maitama-Abuja on Saturday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of of the lecture was: “Ramadan: Islam and Good Governance, the Role of Muslim”.

Ajani-Bello, who was the Guest Lecturer at the event, also emphasised the need for leaders to take the issues bordering on the welfare and well-being of the citizens more seriously.

“As a leader, you have to govern well. Everybody is very important to you either being a Muslim or Christian in as much as you are their leader.

“You must look at their welfare, it is very important and you should allow them to advise you because you should have advisers among them those who can advise you constructively and if you listen to their advice it will guide you.”

Earlier, the Chief Imam of Ansar-ud-deen Abuja Mosque, Dr Musa Olaife, enjoined all the newly elected and reelected leaders to fulfill their campaign promises.

“Our leaders, especially the newly elected ones need to be very upright and sincere in their dealings and fulfill all their promises, because we are tired of promised and fail it too much in this country,” he said.

Also, the Co-Chairperson of the Day and daughter of the President-elect, Mrs Folashade Tinubu, appealed to all Nigerians to intensify prayers for the success of the incoming government of Sen. Bola Tinubu and Vice President-elect, Sen Kashim Shettima.

She said: “I appreciate all Nigerians that supported and voted them and it is not over yet, we need to pray for them to do the needful.

“We also need to pray for them to be able to do things that will satisfy the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians.”

Earlier, the Chairman of Abuja branch of the soceity, Alhaji Mohammad Olayiwola implored all Muslims to justify the benevolence of Allah on them by sharing their prosperity with the less privileged among in the society.

He also enjoined Muslims to donate raw food items, cash and other resources to the poor in seeking Allah’s blessings on their lives and assets.

Olayiwola said: “This year’s Ramadan theme reminds us on the emulation of our Islamic leader and role model, Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) in government as a leader and the governed.”

NAN reports that the high point of the event was the offering of special national prayer for an end to the socioeconomic as well as the security challenges facing the country and enhanced peace, progress and development of the land.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Amalgamated All Progressives Congress (APC) Support Groups (AASG) has endorsed Sen. Abdulaziz Yari, as President of the 10th Senate.

The Director-General of the group, Dr Kailani Muhammad, made this known while hosting Yari at a meeting in Abuja, on Saturday.

Muhammad called on all to support the former Governor of Zamfara State to achieve his set goal.

He said that Nigerians should always pray for a better country where development was assured.

The group’s director-general, who is also the National Chairman of the Tinubu/Shettima Network (TSN), said the group acknowledged Yari’s work and would continue to mobilise support for him.

Yari, while speaking at the meeting, promised to perform, if given a chance to become the next Senate President.

He said: “I commended this group that supported the APC in the last election.

“I observed the support of the group nationwide and their commitment to the party and to the President-elect and I believe there are people that have credibility that can take this journey to the promise land.

“The decision that is going to be taken, this group will be of help for better APC in the future.

“I believe that I have versed knowledge of the system and I have the capacity to put everyone together for the purpose of the APC-led government in 2023 to 2027 to succeed.

“My relationship with the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, my relationship with the senators, my relationship with the governors, my relationship with former governors, is very intact.

“Nigerians have confidence in the APC and the party will continue to give good governance to the people.

“The election was not about religion, but about performance.”

Source: News Agency of Nigeria