President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Abdulwahed Omar on Tuesday assured Nigerians that the Federal Government would not increase the price of petrol in the New Year. Omar, who gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Ni...
Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa has described late Gov. Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State, as a detribalised Nigerian, who within his short life in government built bridges of love and unity.
Dickson made the observation in his tribute at the special valedictory session of the Bayelsa Executive Council held in Yenagoa on Tuesday in honour of Yakowa, who died on Saturday.
He said, ``The late Kaduna State governor was and will remain a great Nigerian patriot, who came to Bayelsa, building bridges of love and bonds of fraternity.
``He was dedicated and humble servant of the people of Kaduna State and Nigeria at large.''
The governor, who described the last Saturday incident that killed Yakowa, Azazi and others as a hurting nightmare, said that the day would forever remain dark in our memories forever.
He said that the nation lost two distinguished leaders and dedicated military officers in the ill-fated crash, adding that Yakowa died in active service while visiting Bayelsa as a friend of the state.
According to Dickson, with Yakowa’s untimely demise, our nation has lost a great leader and democrat who lived and believed in the unity of our nation.
``Bayelsa has lost a great friend and I, personally, have lost an elder brother,” he said.
The governor, who was accompanied to the special session by his wife, Rachael, assured late Yakowa’s widow, Aminatu that the government and people of Bayelsa would remain close to her.
According to the governor, we will always be with you now and forever.
In a tribute, former Governor of Bayelsa, Chief Diepreye Alamieseigha, described Yakowa as a brother, who served the nation and Kaduna State as a deputy governor and governor meritoriously.
He said that upon the emergence of Yakowa as governor of Kaduna State, many Nigerians did not give him a chance to succeed as a governor, because of the ethno-religious politics in the state.
``But by divine providence, he became governor when his then boss, Namadi Sambo was elevated to Vice-President.
``Yakowa then proved his critics wrong by building bridges of love and unity. He was a nationalist and man of peace,” Alamieseigha said.
According to him, Yakowa is a celebrated democrat who believed in his people and celebrated them in governance.
He said, ``His departure should be a source of encouragement to all those who value peace and humility.”
The Secretary to the Bayelsa Government, Prof. Edmund Allison-Oguru, said that the valedictory session in honour of Yakowa was indeed a solemn moment in the remembrance of a great Nigerian leader, who died in humility.
He said, “From his name, Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, you will see that the various ethnic groups can live together in unity.
``This is a man who built bridges of love and peace between the Northern and Southern Kaduna people,” the secretary said.
The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa, Rtd. Rear Admiral John Jonah, has been directed by Dickson to lead a government delegation to escort the corpse of Yakowa to Kaduna.
Meanwhile, Dickson is expected to lead an enlarged delegation of government and people of Bayelsa to Kaduna on Wednesday to commiserate with the family of Yakowa, the government and people of Kaduna State.
The governor said the delegation would also be in Abuja to commiserate with President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice-President Namadi Sambo, on the death of the victims of the crash. (NAN)
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed shock at the death of Gov. Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna, Gen. Owoye Azazi, former National Security Adviser, and four others in a helicopter crash.
The naval helicopter crashed in Okoroba community in Bayelsa State on Saturday, killing Yakowa, Azazi, their aides, the pilot and co-pilot.
Obasanjo, who is in the United States, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone that he received news of the crash and casualty with shock and regret.
''This is indeed a tragedy,” he said. “Our nation has lost compatriots whose contributions have been invaluable and who would still have been giving their best to our development.''
The former President expressed his heartfelt condolence to the families of the bereaved and prayed that God should grant them needed succour.
'' I pray that God in His infinite mercies grants the deceased eternal rest,'' Obasanjo said in the interview with NAN. (NAN)
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Two 6-year-old boys were to be the first victims of the Sandy Hook School massacre buried after funeral services on Monday in Connecticut.
Noah Pozner and Jack Pinto were among the 20 children - all age 6 or 7 - slain in a shooting spree on Friday at the elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut.
Six teachers in the school were also killed by the suspected gunman, a 20-year-old man who appeared to be deranged.
Separate funeral services were scheduled for both boys in Newtown and a neighbouring community with burials to follow.
Several more services were planned for Tuesday and Wednesday.
Pozner was the youngest victim. His Jewish family's temple, Congregation Adath Israel in Newtown, was raising money to help the Pozners, and his funeral notice recommended memorial contributions for the planting of trees in Israel.
Jack Pinto's family held a private wake ahead of Monday's funeral.
His family said over the weekend that they planned to bury the young sports fan in a New York Giants football jersey of receiver Victor Cruz, his favourite player.
The professional player telephoned with Pinto's parents prior to his Sunday game in Atlanta.
``There are no words that can describe the type of feeling you get when a kid idolizes you so much that, you know, unfortunately they put him in a casket with your jersey on," Cruz said, in a report by the Newsday newspaper in Long Island, New York.
Cruz played on Sunday with messages written on his gloves and including "Rest In Peace Jack Pinto."
The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, on Monday said that the ministry had started the printing of new yellow fever cards with encoded security details to replace the old ones.
Chukwu said this when the newly appointed WHO Country Representative to Nigeria, Dr Rui Gamavaz, paid a courtesy visit to the ministry.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), recalls that in May, about 125 Nigerians were deported by the South African authorities because they were alleged not to have possessed genuine yellow fever card.
He said that Nigeria had established collaboration with the Global Alliance for Vaccine Immunisation (GAVI) to ensure effective control of any unforeseen eventuality that might arise as a result of outbreak from neighbouring countries.
``On the yellow fever aspect, the issue we have with South Africa diplomatically, it has been resolved but for the health aspect.
``What we are doing now, we are printing new yellow cards, which once they are printed, these ones have better security features and they will gradually replace the old yellow card.
`` We are walking with GAVI now to some extent they have accepted our proposal for a campaign for yellow fever.
``So, if able by next year with the assistance of GAVI we will source yellow fever vaccines we will begin a special campaign.
``Because we remain at risks, even recently Cameroon had some outbreak and we are neighbours with them and from either ways the disease can cross from either ways but we need to get more people immunised in Nigeria if we are not to have recurrence of 1995 disaster.’’
Chukwu expressed concern over the ineffectiveness in the use of mosquito treated net to eradicate malaria in Nigeria.
He said that the method did not conform with the country's weather condition, stressing that a lot of people complained that it was generating a lot of heat.
Chukwu said that the indoor residual spraying was an expensive method to embark on, besides, many Nigerians preferred staying outside to receive fresh air.
The minister also appealed to WHO to collaborate with the country in ensuring that polio was totally eradicated.
He said that more laboratories would be established for polio diagnosis.
Chukwu said that Nigeria was also making progress in reducing maternal and new born mortality through the Save One Million Lives initiatives.
He pledged Nigeria's cooperation with the new country representative to achieve success in promoting the health of the citizens.
Responding, the WHO country representative appreciated the Federal Government's efforts in promoting the health of Nigerians.
Gamavaz gave the assurance that WHO would identify the health challenges in Nigeria and work toward addressing the issues.
He pledged to build on the existing relationship of his predecessors, stressing that efforts would be put in place to ensure success in promoting good health of the people.
The Bayelsa Government said it was awaiting the outcome of investigation into the navy helicopter crash that killed former Gov. Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State, retired Gen. Owoeye Azazi and four others. on Dec. 15.
Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa gave the indication on Monday in Yenagoa, when he received the investigation team from the Federal Government led by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba.
The governor, who described the crash as a monumental tragedy, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment and support for the investigation.
He commended the naval chief and the team for their prompt response by visiting the state to carry out an assessment of the crash site at Okoroba Community in Nembe Local Government Area.
Dickson expressed the condolences of the government and people of Bayelsa over the death of Yakowa, noting that he was a guest of the state, building relationships.
On the former National Security Adviser, Azazi, the governor said “here we have lost one of our best, who means so much to the state and has contributed towards nation building”.
Dickson described the navy pilot among the dead as diligent officers, who had served in the state during the flood period and commended their sense of duty and professionalism.
“I condole with the entire military, as well as their families for their tragic loss. We are all in mourning with the loss of these great patriots."
The governor remarked that the navy had been a critical pillar of support to the state in the quest to ensure peace and stability.
He said that the administration had already declared three days of mourning in the state, adding that all formal government activities had been suspended.
Dickson assured the chief of naval staff that the state government would continue to play its constitutional roles and called for more interactions from the Nigerian Navy to discuss issues of common interest.
Earlier, Ezeoba urged Nigerians to remain united in spite of the pain and grief occasioned by the national loss.
According to him, in spite all, we will continue to give thanks to God.
Ezeoba said that President Goodluck Jonathan had directed a detailed investigation into the rash, and gave the assurance that necessary steps would be taken to unravel its cause.