Top Stories
Exposed! N100b road contracts scam rocks Edo
From COLLINS EKE, Benin
AN alleged
monumental fraud running into billions of naira allegedly squandered on the
Benin City road network, by Governor Oserhiemen Osunbor has sparked off a
cold war in Edo State....
'Independence Day is time to bless Nigeria...
Let's
celebrate our country’
Being a keynote address by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, President, Believers Loveworld
Inc. (a.k.a Christ Embassy) at the Grand Launch of the 2008 edition of ReachOut
Nigeria...
Presidency
starves INEC of funds
By CHUKS EHIRIM, Abuja
THE Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC), still gasping for breath, amid unending
attacks from the public, surprisingly, in recent times has been suffering
.....
Nigeria
at 48: No cause for cheers - AC leader
From CHUKS EHIRIM, Abuja
AS Nigerians take stock of the dividends of 48 years of freedom from colonial
rule, while curiously awaiting the mandatory Independence Anniversary...
MIKANO
Generators
By KELECHI DECA
MIKANO Generators
is a subsidiary of Mikano International Limited, a company with 27 years experience
in the areas of Building/Civil Engineering Construction and Steel...
ReachOut Nigeria
campaign reaches climax
By AZUKA MORDI
AT the grand launch of this year's edition of the ReachOut Nigeria with Rhapsody
of Realities campaign, President of Believers Loveworld (also known as) Christ
Embassy, Pastor Chris....
NEWS
• Shake-up imminent
in ANPP
• As Third Mainland bridge
re-opens: Lagosians heave sigh of relief
• Court orders arrest of
PDP chieftain in Kaduna
• Imo deputy governor clashes
with kinsmen
• Principal,
vice escape kidnap attack
• Village
head, four others quizzed
• Group alerts of plot to
rip-off Rivers officials
• Forum cautions Ijaws on
minister for Niger Delta
• National Identity Cards
in a fix
• Group wants WAEC probed
• Nobody can stop my judicial
commission of inquiry –Jang
• Fayose commends Oni's
unity govt plan
• Shun ostentatious living,
Moslems told
• NEMA advises stake-holders
on disaster management
• I'm
okay with JTF operations –New Defence Chief
• Monarchs endorse Akpabio
for second term
• Anambra PDP Crisis:
Ubah hails Gana's committee
• Rivers to get tourism
dev. commission
• COREN goes tough on erring
members
• 22 German students take
courses in Hausa
• Varsity don raises alarm
over materialism
• Speak your mother-tongue,
Ohakim tells Nigerians
President Yar’Adua's health and our future
By OGWAZU C. NNAMDI
THERE are numerous folklores in Igbo that tend to extol the dexterity of
tortoise. And, most times certain human behaviors are equated to the maverick
nature of the tortoise. But, nature has made it that pregnancy cannot be covered
with the best produced basket. If there is any room for covering pregnancy,
it exists at the beginning, and beyond becomes an imagination.
On the above, I have tended to see the President Umaru Musa Yar;dua's health
status. It is an issue that has attracted wide comments and the opposition
has often used it as a platform. As usual the Octopus, Peoples Democratic
Party, takes to defense. But, what are we really defending for even the president
acknowledged his health status. This course stretches beyond the political
intrigues exhibited by the gladiators for every citizen of Nigerian is directly
involved in this melodrama.
This is Nigeria Course and our quest for a sound and vibrant economy by year
2020 is a matter of great interest. It is an aberration that countries like
Indonesia, Malaysia and India we shared a vision of prosperous economy are
too many miles ahead. Nigeria is a laughing stock and our journey in this
democratic drive is being handled with levity. The idea of governance presently
entails great work of ideas generation and execution with maximum emphasis
on integrity. It is not out of place to see/hear of political office- holders
stretching through the nights for public good. Indeed, quite a tasking scenario
that demands sound health for efficient and effective performance. I do not
intend to say that human beings going by my biblical instructions are immune
from ill health. But, a situation that demands greater attention as can be
deduced from President Yar'dua's several medical trips abroad shows a man
that needs rest rather stress. Now, the question is, Will his generation and
Nigerians unborn pardon us for stretching a man that needed relaxation and
in effect jeopardize their future? We as a nation have missed so many steps
that we needed to run at a super- sonic speed to catch up with the (BRIC)
nations.
Truly, in this process of finding a solution to our problem, I would remind
our president to accept honour by retracing his steps and attend to his health
state. Equally, in this category is the place of Her Excellency, Mrs Turai
Yar'dua who can utilize her God endowed attributes to work for posterity by
handling it the family way. I may not share the argument of some on Chief
Olusegun Obasanjo's complicity for it is human and maturity to accept responsibility
taking into consideration a wide range of issues. If President Yar'dua had
said no to such opportunity he would have remained the Kastina Servant Leader
though without the appellation of Mr. President of this great republic.
However, as one of his policy and human admirers with great hopes on God's
intervention to his condition. I beg to say that now you are back from the
lesser Hajj, much effort should be geared in developing our health system.
This is imperative for my visit to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospitals,
Enugu made me ask questions on the much advertised refurbishment contract.
And, the fact that you fly out regularly for medical checks is an indication
that the jamboree or publicized status of National Hospital, Abuja is still
a (PDP) mirage. I may not be competent to question the cost of these medical
trips on our common pot for the Accountant General of the Federation would
rebuke my request. Though, he is not to blame for the Hawks at the Abuja Capitol
has refused to heed the path of honour by letting the Freedom of Information
bill be. So, continue to fix your health from our common pot (treasury), for
if my late father, and others of his status had had similar opportunities,
they would have lived longer to wish our children well.
Now, to the economic technocrats and Pundits, What becomes of our desire for
a developed economy by 2020 under the circumstances? Is it possible for an
Obama Barrack though unelected, to play hide and sick with his health status
before the American Populace? Can any of his (Obama) array of advisers and
Public Relations experts freely tell Americans that he is coming back like
our minister, John Odey even when that is least contemplated by the man. Let
the populace decide.
•Ogwazu wrote from Imo State
