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Tag: makarfi

  • Diphtheria: Death toll rises to 13 in Kaduna state

    Diphtheria: Death toll rises to 13 in Kaduna state

    As suspected outbreak of diphtheria in Kafanchan, Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State claimed about 10 lives, the disease in Makarfi Local Government Area of the State killed three children, seven others were hospitalised.

    The development has prompted the state government to send emergency teams to investigate cases and take immediate action in the affected areas.

    While confirming the effect of the disease in Makarfi Local Government Area, the Local Council’s Health Secretary, Malam Aliyu Alhassan, said the suspected cases occurred at Tashar Na Kawu community in Gubuchi Ward in the area.

    He said: “Affected victims were children and the specimen of the victims was forwarded to Abuja for analysis. Those suspected with the disease have been taken to hospital and isolated for medical observation and contact tracing is going on to prevent further spread of the disease.”

    Kaduna State government has already alerted citizens on the outbreak and directed the Ministry of Health to send an emergency team to investigate cases and take immediate action.

    Muhammad Lawal Shehu, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Uba Sani, in a statement, stated that the state Ministry of Health had confirmed cases of the diphtheria disease in some communities in Kafanchan, Jema’a Local Government Area.

    Meanwhile, the Chief Epidemiologist, of Kaduna State Ministry of Health, Dr Jeremiah Daikwo, has lamented that some communities in the state were rejecting vaccine against anthrax that broke out in some states, a bacterial disease that affects domestic and wild animals and can infect human beings especially children who may have had contact with infected animals.

    He said in an interview that their findings revealed that 17 people were infected and “we are still doing contact search to identify more people who may have been infected.”

     

  • Diphtheria: 3 dead, 7 hospitalised in Kaduna

    Diphtheria: 3 dead, 7 hospitalised in Kaduna

    A suspected outbreak of Diphtheria in Makarfi Local Government Area of Kaduna State has killed three children leaving seven others hospitalised.

    Malam Aliyu Alassan, the Health Secretary of the Makarfi Local Government Council, confirmed the development in an interview with NAN on Saturday.

    He said the suspected cases occurred at Tashar Na Kawu, Gubuchi Ward of the local government.

    Alassan said most of the affected victims were children, adding that the specimen of the victims had been forwarded to Abuja for analysis.

    “Those suspected with the disease have been taken to the hospital and isolated for medical observation.

    “While contact tracing is going on to prevent further spread of the disease,” he said.

    The state Ministry for Health had earlier confirmed cases of Diphtheria in Kafanchan, headquarters of Jema’a Local Government Area of the state.

  • PDP denies purported suspension of Makarfi

    PDP denies purported suspension of Makarfi

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has denied the purported suspension of Sen. Mohammed Makarfi from the party, over alleged anti-party activities.

    Mr Felix Hyet, the Kaduna State PDP Chairman, said this in a statement in Kaduna on Tuesday.

    “We call you to clarify the purported suspension of the PDP leader, Sen. Mohammed Makarfi by few misguided members of his ward in Makarfi Local Government Area (LGA).

    ‘’We want to tell you that those people have no power to suspend the caliber of a member like Makarfi, except the National Leadership of the party.

    “There is nobody that played the role of Makarfi during the campaign he led to big towns where we held town hall meetings with political groups, religious and cultural groups. He spent his resources.

    ‘’Therefore for anybody to wake up and say that Makarfi was involved in anti-party activities, I say it is a joke taken too far,’’ Hyet said.

    He added: “We want to tell the world who Makarfi is, what he has done for the party and we stand by him, we have set aside that misguided press statement because it has no effect, it is therefore null and void.

    ‘’Therefore it should be discarded forthwith among all the critical stakeholders we have in the state.

    ‘’Makarfi stands taller because he supported the party in the last election. He followed us to all the 23 LGAs on campaigns.

    “Already, the majority member of ward Exco, and the LGA Exco have met and they have taken disciplinary decision that could be meted out to those who did it.’’

    “Let me clarify also that these are people who have been identified as having participated in anti- party activities during the last election under the guidance of their leaders at the state level who never went into any campaign throughout.

    “We therefore want to call on the people of Kaduna State that Makarfi remains the hero, if there is anything, it is to give grand reception for leading the state successfully in the last general election.

    “For clarity, Section 57 (7) provides that notwithstanding any other provision relating to discipline, no executive committee, at any level except the National Executive Committee, shall entertain any question of discipline as may relate or concern a member of the National Executive Committee, Deputy Governor or member of the National Assembly”.

    Makarfi, a former Acting PDP National Chairman, was on Sunday allegedly suspended by the executives of Tudun Wada Ward in Makarfi LGA of Kaduna State over anti-party activities.

  • Lai Mohammed, Makarfi, Peter Obi, Gbenga Daniel, others for Freedom Online 4th annual lecture

    Lai Mohammed, Makarfi, Peter Obi, Gbenga Daniel, others for Freedom Online 4th annual lecture

    All roads lead to the prestigious Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos on Tuesday March 22 as Freedom Online, one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing online newspapers, hosts its fourth annual lecture.

    A statement by the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Gabriel Akinadewo, says the Guest Speaker is Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed. Former Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, will chair the session, while the Keynote Speaker is former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel.

    Former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, is the Special Guest Speaker while former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, is the Special Guest of Honour.

    Other guests to grace the occasion include former Police Affairs Minister, Navy Captain Omoniyi Olubolade (rtd); the immediate past Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside; Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams; Prof. Akin Onigbinde and others.

    The statement by Akinadewo says the lecture is an annual event “that brings together captains of industry, media chiefs, politicians and professionals to reflect on national issues and propose objective course of action. We have always been forthright on matters of Nigeria’s progress and future.

    “Since the first edition of our annual lecture, we have been inspired by the commitment of our guests and Nigerians in the quest for a better country through advocacy. We believe this time around, the same zeal will be deployed to ensuring that Nigeria takes its rightful place in the comity of nations”.

  • 2019: Makarfi hints on quitting partisan politics if…

    2019: Makarfi hints on quitting partisan politics if…

    Former Kaduna state governor, Ahmed Makarfi, has ruled out the possibility of leaving the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for any other political party if he does not win the party’s ticket for the country’s top job in 2019.

    He said he would rather quit politics instead of joining any other political group.

    Makarfi, a former caretaker committee chairman of the party said this on Saturday while addressing journalists at the PDP secretariat in Minna, the Niger State capital.

    Makarfi is in Minna to drum up support for his presidential bid in 2019.

    “If I leave PDP, I would leave politics. If I was to leave PDP, I could have defected a long time ago. So that possibility is not there,” he said.

    He said he predicted the recent mass defections to PDP, adding that the biggest challenge is managing it.

    “I welcome all the defectors and as a matter of fact I predicted it. I said it that after the APC convention you would see a lot of defections and that’s what has happened.

    “But the challenge is how to manage it. If we manage it well, the party would be better for it but if we don’t we may run into problems,” he said.

    His position in Minna on the defectors, is softer than what he said in Lokoja on Friday, when he warned his party against giving them special treatment.

    He said if not for the steadfastness of committed members, PDP could have become history.

    “Some people when you pinch them like this (touching his arm), they will run to another party. When the going was tough, I stayed on… but you accept them into your house and give them your guest room. Next, they take the master bedroom; next, they drive you out of your house. We must not allow this, nor give undue advantage to them, so that we do not alienate our people.

    “Modu Sheriff was brought from another party; they said he had three jets; he had billions, but what did he do? He was taking the party down, but I, the ‘bush boy,’ with the support of others, I was able to make members close ranks, and today, we can all see.”

    Makarfi said Bukola Saraki should be left alone as Senate president because he has not breached any provision of the constitution on account of his defection from APC to PDP.

    “The constitution says the senators should elect from among themselves and not from the majority party,” said Makarfi, who also was a senator from 2007 to 2011.

    “Party affiliations are only attached to other positions like minority whip, majority leader and so on.

    “Therefore, Saraki should be left alone because he was elected based on constitutional provisions and his continued stay is lawful,” he added.

    He noted that addressing issues of insecurity, unemployment, power, infrastructure and national unity would be his top priorities if given the chance to lead the country.

    “A basket of issues including security, infrastructure and power would be top of my priorities.

    “National cohesion is also key because we are divided and getting more divided by the day.

    “And this national cohesion is where the issue of restructuring comes in as it will address unemployment,” he added.

    Makarfi is the immediate past national chairman of the PDP.

  • Ekiti poll: Hold Fayose, Makarfi for PDP’s defeat – Kashamu

    Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District (PDP) on the floor of the Senate, Kashamu Buruji has heaped blames on Governor Ayodele Fayose and former chairman of the caretaker committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ahmed Makarfi for the loss of the party in the July 14 Ekiti governorship to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

    The senator at the weekend said outgoing Governor Ayodele Fayose’s arrogance led to PDP’s defeat.

    He said: “How would the PDP have won when the former interim Caretaker Chairman of the party, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, allowed Governor Fayose to drive away other stakeholders in the party in Ekiti State and in the South West? After driving away all the bigwigs and stakeholders in Ekiti State, they could not but work against the party.

    “Makarfi and others encouraged him to perpetrate all manner of illegalities and the Prince Uche Secondus-led NWC inherited him and never really did anything to rein him in. They were sold the lies that he could do it all alone.”

    According to the lawmaker, the election was a referendum on Fayose, not the PDP.

    “The good people of Ekiti State wanted to do away with anything Fayose and that was what happened. That is why he lost even in his own local government. It is not that the people do not like PDP. They still like PDP but detest Fayose and his antics. He is cancerous to the PDP and since the leadership of the party could not deal with him, the good people of Ekiti State simply helped us to remove him.

    “All the political tokenism of frying garri, jumping on okada and going to eat at bukas are not what would impact on the life of the average Ekiti man or woman. To what extent has he gone to make life better for the average Ekiti man or woman? Has he provided a conducive environment for them to realise their full potentials? The people saw through his deceit and rejected him,” Kashamu said.

    Kashamu said the PDP must be repositioned and restructured to accommodate all well-meaning leaders and stakeholders.

    “There is no notable leader of the party in the South West that Fayose has not insulted. Most of our leaders do not want to have anything to do with him. Should the party continue to rely on him, the PDP will continue to lose woefully.

    “Unless and until the PDP starts to field contented Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in their businesses or careers, the government of the day will continue to beam their searchlight on the mediocre that enriched themselves through public office. Given his unimpeachable integrity as an individual, President Muhammadu Buhari would continue to ride high on the horse of morality and become more politically advantageous over them.”

    The senator urged Ekiti State Governor-elect Kayode Fayemi to “restore the values of Ekiti State that have been bastardised by Fayose. The people have invested their trust in him and he should not let them down. Politics and governance should be about the people and not parties.”

  • 2019: Makarfi speaks on IBB endorsing Atiku for presidency

    2019: Makarfi speaks on IBB endorsing Atiku for presidency

    A former governor of Kaduna State, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, has insisted he is not bothered by the meeting between former vice-president, Atiku Abubakar and ex-Military Head of State, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida last week.

    Makarfi, who also served as the Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is now one of the over 12 presidential aspirants of the party.

    In an interview with Daily Trust, Makarfi stated that he is not interested in rumours and permuations.

    “I also read in the papers that IBB endorsed Atiku. But I think we should run away from permutations and deal with reality. And the reality is that primaries would be conducted; and the party has promised open and transparent primaries.

    “But it is good if the party and those aspiring can come together to try and see how they can make it less complex.

    “It is up to the aspirants, as you can’t force anybody out of contesting.

  • 2019: Bad eggs in PDP have decamped to other parties — Makarfi

    2019: Bad eggs in PDP have decamped to other parties — Makarfi

    A former PDP National Chairman, Ahmed Makarfi, has claimed that all the “bad eggs” that gave the PDP a bad name have left for other parties.

    “Bad eggs have left PDP, the party is now left with people with principles.

    “I want to assure you that if the party gets power in 2019, it will strive to improve the living condition of Nigerians,’’ he said.

    Makarfi spoke on Saturday during PDP Northwest zonal rally held in Katsina.

    At the same event, former Kano State governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, urged Nigerians to obtain their permanent voter cards to enable them elect leaders of their choice in 2019.
    “No matter who you want to vote as a candidate, if you don’t have voter card, you cannot be allowed to do so,’’ he said.

    He, therefore, urged all PDP members to intensify efforts toward sensitising other eligible voters to obtain the cards.

    Also speaking, the PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus, said he was impressed with the high turnout of party supporters and expressed the belief that the PDP was still strong enough to win in Katsina State.

    “PDP is alive in Katsina State, with your support, it will win elections in 2019 in Katsina State and the country in general,’’ he said.

    Some party members from PDM, APGA, and APC defected to PDP at the event.

  • Easter: Atiku, Makarfi, Dickson, others felicitate with Christians; preach love, tolerance

    Easter: Atiku, Makarfi, Dickson, others felicitate with Christians; preach love, tolerance

    Former Vice President and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has felicitated with Christians as they mark the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

    In this, he was joined by Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, PDP chieftain and former Kaduna State governor, Senator Ahmed Makarfi and former Osun State deputy governor, Senator Iyiola Omisore.

    In a statement released by his media office in Abuja to mark the Easter celebrations, Atiku called on Nigerians to emulate the virtues of love and sacrifice which characterised the life of Jesus Christ.

    The Waziri Adamawa described those two qualities as essential to the unity that Nigeria so desperately needs at this time when vested and provincial interests threaten to tear our nation apart.

    He also encouraged Nigeria’s leaders to use the opportunity of the Easter celebration to reflect on their stewardship to their people and to the nation.

    “Our leaders at all levels should follow the virtues that define this season – sacrifice, love and charity – and come together to help all Nigerians resolve the differences that divide us.

    We must not allow those who seek to divide us to pretend as if our problems are as a result of another ethnic or religious group,” Atiku said.

    On his part, Senator Omisore charged Christians as well as all Nigerians to demonstrate the essence of Easter as exemplified by Jesus Christ, by living in love and harmony with one another.

    Omisore, a former Chairman Senate Committee on Appropriation, gave this charge in a statement he issued to felicitate with Nigerians on Easter celebrations.

    “As Nigerians, we must eschew acts that will divide us further. We must embrace Christ’s attitude of living in love and harmony with ourselves and our neighbours,” he said.

    “It is not by chance that God put all of us in this environment called Nigeria. Whether as Muslims or Christians, we must remember always that we are our brother’s keeper.

    “We must promote all the enriching values that make our lives and society embodiments of godliness.”

    Omisore, who was the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2014 governorship election in Osun State, urged the people of the state to be steadfast in their prayers.

    Bayelsa State governor, Hon, Henry Seriake Dickson, urged Nigerians, particularly Christians to jealously cherish and guide their faith by living a Christ-like life of selfless service, sacrifice, love and righteousness.

    The governor, in a press statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Francis Ottah Agbo, noted that, without the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, “our faith as Christians would have been a fallacy.”

    While stressing that Nigeria is presently at a crossroads, the governor called on Bayelsans to love one another, pray fervently for the peace, prosperity and stability of the nation and sacrifice for the common good of Bayelsa State.

    Governor Dickson also solicited for the maximum cooperation of the people and leaders of the state and the Ijaw Nation to enable his Restoration Government consolidate on its legacy projects in order to finish strong by 2020.

    He said: “As we celebrate Easter, which of course is the basis of our faith as Christians, I urge Nigerians, particularly Bayelsans, to emulate our Lord Jesus Christ by words and deeds.

    “We must love one another and sacrifice for the common good of Bayelsa State and Nigeria.

    “This country is facing daunting challenges which call for fervent prayers and hard work to surmount.

    “Our Government in the last six years has put Bayelsa State on the path of peace and prosperity. I therefore, solicit the continued cooperation and support of leaders and the people of the state to enable our Restoration Government consolidate on its life-changing legacy projects and finish strong.”

    In his own message, Makarfi said in spite of various challenges, there is still hope for Nigeria.

    Jesus’ death and resurrection, he said, are everlasting reminders that it is possible for Nigeria to overcome its difficult situation and embrace great virtues.

    He asked Nigerians to eschew bitterness and embrace the spiritual legacies of Jesus Christ which can immensely facilitate Nigeria’s peace and progress.

    He sent “warm felicitations and greetings to the Nigerian Christian community, and indeed all Nigerians on this auspicious occasion of the Easter celebrations in memory of the legendary spirit of sacrifice and selflessness espoused and exhibited by Jesus Christ.”

    It is imperative, according to him, that this period be “used by all for meditation and sober reflections on the life and times of Jesus Christ and his sacrifices, with a view to imbibing such virtues as humility, forgiveness, tolerance, good neighbourliness, respect and empathy for others’ feelings as well as love for one another.”

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on Local Content, Senator Solomon Adeola, charged his constituents and Nigerians in general to remain peaceful and exhibit the Christian virtues of sacrifice, love and abiding faith in a better tomorrow as exemplified in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

    Adeola said the season symbolises a new beginning of hope and redemption for all mankind, adding that for all true Christians, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ means that all challenges confronting individuals and mankind are ultimately surmountable with fervent belief in God.

    The senator said the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ gave mankind hope of a new beginning and a better future, stressing that in spite of enormous challenges confronting the nation, Nigeria is at the threshold of a better tomorrow.

     

  • 2019: Arewa Youths beg Atiku, Lamido, Makarfi, others to ‘step down’ for Dankwambo

    Northern youths under the aegis of Arewa Youths Coalition have called on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi and former Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, to drop their presidential ambition.

    The coalition asked all the presidential aspirants in the PDP to throw their weight behind the Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo.

    The Northern youths said Nigeria needs a young and vibrant leader like Dankwambo who has shown example of what good leadership should be in Gombe State.

    Speaking at a rally to drum support for Dankwambo in Kaduna, on Saturday, the Chairman of the coalition, Comrade Abdullahi Mohammed Jika, said “everybody in the country knows that we are not where we ought to be as a country. That is why we are here to call on Governor Dankwambo of Gombe State to come and contest and rescue our country from the myriad of challenges bedeviling us.

    “We have chosen Dankwambo because we have seen what he has done in Gombe State. He is a detribalised Nigerian. He has solutions to our economic and security challenges and he can move the country to the promised land.

    “Therefore, we are calling on other contenders within the party to put their ambition aside and support Dankwambo with their resources, contacts and everything within their possession, because PDP is one big family.”