Jonathan calls for emergency meeting over Tambuwal

President Goodluck Jonathan appeared worried and on Wednesday summoned an emergency meeting of prominent PDP members to forge a line of action.

Tambuwal had on Tuesday announced his defection to the opposition All Progressives Congress to contest the governorship election in his home state of Sokoto. He also adjourned the House to 3 December.

On Wednesday as the PDP big guns gathered in Aso Rock, lamenting his departure from their party, Tambuwal got a celebrity reception at the special convention of the APC. Called to speak, he swore in the name of God, that by May 2015, the APC would have swept the PDP out of office.

The PUNCH reported that the meeting of the PDP leaders in Aso Rock came hours after the House said the PDP, individuals and groups condemning the defection of the speaker to the All Progressives Congress should not dictate to it on how to conduct its affairs.

In attendance were the National Chairman of the PDP, Adamu Mu’azu, the Deputy Speaker of the House, Emeka Ihedioha; the Deputy Leader of the House, Mr. Leo Ogor; and a member from Delta State, Ndudi Elumelu, in attendance.

Some PDP governors such as Gabriel Suswam (Benue); Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa): Ibrahim Dankwabo (Gombe) and Sullivan Chime (Enugu) were also part of the meeting, according to PUNCH.

Top government officials who attended the parley included the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim; the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki; and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Muhammed Adoke (SAN).

“The issue of the Speaker and his exit was one of the fundamental issues discussed at the meeting,” he said.

APC unveils presidential aspirants, Atiku missing

The All Progressives Congress on Wednesday presented its presidential aspirants to members at its mini convention in Abuja.

Those present were former head of state, General Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo, Mr Sam Nda-Isaiah and Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State. Conspicuously missing from the line-up was former vice president of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar.

Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, who presented the presidential aspirants at the convention said Atiku was not in the country. He explained that Atiku travelled abroad.

The presidential aspirants who took turns to speak to their members assured them that they are only contesting the highest office to bring about the much needed change that Nigerians crave.

In his message, Okorocha said: “President Jonathan is not the problem of the APC. The only problem is to produce an acceptable, presentable candidate to defeat PDP.

“If my presidency will not end insurgency, put food on the table for the common man, produce free education to university level, then may it not work,” Okorocha said.

Kwankwaso on his part, thanked delegates who were present for his declaration on Tuesday saying, “APC as a party is here to save our great country Nigeria”.

In his message, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari said he was happy and overwhelmed by how the Speaker of the
House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal announced his switch to APC.

“I had to ask questions and I was told he is a lawyer. It takes a lawyer to do what he did; declare and send everyone on holidays. I am overwhelmed,” Buhari said.

Bournemouth draw Liverpool in League Cup

Championship side Bournemouth will play Liverpool in the quarter-finals of the Capital One Cup.

The south coast side have never featured in the last eight and will now host eight-time winners Liverpool at the Goldsands Stadium.

Derby have a home tie against Premier League leaders Chelsea, while League One Sheffield United welcome high-flying Southampton.

Newcastle, who knocked out holders Manchester City, travel to Tottenham.

The ties will be played in the week beginning 15 December.

Sheffield United reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup last season and are enjoying another good cup run after knocking out MK Dons in the previous round.

Championship leaders Derby are rewarded for coming from 2-0 down to beat Fulham 5-2 with a home draw against the Premier League leaders.

Bournemouth - the third of the non-Premier League sides left in the competition - eliminated West Brom on 
Tuesday.
 
Full quarter-final draw:
Derby v Chelsea
Tottenham v Newcastle
Bournemouth v Liverpool
Sheffield United v Southampton

Suspected Ebola patient causes panic at Lagos airport

Passengers and other users of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos were on Wednesday thrown into panic as a suspected Ebola patient was flown into the country by Royal Air Maroc in the early hours of the day.

The Moroccan airline arrived Lagos from Casablanca at 6am.

The victim, one Theophilus Onnakhinon, a Nigerian, was said to have been flown into the country by the airline, while his younger brother, Chinedu Eroka, absconded from Sierra Leonean authorities.

As at the time of filing this report, it was not clear why Eroka absconded from the Sierra Leone.

A source close to the Port Health Services at the airport, who spoke on condition of anonymity, explained that the passenger had already been treated for the Ebola Virus Disease and declared cured.

The source said the passenger was assisted into the country by a Nigerian consular official, Mrs. T. Mohammed.

According to the source, the consular officer accompanied  Onnakhinon into the country in order to avoid stigmatisation by Nigerian health officials and others at the airport.

On arrival, he was immediately handed over to the Port Health officials, who immediately isolated and quarantined him.

As of the time of filing this report, Onnakhinon was still being observed by the Port Health officials.

The source said that the essence of his being quarantined was for the officials to determine his health status and confirm that he was indeed free of the disease before being allowed to integrate into the society.

The source said, “It is true that there was an Ebola scare at the Lagos airport today, but the fact is that the victim had been cured of the disease in Sierra Leone before being assisted into Nigeria by our consular officer in that country.

Jonathan blames NFF crises for Eagles’ poor performance

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday identified internal crises as reasons behind the abysmal performance sometimes put up by the country’s male national football teams.

He however noted that in spite of the numerous crises suffered by the Nigeria Football Federation, the female football teams had been putting up spectacular performances because of the high level of discipline among them.

Jonathan spoke when the Super Falcons formally presented the golden trophy they won at the just-concluded African Women’s Championship in Windhoek, Namibia to him.

The Minister of Sports, Tamuno Danagogo, led the team’s captain, coach and other officials to present the trophy to the President shortly before the commencement of the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting.

The President said a team could only succeed when there is discipline and commitment. He commended the women’s national team for doing the nation’s proud.

He said, “Today, we are quite pleased to receive the cup from you. You have made the country proud. Nigeria is known to be a soccer country.

“The male teams have been doing very well. But somehow sometimes, because of certain internal crises, we tend to lag behind.

“But the female teams have been doing wonderfully well. We didn’t expect that you would win, but still, that you won for this country is remarkable.

“We thank you for your commitment because it requires discipline to achieve this height. No matter how good you are, even in the academics, you see brilliant boys and girls who ordinarily would have made first class but because of lack of discipline, they don’t make it.

“So, if there is no discipline, you cannot excel in anything. You have the skills but you have also shown discipline that made you excel. We will continue to adore you.”

Jonathan promised to formally receive the victorious players on November 5 in order for the Federal Government to properly appreciate them.

Danagogo had in presenting the trophy to the President, extolled the virtues of players for displaying high level of dedication and discipline which he said was unprecedented.

He said, “We bring you good tidings from Namibia. The legendary good luck is still continuing in sports. We have been dominating female football in Africa over the years although we lost in 2012.

“Due to your (President’s) support and tenacity, we won. The discipline and dedication displayed by the players during the tournament is unprecedented.”

A FIFA suspension threat is still hanging over Nigeria due the current NFF crisis that began since July at the World Cup in Brazil.

Health of boy attacked by dogs worsens

It appears the condition of four-year-old Omonigho Abraham, who was attacked by two dogs in the Igando area of Lagos State about a month ago, has worsened in the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja where he is currently receiving treatment.

PUNCH Metro learnt from his father, Odia, that Omonigho’s scalp which was torn off by the German shepherd dogs during the gruesome attack, had not healed and had been giving off an offensive odour.

He said this had given the family serious concern.

Odia told our correspondent on Wednesday that attempts to get the medical report of his condition had also been frustrated by some medical officers in the hospital.

He said, “My boy still complains of pains in different parts of his body. Also, when they open the bandage on his head, you will see that there is no much difference. It’s still like the first time the incident happened.

“In fact, for up to two weeks no consultant or doctor attended to him, and his head started smelling.

“We have been told he may still have to be admitted for six months or up to one year, for the doctors to do a skin-grafting surgery on his open skull. They will cut skin from parts of his body, to cover up the skull.”

He added that he had also continued to foot the bills of the boy, despite the instruction of the state government to the hospital management not to collect any money for his expenses.

Our correspondent gathered that a non-governmental organisation had to raise money for Omonigho’s drugs and over N100, 000 had been purportedly spent in buying drugs, among other expenses.

The report of a fundraising for Omonigho’s medical expenses was said to have angered the management of LASUTH who allegedly accused Odia of making money off his son’s predicament.

The father of three told our correspondent he was called into a meeting on Tuesday in which the management of the hospital promised to start implementing the state government’s pledge to the Abrahams.

He said, “The Lagos State Government, through its Ministry of Health, has already played its part by writing a letter to LASUTH that it would foot all the bills for which we are grateful.

“But when the letter got to them, they did not implement it. I was still buying the drugs till yesterday (Tuesday) that I was exhausted and I cried out that I did not have any money to buy drugs again.

“That was when the management of the hospital led by the Chief Medical Director, apologised and promised to start implementing the state government’s order.

“I have decided to wait for at least a week and see if they will change, like they promised.”

Odia said the Delta State Government and a few other people were interested in the medical report which had not been issued to him.

“The real issue I have now is that they (LASUTH) have not released the medical report which I asked for since October 16. They (LASUTH) have been directing me from one person to another and I am getting tired. If I see the report, I will know what exactly to do about this issue.”

Attempts to get the reaction of the management of LASUTH proved abortive as its Public Relations Officer, Dele Johnson, neither picked his call nor responded to a text message sent to his phone.

New Fanta Apple Flavour Hits Nigerian Market

Nigeria’s vibrant soft-drinks market got sparked-up this week with the launch of the new Fanta Apple flavor by beverage giant, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited.

According to the company's Marketing Director, Patricia Jemibewon, the new apple flavoured drink has been specifically formulated for the youthful consumer segment with a great fruity apple taste that Nigerians would love.

“The apple-flavoured drink is targeted particularly at the youth and has been developed for Nigerian taste buds.We have had an excellent response on our other variants and with the national launch of Fanta Apple, we are extending our market leadership in the fruit-flavoured sparkling drink segment,” Jemibewon said.

She disclosed that the new Fanta Apple flavor is the result of extensive market research in the beverage sector which confirms that current offerings in that segment did not completely meet expectations of discerning young consumers who constantly desire unique refreshment.”

Senior Brand Manager, Flavours at Coca-Cola Nigeria, Toyin Nnodi spoke on the brand essence of the sparkling drink. “The Fanta Apple Flavour variant has been specially formulated with a focus on the young, active, daring and unconventional young adults who desire and yearn for a change from the conventional soft drinks. It comes at a time when Fanta Orange has established itself; the new product complements the company's sparkling portfolio.”

With the addition of Fanta Apple, Coca-Cola Nigeria now offers consumers a wide range of flavor choice under the Fanta brand which already boasts of the all-time consumer favourite and segment leader, Fanta Orange, as well as Fanta Pineapple. The new Fanta Apple will be available to consumers across the country in the 50cl PET pack, 35cl and 50cl glass bottles and the 33cl on-the-go cans.