[dropcap]A[/dropcap]s Nigeria set to adopt the Madagascar herbal remedy as cure for COVID-19, the World Health Organisation( WHO)  has  advised governments to clinically test the herbal drink touted by Madagascar’s President, Andry Rajoelina, as a remedy against Coronavirus.

The COVID-Organics infusion is derived from artemisia – a plant with proven anti-malarial properties – and other indigenous herbs.

Rajoelina said the herb cures COVID-19 patients within 10 days.

Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and the Niger Republic have already received consignments of the potion. Others such as Tanzania have expressed interest.

But the World Health Organisation has repeatedly warned that there are no published scientific studies of the herbal tea and that its effects have not been tested.

“We would caution and advise countries against adopting a product that has not been taken through tests to see its efficacy,” WHO Africa Director, Matshidiso Moeti, said in a press briefing on Thursday, calling on Madagascar to take the drink “through a clinical trial”.

Moeti said that in 2000, African governments had committed to taking “traditional therapies” through the same clinical trials as other medication.

“I can understand the need, the drive to find something that can help,” Moeti said. “But we would very much like to encourage this scientific process in which the governments themselves made a commitment.”

Rajoelina defended his tonic during a Coronavirus screening campaign in Madagascar’s Eastern city of Toamasina  and promised  to submit the drink to clinical trials.

[dropcap]C[/dropcap]hief Ambrose Elofu-Dike,The Chairman of Umudike Farms Limited and Hotel De Espana,has commended the state government efforts for doing everything humanly possible to curtail the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic in the state.

Elofu-Dike, who was speaking in one of the Orphanage Homes in Warri on Friday,noted that the state government, under the watch of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, had been proactive by using the sensitisation machinery at its disposal through the bureau to educate and sensitise residents on the nature and preventive measures against the dreaded virus before it eventually manifested in the state.He said the effort was geared towards saving lives of residents from the virus, adding that government would continue to checkmate the spread of the virus in the state.

The farmer maintained that the lockdown order of the state government was not a punitive measure against residents, but a deliberate decision to curb the spread of the virus and enjoined residents of the state to complement the good intentions of government by complying with directives put in place to ensure the safety of the people from the dreaded pandemic.

Elofu-Dike spoke on the need for residents to appreciate the present situation in the state, adding that government alone could hardly win the daunting war against the dreaded virus, as no country in the world could feed the entire citizenry without the assistance of corporate organisations and public spirited individuals.

He said the state government meant well with its palliative measures to cushion the effect of the earlier stay-at-home order, stressing that all hands should be on deck to ensure that the state government succeeded in its strong determination to curb the spread of the virus in the state.

He said that the coronavirus pandemic was impacting negatively on businesses adding consumption was not as high as it used to be because people were under the lockdown. The business leader said if the situation continued as it is quite a number of businesses would be unable to meet their obligations noting that the government should support the business sector.

He said the coronavirus pandemic was sufficient reason for most businesses to declare ‘force majeure’ in which they would be unable to meet their responsibilities. He has called for collaboration between different tiers of government to fight the spread of coronavirus. He called on critical stakeholders and opinion leaders in the communities to ensure that the right information on what the state government was doing to stem the tide of the virus in the state got to the public at all times.

[dropcap]N[/dropcap]yesom Wike, Executive Governor of  Rivers State has directed its attorney-general and commissioner for justice to auction all vehicles that were impounded for violating the state’s lockdown directive.

The government also warned residents of ward 20, Amadi-Ama in Port Harcourt local government area (LGA) and Mgbuosimini, Rumueme in Obio/Akpor LGA to desist from flouting the directives on lockdown.

In a statement by Paulinus Nsirim, the state commissioner for information and communications, the state government said it would “deal decisively” with any residents found guilty of such action.

It directed those interested in the auctioned vehicles to get more details in some selected newspapers.

“Government will deal decisively with the residents of these areas if they are found to default again,” it said.

“Anyone parading exemption letters except the one issued by the Governor is doing so at his or her own risk as such permits are invalid.

“The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice has been directed to auction all the vehicles that violated the lockdown order.

“Members of the public who are interested to buy the auctioned vehicles are to watch out for details in The Sun, The Nation and Vanguard Newspapers.”

Nyesom Wike, governor of the state, had earlier directed that any hotel or taxi found operating during the lockdown should be impounded and auctioned.

The state task force was ordered to enforce compliance with the regulation, including the closure of markets and pubs across the state.

The governor also said traditional rulers of domains where market activities continued would lose recognition and that shops opened during lockdown would be demolished.

[dropcap]S[/dropcap]ecurity agents on Wednesday averted what could have turned into a bloodbath between hoodlums and traders at Abraka- Asaba market.

Trouble was said to have started in early hours of the day when suspected hoodlums disguised as taskforce members with Asaba Development Capital Terrority, engaged traders who have refused to relocate from the demolished market in fierce verbal altercations which subsequently resulted to a gun battle.

Delta state Police Commissioner, Hafiz Muhammed Inuwah who confirmed this to Journalists, said that the timely intervention of the police and other security agents saved the situation and calmed frayed nerves.

Though no lives were lost, Inuwah said 30 suspected hoodlums were arrested for interrogation.

Sources said that the return of the traders who were sacked from the demolished market few months ago, was informed by the partial lockdown by the state Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa in the wake of the Coronavirus Pandemic currently ravaging the world.

An eyewitness, Umukoro James said that the traders, particularly the Hausa traders, have allegedly been at war with the officials of the taskforce who claimed to have relocated them to Oko Community in Asaba where they were expected to have commenced sale of their goods including food items.

An Hasua trader who gave his name Adamu Sulaiman, who spoke to Journalists in the area said “we were shocked this morning when some persons came into the premises of Asaba- Abraka market while we were hanging around to see how we could eke out living because of the Coronavirus Pandemic, suddenly they started shooting into the air, claiming they were taskforce of Mrakpor destroying makeshift stalls.

“They said we should move into Oko Community where they claimed to have allocated and relocated us to, but the environment is completely water, how can we do business in such a place? We will not go there the environment is terrible and full of water, water.”

Further investigation revealed that since the introduction of the compulsory use of face masks in public places, many of the Hausa traders have called it a bluff and do not bother about its use in spite of threats to Isolate violators by the state government; an observation made by the suspected hoodlums when they allegedly stormed the area and started shooting into the air to eject the traders from the premises.

The mayhem led to a long traffic holdup starting from Okwe Junction to the market.

However there was a heavy presence of Policemen, Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Immigration Officers and Officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC) to maintain law and order and ensure free flow of vehicular movements towards the Asaba – Onitsha head bridge and other adjourning streets along the Expressway.

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Federal Government of Nigeria through the Ministry of Health has given the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) the go ahead to carry out necessary procedures for the assessment of a plant-based cough mixture as a possible treatment for COVID-19.

The directive was contained in a memo with REF no. TCAM/077/I/65, by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mashi Abdullahi, which was addressed to the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye.

Dated April 28, 2020, the memo was titled ‘Formulation of a Phyto-Medicine-Based Cough Mixture/Syrup for the Management of COVID-19 Patients by Traditional, Complementary, and Alternative Medicine Department of the Ministry’.

The memo reads thus, “As you are aware, the COVID-19 pandemic is currently ravaging the world with no definite treatment or vaccine.

“This has necessitated countries to look for solutions from within and Nigeria is no exception. It is worthy to note that Nigeria is blessed with medicinal plants which could be exploited.

“It is heartwarming to note that the Department of TCAM has taken the pains to research into scientific materials to come up with a formulation intended for the management of cough in COVID-19 and other cough-related infections.”

According to Abdullahi, the formulation is a Cov-herbal cough mixture.

He said, “Interestingly, all the ingredients that make up the formulations are medicinal plants that are widely used as food materials and medicines.

“They include Allium sativa (garlic); Allium cepa (onions); Zingiber officinale (ginger): Piper guineense (West African Black Pepper); and Adansonia digitata (baobab fruit). The innovation here is the composition of the formulation.

“These medicinal plants have documented scientific evidence of long use for the management of cough and other respiratory infections, with medicinal properties of mucoIytic, antitussive, expectorant, soothing, demulcent, anti-inflammatory and antiviral effects,” Abdullahi added.

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he tussle for the rightful occupant of Odogwu Ibusa left behind by the late odogwu about three years ago, is drumming up worrisome beat for the Otu Odogwo family and the Obuzor of Ibusa.

The High Chief,Onowu Micheal Emeshie, the Diokpa of Otu Odogwu in Ibusa,Delta State has again emphasised the need for peace in the lingering Odogwu title thrown tussle, that is tearing brothers apart in Ibusa, Delta State,He spoke to Tony Okwunebe of Grassroots Publishers online, chronicling the genesis of the tussle and other issues concerning the chalking of the new Odogwu. …Excerpt.

Recently, there was a squabble over a traditional stool of Odogwu title in Ibusa, what actually is the bone of contention after you have chalked Chief Charles Okonkwo?

I have acted as Ibusa custom and tradition demands. The person that the entire Otu Odogwu nominated for the position of Odogwu of Ibuzor is Chief Charles Okonkwo ,I have chalked him as the diokpa of Otu Odogwu. He was selected by his quarter and nominated by the entire Otu Odogwu and as the traditional Diokpa, i have perfected my duty by chalking him as custom demands. As it stands now Ibusa have gotten  Odogwu in the person of Charles Okonkwo. Ibusa people know already that they have an Odogwu from my endorsement traditionally. They already know because I endorsed him publicly. From the day I endorsed him, he has automatically becomes the Odogwu of Ibusa.

The Odogwu title is it by age, appointment, heredity or elective? 

It’s never hereditary. It’s not by appointment, age or otherwise. The community (Otu – Odogwu knows where, how and when to choose the Odogwu. It is not  hereditary.  The Otu- Odogwu decides who they want to select, not the Obuzor. The Obuzor has no traditional right in appointing who becomes the Odogwu of Ibusa. It is  only the Otu- Odogwu that has spiritual and traditional  right  to select and endorse  the next Odogwu of Ibusa.  It is after we have selected and chalked the person  that we can now present the person to the most  senior diokpa of Ibusa and obuzor.  That is how it’s done.

We learnt that the Obuzor of Ibusa wrote a letter to Otu-Odogwu rejecting the endorsement of Charles Okonkwo as the Odogwu of Ibusa. Between you the Diokpa of Otu-Odogwu and the Obuzor of Ibusa, who has the right to endorse the Odogwu of Ibusa?

Obuzor is the King of Ibusa, he is my son, he belongs to Otu-Odogwu, Umueze as well as Mgboko community. The Mgboko  is where Otu-Odogwu emanates and it is this same Mgboko community that brought out Charles Okonkwo to be the next Odogwu of Ibusa. It is only the Diokpa of Otu-Odogwu that has the traditional power  to endorse and chalk  the person for the title of Odogwu of Ibusa. After  nomination  at the village level, like they did now, it is the Diokpa of Otu-Odogwu that will endorse the person with the traditional native chalk.  Its about three years now when the last Odogwu of Ibusa died. They were trying to play the politics by imposing people who lives in abroad as our Odogwu. I then told them that their decision was wrong. That somebody who stays 10,000 miles away from the community can’t be the Odogwu of Ibusa. The person that must be the next Odogwu of Ibusa must be resident in Ibusa. The reason is when there is an external attack from neighboring communities for instance, to the extent of turning into war, do we need to phone the Odogwu who  is outside the country to come to our rescue?  It is not done. Odogwu must be resident here. That was what I told the Mgboko Community  of which the Obuzor himself is from Mgboko  that selected Charles Okonkwo for the title.

Diokpa,recently Obuzor wrote you another letter rejecting the person Otu Odogwu nominated for the Odogwu title, what is your stand on this issue?

The Obuzor of Ibusa , Obi(Prof.) Louis Nwoboshi cannot select nor nominate our Odogwu for us , he has no traditional  right to do so , we nominated Charles Ositadinma  Okonkwo,(Akulua Unor of Ib’uzor)as our next Odogwu of Ibusa and I have already chalked him and no other living person can be chalked again by me. I am happy that in his letter dated 5^th of Dec.2019 with reference number OBZ/ABU/6.10/019/002 he said  “we  do not contest your custody of Odogwu title but the Prescribed Authority is vested with the responsibility of conferring the title to a worthy son of Otu Odogwu”. I wish to state here that we followed the stipulated guidelines to ensure the best candidate emerges, we picked Chief Charles Okonkwo as the most qualified person because he met all the requirements for the position and this same Chief Charles Okonkwo was conferred with Chieftaincy title as the (Akulua Unor of Ib’uzor) in 2008 by the Obuzor of Ibusa  (Eleven years ago because he is a worthy son of Ibusa).so he cannot reject our candidate because he is the most qualified person for the position.

Now that you have endorsed Charles Okonkwo as the Odogwu of Ibuzor,is there anybody that will change that decision?

Nobody can change that decision or endorsement again because I am the Diokpa of Otu-Odogwu. Except if there is another Diokpa of Otu-Odogwu like me, that is when the person would have the power to endorse or change my decision. I am not struggling the Diokpa of  Umueze, the Diokpa of Otu- Odogwu  with anybody ,  the entire Umueze community in their meeting of 28^th October 2019  nominated Charles Okonkwo  for the Odogwu  title and Obuzor of Ibuzor is a member of this Umueze community in respect of the fact that he does not attend Umueze meetings, our decisions are bidding on him so also are the decisions of Otu Odogwu  Community. Which one are we going to argue who has right or who do not have the right? The right is mine spiritually and traditionally. Unless Obuzor is trying to usurp my traditional powers because he is the king, but in Ibusa traditional “OKPALA KA EZE”. Was he not chalked and crown by the Diokpa of Ibusa for him to be crown the Obuzor of Ibusa? Did Obuzor crown himself King alone? I don’t like things like these.

Diokpa, what is your advice to Otu-Odogwu and the new Odogwu -Elect Chief Charles Okonkwo that you have endorsed?

Chief Charles Okonkwo is the only person I have endorsed and chalked for the title of Odogwu Ibuzor no other person. Any other person coming as Odogwu is looking for problem in Ibuzor. It is the Diokpa Otu-Odogwu that has the full right to endorse him as the Odogwu of Ibuzor. And as it stands today, Chief Charles Okonkwo is the Odogwu of Ibuzor elect , he should go ahead and meet Ikwele of Ibusa to start the processes of IKWA Agana (Ikpu Ogbu).

Thank you.

Attached below are letters from Diokpa otu Odogwu and Obuzor:

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he 5th of May 2010 was a sad day for every Nigerian; I mean patriotic citizens of this country because it was a day that Nigeria lost one of its best.

Late Umaru Yar’Adua was one of the best; indeed, very best that happened to the country since its return to democracy in 1999. Yar’Adua was that leader who had Nigeria at heart; he came with a vision and mission of transforming this country to greater heights. His track record as Governor of Katsina State and as the President of this country is a good testimony to that.

I happened to serve him as a Special Assistant on National Assembly Matters, I can strongly testify to his courage and zeal of moving this country forward, but because of his ill health, a dream that did not come to reality but the patriotism and the good intention he had are enough reason for every excellent citizen to celebrate him and pour tribute on finest man. He was a very simple man; he fondly calls me ‘The Hon. Cairo of Africa’ with a huge smile in his face…

Yar’Adua was results oriented and goal driven, in one of his manifesto during campaign, he said; “if I become the President of Nigeria, my priority will be to ensure adequate peace and security, power and energy, human capacity development and physical infrastructural development that are critical to the development of a modern economy”.

That was what Umaru Musa Yar’Adua stands for, that’s what he advocates for and that’s the dream he died for Nigeria. Not only that, he was the only Nigerian President that admitted the irregularities that brought him to power during elections; and that is what committed him to constitute the Uwais electoral reform committee which Nigerians benefited from.

For instance, the super honest President Buhari’s electoral was stolen for several time, but Yar’Adua’s electoral reform are among other things that brought one of Nigeria’s most loved leader into the leadership mantle.

Yar’Adua will be remembered for his uprightness, integrity, dedication and patriotism to the Nigerian cause. His seven-point agenda were critical to the development of this country which had it been it was continued by his successor, as such Nigeria is on the right cause to its greatness. They were:1. Power and Energy 2. Food Security and Agriculture 3. Wealth Creation and Employment 4. Mass Transportation 5. Land Reform 6. Security 7. Qualitative and Functional Education.

1. POWER AND ENERGY – The infrastructural reforms in this critical sector through the development of sufficient and adequate power supply will be to ensure Nigeria’s ability to develop as a modern economy and an industrial nation by the year 2015, which was neglected, until recently President Buhari signed an agreement with German government to supply Nigeria with required power.

2. FOOD SECURITY – This reform is primarily agrarian based. The emphasis on the development of modern technology, research, financial injection into research, production and development of agricultural inputs will revolutionalize the agricultural sector leading to a 5 – 10-fold increase in yield and production. This will result in massive domestic and commercial outputs and technological knowledge transfer to farmers.

3. WEALTH CREATION – By virtue of its reliance on revenue from non-renewal oil, Nigeria has yet to develop industrially. This reform is focused on wealth creation through diversified production especially in the agricultural and solid mineral sector. This requires Nigerians to choose to work, as hard work by all is required to achieve this reform.

4. TRANSPORT SECTOR – The transportation sector in Nigeria with its poor roads networks is an inefficient means of mass transit of people and goods. With a goal of a modernized industrialized Nigeria, it is mandatory that Nigeria develops its transport sector. While the reforms might take some time to take effect, it is a need that must be addressed.

5. LAND REFORMS – While hundreds of billions of dollars have been lost through unused government-owned landed asset, changes in the land laws and the emergence of land reforms will optimize Nigeria’s growth through the release of lands for commercialized farming and other large scale business by the private sector. The final result will ensure improvements and boosts to the production and wealth creation initiatives.

6. SECURITY – An unfriendly security climate precludes both external and internal investment into the nation. Thus, security will be seen as not only a constitutional requirement but also as a necessary infrastructure for the development of a modern Nigerian economy. With its particular needs, the Niger Delta security issue will be the primary focus, marshaled not with physical policing or military security, but through honest and accurate dialogue between the people and the Federal Government.

7. EDUCATION – The two-fold reforms in the educational sector will ensure firstly the minimum acceptable international standards of education for all. With that achieved, a strategic educational development plan will ensure excellence in both the tutoring and learning of skills in science and technology by students who will be seen as the future innovators and industrialists of Nigeria. This reform will be achieved through massive injection into the Education sector.

May the soul of Late Yar’Adua rest in peace, Nigerians shall continue to remember him as one of their great leaders with golden heart. I am happy that our dearest Buhari is bringing great happiness to the greatest number.

Yar’Adua in his peaceful repose will be thinking of how Nigeria is doing! I say to my late boss, Nigeria is in the right hand – Buhari is in-charge…

Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, Executive Director, Projects, NDDC writes from Port-Harcourt.