[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Delta State Government set up a Food Bank to collate all food items donated by individuals and organisations to cushion the effect of the 14 day stay at home order made by it as a measure to check the spread of the coronavirus in the state.

The food items are said to be meant for the vulnerable in the state and are to be distributed to them in their respective communities, irrespective of political interests, which prompted the setting up the LGA distribution committees.

Chairman of the CPU Foundation, a Civil Engineer, who refers to himself as a “Bricklayer” Engr. Philip Chukwumah Ugbomah,has warned against the diversion of food meant to be given to the vulnerable members of the local government to party members at Ward level.

The chairman gave the warning in a telephone chat with Grassroots Publishers online yesterday concerning the constituted committee for the distribution of government palliative to vulnerable members of the local government area.

He said that the vulnerable members of the local government area included the disabled, those above the age of 60, low income earners, widows and those who depend on daily job to earn a living. According to him COVID – 19 does not recognise, considering that all presently suffering different degrees of impact as a result of the Coronavirus lockdown are not members of a particular political party.

The real vulnerable in the society are not politicians and could best be identified by their communities through the traditional rulers working with community leaders.If the food items are to get to the target persons, therefore, the membership of the committee needs to be depoliticized to include at least one traditional ruler, two non partisan interests and one vulnerable person.

The committee which is headed by the local government chairman, while members comprise all Councilors and the most senior chiefs (Okpala-Uku) and representatives of the various wards who will monitor the distribution of the palliative from the state government are expected to distribute the items as directed by Governor Okowa.

He urged well-meaning Deltans and Ndokwa East indigenes to contribute their quota to the success of the food bank measure by the state government.

Chairman of the CPU Foundation thanked the state government for putting palliative measure on ground to alleviate the plight of Deltans in the face of the war against the corona virus.

[dropcap]L[/dropcap]ate Abba Kyari is a Kanuri man from Borno State and was a Nigerian politician who served as Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari between 27th August 2015 and 17th April 2020.

He obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Warwick in 1980, and a bachelor’s degree in law from the University of Cambridge. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1983 after attending the Nigerian Law School.

In 1984, he obtained a master’s degree in law from the University of Cambridge. He later attended the International Institute for Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland in 1992 and participated in the Program for Management Development at the Harvard Business School, in 1994.

He started his working career with the law firm of Fani-Kayode and Sowemimo before taking appointment in 1988 as The Editor of the New Africa Holdings Limited Kaduna. In 1990, he was appointed the Commissioner for Forestry and Animal Resources in Borno State.

Between 1990 and 1995, he served as the secretary to the board of African International Bank Limited, a subsidiary of Bank of Credit and Commerce International.

He also served as the executive director (management services) at the United Bank for Africa and later appointed the chief executive officer. In 2002, he was appointed a director of Unilever Nigeria, and later served on the board of Exxon Mobil Nigeria.

In August 2015, Kyari was appointed Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari and played major influential roles within PMB administration working mainly behind the scenes to implement president’s agenda.

Between 2017 and 2019, series of events in the Presidency suggested that he had assumed the position of the coordinating head of the kitchen cabinet of the President and invariably exercised powers and influence that no other than a de facto Prime Minister or Deputy President could assume in the Presidency even if unknown to law.

No doubt, the wife of the President and the First Lady, Aisha, had reasons to complain in public and online reports about some President’s aide when there was a break down in relationship of the President and National Leader of the Party, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu.

There were public outcries when Kyari became the go between the National Assembly and the President when the latter was officially absent from office due to his medical challenges and treatment in the United Kingdom.

The role he played on the assented and rejected bills forwarded to the President raised national concerns about health of the President, the secrecy shrouded around it and what becomes of the Vice President in matters of such sensitive nature.

Kyari equally rocked the boat in instances where the Vice President was forced to order the removal of a state security chief who among others bypassed him and exhibits divided loyalties in the ruling cabal.

He also seems to have opposed some appointments made that was not within his purview when the later acted as Acting President.

In 2017, he was embroiled in public argument with the lady Head of Civil Service of the Federation which led to public confrontations on issues of public service procedures and matters relating to Maina.

The lady’s vehement position resulted to her subsequent removal from office, arrest and detention as part of the humiliation for daring the power that be through fraud related charges.

In 2019, PMB unprecedentedly ordered his cabinet to channel all requests through his office which enhanced his status in government circles. By 2020, it was obvious that he was meddling in matters of national security in a leaked memo of Babagana Monguno, the National Security Adviser.

In similar veins, he took it upon himself to lead Nigeria’s negotiations in search of revamping the critical infrastructures of the nation in the power sector during an official trip to Germany in March, 2020.

Following his return on 24th March, 2020, it was made public that he tested positive for COVID-19 and was encountering an underlying medical conditions.

He was then moved from Abuja to Lagos due to his medical conditions and he died in a Lagos hospital on 17 April 2020, though the rumor of his death was rife about two weeks ago on the social media.

Kyari was married to the sister-in-law of Ibrahim Tahir and had four children. He died in the course of national duty.

May his soul Rest In Peace.

[dropcap]M[/dropcap]allam Abba Kyari, who died on 17th April, 2020, at the age of 67 from complications caused by the Coronavirus, was a true Nigerian patriot. My loyal friend and compatriot for the last 42 years – and latterly my Chief-of-Staff – he never wavered in his commitment to the betterment of every one of us.

He was only in his twenties when we first met. A diligent student, soon after he was blessed with the opportunity to study abroad – first at Warwick and then law at the University of Cambridge. But there was never any question Abba would bring his first-rate skills and newly acquired world-class knowledge back to Nigeria – which he did – immediately upon graduation.

Whilst possessing the sharpest legal and organisational mind, Abba’s true focus was always the development of infrastructure and the assurance of security for the people of this nation he served so faithfully. For he knew that without both in tandem there can never be the development of the respectful society and vibrant economy that all Nigerian citizens deserve.

In political life, Abba never sought elective office for himself. Rather, he set himself against the view and conduct of two generations of Nigeria’s political establishment – who saw corruption as an entitlement and its practice a byproduct of possessing political office.

Becoming my Chief of Staff in 2015, he strove quietly and without any interest in publicity or personal gain to implement my agenda.
There are those who said of him that he must be secretive – because he did not have a high public profile. But Abba was the opposite: he simply had no need, nor did he seek, the cheap gratification of the crowd; for him, there was nothing to be found in popular adulation. He secured instead satisfaction and his reward solely and only from the improvement of the governance of this great country.

Working, without fail, seven days each and every week, he acted forcefully as a crucial gatekeeper to the presidency, ensuring no one – whether minister or governor had access beyond another – and that all those representing and serving our country were treated equally.

ALSO READ: NDDC As A Unit Of Niger-Delta Ministry Is Dangerous For The Region’s Development – Stakeholders
He made clear in his person and his practice, always, that every Nigerian – regardless of faith, family, fortune or frailty – was heard and treated respectfully and the same.

Mallam Abba Kyari was the very best of us. He was made of the stuff that makes Nigeria great. Rest In Peace, my dearest friend.

To his loving wife and doting family who survive him, I extend my heartfelt sorrow at your loss.

Muhammadu Buhari
President, Federal Republic of Nigeria
April 18, 2020

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he National Youth Service Corps, NYSC has produced and distributed face masks to market women at the Burr Primary School Issele-Uku in Aniocha North LGA of Delta State.

The State Coordinator of NYSC, Mrs. Olutayo Samuel led other officials of the Scheme and corps members to the market where enlightenment on the use of the face masks was offered to individual traders before handing it to them.

The Aniocha North Local Government Chairman, Hon. Chuks Oseme later joined the team at the market for the distribution.

Earlier, the NYSC team had visited the office of the Council Chairman where the corps members presented face masks and hand sanitizers to him in the presence of the President Generals of the 18 communities in the local government area.

Samuel had during the visit, appreciated the Chairman for making a donation of N50,000 to the corps members when he visited during production at the Orientation Camp.

[dropcap]A[/dropcap] suspected carrier of the dreaded Coronavirus (COVID-19) has been declared wanted by the Aba State Government after he reportedly sneaked into the state’s commercial hub, Aba, and then disappeared.

A Public Service Announcement issued earlier today (Friday) by Abia State Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, said: “Abia State Ministry of Health in partnership with the State Inter-Ministerial Committee on COVID-19 has declared one Vincent Prosper, who sneaked into Abia State from a neighboring state, wanted.

“He was last seen around 153, Azikiwe Road, Aba. Anyone with useful information on his whereabouts should call 0700 2242 362 or contact the State Commissioner for Health.

By Patrick Ochei

[dropcap] T[/dropcap]he Nigerian Medical Association, NMA Delta State Chapter has called on its members not to go near any Covid-19 patient without putting on their Personal Protective Equipment, PPE, adding that doctors and healthcare workers need to be adequately protected to save lives.

The call was made during a press briefing by the group at their Secretariat in Asaba, Friday 17, April, 2020.

Briefing the press, the State Chairman of NMA, Dr. Ekeneam N. Omo said that doctors and healthcare workers in the State had been mandated not to go near any Covid-19 patient without their protective kits, especially the HAZMAT suit.

Ekeneam underscored the utmost need to protect health workers during the ravaging global pandemic, making reference to the loss of a doctor in Lagos and another in Katsina whose wife was also infected.

He stated that over 25 doctors were currently in isolation centre at University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH having been infected, stressing that the Association would not close its eyes to allow its members die as a result of inadequate protection.

He however agreed that government was doing a lot but needed to do more, urging it to keep doing more until the war against the Coronavirus pandemic is won.

According to him, “Covid-19 is a novel disease because of the mode of spread. It’s an airwaves disease and that is why everybody must take precautionary measures.

“Covid-19 is not a political scam. You have to obey the ‘stay at home’ instruction, which is not a punishment but a critical sacrifice towards containing the spread of the virus. In addition, you must regularly wash your hands or sanitize them with alcohol based hand sanitizers and then wear a mask”, the Chairman posited.

Moreover, the NMA Chairman called on government to immediately review the hazard allowance, which he said had been a long standing demand even before Covid-19. He said the allowance of N5000 to healthcare workers was meagre and not commensurate with the risk the healthcare workers go through to manage patients, even before Covid-19.

He also demanded for the institution of compensation package for all doctors and healthcare workers who die or suffer disability from attending to patients suffering from Covid-19 infection, which could be in the form of life and disability insurance.

Other areas of concern to the Medical Practitioners in this Covid-19 period include, the demand for a tax relief for all healthcare workers as a morale booster, special allowances for healthcare workers attending to patients in isolation centres, speedy stimulus package from government to the people and adequate measures to curtail the spread of Covid-19 even after the lockdown.

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mallam Abba Kyari, has died.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, on Saturday morning, said Kyari died on Friday. It was be recalled that Mallam Kyari tested positive for COVID-19 in March and was taken to Lagos for treatment.

Although the statement did not disclose where he died, it said burial arrangement for the late Chief of Staff would be announced soon.

“The Presidency regrets to announce the passage of the Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari.

“The deceased had tested positive to the ravaging COVID-19, and had been receiving treatment. But he died on Friday, April 17, 2020.

“May God accept his soul.