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Akwa-Ibom: Udoedehe’s ‘Endorsement’/ Ekanem’s ‘Inauguration’: APC group faults actions

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The recent purported endorsement of a serial governorship aspirant, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, by some self-acclaimed Stakeholders in the Akwa Ibom State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been faulted and seen as capable of derailing the prospect of the party in the forthcoming general election.

Similarly, members of the party in the state have been advised to discountenance the purported inauguration of Augustine Ekanem as the state chairman of the party, saying,” no such decision was taken and those peddling the lies and falsehood on what transpired in our party headquarters in Abuja, on 3/2/2022, is a figment of the imagination of those peddling the lies”.

A statement by a pressure group within the state chapter of the party; Akwa Ibom Progressive Coalition (APC), endorsed by its National Coordinator, Otuekong Iniobong John, and made available to newsmen also warned that the purported “inauguration” of Mr. Augustine Ekanem as the state chairman of our party, if not properly handled was capable of causing disunity among party members.

The statement titled: THAT PURPORTED ENDORSEMENT OF SENATOR UDOEDEHE BY THE APC CHIEFTAINS AT CHIEF DON ETIEBET’s RESIDENCE

States:

“Ordinarily, we wouldn’t want to join issues with elderly and eminent personalities whom we hold in high esteem, but it is necessary and urgent we point out fallacious and erroneous impressions consciously or unconsciously created by them in their communique which has caused well-meaning members of the party serious embarrassment, at this point in our great party, such desperate act was not expected of anybody in the party.

“As a body within the party, we’ve vowed not to allow any person(s) or group of persons cause us the electoral calamity we suffered in the 2019 elections. No affliction shall rise a second time.

1.”We are not against any form of adoption or endorsement in politics nor are we against the communique, using whatsoever nomenclature. Anybody is free to adopt, endorse or come up with a communique for anybody or group of persons and if anyone is not satisfied with such adoption or endorsement, it is left for such a person or group of persons to equally organize his/her adoption and communique. We don’t think there’s a limit to that.

“However, there’s something wrong with this adoption/communique and that’s the lies being told specifically in Paragraph 5, which states as follows;

“That we felicitate with Mr. Augustine Ekanem on his inauguration as the State Chairman of Akwa Ibom APC on Thursday, 3rd February 2022 by the Chairman of the CECPC in Abuja, and also appreciate him for promptly inaugurating other members of the State Executive Committee in Uyo on Thursday, 4th February 2022.

“The stakeholders wish him and his State Executive members a successful tenure in the pilot of the party affairs in Akwa Ibom State.

“Whereas there was nothing like the inauguration of state party chairmen on the 3/2/2022 by the chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the party in Abuja. Nobody and we repeat nobody including Ekanem took the Oath of Office and Oath of Allegiance on the said date as the chairman of APC Akwa Ibom State and as such Ekanem, cannot assume and perform the duties of the state chairman of the party(APC) just yet.

“What took place was the issuance of Certificate of Return to Ekanem and this is on record.

“Even Senator Udoedehe, while presenting the Certificate of Return, had said and we quote: “I’ve been directed to issue you with Certificate of Return, as the duly elected State chairmen of states”.

“These are the exact words of Udoedehe on that day and on that occasion. That’s the only thing that took place as carried out by Udoedehe himself. We can safely state that it was a one-agenda event; The Issuance of a Certificate of Return.

“Although, the twist was in clear contrast to what was supposed to take place that day as was stipulated in the party timetable released earlier. On the Time Table, the inauguration of state chairmen was scheduled for that day. Why and how that changed to Issuance of Certificate of Return, is one big question that has not been answered by the Caretaker Committee and that’s the crux of the matter.

“Something is not adding up. It seems to us that the Caretaker Committee was compelled, forced, coerced, or directed to rather issue only Certificates of Return on a day that was meant for the inauguration and that’s a story for another day. There was no inauguration and no oath was administered to anybody.

“How the above translates into Ekanem being inaugurated as state chairman to the extent of conveying legitimacy on him to further inaugurate the state Exco is completely unimaginable and unacceptable. This is “iberiberism” apologies to Rochas Okorocha.

“We challenge the promoters of this charade to make public pictures or video clips of where any state chairman of APC was inaugurated on the 3/2/2022.

If they do, we’ll instantly withdraw this, and tender an unreserved apology to them, but if the reverse is the case, they are also free to believe their lies

“This act is against Article 29 of the APC Constitution, which mandates every elected or appointed officer of the party to subscribe to Oath of Office. “Every Officer elected or appointed as an Officer of the Party shall subscribe to the Oath of Office as provided in Schedule II to this Constitution before an appropriate Principal Officer of the party.”

“Chief Don Etiebet and his group of endorsers were expected to work for the cohesiveness and formidability of the party before resuming their business of endorsing candidates.

“They were the same people, who endorsed Obong Nsima Ekere for the 2019 election, but overtly and covertly worked against his candidacy and the APC in the elections.

“Since 2003, Chief Don Etiebet has been in the business of endorsing candidates who never won any election. In 2003, he was the National Chairman of the defunct ANPP. He endorsed the late Dr. Ime Umanah in that year’s gubernatorial election and he lost it. In 2007, he endorsed himself for the PDP’s Gubernatorial race after resigning his position as National Chairman of the defunct ANPP. He was one of the 57 persons who were heavily defeated by Senator Godswill Akpabio for the PDP gubernatorial ticket. In 2015, he endorsed Obong Umana Umana and of course, Obong Umana was defeated in that election. In 2019, he assembled his ilks at his residence to endorse Obong Nsima Ekere for the gubernatorial race.

No endorsements by Chief Don Etiebet has ever worked in Akwa Ibom State

” President Muhamadu Buhari and the National Leadership of the party cannot be misled or hoodwinked by such charade by Chief Etiebet and his group of endorsers.

“When Chief Etiebet assumed the National Chairmanship of the defunct ANPP, the party had 9 governors, but by the time he defected to the PDP in 2006, the party was left with only 2 governors. That was how well he grew the party.

“Going forward, we want to urge well-meaning members of the party to continue to remain calm, resolute, and tenacious in their loyalty and commitment to the cause of the party

“The leadership issue in our great party would soon be resolved and we’ll have a capable leadership that will lead us to victory in the 2023 elections

“Let nobody be distracted, perturbed nor dismayed by such charade. There is no cause for alarm.

“To rescue the party and win the 2023 election, is a task that must be done.

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Health

Trump cleared for office, doctor orders weight loss ahead of 80th birthday

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United States President Donald Trump has been declared medically fit to continue in office, with his physician describing him as being in “excellent health” while recommending weight loss and increased physical activity weeks before his 80th birthday.

The White House disclosed on Friday that Trump underwent his annual medical and dental examination on Tuesday at Walter Reed Military Hospital near Washington, amid growing scrutiny over his health and fitness for office.

In a three-page medical memo released by the White House, Trump’s physician, US Navy Captain Sean Barbabella, said the president demonstrated strong overall physical and mental capacity.

“President Trump remains in excellent health, demonstrating strong cardiac, pulmonary, neurological, and overall physical function,” Barbabella stated, adding that the president was “fully fit to carry out all duties of the Commander-in-Chief and Head of State.”

However, the physician advised Trump to adopt healthier lifestyle measures, including dietary adjustments, increased physical activity, continued weight loss and low-dose aspirin therapy for cardiovascular prevention.

According to the report, Trump, who will turn 80 on June 14, stands at 6ft 3in tall and weighs 238 pounds (108 kilograms), about 14 pounds more than he weighed during his last full annual medical check-up in April last year.

Despite concerns surrounding his age, the report noted that Trump’s cardiac health reflected an estimated age roughly 14 years younger than his chronological age.

The president also reportedly scored a perfect “30 out of 30” in a cognitive assessment, a result Trump has repeatedly cited in public while contrasting himself with his Democratic predecessor, former President Joe Biden.

The medical report further addressed concerns over bruising frequently seen on Trump’s right hand, attributing it to “minor soft tissue irritation” caused by repeated handshaking and aspirin use.

The memo also referenced scarring on Trump’s right ear linked to the assassination attempt against him during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in 2024, when a gunman opened fire, killing a supporter and slightly wounding the president.

Trump’s latest health evaluation comes amid public concerns after he was occasionally seen appearing drowsy during White House meetings and events. He had also previously been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a condition that affects blood circulation in the veins and can lead to swelling in the legs.

Reacting shortly after Tuesday’s examination, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that the medical exercise had gone “PERFECTLY,” while the White House later shared his photograph online with the caption, “PERFECT BILL OF HEALTH!”

The release of the report also sparked debate in the United States after the White House initially delayed making the medical details public, breaking with the traditional practice of releasing presidential health summaries shortly after such examinations.

Trump has long faced criticism over transparency regarding his health records, with questions also raised over the scheduling and description of his medical evaluations since returning to office.

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Oyo confirms Lassa fever death in Ibadan, activates emergency response, traces contacts

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The Oyo State Government has confirmed a Lassa fever case at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, where a 44-year-old woman died, prompting the activation of emergency response measures and immediate contact tracing to contain the disease.

The state Commissioner for Health, Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, saying, “The patient died on April 11, 2026, while receiving treatment, while laboratory confirmation of Lassa fever was received on April 13.”

She added that the Ministry of Health had swiftly activated its emergency response system, including the establishment of an Incident Management System to coordinate response activities across the state.

According to her, “All identified contacts of the deceased are being closely monitored, while necessary measures have been taken to ensure a safe and dignified burial in line with public health protocols.”

Ajetunmobi urged residents to seek immediate medical attention if they experience symptoms such as persistent fever, weakness, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea, unexplained bleeding, chest pain or difficulty breathing.

She stressed, “Early presentation at health facilities significantly improves the chances of survival.”

The commissioner explained that Lassa fever is a viral haemorrhagic disease transmitted primarily through contact with food or household items contaminated by urine or faeces of infected rodents.

“It can also spread from person to person through contact with bodily fluids, especially in healthcare settings where infection prevention measures are not strictly observed,” she said.

She advised residents to maintain strict environmental hygiene, including proper waste disposal, safe storage of food in rodent-proof containers and avoiding drying food items on bare ground or roadsides.

Ajetunmobi also urged households to seal holes and entry points to prevent rodent access, while emphasising regular handwashing and good personal hygiene.

Residents, she said, should report suspected cases through designated emergency lines, while health workers must strictly adhere to infection prevention and control protocols.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment, the commissioner said surveillance had been intensified across the state, with all health facilities placed on alert.

“There is no cause for panic. The situation is under control, and Lassa fever is both preventable and treatable when detected early,” she assured.

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Health

Rep Oseni Backs Ajimobi Widow’s Cancer Fight, Vows More Health Projects

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The lawmaker representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Aderemi Oseni, has pledged to support the breast cancer awareness programme of the ABC Foundation founded by former Oyo First Lady, Dr. Florence Ajimobi.

Oseni, who is Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), made the commitment on Thursday in Ibadan at the flag-off of Pink Month 2025, an initiative of the foundation.

Contained in a statement by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, the lawmaker described the campaign as a “lifesaving mission” given the rising burden of breast cancer in Nigeria, with over 28,000 new cases and thousands of deaths reported annually.

The APC chieftain said the free screening of 1,000 women planned by the foundation was timely, stressing that early detection remained the strongest weapon in the fight against cancer.

Hon. Aderemi Oseni exchanging pleasantries with former Oyo State First Lady, Dr. (Mrs.) Florence Ajimobi, at the event.

“Health is life. Only this June, I moved a motion at the National Assembly which led to the Federal Government subsidising dialysis treatment nationwide. Today, dialysis is either free or heavily discounted in federal health facilities,” Oseni said.

He listed his personal interventions to include funding hospital bills of indigent patients, construction of hospitals in Ido and Ibarapa East, establishment of primary health centres, and organisation of medical outreaches. He also disclosed plans to deploy mobile clinics to rural areas.

Commending Mrs. Ajimobi for sustaining her late husband’s legacy through humanitarian service, Oseni assured of partnership with the foundation, saying women’s wellbeing and empowerment remained central to his vision for Oyo State.

In her remarks, Mrs. Ajimobi said the foundation had offered medical care to over 85,000 patients and conducted more than 100,000 investigations since its inception. She added that the campaign was not just corporate social responsibility but “a moral duty and sacred trust.”

The former first lady, who lost her daughter Abisola to breast cancer earlier this year, said the experience had strengthened her resolve to save other families from such tragedy. She appealed to women to take advantage of the free screening and called on partners and development agencies to support the fight.

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