By Prince Sekat,Jos

Plateau State Government on Monday said it has  viewed  with grave concern the rise in the rate of infection of the Corona virus in the State following the ease of lockdown exercise.

This was contained in a statement signed by Dan Manjang,Hon. Commissioner for Information and Communication and made available to newsmen in Jos .

“In view of the foregoing therefore, Government hereby states categorically that such unbecoming attitude of violating the laid down orders stimulates government to contemplate severe measures to address and arrest the situation. This could include among many, a total lockdown of the State, for a longer period, and the indefinite sealing of such premises who refuse to adhere to the guidelines.”

 The statement reads that  the spike in number of cases is due to the flagrant disregard to the laid down protocols as it affects this dreaded monster, by a sizeable population of the State.

“Government views with dismay the non-compliance with regards to the wearing of face masks, social distancing, hand washing and the use of sanitizers.”

He said that Government has it on sound authority that some worship centres, markets, motor parks, commercial vehicles, tricycles  are at the forefront of this flagrant violation.

Government by this announcement therefore, would like to remind the public that there is an Executive Order duly signed by His Excellency, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Simon Bako Lalong, KSG, Executive Governor of Plateau State, to prosecute violators before the law.

Government hereby appeals to all law abiding citizens of the state to obey the COVID-19 protocols as spelt out by the State in order to curtail the disease and save lives.

Help Government to serve you better by taking personal responsibility for your health and safeguarding the lives of others.

PRESS STATEMENT

NORTHERN GOVERNORS MEET OVER INSECURITY

Worried by the challenge of insecurity in the country, the Northern Governors Forum met on Thursday 18th June 2020 to review the security situation in the Northern Region.
The meeting conducted via teleconferencing was presided over by Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Bako Lalong.
The Governors expressed concern over the level of insecurity in the region and took certain decisions to contain the situation.
They agreed to set up a standing Committee on security in the North which will foster synergy between security agencies in the enforcement of security measures in the region. The Committee to be headed by Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has Governors of Zamfara and Gombe as members.
They also set up another Committee headed by Governor Simon Lalong on Consultation with Traditional, Religious and Community leaders in the North with a view to ensuring that there is wider involvement in tackling insecurity in the region. The Committee has Governors of Adamawa, Niger, and Sokoto as members.
Another decision reached by the Governors is the engagement of local vigilantes, hunters, and community watch groups in the security architecture of the region in order to foster intelligence gathering, rapid response and sustained surveillance.
The Northern Governors also called on the Federal Government to closely look into the Ecowas protocol on free movement of persons as it relates to the cross-border movement of herders from other countries into Nigeria, particularly the North.
While commending the Nigerian security forces for their efforts in tackling insecurity in the region so far, they called for increased synergy which will further enhance their operations and assist in putting an end to the activities of bandits, insurgents, kidnappers and other criminals.
They also agreed to adopt dialogue where necessary while pursuing military measures in dealing with the various security challenges in the region.
While sympathizing with victims of the various attacks and other forms of criminality in the region, the Northern Governors also appealed for calm by groups and those affected as both the Forum, individual State Governments and the Federal Government are working together to ensure that this ugly situation is brought under control immediately, as well as addressing the humanitarian needs of the victims.
The Governors also want the Federal Government to accelerate the Livestock Transformation Plan which will assist in creating jobs among farmers and herders in the region and the country at large.
They commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his efforts to deal with the security situation in the country and the region.

Dr. Makut Simon Macham, ANIPR,
Director of Press & Public Affairs to the Governor of
Plateau State & Chairman, Northern Governors Forum.
18th June 2020.

Gov Godwin Obaseki who quits All Progressives Congress APC, finally joins People’s Democratic Party (PDP) today..

Details soon.

Barring any last minute changes, Governor Godwin Obaseki will today formally announce his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) a few days after resigning from his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

A member of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) told our correspondent that the governor would register his membership at his Ward 4 in Oredo LGA of the state after finalising talks with PDP leaders at the national and state levels.

Obaseki, on Wednesday, met with the leadership of the PDP, led by its national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, in Abuja, as well as other governors elected on the party’s platform.

The meeting, which was held at the residence of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, also had in attendance Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto as well as other governors of the party.

“Governor Obaseki will pick up his card from his Ward 4, Oredo LGA, in Benin tomorrow (today).

“His return to the APC has been foreclosed due to the latest crisis rocking the party.

“The governor is currently meeting with the PDP national chairman as well as other governors elected on the party’s platform in Abuja; they have assured him of total support in his governorship bid,” he said.

Chief G.S. Pwul, SAN, a legal luminary and the first Senior Advocate of Nigeria on the Plateau, yesterday, engaged in a tete-a-tete with some relevant stakeholders, consisting of renowned academics and seasoned politicians on the Plateau. The meeting which had in attendance, Prof. Danjuma Dajap, Prof. David Longwap Wonang, Hon. Gondina Sambo, Hon. Emmanuel Agati, amongst others, held in Jos, Plateau State Capital.
Several relevant issues concerning the future of Plateau people in particular and Plateau state in general were discussed.
They commended his unwavering commitment towards the Plateau project and for lending his voice on issues concerning the people of Plateau state especially on legal matters.

On his part, Chief Pwul emphasized the need for unity in Plateau state. He promised to contribute his quota to the development of the state and the fight against corruption.
“Plateau state has potentials and with the right leadership, all these problems faced today will be history.”

President Muhammadu Buhari is currently in a closed-door meeting with Service Chiefs at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Service Chiefs, led by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin arrived at the seat of power at 08:50 GMT and proceeded straight to the Council Chambers.

President Buhari joined the meeting at 09:00 GMT and the meeting immediately went into a closed session.

The Service Chiefs are expected to brief State House Correspondents at the end of the meeting.

Nigeria, in the last few months, has witnessed a rise in criminal activities of bandits, especially in the northwestern part of the country.

The security meeting is expected to discuss the new increase in security challenges.

It should also be noted that the situation had led to protests in some of the states and among the northern elite, which had led to calls on the President to give answers to the challenges.

PRESS RELEASE

PLATEAU GOVERNMENT DECRIES NON-ADHERENCE TO COVID-19 GUIDELINES, TO COMMENCE STRICT ENFORCEMENT.

Plateau State Government has decried the lack of adherence to guidelines for COVID-19 by most individuals and some organisations following the suspension of the lockdown order by Governor Simon Lalong on 11th June, 2020.

The Government notes the flagrant disregard for the compulsory use of face masks by all citizens outside their homes where many go about without any.

There is also high disregard to social distancing requirement in public places such as markets, shops, hotels, social centres, restaurants, public transport and some places of worship.

Some others have chosen to ignore the provision of water, soap and sanitizers in entrances to such public places thereby constituting greater risk to the citizens.

In addition, some people have also organised large gatherings and social gatherings in contravention of the directive of the Governor.

All this has led to an increase in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the State which as at Wednesday 17th June, 2020 stand at 180 persons.

Based on the above therefore, government hereby warns against non compliance to its directives. Monitoring teams have been put in place to monitor and enforce compliance. This takes immediate effect.

Anyone found to be violating the COVID-19 guidelines will be arrested and prosecuted while public places will be shut down and also prosecuted.

Government wishes to remind the citizens that COVID-19 is real and still without cure while community spread continues to be occurring.

All citizens must take personal responsibility for their health and the health of others.

Dan Manjang
Hon. Commissioner for Information and Communication.
17th June 2020.

Rayfield Medical Centre Suspend Services as Staff Contract COVID-19 from Patient who Absconded From Isolation Facility
The management of Rayfield Medical Services Limited Jos, Plateau State has announced its decision to suspend services at the medical facility for two weeks to fumigate the facility after some Staff of the Hospital contracted COVID-19 through a patient who absconded from an isolation facility in the State and was treated in the hospital for two days unknown to the staff/management of the hospital that the patient had tested positive for COVID-19 and absconded from an isolation facility.

This decision was made known in a statement by the management of the Medical Facility which reads:

Dear esteemed clients, we bring you warm greetings from Rayfield Medical Services Ltd.

We would like to inform you of a recent case of COVID-19 admitted to the hospital. Patient had absconded from one of the state hospitals and came to us for treatment for an unrelated illness. Patient had denied any history of contact with a COVID-19 patient as well as any history of symptoms suggestive of COVID-19. Patient was managed for two days in our facility before we discovered the true state of affairs from the state ministry of health.

Patient was immediately evacuated by the ministry of health officials to the isolation facility and the hospital fumigated. A screening of primary and secondary contacts revealed that a number of our staff were also positive for the virus. They are also being attended to by the state ministry of health officials.

In line with the state protocols, the hospital services have been suspended for two weeks and the entire facility closed for fumigation.
We hope to resume normal services to the general public immediately after the expiration of the mandatory two weeks.

We want to reassure our esteemed clients of the hospital’s commitment to excellent and quality healthcare services and the full adherence to all the safety protocols for the prevention of disease transmission in our facility.
Please accept the assurances of our warmest regards!
Thank you

Management.

The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC has disclosed that the Deputy National Chairman (South), Sen. Abiola Ajimobi will serve as the party’s Acting National Chairman.

National Publicity Secretary of APC, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, revealed this in a statement Tuesday night.

He said the decision came after the National Working Committee received the news indicating that the Appeal Court has upheld the suspension of the Party’s National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole by a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The APC spokesman further said, “Guided by advice from the Party’s legal department in line with the provisions of Section 14.2. (iii) of the Party’s constitution, the Deputy National Chairman (South), Sen. Abiola Ajimobi will serve as the Party’s Acting National Chairman.

“According to Section 14.2. (iii),of the APC constitution, the Deputy National Chairman, North/South ‘Shall act as the National Chairman in the absence of the National Chairman from his zone’” , the statement said.

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), after meeting President Muhammadu Buhari at the Villa. Obaseki disclosed this to State House reporters on Tuesday on his way out of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He also dismissed allegations that his credentials were fake. Obaseki had met with President Muhammadu Buhari over his disqualification from participating in the primary of the APC,

Obaseki was disqualified by the screening committee of the APC on Friday. His disqualification was said to be due to discrepancies in his results. The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has expressed willingness to accept Obaseki if he decides to join the party but said he won’t get automatic ticket to run for a second term. Obaseki and his predecessor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who is also the National Chairman of APC,  have been at loggerheads over the governor’s second term bid and other issues. The feud between Obaseki and Oshiomhole has polarised the party in Edo State. Obaseki asked Oshiomhole to recuse himself from the nomination processes of the primary but the party did not act on his request. The faction loyal to Oshiomhole endorsed Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu as its consensus candidate for the June 22 governorship primary election of the party. APC govs fail to rescue Edo gov A last-minute meeting convened to discuss the moves to rescue Obaseki has failed  as the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday said that it would go ahead with June 22, 2020 governorship primary election. The APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, fielded questions from State House reporters yesterday after a meeting with the Chief of Staff (CoS) to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari. The meeting was attended by the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) and Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, as well as four members of the APC NWC. Bagudu, who represented the APC governors at the meeting, did not wait while Oshiomhole was speaking with journalists after the meeting. The meeting, it was believed, discussed the fallout of the disqualification of Obaseki from participating in the state governorship primary election. Oshiomhole, who said the APC had followed all necessary guidelines and standard practice required ahead of the primary, expressed optimism that the process would be “free, fair, and transparent” and produce a candidate that would unify the party. Asked whether the APC was ready for Obaseki’s exit, Oshiomhole said: “I don’t know about exit.” On the gazette signed by Obaseki, banning political gatherings that could make direct primary possible, he said,” we will find a way round it. He is our governor. We are law abiding. But if PDP can conduct activities across 192 wards with the same law, I don’t think our governor will discriminate against his own party.”