*Says Tinubu moving in right direction
*Zulum shares food aid to 52,500 families*ABUAD hospital hosts mental health summit
*Lawmaker charges states to invest in agric
*CLO calls on Tinubu, governors to sit up
Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri, Okon Bassey in Uyo, Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt and Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti
Vice-President Kassim Shettima, has appealed to Nigerians to exercise a little patience with the President Bola Tinubu administration, even as the country continues to lament hardship and starvation.
Shettima, who spoke at the 60th birthday celebration of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), South-south, Victor Giadom, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, weekend, insisted that President Tinubu was moving in the right direction.
But in a move offering some ray of hope, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, has supervised the distribution of food aid to over 52,500 families in seven local government areas in the Southern part of the state tohelp alleviate the hardship caused by inflation and the current economic challenges bedeviling the country.
Also, in recognition of the hard time Nigerians are currently facing, the Afe Babalola University of Ado-Ekiti Multi-System Hospital has concluded plans to organise a 2-day Mental Health Summit.
This was as a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Fatoba Olusola Steve, has called on state governments to invest heavily in agriculture to get the youths engaged and take them off the streets as a way out of the hardship and insecurity in the country.
At the same time, the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Akwa Ibom State chapter, has called on President Bola Tinubu and governors to be alive to their responsibilities in the face of mounting hardship and insecurity.
However, represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusiness and Productivity Enhancement, Office of the Vice-President, Dr Kingsley Uzoma, Shettima acknowledged the hardship in the country.
He said for the first time, the country was confronting its real problems under Tinubu, insisting that Nigeria had been mismanaged for a long time.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is today the President of the country. We are quite happy for the support we got from here. It is true that times are difficult everywhere. But I appeal that we have a little patience because for the first time Nigeria is actually challenging the problems.
“Nigeria has been mismanaged for quite a while. It is time to make it right. It is true that there had to be sacrifice for anything that is going to be good. Inflation that is biting the world round is not just in Nigeria.
“What is happening is a call to service. We need to raise our productivity and the moment we do our nation will be respected. I assure you that the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is going in the right direction and will deliver all his promises.”
The Vice President however, commended the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike and others, who worked in Rivers to give President Tinubu victory in the last election.
In his remarks, the former governor Wike, described Giadom as a reliable friend. He bemoaned persons he said are notoriously making Guinness Book of Records as pretenders.
According to Wike, Victor was not a pretender and was not fashioned like some persons, who failed to reveal their true identities as snakes.
“Even though we were of different parties, Victor had never gone on television to abuse any of his friends. He doesn’t allow politics to be a wedge between him and his friends. He plays politics and still remains with you.
“Victor is someone, who will tell you he will be with you and he will be with you. Victor is not a pretender. He is not one of those who have made the Guinness Book of Records as pretenders. There are those, who had made Guinness Book of Records by pretending. Nobody knew that they were snakes.
“Victor could tell you I will not do this and he will not do it. He will tell you I will do this and he will do it. I know his children and his wife.
“He has been my good friend and I like to associate with people who remember tomorrow. I like who will not forget when things were not good to them. Victor is not somebody who gives excuses,” he said.
Zulum Shares Food Aid to 52,500 Families
Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, yesterday,supervised the distribution of food aid to over 52,500 families in seven local government areas in the Southern part of the state in order to alleviate the current hardship in the country.
The distribution took place at the Biu township stadium, and the benefiting local governments included Biu, Shani, Chibok, Askira-Uba, Kwaya Kusar, Bayo and Hawul.
Zulum, in a statement, said: “This morning, we are in Biu to provide palliatives to 52,500 vulnerable families in southern Borno. This is in continuation of our efforts to provide food and non-food items to the less privileged in society.
“We have not consistently given food items to people in southern Borno because they are not deeply affected by the insurgency. However, due to the current hike in food prices, the government has decided to come in and support the people with food aid,” the governor added.
ABUAD Hospital to Host Mental Health Summit
The Afe Babalola University of Ado-Ekiti Multi-System Hospital has indicated its readiness to organise a 2-day Mental Health Summit that could guide the people on how to cope with the current state of the economy.
This was made known by the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, Dr. Kolawole Ogundipe, during a press briefing in Ado Ekiti as part of activities lined up to mark the 6th anniversary of the University’s Multi-System hospital.
He said the objectives of the summit were to raise awareness about mental health, thereby breaking down the barriers of stigma, exploring avenues for integrating mental health services within the hospital’s offering and elaborating on mental health services currently available to the student body.
The CMD, however, called for collaborative efforts to address mental health not only as a medical issue, but as a vital component of our overall well-being.
“This year’s anniversary will be focusing on mental health in clear recognition of the hard times we live in and the increasing mental challenges we are all subjected to.
“We all must come together to address mental health, not only as a medical issue, but as a vital component of our overall well-being. Hence we will be hosting a 2-day Mental Health Summit.”
