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Six States Oppose FG’s Plan To Impose COVID-19 Vaccine On Nigerians

COVID-19 Vaccine

As the reluctance of Nigerians to take the COVID-19 vaccine and be part of the country’s vaccination programme continues to grow, the Federal Government has continued to grow frustrated. This is coupled with the new Delta variant of the coronavirus which has been reported in the country and the rising numbers of infected persons across the nation.

This has moved the FG to suggest a compulsory vaccination programme for its citizens, saying it would hesitate to “apply the basic rule of law” against people who refused the COVID-19 vaccine because they would be endangering the lives of others.

This was made known on August 31, 2021, by the Executive Director, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Faisal Shuaib. He said:

“The Presidential Steering Committee and the Federal Ministry of Health are exploring ways of making vaccines more available to all Nigerians, including federal civil servants and corporate entities. Once these vaccines are made equitably available to all Nigerians, then we will need to have a frank discussion about justice, fairness and liberty that exist around vaccine hesitancy.

“If some individuals refuse to take the vaccine, hence endangering those who have or those who could not due to medical exemptions, then we have to apply the basic rule of law, which stipulates that your human right stops where mine begins. So, you have a right to refuse vaccines, but you do not have the right to endanger the health of others.”

However, six states have said they will not force anyone to be part of the vaccination programme against their wish. They insist on continuing their appeal to their residents to see the need to accept the programme rather than force it on them.  The six states include Abia, Bauchi, Cross River, Enugu, Ogun, and Taraba.

The Abia State Executive Director of the State Primary Healthcare Agency, Dr Chinagorom Adindu, said the residents of the state would take it as enlightenment campaign was ongoing.

“At the moment, we have not considered that (making the vaccination programme mandatory). Abians are highly literate and are willingly taking it. However, the state government has embarked on mass enlightenment to convince more residents to take the vaccine.”

COVID-19 Vaccine

COVID-19 Vaccine Programme

Read Also: COVID-19 Vaccine: There Will Be No COVID Vaccination For Under 18s – FG

The Bauchi State  Chairman of Contact and Surveillance Sub-Committee of the Task Force on COVID-19 and Executive Chairman of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Rilwan Mohammed, said the state had no plan to restrict people that had not been vaccinated from public facilities.

“There is no plan on that; we have yet to discuss that at the committee level. My Chairman is the deputy governor and he has not said anything on that and we have not discussed it.”

The Cross River State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Betta Edu, said residents were already taking the vaccine, thus there would be no need to force them to take it.

“We have asked people to take the vaccine and Cross Riverians are taking it. In the first phase, Cross River was the highest for covering the target population. We had over 117 per cent. We even exhausted our vaccine and could not get the vaccine to give people the second dose for eight weeks.

“So, there is no need to force them. As we speak now, over 60,000 Cross Riverians have taken the new vaccine brought to us and more are still taking it. In fact, we will soon exhaust what we have and we will need more. So, making it compulsory is not necessary.”

The Enugu State Commissioner for Information and spokesperson for the state Action Committee on COVID-19, Mr Chidi Aroh, revealed that the state would respect the fundamental rights of every resident of the state.

“I know that in Enugu State, we encourage people to take vaccine but rest assured that in encouraging people to take the vaccine, Enugu is a state that is guided by the law. We are going to respect the fundamental rights of everybody as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“So, in all we do, we will be guided by the process of the law and the administration will do everything within the extant laws. However, we say that it is proper for people to go and get vaccinated but we will not do what is illegal to get people vaccinated.”

The Taraba State Commissioner for Health and Chairman of the State Task Force on COVID-19, Dr. Innocent Vakkai, appealed to the residents to take the vaccine to prevent the spread of the virus.

“Though Edo State has made vaccination cards compulsory for entry into public places, for us in Taraba, we are appealing to residents to come out and get vaccinated. We received 60,000 doses of Moderna vaccine last week and I want to appeal to residents to come out and get vaccinated to avoid the spread of the virus.”

The Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, ruled out the option of barring persons who had not been vaccinated from its facilities.

“Ogun State has experienced cooperation from residents who have engaged the vaccination campaign wholeheartedly. We are vaccinating over 7,000 individuals daily, so the situation in Ogun State does not require such restrictions.

“What I would like to encourage people to do is to wear their masks properly in public as this is still the most effective way of curtailing the spread of the virus while we continue the vaccination campaign which is planned to continue until the fourth quarter of next year.”

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Entertainment

Odumodublvck drops 23-track Industry Machine album

Nigerian rapper Odumodublvck has officially dropped his highly anticipated 23-track album, Industry Machine, featuring powerhouse collaborations with Wizkid, Davido, Skepta, Seun Kuti, and several others. Produced by Telz and P.Priime, the project seamlessly fuses hip-hop and Afrobeats, underscoring Odumodublvck’s versatility and bold sonic direction. Within hours of its release, the album soared to No. 1 on Apple Music Nigeria’s Top Albums chart, signaling both widespread acclaim and the rapper’s growing dominance in the music industry.

Among the standout tracks, “Big Time” featuring Wizkid debuted at No. 9 on Apple Music’s Top Songs chart, earning praise for its infectious rhythm, Wizkid’s captivating verse, and Odumodublvck’s sharp lyricism. Fans and critics alike have hailed Industry Machine as a defining moment in Nigerian music, celebrating its high production value and collaborative depth. Speaking on the project, Odumodublvck described it as “a celebration of creativity, hustle, and the evolution of the industry,” cementing his reputation as one of the country’s most innovative and influential rap voices.

For a while now, followers of Nigerian music have been keenly aware of the concept of the ‘INDUSTRY MACHINE.’ The swaggering phrase has been an integral part of the digital vocabulary of Nigerian rapper and singer, ODUMODUBLVCK, hinting at the highly anticipated follow-up to his 2023 mixtape, ‘EZIOKWU’, which spawned several hit tracks and established his reputation as one of Nigeria’s finest Hip-Hop acts.

In the two years since ‘EZIOKWU,’ ODUMODUBLVCK has only grown more unstoppable, racing to the top of charts in Nigeria on multiple occasions while showcasing the full breadth of his amorphous Okporoko sound on songs like “100 Million” and “NOT ALL THAT” as well as on collabs like “JUJU,” “Funds,” and “Flako.”

Seven months after the surprise drop of ‘THE MACHINE IS COMING,’ ODUMODUBLVCK has finally released ‘INDUSTRY MACHINE,’ bringing a thrilling conclusion to months of anticipation with a blockbuster 23-track release that runs through the full gamut of the Abuja rapper’s fascination and beliefs across a variety of soundscapes.

Throughout ‘INDUSTRY MACHINE,’ ODUMODUBLCK glides between euphoric party starters (“BANZA BOY, “VINICIUS,” and “GROOVING”) and gritty Rap joints (“UNAWARE,” “IF YOU LIKE GYM,” and “LAYI WASABI.”). At different turns, he reveals a new layer to his work without losing touch with the uniquely Abuja perspective that broke him through.

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Lifestyle

#SpotlightAfricaThrowBackSeries Ado-Ekiti Indigenes Celebrate the Life and Times of Late Chief Ogunremi

Ado-Ekiti witnessed an outpouring of tributes as family, friends, and dignitaries gathered to honour the life of High Chief Oluwasesan Ogunremi, the Barafon of Ado-Ekiti and a respected leader of the traditional warlord chiefs in the kingdom.

The funeral began with a Christian wake and service of songs at the open grounds of St. Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Ado-Ekiti, before proceeding to the deceased’s compound in the Idolofin axis of the town for the main service. The ceremony, attended by top figures from within and outside Ekiti, featured prayers, thanksgiving, and eulogies in recognition of the late chief’s contributions to his community.

Following the service, Chief Ogunremi’s remains were interred at his residence, accompanied by hymns and tributes from relatives and well-wishers.

A reception later took place at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion, where guests—including family members who travelled from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Germany—were entertained with a lavish banquet. The event featured a performance by renowned gospel and highlife singer Evangelist Yinka Ayefele, while veteran emcee Olushola Oladele, popularly known as Pa Aristoe, anchored the proceedings.

The gathering attracted prominent personalities such as Mr. Babatope Adebiyi (King Jafil), Mr. Goke Olatunji, Regent Omotunde Adelabu, Hon. Abiodun Fawekun of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, members of the Ewi-in-Council, lawmakers, politicians, business leaders, and artisans.

Born on February 7, 1929, to Mr. Williams Akomolafe Ogunremi and Princess Abigail Ogunremi in Ado-Ekiti, Chief Ogunremi began his education at St. George’s Primary School, Agere, before moving to Lagos for electrical training. He later founded the well-known Micho Electronics and worked with business figures such as Chief Lawrence Omole and Chief Ajanaku in Ilesha.

He married his first wife in Ilesha, where the ceremony was held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. In 1970, he returned to Ado-Ekiti and established Micho Motors, expanding his business interests into the automobile sector. His ventures took him across Europe, including Austria, Brussels, Italy, and Germany.

In July 1988, he was installed as the Barafon of Ado-Ekiti by Oba George Adelabu, the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti. He became widely known for hosting the Udiroko Festival at his Okeilaja palace, a major cultural event that drew indigenes and chiefs before culminating in celebrations at the Ewi’s Palace. He later served as commissioner of the Ekiti State Electricity Board during the administration of Governor Adeniyi Adebayo.

Until his passing, Chief Ogunremi remained an active member of St. Patrick Catholic Cathedral, Ado-Ekiti. He is survived by his wives, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

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Fresh reaction emerges over Saraki’s peace move amid PDP crisis

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Renaissance group has praised the reconciliation efforts of the committee led by former Senate President Bukola Saraki, describing the intervention as pivotal in preventing the party from collapsing under internal disputes.

In a statement issued on Thursday, August 28, Bashir Sulaiman, convener of the group, commended both Saraki’s Reconciliation and Strategy Committee and the PDP Governors’ Forum under Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State for “restoring peace where many expected chaos.”

“I am very impressed by what Dr. Bukola Saraki, the Reconciliation and Strategy Committee, and PDP Governors Forum, led by Governor Bala Mohammed, have done to get the PDP back on track,” Sulaiman said.

“They were tasked with resolving disputes and preparing the party for its convention, and they have delivered with precision and dedication.

The PDP has been in turmoil since the 2023 general election, with key figures such as Sunday Udeh-Okoye, Setonji Koshoedo, and Sam Anyanwu embroiled in a tussle for the National Secretary position.

According to Sulaiman, Saraki’s intervention was instrumental in ensuring that the long-standing dispute was finally resolved in favour of Anyanwu.

“Many had predicted that the PDP would collapse under the weight of its internal disagreements. Yet, thanks to Dr. Saraki, his Reconciliation Committee, and the backing of the PDP Governors’ Forum, the party has defied those expectations,” Sulaiman noted.

“The 100th, 101st, and 102nd NEC meetings were conducted without rancour, and lingering disputes have been amicably settled.”

With preparations for the party’s convention and zoning framework now underway, the PDP Renaissance group believes the opposition is on course to reclaim power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“The party is now better positioned to take power back from a government that does not care about the needs of the people,” Sulaiman said.

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