Bariatric surgery, also known as weight loss surgery, is used as a last resort to treat people who are dangerously obese – i.e. having a body mass index of 40 or above, or 35 plus other obesity-related health conditions.
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In furtherance of a much-desired peaceful and united Nigeria, young people have been encouraged to lead an exemplary lifestyle and shun all forms of violence even in the midst of the many violence-related events challenging Nigeria’s oneness.
#Sweat4Peace an annual event to mark International Peace Day – September 21st held on Saturday, September 16th, 2017; this year’s event was organized by two youth organizations- Galaxy4Peace and Ecoviewpoint.
The aim was to gather young people together for a discussion that identifies the unparalleled roles of young people in peacekeeping and nation building. The forum also highlighted the reason for increased involvement of young people in Hate Speech, Cyber libel, IPOB attack, Boko Haram, and other violence-related activities in Nigeria.
The event took place in three locations simultaneously, Federal College of Educational, Akoka, Yaba in Lagos, The Millennium Park, Maitama, Abuja and The Port Harcourt Polytechnic, Rumuola, Port Harcourt with a total of over 200 youths in attendance.
Other activities included Peace talk, Roundtable panel session, aerobic dance, Jogging, Photo session, Games like Scrabble, chess, monopoly and Cycling Competition. The event was sponsored by Payporte and supported by other brands.
September 21 is set aside annually by the United Nations as International Peace Day. The theme for 2017 is “Together for Peace: Respect, Safety, and Dignity for All”, with the aim to draw attention to the promotion of respect, safety, and dignity for everyone forced to flee their homes in search of a better life.
Gombe (Nigeria) — The National President of Ohaeneze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo cultural group, Chief John Nwodo has applied to Nigerians to promote peace and tolerance with one another, irrespective of differences in ethnicity, religion or region to enhance unity of the country.
Chief Nwodo made the call Friday in Gombe, northeast Nigeria, when he paid a visit on Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo of Gombe State.
He cautioned Nigerians that the prevailing unusual situation in the country is reminiscent of the 1960s when the country experienced the civil war, as a result of which over 3 million people lost their lives.
He said those who witnessed the war would not allowed the crisis to open up, because it would lead the country to another catastrophe.
“If people of our age can allow this to happen, then we have a question to answer before God,” he said.
According to him, Ohaeneze conceived the idea to reach out to northerners even before the decision of the 19 northern governors to visit the South east.
“They visited us and we are now here shows we are on the same bed and dreaming the same dream,” he said.
He assured non Igbos resident in the South east of adequate protection, conveying the decision of governors in the region guarantee the safety of all non Igbos.
“Our traditional and religious leaders are emulating what the Sultan of Sokoto said regarding the killing of any Igbo man in the north.
“Our governors are saying that any Igbo man that wants to kill a northerner let such person first kill them first.
“As the leader of the Igbo cultural organization, I am also saying let such person first kill me,” Nwodo said.
While stressing that enough is enough on the recent political impasse as a result of the conduct of a negligible number of unpatriotic Nigerians, calling on people not to take the laws into their hands.
He described the ongoing clamour for self-government as the handiwork of the enemies of Nigeria who are envious of the potentials of the country.
He described the country’s diversity and population as capable of taking Nigeria to greater heights.
He appealed to Dankwambo to communicate the message of peace from Ohaeneze to the people of not only the state but the entire north east.
He said Gombe is the hope of the political zone with a leader with national exposure who understands national politics.
Also speaking the State Governor Dankwambo assured that State is home to all, stressing that adequate arrangement has been put in place to ensure that Gombe is home to everyone.
The Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Charles Iliya, disclosed of an earlier meeting he held with political, traditional and religious across the state ,where he stressed on the unity of the country, reminding them of the devastating effect of civil war.
“The message has already been given to the people of Gombe, that people should stay above sentiments and rumours,” he said.
He described other ethnic groups resident in Gombe as ingenious, whose contributions would be needed to further develop the state.
The Senator representing Kaduna North Senatorial District, Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi, has denied claim of endorsing Governor Nasiru El-Rufai for 2019 election.
According to Hunkuyi, names of people that were purported to have endorsed El-Rufai were generated during the registration of participants to enable them collect N10,000 as allowances.
In a statement issued by Hunkuyi’s political associate and APC chieftain, Abdurrahman Usman, he said there were 26 officials in the 255 wards executives, adding that only 2 persons were invited from each ward totalling 510.
“Meanwhile, the remaining 24 party executives from 255 electoral wards totalling 6,120 were not invited. This is just about 7 per cent of the leaders of our party, and for goodness sake, how can 510 persons decide the fate of 6,120?
“What pattern of democracy is that in which people seek to disenfranchise 92 per cent of stakeholders who have the mandate to so decide who their candidate will be for election?
“There can be no further proof that the proponents of this action have simply admitted that they lost faith with the general grassroots followers of the party,” Hunkuyi explained.
Responding to a purported letter written to El-Rufai as conditions for the 2019 elections, the senator said he was not privy to any of such letter claimed to have emanated from him.
“There is no need to dwell into the contents of the letter. Senator Hunkuyi wishes to challenge anybody from any quarters who is in possession of the said letter to come forward with it and should be ready to answer both for perjury and defamation of character.”
The statement explained that a communique released on September 17, 2017, arising from the meeting of the APC stakeholder meetings held in Kaduna on the same date in which Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi was also in attendance, listed among other resolutions was the endorsement of governor El-Rufai as 2019 gubernatorial candidate.
“The Distinguish Senator wish to debunk this resolutions as untrue and therefore, disassociate himself from any political kangaroo arrangements.”
“The Senator is very conversant with procedures with regards to political party activities and as provided in the APC constitution and INEC stipulated guidelines for electioneering activities.
“The participants in last Saturday’s meeting were not informed to come for any endorsement, hence, any list making the rounds with names of persons and signature alleging their endorsement of the governor El-Rufai as candidate in the 2019 gubernatorial elections amounts to political fraud and should be disregarded.
“With regards to the resolution that the stakeholders meeting expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the delegate congress election in the state held on the 29 July, 2017 and affirmed the outcome of the State delegate congress to the national headquarters of the party, the Senator expressed disappointment over this crass recklessness and this further exposes the insincerity of the acclaimed resolution of reconciliation that is purportedly been sold to the party members and the general public.
“The Senator stand by the collective decision taken by the stakeholders of the party in petitioning the national headquarters of the party on the charade said to have been held on the 29 July 2017,” the statement noted.
On the affirmation passed on appointed national delegates that was forwarded to national secretariat, the statement added, “There was no agenda that accommodated such discussion, hence, nothing of such was discussed in that meeting.
“That act has further proven the ignorance of those that smuggled the item into the communique, since the list is a subject of dispute, it is the sole responsibility of the National Working Committee, NWC, that is usually sorted during their ratification meetings. To the best of my knowledge, no such meeting has taken place.
“It is important to reiterate at this point once again that the success story of Senator Hunkuyi’s political career has been and will continue to be the interest of his people served and secured in line with best democratic practices which as we all know embraces consultation at every critical phase of decision making process.
“He can never be hoodwinked into been party to anything that runs contrary to democratic ethos as obtainable in any clime. Let it be on record the Senator understand very much as a pragmatic politician the fact that power is domicile with the people can not be determine by the size of one’s pocket, or access to public treasury, thence it flows that the will of the people by their lawful right to determining who to vote as their leader must never be taken for granted. It’s therefore sacrosanct that elected public officers must never be afraid at any given point in time to subject themselves to internal party democratic processes.
“Finally, while we wish to remind the general public, especially members of our great party the APC in Kaduna State, that Senator Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi is a true democrat who always advocates for good governance, fairness and justice for all, we would also like to seize the opportunity to pray for our dear President Muhammadu Buhari and leader for good health and more wisdom in the discharge of his duties and responsibilities as President, Commander -in- Chief of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria.”
More Nigerians are supporting the move of granting autonomy to local government administration that will lead to abrogation of the joint State and local government account.
Majority of them are of the opinion that since less than 40% of the country’s population reside in the urban areas, steps must be taken to ensure that majority of Nigerians are given attention at the rural areas for even distribution of social amenities and improved living standards of the citizens.
The president, National Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, Ibrahim Khaleel, is one of such, who observed that the local government has a central role to play in grassroots development, adding that there was need to give local governments’ financial and administrative autonomy to achieve the desired goal of moving the country forward.
As the closest government to majority of Nigerians, he explained, the demand for local government autonomy was line with the aspiration over 80 per cent of the population.
Participants at a Round table discussion of Civil Society Organizations/media in Kaduna, northwest Nigeria on local government autonomy, observed that the local government being the closest to the people could function effectively if it is granted autonomy to operate.
They believe that there was the need to take necessary steps towards sensitizing and educating Nigerians and major stakeholders to see the advantages of actualizing the dream of laying foundation of development in the country.
The only way to move the country forward, according to the participants, was to facilitate development in the rural areas through the passage of the local government autonomy bill is voted into law by members of the State Houses of Assembly.
The Programme Director, African Centre for Leadership, Strategic and Development, Monday Osasah, noted that the constitution formulates the legal framework for the priorities and distribution of resources to which the people could have access, stressing that it is important for citizens to participate in the making and review of the constitution.
The participation of citizens in the process, according to him, makes it citizens-oriented, adding that it was the basic requirement in modern society, but lamented that since the amalgamation of the Southern and Northern protectorates into the territory known as Nigeria in 1914, no constitution has been produced through a participatory process.
He explained that on 26th July, 2017, the Senate and the House of Representatives voted on 33 amendments of the Nigerian constitution amongst which include the financial autonomy to local government areas.
The purpose of the roundtable, according to him was to galvanize Civil Society Organizations and media in the North West to sustain the momentum around the issue of local government autonomy and push for the passage of the bill at the State level, leveraging on the current constitutional review process.
Gombe (Nigeria) — A Consultant Histopathologist, Dr Yusuf Abdullahi of the Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe (FTHG), in northeast Nigeria, says, the only weapon to prevent breast cancer is self examination, clinical examination and Mammography, emphasising that women must take step in developing the habit of checking their breast for any abnormality.
“Once you discover abnormality in your breast, rush to the hospital , most of the cancer cases are painless,” he said.
He was speaking at the training of about 60 Women Journalists on self examination of breast cancer, aimed at detecting the early sign of the disease.
“It is advisable to begin clinical examination at the age of 20 but if you have history of cancer in the family, you can start at 16,” Abdullahi said.
According to him cancer is preventable, calling on women to avail themselves the opportunity, warning that once it manifests itself, there would be no cure.
He explained that 90 per cent of breast lumps are not cancer, saying they could be other infections or problems.
Abdullahi said, women at risk were those who were taken birth control pills at least for five years, those with family history, and those that are obsessed among other factors.
He also advised women to eat natural foods and fruits, and also monitor their weight.
Earlier, Chairperson of Nigeria Association of Woman Journalist (NAWOJ), Gombe State Chapter, Comfort Mukkolo, said, the training was to sensitize members and other women groups on how to detect early sign of breast cancer.
She appealed to women to step down the training to other women who were not part of the training.
Self examination cancer kits were distributed to participants of the training.
The Nigeria Police Force, FCT Command has uncovered an illegal firearm fabricating factory located around Shenagu village near Zuba.
FCT Police Commissioner, Sadiq Abubakar Bello in a statement pointed out that, during a raid on the factory, three suspects were arrested – the owner of the factory, Philip John; the supplier of ammunitions, Mr Onyegabueze Okpara; and the distributor of the arms, Joseph Bulus.
Bello stated that during interrogation, Philip John, confessed that he has been doing the illicit business for 17 years and that he sells fabricated single-barrel guns to his clients at N20,000 each while Dane gun is sold for N10,000. According to him, he also made services and repairs of malfunctioning guns brought to him.
The statement further noted that, “The supplier of the ammunitions Mr. Onyegabueze Okpara who disguises as a bicycle spare-parts dealer was arrested at Kwaita market in possession of the exhibits which he carefully conceals and sells to criminals.
“In his statement, he narrated that he started the illicit deal since 1997 and that he sells a pack containing 25pieces of live cartridge for N12, 000, while single cartridge goes for N500. He further confessed that he gets his supply from Onitsha.
“Lastly Joseph Bulus, the major link that connects the principal suspect with potential buyers of the fabricated firearms, was arrested at Zuba.
List of recovered exhibits from each of the suspects are: Joseph Bulus – One (1) locally fabricated Double Barrel Fire Arm, Two (2) live 12 caliber cartridges, One (1) single Barrel Fire Arm frame, Two (2) Dane Gun frame, and Fifty eight (58) empty Cartridges shells.
Onyegabueze Okpara – Three hundred and thirty eight (338) live 12 caliber Cartridges.
Philip John – Locally fabricated Revolver Pistol Cylinder, Four (4) Dane guns, One (1) double Barrel Fire arm, One (1) single Barrel fire arm, Two (2) Caliber live Cartridge, Empty Caliber Cartridge shell, Six (6) Dane gun Muzzles, Four (4) single Barrel Muzzles, Six (6) single Barrel fire arm frame, Two (2) Dane gun Hammer, Five (5) Gun Muzzle spring, One (1) manual motor drill, One (1) dice for retread, and Various implement used for manufacture of locally made weapons.
In a separate development, the commissioner added that on 15th September, 2017, the Police operatives on stop and search at Dantata Bridge Jabi intercepted and arrested a suspected armed robber, Benjamin Jatau ‘M’ 29 years of Kabusa in possession of one barreta pistol with two rounds of live ammunition, one revolver pistol and one locally made pistol.
In his statement, the suspect an ex-convict confessed that the guns which he bought at fifty thousand naira (N50, 000) were to be used for a major robbery operation around Kabusa and environs.
The suspects will be charged to court on conclusion of investigation, the commissioner said.
People with Disabilities (PWDs) in Nigeria have officially launched the PWDs charter, demanding for a level playing ground from government, political parties, as well as both the national and state electoral bodies to fully participate in electoral processes of the country.
Some of their demands are that INEC should employ qualified PWDs and saddle them with responsibility of ensuring their participation in political process from election preparatory process, election observers and mobilizing of PWDs to participate in elections.
They also demanded that INEC and political parties should develop clear and simplified voting guidelines for PWDs made into brail for the visually impaired, audios for the blind and television based signs and language for the deaf.
While presenting a paper during the PWDs forum/Launching of the charter organized by League of Democratic women (LEADs Nigeria) in collaboration with Action aid in Kaduna on Tuesday, Executive Director of Action Aid, Mr. Emmanuel Bonet pointed out that, though Nigeria is signatory to key international documents on human rights, discrimination against PWDs still persist, stressing that, the ways in which elections are implemented across the country shows that PWDs are not being considered as equal citizens.
He noted that, the charter was built on a consensus arrived at broad spectrum of stakeholders at various workshops across the six geo political zones of the country.
Other recommendations made by the group is that INEC should ensure that polling units are visible and accessible to all and also ensure that the names of all registered PWD are verified on the voters registers and printed bold for easy identification during elections.
“Political parties should include all PWDs clusters in their campaign and activities.
“Workshop should be organized regularly to enlighten government, political parties and relevant stakeholders on strategies for integrating PWDs into election process of Nigeria
“INEC should ensure that all categories of PWDs are always contacted for their contributions before changing of political processes are effected before and during elections
“INEC should provide for the nature of disability on the voter registration cards of PWDS
“Political Parties should ensure that PWDs are appointed into their administrative structures and offer opportunities to contest and be voted for on their platforms
“INEC should convene workshop for a review of the electoral provisions to further respond to the needs of PWDs when the needs arise.
They however called on government, organizations and other individuals to treat them with respect and ensure that their disabilities do not restrict their full participation in the society.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the Public affairs and information officer of Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (KAD-SIECOM), Andrew A. Nkom commended LEADs-Nigeria for its effort in providing guidance towards active participation in the electoral process, saying it is a welcome development that is in line with the Commission’s drive towards deepening democracy in Kaduna state and Nigeria.
“The commission is desirous to work with all organizations on the democratic process towards good governance, which is based on the quality of persons who get elected into positions of responsibility,” he said.
According to the 2006 National population census, about 3.2 million PWDs are qualified voters in Nigeria.
Image copyright Saifee Hospital 
