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We never had it this bad in Nigeria – Sanusi

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“Level of poverty and hunger in the land is daily increasing and so also the level of insecurity, corruption, rate of inflation, youth unemployment, gender imbalance, poor electricity, poor foreign exchange rate, corruption”

Former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and 14th Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, on Thursday, in Lagos, expressed great concerns about the current state of the country, saying Nigeria and its people had never had it as bad as it is currently in history.

He said nothing seems to work again in the country, citing various social issues to buttress his view.

He said the level of poverty and hunger in the land is daily increasing and so also the level of insecurity, corruption, rate of inflation, youth unemployment, gender imbalance, poor electricity, poor foreign exchange rate, corruption and so forth.

He said the worst thing is that the level where Nigeria was in 2015 when people were crying foul about the state of the country’s socio-political economy, insecurity, inflation and so forth was far better than what the situation were at the moment.

Sanusi gave this remark at the 7th colloquium of Akinjide Adeosun Foundation (AFF) to mark the 54th birthday of the founder of the foundation and CEO of St. Rachael’s Pharmaceuticals Nigeria, Mr Akinjide Adeosun.

He was the guest of honour at the event, which also has Mr Jimi Agbaje, a pharmacist cum politician; the Secretary to the Oyo State Government and wife of the celebrator, Mrs Olubamiwo Adeosun; as well as a keynote speaker, Prof Ayodele Olurotimi and the Managing Director of Megamound Investment Ltd, Mr Olumide Osunsina, among other dignitaries, in attendance.

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Speaking further and on the theme of the programme, “Are leaders scarce in Nigeria,” Sanusi blamed Nigeria’s situation mostly on leaders in political governance, saying many of them lack a clear vision that can effectively move the country forward appreciably.

He said that was why rather than for things to get better after successive administration comes to the stage of governance things get worse.

According to him, we thought we were in a deep hole in 2015 but between 2015 and now; we have been digging ourselves into a deeper hole.

He said it was unheard of that Nigeria could not take the advantage of the Russian-Ukraine War to better its economy just as all other oil-producing countries globally do at the moment.

According to him, Nigeria is the only oil-producing country that is grieving at this time as every other oil-producing country is celebrating and smiling to the banks due to the price of oil that has gone up appreciably because of the Russian-Ukraine War.

He said it was more disturbing that the country’s revenue is not enough to service the debts let alone meet peoples’ needs.

He said it was not that good leaders who could cause a positive change for the country and its people are scarce in Nigeria but that the process and platform to get such people into corridors of power are grossly unfriendly.

He said: “The reality is that there are so many Nigerians that if given the opportunity would do well, but they simply cannot contest in that space because they can’t compete otherwise they will be dead.

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According to him, you don’t have the money, you can’t pay thugs or send anyone to kill anyone or burn somebody’s house to win an election or shed the blood of innocent people because you want to be in office, and certainly cannot make compromises with certain characters, who are responsible for destroying this country in order to get into office. You can’t sell your conscience for that.

“Even at that, he stressed, we can’t give up hope. We need the courage to stand up and speak because, at the end of the day, this is our country.”

Speaking earlier, AFF founder and celebrant, Mr Akinjide Adeosun, explained the reasons for setting up the foundation, saying it is to strengthen capabilities of today’s leaders and also produce their likes among the younger generation as future leaders in Nigeria and beyond.

He said the foundation is doing that as a valuable contribution to national development and that the efforts within its seven years of existence had yielded tremendous results.

Speaking on the theme, Adeosun said visionary leaders are those who can, among others identify potentials and support them for positive change and significant contributions to nation-building.

He said what Nigeria needs now, particularly in political governance are leaders chosen based on what they could offer to the generality of Nigerians and also promote locally produced goods.

He, however, urged the government at all levels to invest more in building people and also in their healthcare as the two sectors according to him are the drivers of any economy. (Nigerian Tribune)

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US surgeons report longest successful pig-to-human kidney transplant

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WASHINGTON: United States surgeons who transplanted a genetically modified kidney into a brain-dead patient announced on Thursday (Sep 14) that they had ended their experiment after a record-breaking 61 days.

The latest experimental procedure is part of a growing field of research aimed at advancing cross-species transplants, mainly testing the technique on bodies that have been donated for science.

There are more than 103,000 people waiting for organ transplants in the US, 88,000 of whom need kidneys.

“We have learned a great deal throughout these past two months of close observation and analysis, and there is great reason to be hopeful for the future,” said Robert Montgomery, director of the New York University Langone Transplant Institute, who led the surgery in July.

It was the fifth so-called xenotransplant performed by Montgomery, who also carried out the world’s first genetically modified pig kidney transplant in September 2021.

Tissue collected during the study indicated a mild rejection process had begun, requiring intensification of immunosuppression medication.

By “knocking out” the gene responsible for a biomolecule called alpha-gal – a prime target for roving human antibodies – the NYU Langone team were able to stop immediate rejection.

The donor pig in this experiment came from a herd cultivated by Virginia-based biotech company Revivicor.

The herd has also been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a source of meat for people with hypersensitivity to the alpha-gal molecule, an allergy caused by some tick bites.

These pigs are bred, not cloned, meaning the process can be more easily scaled.

SEE ALSO:  Niger military junta arrests 180 politicians, office holders

Early xenotransplantation research focused on harvesting organs from primates – for example, a baboon heart was transplanted into a newborn known as “Baby Fae” in 1984, but she survived only 20 days.

Current efforts focus on pigs, which are thought to be ideal donors for humans because of their organ size, their rapid growth and large litters, and the fact they are already raised as a food source.

In January 2022, surgeons at the University of Maryland Medical School carried out the world’s first pig-to-human transplant on a living patient – this time involving a heart.

He died two months after the milestone, with the presence of porcine cytomegalovirus in the organ later blamed.

Last week, Chinese scientists published a paper showing they had succeeded in hybrid pig-human kidneys in pig embryos, an alternative approach that also has the potential to one day help address organ donation shortages.

But the development raised ethical issues – especially since some human cells were also found in the pigs’ brains, experts said.

Source: AFP/rc

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Female soldier guns down Captain in Adamawa

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A female soldier enforcing the curfew imposed by Adamawa government has killed a senior colleague at a checkpoint in Yola, the state capital.

Governor Ahmadu Fintiri had imposed the curfew after hoodlums broke into government warehouses and looted several items, including palliatives meant to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy.

Daily Trust reports that the female soldier simply identified as Lance Corporal Nkiru shot a captain who tried to intervene in her altercation with civilians at Fire Service Roundabout in the state capital.

Security sources told Daily Trust that the female soldier had insisted that motorists returning home during the curfew hours must turn back.

Some of them had identified themselves as workers on essential duty but she stood her ground.

“Some people stopped at the checkpoint explained themselves as workers on essential duties but the female soldier insisted they must turn back. A captain came forward to intervene. Unfortunately she had already cocked her rifle, so she just fired and killed him accidentally,” a security officer said.

The victim was said to have been rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Yola, where he was confirmed dead while the suspect was instantly arrested and whisked away by soldiers.

Daily Trust learnt that the female soldier has been severally accused of harassing civilians, cocking her rifle at the slightest provocation.

When the newspaper correspondent visited the headquarters of 23 Armoured Brigade Yola for confirmation, the Commander, Brigadier General Muhammad Gambo, sent a message that journalists must seek appointment in writing before he could speak to them.

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Niger military junta arrests 180 politicians, office holders

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Niger's military leader Abdourahamane Tchiani

The new military rulers of Niger, who took over the government in a coup last week, have detained at least l80 members of the ousted democratically elected administration, the previous ruling party said on Monday.

Energy Minister Mahamane Sani Mahamadou, Mines Minister Ousseini Hadizatou and the president of the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS), Foumakoye Gado, were among those detained, PNDS spokesman Hamid N’Gadé said.

He added that Interior Minister Hama Adamou Souley, Transport Minister Oumarou Malam Alma and his deputy, Kalla Moutari, were also detained by the coup plotters.

The “abusive arrests” were evidence of “the repressive, dictatorial and unlawful behaviour” of the military, N’Gadé said.

On Wednesday, officers from General Omar Tchiani’s elite unit declared Niger’s democratically elected president Mohamed Bazoum, of the PNDS, out of power.

Tchiani then appointed himself as the new ruler on Friday.

Shortly afterwards, the coup plotters suspended the West African country’s constitution and dissolved all constitutional institutions.

The coup has been internationally condemned.

The West African Community of States (ECOWAS) issued an ultimatum to the coup leaders on Sunday, saying that if Bazoum was not released and reinstated within a week, it would take measures that could include the use of force.

On Monday, the military governments of neighbouring Burkina Faso and Mali warned ECOWAS against intervening.

Any military intervention against Niger would be tantamount to a declaration of war against Burkina Faso and Mali, a joint statement by the two transitional governments said.

Military intervention could have disastrous consequences that could destabilise the entire sub-region, they said.

SEE ALSO:  Female soldier guns down Captain in Adamawa

Burkina Faso and Mali are themselves ECOWAS members.

The European Union (EU) said it supported the ECOWAS measures, EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said in a statement on Monday.

Bazoum remains the sole head of state of the country and any other authority cannot be recognised, Borrell said.

Up until the coup, Niger, a former French colony, was seen as an anchor of democracy in the Sahel region, which has been ravaged by Islamist terrorism.

NAN

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