Ondo Deaths Linked to Poisonous Gin?

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Paul Obi in Abuja

The death of the 18 people in Ondo State in a mysterious circumstance has been linked to a local gin that was contaminated with poisonous material (methanol).

Minister of State for Health, Fidelis Nwankwo, stated this at a media briefing in Abuja, on Monday.

He said : "At this stage, the particular poisonous substance (Toxin) is being ascertained. The Results of these detailed investigations currently being conducted by Government and partners are still being awaited and will be made public as soon as possible."

Also, the World Health Organization (WHO) has denied ever issuing any statement on the mysterious deaths.

According to the minister, "Epidemiological findings indicate a strong linkage of the outbreak with the consumption of a local gin that may have been contaminated with methanol (poisonous material).

"The assuring news however, is that NO new cases have been reported in the past 100 hours and no new mortality in the last 72 hours.

"We therefore believe that the situation is under control and that the stability will be sustained, while active case search and contact tracing continue in earnest.

"However, if any suspected case is found, it should be reported to the nearest Health Center for prompt investigation and treatment."

While noting that preliminary laboratory investigations indicate that the outbreak cannot be attributed to any infectious organism (Bacterial or Viral). Nwankwo further said that the outbreak was also clearly not due to Ebola Virus Disease, as feared by many.

Jonathan Conceding Defeat, a Legacy For African Continent, Says Qouttara

President of Cote D'Ivoire, Allassan Qouttara

Jaiyeola Andrews in Abuja

President of Cote D'Ivoire, Allassan Qouttara, on Monday said the presidential election which President Goodluck Jonathan, an incumbent, lost and conceded defeat to an opposition president-elect, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), would contimue to remain a great legacy for the African continent.

Qouttara, who paid a private visit to Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, told State House correspondents that the refusal of an incumbent President in his country, Laurent Gbagbo in relinquishing power five years ago, led to the loss of over 3,000 lives in a needless civil war.

He recalled that he and his team were locked up in a hotel for four and half months,  without food and water for days.

The Ivorien President noted that Jonathan had won his admiration for that singular act of conceding defeat.

He stressed that Jonathan's decisions dis not come as a surprise, because he (Jonathan)   had always demonstrated he was more West African than Nigerian by his contributions in quelling the crisis in Mali,  Guinea Bissau, and Togo.

Qouttara added that avoiding violence and civil war when  any elections is held in Africa, should be the objective of leaders of African continent.

"I came on a private visit to see my friend and brother and to congratulate the Nigerian people for the conduct of the presidential election. On May 29 there will be inauguration and swearing in of the President-elect Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. So I wanted to tell you (Jonathan) our appreciation for the leadership we have received from you during all these years.

"Mr. President, you know about five years ago Cote D' Ivoire had presidential elections and I won the election and the incumbent president decided not to leave office. This brought a civil war and 3000 people were killed and we were put at hotel and under the protection of the United Nations for about four and half months. There were days we could not even have food or water because the hotel had been barricaded and encircled by the former president and it was only after four and half months of imprisonment in these hotel that finally that were able to leave the hotel after the former president was caught and finally left office for me to take over.