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This may not be the eat of time for the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in Nigeria as over 16,000 Nigerians have signed for the probe of its National Leader, Bola Tinubu, over alleged graft.
On the petition on Change.org, the thousands of Nigerians signed, urging the country’s Anti-Graft Agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to probe the former Lagos State governor.

The petition was launched by Reno Omokri former aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan, who is a vocal critic of Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
Omokri titled the petition ‘Calling on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate Bola Tinubu for contravening the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act of 2011, by having bullion vans ferry alleged large sums of money into his house on the eve of the 2019 Presidential election’.

The petition which had about 16,200 signatures as on Friday morning has gone viral. Below is an accompanying statement made by Omokri on the petition’s page; “Dear citizens of Nigeria, let’s take our country back by signing this petition to compel the EFCC to investigate and prosecute Bola Tinubu for contravening the Money Laundering Act, by ferrying bullion vans into his house. Don’t say ‘na today’, or ‘leave matter’.

“We as Nigerians must stop confusing cynicism for wisdom. If we do not fight for our country, who will? George Floyd’s death sparked a revolution in America and we joined. We did not say ‘na today’, or ‘leave matter’. You and I can make a difference with this petition. #EFCCMustInvestigateTinubu.”

It will be recalled that Tinubu has since responded to an inquiry about the bullion vans pictures entering his Bourdillon home last year. He told a reporter that he was free to give anyone money since he was not holding any government position.

The World Health Organisation (WHO), Nigeria Country Representative,  Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, has congratulated Nigeria and the entire African continent on the declaration of wild polio virus-free certification that was announced on August 25, 2020. 
WHO said the feat was possible due to the leadership and commitment of governments, global polio partners, traditional and religious institutions, frontline health workers and vaccinators. 

He made this known  on Thursday during a press conference in Abuja, which took place at Sheraton Hotel and Towers.The conference followed the August 25 official declaration of Nigeria and the African region as polio-free.
He added that it was a moment to celebrate the many individuals that worked tirelessly to make the milestone possible.

Mulombo further stated that  the certification showed what Nigeria and other African countries could accomplish when goals are backed by strong political commitment.
He said: “Nigeria’s battle with wild polio has been long and complex. I therefore commend the Government of Nigeria for the steadfast commitment in leading a massive national effort over the past couple of decades. 
“The leadership of the Presidential Task Force facilitated oversight of the program at the highest level, drawing on the necessary resources and holding states accountable for their responsibilities.

“Nigeria is lauded for several innovations that were devised to address the prevailing challenges under the strong coordination of the National Polio Emergency Operations Center. 
“The lessons and expertise from the Nigeria experience have been useful to address other disease outbreaks and are currently being deployed to strengthen routine immunization and primary health care,” he stated.
Mulombo, however, thanked donors and partners for their full support to the polio eradication effort. The unwavering support was critical for supporting the government to implement the recommended strategies. 
“We appreciate your commitment and count on you to continue supporting the Nigeria towards global certification and PHC systems strengthening.

“As we mark this milestone, we must emphasize the need to be vigilant to prevent the resurgence of wild poliovirus given the disease has not been eradicated globally. 102 wild poliovirus cases have so far been reported in Pakistan and Afghanistan this year.
“Additionally, we are faced with the continued threat of vaccine-derived polioviruses – 16 countries in the region are experiencing circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus outbreaks. Nigeria and the region can defeat cVDPVs and protect against WPV importation if all commit to increasing vaccination coverage and strengthening disease surveillance.

“WHO looks forward to supporting you to build on the great success achieved to continuing the effort to close immunity gaps through a strong routine immunization and primary health care system.”

The Nigerian Minister of Health,  Dr.  Osagie Ehanire, said the achievement was made possible by the strong commitment of the country’s president as well as state and local government areas, with the support of development partners, sponsors and donors, traditional, religious and community leaders, and not the least, thousands of National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) staff and gallant frontline health workers, who moved from house to house, community to community, vaccinating children, sometimes under difficult and daunting circumstances.

He said declaring Nigeria as a polio virus-free state was “particularly significant for us, coming at a time when we are on the threshold of fostering an evolution in the health sector, built on the revelations and opportunities provided by the COVID-19 outbreak and inspired by the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari. “The Federal Government, through NPCHDA, has mapped out various polio assets across the country and started deploying them for the purpose of other disease interventions. 

“I urge state governors to support this effort and begin to implement the transition of the experienced polio human resources for Health, to other areas of the health sector, especially at primary care level. 
“This new era can be the rallying point for progress and development of Health on the African continent and our country. This is my message for you today.”