Welcome to Zeenatulahi1986: What America should learn from Dr. Conrad Murray’s...

Welcome to Zeenatulahi1986: What America should learn from Dr. Conrad Murray’s...: Dr. Conrad Murray was released from prison today, just two years into his four-year sentence for the involuntary manslaughter of Michael...

What America should learn from Dr. Conrad Murray’s role in Michael Jackson’s death

Dr. Conrad Murray was released from prison today, just two years into his four-year sentence for the involuntary manslaughter of Michael Jackson in June 2009. Jackson died from an overdose of the powerful anesthetic propofol, which Murray had given Jackson to help him sleep. Though Murray’s medical license has been suspended or revoked in three states, he has vowed to appeal his case, causing some to wonder whether it’s possible for the 60-year-old former cardiologist to ever be licensed to practice again. In theory, the answer is, ‘Yes,’ but only if Murray’s conviction was overturned. And according to recent reports, an appeals court has questioned whether it needs to hear the case. Though I doubt that Murray’s attempt at an appeal will be successful, I mentioned his case because Murray represents a very sad chapter in medical history. What is his legacy as a physician? Not contributing to the well-being of his patients, or making any significant medical discoveries, but rather, being convicted of involuntary manslaughter. Recently, Fox News Health has covered numerous stories about the epidemic of prescription drug abuse in the United States, including the Food and Drug Adminstration’s (FDA) recently proposed restrictions on the highly addictive painkiller hydrocodone. Drugs like these are quickly becoming the leading cause of addiction for millions of Americans. In fact, deaths resulting from overdoses on prescription painkillers increased five-fold between 1999 and 2010, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). At the heart of this epidemic are many doctors, like Murray, who have failed to pay attention to the risks of these medications. They have provided prescriptions without regard to the consequences that drugs like opoid painkillers can have for patients. I hope that health care providers re-familiarize themselves with the story of Dr. Conrad Murray and glean from it, an important lesson that as physicians, we all must remember; “First, do no harm.” I shudder to think there is a chance that Murray may laugh himself all the way to the bank if he is paid millions of dollars to write a book and tell his side of the story – but unfortunately, these days, that is not too far-fetched. The real story here is that physicians cannot be passive bystanders when dealing with individuals who do not realize the dangers of drug abuse, or they too could end up jailed and disgraced – like Murray. Jackson’s life had a tragic ending, and the people who surrounded him should have known better than to allow him to abuse drugs like propofol – especially the medical professionals who were supposed to be looking out for him.

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Nollywood Actor, Jide Kosoko’s Daughter, Bidemi Disgraced In Ibadan

In case you didn’t know, one of the Nollywood actor, Prince Jide Kosoko’s daughter, Bidemi Kosoko is presently a youth corp member at Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria.

However, many of her fellow corp members are currently complaining about her snobbish attitude and what some of them have termed has arrogance.

According to impeccable sources, whenever some of the other corp members who have seen her movies approach her just to say ‘Hi’, Bidemi has away of looking down on them.

“I don’t know if Bidemi’ doesn’t understand that as a celebrity you should be polite to people, since she began her service close to a year now, many people at the Community Development Service(CDS) have been avoiding her due to her arrogant attitude.

The one everyone witnessed recently was this woman who is a Batch A corp member. She doesn’t know her attitude, so she went to her and she was like ‘Sister,please it’s like I have seen your face before,’but to this woman’s disappointment, Bidemi just looked at the woman from head to toe and walked away,” the source said.

We were also told that because of her celebrity status, Bidemi also expects to get preferential treatments at her Community Development Service(CDS). According to what another source told us, Bidemi who was posted to Ibadan North Local Government recently came late for her clearance but was trying to jump queue, but not giving a dime about her status or her father’s, her Local Government Inspector(LGI) Mrs. Ologundudu, a no-nonsense woman told her point blank to go and join the queue. This really caused her so many shame and embarrassment.

Senate Cancels N4 Billion Budget For First Lady’s Building

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, Smart Adeyemi, stated this on Wednesday, while confirming that the Senate had passed the Abuja budget for 2013.

He said the proposed N4 billion for construction of the first ladies mission building in Africa was distributed to critical needs in satellite towns. He said the money to be spent on the mission building could not be approved due to litigation on the proposed land.

Mr Adeyemi said the Senate could not appropriate funds for a land that was not available.

He said, “It is worthy of note that the proposed appropriation for the construction of the building for First Ladies Mission in Africa has been distributed to meet pressing needs in the area of engineering and Satellite towns.

“Furthermore, due to litigation in respect of the proposed plot of land, the money cannot be accessed this year. Also, we cannot appropriate for a land that is not available.”

An Abuja court had ruled that the land proposed by the FCT ministry for the first ladies’ building belonged to an organisation owned by Turai Yar’Adua, after a protracted muddy legal battle.

The Abuja Minister, Bala Mohammed, had revoked the choice land from Mrs. Yar’Adua’s organisation and given it to first ladies’ mission; a decision the court upturned.

Senators had in January described as “scandalous” the N4 billion budgets contained in the FCT 2013 budget which was unanimously passed on Wednesday.

The Senate approved a N259, 649,520,705 budgets for the FCT for 2013, with a surplus of N48, 716,036.

The FCT’s 2013 approved budget has N48,600,837,245 voted for personnel costs; N50,581,234,058 for overhead costs and the balance of N160,467, 499,402 is for capital projects for the service of the FCT commencing from January 1 and ending on December 31, 2013.

PDP’s Crises Worsen, More Govs To Go

The war of attrition rocking the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, across Nigeria, worsened Wednesday when it claimed another high profile casualty. The victim is the Sokoto State Governor Dr. Aliyu Wamakko, who was suspended by the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party over what it described as anti-party activity.

Wamakko’s suspension followed that of the Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, in the wake of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum election during which he trounced the party’s anointed candidate Jona Jang of Plateau State. And since then the governors’ forum has remained fractured, with the two governors laying claim to the chairmanship of the forum.

The National Working Committee of the PDP announced the suspension of Wamakko in a statement after it rose from its 338th meeting in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital. The NWC added that the issue has been referred to the disciplinary committee of the party for further action.

One of the reasons given for the governor’s suspension is that he failed to honour the NWC’s invitation.

The statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, reads in part: “The National Working Committee (NWC) at its 338th meeting held on Wednesday, June 5, 2013, extensively discussed the state of the party across the nation and its members as well as the repeated breaches and disregard to the party’s constitution by his excellency, Dr. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, the executive governor of Sokoto State.

“The NWC notes that on several occasions, Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko had ignored invitations and lawful directives of the NWC in this regard and has continued to show complete apathy to the affairs of the party and contempt to an organ of the party.

“This is in furtherance of the determination of the leadership of the party to enforce discipline at all levels.”

Wamakko is said to have rejected the selection of Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom state as chairman of the newly formed PDP Governors’ Forum. It was formed to weaken the influential NGF headed by Governor Amaechi, who is in the bad books of the Presidency.

Sources said more heads will still roll as the governors of Kano, Kebbi, Jigawa and Niger states are likely to be suspended for similar reasons.

These are PDP governors that backed Amaechi, instead of the candidate of the party, Jona Jang, during the 24 May Nigeria Governors’ Forum contentious election.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, may also get the same dose of the bitter pill for allegedly hobnobbing with leaders of the opposition parties.

Most chapters of the PDP in the states are in turmoil. In Rivers, Ogun, Lagos and other states, the party has been polarised as entrenched interests seek to control the party’s machinery at the state level.

Attempts by the National Chairman of the party, Bamanga Tukur to reconcile the warring factions of the party in the states proved futile as the crises worsen by the day.

Meanwhile, some politicians in Sokoto State on Thursday expressed support for Governor Aliyu Wamakko after he was suspended by the National Working Committee (NWC) of Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) on Wednesday.

Alhaji Muktari Mapia, the party’s Deputy Treasurer in the state, on Thursday expressed surprise over the suspension order, saying the NWC should rather work out a political formula that would strengthen internal democracy in the party.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto, Mapia described the NWC’s action as obnoxious

He said “the party badly needs internal democracy to confront the opposition come 2015 rather than suspending a faithful and loyal member who has contributed positively towards the development of the party.

“It is only Sokoto State where all the councillors, local government chairmen, House of Assembly members, House of Representatives and Senate members belong to the same political party.”

Mapia said the electorate in the state belonged to PDP based on political structures put in place by Wamakko.

“Any party that Gov. Wamakko chooses to go, we will be fully behind him because he has demonstrated to be a good leader that has the interest of our people at heart,” he said.

Mapia called on members of the NWC not to allow themselves to be “deceived by some unscrupulous Abuja-based politicians who hail from the state and cannot win in a polling unit”.

He said that the exemplary leadership of Wamakko had made it possible for the people to enjoy the dividends of democracy.

Also, Alhaji Abdullahi Bafarawa, a PDP chieftain in the state described Wamakko’s suspension order as a big joke.

“The national chairman of party has allowed the Abuja politicians who have nothing to offer to deceive him in taking that decision,” he said.

Bafarawa said that the opposition was watching the development, adding that the action posed a threat to the party come 2015.

“All hands should be geared towards political reconciliation among faithful members so as to confront the opposition,” he said.

He called on the party’s supporters to remain calm as Wamakko was “a leader that wishes all well in the politics of development of the state and the country at large”.

The Chairman of PDP in Sokoto North Local Government Area, Alhaji Muhammadu Dangoggo, expressed dismay over the action of the NWC, saying: “we are fully in the party because of Wamakko and we will follow him anywhere he goes.

Dangoggo said “only God gives and takes leadership and He will do so in 2015 and beyond.”

An opposition politician, Alhaji Ibrahim Chika, said “we in the opposition will welcome Wamakko into our fold with open arms if he decides to ditch PDP and join our party.”

JTF Uncovers More Arms Cache in Kano

The Joint Military Task Force yesterday uncovered a fresh weapons cache at No 3 Gaya Road, Bompai, Kano.

The fresh discovery was made at the same location, where a bunker stocked with arms and ammunition believed to belong to the Hezbollah terrorist organisation, was uncovered last week.

Three Lebanese nationals were arrested in connection with the discovery.

This was contained in a statement by the spokesman for 3 Brigade Nigerian Army, Captain Ikedichi Iweha.

The statement was made available to journalists in Kano.
Iweha said a further search on the Bungalow led to another astonishing discovery of dangerous weapons buried under a wardrobe.

The statement read in part, “After painstaking search of the whole premises, the search team uncovered an underground bunker in the master bedroom where a large quantity of assorted weapons of different types and caliber and ammunition, which were properly wrapped, was recovered.

“On further search of the property, a cooler was recovered buried under the wardrobe which had in it 80 indicators, five PPK pistols, 334 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, nine magazines, 4 pistol silencers, 18 caps of 36 hand grenades , four explosive fuses and two explosive devices.”

Source: Hope for Nigeria