Natasha Harris Died From Drinking Too Much Coke, New Zealand Coroner Says

The Huffington Post

A New Zealand coroner has told an inquest that Natasha Harris, a mother of eight who suffered a heart attack in 2010, would not have died if she hadn't been dependent on on Coca-Cola.
In findings released Feb. 12, coroner David Crerar wrote:

"I find that, when all of the available evidence is considered, were it not for the consumption of very large quantities of Coke by Natasha Harris, it is unlikely that she would have died when she died and how she died.''

As reported by the Associated Press last year, Harris, a 31-year-old stay-at-home mom, drank more than two gallons of the soft drink every day. Chris Hodgkinson, the woman's partner, said Harris was "addicted to Coke" and had unhealthy habits, such as eating very little and smoking up to 30 cigarettes a day.
Crerar calculated that Harris' intake of Coca-Cola meant that she ingested the equivalent of two pounds of sugar and 970 milligrams of caffeine per day, according to Television New Zealand. Her family claims Harris suffered from withdrawal symptoms when she didn't have access to her beverage of choice.
Harris' consumption of sugar and caffeine had serious effects on her health. In his finding, Crerar said that Harris had developed cardiac arrhythmia because of her cola habit.
"[She would] go crazy if she ran out... she would get the shakes, withdrawal symptoms, be angry, on edge and snappy," her mother-in-law told the coroner's inquest last year, the BBC notes.
A post-mortem revealed that the woman had an enlarged liver. As Television New Zealand notes, deposits of fat were also found within the liver and they were attributed to the consumption of "excessive amounts of sugar," according to a deposition by pathologist Dr. Dan Mornin.
Coca-Cola released a statement Tuesday that expressed dissatisfaction with the coroner's report. It read, in part:

"[We] are disappointed that the coroner has chosen to focus on the combination of Ms Harris' excessive consumption of Coca-Cola, together with other health and lifestyle factors, as the probable cause of her death. This is contrary to the evidence that showed the experts could not agree on the most likely cause."

As Gawker notes, Crerar doesn't think that Coca-Cola should be held responsible for Harris' death; however, he does suggest the company should consider putting warning labels on its drinks.

Ronaldo At His Peak – Ferguson

Sir Alex Ferguson believes Cristiano Ronaldo is a better player now than he was during his time at Manchester United.
Ronaldo, 28, spent six successful years at Old Trafford, during which he scored 117 in 290 appearances, including 42 goals in 2007-08 as United won the Premier League and Champions League.
On Wednesday, four years after leaving Manchester to join Real Madrid for a world record £80m, the Portugal international will line up against his former club, looking to add to his tally of 182 goals in 179 games for the Spanish club.
“Cristiano is a better player than when he left us because of his maturity,” said Ferguson. “He is at the peak of his career now.
“He was still a young man when he left and you can see how he has flourished in Madrid. His fitness, speed, goals – and he’s never injured. That is unique in the modern game.
“I never thought he’d get the amount of goals he’s scored. I knew he’d improve. I knew he was one of the best players in the world. But to score the goals he has is phenomenal.”
However, United have their own attacking threats.

The major difference for United in the title race this term has been the arrival of Robin van Persie, who on Sunday took his goals tally for the season to 23 against Everton.
“Robin is now approaching that level,” said Ferguson of comparisons with Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Ronaldo. “He has been a breath of fresh air.”
Van Persie’s strike-partner Wayne Rooney was depicted as a “hooligan” in the Spanish press on Tuesday, with sports daily Marca also describing the England player as “a freckled demon” who is “built like a barrel packed with gunpowder” and on his way to “blow up the Bernabeu”.
“He is a mature player now,” said Ferguson of Rooney. “He is 27. When players mature little bits of their games change.
“His goalscoring has been very consistent. He used to score in snatches. Now there is a far more consistent nature to his goals.
“He also plays different positions with great enthusiasm. Not every player in the world has these qualities.”
Asked about today’s unflattering reports in the Spanish press, Ferguson said: “Rooney can’t read Spanish so we will be all right.”
InformationNigeria

Nigeria Sends More Troops To Mali

The Defence Headquarters has increased the number of Nigerian troops to the African-led International support mission to Mali.
In a press release signed by the Director Defence Information, Muhammed Yerima, a total of 724 troops, made up of 300 Nigerian Air Force personnel and 424 Army personnel have been deployed.
Also deployed are heavy weapons, ammunitions, vehicles and equipment.
The Nigerian air force assets in the operation include two alpha jets and one MI35 which will provide interdiction and close air support to ground troops from their based in Niamey, Niger republic.
He assured Nigerians that the defence headquarters will continue to provide information on the operation as event unfolds
Naij.com

Nigeria Has The Highest Cancer Death Rate In Africa -WHO

The recent alarm on rising global incidence of cancer by the World Health Organisation (WHO) should worry African countries, including Nigeria, where the disease is most prevalent.
Available statistics show that cancer killed 7.6 million persons in 2008 worldwide, and there is indication that the figure could double to 13 million by 2030.
According to WHO, cancer accounts for 13 percent of all deaths registered globally and 70 percent of that figure occurs in middle and low income countries.
In Nigeria, about 10,000 cancer deaths are recorded annually while 250,000 new cases are recorded yearly. It is also worrisome that only 17 percent of African countries are said to have sufficiently funded cancer control programmes, while less than half of all countries in the world have functional plans to prevent the disease and provide treatment and care to patients.
WHO indicates that the shortage of functional cancer control plans is especially alarming in developing countries, which already account for more than two-thirds of the new cancer cases and deaths each year.
According to Dr. Andreas Ullrich of WHO’s Department of Chronic Diseases, the situation might get worse in metropolitan areas of the developing world as populations age and increasingly feel the impact of exposure to major risk factors such as tobacco, certain chemicals and infections.
Ullrich also explains that up to a third of all cancer deaths are linked to “modifiable risks” like tobacco, obesity and harmful use of alcohol. Despite the seeming gloomy cancer outlook, Dr. Oleg Chestnov, of WHO’s Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health Unit, assures that cancer should not be “a death sentence anywhere in the world, as there are proven ways to prevent and cure many cancers.”
Also, there are vaccines that can prevent some infections linked to cancer including hepatitis B, which can cause liver cancer and human papillomavirus, which can cause cervical cancer.
However, Ullrich explains that if detected early, many types of cancer can be cured. We commend the WHO for the timely alert and urge the nation’s health authorities to step up cancer awareness, prevention and treatment. Most cancer treatment centres in Nigeria today lack modern diagnostic equipment for diagnosing the condition. Generally, there is lack of awareness on the disease, especially the causative factors, preventative measures, likely treatment options and facilities where such treatments are available.
In Nigeria, members of the public still see cancer as a disease of the wealthy, the elderly and developed countries. Many sufferers of the disease in the country still regard it as their fate and, as such, a death sentence. Cancer is not just a health issue; it has far-reaching social and economic implications.
It also does not discriminate. It is a global epidemic that affects all ages with low and middle income countries bearing a disproportionate burden of it. There are many types of cancer.
In Nigeria, breast and cervical cancers are commonest among women while prostate cancer is more prevalent in men. Since there is low awareness of the disease in the country as at now, more efforts should be directed in the area of massive awareness creation for the general populace.
Nigerians should be enlightened on what causes the condition, preventative measures and available treatment options. The disease should no longer be treated as a death sentence or something that has to do with fate. The public should be sensitized on predisposing lifestyle factors like smoking, drinking, obesity, lack of exercise and exposure to carcinogenic products and elements.
There is also the need for regular medical check up considering the fact that early detection of the disease is paramount to its cure.
Government should set up a comprehensive cancer control programme. Let the Federal Ministry of Health spearhead nationwide campaigns targeted at reducing the cancer scourge in the country. States and local governments should also join hands with the federal government in the fight against cancer in all its ramifications.
Naij.com

Pathetic Story! Female Corper Drowns While Trying To Save A Ball

By Kemi Filani

A female Batch C corps member carrying out her National Youth Service to the Nation in the East, Faith Nzube Enemuo is dead.
She drowned in a river in Ikom Local Council where she is currently serving.

The late Faith

According to a remembrance note put up on facebook by her colleagues “She came along with us to play handball at the bank of the river…but, a few minutes into the game, she went missing. There were ten of us, who went to play handball on the dry land near the Ikom River. While playing, the ball fell into the river, and Faith offered to fetch the ball, which was moving faster away from the shoreline. She stood close to the river for a few seconds, after which she dived to bring the ball out. We watched in excitement as she swam close to the ball, but, in a moment, she stopped and started waving her hands. We thought she was still playing, until we didn’t see her again on the water surface. By the time we realized what was happening, we signaled to the villagers, who were swimming in the river.  Villagers offered to help with canoes and fishing instruments, but they could not get her. Two days later, Faith’s body was found on the Okuni Beach in the neighbouring village. We would miss you Faith”
Faith was a graduate of Social Studies from the University of Abuja.
May her soul rest in peace!
DailyPost

“Who are you working for?” an angry Ex-President Obasanjo asks me after my own question to him

I am in Berlin for my own event but I had gotten an invitation from the office of Prof. Peter Eigen (Transparency International) to attend this specially organized lunch for Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo at the HUMBOLDT-VIADRINA School of Governance and Berlin Civil Society Center. The major reason I attended this event was to get a chance to ask the ex-president a few questions about his stewardship as the president of Nigeria between 1999 and 2007.
When the event started, Prof. Eigen actually spurred me into finally deciding I’d the ask question I felt Chief Obasanjo needed to answer. The Professor praised the ex-president so much I had to look at the table again to be sure it was not Nelson Mandela seated there. Do not get me wrong, the ex-president had his good and bad days as the president of Nigeria but there was no way he was as saintly as Prof. Peter Eigen made him look. I must admit that the introduction made a funny thought run through my mind; is this really the man who started Transparency International? When Prof. Eigen was done, I was even more convicted the audience – mostly Germans – needed to know that the just introduced Saint from Africa may not be as saintly as painted. We had lunch and then President Obasanjo spoke for over 30 minutes though scheduled to speak 20 minutes but that’s fine because after all he is “Baba.”
Question time Prof. Peter Eigen said. My hand was first up and the Prof. was fair in pointing me out to ask my question. I introduced myself simply by mentioning my name. There are a million and one questions you’d want to ask Chief Obasanjo given the chance. My own case was not helped by the fact that I had thrown the house open on Twitter for folks to tell me what question they’d have me ask the very powerful Obasanjo. I really wanted to ask him about his broke state coming out of prison in 1998 and becoming a billionaire years later during his presidency, but I felt that’d set the whole place on fire.
My question went thus:
“You have been severally praised for your economic decisions as President amongst other achievements. In the same vein, the 2007 elections which you organized is widely regarded as one of the worst in history, do you take responsibility for this?
Secondly, Nigeria is just about 52 years old and you held power for about 10 of those 52 years. Today there are 112 million poor people in Nigeria, do you accept responsibility for being part of why this is a reality in Nigeria considering the fact that 1 out of every 5 years of our Independence had you as President?”
These questions were just two of the many questions I believed the ex-president needed to answer and answer lucidly. Third term would have been another but I knew the answer to that during the live performances of the drama. I just wanted to see a man accept some responsibility for his failures as much as he does his successes.
President Obasanjo was visibly rattled by my questions. It of course did not help that his question and answer session started on a balloon-busting note considering the image of the Messiah Prof. Aigen had painted of him.
His response:
Obasanjo: You are one of these people that stay abroad right?
Omojuwa: No. I am based and have always been based in Nigeria!
Obasanjo: Let me educate you. Not one life was lost during the 2007 elections. The results of the 2007 elections was similar to those of 1999, 2003 and 2011. Thirteen innocent corpers (sic) lost their lives during the 2011 elections, if that is the type of election you want, good luck to you (note the Jonathan subliminal ?) | Note how the “success” of his election was never about whether votes counted or anything of that sort. By the way, you should google “2007 Nigerian elections” and see how several observers described it in the worst of terms but isn’t the Messiah always right?
Speaking further, the ex-president answered my question on taking responsibility on the unacceptable poverty rate thus;

Obasanjo: In 1999, 71 per cent of Nigerians were regarded as living under $1 per day. I reduced that to 54 per cent in 2004 and by 2007 it was under 38 per cent. The figures for 2010-2011 were 69 per cent. I accept no blame for the poor performance of others who came after me.
Fair enough some of you would agree. Through out his response, he was staring at my end but I totally ignored him because I felt returning a gaze may just add more petrol to the ex-president’s obvious burning anger. I had come to rock the boat it seemed. Most of the Nigerians there had gone to pose for pictures with him. Not that it wouldn’t be nice to have a good picture pose with Chief Obasanjo but my feeling at the time was with the Peter Aigen introduction of Obasanjo.
After the event I figured it would help to pick the ex-president’s brain a bit more. I allowed all the gentlemen get their picture rounds and the finally got the big boss to myself. He was the first to speak when he asked pointedly and accusingly, “who are you working for?” Now that is a classic question in Nigeria. The question arises out of the belief that Nigerian citizens do not do things like challenge authority by themselves, they had to have been sponsored by “vested interests.”
I replied him with a smile “I work for myself. I am a Blogger!”
He replied this time moving as he spoke, “a Blogger? That is not a profession. A Blogger, whatever that means. That is not a profession.” And I replied with an even bigger smile, “it’s all right sir.” And thus ended my first direct encounter with the man who has had the single most opportunity to change Nigeria. Whether he succeeded or not is not the call of this piece to make.
The ex-president had totally fit into the profile he had been painted by many with the chance to know him personally. I will find time to write about what he said about Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala that made me realize she remains in his black book still. Once an Olusegun Obasanjo, always an Olusegun Obasanjo.

Omojuwa.com

Merger and Kawankwaso’s romance with opposition

by Auwalu Umar

Just last month, Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State appointed Action Congress of Nigeria, (ACN) chieftain,  Alhaji Baffa Babba Dan’agundi as his adviser on empowerment. The governor had previously made it clear that his government will make efforts to carry the opposition along in the scheme of things.

Earlier, two CPC chieftains, Alhaji Kabiru Muhammad Gwangwazo and Alhaji Abba Sufi had also joined the Kwankwaso administration in its early days as managing director of Triumph Publishing Company (now closed down) and director general of the Hisbah Commission respectively.

Dan’agundi is not the only prominent ACN chieftain in Kwankwaso’s government as the newly established Kano State Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA) is currently being manned by no other person than Engr. Muhammad Diggol, another strong ACN member in Kano. Both Dan’agundi and Diggol are close political allies of Kano’s former deputy governor, Engr. Abdullahi Tijjani Gwarzo who contested the 2011 Kano governorship election on the ACN platform, but left the ANPP along with Dan’agundi and Diggol to join ACN in the build up towards 2011 general elections.

When Gwarzo lost, he and his team congratulated Kwankwaso, a gesture that made Kwankwaso to invite Gwarzo and his supporters to join his government. Gwarzo was said to be instrumental to the appointment of the two key ACN chieftains as Kwankwaso’s aides though they’ve retained their membership of the ACN.

The integration of the opposition into Kwankwaso’s administration is largely seen as a deliberate strategy by Governor Kwankwaso to nip in the bud all political problems and further maintain his grip as strong man of Kano politics all in preparation for 2015 general elections. It was also learnt that Gwarzo is one of Kwankwaso’s right hand men from the opposition and the two may likely be in the same camp come 2015 polls. Kwankwaso was said to have appreciated Gwarzo’s towering political profile and grassroots support since the time he became Kano ALGON chief when he held sway as chairman of Gwarzo local government.  

Dan’agundi was Kano ANPP legal adviser in addition to being an adviser on youth affairs to former governor Ibrahim Shekarau. He is a young but vibrant politician who is still being loved at his Dan’agundi ward of Kano Municipal local government. He always delivers his ward when it comes to election having been a youth mobiliser. Dan’agundi was said to have played prominent roles in ANPP’s success in 2003 and 2007 elections in Kano State in the area of youth mobilisation and campaign strategy, hence his appointment first as Shekarau’s adviser on youths and later as local government sole administrator.

It was learnt that Dan’agundi’s appointment by Kwankwaso as his aide on empowerment followed the work being carried out at Kano State Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA) by an ACN man. The newly established agency, which is similar to the Lagos Waste Management Agency (LAWMA), is working round the clock to ease unnecessary traffic congestion in Kano. Its painstaking effort to cleanse Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital adjacent to the famous Rimi market in Kano city is still being hailed. So it is expected that Dan’agundi will achieve same feat with his new appointment as adviser on empowerment.

Dan’gundi who spoke with Daily Trust in Abuja, called on all patriotic Kano people to support Kwankwaso’s development agenda given the transformation that is currently taking place in all parts of the state. “You don’t need to be told that Kwankwaso’s government is working when you either come to Kano or you go to anywhere in the state; even his critics as you know agree that the administration is working for the good of the state generally”, he said.

Asked why he is still in ACN when he has accepted an appointment in a PDP-led government, Dan’agundi said he and former deputy governor Gwarzo are still in ACN, saying however that they have “a strong political alliance with Kwankwasiyya and doing so is not an anti-party activity”. He described Kwankwasiyya as an association and not a political party and so they wear red caps as did Kwankwaso and many others to show they are also part of the association.

Now that four opposition parties (ACN, ANPP, CPC and APGA) merged and became APC, only time will tell what will happen in Kano in the build-up towards 2015 as Kwankwaso is working in tandem with some opposition political parties by giving them the chance to work in his government.

DailyTrust