President Jonathan to confer national honours on Bill Gate

   
President Goodluck Jonathan today conferred on Bill Gates, the Co-Chairman of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, one of the nation’s prestigious titles, Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR), he will be decorated during the award ceremony in December.


President Jonathan disclosed this at a Forum on the Presidential Task Force on Polio Eradication put together by the Federal Ministry of Health, held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa Abuja.

The Nigeria Governors Forum, Bill and Melinda Gate Foundation and the Dangote Foundation, instituted an award meant to encourage governors to do more towards complete eradication of polio in the states.

The best performing state by zone in 2012 are Ondo State for the South West, Cross River State for South South, Kogi State for North Central, Anambra State for South East, Borno State for North Easte and Zamfara State for North West. While the most improved state nationally is Niger State.

The President expressed surprise that analysis available to him revealed that the 2011 elections was responsible for the lapse experienced in the fight against polio,  urging politicians to ensure that scenario must not repeat itself in the 2015 elections. President Jonathan described as a thing of shame that Nigeria was still being accused of exporting polio to neighbouring countries and particularly commended the traditional rulers led by the Sultan of Sokoto, for their immense contribution which has led to a sharp reduction in the infection rates. He also commended Bill Gate for his commitment to help Africa solve its health problems.

“Apart from supporting us in the fight against Polio and provision of life saving commodities he (Gates) is also assisting us in agriculture.

Jonathan also commended Aliko Dangote for also showing high degree of support for government and all sectors.

“For those states that have won this award, the challenge is that we will not want to see polio in your states again otherwise we will wipe out the award. You now have very strong partners, partner with FG to eradicate polio.

“Like Dangote mentioned earlier, there is no reason we should not eradicate polio by 2014. Let me assure you that the Federal Government is totally committed to eradicating polio. We promise that we will work hard because we don’t want to handover polio to another government in 2015. With the support of all stakeholders present here I believe we will succeed in our commitment to eradicate polio.

“I charge you all to be so committed especially as the elections are coming. In fact from the analysis I was just briefed now I’m really surprised that in 2011 there was lapse and it was attributed to the elections, that during campaigns for elections we the politicians think more about winning the elections and forget about other things. I think and I charge you all that we must work together to make sure that the 2014/2015 will not create any kind of gap in our commitment to eradicate polio.

“In our local government and states that have suffered polio, it should be part of our campaign, it should rather be part of our campaign instead of our election to create a problem, our elections should enhance our commitment.

“We should all feel ashamed that we are being excused of exporting polio to neighbouring countries.

“As the President and Commander in Chief I hereby confer on Bill Gates, one of our prestigious titles, the Commander of the Federal Republic. His decoration will come up during the award ceremony in December”, he said.