Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
Mrs. Wale Fwa, the only female member in Adamawa Assembly, has described as encouraging the growing number of women aspiring for elective offices in the 2011 general elections in the state.
She told newsmen in Yola that the women should not relent in their efforts at joining the political class and also called on others nursing political ambition to be courageous and come out to declare their interest.
The PDP lawmaker, who is representing Demsa Constituency, declared her interest to re-contest the seat, saying she would love to see more women joining her in the state assembly.
Bauchi
Hajiya Yelwa Tula, a renowned woman politician in Bauchi, has called on women to use their numerical strength to vote for women candidates at all level of representations in the 2011 elections.
Tula, who made the call in an interview with newsmen in Bauchi, urged women to show greater interest in politics so as to ensure effective gender representation in governance.
‘’Politics cannot be left to men alone. We have all it takes to change the course of history through the electoral process,’’ she said.
The woman politician urged women in Bauchi State to close ranks and vote for gender-friendly candidates at various levels of representations.
Ekiti
Ekiti State Government is to spend N1 billion on the construction of classrooms in public primary schools under the 2009 SUBEB/UBEC projects, an official said.
The Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education (SUBEB), Mr Dayo Adeyeye, told newsmen in Ado-Ekiti on Sunday that the project would include the provision of furniture.
He explained that the projects, which would be executed in the 16 local government areas of the state, would involve the construction of 26 storey buildings, blocks of three and four classrooms with offices and computer and library projects.
FCT
The Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) has aligned itself with the decision of leaders from the northern part of the country to drop the zoning policy in the interest of democratic governance.
A spokesman of the party, Mr Jimoh Abdullahi, told newsmen in Abuja that the decision against the “unwholesome campaign” would be in the best interest of democracy in the country.
“If eleven sons of the same father will form a formidable national team, let them go ahead and represent the country to deliver result.
Kaduna
A member of House of Representatives, Joseph Gumbari has urged the Church to go beyond preaching against crime and initiate steps that would create jobs to curb idleness and minimise temptation to crime.
Gumbari, who is aspiring to represent Southern Kaduna in the Senate in 2011, was speaking in ECWA Church, Biniki, where he delivered a paper on “the importance of skills acquisition to the youths of Southern Kaduna’’.
He urged the Church to partner with local and international Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) to establish skills acquisition centres where youths could train to facilitate self-reliance.
The legislator advised youths against waiting on unavailable white-collar jobs but to seek ways of exploring their hidden talents to achieve success in life.
Kano
The Kano State Directorate of Societal Re-orientation has lauded the efforts of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Sen. Bala Mohammed, to rid Abuja of prostitutes.
The Director-General of the agency, Malam Bala Muhammad, said in a statement that the measure was necessary to prevent the territory from being taken over by unscrupulous persons.
He noted that “this unfortunate trend has reached such alarming stage that if all hands are not put together to fight it’’, its consequences would be disastrous for the society.
“This is because the menace is on the increase with young ladies as well as teenagers continuously flooding into the federal capital for a better life,” Muhammad said.
Kebbi
The Emir of Argungu in Kebbi State, Alhaji Samaila Mera, has called on the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to embark on intensive campaign to re-orientate the people on the 2011 general election.
Mera, who received the state NOA Director, Alhaji Umar Babuga, in Argungu said government organs were expected to embark on campaigns to encourage Nigerians to support good leadership.
He also called on state and federal authorities to ensure adequate funding of the agency to ensure people were enlightened on government programmes and policies as well as make the people part of decision making..
He said the agency was better placed to re-orientate the people on the irrelevance of ethnicity, rumour mongering, tribalism and the need to engage in activities that would usher in good leadership and development.
Kogi
The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) says it will revolutionise agriculture, power and energy, if voted into power in 2011.
The Vice-Chairman, North Central zone of the party, Alhaji Abu Onaji, gave the assurance on Thursday while speaking with newsmen in Lokoja.
Onaji, a onetime General Manager of Kogi State Broadcasting Corporation, Lokoja, said the party would evolve people-oriented philosophy of selfless service to improve the well-being of the people.
He said that the party was determined to wrestle power from the ruling PDP in 2011, adding that agriculture and power sectors would be prioritised.
Lagos
The Chairman, Apapa-Iganmu Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Dr Samuel Adedayo, on Saturday urged the Lagos Metropolitan Development and Governance Project (LMDGP) to be more procative in upgrading slums in the area.
Adedayo made the call in Lagos when the wife of the state Governor, Mrs Abimbola Fashola, inaugurated some projects in the LCDA.
He said that bureaucracy employed by the LMDGP had stalled the reconstruction of 15 roads and projects in three schools in Apapa-Iganmu LCDA. This has tasked our people’s patience beyond limit and has become a source of embarrassment and pressure on our administration”, he said.
He said the cardinal objective of his administration was to ensure even development in various wards that constituted the LCDA.
Niger
The Chanchaga Local Government Council in Niger State executed development projects worth N437.9 million between April 2008 and June 2010, its chairman, Alhaji Yakubu Sallau has said.
Sallau made the disclosure on Saturday in Minna at the inauguration of a primary health care clinic constructed by the Council.
He listed the projects to include the renovation and construction of classrooms and provision of instructional materials amounting to N204.3 million.
Others are the construction of primary health care centres in Kpakungu, and provision of other health facilites, which gulped a total of N53.8 million.
He said that N40 million was expended on environmental sanitation within the period, while the provision of boreholes in different parts of the local government area gulped N19.4 million.
Osun
NYSC Director-General Maharazu Tsiga has urged corps members to contribute to the success of credible election in 2011.
Tsiga, who made the appeal at Ede on Wednesday when he visited the orientation camp of the National Youths Service Corps, said INEC would need the services of 400,000 corps members as electoral officers during the elections.
He said their involvement in the elections would drastically reduce the cases of electoral fraud characterised with previous elections.
Tsiga said the scheme had been one of the unifying factors in Nigeria, adding that those calling for the scraping should be enlightened on its importance.
Sokoto
The Nigerian Ambassador to Argentina, Mr Nduka Kanu, has advised the Federal Government to take pro-active measures to effectively tackle the problem of kidnapping to restore confidence in the populace.
He told newsmen in Sokoto on Thursday that it was not in the culture of Nigerians to be involved in the evil act.
Kanu said that kidnapping posed a great threat to the survival of the nation’s democracy, adding that government should put in place approriate security arrangements to guarantee the safety of Nigerians.
He stressed the need for vigillance and adequate internal security to ensure smooth implementation of people-oriented programmes by the three tiers of government.
He also called for more political tolerance and understanding among Nigerians to ensure free, fair and transparent elections in 2011.
Yobe
Dr Shettima Saidu, Provost, Federal College of Education Potiskum, Yobe State says upgrading colleges of education to degree awarding institutions would reduce the pressure on the universities.
Saidu told newsmen on Saturday in Potiskum that the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) should be empowered to accredit colleges to award degrees.
He said the NCCE should be empowered to accredit colleges of education that have met the requirements to award degrees to reduce the pressure on universities.
He explained that, the FCE had gone a long way in striving to become a centre of excellence in Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
Zamfara
Due to the recent lead poisoning in Zamfara State, the National Environmental Standards and Regulation Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has advised the government to broaden the scope of its environmental assessment.
The tragedy claimed about 153 lives, according to government figures.
Alhaji Abdullahi Bindawa, the agency’s Director for North West zone, gave the advice while speaking with newsmen in Gusau.
Bindawa said that widening the assessment beyond the affected areas, would serve as a preventive measure against future outbreak of mining related disasters.
In a bid to meaningfully engage secondary school students in Ogoniland during the Christmas holidays and beyond, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project(HYPREP) has trained them on petroleum jelly and liquid soap making.
This is even as the Project has partnered with the National Orientation Agency(NOA) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA) to keep the students away from crime and other related social vices during the Yuletide, by giving them pep talks that would put them on their toes during the period.
This came to the fore as HYPREP recently organised an Ogoni Young Men Mentorship programme and life skill workshop with the theme, ‘Career Coaching: Developing The Young Minds’ at Birabi Memorial Grammar School, Bori, headquarters of Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The beneficiaries of the programme are essentially members of environmental clubs in 13 schools in four local government areas of Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme.
At the event, both NOA and NDLEA gave career talks to the students, aimed at keeping them off social vices like drug abuse and addiction as well as negative peer influences through out the Christmas holidays and beyond.
Speaking at the event, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof NeinibariniZabbey said the Project deemed it necessary to invite the National Orientation Agency and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA) to speak to the students in order to shield them from negative peer influences as they are preparing to go for the Christmas holidays.
He explained that the workshop would enable the students to know when the signs of the negative peer influences start coming.
Zabbey, who was represented at the occasion by HYPREP’s Head of Sustainable Livelihood, Mrs Josephine Nzidee, said the Project is not only going to train the beneficiaries but also give them the tools and skills that would grow them in the future so that they would start making money for themselves.
Also addressing the students, the Rivers State Coordinator of the National Orientation Agency(NOA), Mr Young Ayo-Tamuno expressed delight for meeting young minds, to discuss issues on values, describing it as a great opportunity.
He noted that there are seven values which constitute the role and commitment of the government towards the citizenry and another seven core values which constitute the code for the citizens.
While commending HYPREP for organising the event, Ayo-Tamuno said team work is key to making Nigeria a better place for all, as both the government and the citizens have their respective roles to play, with each staying committed and focused.
The Chief Programme Officer of NOA, Mr Henry Ayede was the one who actually mounted the rostrum and drilled the students on the seven core values embodied in the National Value Charter for citizens, and stressed the need for them to imbibe them and put them to practice as they grow up.
Ayede listed the values to include discipline, duty of care, leadership, tolerance and respect, transparency, environmental awareness and resilience.
He also underscored the need for the students to imbibe the spirit of hard work and dignity of labour, contending that while hard work and dedication contribute to success, every job can contribute to national development.
According to him, dignity in labour is the foundation of success.
On his part, Mr Bill Ebiokpo of the Media/ Advocacy Unit of NDLEA, who represented the Bori Area Commander of the agency, advised the students to guard against drug abuse and addiction, which he said have far reaching consequences.
The Principal of the Senior Secondary of Birabi Memorial Grammar School, Barrister Bob Agbozi thanked HYPREP for organising the programme, which he said enriched his knowledge and that of the students on the core values guiding the society, saying inculcating such values in young people and teaching them practical skills have contributed immensely to the greatness of advanced countries and even countries like Rwanda in Africa.
He noted that the career coaching would change the behavioral pattern of the students particularly during the Yuletide.
He also thanked NOA for the career talks and urged it to replicate the programme in other places, not only in schools but also in market places.
The training of the students on petroleum jelly and liquid soap making was anchored by an expert, MrsLekpa Abel, with HYPREP workers lending a helping hand.
It was, indeed, a practical session with the students, who came face to face with the production materials of the products.
Donatus Ebi
It was celebration galore as the people of Isu Community in Etche Local Government Area of River State held a civic reception in honour of the Council Chairman, Dr Uzodinma Nwafor .
The epoch- making ceremony which took place recently at the community ancestral home saw the attendance of the political class, the clergy, opinion leaders, the academia, youths, women, elders and chiefs gather to honour their brand new chairman.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Etche Local Government Council, Dr Uzodinma Nwafor expressed gratitude to the people for according him such honour, saying it shows their unwavering support to the development of Etche.
Nwafor announced the readiness of his administration to embark on electrification of Ozuzu clan including Isu community.
The Etche council boss also said the market at Isu will be reconstructed to improve the economic life of the people.
He revealed that the two projects will commence in January as efforts are on to mobilise the contractors.
Nwafor told the mammoth crowd that his major concern remains, peace and unity of the entire Etche, saying security of lives and property remains top on his agenda as no meaningful development can thrive in an atmosphere of violence.
He urged parents to encourage their wards and children to refrain from violence and embrace peace. “Let us allow Etche to be at peace .Don’t allow any body to use you set Etche ablaze. Parents advise your children to stay away from crime .We must stay in peace and unity. Our children must shun violence ,it can’t take us anywhere as a people ,” he declared.
He thanked the people for their support as well thank their son, former commissioner for Energy ,Okey Amadi for being a Pilar of his political sojourne.
Earlier, the Isu opinion leader and Principal, Community Secondary School, Mgbosomini in Obio/ Akpor Local Government Area, Mr Chijioke Amadi said the honour done Etche chairman was a collective division of his people.
Amadi described the council boss as an illustrious son who has contributed immensely to the wellbeing of the community.
He declared that his community and the entire Etche will keep supporting him because he is doing well.
Amadi urged the people to keep praying for him and the Rivers State Governor to succeed in delivering dividends of democracy.
Senate has set up an adhoc committee to investigate the demolition of buildings in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT by the Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, just as it summoned the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, to appear before it to explain the reasons behind the demolitions, which have left many residents stranded
The resolutions followed a motion by Senator Ireti Kingibe ( FCT), who expressed concern over the illegal demolition of structures in the nation’s capital and called for an immediate stop to further demolitions.
The Red Chamber particularly ordered the FCDA to halt ongoing demolitions of property in the Territory within the next two weeks pending the report of its adhoc committee constituted to probe the issue.
The adhoc committee, to be chaired by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, has the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Lola Ashiru; Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Tahir Monguno, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi, Senator Sahabi Ya’u, Senator Victor Umeh, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Senator Idiat Adebule and Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, as members.
The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, who announced the composition of the committee, gave it two weeks to submit its report.
Akpabio while reading the resolution of the Senate, said: “The Senate urges the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to stop further demolitions of structures, except those ordered by courts of competent jurisdictions, until the adhoc committee constituted by the Senate to ascertain the propriety or otherwise of the exercise concludes its investigation and interface with the FCT administration within the next two weeks.”
Kingibe in her lead debate said that in recent times, the demolition exercise in the FCT was no longer based on reasons that necessitated the demolition.
She urged the Senate to be further concerned that the current demolition in the FCT was not in line with due process of court orders to demolish.
“As such, a cross section of individuals had suffered untold hardships occasioned by massive demolition, which has led to a loss of properties worth billions of naira.
“Also concerned that at the moment, an estate by name, Messrs Paulosa, for which late Colonel Paul Osakpawan Ogbebor is the chairman, is currently under revocation and demolition. And from reliable information, the said plot of land was allocated to him in 1984 with requisite title document.
“And further concerned that the owner of this estate was a patriotic Nigerian who served the nation meritoriously and one of the first intakes of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, with registration Number 001,” Kingibe said.
She urged the Senate to accordingly resolve to urge the FCT administration to halt the ongoing revocation and demolition of the said property, “as it does not fall within the purview of the reasons for the massive demolition being carried by the FCDA.”
Senator Kingibe also advocated thatall demolitions should follow due process while the Senate set up a committee to investigate the matters arising from the demolition.
However, Senator Sunday Karimi ( Kogi West) in his contribution said the Senate needs to hear from the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, before ordering a halt to the demolitions.
“If you look at this motion, the presenter said, a specific land allocation was mentioned belonging to one Paul Ogbebor.
“We don’t know anything about this thing and we are just coming because of this to tell the minister to stop?
“There is need to investigate this matter before giving any directive. We must hear from the minister. But we have to hear before we say stop demolition.
“Let’s hear from the Minister. You cannot shave a man’s head at his back. We need to hear from the Minister,” Karimi said.
The Chairman Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire (Ondo Central), however disagreed with Karimi, saying that the request that the Senate should call on the FCT minister to halt further demolitions was in order.
He said: “Mr. President, with respect I disagree with Mr. Karimi. I think we need to be fair to everyone. There is before us an allegation that says certain steps are to be taken which will culminate in demolition. Are we saying that we should allow the place to be demolished while we are trying to look into it?”
In his response, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio agreed with the chairman Senate Committee on Judiciary and Legal Matters, saying “my thought is in line with yours. If we just say, continue the demolition, and then we start investigation, what are we then investigating?”
He, thereafter, read the resolution of the Senate calling on the FCT Minister to halt further demolitions of property in the FCT pending the investigative report of its adhoc committee chaired by the Deputy Senate President.
Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi