Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
Former Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Buba Marwa, has made good his threat to quit PDP by defecting to Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).
Marwa who was registered as a CPC member in a ceremony at the party’s secretariat in Yola on Sunday evening also picked the party’s governorship form.
Marwa had on Friday addressed a news conference where he expressed his disappointment with the cancellation of the state PDP ward congress, which he said was done by the party leadership to favour Gov. Murtala Nyako.
Marwa and his supporters were received at the Adamawa CPC office by the party executives led by the state Chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Waziri.
Waziri thereafter registered Marwa and issued him with the party’s membership card.
Bauchi
Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi on Monday picked the PDP governorship ticket after defeating his opponent Alhaji Ahmed Iliyasu at the party primaries on Sunday.
The returning officer, Alhaji Adamu Mustafa, who announced the result on Monday in Bauchi, said that Yuguda polled 774 votes to defeat Iliyasu who got five votes.
The third aspirant Sen Baba Tela boycotted the election.
Yuguda thanked the delegates for electing him, promising the people of Bauchi that they would notice the desired changes in the state of affairs.
He gave the assurance of his administration’s determination to tackle poverty in the state in order to reduce the people’s suffering if re-elected as governor at the April polls.
Ekiti
The judiciary in Ekiti State treated 12,189 cases in its various courts during the 2009/2010 legal year.
Mr Rufius Fasoro, the Public Relations Officer of the state judiciary, told newsmen on Tuesday in Ado-Ekiti that 1,633 cases were handled by the High Courts, while the Magistrate’s and Customary Courts dealt with 3,899 and 6,659 cases respectively.
He said 7,207 cases were thrown out during the period, with 578 of them discarded at the High Courts, while the Magistrate’s Courts got rid of 2,750 and Customary Courts, 3,879 cases.
Fasoro said 4,982 cases were still pending in the various courts during the period, with 1,055 of them in the High Courts; 1,149 in the Magistrate’s Courts; and 2778 in the Customary Courts.
FCT
The Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) on Monday in Abuja said it had commenced negotiations to stem the ongoing mass sack in the banks.
Mr Sunday Salako, the National President of the association, told newsmen that the union would only embark on an industrial action if it failed to reach any amicable agreement with the banks.
The union had on January 7 urged customers of Unity Bank Plc, Intercontinental Bank Plc and Oceanic Bank Plc to make mass withdrawals in order not to be caught unawares by its strike action.
The union’s leadership said it had perfected strategies to paralyse business activities in the banks from January 12 over the mass sack of their workers.
Gombe
The PDP in Gombe State said it was not aware of a court order restraining the use of elected ward delegates for gubernatorial primaries pending determination of a suit before it.
The PDP gubernatorial primaries took place in the 36 states of the federation on Sunday, January 9.
The state Chairman of the party, Mr Jack Gumpy, gave the explanation in an interview with newsmen in Gombe.
But a Federal High Court in Abuja had issued an interlocutory injunction restraining the use of such delegates for the gubernatorial primaries in the state.
The suit was filed in Abuja by a member of the party, Alhaji Hassan Ahmadu and 10 others.
Jigawa
The Emir of Dutse in Jigawa, Alhaji Nuhu Sanusi, on Tuesday called on women in the state to come out and contest for elective positions in order to be part of the development of the state.
Sanusi made the call in Dutse at a two-day sensitisation workshop for women electorates from Jigawa and Kano states.
The theme of the workshop is “Violence Free 2011 Elections”, and is organised by an NGO, Gender Education Empowerment Foundation of Nigeria (GEEFON) in collaboration with INEC held in Dutse.
He said that the number of women occupying elective positions in the North particularly in Jigawa was negligible when compared to the women in the Southern part of the country.
Kaduna
Kaduna State Government says the annual Kaduna Festival of Arts and Culture (KADFEST) will hold in May.
A Deputy Director in the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Abdulmumin Ashafa made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen on Monday in Kaduna.
Ashafa said the festival would hold in May to commemorate the Democracy Day celebrations.
He explained that the event could not hold last year due to logistics problems, adding that “arrangements for a successful hosting of KADFEST 2011, are in top gear” .
Ashafa said that although, this year’s budget had not been passed, the festival would hold as planned.
Katsina
One of Nigeria’s leading industrialists, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has redeemed his pledge of N200 million donation to the Katsina University, owned by the Katsina Islamic Foundation.
The Secretary-General of the Foundation, Alhaji Sani Lugga, told newsmen in Katsina on Monday that Dangote had released the second installment of N100 million to the university on Sunday.
He said Dangote pledged the N200 million at the investiture of the Chancellor of the university, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, about two years ago, after which he paid the first installment of N100 million.
Lugga said that so far, the university had realised about 60 per cent of all the pledges made by individuals and corporate organisations at the ceremony.
Kogi
A banker, Alhaji Jibril Isah, on Monday emerged as the PDP governorship candidate for Kogi, after defeating 17 other aspirants in the party’s primaries, held on Sunday in Lokoja.
Isah, a former Director of a bank, clinched the ticket after polling 361 votes to beat his opponents in the party’s primaries.
Among his opponents were the nation’s former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo who scored no vote. Businessman, Alhaji Abdulrazak Kutepa scored 303 votes while the state’s incumbent Deputy Governor, Chief Phillips Salawu, scored 24 votes.
Plateau
Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau has emerged the PDP governorship candidate for Plateau.
Jang, who was unopposed, got the nod from 756 out of the 763 delegates that attended the state congress held at the Rwang Pam Stadium, Jos.
Mr Emmanuel Ibeshi, the Returning Officer for Plateau, who announced the results, said that seven votes were voided.
He said that the election was held in spite of the absence of any opposition “because some of the delegates may not be disposed to Jang’s aspiration and may want a replacement’’.
He expressed happiness that the election was “peaceful and orderly, saying that he was particularly impressed that the people came in spite of the violence in some parts of Plateau.
In his acceptance speech, Jang thanked the delegates for electing him to contest for the governorship election in April and called for unity of purpose among party faithful to ensure victory in the general elections.
Sokoto
Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State has advised politicians to approach the 2011 general election with high sense of political maturity.
Wamakko stated this in an interview with newsmen in Sokoto on Sunday shortly after being announced winner of the PDP governorship primaries.
He said that, politicians must play politics without bitterness in order to ensure peaceful conduct of the election, pointed out that it was the only way Nigerians could boast of a free, fair and credible election.
Wamakko also tasked politicians to embark on aggressive campaign to educate their followers on the dangers involved in political violence.
He said that, what we needed as a nation was political tolerance and understanding for the overall political growth of the country.
Wamakko also said that PDP as a party had come to stay in Sokoto state as the party would continue to implement policies and programmes that would enhance the well-being of the people.
He called on the people to continue to leave in peace with one another to enable government to implement its laudable programmes for the overall political development of the state.
Zamfara
The lingering leadership crisis in Zamfara PDP on Sunday resulted in the conduct of two parallel governorship primaries.
Both Governor Mahmuda Shinkafi and former Information Minister, Ikra Bilbis, separately claimed victory in the primaries.
Our correspondent reports that the PDP leadership in the state under Ibrahim Mallaha held its congress at the old motor park near Kantin daji.
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