Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
No fewer than 27 organisations have declared their readiness to campaign for the re-election of Gov. Murtala Nyako of Adamawa on the PDP platform in 2012.
The party’s Chairman in the state, Alhaji Mijinyawa Kugama, made the announcement at the inauguration of the office of the Adamawa Consensus Forum for the Nyako/Ngilari 2012 Support Group.
Kugama said the emergence of the growing number of interest groups clamouring to work for the re-election of Nyako was a welcome development and a testimony of his good performance in transforming Adamawa.
“As far as we are concerned in the PDP, this is a pointer that Nyako’s team is a winning one that is just waiting for 2012 to renew its mandate with ease.”
In his remarks, Nyako lauded all those working to ensure PDP’s victory and gave assurance that his administration would continue to ensure fairness to all parts of the state in terms of development projects in line with the party’s manifesto.
He said the PDP had been good to the Adamawa people at all levels and its re-election would ensure continued provision of democracy dividends.
‘’Some say PDP will lead Nigeria for 60 years. As for the people of Adamawa we won’t mind PDP ruling for 600 years.’’
Bauchi
Bauchi State House of Assembly has approved the request earlier submitted to it by Gov. Isa Yuguda to appoint Directors-General but warned him against incurring additional fund for the exercise.
The approval followed reports of an ad hoc committee earlier set up by the House under Alhaji Hassan Ningi to investigate if the request was in line with the nation’s constitution.
Ningi, in his reports at the House plenary session on Thursday, presided over by Speaker Yahaya Miya, said that Yuguda had the power to appoint personal aides under the 1999 Constitution.
He told the legislators that the committee, in the course of its investigations, discovered that under Section 208 (2) D of the amended 1999 Constitution, the governor has the power to appoint personal staff and ascribe any name to them.
Miya observed that the appointment of directors-general ranked below the special advisers but placed above senior special assistants to the governor.
He, therefore, advised that since they were above special assistants, the nominations must be submitted to the House for confirmation.
FCT
A don, Prof. Saleh Dauda, has called on African leaders to embrace constitutionalism in governance to enhance peace in the continent.
Dauda, who teaches political science and international relations at the University of Abuja, made the call in Gwagwalada, FCT, while reacting to the death of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi on Thursday.
Gaddafi, who ruled his country for 42 years, was killed on Thursday in Sirte, his home town, while trying to escape from being captured by rebels, who had been fighting to overthrow his government.
Dauda told newmen that the Libyan people revolted against Gaddafi because he denied them their fundamental human rights.
Dauda, therefore, called on African leaders to ensure that the wishes and desires of their people were given utmost attention because, according to him, the quest for change is a global phenomenon.
He also called on politicians in the continent to see political office as a call to service “within a specific period”.
Gombe
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Gombe State is to engage the services of 1,052 ad-hoc staff for the conduct of the Balanga/Billiri Federal Constituency bye-election fixed for October 22.
The INEC Administrative Secretary in Gombe State, Alhaji Mohammed Giro, told newsmen in Gombe that 20 permanent staff would be involved in the election.
Giro said that the training of the ad-hoc staff, most of them NYSC members has, commenced adding that voting would take place in 317 polling units in the two local government areas of Balanga and Billiri.
The administrative secretary said, “We are fully prepared for the conduct of election and had already assigned all ad-hoc staff to all the polling units.
“They are expected to report to their places of assignment as soon as their training is concluded. We are also in possession of non-sensitive election material and the sensitive ones will arrive in Gombe on Thursday.
Kaduna
The National President, Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Mr Mohammed Auwal-Ibrahim, says colleges of education are critical to the production of quality teachers in the education system.
He spoke with journalists shortly after the opening of an expanded National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the National Delegate Conference of COEASU held at the Federal College of Education (FCE) Zaria last Thursday.
Auwal-Ibrahim observed that colleges of education were the necessary path toward the production of sound teachers, “while teachers are central to the educational development of any nation’’.
“Growth and development of any sector of the nation’s economy lies on the quality of teachers to produce the basic manpower needed in the sector,” he said.
He appealed to government to accord special attention to teacher-education with a view to graduating quality teachers, who would in turn contribute to national growth and development.
Kano
An economist, Dr Aminu Ahmed, has advised the non-oil producing states in the country to diversify their revenue base and explore the potential of solid mineral resources.
Ahmed told newsmen in Kano that the diversification of Nigeria’s revenue sources would safeguard the nation from plunging into economic crisis.
He noted that there were over 400 sites with various mineral resources in commercial quantities across the country, adding, however, that “the main problem to our economic growth is the lack of political will”.
He stressed that successive governments had failed to explore the enormous potentials and opportunities existing in the solid minerals sector, resulting in the country’s over-dependence on oil.
Ahmed, who identified diamond, gold, gypsum, limestone and glass as some of the country’s solid minerals that were in high demand in the international market, said that the minerals could also be processed locally.
Kwara
Wife of Kwara Governor, Mrs Omolewa Ahmad, has called on political office holders in the state to make use of her Charity Foundation’s free health care to enhance the health care delivery of the people.
Ahmed, the initiator of LEAH Charity Foundation, said this in Ilesha Baruba in Baruteen Local Government Area of Kwara on Wednesday during the inauguration of Clinic-On Wheel Programme.
She said that the clinic-on-wheel programme became necessary due to the increasing rate of malaria, diabetes, blindness and hypertension in the state.
The clinic-on-wheel programme is a mobile clinic that affords the people the opportunity to access health care services from the team of medical experts going round the communities.
The Kwara first lady said, “LEAH Charity Foundation is offering free drugs for newly diagnosed malaria cases, provision of free prescription eye glasses and free cataract operation.”
She pointed out that the medical team would be around for some weeks moving round the three districts of the local government area.
Lagos
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says it is not against any meeting with the Federal Government, its ministers or agents, but insists that such meeting must have a clear agenda.
Mr Owei Lakemfa, the Acting General Secretary of NLC, said this on Saturday in a statement made available in Lagos.
Lakemfa said he was reacting to the meeting allegedly held between the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Mr Emeka Wogu, and some labour leaders in Abuja on October 20.
He said that the leadership of NLC boycotted the meeting because there was no clear agenda.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state that labour is not averse to any meeting with the Federal Government, its ministers or agents,’’ he said.
Nasarawa
Nasarawa State Governor Umaru Al-makura, on Wednesday submitted four separate requests to the state House of Assembly, including the one asking for the confirmation of his proposed 18-man cabinet.
The governor also asked the legislature to approve his proposal to appoint 20 special advisers.
The requests were presented to the House by the Majority Leader, Assemblyman Godiya Akwashiki (PDP-Nasarawa Eggon West).
The requests include the legislature’s consideration and approval of the 2011 Supplementary Appropriation Bill, which aims at capturing expenses that are not reflected in the 2011 budget.
Others are a bill seeking the amendment of the Remuneration of Political and Public Office Holders and a bill for the Establishment, Structure, Composition, Finance and Functions of Local Government System (Second Amendment).
After some intense debate, the House resolved to prune down Al-makura’s request for 20 special advisers to 15.
Niger
No fewer than 11 pregnant women from Niger have been barred from performing this year’s Hajj by the State Pilgrims Welfare Commission.
The Chairman of the Commission, Alhaji Mamman Mohammad, announced this in an interview with newsmen in Minna on Wednesday.
He said those disqualified were detected following the thorough screening of female prospective pilgrims.
Mohammad said the commission’s medical team detected the women during the screening preparatory to their departure to Saudi Arabia.
He said the screening was a success as all the pregnant women, who had attempted to beat the exercise, were detected and barred from the Hajj.
Mohammad said barring such women from the pilgrimage was due to the health hazard that could be encountered during the exercise.
He said it was in line with the guidelines of the Saudi Arabian Government and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) that forbade them from undertaking the Hajj.
Mohammad said the state lost seven seats as penalty from NAHCON over the inability to detect some pregnant women during the 2010 Hajj operation which resulted in miscarriages.
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