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THE STATES

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Benue

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture last Monday distrib
uted 180 knapsack sprayers to maize farmers in Benue.
The Coordinator of the ministry, Mr Benjamin Kuleve, who performed the exercise, said the gesture was a deliberate policy of the Federal Government to encourage farmers, especially the youths.
Kuleve urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the knapsack sprayers to complement the already existing efforts by the state government to take agriculture to enviable heights.
The Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Mr Aondona Kuhe, thanked the Federal and State Governments on their efforts to boost agriculture in the country and that the association would monitor and ensure that the knapsack sprayers were used only for the purpose they were intended.

Borno

Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State has promised
to complete all ongoing roads and other projects in the Gwoza Emirate of the State.
Shettima made the promise when members of the Gwoza Elders Forum paid him a courtesy visit in Maiguguri on Monday to thank him for elevating the Emir of Gwoza to first class status.
Ekiti

The National Conscience Party (NCP), has declared its
readiness to participate in the governorship election in Ekiti State in June.
The National Chairman of the Party, Dr Tanko Yinusa dropped the hint at the Special Convention of the State chapter of the party in Ado-Ekiti on Monday.
According to him, the NCP, in continued pursuit of the vision of its founder father, late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, would strive to eradicate poverty
.
FCT

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Adm. Ola Ibrahim, has
commended the U.S and other countries for their support in combating terrorism within Nigeria and the sub-region.
Ibrahim made the commendation at the opening of a Workshop on Counter Insurgency and Counter Terrorism in Abuja on Monday.
“It is indeed gladdening to see the armed forces of Nigeria getting immense support from the United States as well as other countries towards defeating terrorism within Nigeria and the sub-region.’ “The recent joint exercises with navy along our coastal belt and training exercises with the army will attest to the collaboration towards building capacity of the armed forces’’, he said.

Gombe

The Police in Gombe State said it arrested six persons in
connection with the death of Alhaji Adamu Yusuf and Alhaji Umar Makama in Gombe metropolis on Dec. 31, 2013.
A  statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Mr Fwaje Atajiri, in Gombe on Monday. The statement said the suspects were helping the police in the investigation.
“The police wish to make it clear that it is poised to deal decisively with any form of thuggery, politically motivated violence and social miscreants, according to the law. “In the same vein, their sponsors will also face the full wrath of the law as no individual is above the law of the land,” the statement added.

Kano

The Kano State Government has donated N3million to the
state chapter of the Nigerian Legion as part of preparations for this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day.
Governor Rabiu Kwankwanso announced the donation Monday, at the launch of Emblem Appeal Fund at the Government House, Kano.
The governor, who was represented by the State Commissioner for Information, Dr Umar Faruk, said the donation was aimed at assisting the ex-service men in the state and appealed to the ex-service men to remain committed and patriotic towards national co-existence.

Katsina

The Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST) in Katsina State
has threatened to withhold mails of the 34 local governments in Katsina State for allegedly failing to settle their debt for the past three years.
The NIPOST Manager in Katsina, Mr Alex Bature, told newsmen on Monday in Katsina that the debt amounted to N3 million.
Bature said although NIPOST was not a profit-making agency, there was need for individuals and organisations to pay for the services rendered to them “to enable us to settle our financial problems”.
The manager also said that NIPOST would organise a programme to enlighten students on the importance of postal services noting that the state Ministry of Education had made it mandatory for schools to embark on excursion to the agency.
Kwara

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has urged
Muslims to imbibe the virtues of Prophet Muhammad as they mark the birth of the Holy Prophet.
A  message to mark Eid-El-Maulud, issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, on Monday in Ilorin quoted the governor as saying that the virtues of the Prophet were what endeared Him to humanity of all races and faith.
Ahmed also urged Muslims and Nigerians in general to use the occasion to reflect on the state of affairs in the country by praying for good governance and inter-religious harmony.
He added that “Nigerians, irrespective of our religious and ethnic diversity, must at occasions like this, reflect on issues that can strengthen our nationhood and He reiterated his administration’s commitment to ensure equity and justice in the pursuit of programmes that would enhance the welfare of the people.

Lagos

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB),
last Monday alerted the public on reports of fake Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) e-facility cards in circulation in Lagos.
The Coordinator of the Board in Lagos, Alhaji Kamaldeen Oladeji, disclosed in Lagos that the board’s annex in Lagos had been informed that some persons were selling fake e-facility cards for the board’s 2014 UTME.
“The candidates complained of the e-facility cards not only being sold, but also sold at more than the quoted purchase price of N1,000,” he said.
Oladeji added that the e-facility card was only available for sale to the public at the board’s offices nationwide.

Niger

Chief Magistrates’ Court last Monday sentenced a 26-
year-old labourer, Salisu Umar to 10 years imprisonment for raping in Minna, a 4-year-old girl contrary to Section 18 of the Child’s Right Law of Niger State.
The Police Prosecutor, Insp. Ahmed Saidu, told the court that one Ayuba Tanimu of Abdulsalam Quarters reported the case at the police station on January 8.
Saidu said that the convict, a resident of Peter Sarki Road Minna, took the complainant’s daughter to an uncompleted building and had sexual intercourse with her.
In his ruling, Magistrate Abdullahi Usman sentenced the labourer to 10 years imprisonment without an option of fine and ordered that the convict to pay a compensation of N50, 000 to the parents of the minor.

Osun

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, last
Monday said the achievements of Gov. Rauf Aregbesola would ‘speak’ for him in the campaign for the forthcoming governorship election.
The State Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy of APC, Mr Kunle Oyatomi, said in Osogbo, that the governor would not involve himself in any campaign of calumny but would showcase the good works he had done since the inception of his administration in 2010.
The director listed the major achievements of the governor to include stoppage of perennial flooding which had caused incalculable damage in some parts of the state.

Plateau

The President, Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria
(CBCN), Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama, last Monday said the national dialogue committee inaugurated was a right step in right direction.
Kaigama, who is the Catholic Archbishop of Jos, said this at the closing ceremony of the 42nd National Laity Council Conference of the church.
He said that the dialogue would enable Nigerians to sit and discuss their future as a nation.
“I hope that the national dialogue will be genuine enough and will not be turned to a mere national conference of leaders which will end up as an academic exercise,’’ he said.

Yobe

Youths in Damaturu last Monday appealed to the Yobe
State Government to extend the state empowerment programmes initiated in 2013.
Aliyu Kaku, an unemployed graduate and beneficiary of the programme said:”the programme had provided graduates with a means of livelihood.
Usman Buba, an NCE graduate called on the state government to concentrate on youth empowerment in 2014, with a view to finding solution to the challenges in the state.

President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo with members of the National Pension Commission Board after the inauguration of the board by the President  in Abuja last Wednesday. Photo: NAN

President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo with members of the National Pension Commission Board after the inauguration of the board by the President in Abuja last Wednesday. Photo: NAN

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Party Chieftain Hails LG Boss’ Dev Strides

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Acting Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State, Hon Chukwuemeka Nwuche has extolled the sterling leadership being provided by the Chairman of the council, Hon Iyeko Okporo, describing it as unprecedented.
Hon Chukwuemeka described the council chairman as God-sent, considering his achievements in just 100 days in office.
The PDP chieftain said the chairman has rekindled the hope and trust of the people in grassroots governance.
He expressed gratitude to the Governor for enabling his people to have his replica at Akinima.
He explained that the solar water project, the Late Eze Ekpeye Logbo 11 palace fencing, generator house rebuilding and town hall, all in Odiereke Ubie Community can best be described as the hallmark of true leadership.
He said the projects have direct bearing on the basic needs of the people who have suffered untold hardship and bad governance until the saviour came into office.
“ It is thunderous, as you can see the organic support and show of love to the performing chairman. Our people are overwhelmed seeing one of their own touching lives in a special way. As a community ,we have been in the past years without drinking water, but just two months in office, the chairman has provided not just drinking water, but a well-treated solar water project. Okporo is God-sent, no wonder he is nicknamed such. We have compared notes with other chairmen in the past and came to the conclusion that what he is doing in 100 days is overwhelming. Governor Fubara has made us proud by allowing a level playing field that necessitated the emergency of the chairman. You can see the women, men, youths and traditional rulers all saying one thing. God bless Governor Fubara for giving us our own. We owe him prayers and unwavering support,” he said.
In her welcome address, the Ward 9 councillor, Hon Catherine Uriah showered encomiums on the chairman for addressing the basic needs of the people in just 100 days in office.
Hon Uriah also thanked the Governor for allowing the will of the people to prevail in the just concluded local government elections which produced the God fearing chairman.
She said the people of Ward 9 as well as Ahoada West are pleased with the chairman because he is doing well.
She said the people will go to length to show support to him in his determination to redefine governance at the grassroots.

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Group Plans Pilot Farm Programme For 50  Schools

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A community-based non-governmental organisation, The Peoples Encouragers Initiative, is planning a pilot farm project for 50 schools in both Ahoada East and Ahoada West Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
Executive Director of the organisation, Chukwuma Abraham disclosed this at the recent International Human Rights Day celebration at Ahoada, headquarters of Ahoada East Local Government Area.
Abraham said the proposed programme which gulps the sum of N45million was intended to bring the youths back to the land and make them self-reliant.
“We hope to mobilise the factors of production inherent in all the schools through this programme to achieve two basic objectives of building self reliant youths and to create a viable and sustainable stream of income for our schools,” he said.
He said the programmme will also keep the youth busy and impact farming skills, stressing that each of the participating schools is expected to nominate at least two members of staff to coordinate and supervise the programme while10 students will be elected as executive members to administer the programmme on a day to day basis in their various schools.
“Every school has a sizeable portion of arable land to carry out the programme of establishing a functional farm in their chosen area of interest. We are hoping to mobilise an estimated N45 million to enable us set up the pilot farms across the 50 schools within Ahoada East and Ahoada West Local Government Areas,” he said.
He said the celebration was to draw attention of both the Nigerian government and the international community to the issue of human rights violation, adding that findings by the organisation has shown that insecurity and youth unemployment worsened over the past few years as a result of the insecurity that engulfed the Orashi region of the State. We also found out that the high level of cultism and social unrest within our environment is mostly fuelled by the high use of  illicit drugs among the youths. This programme will afford us the opportunity to take a tour through the universal declaration of human rights and reinforce on our youths the understanding that substance abuse can lead to crime, crime can lead to jail term and criminal record can blight their future dreams and life for ever,”he said.
Also speaking, the representative of the Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Mr. Ikporo Freedom urged the students to shun all forms of anti-social behaviours especially during the holiday season.
He also warned them against joining bad groups and stressed the need for the organisation to include private schools in the programme.
The Chairman of Ahoada East Local Government Council, Hon Ezu R .C . Hezekiah represented by his Deputy, Hon Ununuma Odoi pledged the support of the council to the programme.
He also urged other groups in the area to emulate The Peoples Encouragers Initiative by organizing programms that will impact on the lives of the people.

John Bibor

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NCSU Flays Police Take Over Of Rivers PDP Secretariat

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The Nigeria Civil Service Union(NCSU) has condemned the take over of the secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in Rivers State by the police, saying the action is against the tenets and principles of the rule of law.
This is even as the union has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to call to order the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike for allegedly orchestrating and instigating the crisis rocking the PDP in the State.
The Rivers State Chairman of NCSU, Comrade Chukwuka Richman Osumah, who made the condemnation in an interview in Port Harcourt, said the police have no right to take over the PDP secretariat, as a ploy to provide cover and protection for members of the state executive of the party loyal to Wike, who were recently sacked by a court of competent jurisdiction in the State.
According to him, the action of the police is in clear defiance of a court ruling sacking the party executives at all levels in the State, instead of taking steps to enforce same.
He regretted that the police have consistently been showing that they are not appreciative of the logistic support Governor SiminalayiFubara has been extending to them, by openly demonstrating their bias, loyalty and allegiance to Wike and his supporters, contrary to their rules of engagement, which uphold and recognise absolute neutrality.
He said the Minister is wasting his time if he thinks that he could destroy the State by orchestrating and instigating needless crisis that is capable of making the State ungovernable, and appealed to President Tinubu to call him and his supporters to order.
Commenting on the fate of the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers in the State, who defected from the ruling PDP to the All Progressives Congress(APC), Osumah said their fate is apparently sealed, as the Supreme Court had already given judgment in a similar case, saying, Wike is merely wasting his time by using the lawmakers against Governor Fubara, and causing unnecessary problem in the State.
He said if the Minister and his supporters do not retrace their steps and give peace a chance, the NCSU would have no choice than to mobilise all civil servants in the State, to troop out to the streets and protest against them.
The labour leader stressed the need for the police to vacate the PDP secretariat along Aba Road in Port Harcourt, and respect the High Court ruling which declared the congresses of the party in the State null and void.
While reiterating the need for President Tinubu to call Wike to order, Osumah said the President cannot continue to fold his arms and watch the Minister continuously make frantic efforts to destroy his State.
He also carpeted those blaming Governor Fubara administration for the recent gruesome murder of a Chief Security Officer(CSO) and his son in Igwuruta Ali community, saying those making such insinuations and attributing the sad incident to security lapses on the part of the state government, are missing the point.
He noted that by empowering the police in the State with several operational vehicles and other logistics, it was expected that the police would reciprocate the gesture, by living up to their constitutional obligation of protecting lives and property in the State, contending that Governor Fubara has been playing his part of guaranteeing security in the State.

 

He said the State is generally peaceful and safe, and challenged those criticising the Governor to cast their minds and attention to what is happening in other parts of the country, where killings and other social vices have become the order of the day.
Osumah cited as an example the recent killings in Ebonyi State by Fulani herdsmen as well as incidences of kidnapping and banditry in several other States of the federation, and wondered if Governor Fubara could be held responsible for such anomalies.

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