Nation
THE STATES
Borno
The Borno State Government said it would construct 250
houses for 800 residents of Bulabulin Ngarnam in Maiduguri who were displaced by the Boko Haram crisis.
Governor Kashim Shettima made the disclosure while inspecting the site for the construction of the houses near the Maiduguri Flour Mills.
Shettima said the gesture was aimed at providing shelter to the victims who had lost their property to the crisis and directed the committee handling the project to commence work on the site next week for early completion.
Responding, the Chairman of the committee, Alhaji Ibrahim Ali, commended the governor for approving the construction of the houses and expressed willingness to commence work as soon as possible.
FCT
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala
Mohammed, has condemned media reports on a purported foreign trip by the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, for medical treatment
Mohammed, who spoke in Abuja, when the first lady paid him a condolence visit over the death of his brother, Malam Yusuf Mohammed, described the report as malicious.
“We want to dispute media reports that you are sick and rushed abroad, but here you are resplendent and beautiful. “We wish to tell the ‘Judases’ that they are not God and that anybody can fall sick,’’ he said.
He said that Mrs Jonathan’s support to her husband, the nation and vulnerable women was important, noting that she had a “positive impact on our lives’’.
Mohammed said that his late brother was a technocrat who lived a life worthy of emulation.
Kaduna
The Kaduna State Primary Health Care Agency said it was
collaborating with UNICEF to revive 1,700 health committees at ward level to effectively fight poliomyelitis.
The Executive Secretary of the agency, Dr Sufyan Babale, stated this at a one-day Sensitisation and training Workshop for traditional leaders’’ on their roles in polio eradication held in Sabongari, Zaria.
The programme was organised by the agency in collaboration with UNICEF “C” Field Office, Kaduna.
Babale said the revival of the committees became imperative in view of their importance toward the eradication of the disease.
In a speech, Mr Ufuwai Bonet, Chairman, Kaduna State Task Force on Polio Immunisation, tasked village and ward heads to attend review meetings regularly to enhance the fight to end the disease by the end of the year.
Kano
The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP), Alhaji Adamu Muazu, has commended traditional rulers in the country for promoting peaceful coexistence in the country.
He made the commendation when he paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero in his palace in Kano.
He expressed appreciation to the Emirate Council for organising prayer sessions for peace and stability in the country.
He told the emir that he came to introduce himself as the national chairman of the PDP and seek the blessings of the emir in the task ahead.
Katsina
Funtua Local Government Area of Katsina State says it
immunised 127,263 children against poliomyelitis and other child killer diseases in January.
The Primary Healthcare Coordinator in the area, Alhaji Abdu Isa-Yankara, said this in Funtua while distributing treated mosquito nets and other consumables to hospitals under the Roll Back Malaria Programme.
He said 137,460 doses of oral polio vaccines were received for the exercise, while 125,354 children were immunised against the child killer diseases.
Kebbi
The Assistant Inspector-General(AIG) in charge of Zone10,
Amman Sule, has assured political parties that the zonal command would remain neutral in the 2015 general elections.
The Zone 10 of the Nigeria Police Force comprises Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states with headquarters in Sokoto.
The AIG gave the assurance in Birnin Kebbi, during an interactive session with officials of political parties in the state.
He said the police would be strict in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities of keeping law and order and not engaging in partisan politics.
Kwara
The Alamayo of Amayo in Kwara State, Oba Jamiu
Oyewole, has called for closer collaboration between religious and community heads to promote lasting peace in the country.
Oyewole who made the call in an interview at his palace in Ifelodun Local Government of the state said the collaboration would help to sustain government’s effort at ensuring peaceful co-existence among the people and also engender development.
He commended the Federal Government for the provision of social amenities across the state and appealed to the people to protect government installations cited in their areas.
The monarch said the process of ensuring peace and security was not for government alone, adding that it was a collective responsibility of citizens to ensure peace and stability in their localities.
Kogi
Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State has assured youths
in the state of his administration’s support towards re-orientation of youths and positive engagement.
Wada made the pledge while inaugurating some tricycles purchased by Mopamuro Local Government and subsidised by 25 per cent.
Wada, who was represented by his Deputy, Mr Yomi Awoniyi, said the state government was working on a lasting solution to enable the various councils in the state overcome their financial challenges and meet their obligations.
A statement issued by the press secretary to the Deputy Governor, Mr Michael Abu, said that Wada also commended the council for the youth empowerment initiative.
He commended the Chairman of Mopamuro Local Government, Mr Funsho Daniyan, for prudent management of resources.
Lagos
Some Nigerians have commended the plan to restructure
the Nigeria Police by deploying Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs) to zonal headquarters to strengthen policing.
The DIGs, to be replaced by Assistant Inspectors-General of Police at the Force Headquarters, will be empowered to deploy, discipline and promote officers and men in their zonal commands. The restructuring is to be done by the Police Service Commission.
In an interview in Lagos, some Nigerians said that the restructuring would enhance the performance of the police.
A security expert and the Chief Promoter, Chief Detective Magazine, Mr Dipo Kehinde, commended the plan to empower DIGs and some other senior officers to promote hardworking men under them. Oyo
Oyo
Some aggrieved members of the All Progressives
Congress (APC) in Oyo State are set to defect to the Labour Party, a letter made available to newsmen on Sunday in Ibadan has revealed.
The letter, which was signed by Labour Party’s National Chairman, Chief Dan Nwanyanwu, stated that its National Working Committee had accepted the defecting APC members.
It said the new members would soon be inaugurated by the national leadership of the Party.
According to the letter, the faction of the APC set to defect to LP were mainly young politicians in the age bracket of between 40 and 50 years.
It said the defectors included some immediate past board chairmen in Governor Abiola Ajimobi-led administration and aggrieved loyalists of the late leader of APC and former governor of the state, Alhaji Lam Adesina.
Plateau
Two suspected cattle thieves have been allegedly killed
by a vigilante group in Kombili village, Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau recently.
Their corpses were brought to Mangu Divisional Police Station by officers and men of the force.
Our correspondent reports that the suspects, together with others, were alleged to have invaded the village to rustle cattle but met stiff resistance from the vigilante of the village.
A witness said that the rustlers came to the village around 2.00 a.m. and succeeded in moving the cows from the house of a respected resident.
The witness said the suspects were moving away with the cows when members of the vigilante accosted them.
Sokoto
A member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in
Sokoto State, Alhaji Abubakar Kantoma, has commended President Goodluck Jonathan for the release of N250 million to the victims of a recent fire that gutted the Kara market, Sokoto.
Kantoma, who is also the Secretary of the Special Committee set up for the disbursement of the money, made the commendation in a statement in Sokoto.
The market was razed by fire on February 5 and property worth millions of naira were lost. There was however no loss of life or injury during the incident.
Jonathan announced the donation on February 8 at a reception in Sokoto to welcome former Governor Attahiru Bafarawa to the PDP. Kantoma said the president had since redeemed the pledge.
Nation
Party Chieftain Hails LG Boss’ Dev Strides
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.
Nation
Group Plans Pilot Farm Programme For 50 Schools
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
Nation
NCSU Flays Police Take Over Of Rivers PDP Secretariat
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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