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THE STATES

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Bauchi

The Wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Amina Sambo,
says her NGO, ‘I Care Women and Youth Initiative’, would conduct cataract surgery for 500 people in Bauchi State.
Sambo, who was represented by the Secretary, Board of Trustees of the NGO, Col. Shehu Yahaya (Rtd), said this at the inauguration of the free eye care treatment on Saturday in Bauchi.
She said that according to the outcome of the National Blindness Survey, North- East was identified with highest prevalence of cataract in the country.
According to her, this informs the NGO’s decision to expand its scope of coverage from Kaduna State to North East region.

Benue

The Police in Benue State last Sunday confirmed a
fresh outbreak of hostilities between some Fulani herdsmen and Tiv farmers at Adaka village in Makurdi Local Government Area.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Daniel Ezeala,  said in Makurdi that renewed fighting between farmers and herdsmen broke out in the early hours of Sunday.
Ezeala said that the reasons for the clashes were not yet clear, but assured that enough police officers had been deployed in the area to quell the crisis.
He said investigation into the incident had commenced adding that details of the disturbance, including the magnitude of the destruction, would be made known as soon as the inestigatin was concluded.

Borno

The Nigerian Legion in Borno State  last Sunday dis
tributed grains and wrappers to widows in Maiduguri as part of its assistance to families of ex-servicemen.
The Chairman of the Legion in the state, Alhaji Mustapha Aliyu,  inaugurated the distribution at a brief ceremony in Maiduguri.
Aliyu said that the gesture was aimed at alleviating the suffering of the widows who lost their bread winners in the service of the nation.
He said about 100 bags of grains and 100 wrappers had been set aside for distribution to widows of ex-servicemen.

FCT
The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has condoled
with the wife of the Governor of Gombe State, Hajiya Adamma Dankwambo, over the death of her father, Alhaji Inuwa Gombe.
Jonathan, who visited the Gombe State governor’s wife in Abuja last Saturday, said the deceased would be missed by his community and urged the family to emulate his good deeds.
Gombe, who died on December 24, 2013, was a pioneer staff of the Nigerian Mining Corporation and retired as a permanent secretary in the ministry of power.

Kaduna

Governor  Muktar Yero of Kaduna State says the state
government has earmarked N3.5 billion to develop the education sector in 2014.
Yero said this at the 2013 Annual General Meeting of Barewa Old Boys Association (BOBA) at Barewa College in Zaria, Kaduna State last  Saturday.
Represented by Alhaji Ibrahim Ali, the Commissioner for Education, Yero said the money would be used for new schools, rehabilitation of the existing ones and supply of facilities.
In his speech, the BOBA National President, Dr Umaru Abdulmutallab, urged politicians to borrow a leaf from late Waziri Ibrahim, who advocated the slogan “Politics without bitterness’’.
Kano

The Kano  State Electricity Distribution Company said
last Sunday that some disengaged staff of defunct Power Holdings Company of Nigeria (PHCN), were using their Identity Cards to defraud unsuspecting customers in Kano.
The company’s spokesman, Alhaji Mukhtar Usman, who gave this indication advised residents to be wary of such individuals.
The spokesman explained that faults on electricity distribution facilities, were repaired free-of-charge, under routine maintenance services.
He therefore urged customers to contact the company’s business units whenever any individual demanded for money to effect repairs on such faults.
Usman also advised the fraudsters, to desist from the unwholesome act, warning that the full wrath of the law would be visited on them, when nabbed.
Kogi

The Kogi State Government has agreed to renovate the
private residence of the first civilian governor of the old Kwara State, Alhaji Adamu Attah.
In a statement issued in Lokoja last Sunday, the Special Adviser to the State Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Jacob Edi, said that the renovation of the house, located at Kuroko, Adavi Local Government, was to facilitate the relocation of the former governor from Abuja to his hometown.
The statement said that the state governor, Capt Idris Wada ,who made the pledge during an inspection visit to the house, said that the matter was brought to his attention by some elders from Ebiraland.
“It is sad that Alhaji Adamu Attah is residing in Abuja instead of staying at home. An elderly statesman like him must live at home so that he can continue to contribute his quota to the development of the state,’’ the statement quoted the governor as saying during the visit.
Kwara

The Emir of Yashikira in Baruten Local Government,
Kwara State, Alhaji Usman Umar, has appealed for government’s assistance in the preservation and development of the indigenous culture and tradition.
The monarch who made the appeal in an interview in Yashikira at the celebration of the annual Gaani Cultural festival, asserted that a people without culture and tradition is like a tree without root.
He urged government at all levels to encourage traditional rulers in the development of their root, culture and tradition.
The traditional ruler explained that Gaani festival is celebrated in Bartonum and Borgu Kingdoms every year in commemoration of the birth of Prophet Mohammed.
Oyo

A former Governor of Oyo State, Chief Adebayo
Alao-Akala, last Sunday called on Nigerians to use the forthcoming national centenary celebration to re-orientate the new generation on patriotism.
He said that re-orientation would educate the youths on ways to build a great country devoid of oppression, tribalism and corruption.
Alao-Akala who made the call in an interview in Ogbomoso, said the nation had not measured up to expectations in the last 100 years, stressing that certain things were left undone.
“I cannot say categorically that we have progressed in the last 100 years, but we have not measured up to expectations. We have left certain things undone,’’ he said.

Plateau

The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Jos,  last
Sunday, said 128 lives were lost in road accidents in the state in 2013.
The Sector Commander in the state, Mr Sunday Maku, who made the disclosure in an interview said the deaths were recorded in 325 accidents in the state during the period under review, adding that a total of 891 persons sustained injuries in the accidents.
He added that road accidents in the state increased in 2013 from the 2012 record of 238 cases, where 65 people died and 657 sustained injuries.
The sector commander said 4,934 802 traffic offenders were arrested in 2013 as against 4,802 arrested in 2012 and attributed the increase in road accidents in the state in 2013 to motorists’ refusal to adhere to traffic regulations.

Sokoto

The Sokoto State Commissioner for Information, Malam
Danladi Bako, last Saturday said the state government would spend N3.7 billion for the construction of 45.5km Tangaza-Ruwa Road.
Bako said in an interview in Sokoto that the project was part of the state government’s transformation to link all the local government areas with good roads network.
The commissioner said the construction would also continue from Wuri-Kalmo linking Tangaza and Illela Local Governments adding that it will further enhance the socio-economic and political growth of the state.
He called on the people of the two local governments to cooperate with the construction firm to ensure early completion and expressed confidence that the work would be completed within the 15 months scheduled period.

L-R: Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, Chairman, Lagos House Committee on Health, Mr Suru Avoseh,  Gov. Babatunde Fashola,  Chairman, Amuwo/Odofin Local Government, Mr Ayodele Adewale and Deputy Chairman, Lagos House of Assembly, Mr Kolawole Taiwo, at  the  inauguration of Amuwo/Odofin Maternal and Child Health Care Centre in Lagos, yesterday.

L-R: Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, Chairman, Lagos House Committee on Health, Mr Suru Avoseh, Gov. Babatunde Fashola, Chairman, Amuwo/Odofin Local Government, Mr Ayodele Adewale and Deputy Chairman, Lagos House of Assembly, Mr Kolawole Taiwo, at the inauguration of Amuwo/Odofin Maternal and Child Health Care Centre in Lagos, yesterday.

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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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