Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)
says it has established seven new camps in Yola to accommodate Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from the recent attacks in Mubi, Adamawa State.
Its North-East Coordinator, Alhaji Muhammadu Kanar, disclosed this to newsmen in Yola, shortly after he distributed relief materials to no fewer than 3,000 IDPs at Daware camp in Fufore Local Government Area.
Kanar said that 10,000 IDPs were registered within the last two days adding that several thousands were still trooping into the camps.
He said the state government had provided over 100 vehicles to help evacuate those that were stranded in the bushes and highways after escaping the insurgents’ attacks in Mubi and Uba towns.
FCT
The Budget Office of the Federation has urged stake
holders in the review of workers’ minimum wage to consider the revenue generation profile of the country in taking decisions.
The Director-General of the office, Dr Bright Okogu, gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Abuja recently.
He observed that the Federal Government raised workers’ wage bill from N857 billion in 2009 to N1.8 trillion in 2014.
He said that the increase followed incessant strikes by various labour unions across the country.
He said that “if you have that kind of situation in an environment where your revenue is not growing with the same margin, obviously there will be challenges.
Gombe
The Ministry of Transport is to develop a strategy on how best to safeguard motor parks in the country, says the Minister Malam Idris Umar.
Umar stated this in Gombe while speaking to newsmen shortly after visiting the Federal Teaching Hospital and Specialist Hospital Gombe, where the victims of bomb blast were admitted as well as the scene of the blast.
“I will soon summon an emergency meeting with Commissioners for Transport to discuss how best to safeguard our motor parks.
“Just recently we concluded the National Transport Council meeting; we addressed the issue of safety and security.
“But of course even the current level of challenges, we need to probably do more on the level of guarding the motor parks”.
Kadunaa
A gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of All
Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State, has appealed to politicians to shun money politics.
Addressing party executives of Zaria Local Government in Zaria the aspirant said the call became necessary in view of the influence of money in the nation’s politics.
Lukman said avoiding money politics would certainly guarantee authentic and vibrant democracy in Nigeria.
The aspirant said that he was in Zaria to formally inform the executive members of APC in the area that he had purchased the form to aspire for gubernatorial seat.
Lukman urged the party leadership to give all aspirants a level playing field.
Kebbi
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kebbi State
says it is working towards a consensus governorship candidate for the 2015 polls.
The party said each of the three senatorial districts would present an aspirant for screening before zeroing in on one candidate.
The Chairman of the Resolution Committee of the party, Alhaji Suleiman Argungu, told newsmen in Birnin-Kebbi that whoever emerged of the three would be the party’s flagbearer in the election.
“The resolution committee will ensure each of the Senatorial Districts presents an aspirant out of the many aspirants,’’ he said.
Argungu said the 10 aspirants who had indicated interest to contest the governorship seat were expected to agree on only one.
Kogi
The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Kogi
State says that its mobile court has convicted 47 drivers of various traffic offences within one week.
The Sector Commander in the state, Mr Godwin Omiko, told newsmen in Lokoja that the convicted drivers were serial violators of the road safety rules and laws.
He said that the drivers were arraigned before a mobile court presided by Senior Magistrate Rachael Omajali, who found them guilty after trial.
He also said that those convicted were among 89 motorists arraigned before the court for overloading, over-speeding, seatbelt violation, phoning while driving and dangerous driving, among others.
Kwara
A member of the Kwara State House of Assembly,
Moshood Bakare, has expressed concern over the mass exodus of employees from the private to the public sector of the economy.
Bakare also expressed concern over the attendant negative consequences of the situation on the nation’s economy.
He said that economies, in developed parts of world, were driven by the private sector while the reverse was the case in Nigeria.
Addressing newsmen in Ilorin, the lawmaker expressed worry over what would befall the nation’s economy if urgent steps were not deployed to tackle the situation.
Bakare, who represents Omupo Constituency in the assembly, said there was need for the government to return normalcy to the ailing economy.
Osun
The Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Osogbo on the
August 9 Osun State governorship election has begun hearing the preliminary objections together with the substantive petition filed by Senator IyiolaOmisore to challenge re-election of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of the All Progressives Congress.
The Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime, said on Tuesday in her ruling that the panel would hear the issues of jurisdiction together with the petition of Omisore, who contested the election as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Counsel for the petitioner, Dr. Alex Iziyon(SAN), had on Thursday prayed the tribunal to hear the preliminary objections and the petition together in order to save time but Aregbesola, had through his lead counsel, Chief Akin Olujinmi(SAN), raised an objection to this.
He said the issue of jurisdiction, which bothered on the competence of the petition, should be first heard before the substantive petition.
However, the panel, in the ruling delivered on Wednesday, said all the four motions pending before it would be taken together with the petition.
Oyo
Team Akala, a support group for the re-election of former
Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala of Oyo State in 2015, has said that its principal is not jittery over the exercise.
The group said this in a statement signed by its Coordinator, Mr Niran Adeyoju, and made available to newsmen in Ogbomoso recently.
The group said a statement being circulated that Alao-Akala was jittery over 2015 was untrue.
The group also condemned the reports that its principal disrupted the distribution of voting materials for the ward congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held across the state on Saturday .
“The former governor did not in any way disrupt the congress when it is obvious that he was already leading in virtually all the wards.
“There is no basis for him or any of his political aide to have led thugs to the party secretariat to disrupt the process of distribution of materials, when we are already aware that the congress was already in our favour,’’ it said.
Plateau
The Plateau State chapter of the PDP is to conduct a
fresh ward congress in Pankshin Local Government, after it failed to carry out the exercise on Saturday, says its Organising secretary, Mr Michael Dachom.
Our correspondent reports that the congresses are expected to produce delegates to form the Electoral College to conduct the party’s primary elections— preparatory to the general elections in 2015.
Dachom told newsmen in Jos that the ward congresses could not hold in Pankshin because of some disagreements among stakeholders over the officials posted to conduct the exercise.
“The disagreements dragged on till late into the night and we had to postpone because of the terrain in Pankshin, coupled with the fact that the electoral panel had to move to all the wards,’’ he said.
Yobe
Twenty-nine people died yesterday in the mid-day sui
cide attack on Muslim Shiite sect members celebrating the Ashurah Day in Potiskum, Yobe State, eyewitnesses said.
The suicide attack took place at TsohonKasuwa, a densely populated area in the commercial city. It is 100km south of Damaturu, the state capital.
But the police put the figure of the dead at four, including the bomber. They said five people were injured.
The leader of the Shiite group, Mallam Mustapha Lawan Nasidi, said 29 members of the group were killed; over 80 injured.
Lawan blamed the military for the rise in the death toll, alleging that “many of the people were killed by security agencies, particularly soldiers”.
L-R: Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire,; Governor Babatunde Fashola and Commissioner for Sciene and Technology, Mr Ayo Mabadeje, at a briefing on Public Security System Demonstration in Lagos recently.
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