Niger

The Etsu Nupe, Yahaya Abubakar has said that “the death of former First Lady, Maryam Babangida has created a wide vacuum which will be too difficult to fill”.

Speaking to newsmen on Tuesday in Bida, Niger State, on the tenise of Maryam, the royal father described her as a very courageous woman whose main focus was the Nigerian woman. He said her pet project; the “Better Life For Rural Women” touched all spheres of women endeavour in the country. Through the programme, the Etsu Nupe added, “the ever elegant Maryam made Nigerian women to know their rights better, just as it empowered them fully.

Ekiti

The wife of Human Rights Activist, Falana, Mrs Funmu Falona has commended the Ekiti State government for giving the Evelu Angela Adebayo Motherless Babies Home, Iyin-Ekiti, a face lift, saying the government’s gesture is encouraging.

Mrs Falana also awarded scholarships to over 60 indigent students of IIawe-Ekiti, her country home, in various tertiary institutions across the country.

She said this would enable them to have equal access to education, like their counterparts from wealthy homes.

The scholarship scheme and the presentation of gifts to the orphanage are annual events being mid-wifed by Femi and Funmi Falana Foundation.

Plateau

Plateau State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Sarah Yusuf on Tuesday declared that no fewer than 492 retired military men in the state died in 2009.

The Commissioner who disclosed this at a press conference to mark 2010 Armed Forces Remembrance Day stated that 58 of them died during the last Jos crisis while the others, as a result of various diseases.

According to her, based on available data on the retired soldiers, there are 975 Ex-military men in the state adding that in 2009, 89 migrated from the state for one reason or the other.

On the significance of the day, Yusuf said it has been specially dedicated by government to commemorate the nation’s fallen heroes and to also show appreciation to those still living.

Kwara

Former President of the Chartered Institute of Bankers (CIBN), Samuel Kolawole on Monday died in his hotel room at the Kwara Hotels, Ilorin.

Kolawole, who was also a former managing director of the defunct Trade Bank Plc, was said to have died moments after he developed some health related complications in his room.

The bank guru who hailed from Etan in Osi local government area of Kwara state was said to have checked in the hotel room on Sunday.

Borno

House of Representatives Minority Leader, Muhammed Ali Ndume has said that only civil revolution can wrest power from the Peoples Democratic party , PDP, back to Nigerian masses in 2011.

Ndume also dubbed the President Yar’Adua’s seven point agenda as “a complete nonsense that was unilaterally designed by one man to achieve nothing.”

According to him, ‘It is not going to be an issue of the opposition taking over government in 2011, power will be taken away from the PDP through a massive revolution – a civil revolution, a political revolution, because people are fed up with the way PDP is ruling this country with impunity without recourse to the yearnings and aspiration of the Nigerian masses.”

He said the revolution might not be realised on party lines but will surely come through the revolt of the short changed masses who are going to go to the polls to vote out the PDP government.

Kano

New Leadership of  Kano Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has pleaded with the Commissioner of Police to probe the attack of its chieftain Halipu Ahmed Goso in Gwarro Local Government in Kano.

Goso is former Managing Director of Federal Radio Corporation, Kaduna Office.

Party leader in the state, Faruk Iya on Tuesday led the executive members on a courtesy visit to the Commissioner of Plice, Mammau Ibrahim Chafe and told the Commissioner that there was need for him to take the attack seriously so as to prevent a recurrevence.

The new Exco of PDP is happy with Kano State police Command and would do every thing possible to assist efforts of the command in maintaining a peaceful political atmosphere in the state.

“So far we have no reason to accuse the Police of any wrong droing or bias in their assignment”, Iya said.

Osun

Following the death of one of its lawyers Pa Jonathan Ogundere, Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) offered the award of N5 million as reward for any member of the public with useful information that could lead to the arrest of the killers.

State Deputy Chairman of the Party Chief Ojo Williams who disclosed this at a Press Conference in Osogbo, also asked the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mr. Ogbonna Onovo to set up a special panel to investigate the remote issues of the lawyer’s death.

Besides, the Nigerian Bar Assocation (NBA) Osogbo state branch has petitioned the Director of state Security Services (SSS) and the Inspector General of Police, demanding thorough investigation into Ogundere’s murder.

Kwara

Speaker of Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Babatunde Mohammed has called for a measure to check incessant violence by religious sects in the country.

Muhammed made the call, Tuesday, while speaking with newsmen in Ilorin on activities of the House and other national issues.

He described the fresh sectarian crises in Bauchi State as unfortunate adding that frequent outbreak of such crises in recent times was worrisome.

He also said the crises were inimical to democracy and development of the country and urged the appropriate authorities to find a way out of the problem.

FCT

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Adamu Aliero has said the FCT administration will not compromise the standard of education in the territory.

The Minister who threatened to shutdown 124 schools charged education administrators to proffer concrete solutions to the problems confronting the sector.

Aliero also directed 124 primary schools to upgrade their facilities and infrastructure in line with the standard set by the education secretariat or be closed down. Aliero spoke on Tuesday, while awarding certificates of accreditation to (9) FCT schools at the second Ministerial Town Hall meeting for private schools in the FCT.

Oyo

Governor Alao Akala of Oyo State has warned this year’s intending pilgrims to Jerusalem not to make any attempt to abscond or engage in drug trafficking.

Akala handed down the warning, Tuesday, while addressing the pilgrims at the Pilgrims Welfare Board (Christian Wing) Complex, Total Garden, Ibadan.

The Governor urged them not to see their trip to the holy land as a jamboree, but as one that would enhance spiritual rebirth and moral reform of society.

“You should see yourselves not only as ambassadors of the state, but also as architects of spiritual rebirth and moral reforms of the society,” he declared.

He reminded them of the theme of this year’s pilgrimage as “Pilgrimage as a tool for national change,” which, he said, called for fervent prayer for the fatherland, their state and their family.

Adamawa

Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Jibril has said that Nigeria needs to amend some provisions of the 1999 constitution if the country must move forward.

Aminu, noted that the constitution is full of flaws and technicalities that have negated the process of nation building and smooth democratic governance.

The lawmaker, who represents Adamawa Central in the National Assembly, pointed out that in as much as the constitution is weak in certain sensitive areas that border on the country’s socio-economic and political advancement, there is need for Nigerians to learn how to follow and obey provisions of the constitution of the country.

Speaking to selected journalists in his Yola residence, Monday night, Aminu said that the problems of the country should not only be blamed on the  inadequacies of the 1999 constitution, but on Nigerians whom he accused of not obeying the laws of the land.