Nation
THE STATES
Benue
Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State says he
will ensure that Terver Kakih, who leveled allegations of certificate forgery against him is punished to serve as deterrent to others who may contemplate such action.
Reacting to the Supreme Court judgement which dismissed the forgery case brought against him by Terver Kakih, Governor Suswam said he had already instructed his lawyer to institute a legal action against Terver Kakih.
He stated that he would get the court punish Kakih for trying to smear his name, saying petition writing in Tiv had become a recurrent decimal.
Borno
The closure of Maiduguri International Airport may have
started attracting casualties as the elder brother of Governor Kashim Shettima, Alhaji Shettima Mohammed Shettima was involved in a ghastly motor accident during a trip to Kano to join a flight to Saudi Arabia for the lesser hajj.
The elder brother of the governor was fortunate to be alive after having multiple fractures but his police orderly attached to him after series of threat from Boko Haram insurgents was not lucky enough as he died from injuries sustained during the accident.
The Maiduguri International Airport, which was closed to commercial flights since February this year after the bombing of the Air Force base in the town by the insurgents, was closed by the Federal Government to all manner of flights on June 27, 2014 for a period of three months due to security concerns.
This has compelled intending pilgrims for this year’s lesser hajj to travel by road to Kano amidst fear over their safety.
Ekiti
The Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State has appealed
to the Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, to assign its case challenging the proposed Local Council Development Areas by the Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi.
In a statement in Ado-Ekiti, last Tuesday, the State Publicity Secretary, Kola Oluwawole, said the delay to assign the case to a judge was frustrating its efforts to stop the plan to create new 18 LCDAs.
It said, “Our case, HAD/75/2014, challenging the illegality that the outgoing governor and his party are perpetrating was filed at the High Court of Justice, Ado-Ekiti Judcial Divison on July 1, 2014 and deposed to by our State Chairman, Mr Makanjuola Ogundipe, on behalf of the party.
“Two weeks after the matter was filed, the Chief Judge refused to assign the matter to any judge to handle, until the national strike by judiciary workers began last Friday. We call on the people of the state and other well-meaning Nigerians to call Fayemi, Ekiti CJ to order. We know what to do. The National Judicial Council is there to call any errant judge to order’, it added.
Jigawa
The Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, said
it was not a crime for him or any other Nigerian to aspire to become the president of Nigeria next year, noting that those occupying political offices today never thought that they would be there some years back.
The governor who made the disclosure aboard Airlines, in its first commercial flight from Dutse to Abuja, explained that he felt fulfilled on completion of the Dutse International Airport under one year, which commenced its first commcial flight yesterday.
While calling on both local and foreign investors to come and invest in the state, the governor promised that the airport would open the state agricultural potential to the outside world.
In his remark, the Chief Executive Officer to the consultant to the government on the construction of the airport, El-Mansur Group, Mr Tunde Oyekola, explained that the timely delivery of the project under a year was as a result of Lamido’s tremendous commitment and determination to build an airport of international standard in a record time.
Katsina
Judiciary workers in Katsina State, under the aegis of
Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), yesterday withdrew their services and ensured that all courts in the state remained under lock and key.
The state chairman of the union, Sa’idu Kakarku, said in a statement posted on the gates of the courts that the indefinite industrial action was due to the directive of its national executive committee.
He said, the strike, which began on July 11, was occasioned by the failure of the state governments to comply with the Federal High Court order of January 13, in respect of the financial autonomy of the judiciary as provided in the constitution.
Kakarku said members of the union would continue to remain at home and wait for further directives from the national body and urged the striking workers to be law-abiding, as JUSUN would continue to function within the ambit of the law.
Lagos
Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has
criticised the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for holding its rally at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, Ojota, one of the greening initiatives of the state government which they had continously described as “cosmetic and elitist”.
Fashola, said at the 2014 Tree Planting Campaign, held in Eti-Osa East Local Council Development Area (LDCA), that by their act, the PDP did not only vindicate his government’s greening policy, but had also displayed their inconsistency.
The governor, while expressing satisfaction at the success story of the greening initiative and tree planting exercise, which has provided job opportunities for thousands of youth, recalled that the PDP had criticised the programme and labeled it a waste of tax payers’ money.
He said the tree planting exercise and green programme since inception in 2008, has generated over 75,168 employment opportunities for horticulturists, pruners, gardeners, welders, tanker drivers, security personnel and other artisans.
Nasarawa
The Speaker of Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Alhaji
Musa Ahmed last Monday, directed the Clerk of the House to serve Governor Tanko Al-Makura with notice of impeachment for ‘gross misconduct’.
The development followed a motion of public interest raised by the Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Mr Yahaya Usman (PDP-Umaisha/Ugya) during plenary in Lafia.
The Chief Whip Mr Mohammed Okpede, (PDP-Doma North) seconded the motion. Usman presented a document signed by 20 of the 24 members of the Assembly which contained the allegations of gross misconduct against the governor.
The speaker, (PDP-Nasarawa Central), who officially received the impeachment notice, said the House had complied with the provision of the constitution to serve the governor with impeachment notice.
Ogun
The Ogun State Police Command, yesterday said its de
tectives attached to Ewekoro Division had arrested 16 suspected cultists, including students of a polytechnic in Itori, Ewekoro Local Government Area of the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Muyiwa Adejobi, in a statement said the detectives acted on an intelligence gathering on the activities of cult groups in the area and bust their initiation.
According to Adejobi, 16 suspects, including eight students of the polytechnic, were arrested.: “Those arrested were Akintunde Paul, Seyi Meshinoye, Fowoshade Gbemisola, Dare Olabode, Oyetayo Bolaji, Akintunde Femi, Ajibola Abiola, Amosun Eniola, Shola Ogunniyi, Fashina Michael, Bello Oyedeji, Adeshola Amore, Ebi Victor, Ogunsola Ibrahim, Babatunde Allyson and Awobajo Babatunde.”
The suspects have been transferred to the Department of Criminal Investigation, Eleweran, Abeokuta for further interrogation as directed by the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State, CP Ikemefuna Okoye.
Osun
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
said it was planning heavy security presence during the August 9 governorship election in Osun State as was the case during a similar election held on June 21 in Ekiti State.
The State’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Segun Agbaje, who spoke in Abuja Wednesday, said the decision was informed by the heightening security situation in the state, arising from the unfriendly utterances of the major political players.
The REC said, of the 1,407,222 total registered voters in the state, INEC had distributed permanent voter card (PVC) to 63 per cent, translating to 792,200 of the registered voters. He said 1,250,569 of such PVC were received from the INEC headquarters as at July 11. Agbaje said 19 candidates have been cleared to contest the election as at today. He said no voter would be allowed to cast ballot without PVC. He assured that as against the case in Ekiti, any voter with valid voter’s card will be allowed to vote.
Plateau
No fewer than 11 people have been killed at Zamadede
in the Pil-Gani district of Langtang North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The victims were killed in the early hours of Monday in a fresh violence that had seen Fulani herdsmen and local inhabitants fighting each other.
Among those killed were said to be a 45-year-old mother with her little son and a pregnant woman.
It was learnt that the herdsmen attacked the villagers while they were still asleep and ransacked two communities in the area.
Newly appointed Secretary to Adamawa State Government, Prof. Liman Tukur (right), taking oath of office before the Acting Governor, Alhaji Ahmadu Umaru in Yola, last Wednesday.
An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centre is set to be established in Omoku, Ogba/Egbema /Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The initiative is being championed by the Omoku People’s Forum, a global association of Omoku elites, under the leadership of its President-General, Dr. George Ada Ubah.
As part of efforts to ensure the successful execution of the project, a prominent son of Omoku, Chief (Barr.) Dennis Masi, has been appointed by the Forum as the Chairman of the ICT Centre Project Committee, entrusted with the responsibility of coordinating and driving the initiative to fruition. Upon completion, the ICT Centre is expected to serve as a major hub for the training and empowerment of youths in digital and technological skills, equipping them to actively participate in the increasingly technology-driven global environment.
The project is also widely regarded as a significant step towards positioning Omoku as an emerging ICT hub within Rivers State, fostering innovation, digital literacy, and economic development in the region.
Concerned Rivers Chiefs For Peace And Development has said it formation was not politically motivated or has any links to political parties or candidates.
The group which said this at a media briefing at Abuloma in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area said it’s formation has nothing to do with politics.
According to the text for the briefing jointly signed by Chief Boma Kele Oyika it’s chairman and Chief Inemo T Ikama Deputy Secretary General said the organization is expected to focus on conflict Resolution, community engagement, collaboration with government and private sector actors
‘it mandate also includes promoting peace building initiative, supporting local economic empowerment programms and strengthening traditional institutions in our state and beyond as partners in governance ”
It said the body is led by a team of respected traditional leaders serving as trustees
“Their collective leadership reflects a blend of experience cultural authority and grassroots connection
“Key elements considered vital for addressing long standing,socio economic and security challenges in the region”
The release further says ” the formation of this organization comes at a time when communities in Rivers state continue to navigate between issues ranging from youth unemployment, environmental concerns and intermittent conflicts amongst the traditional rulers and beyond
“By bringing together influential traditional figures under a unified platform, the group aims at serving as stabilizing force while advocating for inclusive development policies ” it said
It also described its emergence as a new chapter in grass roots leadership and regional development
Earlier, chairman of the body, Chief Boma Kele Oyika said the organization will work with relevant authorities to promote peaceful coexistence in the state, reduce crime and promote economic development.
He said it is open to all Chiefs from the 23 local government areas.
The Chairman of The Nigeria Delta Chamber of Commerce, Trade, Mines and Agriculture NDCCTMA,Ambassador Idaere Gogo Ogan and the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission ( NDDC ) Dr Samuel Ogbuku have challenged Niger Delta entrepreneurs to close the gap in Gross Demostic Products (GDP) differences between the region and that of the South Western part of the country by coming home to invest.
The two leaders spoke at a business round table organized by NDDCTMA in Port Harcourt
Chairman of NDDCTMA Ambassador Idaere Gogo Ogan, said to close the gap between the south west region which he said has a GDP seize of about #59 trillion and that of the Niger Delta which is about #34 trillion was to massively invest in the region.
He said no other persons can do this except sons and daughters from the region.
“For me I believe in statistics,I believe in data and everyday I looked at the data concerning development in Nigeria and from the GDP point of view, the South West has #59 trillion, that is the seize of the south west region economy, the second region following them is the Niger Delta region with GDP seize of #34 trillion,so there is a yearning gap of #25 trillion that separates the south west and the Niger Delta region, that is why we are here”
Ogan said the region has the capacity to close the gap and even surpassed it but regretted that indigenes of the region have chosen to ignore it in terms of investment.
“We need to close that gap .If we close that gap and even surpassed it,all the negative problems of militancy and unemployment will automatically erase “he said
Ogan said the event was organized to remind the people that past efforts of militancy and agitations have not led the region to any where
“That is why we are gathered here in this room “he said.
Also speaking Managing Director/Chief Executive officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission( NDDC) Dr Samuel Ogbuku urged indigenes of the region not to use the problem of insecurity as an excuse to continue to deny the region of investment as every part of the country have in one time or the other experienced crisis.
Ogbuku said most indigenes have displayed high level of unpatriotism towards the region by taking investments that would have benefited the people to either Lagos or Abuja.
“With little threat we have left the city,we have gone to Lagos,we have moved our families to Abuja and Lagos
“If you go round GRA all the property, you will see,”to let to let”most of them are now empty “he said.
The NDDC MD said despite the fact that people from the region are doing well in the oil and gas, banking and other sectors, its impact are not being felt at home because they are stationed outside the region.
He said time has come for potential investors from the region to have a change of heart by coming home to invest.
John Bibor