Nation
THE STATES
Bauchi
Bauchi State Governor, Malam Isa Yuguda, chieftain of
the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, the Ekiti State chapter of the party as well as a group, the Strategic Team, were yesterday among the persons and groups that congratulated the Governor of Osun State, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, for his r-election.
In separat statements, Tinubu, Yuguda and the groups commended Aregbesola over the outcome of the last Saturday gubernatorial election in the State, describing it as the collective wish of the people of the state and defeat over tyranny.
Yuguda’s commendation was also coming at the time the former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani –Kayode gave kudos to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore and other members of the party for putting up a remarkably strong appearance at the election.
In a statement yesterday, the former minister conceded victory to the incumbent governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, of the APC, but said the defeat would not deter him, Omisore and his party from working for a better Nigeria.
Borno
The Emir of Gwoza, Alhaji Mohammed Idrissa Timta,
who was abducted last Tuesday after his town was attacked and captured by Boko Haram insurgents, has appeared in public after escaping from the insurgents’ den.
The emir who was held hostage in Mandara Mountains of Gwoza hills by the insurgents with some of unspecified number of his subjects, was said to have escaped captivity Sunday night due to heavy rainfall which allowed for relaxed watch from their abductors in the hills.
According to military sources in Maiduguri, the emir and one of his district heads also held captive were able to escape with others to Madagali in Adamawa state.
FCT
The Joint Consultative and Negotiating Council
(JCNC), Ministry of Aviation has urged the Aviation Minister, Mr Osita Chidoka, to collaborate with the sector’s workers for efficiency.
The Chairman of the Council, Mr Hector Nnadi, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.
Nnadi said the collaboration would help the minister to consolidate achievements of his predecessor.
He said there was the need for synergy between the minister and workers’ leadership for the development of the aviation sector.
“As for the industry and the union, we expect consolidation. We expect that he begins to consolidate on what his processor had achieved because governance is a continuous process.
Kebbi
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, an NGO,
recently said it would train 5,000 rice farmers in Kebbi State on modern methods and technology of rice production.
The Chairman, Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Sahabi Augie, said in Birnin Kebbi that the training was part of the NGO’s efforts to boost commercial rice production and contribute to food security in the country.
He said the association had shortlisted farmers from Bagudo, Suru, Jega, Bunza and Argungu Local Government Areas as potential beneficiaries of the training.
Augie said after the training, the NGO would provide farmers with improved seedlings, fertilizer, pesticides, water pumping machines and qualified extension workers, among other logistics support.
He called on the selected farmers to make judicious use of the knowledge they would acquire from the training and commended the NGO for choosing Kebbi as one of the two states to host the pilot programme.
Lagos
Lagoa State House of Assembly has confirmed the
appointment of Hon. Justice Oluwafunmilayo Olajumoke Atilade as the new Chief Judge of Lagos State.
Atilade, 62, was confirmed following a satisfactory showing at a screening on the floor of the House last Monday.
Ruling on the motion of her confirmation, Speaker of the House, Adeyemi Ikuforiji directed the Clerk to convey the message of confirmation to Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN).
Following Atilade’s recommendation by National Judicial Commission (NJC), Fashola had nominated her to replace retired Justice Philips, Atilade’s elder sister.
Ogun
Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun
has approved an across the board reduction of school fees in all state-owned tertiary institutions.
In the new school fees regime, which will take effect from the 2014/2015 academic session, some students will pay 61 percent less than they are currently paying, while some others will be paying as low as N29,700.
The reduction was arrived at after extensive deliberation between government, leadership of the various Students’ Unions and heads of the institutions.
Also, the new school fees regime has abolished the indigene/non-indigene dichotomy as all students offering the same course and the same level will pay the same fees.
Ondo
Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State says it is
high time the government checked illegal movement of people into the country to curtail the Ebola virus threat.
Our correspondent reports that a lot of Nigerians are becoming aware of the Ebola virus as they are taking precautions to ensure they do not contract it.
“We are fearful about our area because we are close to the forest and we have direct contact with animals, the government should send researchers to confirm that the Ebola virus disease is not in Chibok. “We need the help of the government because one cannot be too sure, probably enlightenment campaigns on the diseases,” he said.
In Benin, the level of awareness of residents about the dreaded Ebola virus seems to be high as bush meat sellers’ record low patronage.
Osun
The governorship candidate of the Peoples
Democratic Party in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, has said that his loss at the Saturday election is due to the malpractices perpetrated by a former Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state.
Omisore, who said this in a statement last Monday, claimed that although the REC was replaced shortly before the election, he had done enough damage to ensure victory for Governor Rauf Aregbesola of the All Progressives Congress.
He expressed gratitude to the people of the state who supported and showed him love before, during and after the election.
Aregbesola was declared the winner of the poll with a total votes of 394, 684 while Omisore came second with 292,747 votes.
Oyo
Head of Service of Oyo State, Mr Williams Adesoji Eniade,
whose appointment was recently approved by the state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has resumed duties. Eniade was the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youths and Sports.
Eniade’s appointment was made public by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Dr Festus Adedayo. He succeeded Alhaji Tajudeen Aremu.
Born on April 31, 1959, Eniade obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Geography from the University of Ibadan in 1981 and a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife in 1997.
Eniade, a 2012 graduate of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, joined the services of the Oyo State Government on February 8, 1983 as Administrative Officer II and rose through the ranks to become a Permanent Secretary on July 3, 2009.
Congratulating him on the appointment, Governor Ajimobi charged him to discharge his duties with integrity dedication, diligence and professionalism.
Sokoto
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar lll, has
warned the Muslim community against the consumption of monkeys and bush meat to avoid contracting the dreaded Ebola virus.
Abubakar noted that since it was first confirmed medically that the disease was discovered in monkeys and fruit bats, it would be reasonable for Muslims to avoid such, including other sources of bush meat.
A statement on behalf of the Sultan by the JNI’s Secretary-General, Dr. Khalid Abubakar, in Kaduna on Tuesday said, “As confirmed by medical experts, the disease was first discovered in monkeys and contacted by those who eat monkeys and other sources of bush meat. Alas, in Islam eating of monkeys had already been discouraged (Makruh), according to many scholars of Islamic jurisprudence.
Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State (left), with former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Dahiru Musdapha, at the inter-faith Conference in Abuja, yesterday.
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