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.
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