FCT

Against the backdrop of security reports of plans by some of the political gladiators in the Anambra Governorship tussle to cause mayhem in the February 6, 2010 gubernatorial elections in the state, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ogbonna Okechukwu Onovo, has summoned all the governorship candidates to force Headquarters Abuja for a meeting.
According to sources, those summoned include PDP gubernatorial candidate Professor Chukwuma Soludo, APGA Candidate Governor Peter Obi, Chief Andy Uba of Labour party, Chief Chris Ngige of Action Congress, Mrs Ekwunife of Progressive People Alliance and others of the ANPP, and other political parties.
Also summoned by IGP for the meeting are the chairman and secretaries of all the prominient political earties in the state – the Assistant Inspector General of Police incharge of the zone (4), the commissioners of police of Anambra State and neighbouring states where security personnel for the elections are likely to be mobilised from, are also expected to be in the meeting.
The Tide gathered that security reports available to the police High Command indicate that arms and ammunition are being stock piled, kidnapping strategies are being put in place and hoodlums are being recruited to cause mayhem.

Benue

Sequel to the termination of a lease agreement it entered with Yelwata Trading Company few weeks back, the Benue State government has ordered the immediate closure of Taraku Oil Mills with all the staff of the firm laid off.
The decision of the state government to close down the plant was conveyed to over 200 staff and management of the organisation by the Commissioner for Commerce and Industries, Mr. Benjamin Vember, at the company’s premises.
Vember said government’s decision to fold up the Mill was prompted by the failure of the agreement it entered with Yelwata Trading Company.

Ekiti

Ekiti State governor, Engr. Segun Oni has said that the government gave financial autonomy to the state judiciary saying that the motive was to strengthen the judicial arm of government and rid it of undue executive interference.
Speaking in Ado Ekiti recently while administering oath of office and allegiance on four newly appointed judges in the State, Engr. Oni said it was always better for each arm of government to be independent of each other, saying such would promote democracy and good governance.
The newly appointed judges that were sworn-in are Mr. Adewale Kayode Fouroure, an Ibadan-based legal practitioner, Mr. Lekan Adekanye Ogunmoye, former Permanent Secretary, Ekiti State Ministry of Justice, Mr. Olusegun Isaac Ogunyemi, former Registrar, Ekiti State Judiciary and Mr. Adekunla Adegoriola Adeleye.

Ibadan

Former Minister of Petroleum, Professor Tam David West and Head of Department of History, University of Ibadan, Professor Christopher Ogbogho have advised the Federal Government to put its house in order instead of protesting US claim that Nigeria is a terrorist country.
Both dons at different fora, condemned the protest by the FG, saying that US had the right to declare any country that posed a security threat to it, a terrorist country.
Describing the protest as unnecessary and mere waste of time, they said the FG should do something urgent to address the problem.
Professor Ogbogbo said the stance of the US may have been arrived at having considered incessant religious intolerance in the Northern parts of the country.
The FG according to the don, should, as a matter of urgency strive hard to check the internal intermittent religious crises in the northern parts of the nation.

Kano

The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero and foremost nationalist leader. Anthony Enahoro are among dignitaries scheduled to attend the commissioning today of the Arafat Mosque in Auchi, Edo State.
Also, a lecture entitled “Basic Facts about Glorious Quran will be delivered by an Islamic scholar and the Chief Imam of Auchi Kingdom, Prof. Zakanya Oseni who is also the Dean, Faculty of Arts, University of Ilorin.
A statement by Alhaji Gisani Asesuta for the Oteri in council said the Ooni of Ife, Oba Sijawude Oluleuse II was expected to chair the occusion.

Kwara

Kwara State government has concluded plans to employ more medical personnel this year in her ongoing efforts to deliver quality medical services to the residents in the state.
The State Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Ladi Hassan, who disclosed this to newsmen while speaking on the activities of the state government in health sector, added that the action became imperative because the state government last year spent N700 million to renovate all the state-owned hospitals across the state.
The action, according to the commissioner, was to effectively reposition the state health sector as much needed viable alternative to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital and other private hospitals in the state.
He noted that medical doctors, nurses and laboratory scientists would be employed by the state government, stressing that those employed would be posted to different parts of the state.
He disclosed that the state government has spent so much in health sector and as such Dr. Bukola Saraki’s administration was committed to improving the standard.
Hassan opined that his visit to various state-owned hospitals in various parts of the state, has given him first hand information on the problems they are facing.

Lagos

There were indications yesterday that the bomb carrier who got injured on December 22, 2009 bomb explosion at Logemo building at Onipany, along Ikorodu road, Lagos, might have been transferred from the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), to an undisclosed hospital.
His movement as reliably gathered, was part of security measures put in place by the Lagos State police command to ensure no intruder got to him.
The Tide reliably gathered that on two occasions, some unidentified persons had visited the hospital requesting to see Olayinwola Ahmed. But before nurses at the Intensive Care Unit could reportedly contact plain clothes policemen who were keeping watch over him, the visitors had disappeared.
Although police sources told The Tide that proper investigation into the explosion would commence last week, information gathered revealed that the 27-year-old suspect was not yet in a sound condition to answer questions posed at him. A source told The Tide yesterday that the suspect was not coherent with words yet.

Osun

Osun State election petition tribunal will resume sitting to continue hearing on the petition by the Action Congress (AC) candidate Mr. Bani Adegbosole against the election of Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola in the April 14, 2007 election.
The five-man panel was forced to suspend sitting last October due to the national strike by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).
Before the forced vacation Aregbosola and the AC had invited over 80 witnesses and tendered exhibits in support of their petitions.
The opposition party which had been agitating for continuation of hearing on the petition at alternative venue outside the premises of the Osun State Judiciary during the strike is expected to wind up its case any time from now to pave way for the respondents to open their defence.