Nation

THE STATES

Published

14 years ago

January 18, 2010

FCT

The independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

had debunked allegation that some electoral materials meant for the February 6, governorship election in Anambra State was hijacked, by mischief makers.

But INEC on Saturday said a truck belonging to INEC which was conveying collapsible polling cubicles from its headquarters to Port Harcourt zonal store collided with a payloader at Okija in Anambra Stte.

The INEC position followed report that some INEC electoral materials were sized in a bid to rig February 6 election in Anambra State.

According to a statement signed by the INEC Director of Public Affairs, Mr. Emmanuel Umengar “the truck, like others deployed across the country, was on routine delivery of non-sensitive electoral materials to its Port Harcourt Store.”

Bauchi

Armed Mobile Policemen at the weekend stormed the

resident of Air Commondore Ishaku Komo (retd) and surrounded his house in Tafawa Balewa at about 3.am with the aim for undisclosed reasons.

This coming few weeks after Komo was installed as the first Gung Zaar Of the Sayawa Community in Bauchi State.

Sayawa community has for long been agitating for a chiefdom of its own and it was last year that the National Assembly passed a law granting the request, which sources say doest not go down well with the state government.

The Tide gathered that the new traditional ruler of the Sayawa People of Bauchi State has relocated to Kaduna in order to avoid arrest by the Bauchi State police command shortly after his first public appearance in Tafawa Belewa, the headquarters of the Zaar Chiefdom.

Gombe

Nigerians have been cautioned to moderate their reactions

to the state of health of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, even as they have been urged to continue to pray for his speedy recovery.

The leader of the Yoruba Youths Alliance (YYA), Mr. Jackson Lekan-Ojo, also observed that calling for the president’s resignation was a wrong approach to the situation as it Portrayed those behind the call as callous and in human.

Lekan-Ojo, who was recently honoured with an Award of Excellence by the students’ Union Government of the University of Port Harcourt, noted that as human beings, no one prays to be sick and that Nigerians owed the President Prayers at all times, whether healthy or sick.

Jigawa

Attention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National

headquarters has been drawn to alleged plot to impeach the deputy governor of Jigawa State, Ahmad Muhamma Gumel, if Governor Sule Lamido decides to run for vice president.

PDP stalwart and secretary of Yar’Adua friendship forum, Ishaq Hadejia, told The Tide that members of a group (name yet unknown) would not like to see Gumel become governor in the event of President Umaru Yar’Adua’s incapacitation, when lamido is appointed Vice President.

According to him, the group has been holding series of meetings to actualiSe their plan, a development which he said could throw Jigawa into Chaos.

“While the president is recovering and he has even spoken in the media, this group is spearheading a move to impeach the deputy governor in Jigawa”, he said.

Jos

As the people of Taroh land in Plateau are set to elect

another paramount ruler, following the death, last year, of the late Edward Zhattau, a social cultural group in the land “Gazum Cultural, Economic and social Development Organisation (GACESDO) has alleged a Plot to scheme Gazum People of the area out of the contest for the throne.

Addressing the press in Jos over the development, the national president of the organisation, Mr. Clement Chairman said the GACESDO was surprised that the selection process of Ponchi Taroh which was supposed to go on without rancour had been made unnecessarily difficult, thereby fanning the embers of hatred, distrust and bad faith among the people.

The National President Said the organisation had uncovered the plot to expunge a Gazum man as the legitimate heir to the throne, adding that the people behind the clandestine act had gone to the extent of making a fake draft gazette for Gazum chiefdom.

Kaduna

Former Head of State, General Muhammandu Buhari (rtd)

has said that lack performance on the part of those at the helm of affairs in the country and the refusal of Nigerias to take their destiny in their own hands had put the future of the country in a precarious situation.

According to the presidential candidate of All Nigerian People Party (ANPP) in the last general elections, ordinarily there is nothing wrong with the Nigerian Constitution, the Electoral Act and other laws of the land, saying that the only problem we have in the country is the lack of action on the part of those saddled with the responsibility of steering the country out of the present musky waters.

Lagos

The Minister of Petroleum, Dr. Rilwan Lukeman says

that no date has been set for the implementation of deregulation of the down stream sector.

He recounted a number of factors that have mitigated against the immediate take-off of the implementation like the condition of the nation’s four Refinaries.

Speaking at a function in Lagos State on the state of the industry, Dr. Rilwan said a lots of measures are been taken to repair the damaged oil pipe lines which will aid the resumption of local refinery capacities.

The minister further said the proposed petroleum industry bill help curb the challenges of supply and short falls of petroleum products in the country.

Borno

Campaigns for wide acceptance of the child Right Act

may not yield positive fruits in some Northern States unless certain aspects of the new Act are fine-tuned to get with the Sharia Code and Northern Culture, Borno State government and a federal ministry say.

This hint was dropped when the minister of women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Salamatu Suleiman, paid a two day advocacy visit to Borno at the weekend.

The new Shehu of Borno Abubakar Kyari Ibri Garbai el-kanem, also shared this view by giving conditions under which the Act could be implemented in the state.

He said the conditions include the protection of Sharia law and traditions of the people of Borno, when the Act comes up for debate at the House of Assembly.

Niger

Former Federal Permanent Secretary, Chief Philip Asiodu,

on Saturday in Minna, Niger State, blamed the non-performance of the civil service in the country on the 1975 purge and the reforms of 1988.

Asiodu, chairman of council of Retired Permanent Secretaries, declared awareness of the great “erosion of standards and values of authority and powers which have afflicted the civil service, the devastating purge of 1975 and reforms of 1988.

The former permanent Secretary made the remarks at the public lecture organised by the Gamji Members Association in honour of the late Makama Nupe, Alhaji Shehu Musa.

Oyo

Oyo State police command has arrested three boys

including an under graduate student of the university of Maiduguri for alleged armed robbery, juust as a 52-year old was arrested for impersonation.

The suspects, Muhammed Shuaib (21), Nazim Emmanuel (20), a 100 level student of the university of Maiduguri in the Department of Public Administration and Abba Michael (21), were said to have on January 15 attacked residents of Tinuoye Estate, Ojoo area of the state capital.

Also arrested was a 52-year old Adebare Balogun for allegedly impersonating the Commissioner of Police.

Speaking while parading the suspects at the command’s headquarters, Eleyele, on Friday, the state Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Baba Adisa Bolanta, said the command received a distress call that some daredevil robbers were operating at Tinuoye Street, Ojoo area of the state capital.

Ogun

The Chairman of Ijebu-East Local Government Council,. Ogun State, Hon. Tunde Oladunjoye, has raised alarm over plans to unleash fresh mayhem in the council area .

The council boss said he wanted to inform the whole world on the plan by some politicians in the state to spill more blood in Ijebu-East local government.

Oladunjoy stated that, “before another blood is spilled in Ijebu East Local Government Area, I must inform the whole world that some unscrupulous men are mobilising hugs for the PDP extended executive meeting in Ogbere, Ijebu.

“Their plan is to create confusion during which someone will be killed and then blame it on my supporters, so that OGD will give me the treatment he meted out to Tele Ogunjobi of Ijebu North, whom he removed as chairman on 31 December, 2008.

Nation

Monarch Hails Fubara Over Road Project

Published

14 hours ago

April 26, 2024

The Tide

Ogene of Asa Asi Asaga Community in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, Eze Andrew Enemuwa, has expressed gratitude to the Governor of the State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara for the award of the contract for construction of Igiri- Ubimini-Egbeda-Elele road project.
Eze Enemuwa said the people of the local government are proud associating with a visionary leader like Governor Fubara whose interest in the development of his people knows no bounds.
The monarch, also the Secretary of Ogba Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Council said the unprecedented crowd of ONELGA people that attended the event shows that Governor Fubara is greatly loved and cherished by the people.
The Eze Dike Di Nu Obi of Ogbaland said the presence of the traditional rulers at the event speaks volumes.
The Okene Asa Kaka urged the people of the area to support Governor Fubara to attract more development to the local government area.

Nation

1,680 Children Abducted In Nigeria -UNICEF

Published

14 hours ago

April 26, 2024

The Tide

As Nigeria marks 10 years anniversary of the abduction of the Chibok girls, the United Nations Children Fund( UNICEF) has put the number of abducted children at different schools within the last 10 years in Nigeria at 1,680.
The organisation said this at an event it organised in conjunction with the Faculty of Media and Communications Studies in the University of Port Harcourt to mark the 10 years anniversary of Chibok girls abductions.
According to UNICEF release read by Communication officer, UNICEF Nigeria Dr Mrs Ijeoma Onuoha Ogwe, 180 children were killed within the period under review due to attacks on schools, while an estimated 60 school Staff were kidnapped,14 killed and more than 70 attacks on schools.
It urged the Nigerian Government and security agencies to intensify effort towards the rescue of the 90 remaining Chibok girls.
UNICEF described the Chibok girls saga as a wakeup call to the severe risks children face in their pursuit of education
‘Today, reflecting on this tragedy and other recent abductions, it is evident that our efforts to safeguard our children’s future must be amplified
“Given this alarming statistics, we must address not only the symptoms but also the root causes of this crisis,” it said.
UNICEF also said that the threat of abduction of students is severely affecting children’s learning.
“As at 2021, over one million children were afraid to return to school and in 2020, around 11,500 schools were closed due to attacks”, it said.
It called on the government and the international community to ensure that all schools have the resources and tools to fully implement the minimum standards for safe schools, focus on the most vulnerable regions and address critical gaps in safe schools infrastructure.
UNICEF also called for preparedness for natural disasters, conflicts and comprehensive approaches to violence against children.
Others include, strengthening law enforcement and security measures to protect educational institutions and communities from attacks and abduction, prioritising education and child protection in national policies and budget allocations to create a safer, more inclusive environment for all Nigerian children and ensure the continuity of education and learning when schools are shut through multiple learning pathways such as radio and TV programme and through digital platforms the Nigerian learning Passport.
Ogwe said UNICEF is working with the Nigerian Government to ensure that every child can access safe learning environment.
“The agency has supported the inauguration of state safe school steering committees and the drafting of state costed implementation plans for safe schools in 13 States.
“It also provides school grants, safety kits training and awareness raising to accelerate the implementation of the minimum standards for safe schools.
“As we remember the Chibok girls and all children whose rights to education have been compromised, let this somber anniversary serves as a catalyst for change”, UNICEF said.
Speaking with The Tide, Dr Nwachukwu Ginikanwa said the anniversary should serve as a wakeup call to the authorities to take the issue of security seriously.

John Bibor

Nation

Fubara Has Rekindled Rivers Hope-Former Envoy

Published

14 hours ago

April 26, 2024

The Tide

As the one year anniversary of the Governor Siminalayi Fubara administration in Rivers State draws closer, a former Chairman of Eleme Local Government Council, Amb.Oji Ngofa, says the Governor has rekindled the hope of Rivers people.
Amb. Ngofa said within the one year of the administration, the Governor has shown a sense of connecting the people and the government unlike the immediate past administration led by Chief Nyesom Wike.
The former Deputy National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress ( APC) explained that within one year, Rivers people are seeing a visionary leadership whose imagination is essentially focused on the desire to improve the lives of the people, with the sole aim of creating an economy where everyone can participate.
Speaking in an interview in Port Harcourt, the forrmer Ambassador said Governor Fubara has been able to engage relevant stakeholders and sectors of the State which, according to him, remains the hallmark of leadership.
He emphasised that with Governor Fubara, no doubt, Rivers State is in safe hands, saying with Governor Fubara, there is the likelihood that the State would be greater than other States.
He noted that the Governor’s vision to develop and give capacity to the people in order to participate in the economy as well as creating the enabling environment for business to flourish in the State, coupled with his peaceful nature, have all combined to endear him to the people.
Amb Ngofa said real power comes from how well one is connected with the people through good leadership, and the people on their own voluntarily surrender to you just as Governor Fubara has demonstrated within the past one year, stressing that that has informed his decision as an astute politician just like all well-meaning Rivers people to align with the Governor in order to move the State forward .
He described Governor Fubara’s milestones in infrastructure, human capital development, health and agriculture as monumental.
Amb Ngofa urged the Governor to ensure his revitalisa- tion programme on Songhai Farms extends to Buguma and Andoni fish farms and Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA), and expand on the initiative, as it is critical in job creation for the teeming youths of the State.
“ In his one year in office as governor, Rivers people have seen the difference in terms of governance and total departure from self. Now Rivers people are having easy access to their governor. His focus is on policies and programmes that are capable of revitalising the economy aimed at improving the wellbeing of Rivers people, not just one man. Projects are springing up in all parts of the State, not necessarily in Port Harcourt and Obio,/ Akpor. All in just one year despite the distractions”, he said.

The Port Harcourt ring road loan to small skill medium businesses are one of the biggest achievements of his administration
Aleto- Woji road abandoned by the last administration had been carried on by a government that has interest of the people at heart
Despite the destruction ,he had demonstrated sense of focus on his primary duties as a governor
We are not just seeing monumental projects ,Rivers people are seeing total commitment to create an economy that will enable Rivers people to have a hold on there lives especially with projects like revitalizing Shonghai ,plaintain farms .
It is critical focusing on human capital development .I am aware of his programme of revitalising the economy ,state owned industries through public private partnership
Rivers people hope had been rekindled and those of us who are critic to the governor Wike led administration had been vindicated
Urging Eleme people to support the administration of governor Fubara to achieve their common dream which is development.