Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State has described the N18, 000 minimum wage as too small.
Speaking with newsmen in an interactive session on Christmas day in Yola, Nyako said the amount was to meager to cater for a family man.
Nyako was, however, quick to point out that in spite of the small amount, many state governments would find it difficult to implement.
He said this was because of the states’ sole dependence on the monthly federation account allocation.
Nyako said there was need for states to source for alternatives to oil money if they were to meet the growing developmental needs of their people.
He said it was the zeal to wean Adamawa from over dependence on oil money that his administration engaged in projects such as transforming agriculture by introducing commercial farming.
Bauchi
The wife of the Bauchi State Governor, Hajiya Aisha Yuguda, has distributed food and textile materials to various churches in the state to mark the Christmas.
The materials were presented to various churches by the representative of the governor’s wife, who is also the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Talatu Barwa.
At the presentation in Bauchi on Saturday, Yuguda said “this is just a token gift to the Christian faithful to assist you in this year’s celebration. We pray that we celebrate the season in peace.’’
She felicitated with the Christian community in the state and prayed for a peaceful celebration.
Receiving the items, Mrs Suzana Moses of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Yelwa-Bauchi, expressed gratitude to the first lady and assured her that the gifts would be distributed accordingly.
FCT
Alhaji Balarabe Musa, National Chairman of Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), has urged the Federal Government to carry out a total reform of the electoral process.
Musa, who made the call in an interview with newsmen in Abuja, said it would help to reduce tension in the country.
He noted that Nigerians approved a complete overhaul of the electoral process, to ensure transparent and peaceful elections in the country.
“The whole purpose for the electoral reform, every Nigerian agrees, is to ensure the electoral process is credible.
“It must be credible and capable of bringing about free, fair and transparent election leading to a legitimate government and solving the perpetual crisis Nigerians are facing, particularly after every national election,’’ he said.
The PRP chairman decried the current trend in which candidates were imposed on the electorate without consideration for their freedom of choice.
Kaduna
Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State has advised Christians to see Christmas as a period for sober reflection and stock taking on their relationship with God.
Yakowa, in Christmas message signed by Mr Reuben Buhari, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity and made available last Friday, felicitated with Christians and the entire people of the state on the event.
He said “Christmas is not only a time for celebration, but a period for sober reflection and stock taking of God’s blessings.
“One of the areas we must reflect on is our relationship with God and with our fellow humans and therefore Christians and the entire people of Kaduna State must be committed to religious harmony, peaceful living and understanding of one another.”
Kano
Malam Ahmad Abusalma, a Hausa film director in Abuja, on Sunday lauded Kano’s Hausa film industry as it clocked 20, saying that it had come of age.
Abusalma, who gave the commendation in an interview with newsmen in Kano, said that the Hausa film industry would excel in Africa if was supported by stakeholders.
He recalled that the industry was founded by a few practitioners “who were then regarded as jobless and stupid”, adding that due to their strength and courage, the industry had grown into a big one across the Northern states.
Katsina
Katsina State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) has established water, sanitation and hygiene committees in 28 communities to ensure effective water supply and sanitation in the state.
The agency also established environmental health clubs in 12 secondary schools to promote environmental sanitation as well as ensure good water supply to the schools.
Alhaji Abubakar Gege, the Executive Director, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen yesterday in Katsina.
He said members of the committees and the environmental health clubs which were formed in the last three months had received training on maintenance, ownership and operation of all water supply facilities.
Gege disclosed that after inaugurating the three new rigs of the agency three months ago, the state government had released N158.3 million to the agency.
Kebbi
The Kebbi State Governor, Alhaji Sa’idu Dakingari, on Friday commended Christians for sustaining peaceful co-existence and lending support to the constituted authority.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Dakingari, quoted the governor as wishing Christians a Merry Christmas and urging them to emulate the exemplary life of Jesus Christ.
“I enjoin all Christians to emulate the virtues of Jesus Christ and use this festive mood as a time for sober reflections with a view to improving our future,” it stated.
He urged them to pray for peace, unity and successful elections in 2011.
He urged Christians further to pray for safe return of the Christian pilgrims in Jerusalem now performing their religious obligations.
NAN reports that the Christmas was marked peacefully with Christians attending church services and exchanged gifts and visits with friends, neighbours and relations.
Lagos
The Head, Test Development Division of the West African Examination Council (WAEC), Mr Patrick Modebe said by 2020 the examination body would conduct its examinations in the e-test format.
Speaking with newsmen in Lagos on Saturday, Modebe noted that the Council had begun the process to realise that objective, even before 2020.
Modebe, who would be retiring from the Council soon, said that adoption of the Electronic Examination method popularly called the e-test format by the Council, would be ‘a vision come alive’.
“I also know that WAEC is working assiduously towards applying the e-marking method in its operation to facilitate early release of examination results,’’ he said.
He, however, observed that the application of the electronic e-test and e-marking formats depended greatly on government’s success in its National Computerisation Policy.
Ogun
Mr Poju Adeyemi, an Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) chieftain in Ogun, said the party would take over the reins of government in the state in 2011.
Adeyemi, a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) between 1999 and 2003, made the declaration in an interview with newsmen in Abeokuta.
He said that ACN had been put in good shape to win at all levels in the forthcoming general elections in the state.
Adeyemi said his optimism was based on the feelers the party was getting from all nooks and crannies of the state.
“The response we have been getting from our interactions with the people is that they are tired of the present administration. When the masses say yes, who can say no?
“The ACN is solidly on ground to provide a better alternative to what he described as a charade,’’ he said.
Plateau
The Plateau State Government has condemned those behind the planting of bombs which rocked some parts of Jos on Christmas eve.
Mr Gregory Yenlong, the Commissioner for Information and
Communications, in a broadcast on Saturday, said that the act was heinous and condemned those behind it.
Yenlong said that the act also laid credence to several threats
by some unknown persons to make the state ungovernable,
“as a way of opposing the administration.’’
He commiserated with families of those killed in the blasts
and wished those who sustained injuries quick recovery.
Our correspondent learnt that the first of the bombs detonated at about 7.30 p.m. around Kabong (Gada Biyu) , while the second was at Angwang Rukuba, at about 8 p.m.
Sokoto
An aspirant on the platform of the PDP, Alhaji Yusuf Abdullahi, has called on President Goodluck Jonathan not to allow PDP governors leave the party because of the electoral act amendment.
Abdullahi, who is eyeing the Isa/Sabon-Birni Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Sokoto.
He said that the current controversy over the electoral act amendment should not be allowed to tear the biggest party in Africa apart.
“PDP has come to stay in Nigeria, Mr President should use his good office to settle with the governors because they are closed to the electorate who will contribute positively towards the success of the party at the polls,’’ he said.
The Aspirant also advised President Goodluck Jonathan not to listen to Abuja politicians as “they have nothing to offer as far as getting eligible voters is concerned.
He pointed out that “those that matter are the governors who are with their people and who will work towards the success of our party.’’
The Deputy Commandant General of the Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS) Anti- Bunkering Agency, Amb Wachukwu Adah, has expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for signing into law the Nigeria Forest Security Service Bill, describing the gesture as a right step in the right direction. The operatives of the NFSS are known as forest guards.
Amb Adah, who made the commendation during the official structuring of the Nigeria Forest Security Service Anti-Bunkering team and induction of legionnaires in Omoku Town, headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State on Friday, described President Tinubu as the best President of Nigeria following his monumental achievements in office.
He said the Local Government Autonomy Bill recently signed into law by the President Tinubu administration has tremendous impacts on the lives of the average Nigerians, especially those at the grassroots level.
He noted that by this singular gesture, the President had hit the ground running, for the meaningful development of the country.
Amb Adah reiterated that Rivers youths would utilise the opportunity to serve the country to the best of their ability, acknowledging their readiness to do the needful by ensuring that the forests across the nation are adequately secured.
The Deputy Commandant General also applauded the transformation of the Federal Capital Territory by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, saying, the Minister has turned Abuja to London.
He, however, appealed to the Minister to assist Rivers youths to get sensitive positions in the new Nigeria Forest Security Service ,saying, there is need for him and other leaders to assist the youths who are interested in jobs at the NFSS to secure them, as it is done elsewhere.
“ We need your backing on securing the jobs at NFSS”, he said.
Amb.Adah, who represented the National Commandant, Amb Joshua Osatimehia, said the youths are fully ready to contribute to the security, progress and growth of the nation, and emphasised the essence of character, professionalism and quality service delivery at the NFSS.
In his address, the Administrator of Ogba/ Egbema/ Ndoni Local Government Council, Dr Ndu Ajie assured the security outfit of the total support of the council.
Dr Ajie, who was represented by the Secretary of the council ,Mr.Onyedibia Ndulaka, praised the determination and sacrifices made by the security operatives in ensuring and fostering the peace and security of the State.
On their part, heads of security agencies in the local government area, including the Joint Task Force(JTF); the Police; the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC); and the Federal Road Safety Corps(FRSC), commended the efforts of the security outfit in the security of national assets, assuring them of collaboration to achieve common goals.
During the event, the 23 LGA commanders and other ranking officers were commissioned.
Recall that President Tinubu had commissioned the Nigerian Police, the Department of State Services (DSS) and a committee to work out modalities on the operations of the NFSS.
The former State Commander of NFSS, Chief Will Wegwu showered encomiums on the Deputy Commandant General for his sacrifices and untiring efforts to keep the flag flying.
Chief Wegwu assured the participants that the officers and men would continue to support the Deputy Commandant General to succeed in his assignment.
The Omoku Police Area Commander, ACP Mahe Mohammed; and the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Omoku Police Division, CSP John Landan, were among a host of other security chiefs and personalities that graced the occasion.
Rivers-born business mogul, Chief Clement Anele, has pledged his determination to partner with student groups and other relevant bodies, to reach the unreached and the vulnerable in the society.
Chief Anele, who gave this indication while receiving an Award of Education Ambassador from the Rivers State Postgraduate Students Association in his office in Port Harcourt, said he has a covenant with God to give succour to the needy, especially widows, ,students, clerics and the vulnerable in the society.
Chief Anele ,the Managing Director of Anele Good Heart Foundation,
vowed to continue to partner with student groups and other relevant bodies to reach the unreached, and the vulnerable by providing basic necessities of life to them.
He said, “I cannot be everywhere. I need to partner with students to reach the unreached in the society. The sole aim is to improve the living standard of the vulnerable among us .
It is important we touch lives through the little resources God has made available to us .We don’t expect reward from human beings, but from God.
I feel happy and joyful seeing widows, students and the less- privileged benefiting from the foundation .It was a dream God gave me to assist making the society better. I don’t need anyone to praise me for doing it .It is a divine calling to put smiles on the faces of the vulnerable.”
In his speech, the Secretary of the group, Mr Ken Itari, described Chief Anele as an extraordinary individual, who has impacted on humanity, especially the students and widows through his foundation.
He said the honour done to the business mogul by the students was borne out of their desire to partner with him to build a better future for the youths.
He said the students would continue to stand with the philanthropist in his vision to reduce hunger and change the society for the good of all.
He noted that Chief Anele’s scholarships to the students and providing food on the tables of the widows and many vulnerable persons, using his hard-earned resources, show his immense love for humanity, stressing that his reward for the good works he is doing can only come from God.
A 56-year-old suspected drug dealer, Bode Akinsiku has been killed in Ondo town, headquarters of Ondo Local Government Area of Ondo State by unknown assailants.
Akinsiku, who was murdered at about 6:15 am on Tuesday, at a popular joint in Loro street, Odosida axis of the town was known as a prominent drug dealer in the area.
According to sources, the deceased was shot at close range after he was trailed to a bar by his yet to be identified killers.
One of the sources, who craved anonymity, revealed that Akinsiku arrived at the joint to meet with some people in the early hours of Tuesday.
“He arrived at the bar and met with some people. While he was talking with them, his phone rang and he received a call.
“It was while he was receiving the call that some boys arrived on a motorcycle. One of the boys approached him and asked if he could identify himself.
“They both engaged in a heated shouting match for some seconds before he was shot several times at close range.”
“The gunman, after shooting Bode, crossed to the other side of the road and shot sporadically to scare residents. He later hopped on a getaway motorcycle.
Meanwhile, the death of Akinsiku created panic in the area with shops and businesses horridly closed while the area was deserted over fear of arrest.
Police operatives from Enuowa Divisional Police Station later arrived at the scene and evacuated the lifeless body to the Ondo State Specialist Hospital.
The Police spokesman in the state, Olayinka Ayanlade, who confirmed the incident, stated that it was a cult related killing.
Ayanlade, who stressed that cult clashes have been rampant in the area, said efforts are ongoing to apprehend those behind the killing.
He also urged residents to be law-abiding and report any information which could lead to the arrest of the perpetrators.
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