THE STATES

Adamawa

Adamawa governorship candidates of ACN, Markus Gundiri, and that of CPC, Buba Marwa, say the curfew imposed by the state government is an attempt to rig the election.

The state government imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew after explosions in Mubi and Yola, which resulted in the killing of 26 persons.

In separate statements in Yola, the candidates said they would resist any attempt by the PDP-led state government to exploit the development to rig.

They said that if the state government could relax the curfew to create room for the PDP rally in Yola, then peace and calm had returned to the state making the curfew unnecessary.

Marwa on his part said that the state government was trying to make the state look insecure in order to put fear in the electorate to prevent them from coming out to vote.

 

Borno

Borno State Executive Council on Monday approved the completion of the abandoned multipurpose Maiduguri stadium.

Mr. Inuwa Bwala, the Commissioner for Information, disclosed this at the end of the council’s meeting in Maiduguri.

“The council reviewed the activities of the high-powered committee set up last year by Gov. Kashim Shettima on the completion of the stadium.

“After reviewing the committee’s submission it was agreed that government must hasten up the process for the award of contract for the project.’’

Bwala said that the council also accepted the committee’s proposals of 20-seater capacity for the stadium.

“We agreed that contract for the project should be awarded in a very short while because of its potential in ensuring physical and mental development of our youths who are the leaders of tomorrow.

 

Benue

The Benue chapter of the PDP will hold an “all inclusive” party primaries ahead of the local government polls in the state.

The decision was taken at a caucus meeting of the party held in Makurdi on Wednesday.

The meeting which was presided over by Governor Gabriel Suswam was also attended by the chairman of the 23 local government councils in the state, and opinion leaders of the party.

It resolved that the election of party flag bearers for the local government election would no longer be on delegate basis.

Speaking to newsmen after the meeting, the caretaker chairman of Gboko Local Government Council, Mr. Ioryue Yaji, said the move was to discourage money politics.

Yaji said it would be difficult for politicians to “bribe their way” through the party congress now, adding that under the delegate system, the practice was possible since the participants were few.

 

FCT

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Abuja has sought for the speedy trial of the DPO of Pen Cinema, Agege, Mr. Segun Fabunmi, accused of killing a protester.

The commission also welcomed the steps so far taken by police authorities and the Lagos State Government to prosecute him.

A statement issued by the commission, directed its Zonal Coordinator, South West Zone, Mrs Mausi Segun, to monitor and ensure that the matter was taken to court.

Fabunmi was alleged to have killed one Mr Ademola Aderinde during protests in Lagos on Monday.

It commended the relative order and peaceful conduct of protesters and the maturity exhibited by security agencies on the fourth day of the nationwide protests.

It urged all parties involved to sustain this level of responsibility and professionalism.

 

Gombe

The Gombe State Government on Friday restricted the operation of motorcyclists, popularly called Okada, from 7pm to 6am throughout the state.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Orubebe Ghandi, made the disclosure while briefing the press on the outcome of the meeting, which religious leaders and security chiefs held with Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo at the Government House on Friday.

Our correspondent reports that the decision was part of measures taken to avert further killings in the state.

The commissioner said, “one of the measures adopted a few minutes ago to curb these incessant killings is to restrict movement of motorcyclists from seven o’clock in the evening to six o’clock in the morning.

 

Jigawa

The chairman, Jigawa State Scholarship Board, Alhaji Sanusi Gako says N100 million has been released for the payment of allowances to newly-admitted students of tertiary institutions from the state.

Gako disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Dutse on Thursday.

He said that only those admitted in 2010/2011 session in various tertiary institutions across the country would enjoy the fund.

He explained that the gesture was part of Governor Sule Lamido’s commitment to boost educational development in the state.

The chairman said that the board did not owe any arrears to the students because all their allowances were paid promptly.

 

Kaduna

The Kaduna State Government on Monday donated N10 million to Jama’atul Nasril Islam (JNI), as contribution for the reconstruction of its burnt office.

The JNI building in Kaduna metropolis was gutted by fire on Thursday April 14.

The Special Adviser to Govenor Patrick Yakowa on Islamic Matters, Mallam Haliru Maraya, presented the donation to the National Secretary of the organisation, Dr. Ibrahim Khalid, at the JNI secretariat in Kaduna.

 

Katsina

No fewer than 143 people have died and 424 others injured in motor accidents in Katsina State since January, according to the Sector Command of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).

The sector commander of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Alhaji Habu Dauda, made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Katsina on Monday.

Dauda said that in spite of the reduction in the number of accidents during the year, there were 27 more deaths compared to the 116 persons, who died in the year before.

 

Lagos

The Lagos State Ministry of Tourism and Inter-Governmental Relations plans to develop a tourism calendar for 2012 in a bid to create more jobs and redefine tourism.

The Commissioner for Tourism and Inter-Governmental Relations, Mr. Disu Holloway, announced the plan at a media briefing on Thursday in Lagos.

He said that the calendar would also boost economic activities and the state’s rich cultural heritage.

Holloway urged stakeholders in tourism to cooperate with the government to restore the lost glory of the state.

The commissioner added that, with the right incentives and proper awareness, tourism could become a major revenue earner.

He gave an assurance that the ministry would continue to project major festivals, such as the ‘Eyo Festival’ and ‘Black Heritage Festival’, as well as collaborate with major organisations to promote notable festivals.

 

Ogun

Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun has assured indigenes of the state that his policies and programmes would be geared toward rebuilding the state.

Amosun gave the assurance in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communication, Mrs. Fummi Wakama.

The governor, according to the statement, promised to redesign the state’s landscape in line with the master plan he had evolved.

“We would do everything to put smiles on the faces of Ogun indigenes and residents through our policies and programmes,” the statement quoted the governor as saying.

The governor said efforts were on to implement the five-cardinal programmes of his administration.

 

Sokoto

The Deputy Treasurer of the Sokoto State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Muktari Mapia, has tasked Nigerians to expose the masterminds of the incessant bombings in parts of the country.

Mapia, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday, in Sokoto, said that the current level of insecurity posed a threat to the nation’s corporate existence.

He said that members of the public should supply the security agencies with vital information to enable them to deal with the culprits and the sponsors of the deadly attacks.

Mapia urged the active participation of stakeholders in the nation’s progress to enhance peace, progress and political stability in the country.

He said that the ongoing transformation agenda of the Federal Government could only succeed in an atmosphere of peace and stability.