FCT

The National Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Dr Ogbonna Onu, has described the late Prof. Chinua Achebe as a patriot with uncommon vision.

Onu said that Achebe was “a patriot  with an uncommon vision, an intellectual pillar of universal appeal with a distinct literary prowess”.

He described Achebe as an administrator of profound convictions and above all, an illuminating pathfinder, whose works placed him on the mountain top.

The chairman said that Achebe remained tireless in his resolve of showing the way for others to follow and that in his writing, he showed extraordinary skill and ability.

“ As the widely acclaimed father of African literature, his contributions to knowledge will continue to influence the thoughts of many generations yet unborn.

Gombe

Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State has in-augurated a 14-member committee to study the problems of divorcees in the state.

Inaugurating the committee, Dankwambo decried the high rate of divorce in the state and said the committee’s objective was to facilitate marriages between the divorcees and interested suitors.

He said the high rate of divorce was undermining the family unit in the state.

According to him, government had constituted the committee of eminent persons to examine the whole gamut of the phenomenon and proffer workable solutions.

The governor said the terms of reference of the committee include reviewing the Kano State Zawarawa Committee’s report for a possible adoption by the Gombe government.

Kaduna

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, and Senator Joshua Dariye  last Saturday commiserated with the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, over the death of his elder brother, Alhaji Umar Idris.

Umar was Dangaladiman Zazzau and District Head of Rigasa in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Tukur and Dariye prayed God Almighty to give the emir and the bereaved family the fortitude to bear the loss.

While describing Umar as a dedicated, humble, kind and gentle traditional ruler, they advised the emir to accept what happened as the will of Allah.

The PDP National Vice-Chairman, Northwest Zone, Malam Ibrahim Kazaure and the Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Mr Nuhu Bajoga, were on the delegation.

Kano

The Kano State Government plans to establish an education trust fund to help in sustaining the state’s education sector, Governor Rabi’u Kwankwaso has said.

Kwankwaso who made this known during a visit to the North-West University’s temporary site at Ado Bayero House in Kano said the fund would guarantee the sustenance of both the State University of Technology at Wudil and the new North-West University.

The governor said the new institution might not stand on its feet without proper funding, adding that the state government had spent about six billion Naira in procuring facilities and infrastructure for the university.

He charged members of staff of the institution to be good examples to the students and guard them against social vices like cultism, drug abuse and inappropriate dressing, among others.

Katsina

The leader of Dutsen-reme women stone crushers in Bakori Local Government area of Katsina, Malama Binta Ibrahim, has solicited for increased government support for the development of their business.

Ibrahim who made the call in Bakori on Saturday  said  business had attracted public patronage, explaining that they started with 38 members but now had no fewer than 500 women.

She said more women were joining the stone crushing business because of the proceeds from it and other financial gains in the community.

While commending the wife of Katsina State Governor, Hajia Fatima Shema, over her support and visit to the site, Ibrahim called for construction of shades and toilets within the premises.

Kwara

The Kwara State Government last Sunday promised to provide immediate succour to victims of the recent rainstorm that ravaged some parts of the state.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Emergency and Relief Services, Alhaji Musa Abdullahi, gave the assurance when he paid a sympathy visit to some Local Government Areas affected by the rainstorm.

One of the areas visited was Omuaran, headquarters of Irepodun Local Government Area, where over 50 houses were affected. Abdullahi was conducted round some of the damaged buildings, including the private residence of the vice chairman of the council.

The special adviser was also at IIoffa in the Oke-Ero Local Government Area, where the traditional ruler of the area, Oba Samuel Ogunniyi, solicited government’s assistance to rebuild about 90 houses damaged by the rainstorm.

Lagos

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) last Sunday said that corruption was responsible for a lack of access to clean water by majority of Nigerians.

The Executive Director of the group, Mr Adetokunbo Mumuni, said in an interview  in Lagos, that corruption accounted for failure by governments at all levels to provide functional and potable water supply

Mumuni said that majority of Nigerians, especially children, had no access to clean water, in spite of the huge funds being expended yearly by government on water supply.

“Some of the monies being expended on the provision of pipe-borne water across the country are being obviously mismanaged.

“Some Nigerians are being forced to drink contaminated water which causes various diseases and endangers their lives,’’ he added. Mumuni told newsmen that SERAP had filed a suit against the Federal Government, seeking to know how much it had spent on the provision of safe water since the past five years.

Nasarawa

Governor  of Nasarawa, State Tanko Al-makura, has commended the Alago ethnic group for their peace initiative.

Al-makura specifically lauded the Alago efforts in ensuring peaceful coexistence between them and other tribes in the state

“I enjoin other ethnic groups to emulate the right path taken by the Alago people towards ensuring lasting peace and mutual understanding amongst the different ethnic, cultural and religious groups in the state,” he said.

The governor made the commendation when a 23-member Alago Consultative Committee on Peace and Unity, constituted by the Alago Development Association, paid him a courtesy call in Lafia last Saturday.

Niger

The Registrar of National Examinations Council (NECO), Prof. Promise Okpala, has expressed delight over the improvement recorded in the final examinations for secondary schools conducted by the council recently.

Okpala made the remarks when he received the Chairman/ Chief Executive of DAAR Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, in his office in Minna, last Saturday. He said there had been significant improvements in candidates’ performances in the last three years and attributed the development to the Federal Government’s support and commitment to education.

Okpala said the planned partnership between NECO and DAAR Communications was part of measures aimed at improving the standard and quality of education in Nigeria, with a view to developing media content for broadcast.

Dokpesi said his organisation was seeking partnership with NECO towards developing media content for educational programmes to be aired on African Independent Television, and disclosed that his organisation in collaboration with Teacher-media international based in the UK signed an agreement with the Federal Ministry of Education to develop content.

Ondo

A reporter with the NTA in Akure, Mrs Olubunmi Oke, who was abducted last Thursday had been released, the Ondo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

In a statement signed by the Chairman of the council, Mr Akinfolayan Owanikin,said that Oke was released late last Saturday and had reunited with her family.

“The NUJ wishes to thank all those who played one role or the other in securing her release from the den of kidnappers.

“We commend the spirited efforts made by the family and we pray that nothing of such will take place in the family and our union again.

“We also use this medium to call on government and security agencies to step up protection of Nigerians against criminals,” the council stated.

Taraba

The police in Taraba State said that 53 people have been charged to court over the recent Wukari crisis.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr Jubril Adeniji, told newsmen in Jalingo, Saturday that 125 people were arrested by the command, but 72 were freed after investigations.

“We arrested 125 persons in connection with the crisis; 72 were freed after investigations and 53 were charged to court,’’ he said.

The commissioner, however, said normalcy had since been restored to the area, crisis broke out in Wukari in February where many lives and property were lost.

Adeniji warned that the police would not tolerate activities of miscreants in the state.