Bauchi

The diverse ethnic and multi-religious communities of Yelwa, Kagadama, Gwallameji and Lushi of Birshi-Miri District, Bauchi, Bauchi State last Saturday celebrated six years of living together in peaceful co-existence.

The programme was organised by Muslim and Christian Youth Movement for Peace in conjunction with Birshi-Miri Concern Citizens Forum.

The communities are home to diverse ethnic groups in the country, the Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, Idoma, Fulani, Seyawa, Jarawa and Ninzom, among others and from different religious backgrounds.

In his speech, Mr Yusuf Kumsu, the Chairman organising committee of the programme, explained that the event was organised to celebrate six years of peaceful co-existence among the diverse ethnic groups in the communities.

Benue

Benue State, Police Command says it has recovered 17 bodies from the river after the Boxing Day boat mishap that claimed the lives of over 40 persons at River Buruku, in Buruku Local Government Area.

The State police public relations officer,  PPRO, Deputy Superintendent, DSP, Daniel Ezeala, who spoke in a telephone interview in Makurdi ,said search and rescue operation was still going on at scene of the disaster.

He said “We have so far recovered 17 bodies from the river but we are still continuing with the search and rescue operation until we are convinced that there are no survivors or bodies in the river. I can also assure you that we have commenced investigations into the matter with a view to finding the immediate and remote causes of the tragedy.”

Ekiti

Buoyed by the recent signing of the Equal Opportunities Bill into law by Dr Kayode Fayemi, Ekiti State’s first lady, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, that she may be considering sponsoring a prize at the next Nigeria Media Merit Award, in collaboration with other stakeholders, for gender-friendly reporting.

Mrs. Fayemi who initiated the bill that was signed penultimate Tuesday is upbeat that the new law would strengthen existing legislations put in place to promote gender equality and women empowerment, widowhood rights, among others.

She said, “It is almost impossible for any society to think that they can achieve any kind of transformation while leaving women behind. It’s just like trying to clap with one hand.”

If the first lady makes true her plan, then it would be a notable contribution to robust journalism by a woman who has been in the fore-front of the clamour for women’s rights even before she became a first lady.

Gombe

The Gombe State Government has allocated N1.9 billion for women and youths development projects in the coming year.

The allocation is contained in the 2014 budget of N107.4 billion presented to the State House of Assembly by Gov Ibrahim Dankwambo on Friday in Gombe.

He said that N1.1 billion would be used to train women through the office of the Hajiya Adama Women Empowerment Programme (HAWEP), the pet project of his wife.

Dankwambo said the programme had impacted positively on the economic empowerment of women in the state, promising to sustain the tempo in 2014.

Kaduna

Kaduna State Government last Saturday said it would establish four new Science Secondary Schools in 2014 to enhance the study of science-related courses.

The State Governor, Alhaji Muktar Yero, disclosed this at the 21st Annual General Meeting of the Zaria Education Development Association (ZEDA) in Zaria, Kaduna State.

Yero, who was represented by the Chief of Staff, Kaduna Government House, Alhaji Yahaya Aminu, said the schools would be located in different parts of the state.

Kebbi

The Senator representing Kebbi State South, Retired Major General Muhammadu Magoro, has appealed to the Boko Haram sect to embrace dialogue in resolving grievances to fast-track development.

Magoro told newsmen in Zuru last  Friday that the continued violent agitation by the sect had retarded development in the  north east and the country.

He said without peace, meaningful development could not be achieved and called on members of the sect to embrace dialogue in order to resolve the crises.  Magoro said that the present leadership of the country was desirous of development and he urged security agencies not to relent in the fight against terrorism.

Kwara

A socio-cultural   group, the Igbomina Development Forum, last  Saturday  rallied support for President Goodluck Jonathan in his bid to tackle the nation’s challenges.

The group, at a forum organised at Agbamu, Irepodudun Local Government Area of Kwara, also called for participatory politics and internal democracy in parties to strengthen the nation’s democratic institutions.

The forum, which was organised by Mrs Shola  Adedoyin-Adeoti, a business magnate and community leader, appraised the current  socio-political developments in Kwara State and urged the Igbomina “ to work for their political emancipation.’’

Lagos

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has approved the procurement of 120 new vehicles of various brands for traditional rulers in the state. The state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Ademorin Kuye, disclosed this in an interview last Saturday in Lagos.

The commissioner, who  said the vehicles would be purchased in 2014, noted  that they would enable the traditional rulers to discharge their responsibilities effectively.

Kuye also said that the state government was renovating palaces and building some new ones to strengthen the  traditional institution and improve the living standards of the traditional rulers.

Niger

The Niger State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) plans to construct a 20-room Motel at the council’s secretariat at the cost of N50 million.

The Chairman of the union, Mr Ilya Garba, who  announced this at a media briefing last Thursday in Minna on the council’s plans for its Press Week said the venture was to boost the revenue base of the council.

He said other structures including a Cyber Cafe would be provided at the motel to serve the interest of the union members.

Ogun

The Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State has said the party is bigger than individuals who have defected from it to opposition parties. It said those that defected from the party usually left with political qualities the PDP had instilled in them.

The party said the Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, and the former Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel, owed their political success to the PDP.

In an interview the Chairman, PDP, Ogun State, Adebayo Dayo, pointed out that the Labour Party in the state would fail like it did in the Anambra State governorship election.

Oyo

A mysterious spacecraft, which residents of Awotan in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State called a “drone”, was reported to have crashed into a building at Omiremi Quarters in the community, leaving a crater on the roof of the building, just as aviation sources confirmed the object as a United States’ drone on an espionage mission in Nigeria.

Considering the registration number, TX 5803, inscribed on a black battery under the craft, a source said the space craft must have taken off from  NASA base in Texas in the US, stating that the battery attached to the spacecraft powered it and enabled it to move around so that it could do the bidding of those who sent it.

Sokoto

Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Sokoto State have accused the party’s deputy National Chairman, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari, of causing disaffection within the party in the state.

Addressing a press conference on behalf of the members on Saturday, former chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Alhaji Hassan Turakin Tureta, said members of APC in the state recognised former Governor Attahiru Bafarawa as the leader of the party in Sokoto State.

He alleged that Masari was using his connection in his former party to create discord in the Sokoto APC

Yobe

Voters across Yobe State yesterday turned out in large numbers to cast their votes to elect Chairmen and Councillors of the 17 Local Government Councils in the state.

There was heavy security presence in all the polling booths as well as major streets in Damaturu with combine team of soldiers, police, civil defence corps and immigration officers watching over.

Shops and other businesses were closed while restriction on movement was imposed throughout the state from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m as there was security build up to forestall any unforeseen circumstances.

Only 10 parties participated in the polls while the major opposition party in the state, the PDP, boycotted the election.

Speaking to journalists after casting his vote, the state Governor, Alhaji  Ibrahim Gaidam,  said the conduct of the election had proved sceptics wrong on the security situation in the state.

Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State (left), presenting the 2014 Appropriation Bill (Budget) to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Alhaji Inuwa Garba, in Gombe, last Friday.