THE STATES

Adamawa

The American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola, has
commenced a special education programme for 21 Chibok girls under its scholarship programme.
The President of the university, Dr Margee Ensign, said this in an interview with newsmen  in Yola recently.
Ensign said the specialised intensive programme was to prepare the girls to do well in their JAMB examination that would enable them commence full academic programme in the university. She also said that the university’s Peace and Community Development Programme had been very effective in promoting peaceful coexistence and giving assistance to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state.
“ Our peace initiative is beginning to get international recognition. I was asked to brief some United States policy makers on the initiative,” she said.

FCT
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre
(CISLAC) said it would train about 50 Journalists on the reportage of the 2015 general elections.
The Programme Officer of the group, Mr Salawudeen Hashim,  said this in an interview with newsmen  in Abuja.
Hashim said that the journalists would be drawn from different media outfits, including social media across the country. He said the two-day training programme would commence in the first week of February.
He said the event would feature in-depth reportage of the elections and avail participants of the opportunity to share experience.
Katsina police warn candidates, supporters against inflamatory statements

Katsina

The Commissioner of Police in Katsina State, Alhaji
Muhammed Hurdi, has warned candidates and political party supporters in the state to desist from making inflammatory statements during and after the forthcoming elections.
Hurdi gave the warning during a meeting with political parties, candidates, security agencies and party supporters in Katsina. He said the police would deal decisively with any person no matter how highly placed, if found disrupting the peace. “The command advises the politicians to call their boys to order and make them behave as gentlemen.
“We have been monitoring the campaign activities and we are not happy with the utterances of many politicians in the state.

Kaduna

The presidential candidate of the All Progressive
Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, t has pledged to bring about positive change in Nigeria within two years in office, if elected.
Buhari, who made the pledge while addressing his supporters in Kaduna, said the APC administration would reverse the current state of economy, insecurity, unemployment and corruption in the country.
“We pledge to you, that if given the mandate, we will bring about positive changes in the lives of Nigerians within two years,” he said.
“Our desire for change has not diminished, that was why in all the elections we participated we never asked people to take the law into their hands.
“We have always pursued our grievances over the elections at the tribunal.
“I believe in democratic governance, and as long as I am alive, I shall continue to struggle for the good of all Nigerians,” he said.

Kwara

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji
Abubakar Baraje has chided Governor  Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State over alleged inflammatory comments on the health status of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.
Baraje in a statement made available to newsmen in Ilorin said the governor’s comments were capable of igniting crisis in the country. He called on the Inspector General of Police, INEC Chairman, SSS and other security agents to take appropriate action to stop such “inflammatory statements originating from Fayose.”
Baraje, a former national chairman of PDP, described the statement credited to the governor as “not only reckless, uncalled for, but a statement that can cause anarchy and crisis in the country.
He noted with dismay that the comments were made few days after President Goodluck Jonathan and the APC presidential candidate signed a non-violence peace agreement.

Lagos

A tourism lecturer, Mr Wale Odeyemi, has  urged par
ents and guardians to ensure that indigenous languages were spoken in homes for children to have basic understanding of their languages.
Odeyemi, who is the Zonal Head, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Lagos Campus, made the call in an interview with newsmen  in Lagos.
The lecturer, who said that indigenous languages were on the verge of extinction, added that “most parents do not speak their indigenous languages at home; some believe the language is inferior to English.
“In as much as parents try to expose their children to civilised standard of living, it will be wiser to teach the children the indigenous languages to inculcate their cultural identity in them.
“Language is the cultural identity of a people which must be guided, no matter one’s social status. Our indigenous language gives us a sense of belonging.

Niger

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has pledged to
tackle economic woes bedeviling the people of Niger State.
Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the APC Presidential Candidate, made the promise his campaign  at rally in Minna.
“Niger state is known as the power state because of its dams that provide electricity to the country. “These are also resources that will be used to revive the agricultural sector of the state and its neighbours. We will address transport, rural health, education as well as unemployment,” he said. “It is the responsibility of the government to provide security for all its citizens. We will discourage corrupt practices as well as prudently manage available resources.

Osun

A medical practitioner, Dr Kayode Oyebode, has
warned Nigerians to guard against an outbreak of Bird Flu.
Oyebode, who gave the warning in an interview with newsmen  said cases of the epidemic had been recorded in some states, including Lagos and Kano.
“To prevent the spread of such epidemic, our people must be careful with the way they eat chickens and other birds to avoid being victims of the deadly disease.
‘’Bird Flu is a deadly disease mostly contracted from birds. The disease, which could be contracted from eating chickens, kills as fast as Ebola disease.
‘’ People must be enlightened on the danger of eating birds with such a disease and also be informed on ways to prevent an outbreak of such a disease,’’ Oyebode said.

Oyo

The Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) solicited the support of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, in its bid to conduct free, fair and credible elections. The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Oyo State, Amb. Rufus Akeju, made the call for support at the palace of the monarch in Oyo during an advocacy visit.
Akeju, who told the monarch that the advocacy visit was to sensitise the public on the need for peaceful elections, said.
“We need your help to deliver credible, free and fair elections to the people.
“You are the one that will mobilise the voters to come out to vote.
“We also need you to help tell the voters not to engage in violence and rigging and to comport themselves during the polls.’’

Taraba

The Acting Governor of Taraba, Alhaji Sani Danladi,
said the state government would pay over N300 million as outstanding salary arrears to the lecturers of Taraba University, Jalingo “within the shortest time possible”.
Danladi said this in Jalingo  at the commissioning of Taraba University staff quarters.
He said the payment was necessary to boost the morale of the lecturers for effective service delivery.
“I am aware that there are still some outstanding financial commitments to academic staff and other organisations. Government will redeem these commitments within the shortest time possible,“ he said.

From Left: Alhaji Lamidi Ajadi; Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State and his Ssg, Alhaji Ismael Olalekan-alli, at the Agodi Eid Prayer Ground during the Eid-el-fitr prayers in Ibadan recently.