Nation
THE STATES
Borno
A Borno-based Pastor, Kallamu Musa-Dikwa, who claimed
that the money given to Pastors by the President Goodluck Jonathan was actually N7billion and not N6billion as alleged by Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has been invited by the Department of State Services, DSS.
Dikwa’s allegation had caused a stir among the Christian clerics, with the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and the Northern State Christian Elders Forum asking him to name the church leaders, who collected the huge bribe.
Musa-Dikwa, who is the Executive Director of the Voice of Northern Christian Movement, told journalists in Kaduna about two weeks ago that the said money was channelled through the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN.
Musa-Dikwa said the CAN got the said money (N7bn) on January 26, 2015 and disbursed N3m to each State Chairmen of the CAN across the country.
Musa-Dikwa, who was an Associate Pastor with the E. Y. N. Church, Farm Centre, Dikwa Road, Maiduguri, Borno State, under Rev. Emmanuel Kwajihe between 2002 and 2004, said the CAN had started threatening Christians in the state (Borno) that they must re-elect Jonathan in the rescheduled election.
Ekiti
Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has awarded N1.2
billion worth of contract to Carpenters and Furniture Association of Ekiti State.
The association last Monday evening signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the state government on the contract.
The Chief of Staff, Chief Dipo Anisulowo, who represented the governor, said the contract was part of the Stomach Infrastructure Programme of Fayose.
Anisulowo appealed to the artisans to make good use of the opportunity.
He said, “I hope you would not disappoint the governor because he has reposed a lot of confidence in you to have given you this project. I pray you will reciprocate his kind gesture by doing a very good job.”
Chairman of the association, Evangelist Micheal Adeyemi (JP), expressed gratitude to the state government on behalf of members.
FCT
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has commiserated
with the publisher of the THISDAY Newspapers, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena over the demise of his brother in the United States of America last Sunday.
A press statement signed by Atiku Media Office yesterday said that the death of Rotimi Azubuike Obaigbena came as a rude shock.
Atiku described the deceased as “a very hardworking Nigerian who has made an indelible mark in his chosen profession.”
He also prayed for the family and friends of the deceased to have the fortitude to bear the loss.
Gombe
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has
so far achieved ninety per cent distribution of the Permanent Voter Card in Gombe State.
The state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Kassim Geidam, confirmed this in Gombe, the state capital, Gombe said the shifting of the general elections had given both INEC and the electorate an opportunity to be better prepared for the polls.
The REC explained that all challenges associated with the collection of printed cards from Abuja have been surmounted.
He called on those who were yet to collect their PVCs to visit INEC area offices for collection.
Geidam called on husbands to allow their wives to go out and exercise their franchise during the general elections.
“People should actually come out and vote on election day most especially our mothers and sisters, whose husbands would not allow them to go out. You have allowed them register, they have obtained the PVC, on election Day, please allow them to go and cast their votes,” he said.
Jigawa
Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State has predicted that
the South-west geopolitical zone would not vote for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), because that would place the APC national leader, Senator Bola Tinubu, as the leader of the Yoruba race.
“If the Yorubas vote for Buhari because their son is the national leader of the South-west, then it will prove that (Asiwaju) Bola Tinubu is the undisputed leader of the Yorubas. This is because his people have spoken and therefore hearkened to Tinubu’s directives,” he said.
Lamido, who is the North-west Coordinator of the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organization, PDPPCO, further noted that religion and ethnicity would play a major role in the March 28 presidential election, owing to the fact that President Goodluck Jonathan is from the south and a Christian while Buhari is a Muslim northerner.
He challenged the presidential candidate of the APC to state how he intends to confront corruption, which is the major plank of his presidential manifesto, when some former governors of the PDP who are now members of the APC are facing corruption charges in the courts.
Kogi
A litre of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol,
now sells between N140 and N160 in some parts of Kogi State.
Also, information from many other local governments in the rural areas of the state indicated that petrol prices now range between N145 and N160 per litre. Our correspondent noticed long queues in two filling stations that sold fuel at Abuja bye pass in Felele, Lokoja.
Other filling stations along the road were closed as they were said to have no petrol for sale. There was also scarcity of the product in Ajaokuta LGA of the state.
Motorists and commuters that spoke to our correspondent said the scarcity and the high cost have unleashed great hardship on them. They called on relevant authorities and bodies to ensure the availability of the product and restoration of the government approved normal rate.
Kwara
The Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party,
PDP, has appealed to former Senator Gbemisola Saraki to shelve her rumoured bid to dump the PDP for another party.
This is contained in a press statement issued by the state Secretary, Barrister Hassan Razaq made available to journalists in Ilorin last Monday.
Senator Gbemisola Saraki, the only female gubernatorial aspirant who came third in the keenly contested primaries among other 13 male aspirants was alleged to have been ridiculed out of the party because of her growing political profile.
The last straw that broke the camel’s back was the fifty thousand naira allegedly made available for her to mobilise her teaming supporters to the last visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to Ilorin which she rejected and therefore stayed away from the event.
Lagos
Over 50 attacks were launched by vandals on the nation’s
crude oil and gas pipelines in the last six months, the Executive Director, Gas and Power, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr. David Ige, has said.
Ige, who stated this in Lagos, last week at the 12th Annual Aret Adams Foundation Memorial Lecture, said the government is undeterred by the challenges posed by the activities of the vandals in recent time.
He said the NNPC will continually be in the vanguard of an aggressive campaign to nip vandalism in the bud, with a view to realising the nation’s gas needs and potentials in the country. According to Ige, Nigeria has what it takes to use gas as an engine of economic growth but urged Nigerians to exercise patience for the potential of the sector to come to fruition.
He explained that government is aggressively driving the gas sector to boost local consumption through competitive pricing as well as export of the product outside the shores of the land. The Executive Director said the current growth pattern of the gas sector which has also witnessed a phenomenal reduction in gas flaring in the country, would also add significant value to the power sector.
Osun
The Nigerian Army has pledged not to intimidate or harass
genuine voters during the March 28 and April 11 general elections.
This assurance was given by the General Officer Commanding, GOC, 2 Division, Ibadan, Major-General Sanusi Muazu during a courtesy call on the governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in Osogbo.
in a statement released yesterday by the media aide to the governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon quotes the GOC as saying that, ”the military will not in any way intimidate or harass the electorate during the March and April elections.
Responding, the governor was quoted to have called on the military and other security agencies to guard against allowing themselves to be used to intimidate the electorate or to subvert the will of the people, advising soldiers and other security agents not to obey any instruction or order that will compromise their professionalism during the forth-coming general elections.
Ogun
The Ogun State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Chief
Timothy Ibitoye, has said that 555 Permanent Voter Cards belonging to dead persons have been discovered among the ones brought to the state for registered voters.
Ibitoye said this on Monday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, while briefing journalists on the progress made so far by the commission in the distribution of PVCs in the state.
“We had gone to all the local government areas in the state. And we asked our officers to write out the names of those who were yet to collect their PVCs. We were able to get the number from this collation. The community leaders also assisted us in identifying those who have died since the last registration of voters when the lists were pasted,” the REC said.
Ibitoye, who said more people had collected their PVCs, noted that the correct number of registered voters in the state was 1,795,794, as opposed to the incorrect figure of 1,829,534.
Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State (6th left); President, Governing Council of Institute of Directors, Mrs Eniola Fadayomi (5th left), Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-adefulire (2nd right), Lagos State Head of Service, Mrs Folashade Jaji (right) and others, during a courtesy visit by the Governing Council at Government House, Lagos, recently.
A professor of English linguistics at the Rivers State University (RSU) Nkpolu Oroworukwu Port Harcourt, Prof. Isaac Enyi Ngulube, has advocated for better and improved funding for language centres in Nigeria, such as NINLAN Aba and Nigeria French Language Village, Badagry, for optimum value and effective local languages development.
He also called for funded research on the development of orthographies and language documents across the country to rescue local languages from extinction, as well as having a well-planned and implemented mother tongue education in all institutions in the country, from primary to tertiary.
Prof. Ngulube made with these assertions while presenting his inaugural lecture at the university’s 121st inaugural lecture with the topic “The Career of Rough Beats: Language, Literature and the Development of our Common Humanity” held in Port Harcourt, Wednesday.
The erudite scholar, in the lecture, stressed that the study of English language, linguistics, and literature is very broad, large, and difficult, adding that he overcame the rough roads through resilience and determination.
He described language as “a purely human and non-instinctive means of communicating ideas and emotions,” noting that “the word is a fundamental need in language; you cannot study language without the use of language.”
He urged parents to be cautious with their utterances, warning that “what they refer to their children as is what they will automatically end up becoming.”
He recommended a branded English language for every profession or course of study, stressing that embedding oral literature in the teaching of students from primary to tertiary level will enable them to know their traditions and roots of origin.
“Tell them the folk stories and moonlight tales; you are sending them back to their people. You must be a human being first before becoming a medical doctor, engineer, or anything else,” Ngulube said.
He also called for better and improved production of quality language and literature teachers, provision of modern teaching/instructional materials, improved welfare packages for teachers, and provision of better infrastructure at both primary and secondary school levels.
He used the opportunity to appreciate the Vice Chancellor for the approval of the Department of English Language and Literature, adding that it had been his long-held dream for the university.
In his speech, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, while highlighting the lecture, opined that the lecturer x-rayed the lecturer’s journey into the study of English language, linguistics, and literature, describing the field as broad, large, and difficult, but with determination and focus, he was able to defeat the beasts he encountered on his way.
Zeb-Obipi agreed with the lecturer’s recommendations on ways to improve indigenous languages in the country and directed that modalities be worked out for the university to have the Department of English Language and Literature, among others.
He highlighted RSU’s recent victory in the Bilingual Community Project organized by the French Embassy, describing it as proof of the university’s rising excellence in language studies.
The Federal Government through the implementation of the various projects of the Ogoni cleanup programme is demonstrating a strong commitment to national peace and the development of Ogoniland.
The Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project(HYPREP), Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, who made this assertion at a two-day training on Mechanism for Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) and other Peacebuilding Techniques for Community Leaders In Ogoni, held in Port Harcourt, said through the ongoing environmental restoration effort, potable water provision, livelihood restoration, public health interventions, and the Ogoni Power Project, HYPREP is contributing to national peace and development.
He explained that by improving the living conditions in communities and creating new opportunities for young people, the Project is also reducing the social pressure that often fuels conflict, stressing that the Project is proud of this service to the Ogoni people and the nation.
Describing traditional leaders and stakeholders as peacebuilders and guardians of community harmony, Zabbey noted that the workshop would strengthen their capacities and reinforce the Ogoni dialogue process, which HYPREP continues to support in line with its mandate on peacebuilding.
He said HYPREP is actively promoting ADR alongside other mechanisms across its project sites and other areas of operation aimed at fostering unity, fairness, mutual respect and faster dispute resolution, stressing that these are qualities necessary for the future of Ogoni people and their communities.
He further indicated that the Minister of Environment and Chairman of HYPREP’s Governing Council, Malam Balarabe Abbas Lawal is disposed to promoting peace and stability across Ogoni communities and HYPREP project sites.
The Project Coordinator, therefore, charged Ogoni leaders to be mindful of their actions, words and body language, as what they say or do can either promote peace or fan the embers of conflict.
Continuing, he stated thus,”We must always ask ourselves: Is my position on this matter in the people’s interest? Does it promote unity and progress? Will it enhance development?”
The Project Coordinator assured the participants that HYPREP is working tirelessly in line with the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for the accelerated implementation of the Ogoni cleanup programme and ensure that its benefits reach the grassroots where they are needed most.
Stressing the need for Ogoni leaders and stakeholders to explore communication and trust options to prevent disputes from degenerating into violence, the Project Coordinator noted that it was time for all Ogonis to be united for development, leaving behind perceptions that do not serve collective progress.
Similarly, the Director of the Centre for Peace and Security Studies of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof Chioma Daisy Onyige, said the workshop is a strategic platform aimed at strengthening the capacity of traditional institutions and community leaders to sustain peace, foster dialogue and promote non-adversarial engagements in the implementation of the Ogoni cleanup programme.
Prof Onyige noted that the Ogoni leadership structure commands deep respect and legitimacy, and strengthening their capacity in ADR methods such as mediation, negotiation, dialogue, facilitation, and consensus building means strengthening the foundation of peace in the region.
Participants, comprising traditional rulers and key stakeholders in Ogoni, commended HYPREP for the initiative, and assured it of their continuous support to the Project by providing an enabling atmosphere for the smooth implementation of the cleanup project in Ogoniland.
Resource persons who presented thought-provoking lectures at the workshop included the Dean of the Faculty of Postgraduate Studies of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof Kinikanwo Anele; Prof Olariwanju Lawal; Prof Chioma Daisy Onyige; and Dr Gbenemene Kpae; among others.
With significant achievements recorded across thematic areas of the Ogoni cleanup programme being executed by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), the Project Coordinator of the Project, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, has said that all these are enabling pathways to the development of Ogoniland.
This is coming on the heels of milestone achievements in the following areas and their impact on Ogoni communities. They are mangrove restoration which is 94 percent complete; shoreline remediation which stands at 67.1 percent; and the phase 2 land remediation progressing to 36.55 percent.
Moreso, HYPREP has constructed 14 water facilities, providing potable water to 40 communities. With the commissioning of the water schemes in Bane and Gwara communities, the number of communities with access to clean and safe drinking water will be 45. The process of operationalising the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER) which is at 92 percent complete, is ongoing. The same for the Ogoni Power Project which is progressing with wayleave compensation and construction works at Bodo and Wiiyaakaara substations ongoing
Similarly, the Ogoni Specialist Hospital and Buan Cottage Hospital are at 76.8 percent and 98.7 percent respectively.
This is alongside other public health interventions and the Human BioMonitoring Survey also in progress.
Under the livelihood
programme, over 7,000 direct jobs have been created for Ogoni women and youths, while over 5,000 have been trained in multiple skills and provided start-up kits, workshops, education grants, scholarships and other empowerment programmes. This quarter, training will commence in other demand-driven skill areas, such as cybersecurity, full-stack development, mud logging, software development, commercial diving, and underwater welding.
Zabbey had reeled out these achievements, during the third quarter interactive session between the Project Coordination Office engagement with Ogoni youths in Port Harcourt on Friday, in line with HYPREP’s strategic stakeholders policy to provide an interface opportunity to abreast Ogoni youths on the Project’s activities, while garnering their feedback.
Zabbey noted that, “This
quarterly engagement was,therefore, designed as an inclusive strategy to ensure that youth voices are heard, concerns are addressed, and progress updates are provided transparently. Also, it reflects our firm belief that a project of this magnitude must be people-centred, accountable, and participatory”.
” I am delighted to inform you that the Project remains on course to achieve its mandate as outlined in the UNEP Report on the Ogoni environment and the official gazette establishing HYPREP. HYPREP is committed to transparency and accountability in the implementation of the cleanup projects and activities”, he said.
He stressed that HYPREP’s achievements are pathways to a better Ogoniland, assuring that the Project’s goals are aimed at benefiting all categories of Ogoni youths, whether in business, farming, advocacy, education, entrepreneurship or community development.
”This Project belongs to all of you, and its success depends mainly on your participation, unity and constructive engagement. And with your support, we are confident that all challenges will be addressed in the overall public interest,” Zabbey said.
The Project Coordinator urged Ogoni youths to continue to support the Project by promoting peace, discouraging misinformation, and collaborating with project teams working in the communities, and address challenges through dialogue, rather than confrontation.
Prof Dinebari Badey, a Professor of Development Sociology in the University of Port Harcourt, delivered the keynote address, linking the nexus between HYPREP and youths in the development of Ogoniland through unity of purpose while Engr Solomon Akere, gave a talk on Ogoni youths in business.
Participants raised questions concerning the maintenance of the water projects, remediation efforts, and compensation for the Right of Way (RoW), among others.
In attendance were management staff of HYPREP who provided responses to the interventions.