Nation

THE STATES

Published

11 years ago

July 18, 2014

Benue
Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State says he
will ensure that Terver Kakih, who leveled allegations of certificate forgery against him is punished to serve as deterrent to others who may contemplate such action.
Reacting to the Supreme Court judgement which dismissed the forgery case brought against him by Terver Kakih, Governor Suswam said he had already instructed his lawyer to institute a legal action against Terver Kakih.
He stated that he would get the court punish Kakih for trying to smear his name, saying petition writing in Tiv had become a recurrent decimal.

Borno
The closure of Maiduguri International Airport may have
started attracting casualties as the elder brother of Governor Kashim Shettima, Alhaji Shettima Mohammed Shettima was involved in a ghastly motor accident during a trip to Kano to join a flight to Saudi Arabia for the lesser hajj.
The elder brother of the governor was fortunate to be alive after having multiple fractures but his police orderly attached to him after series of threat from Boko Haram insurgents was not lucky enough as he died from injuries sustained during the accident.
The Maiduguri International Airport, which was closed to commercial flights since February this year after the bombing of the Air Force base in the town by the insurgents, was closed by the Federal Government to all manner of flights on June 27, 2014 for a period of three months due to security concerns.
This has compelled intending pilgrims for this year’s lesser hajj to travel by road to Kano amidst fear over their safety.

Ekiti
The Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State has appealed
to the Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, to assign its case challenging the proposed Local Council Development Areas by the Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi.
In a statement in Ado-Ekiti, last Tuesday, the State Publicity Secretary, Kola Oluwawole, said the delay to assign the case to a judge was frustrating its efforts to stop the plan to create new 18 LCDAs.
It said, “Our case, HAD/75/2014, challenging the illegality that the outgoing governor and his party are perpetrating was filed at the High Court of Justice, Ado-Ekiti Judcial Divison on July 1, 2014 and deposed to by our State Chairman, Mr Makanjuola Ogundipe, on behalf of the party.
“Two weeks after the matter was filed, the Chief Judge refused to assign the matter to any judge to handle, until the national strike by judiciary workers began last Friday. We call on the people of the state and other well-meaning Nigerians to call Fayemi, Ekiti CJ to order. We know what to do. The National Judicial Council is there to call any errant judge to order’, it added.

Jigawa
The Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, said
it was not a crime for him or any other Nigerian to aspire to become the president of Nigeria next year, noting that those occupying political offices today never thought that they would be there some years back.
The governor who made the disclosure aboard Airlines, in its first commercial flight from Dutse to Abuja, explained that he felt fulfilled on completion of the Dutse International Airport under one year, which commenced its first commcial flight yesterday.
While calling on both local and foreign investors to come and invest in the state, the governor promised that the airport would open the state agricultural potential to the outside world.
In his remark, the Chief Executive Officer to the consultant to the government on the construction of the airport, El-Mansur Group, Mr Tunde Oyekola, explained that the timely delivery of the project under a year was as a result of Lamido’s tremendous commitment and determination to build an airport of international standard in a record time.
Katsina
Judiciary workers in Katsina State, under the aegis of
Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), yesterday withdrew their services and ensured that all courts in the state remained under lock and key.
The state chairman of the union, Sa’idu Kakarku, said in a statement posted on the gates of the courts that the indefinite industrial action was due to the directive of its national executive committee.
He said, the strike, which began on July 11, was occasioned by the failure of the state governments to comply with the Federal High Court order of January 13, in respect of the financial autonomy of the judiciary as provided in the constitution.
Kakarku said members of the union would continue to remain at home and wait for further directives from the national body and urged the striking workers to be law-abiding, as JUSUN would continue to function within the ambit of the law.

Lagos
Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has
criticised the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for holding its rally at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, Ojota, one of the greening initiatives of the state government which they had continously described as “cosmetic and elitist”.
Fashola, said at the 2014 Tree Planting Campaign, held in Eti-Osa East Local Council Development Area (LDCA), that by their act, the PDP did not only vindicate his government’s greening policy, but had also displayed their inconsistency.
The governor, while expressing satisfaction at the success story of the greening initiative and tree planting exercise, which has provided job opportunities for thousands of youth, recalled that the PDP had criticised the programme and labeled it a waste of tax payers’ money.
He said the tree planting exercise and green programme since inception in 2008, has generated over 75,168 employment opportunities for horticulturists, pruners, gardeners, welders, tanker drivers, security personnel and other artisans.

Nasarawa
The Speaker of Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Alhaji
Musa Ahmed last Monday, directed the Clerk of the House to serve Governor Tanko Al-Makura with notice of impeachment for ‘gross misconduct’.
The development followed a motion of public interest raised by the Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Mr Yahaya Usman (PDP-Umaisha/Ugya) during plenary in Lafia.
The Chief Whip Mr Mohammed Okpede, (PDP-Doma North) seconded the motion. Usman presented a document signed by 20 of the 24 members of the Assembly which contained the allegations of gross misconduct against the governor.
The speaker, (PDP-Nasarawa Central), who officially received the impeachment notice, said the House had complied with the provision of the constitution to serve the governor with impeachment notice.
Ogun
The Ogun State Police Command, yesterday said its de
tectives attached to Ewekoro Division had arrested 16 suspected cultists, including students of a polytechnic in Itori, Ewekoro Local Government Area of the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Muyiwa Adejobi, in a statement said the detectives acted on an intelligence gathering on the activities of cult groups in the area and bust their initiation.
According to Adejobi, 16 suspects, including eight students of the polytechnic, were arrested.: “Those arrested were Akintunde Paul, Seyi Meshinoye, Fowoshade Gbemisola, Dare Olabode, Oyetayo Bolaji, Akintunde Femi, Ajibola Abiola, Amosun Eniola, Shola Ogunniyi, Fashina Michael, Bello Oyedeji, Adeshola Amore, Ebi Victor, Ogunsola Ibrahim, Babatunde Allyson and Awobajo Babatunde.”
The suspects have been transferred to the Department of Criminal Investigation, Eleweran, Abeokuta for further interrogation as directed by the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State, CP Ikemefuna Okoye.

Osun
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
said it was planning heavy security presence during the August 9 governorship election in Osun State as was the case during a similar election held on June 21 in Ekiti State.
The State’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Segun Agbaje, who spoke in Abuja Wednesday, said the decision was informed by the heightening security situation in the state, arising from the unfriendly utterances of the major political players.
The REC said, of the 1,407,222 total registered voters in the state, INEC had distributed permanent voter card (PVC) to 63 per cent, translating to 792,200 of the registered voters. He said 1,250,569 of such PVC were received from the INEC headquarters as at July 11. Agbaje said 19 candidates have been cleared to contest the election as at today. He said no voter would be allowed to cast ballot without PVC. He assured that as against the case in Ekiti, any voter with valid voter’s card will be allowed to vote.

Plateau
No fewer than 11 people have been killed at Zamadede
in the Pil-Gani district of Langtang North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The victims were killed in the early hours of Monday in a fresh violence that had seen Fulani herdsmen and local inhabitants fighting each other.
Among those killed were said to be a 45-year-old mother with her little son and a pregnant woman.
It was learnt that the herdsmen attacked the villagers while they were still asleep and ransacked two communities in the area.

Newly appointed Secretary to Adamawa State Government, Prof. Liman Tukur (right), taking oath of office before the Acting Governor, Alhaji Ahmadu Umaru in Yola, last Wednesday.

Nation

PH based Ibadan indigenes vow commitment To Rules of law

Published

6 days ago

December 8, 2025

The Tide

Indigenes of Ibadan residing in Port Harcourt under the aegis of Oluyole progressive Union have vowed to remain law-abiding and support government efforts towards the development of the state.

The Association said this during its 30th anniversary in Port Harcourt.

President of the Association , Pastor Oyedeji Emmanuel said members of the Association have never been indicted for any criminal activities in the state, stressing that they are ready to work and support the government towards the development of the state if given the opportunity.

He listed some achievements of the association within the last 30 years to include, promoting unity among its members , encouraging members development efforts , while over 24 plots of land have been acquired by the association in Ibadan Oyo state for onward distribution to members.

Emmanuel said the anniversary was not only to thank God for the continuous existence of the group, but recognize some individuals who have contributed towards its growth and sustenance.

Meanwhile in an address, the Public Relations Officer of the Association Mr Abdulganiyu Abdulwaheed said Oluyole progressive Union was borned out of the need to unite the growing numbers of Ibadan indigenes resident in Port Harcourt city and environs.

“When we saw the growing numbers of Ibadan indigenes residing in Port Harcourt,it was felt that a need existed for this wards to come together and know each other, but more importantly to see if we can collectively and work together as brothers and sisters”

Abdulwaheed use the occasion to pay glowing tributes to the founding fathers of the club, some of who are late and mentioned their names as, late Pa,R. A. Arulogun, late Alhaja Hamzat Olalekan, High Chief Kola Babalola (SAN), late Ismail Onifade Sonbe and Elder Biodun Popoola who is alive.

Also some of the founding members according to him, are,Mr Sikiru Fakunle,Akeem Azeez Oyeranmi who is l and Adedeji Taofeek who is late.

Also are,Mr Mansur Adegoke amongst other

He also listed past and present presidents of the club as ,Mr Fakunle O Sikiru, Oyeranmi Azeez,Adekunle Hakeem,Mr Popoola M Taiwo , Alhaji Rasheed A Olawoore ,Olubadan Rasheed and pastor Oyedeji Emmanuel Kamaru the current president of the club.

Some of those who spoke to newsmen including Alhaji Moshood Ola Ogundijo,Engr Abiodun Popoola, Fakunle Sikiru,Taye Popoola, Alhaji Rasheed Olawore and Deacon Sunday Ezekiel Atoyebi thanked the members for sustaining the club in the last 30 years.

They prayed for the continuous unity of members, while also calling on them to avoid anything that will put the association in disrepute.

High point of the event was the presentation of awards to deserving members of the club as well as others who contributed to the development of the club and the launching of the club’s almanac.

By: John Bibor

Nation

LECAN Plans Free Electrical Installation Training Program in Rivers, Honors Veterans

Published

6 days ago

December 8, 2025

The Tide

The Licenced Electrical Contractors Association of Nigeria, (LECAN) Rivers State chapter has announced its preparedness to organize free electrical installation training for youths in Rivers State in 2026 as part of its social responsibility policy and commitment to grooming professionals in the electricity industry.

Chairman of LECAN in Rivers State, Engr Lekia Emmanuel who disclosed this during a special end of year event of the association held in Port Harcourt on Thursday, said the move was aimed at improving service delivery and ensuring sanity in the energy sector.

He explained that the training will be conducted under the supervision and certification of, Nigeria Electricity Management Services Agency, NEMSA, the parent and regulatory body of LECAN.

Engr Lekia Emmanuel further hinted that the association will embark on intensive sensitization of the public on safety standards and enforcements through the mass media while strengthening stakeholders collaboration.

He explained that, ” We in LECAN has resolved to promote professionalism in the electricity sector by carrying out free electrical installation training for youths in Rivers State, this will enable young Nigerians to develop great potentials in this important sector of the Nigeria economy.”

“It will also help in checking the infiltration of quacks, we’ll also engage critical stakeholders to enhance safety standards and enforcement in the electricity related activities and contracts.”

The association also used the event to honor veterans and other personalities that have contributed immensely to the development of the association with Excellence Service Awards.

These include; Engr Jamila Yusuf, Area Inspecting Engineer, Port Harcourt Inspectorate Field office, Elder Igwe Worli, Patron, Chief Afuedeli Moses, LECAN Zonal Coordinator, Mr Friday Deetam Kor, Comrade Valentine Nwigwe, Elder Mission Saagbara and Mr Austine Obilor.

In her remarks, the Area Inspecting Engineer Port Harcourt Inspectorate Field office of NEMSA, who was represented by Engr Josephine Ekpo commended LECAN for its commitment to safety standards and professionalism and assured a robust collaboration with the association.

On his part, the Secretary of Rivers State chapter of LECAN, Engr Nornubari Kor expressed gratitude to God for making the association to carry through the 2025 fiscal year with remarkable achievements.

He urged members of the LECAN to key into the activities of the association in 2026 with renewed zeal and deep sense of commitments to achieve desired objectives.

Nation

Alliance Française PH, FIGN, Nexal Move To Eradicate GBV

Published

6 days ago

December 8, 2025

The Tide

The Alliance Française Port Harcourt in conjunction with the Embassy of France Nigeria over the weekend joined the globe to campaign against the 2025 gender- based violence (GBV) with the theme: “16 Days of Activism Against Gender- Based Voice”

The event which took place at the event Hall of the Alliance Française Port Harcourt was in collaboration with the Female in Gaming Network, ( FIGN) and partnership with Nexal a body that seeks to promote online safety and responsible digital behaviour.

The Tide reports that the project which was aimed at promoting digital safety and girls inclusion in Gaming, with the initiative tagged ‘Gameover Gender- Base Violence’was part of the global campaign against gender- based Violence.

The activity which experienced a flavour of festivity was full of fun and excitements as participants took part in tournaments on popular digital games such as Mario kart and EAFC 25, with an intent to creating safer and more inclusive digital spaces.

The Director of the Alliance Française Port Harcourt, Mrs Marina Lacal said that these activities were designed to encourage inclusion of girls, team work and fair play on online gaming spaces, saying that the gaming world reflects these inequalities, where female players are often under represented.

According to her the main objectives of the initiative was to provide a supportive environment for girls and female in gaming network.

“GameOverGBV” is a project created to reshape this landscape by offering an innovative inclusiveness of girls on online digital Gaming community and digital environments that provide opportunities for creativity, learning and connection, but also fight against Gender-Based Violence Digital Gaming,”she said

She however, explained that the Digital Game, sport competitions, was launched to strengthen social and digital skills through games, workshops, and raise awareness among all young participants about respect, equality and digital citizenship.

The Tide News reports that in Port Harcourt, the competition brought together 100 young participants from three major universities: University of Port Harcourt, ( UNIPORT),Ignatius Ajuru University of Education(IAUE) and Rivers State University (RSU)as well as students from four selected secondary schools, Oginigba comprehensive Secondary.School, Vine lnternational, Virgo predicanda lnternational, and Excellent Montessori Secondary school.

“This is an approach where girls and boys can learn, play and collaborate in a more respectful and safe space for young women, while ensuring a safe, enjoyable and respectful digital environment. It also expose young women to cyberbullying, exclusion, sexist comments and online hate,” Mrs. Lacal said.

Earlier, a game developer Sophia Nei and her. team had engaged participants in an interactive session with the theme: “Can Video Games Be Safe Spaces For Girls?”

However, Mrs Nei and her team educated the girls on the benefits and violence on online digital gaming and urged them ( participants)to learn to say ‘No’ to Online hate, sexist and cyber bullying, while encouraging them(students) to stand up for themselves by reporting such issues to the appropriate authority.

Highlight of the competition was the awarding of prizes to winners by the Director of Alliance Française, Mrs Marina Lacal.