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  • Fayemi lays foundation of ‘legacy projects’

    Fayemi lays foundation of ‘legacy projects’

    Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi yesterday laid the foundation of five “legacy projects” in commemoration of his second anniversary in office.

    The projects are the new Government House; the Governor’s Office; the State Pavilion, the Samsung Engineering Academy and the Civic Centre.

    Four of them will be funded through the N20 billion Bond obtained by the state from the capital market earlier in the year and would be completed by end of next year.

    Fayemi said his administration is committed to transforming the state, so that it can become a choice destination for all.

    Justifying the new Governor’s Office, Fayemi said the current Governor’s Office was originally designed as a hotel by the administration of former Governor Niyi Adebayo.

    He said the office is far from the State Secretariat and the distance affects communication in governance.

    Fayemi said the legacy projects were envisioned to be “timeless”, both in concept and aesthetic.

    He said the old Ado-Ekiti Prison site was chosen as the location of the 7000 sq metre Civic Centre and Museum to preserve the remains of the old prison, which was demolished in April.

    The Civic Centre will house a museum, amphi-theatre, events centre and library.

    Fayemi said it would attract tourists and create jobs.

    At the Government Technical College, Ado-Ekiti, where the foundation of the Samsung Engineering Academy was laid, the governor said the gesture was the manifestation of the Memorandum of Understanding between his administration and Samsung in Seoul, South Korea.

    He said the academy, which will be wholly funded by Samsung, would promote e-learning in schools, as well as repair and maintain computers.

    Fayemi said the Academy would train students and interested persons.

    Managing Director, Samsung West Africa, Mr. Brovo Kim praised the achievements of the Fayemi-led administration, especially in education.

    Kim said the academy will create jobs and empower youths.

     

     

  • Kwankwaso sacks ‘corrupt’ polio officers

    kano State Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso yesterday said he has ordered the replacement of managerial officers involved in the polio immunisation because of alleged corruption.

    The governor said the alleged corruption among the officers was retarding the progress of the exercise.

    He said he directed that officials hitherto involved in the immunisation from the State Director down to immunisation officials in the 44 local government areas be replaced.

    Kwankwaso said they seemed to have turned the exercise into a money-making venture.

    Speaking at the launch of the fifth round of polio immunisation at the Government House, Kwankwaso explained that the activities of some immunisation officials had become a source of concern to his administration.

    According to him, efforts to eradicate polio fr4om the state are not yielding the desired success.

    The governor stressed that the government would not tolerate corruption in immunisation or any of its activities, adding that more proactive measures were being adopted to ensure that Kano becomes polio-free soon.

    He also said his administration was not happy with pockets of immunisation rejection in Kano.

    The governor warned that his administration might enforce the exercise to secure the future of the children.

    Kwankwaso stressed the need for collaborative between civic, political and religious leaders to eradicate the disease.

    The governor thanked the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation as well as Alhaji Aliko Dangote for their contributions to the anti-polio war.

    According to him, it has been scientifically established that polio is linked to poor sanitation habits and Nigeria is still among the three polio endemic countries in the world.

    The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, said 19 cases of polio were the government would concentrate on how to reverse the trend.

  • Gunmen kill three in Plateau attacks

    •Council imposes curfew

    Three residents of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State have been killed. Another person was injured in fresh attacks by unknown gunmen in the area.

    Daniel Alamba and Joseph Luka were killed by unknown gunmen on Monday morning in Sho village of Barkin Ladi. Another man was killed a few hours later as Berom youths and Fulani regrouped for a reprisal attacks.

    The fresh killings came two days after another senator was elected to replace the late Senator Gyang Dantong, who was killed in an attack two months ago.

    The lawmaker representing Barkin Ladi in the House of Assembly, Gyang Fulani, was killed by unknown gunmen in a similar attack. He was replaced by his wife in last week’s by-election.

    An eyewitness, who spoke in confidence, said: “Three people on a motorcycle on the road between Sho village and Barkin Ladi at 7am on Tuesday morning were ambushed and killed. Two of them died instantly while the third one escaped with bullet wounds.”

    The injured was identified as Solomon Yusuf. He is said to be receiving treatment at the Barkin Ladi General Hospital.

    Suspecting that the attackers were Fulani, some Berom youths, the local ethnic group, launched a reprisal in which they allegedly killed a Fulani.

    The eyewitness added: “As armed Berom youths in Sho village prepared to do battle, a group of Fulani youths also mobilised and attempted to demolish the only bridge linking Sho village with Barkin Ladi. The intention to destroy the bridge was to prevent any intruder into the village and deprive security agencies from entering the area. Then, they would have gone back to the village for a battle with the Berom youths.

    “But while attempting to bring down the bridge, security agencies moved in to safe the situation. The attackers fled on sighting security vehicles.”

    To prevent any attack at night, the Chairman of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, Emmanuel Loman, has imposed a curfew on the affected villages.

    The curfew is between 8pm and 5am, beginning from yesterday. It is expected to continue indefinitely until normalcy is restored.

    Police spokesman Emmanuel Abuh, an Assistant Superintendent (ASP), confirmed the incident.

    He said the police had not arrested any suspect on the incident.

    Abuh said the command has begun investigations into the attacks and has also deployed armed policemen to secure the areas.

    The SpecialTask Force (STF) on Jos Crises, code named OperationSafe Haven, last month, midwifed a reconciliation meeting between Berom and Fulani community leaders.

    It said this was to stop further bloodshed among the two ethnic groups.

    They reached an agreement to end hostility in the area and embrace peace.

  • Students were likely killed in error over unpaid debt, says ex-minister

    Students were likely killed in error over unpaid debt, says ex-minister

    THE four students of the University of Port Harcourt lynched on Friday at Omuokiri-Aluu in Obio/Akpor Local Government may have been killed in error, it emerged yesterday.

    It was learnt that the students were killed following a false alarm by another student who was owing one of the four victims some money.

    According to a former Minister, who spoke with our correspondent in confidence, it would be necessary for the government to look into this error angle.

    The ex-Minister said: “From the account of one of my relations, who is a student in UNIPORT, the four students were killed in error.

    “She alleged that another student living at Omuokiri-Aluu had borrowed unspecified cash from one of the four victims and appeared unwilling to pay.

    “The four slain students decided to meet with the student-debtor to persuade him to repay the soft loan given to him by one of them.

    “My relation claimed that when the student-debtor was adamant, these four innocent victims offered to seize his laptop and a few other computer accessories in his room.

    “Determined to take a pound of flesh over the seizure of his items, the student-debtor raised a false robbery alarm which caused panic in the area.

    “The mob did not give the students a chance before descending on them and burning them to death.

    “I want to appeal to the Nigeria Police to look at this angle in its ongoing investigation of the killing of these innocent souls.

    “What we can do now is to get justice for these four students even in death. It is so sad that innocent people could be burnt to death just like that.”

    The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) yesterday described the killing of the students as barbaric.

    The party made the condemnation in a statement in Abuja by its National Publicity, Rotimi Fashakin.

    The statement said: “The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) condemns, without any reservation, the gruesome killing of four University of Port-Harcourt (UNIPORT) students in Aluu community of Rivers State.

    “This, coming so soon after another brutal cutting down of scores of students in Mubi, Adamawa state, is one killing too many!

    Unconfirmed preliminary reports had it that the students- Ugonna, IIyod, Tekana, Chidiaka- were embroiled in an argument with a man from the community over money owed. Rather than settling amicably, the man in question called a local vigilante group that came instantly.

    “The students, first stripped naked, were beaten into pulp before being burnt to death. The footage of this act of untrammeled barbarism reveals a sad commentary that in the current Nigerian state: death is cheap and ubiquitous! It also reveals that studentship in Nigeria is fraught with inherent danger because of the near absence of governance in the Country.

    “The question is: where was the Nigeria Police while this fire of primitive justice raged? Indeed, the Police was nowhere! The defective organizational, crime-fighting thrust of the Nigeria Police is seen in its reactivity rather than pro-activity.

  • Nigeria’s future is in your hands, Aregbesola tells youths

    Nigeria’s future is in your hands, Aregbesola tells youths

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has said the country’s future lies in the hands of youths.

    Aregbesola spoke on Monday in Osogbo, the state capital, while receiving the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) youth leaders from the 36 states of the federation.

    The youths, led by the ACN National Youth Leader, Mr. Miriki Ebikibina, were in the state for the party’s Third Annual National Conference.

    Aregbesola urged youths to be the vanguard of democracy and good governance.

    He said youths are the future of the country and they must be agents of change.

    The governor urged the youth leaders to reflect on the fortune and future of the country with a view to offering good leadership.

    He said youths cannot afford to resign to fate in the face of bad governance as the present and past depend very much on them.

    Aregbesola said: “We look up to you as the fighting arm of the party. You are the most vibrant, dynamic, dependable and resilient of any political party.

    “The present and the future depend on you. How you understand your roles in the party goes a long way in shaping the future of our party and the country.

    “This is with a view to promoting the cause of democracy and wrestling power from those misgoverning us, so as to guarantee effective and good leadership, as well as freedom for all.”

    The youths and some government officials accompanied the governor on the inspection of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) station in Osogbo and the Model Middle School in Alekuwodo.

    Aregbesola hailed the level of work done at both sites.

    He said the administration is living up to its promise to improve the state.

    The governor said: “We will build 50 of these model middle schools, 100 elementary schools and 20 high schools across the state. These schools, when completed, will be such that can stand the test of time. Our students will have the opportunity of having qualitative education in a conducive environment.”

    At the railway station, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Transport, Mr. Oladepo Amuda, said: “This government is trying to use railway for the movement of raw materials from Osogbo to Lagos and finished products from Lagos to Osogbo. A cement company partnering the state has agreed to be bringing in cement at factory price to Osogbo from its plant.”

    Commissioner for Land and Urban Planning Muyiwa Ige said: “The train station will be an epic centre where people can come to relax and recreate. The plaza will complement the on-going beautification of the state. The park to be built at the station is fashioned after Kings Park in the United Kingdom.”

    Deputy Governor Mrs. Titilayo Laoye-Tomori; Secretary to the State Government Moshood Adeoti; the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola; Acting ACN State Chairman Adelowo Adebiyi; ACN Gboyega Famodun and members of the State Executive Council were on the governor’s entourage.

     

  • Three CAC pastors re-arraigned for forgery

    Three pastors of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) were yesterday re-arraigned for forgery at the Federal High Court, sitting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    The development followed the transfer of the judge handling the case, Justice Jonathan Shakharo, from Ibadan.

    The pastors-Elijah Olusheye, Johnson Olabisi and Gideon Okegwemeh- and a worker at the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abdul-Hakeem Mohammed, reappeared before before Justice A. O. Obaseki-Adejumo.

    They were accused of deceiving the government with forged documents to obtain a new Certificate of Registration for the church.

    The suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    Justice Obaseki-Adejumo upheld the bail earlier granted the accused persons and adjourned hearing till November 12 and 18.

    Justice Shakharo had granted them bail in the sum of N100,000 each and one surety each in like sum.

     

  • Bakassi: Cross River Assembly protests

    Bakassi: Cross River Assembly protests

    •Imoke: Justice can still be done

    The Cross River State House of Assembly yesterday accused the Federal Government of being part of an international conspiracy to frustrate Cross River and Bakassi people.

    It asked the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, to resign.

    This follows the government’s position not to seek a review of the 2002 International Court of Justice (ICJ) judgment, which ceded Bakassi to Cameroon.

    The 25 members of the Assembly marched in protest from the Assembly Complex to the Governor’s Office to register their grouse.

    Speaker Larry Odey, who led the protest, was diplomatic.

    Odey said they only came to find out from the governor, if there was any positive development in the direction of the review, but other members were more direct in expressing their bitterness.

    Mr. Saviour Nyong (Bakassi Constituency) said: “We are very perplexed that the Federal Government, with the mandate of Nigerians and by extension, the mandate of the people of Cross River State and Bakassi, to defend us, has only played politics with the people of Bakassi.

    “One therefore wonders if Nigeria is an independent nation, because no nation in the history of the world has given out its own territory on a platter of gold.

    “We have heard of other ICJ judgments that have been given more than three to four decades ago, yet, no Green Tree Agreement has been reached, talkless of its implementation.

    “So one wonders the haste in the ceding of Bakassi. In my own words, I term it to be an international conspiracy against the people of Bakassi and Cross River State, which was made possible because our leadership was part of it.”

    Mr. John Gaul Lebo (Abi Constituency) said: “This shows clearly that there is a conspiracy by the Federal Government. First by the President’s setting up of a shadow presidential committee less than three days to the expiration of the 10 years we had to seek a review.

    “Two, it is not for the AGF to say that documents presented before him are no fresh and credible facts. He is not the court. The ICJ provision under Article 33 provides that every new evidence must be presented before the ICJ. The ICJ has the jurisdiction to determine whether that evidence is credible or not. As AGF, it is a conspiracy against the people of Nigeria for him to say to the press that that evidence is not a fresh and verifiable evidence.

    “It is not the business of Cross River State or the people of Bakassi because we are only a part of the Federation. We have no locus standi to go to the ICJ.”

    Mr Agbiji Agbiji (Ikom 1) said: “Nigerians have called for a review. If the president fails to carry out the mandate of the people, the constitution says no treaty can be implemented without the resolution of the National Assembly. So the question is which constitution is the president upholding? Which constitution is he operating?”

    Mr. Jake Enya (Boki 2) said: “The Federal Government should listen to the voice of the majority of the people which says that this ICJ judgment must be reviewed.

    Mr. Joseph Bassey (Calabar South 2) said the legislators will embark on a hunger strike and prayers, so that everyone involved in the ceding of Bakassi should die.

    Governor Liyel Imoke said: “The very intractable problem of Bakassi is a problem which I have been careful to manage, so we do not politicise it because there are a number of humanitarian considerations, security issues and of course being a part of a country, Cross River State on its own has no locus to file an action at the ICJ.

    “So what is important is that the authorities at the federal level understand the pain the people here feel and the consequences of the judgment on the people.

    “There are a lot of grievances, pain and hurt, and we can only appeal to everyone at this time to remain calm and understand that there are processes and procedures that are followed in cases of this nature.

    “All hope is not lost. We may have reached the end of one stage of this struggle but I believe there is still an opportunity to address some of the real challenges that the ceding of Bakassi has brought upon the people.

    So, yes, we may not meet the deadline for a review. I hope we do and we still have a few hours to be considered, but in the event that we do not, I believe very strongly that there are still other opportunities which we will pursue to ensure that justice is done.”

     

  • Council cracks down on sand excavators

    Council cracks down on sand excavators

    The Transition Committee Chairman, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Hon. Emeka Aforka has started a revolution in the council.

    The council boss has taken steps to end indiscriminate sand excavation in the area, a growing pastime in which notable figures, including traditional rulers and town presidents-general, are fingered.

    Henceforth, anyone caught in the act will be arrested and prosecuted, Newsextra learnt.

    Already, a man has been arrested and prosecuted over sand excavation, though he has been granted bail.

    The council, which consists of 16 communities, has been contending with erosion, a situation that is worsened by sand excavation.

    Hon Aforka gave the arrest order after due consultation with his council, which determined that community leaders were colluding with law breakers to aggravate soil erosion in the local government.

    In a letter to the District Police Officer in the council, Emeka, through Dr H. N. Ozokwere, also ordered the arrest of beach operators who are believed to be involved in the act.

    Part of the letter reads: “I am directed to refer to the management decision during the council meeting of 6th August, 2014 and hereby convey the mandate of the arrest of all beach owners in Orumba North Local Government Area, for the purposes of prosecution in matters relating to indiscriminate sand excavation  in the local government area.

    “Please recall that numerous prohibitions have been placed on this issue and that notwithstanding, some obnoxious individuals are recalcitrant because sand excavation is still going on as clearly observed on all beaches.

    “All impounded vehicles in the course of enforcing the ban on sand excavation shall be released only on payment of one hundred thousand naira (N100,000) in addition to the corresponding demurrage into the council’s bank account’’.

    The letter was copied to the State Security Service, among others.

    A transporter, Ofodile Emmanuel, has been arrested in connection with the act, while two of his tipper trucks were impounded. He was charged to court and granted bail under stringent conditions.

    Before his arrest, Aforka summoned a meeting of presidents-general and traditional leaders with the DPO to interrogate them on matters relating to sand excavation.

    Aforka said members of a task force committee on sand excavation were beaten up by certain residents, believed to be involved in the excavation.

    He said the war against excavation of sand in Orumba North is yielding positive results, adding that the arrest order will be duly carried out.

    Those who “open their beaches at night” will be arrested, he said, “because we can’t tolerate such sabotage. We are ordering their arrest because they connived…”

    On Ofodile’s trial, Emeka said “it is a good development because the court granted him bail under stringent conditions…I advise those who violate the laws on sand excavation to have a rethink.”

    At the  Umunze Chief Magistrate Court presided over by His Lordship Mike I. Ogolo, the suspect Emmanuel Ofodile was granted bail with N200, 000 with a surety in like sum who is a civil servant, among other conditions.

    Addressing the suspect, the magistrate said: “If you love yourself, don’t go there again for excavation because there is a law against excavation sequel to the enormous erosion ravaging the state.”

    Ofodile and others at large were said to be excavating sand at Isi Akpu Beach, Awgbu, Orumba-South at night to avoid arrest.

    The defendant applied for bail but police prosecutor Jonas Ukwadi objected the application which was granted by His Lordship.

    The Orumba North Transition Committee Chairman equally led a team of task force personnel to enforce the removal from the road of over 700 blocks, six tippers of sand and six tippers of stone, said to belong to a builder.

    Emeka said the owner of the items, which have been confiscated, was blocking a road in spite of an order not to do so.

    He said people flouting the order to removal order for one purpose or the other will have themselves to blame as the order would be enforced.

    “Any order given by the governor, Mr Peter Obi, must be complied with by the local government and we will deal with those flouting the order  decisively until they comply. We will arrest and prosecute no matter how highly placed and we will arrest more people.”

     

  • Fed Govt begins repairs on Port Harcourt/Enugu Expressway

    The Federal Government has begun repairs on the Port Harcourt/Enugu Expressway in Abia State.

    Members of the House of Assembly had decried the state of the road.

    The Nation correspondent, who travelled on the road yesterday, said the Federal Road Emergency Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and some construction firms were working on the Port Harcourt and Enugu end.

    The portions had caused many deaths.

    The Abia portion, which is the worst, runs through five states in the Southeast. It had several heaps of crushed stones were deposited by the road side.

    Work is ongoing at Alaoji and Osisioma, both in Aba.

    Mr Nasiru Bello, the Federal Controller of Works in Abia State, told reporters yesterday in Umuahia, the state capital, that the Federal Government would repair the failed portions on the road before the Christmas and New Year festivities.

    He said the damaged spots would be repaired while the entire road would be rebuilt next year.

    The Works Controller urged road users to be patient with the agency during the period of repairs.

    Bello said the repairs on other federal roads in Abia were also receiving attention, adding that the Federal Government would live up to its responsibility.

    He said: “Rehabilitation of the Umuahia/Ohafia Road was recently completed. Works are ongoing on the Olokoro/Ikwuano, Calabar/Aba, Umuahia/Ubakala and Nkporo/Ohafia, among other federal roads in the state.”

    The Works Controller said the slow pace of work in some areas was caused by persistent rains.

    According to him, once the rains stop, the pace of work would increase so that a lot can be done before the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

     

     

    Bello, however, denied a statement credited to him that the former contractors handling the Port Harcourt/Enugu road fled when kidnappings became rampant in the state.

    He denied ever saying so.

    The Works Controller said there were no pending issues to be resolved with the former contractor handling the project.

    He explained that funding was not the reason the former contractor left.

    Bello said: “Whatever the case was, work has begun in earnest on the rehabilitation of the roads.

    “I am about one year old in Abia and can firmly account for things that happened while piloting the affairs of the office as the Federal Controller of Works in the state. What I can tell you is that we are back fully on road maintenance in the state.”

    He assured the people of Abia that all roads that are currently being executed would be done to the highest standard of federal ministry of works, adding that there will be no compromise of any sort on any of the roads.

  • Akeredolu to electorate: don’t sell your voter cards

    Akeredolu to electorate: don’t sell your voter cards

    •Alleges plot by LP to disrupt election in ACN’s strongholds

     

    The campaign train of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) moved to Ikaleland yesterday where the standard bearer, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), enjoined the electorate to resist overtures to sell their voter’s cards to desperate politicians.

    Urging the people to treasure the voter’s cards as their licence to a prosperous future, Akeredolu also advised them not to yield to the violent antics of the ruling party.

    He advised the electorate to shun violence, adding that ACN members would gain a lot from persuading and convincing more Labour Party (LP) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supporters to vote for ACN on the election day.

    Akeredolu stormed Okitipupa, the headquarters of the Ondo South Senatorial District about 2:50pm, after visiting Ode-Irele, where he assured the people that ACN government would fight the infrastructure battle in the area.

    He addressed party supporters in the front of the ACN office, at Broad Street, after alighting from a chopper. A large crowd of party faithful swarmed him and his running mate, Dr. Paul Akintelure, dancing and waving brooms. Shouts of “Aketi” and “ACN” filled the air as Akeredolu was introduced by a party chieftain, Mr. Femi Johnson, the deputy director of his campaign organisation in the senatorial district.

    Johnson, an acclaimed youth leader, said: “Aketi is our chosen governor who will liberate Ondo State from slavery.”

    Akeredolu, who was accompanied by party leaders, including Comrade Sola Iji and Mrs. Lola Akinseloyin, told the crowd that a new lease of life was on the way, urging them to stand firm.

    He said: “This is the last time Labour Party will feature in Ondo State election. Don’t sell your voter’s cards. It is the future of your children. It remains 12 days. Let each of us mobilise 10 people. One of them may be a traitor like Mimiko. The other nine will be for us.

    “We will win. They say they will disrupt voting in our strongholds. They will fail. But ACN will not spill blood. Just use your votes to chase them away. Don’t fight LP and PDP supporters. Woo them. Convince them to vote for us.”

    The ACN candidate reiterated his determination to create 30,000 jobs for the youth, if elected as a governor.

    He stressed: “Our youths have suffered. Your future is our concern. We will employ 30,000 youths. It will be more than that. Ondo State has the money to do it. Let our women go and join cooperative societies. We will empower you because you have laboured much. We will give you loans without interest.

    “There will be a security trust for the elderly and women. They will get monthly stipends so that they will enjoy in their old age. They must enjoy the dividends of democracy from the government they vote into office. “Okitipupa is the headquarters of the South District.