By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

The Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Thursday, lambasted the six area councils in FCT, over the three months ongoing strike by Primary School Teachers, saying ‘denying children education is like trying to say, that you are causing a coup in the country or in FCT’.

The FCT Minister stated this in Abuja, after inspecting ongoing projects in Apo-Wassa, the interchange at Kubwa expressway, and Daki biyu. He therefore tasked the National Assembly (NASS), to intervene on the impasse.He also assured the teachers and the children that have been at home for over 16 weeks, tgat it will be resolved very soon and would return to their classes. He noted that it is time for Chairman House Committee and Senate committee on FCT Area Councils to investigate the problems in the area councils. According to the Minister, “I don’t know what you mean by too powerful. All I would say is they were elected and they were not appointed. So we have been talking to them to understand that, this is democracy, one thing you must know is that denying people education is like trying to say that you are causing a coup in the country or in FCT. “Be assured that everything is being done to see that the teachers go back. “But you see, the problem we have, just like what you’ve said, we have committees of the FCT, the House of Reps, and the Senate. We have chairman of the area councils. The chairman of committees of area councils, their responsibility is to oversee what the area councils are doing because the legislature of the FCT today is the National Assembly. “That is what the chairman of House Committee of the National Assembly has to look at the problem in the area councils. But it’s unfortunate they concentrate in just inviting minister to come and defend budget. I have never seen in my life where the minister has defended a budget and another House Committee chairman of area councils will tell another minister of State to come and present a budget”.

He lamented, “People don’t do what they’re supposed to do. They concentrate on things that do not fall within their jurisdiction. By now, I thought that the chairman of the FCT area councils would have come up to say, chairmen of area councils, this is not right. What do we need to solve this problem? But they will focus on irrelevant things, trying to see how there’s division, there’s discord in the FCT”. He therefore assured thatvery soon, this problem would be sorted out, “nobody can feel happy when the teachers are at home. It is the basic thing that we must do and I can assure you very soon that matter will resolved”. Wike reiterated his commitment in ensuring that Abuja residents get the best from the ongoing projects in Abuja. “Frankly speaking, like I have always said, the people of Abuja deserve the best, and the contractors are doing their best. I can assure you that. For me, there cannot be anything less. As Mr. President has said before, Nigeria deserves the best, and we will do everything we can to make sure that we give them the best”. On assessment of 2nd year anniversary of President Bola Ahmad Tinubu, he said the President has done well. “The assessment, if you have to take, for example, from the FCT, where I superintend by his mandate, you know that Mr. President has done very, very well. He’s unprecedented. You know the problem we have in this country is that even if you don’t like somebody as a person, the moment he does good things, you should say yes, I’m not in good terms with him, I don’t like him. However, he’s doing well or he has done well”.

From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has presented 31 brand new operational vehicles to service commanders of security agencies in the state. The formal hand over ceremony of the vehicles took place on Thursday in Government House, Yenagoa, after the 38th state security council meeting.

Governor Diri said the state government procured the vehicles to enhance the day-to-day operations of the agencies in the fight against crime in the state. He said: “It was a recurring decimal during our security council meetings for security commanders to request for vehicular support. Today, we are gladly able to put this to rest. “On behalf of your government, I present these 31 operational vehicles to the service commanders. The Nigeria Police has five and one for the commissioner’s office to make it six. The Directorate of State Services has four, including that for the state director. “The Nigerian Army has three and one for the Brigade Commander. Same for the Nigerian Navy while the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps has three. “The Nigerian Air Force, Federal Road Safety Commission, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Nigerian Correctional Services and the Nigeria Immigration Service all have two each.” While charging the service commanders to redouble their effort in tackling crime, Governor Diri urged them to ensure good maintenance of the vehicles. Responding on their behalf, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Sunday Idu, appreciated the governor’s gesture, saying it will accelerate their effort and boost their capacity to fight crime. The police chief assured that the security agencies would collaborate with the state government to deepen the rule of law and governance in the state. In the same vein, Gov Douye Diri, has also assured the family of slain 26-year-old Daniel Ayama that the state government will ensure they get justice. Governor Diri gave the assurance on Wednesday when he visited the family over the killing of the fresh graduate of the Federal University, Otuoke, on May 16 at the INEC Junction in Yenagoa, the state capital. The family claimed policemen were responsible for his death while the police authorities in the state said he was a victim of cult groups rivalry. Senator Diri, who commiserated with the family at their residence in Kpansia, Yenagoa, said a thorough investigation will be conducted to unravel the circumstances surrounding his death.

The governor said the state’s Special Committee on Security and Human Rights Violations has commenced investigation into the matter and directed the State Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) to be involved in the probe. He said: “For now there are two sides to the report of Daniel Ayama’s murder and government will not take sides. Government is not interested in whether the police was allegedly responsible or it was a case of cult-related shooting. “I know we have a Commissioner of Police that is responsible, apolitical, and has been maintaining peace and security in the state. But once you have this kind of report, the police need to step aside. “This is a case of shooting and we want our law enforcement agencies to be strictly professional. It is sad to hear this type of allegation against a professional body that is expected to ensure peace and security of lives.” The state’s helmsman also said that government had taken over the treatment of three other victims that sustained gunshot injuries during the incident and prayed God to grant the Ayama family the fortitude to bear the loss of their son. Speaking on behalf of the family, Mr. Smart Ayama expressed gratitude to the governor and his entourage for the visit. Mr. Ayama said there were protests following the incident but that the family decided against further demonstration as it would not bring back their son. He however called for justice to be done on the matter.

By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has congratulated the Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, on the Appeal Court judgment, affirming his election in the September 2024 governorship poll.This was contained in a statement, by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, Wike urged the governor to “remain focused and committed to good governance and provision of democracy dividends to the people.

”The Minister described the Appeal Court judgment as a further confirmation of the mandate freely and genuinely given to Okpebholo by the people of Edo State.He reiterated his belief in Governor Okpebholo’s ability to continue to provide good governance, saying; “I have watched him since he assumed office and I can say that he has been doing well for Edo State and its people.”For me, I believe in him, and I am confident that his government will have sustainable impact on Edo State.”While urging the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate,Asuerime Ighodalo to accept the Appeal Court judgment, the FCT Minister said he (Ighodalo) should in the collective interest of Edo State, accept the judgment and allow the sleeping dogs of the election to lie.”