NEWS
Shettima, Akpabio, Abbas, Obi, Senators Storm Kano for Sen. Barau’s Son’s Wedding
From Longtong Yakubu, Kano
The ancient city of Kano was agog weekend as Vice President, Senator Kashim Shetima, President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, presidential flag bearer of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, Governors, Senators and other dignitaries graced the wedding of Sen.
Barau Jibrin’s son in Kano.The wedding Fatiah between Abdullahi Barau Jibrin(Amir) and Bilkisu Aliyu Sani Madaki, the daughter of the Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Rep Aliyu Sani Madaki, took place at the Isyaka Rabiu Juma’at Mosque, Goron Dutse, in Kano after the juma’at prayers on Friday.
The Chief Imam of the mosque, Sheikh Abdullahi Mahmud Salga tied the knot between the couple after a dowry of N500,000 was paid.
In a speech shortly after the wedding ceremony, Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the presence of Peter Obi at the wedding ceremony as signs of a united Nigeria.
According to him, the wedding ceremony, which had in attendance so many high profile personalities shows that Senator Barau Jibrin is a peaceful Man and man of the People.
“You can see that, even the LP Presidential Candidate Peter Obi and his People are here, this tells you that Nigeria will remain united as one entity.”
Akpabio however, admonished the newly wedded couple to leave in Peace, love and also tolerate one another.
(2)Isese: Relocate Kwara State Capital to Neutral Ground, OPC Advises FG
From Alfred Babs, Ilorin
Oodua People congress (OPC) has advised the Federal Government to relocate Kwara state capital from Ilorin to a neutral ground that is away from the present location if the Muslims refuse to accommodate people of other religions.
The state coordinator of OPC, New Era in Kwara state Comrade Bayo Fabiyi made this suggestion in a statement as a way settling the impasse between Isese people and Muslim clerics in Ilorin.
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The OPC coordinator in a statement on Sunday, explained that there were several areas in the state, which included the entire Kwara South, North and some parts of the north of the state where they practice Isese traditional religion and other religions as well as Islam without confrontation.
“There are Muslims in other places co- habiting with their Isese and other religious brothers without crises or disturbances.
“Therefore, if Ilorin is the only place where Isese becomes a challenge, the status of Ilorin as a state capital should be changed while the ancient town can be allowed to remain purely Islamic place because of all towns in Kwara, only Ilorin is where Islamic extremism thrives.
Fabiyi said that while he would advice all Isese people never to fight or kick against the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, as a Royal father over all, he also advised that Muslim clerics follow the “deenukum waliya deen” Principle of Islam and allow Isese people to practice their religion without troubling or causing intrusion into their mode of worship.
He criticized the Muslim fundamentalists who ignored several other serious issues such as cultism and other issues of insecurity but chose to selectively face Isese group that are just practicing their religion without hindering the peace of others.
Fabiyi also reiterated that insecurity in Kwara was occasioned by the admittance of Fulanis who were displaced from Igangan in Oyo state into Ilorin.
He lamented that against his earlier warnings when Abubakar Iskail was not heeded that the group when chased from Igangan in Oyo state would settle down in Ilorin, but nobody yielded his advice.
The OPC coordinator lamented that he raised this alarm long ago about the impending danger of allowing the man to take abode in Kwara state “but no one in the security architecture of Kwara state listened to him.”
He advised that the only way to end insecurity in Kwara is by nipping it in the bud and chase intruding Herdsmen who allegedly involved in kidnapping be chased out of KWARA.
NEWS
Tinubu Nominates Chairman, 5 Executive Directors for South East Development Commission
President Bola Tinubu has removed Hon. Emeka Atuma as Chairman of the board of South East Development Commission (SEDC), and replaced him with Dr Emeka Nworgu.The President also replaced all the three executive directors initially nominated and named two additional executive directors, Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President, Information and Strategy, said in a statement.
The President also removed one of the board members, Donatus Nwankpa. However, Hon. Mark Okoye retained his position as the Commission’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer on the 16-member board, one more member than the initial board.The new executive director for finance is Stanley Ohajuruka, who replaced Anthony Ugbo in the first list.Toby Okechukwu is the new executive director of projects. He replaced Obinna Obiekweihe, while Chief Sylvester Okonkwo is now the executive director of corporate services, replacing Dr Daniel Ugwuja.The two nominated executive directors without a portfolio are Chidi Echeazu and Dr Clifford Ogbede.The President retained Mr Ugochukwu Agballah, Hon. Okey Ezenwa, Chief Hyacinth Ikpor, Mr Ifeanyi Agwu, Nasiru Usman and Hamma Kumo.The other nominees retained are: Edward Onoja, Orure Inima and Chief Joke Adebayo-Chukwuma.All the nominations are subject to Senate confirmation.President Tinubu expects the new nominees, as pioneers, to use their wealth of experience and expertise to actualise the Commission’s mandate and develop the SouthEast region. (NAN)NEWS
Rivers Government to Demolish Shanties, Gives Seven Days Notice
Mr Evans Bipi, Rivers Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, has issued a seven days notice to commence clearing Port Harcourt city of slums and illegal waste dumpsites.The commissioner gave the notice on Saturday shortly after an enforcement operation at the Trans-Amadi Industrial Area in Port Harcourt.
Bipi expressed concern on operations of scavengers at the Trans-Amadi industrial area who currently occupy large hectares of private lands using them for sorting and assemblage of solid waste. He condemned the act of proliferation of illegal dumpsites as well as shanties in business areas, and advised occupants to vacate affected properties which had already been marked for demolition.”Scavengers here are contributing to environmental hazards, their operation is highly unacceptable, this administration will no longer continue to allow them to deface our residential and industrial areas.”We have given occupants seven days to vacate affected properties as we shall commence waste clearing and demolition of shanties in the area.”Property owners should refrain from leasing their properties to operators of unapproved and hazardous businesses or face the full weight of the law,” the commissioner warned.Mr David Ogbanga, Chairman, Special Committee on Development Control of the ministry also assured of efforts towards sustainable urban development in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.According to Ogbanga, apart from defacing the city outlook, slums impede urbanization, and they constitute a breeding ground for miscreants as well as hideouts for criminals and perpetrators of all forms of social vices.”We will put an end to this in the coming days, our enforcement team will begin demolition to restore serenity to our city as well as protect residents,” he said. (NAN)NEWS
Army Chief Pledges Improved Welfare for Wounded Troops, Orders Evacuation of Critical Cases
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has reiterated the Nigerian Army’s commitment to prioritizing the welfare of wounded personnel to ensure their speedy recovery.Oluyede gave the assurance on Saturday during a visit to the 7 Division Medical Services and Hospital in Maiduguri.
The COAS commended the healthcare team in the hospital for their dedication, and directed that personnel with complicated medical cases be evacuated to the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna for specialised treatment. The Army Chief who interacted with some of the wounded soldiers, encouraged them to remain strong as the army would never abandon them.“We will do our best to ensure that you are recuperated so that you can all go back to your duty,” he said. (NAN)