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In politics, it is said that there are no permanent friends or enemies but what remains permanent is the interest of players in the murky terrain. This aptly describes the recent visit of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to Osun State Governor, Mr. R...

Following the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister some political parties in the country, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on the Federal Government to stop funding political parties. The group in a...

Delta government embarked on 939 projects as contained in the 2012 budget, the Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Mr Donatus Umukoro, said on Tuesday. Defending the 2013 budget of the ministry, Umukoro told the State House of Assembly Commi...

The Anambra Government is to spend N110.8 billion for its services in the 2013 fiscal year, the Governor, Mr Peter Obi, has said.

Obi made the disclosure in Awka on Tuesday, while presenting the 2013 Appropriation Bill to the state House of Assembly for consideration and approval.

Tagged: “People’s Budget of Integrated Development VI'', the budget proposal represents an increase of 33.2 per cent above the N83.2 billion approved budget of 2012.

The 2013 proposed budget estimate is made up of N70.8 billion for capital expenditure and N39.9 billion for recurrent expenditure.

“An estimated sum of N70.8 billion is expected from capital receipts in 2013, an increase of 51 per cent over the budgeted sum of N46.9 billion for 2012,” he said.

The governor announced that the major priority of his administration in the coming year would be geared toward poverty reduction with the economic sector given an allocation of 32.3 per cent of the total capital budget.

Obi said that the state government would garner N12.5 billion as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and to get  N54 billion as its share from the Federation Account in 2013.

He said that to ensure the realisation and successful implementation of the budget, prioritisation of projects and programmes would be the guiding principle of government in the allocation of funds.

Responding, the Speaker, Mrs Chinwe Nwaebili, assured the governor that the appropriation bill would be accorded accelerated consideration and passage by the house.

Nwaebili subsequently referred the bill  to the house Committee on Finance and Appropriation, urging it to work on it through out the festive period for its early passage. (NAN)

President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Abdulwahed Omar on Tuesday assured Nigerians that the Federal Government would not increase the price of petrol in the New Year. Omar, who gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Ni...

Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa has described late Gov. Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State, as a detribalised Nigerian, who within his short life in government built bridges of love and unity.

Dickson made the observation in his tribute at the special valedictory session of the Bayelsa Executive Council held in Yenagoa on Tuesday in honour of Yakowa, who died on Saturday.

He said, ``The late Kaduna State governor was and will remain a great Nigerian patriot, who came to Bayelsa, building bridges of love and bonds of fraternity.

``He was dedicated and humble servant of the people of Kaduna State and Nigeria at large.'' 

The governor, who described the last Saturday incident that killed Yakowa, Azazi and others as a hurting nightmare, said that the day would forever remain dark in our memories forever.

He said that the nation lost two distinguished leaders and dedicated military officers in the ill-fated crash, adding that Yakowa died in active service while visiting Bayelsa as a friend of the state.

According to Dickson, with Yakowa’s untimely demise, our nation has lost a great leader and democrat who lived and believed in the unity of our nation.

``Bayelsa has lost a great friend and I, personally, have lost an elder brother,” he said.

The governor, who was accompanied to the special session by his wife, Rachael, assured late Yakowa’s widow, Aminatu that the government and people of Bayelsa would remain close to her.

According to the governor, we will always be with you now and forever.

In a tribute, former  Governor of Bayelsa, Chief Diepreye Alamieseigha, described Yakowa as a brother, who served the nation and Kaduna State as a deputy governor and governor meritoriously.

He said that upon the emergence of Yakowa as governor of Kaduna State, many Nigerians did not give him a chance to succeed as a governor, because of the ethno-religious politics in the state.

``But by divine providence, he became governor when his then boss, Namadi Sambo was elevated to Vice-President.

``Yakowa then proved his critics wrong by building bridges of love and unity. He was a nationalist and man of peace,” Alamieseigha said.

According to him, Yakowa is a celebrated democrat who believed in his people and celebrated them in governance.

He said, ``His departure should be a source of encouragement to all those who value peace and humility.”

The Secretary to the Bayelsa Government, Prof. Edmund Allison-Oguru, said that the valedictory session in honour of Yakowa was indeed a solemn moment in the remembrance of a great Nigerian leader, who died in humility.

He said, “From his name, Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, you will see that the various ethnic groups can live together in unity.

``This is a man who built bridges of love and peace between the Northern and Southern Kaduna people,” the secretary said.

The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa, Rtd. Rear Admiral John Jonah, has been directed by Dickson to lead a government delegation to escort the corpse of Yakowa to Kaduna.

Meanwhile, Dickson is expected to lead an enlarged delegation of government and people of Bayelsa to Kaduna on Wednesday to commiserate with the family of Yakowa, the government and people of Kaduna State.

The governor said the delegation would also be in Abuja to commiserate with President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice-President Namadi Sambo, on the death of the victims of the crash. (NAN)

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed shock at the death of Gov. Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna, Gen. Owoye Azazi, former National Security Adviser, and four others in a helicopter crash.

The naval helicopter crashed in Okoroba community in Bayelsa State on Saturday, killing Yakowa, Azazi, their aides, the pilot and co-pilot.

Obasanjo, who is in the United States, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone that he received news of the crash and casualty with shock and regret.

''This is indeed a tragedy,” he said. “Our nation has lost compatriots whose contributions have been invaluable and who would still have been giving their best to our development.''

The former President expressed his heartfelt condolence to the families of the bereaved and prayed that God should grant them needed succour.

'' I pray that God in His infinite mercies grants the deceased eternal rest,'' Obasanjo said in the interview with NAN. (NAN)