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Gov. Mukhtar Yero of Kaduna State on Monday urged people of the state to allow true love to prevail over all forms of hatred, bitterness and malice.

Yero gave the advice in Kaduna in a Christmas message signed by his Media Assistant, Malam Kabiru Kaura.

``His Excellency is urging all the people of Kaduna State to allow true love for their fellow human beings, for Kaduna state and for Nigeria to prevail over all forms of hatred, bitterness and malice, now and in the coming year.

``The governor said the period was not only meant for celebration, but a holy season of kindling the spirit of hospitality, love, peace, as well as sober reflection on God's blessings to us.

``His Excellency, therefore, calls on all Christians and the entire people of Kaduna State to be committed to religious harmony, peaceful living and understanding of one another.''

The message also urged Christians ``To shun tribal, ethnic and religious teachings that are not in consonance with those of Jesus Christ who came as an embodiment of peace and love".

The statement reiterated the governor’s commitment to the development of all sectors in the state.

According to the statement, Yero enjoined the people to be security conscious and to assist government in ensuring the sustenance of peace, unity and development in the state. (NAN)

Gov.  Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has charged the people of the state  to imbibe the spirit of love, humility, peace and selfless service which the birth of Jesus Christ symbolised. He gave the charge while speaking at the 2012 Christmas...

As part of efforts  to  ensure  a hitch-free Christmas celebration, the Oyo Command of the FRSC  has deployed 2,100 marshals to patrol the roads.

The FRSC Sector Commander in Oyo, Mr Godwin Ogagaoghene,   told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Monday that the commission's headquarters in Abuja also sent 600 regular marshals to assist the command in the patrol of the roads.

He said the command had also directed about 1, 500 special marshals in the state  to report for duty during the period to provide additional support  to the regular officers on duty.

``The men and volunteers would keep 18 hours surveillance on the roads, especially at Atiba, Ife and  Ogbomosho-Ilorin Expressways  throughout the period of the celebration to ensure free flow of traffic.

``All the black spots are well covered but I will advise motorists using the roads to always maintain normal speed and avoid overloading of their vehicles.

``We also have in place stand-by ambulances and rescue teams as well as towing vehicles  to provide instant emergency services,’’ Ogagaoghene said.

The FRSC Sector Commander said  the command would not spare any  violator of traffic rules during the festivities.

``I want to appeal to road users to exercise caution on the roads.

``Our toll free emergency line will be opened throughout the period in case of any emergency or  the need to report irregularities.

They should  please dial 122 and we will respond,’’ he said. (NAN)

President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday paid a condolence visit to the families of late former National Security Adviser, Gen. Andrew Azazi, at their Ikoyi, Lagos, residence.

Azazi, Gov. Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State, their aides and two pilots were killed in an ill-fated Navy chopper, which crashed in the creeks of Bayelsa on Dec. 15.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the President and his entourage were received by late Azazi's wife, the children, grand children and some other members of the family.

Addressing the families on behalf of the President, the Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadome, expressed the nation’s condolences and eulogised the departed general as a patriot and diligent officer.

``Azazi was indeed a great man, a diligent officer and patriot.

``The President had already organised a special Federal Executive Council (FEC) session in his honour and various council members had the opportunity to speak glowingly about him.

``They all had good words for him because he gave his best for the country.

``He rose by merit to become a 4-star general, and because the President had confidence in him, he was made the NSA.

``He was a good community man. He chaired the flood committee of his home state, the most affected state.

``He has played his role in his family, community and country, even internationally.

``We should take solace in the fact that he lived a good life. He has laid a good foundation for the family," he said.

Speaking further, Oghiadome said: ``Painful as it may be, this is not a moment of continued grief.

``God will grant him eternal rest and fill the vacuum he left.

``The president has asked me to express his deepest sympathy to your family".

NAN reports that the Chaplain of Aso Villa Chapel, Rev. Obioma Onwuzurumba, prayed for the repose of Azazi's soul, and respite for his family.

The president also signed a condolence register before leaving the residence.

On his entourage were ministers of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, her Petroleum counterpart, Mrs Diezani Allison-Madueke and the Minister of State for Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada.
 
Also in the entourage, was the Special Adviser to the President on Research and Documentation, Mr Oronto Douglas and other Presidential aides.

Former Gov. Donald Duke of Cross River and former NDDC boss, Timi Alaibe were also at the deceased’s residence.

Azazi served the Nigerian Military as head, Directorate of Military Intelligence, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Defence Staff and as the NSA.

Azazi and Yakowa were killed in the helicopter crash while returning from the burial of Douglas' father in Bayelsa State. (NAN)

The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in Enugu State says it registered 40,000 unemployed youths in the state in 2012. The Coordinator of the directorate in the state, Mr Nnamdi Asomugha, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Ni...

The National Chairman of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, on Monday urged Christians to be good ambassadors where ever they found themselves.

This is contained in a statement signed by the National Chairman of the party, in Abuja.

`` We join the rest of the global Christian family to urge that in the joyful spirit of the season, we rededicate ourselves to the enduring attributes of love of neighbour and country.

``With peaceful co-existence and harmony as well as clutching firmly to those bonds that bind and releasing the lever of those gaps that divide us as one people with a common destiny,” Ogbonnaya said.

He said the Joy of Christmas would not be complete without Christians being their brothers’ keepers and embracing people belonging to other faiths in the search for a better world. 

``It is our view that such an attitude will help us to restore love for one another and strengthen our pursuit for lasting peace, enduring happiness and sustainable development. 

``We should never forget that we were created in the image of God, we should, therefore, never be divided by how we worship Him,” he advised.

The ANPP chairman implored Nigerians to remain resolute and be convinced that Nigeria would take her rightful place in the comity of prosperous nations of the world. 

He urged the Federal Government to formulate policies that would conquer poverty, defeat illiteracy and reduce joblessness in the land.

He also urged the government to tackle those vices that injured our desire for a new Nigeria that all Nigerians would be proud of and other nations will accord respect. 

``We must never forget that respect does not come because you desire it, but rather because you deserve it, we must work hard for the unity, peace and prosperity of our dear nation.

``We in ANPP wish all Nigerians and indeed the entire global family, a very merry Christmas." (NAN)

Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy Senate President, has called on Nigerians to see the Christmas season as a time for sober reflections to love and forgive one another as taught by Jesus Christ.

Ekweremadu, who said this in a Christmas message to Nigerians, reasoned that the spate of insecurity in the land were clear manifestations of a regrettable departure from the life of love the citizenry were known for over the years.

In a statement signed by Mr Uche Anichukwu, his Special Adviser on Media, the Deputy Senate President said that violence in any form was a disservice to the labours of the country’s founding fathers.

He observed that the nation’s diversity was not an excuse for the wanton destruction of human lives and property, violent crime, and corruption in the country.

''We should never lose sight of the fact that our founding fathers considered our diversities, but nevertheless saw in them strength and opportunity to build a virile, stable, and prosperous nation.

''We, therefore, owe it to this season of Christmas and the memories of our fathers to retrace our steps.

''In doing this, we will rebuild the bulwarks of love, patriotism, and integrity preached by our religious faiths and espoused in both words and actions by our founding fathers,'' he said.

He wished the Christian faithful and all Nigerians a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. (NAN)

Mr Andrew Okparugwu, the Head, Engineering Unit, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Abakaliki, has described the fire incident that gutted part of the station  as unfortunate. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the fire outbreak which...