Governor Mohammadu Jibrilla Bindow of Adamawa State has confessed that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar loves the state so much that he created many job opportunities for the residents of the state.

“My allegiance to Atiku Abubakar is due to the fact that he is one politician in the state who has Adamawa at heart. He has demonstrated it by his massive business investments in the state and if he decides to fold his businesses up today, our state will be nothing.
“I commend him for that and I am encouraging our sons and daughters to invest more in this state because we do not have any other place apart from this state.
“His businesses have impacted positively on the lives of our people through employment generation and wealth creation.”
Bindow who spoke at a town hall meeting with the Jimeta community at the Government House in Yola, the state capital, praised the former vice president for his massive investments in the state and the country at large.
According to him, the investment by the former vice president had impacted more on the socio economic life of the people in the state.
He noted that his businesses had provided employments to the youth as well as created wealth for the populace.
He advised other well meaning sons and daughters in the state to emulate Abubakar for his patriotism to the state.
The governor said that he would not shortchange the people of the state with resources already allocated for their development.
“I will not do what the previous administrations were doing by carrying people’s money to service our ‘big brothers’ in Abuja.”
Bindow called on the people to continue to support the administration to achieve its task of transforming the state.
“I can’t imagine me carrying moneys that are meant for the development of the state to our ‘big brothers’ in Abuja. Even if one wants to give money, where is the money?
“For me, I do not have anybody who dictates to me what I should do for the state and I am assuring you that I will not disappoint you people.
“What you will do for me is to pray for us and support us to achieve our goals of turning this state to an economic viable state.
Earlier, Alhaji Abdulrahman Adamu, the Chairman of Jimeta community in Yola North Local Government, commended the governor for the provision of massive infrastructural development in Jimeta.
Adamu said the physical projects, at their completion, would add glamour to the community.
According to him, this development is unprecedented in the community.
He appealed to the governor to improve on waste management in the area, adding that the efforts of the local government in environmental sanitation were inadequate.
Adamu also solicited the state government to improve on water supply within the Jimeta community.
He said the Jimeta community would continue to support the governor to succeed.
Jimeta is the headquarters of Yola North Local Government Area of Adamawa.
The community is the socio economic hub of the state as it harbours the seat of government, the judiciary and the House of Assembly among many others. [myad]

Borno state governor, Kashim Shettima has ordered the payment of a N20 Million bonus for members of the vigilantes working with the military in the anti-insurgency operations in the North East.
Shettima announced the payment to the volunteers, popularly known as the Civilian JTF, at a meeting, today, with members of the group in the Government House, Maiduguri.
The governor described his gesture as an appreciation for their efforts in the war against Boko Haram.
The governor’s Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Malam Isa Gusau, gave the details of the gesture in a statement in Maiduguri.
“Shettima held closed door discussions with leaders of the vigilantes with focus on enhancing community policing during which he appreciated their gallant efforts and unveiled welfare packages for them.
“He said no amount of welfare package can equal the sacrifices being made by the volunteers especially given the fact that some of them had laid their lives for state.
“Shettima announced a bonus of N20 million to the volunteers while directing that any backlog of their monthly ‎allowances be paid immediately.”
Gusau said the governor had directed the Ministry of Health to put a system in place that would guarantee free medical treatment to all youth volunteers in all public hospitals in the state.
Gusau said Shettima also ordered the supply of more patrol vehicles to the volunteers.
The statement quoted Shettima as saying: “We are all eternally indebted to you‎ and we thank you most sincerely for the sacrifices you have made for us to have peace in this part of the world.
“I want to assure you that once the dust settles down, once this madness is over, we have the herculean task of creating jobs, of engaging the multitude of youths who stood firm and ensure that we have peace in this part of the world.”
The governor also commended President Muhammadu Buhari in his fight against Boko Haram and for his role towards restructuring the military.
He said: “I have to pay a special tribute to President Muhammadu Buhari; he has shown the zeal, the courage, the passion and the commitment to bring about peace in this part of the world.
“Our military men and women are now adequately armed and supported so that they carry out their task, they have so far recorded great successes not withstanding some attacks being carried out by insurgents on soft targets.”
The Leader of the volunteers, Malam Lawan Ja’afar, pledged the continued commitment of his members to supporting the military in the fight against insurgency in Borno State.
Ja’afar said they were motivated by Shettima’s support for them over the years.
Ja’afar condoled with the governor over last Sunday’s attack on Ali Dawari town located on the outskirt of Maiduguri, where many lives were lost.
“We have also changed our tactics and strategies. By the grace of God, we are going to resist their new tactics of inflicting havoc.” [myad]

Lagos State Government has promised to kick-start Employment Trust Fund, designed to boost productivity and economic capability of the youths in 2016.
The state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode who dropped this hint when he addressed the people of Epe at the ongoing “One Lagos Fiesta” holding simultaneously in five locations across the State, said that when it becomes operational, all unemployed youths in the state will be engaged and supported financially.
He reiterated the determination of his administration to continue with its policy of inclusive government by ensuring that Lagosians are given first consideration and are involved in the plans, programmes and activities of the State Government.
The governor said that during his tenure, Epe, like other divisions of the State, will witness more of government programmes similar to the OLF that is economically and socially beneficial and imbued with tourism potentials.
This was even as a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Abiodun Tobun, commended the Governor for bringing, for the first time in the history of Epe, such a well packaged programme for the benefit of the people.
He also appreciated the contribution and support of traditional rulers and all stakeholders to the success of the programme so far in Epe.
In the same vein, the Government, through the State Council of Arts and Culture, is using “One Lagos Fiesta” as a vehicle to educate and enlighten Lagosians on government activities, policies and programmes

At Agege stadium, one of the locations of the fiesta, issues such as the dangers involved in streets trading, driving against traffic, benefits of prompt payment of taxes by the residents to the government and the need to always abide by the stipulated laws were amply dramatized to the admiration and understanding of the people. [myad]

The trouble of the former National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki seems getting compounded as the operatives of the Department of the State Security Service (DSS) promptly re-arrested him as he emerged from the Kuje prison, on bail.

He was re-arrested while he was about leave the prison after meeting the bail conditions set for him by a Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja.

The DSS took custody of Dasuki shortly after perfecting the third bail granted him by Justice Peter Affem even as two other courts also granted him bail.

Counsel for Dasuki , Ahmed Raji (SAN), said that the former NSA had met all the bail conditions given by Justice Affem but regretted that the court order was not obeyed by the operatives of the DSS.

“That’s correct; he was re-arrested by the operatives of the DSS and whisked away to an unknown destination.

“He met the bail conditions set for him by the judge, but as he was stepping outside the prison, he was arrested.”

Raji who perfected the bail condition of his client disclosed that the actions of the security agents was an affront on the rule of law under democracy.

The lawyer appealed to the authorities of the security agents and the federal government to respect court order and allow Dasuki to enjoy the bail granted him by the court.

Dasuki is facing two sets of criminal charges involving alleged diversion of about N45 billion meant for arms procurement along with others before two judges of the FCT High Court, Abuja. [myad]