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PDP Governors urge Nigerians not to despair in present hardship

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum on Friday urged Nigerians not to despair but keep hope alive despite the present hardship in the country.

The forum made the call in a 7-points communique read by its Chairman, and Governor of Bauchi State, Sen. Bala Mohammed after its first and closed door meeting for the year 2025 held at Government House, Asaba, Delta capital city.

The Communique was signed by Governors Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State; the host Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta; Douye Diri of Bayelsa; Peter Mba of Enugu; Dauda Lawal of Zamfara; Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom; Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers; Ademola Adeleke of Osun.

Others are Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa; Agbu Kefas of Taraba and Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau; Seyi Makinde of Oyo, represented by his deputy, Bayo Lawal; and Dr Emmanuel Agbo – DG PDP Governors’ Forum.

The forum also used the occasion to review the performance of member states in particular, and the state of the nation in general, as well as developments in the party, as at the end of 2024.

It noted the monumental socio-economic, security, infrastructure and other challenges that confronted the nation during the period.

It commended governors of member states for pursuing policies and programmes that not only ameliorated the plight of the people but were aimed at creating the foundation for sustainable development in their various states.

The forum also noted that the macro-economic policies of the Federal Government have inflicted hardship and pain on the polity and called on the Federal Government to either revisit or rejig its macro-economic policies to ameliorate and or stop the hardship and pains inflicted on Nigerians.

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According to the forum, no meaningful and impactful achievements in the states will be achieved until the harsh policies are addressed.

It lauded the ongoing efforts at resolving the crisis in the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) on the position of the National Secretary, and reaffirmed its support for the Court of Appeal judgment.

It, however, advised the NWC to set up the machinery for the effective implementation of the court judgment.

The forum commended the country’s valiant and patriotic Armed Forces and Security Agencies for maintaining the frontline in securing the country and the gains of our gallant personnel against bandits in parts of the country.

However, it viewed with deep concern, the resurgence of brazen non-state actors and called for the strengthening of the nation’s security architecture.

It expressed gratitude to the host Gov. Oborevwori, and the people of Delta for their hospitality and friendly disposition that had yielded the successful, well-structured and impactful meeting.

It also lauded Oborevwori’s giant strides recorded by his administration in the areas of infrastructure, environmental remediation, people empowerment and combating insecurity.

“Nigerians do not despair in the face of the prevailing hardships, the PDP will remain committed to returning our great nation to the glorious days of pre-2015 era of manageable costs of living, security of lives and property and greater unity and prosperity for all citizens,”it said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Acting National Chairman of the party, Umar Damagun was also in attendance.(NAN)

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Kaduna State to hold education summit – Commissioner

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Kaduna State Government will convene an Education Summit as part of its strategy to bring about transformative change in the education sector, which will be anchored on four strategic pillars.

The Commissioner for Education, Professor Muhammad Sani Bello, who disclosed this while inaugurating the steering committee, further said that the event will be titled KADA EDUPACT International Summit 2025″.

According to him, one of the pillars is the Policy/Governance/Innovative Education Financing Pillar.

The Commissioner also listed the Access and Retention, Credible Learning Outcomes From Quality Inputs Pillars, as well as the Technology and Innovation pillars.

Prof Bello argued that the main objective of the summit is “to forge an Educational Pact between the government and the people, establishing commitment to shared model for education delivery, measurable outcomes and clearly defined negotiables.”

He further said that experts will make motivating presentations, adding that the Summit will provide opportunity for robust discussions on local and international investments in education, policy-making as well as technological innovations for improved teaching and learning.

The Commissioner also assured that a comprehensive education development roadmap for Kaduna State would fashioned out during the summit.

He said that the Director General of Kaduna State Schools Quality Assurance Authority, Professor Usman Abubakar Zaria, will coordinate the activities of the steering committee, whose membership cuts across relevant Ministries Department and Agencies.

Sub-committees to handle various aspects of the summit were announced immediately after the steering committee was inaugurated.

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Police Bust Human Trafficking Ring In Oyo, Rescue 84 Victims

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The Oyo State Police Command has uncovered a human trafficking ring in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

In a major operation, the police rescued 83 individuals and a child from a house in the Orogun area of the city, where they had allegedly been held for an undisclosed period.

Preliminary reports suggest that the victims, believed to be nationals of the Democratic Republic of Congo, were lured to Nigeria under the pretence of being offered employment opportunities.

There are also claims that the perpetrators extorted significant sums of money, reportedly in dollars, from the victims’ parents and relatives as part of the elaborate scheme.

The rescued individuals are currently at the Police Headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan, where authorities are conducting further investigations to ascertain the full details of the case.

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Pope Francis Laid To Rest In Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica

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Pope Francis was buried inside his favourite Rome church after a funeral mass in St Peter’s Square, the Vatican said on Saturday.

Francis, who died on Monday aged 88, was laid to rest during a 30-minute ceremony which started at 1:00 pm (1100 GMT) at the Santa Maria Maggiore basilica in the Italian capital.

Footage shared by the Holy See showed cardinals marking his wooden and zinc coffin with red wax seals.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who as camerlengo is running the Vatican’s day-to-day affairs until a new pope is elected, sprinkled it with holy water after it was lowered into a tomb set inside an alcove.

A reproduction of the pectoral cross worn by Francis during his lifetime hung above it.

Francis had asked that the tomb, located near the altar of Saint Francis, be simple and unadorned, reflecting the humble spirit of his papacy.

The tombstone bears only the inscription “Franciscus” — the pope’s name in Latin.

Its marble is sourced from Liguria, the northwestern Italian region once home to the Argentine pontiff’s Italian ancestors.

Francis, born Jorge Bergoglio, had specified in his will the exact spot he wanted to be buried, in the side nave of the beloved fifth-century AD church.

The pontiff was devoted to the worship of the Virgin Mary and made a point of praying in Santa Maria Maggiore before leaving on trips abroad and upon his return to Rome.

Located in the heart of Rome, the basilica already holds the tombs of seven popes.

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