Leadership (Abuja)
30 May 2008
May 29, declared as Democracy Day by the Federal Government, was marked across the nation yesterday with promises by state governors to redouble their commitments to delivering the dividends of democracy to the people.
In Kaduna, Governor Namadi Sambo in an interactive session with media executives at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House chamber said, his administration had chosen to commemorate the one year anniversary in a low key manner, since there were a lot of things to be done for the electorate, saying, what they were able to achieve collectively was a tip of the iceberg so far.
During the session, after a statewide broadcast where he enumerated some of his government's feats in the last year, Governor Sambo said, his government would not begin new projects, but rather complete the inherited ones, before embarking on any capital projects that could gulp huge amount of funds.
"Don't forget we campaigned for continuity if voted into office, and people voted for us. It is not good to deviate from the covenant of continuity we entered with our people. And in this country, many projects are embarked upon based on political and sometimes selfish reasons, not to benefit the people. So, we will not do that."
The Bauchi State government reiterated its determination to establish anti-corruption agency that will tackle the high rate of corruption among the civil servants in the state. This was disclosed by the state Governor Malam Isa Yuguda in his speech during the one year anniversary of his administration in Bauchi state.
In Cross River State most people shunned interdenominational thanksgiving service to mark the 2008 Democracy Day celebration in the state. The service was attended by the Governor Liyel Imoke, his wife Obioma, the deputy governor, Bar. Efiok Cobham, some members of the state executive council and House of Assembly as well as some members of the public were also in attendance.
Our correspondent who was at the venue of the service, Cultural Centre Complex in Calabar, May 29, 2008, observed that the attendance at the service was one third of the hall that have the capacity of over 2000 or more people.
The poor turnout, according to our investigations, may not be unconnected with the shabby arrangement by the organisers.
Governor Imoke read the first Bible portion, which was taken from the Book of Psalm 127, verses 1-5. The Second Bible lesson, Psalm 133, verses 1-3 was taken by Sen. (Princes) Florence Ita Giwa, Hymns, (Count Your Blessings… Praise to the Lord…), were sang; Hepzibah Church Choir rendered choir ministration.
Intercessory prayers for Governor Imoke and his family, cabinet members and the state, prayers for the president and Nigeria and prayers for the success of the Imoke's administration were carried out. The service also featured, praise and thanksgiving offering and words ministration.
As part of activities marking his 5th year in office, Governor Bukola Saraki of Kwara State on Wednesday evening officially commissioned the dairy arm of the New Nigeria Commercial Farms located in Shonga, Edu Local Government Area of the state.
The commissioning of the farm yesterday signaled the commencement of milk production, two brands of yoghurt and natural mineral water production at the farm.
It would be recalled that about a month ago, 800 specially bred cows were imported in batches from South Africa to kick-start the dairy farm and as at yesterday the cows had multiplied by 20.
The minister of agriculture and water resources, Dr. Abba Sayyadi Ruma, who lent the governor a helping hand at the ceremony, lamented that the dairy industry in the country had continued to suffer from low-level investment by both the Public and the Private sector in spite of its importance and the existence of an unsatisfied internal demand for milk and allied products.
The minister regretted that the domestic milk producers in the country today produced just 550,000 tonnes of milk annually, which was a far cry from 600,000 tonnes annual demand.
He said that the innovative effort by the Kwara State government and the New Nigerian Farmers therefore was highly commendable, adding that the federal government was looking forward to seeing this public-private partnership being adopted by other state governments.
Earlier in his address Governor Saraki said that the dairy farm had the potential for $21 million savings in foreign outflow which represented 20 percent of total milk importation.
The governor said that the significance of the project was not only limited to the employment opportunities, increased income generation, rural and socio-economic transformation but it also had a greater impact in ensuring food security.
Lagos State governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) yesterday took a retrospective look at his first 365 days in office and identified security as the most serious challenge which his administration has faced since coming to office.
Governor Fashola, who spoke while addressing a world press conference to mark his first year in office at the Eko FM hall at Agidingbi, Ikeja, added that the situation has however changed for the better now that the state can boasts of a much more motivated and better equipped police force which has been assisted with the deployment of superior technology in fighting crime.
He recalled that when he assumed office, the situation got so worrisome that hardly a week passed before he made a trip to the hospital, mortuary or the homes of relatives of people who had lost loved ones to one form of violent crime or the other.
Governor Fashola said the state was also working on the security communication centre which will act as base for tracking information to assist in tracking perpetrators of crime and would also ensure that it deploy security cameras round the state.
He assured the people of the state that he would not jump boat or abandon the people who displayed confidence in the Action Congress party by voting him in as the governor for another party.
He added that overtures made to him by people from the opposing party represent an acceptance of the valued and superior service which the present administration is offering to the people of Lagos State .
Governor Fashola reiterated that he would not allow the party to gain through the back door what it could not get through the front door from the people of the state during the last general elections.
Governor Fashola who thanked the people for their support also informed that there has been an increase in the number of magistrate courts with the construction of multi storey magistrate courts in Ogba, Igbosere, Tapa, Ikorodu, Ajegunle and Alimosho.
In Rivers State, Governor Rotimi Amaechi said effective measures have been put in place to guard against embezzlement of government funds meant for the development of the state.
Amaechi said revenue accruing to the state was enough to develop the state.
He promised that resources accruing to the state would be channeled towards meeting the needs of the ordinary people.
The governor said the greatest challenges confronting his administration were how to provide jobs to the unemployed, improve healthcare and ensure security of lives and property.
He urged his commissioners and special advisers to make useful contributions through good advice and robust ideas that could move the state forward.
"Our target is to make sure that by the time we are having the next election, we have put necessary infrastructure in place to put the economy on the path of growth," he said.
Unlike last year when democracy day was celebrated in perpetual fear and anxiety, this year's democracy day in Oyo State was marked with pomp and pageantry as many developmental projects were commissioned before the day.
Findings in Oyo State revealed a reasonable acceptance of Governor Christopher Adebayo Alao - Akala's administration which has touched the lives of many people with many politicians in the opposition crossing over to his side.
Projects including electricity, road, bridges and small scale industries which were completed in many local government councils were commissioned before Democracy Day by the governor and his deputy.
Investigations further revealed that over 30 chieftains of other parties, some of who took the governor to the election petition tribunal have decamped from their parties and have embraced the PDP.
Despite the fact that the gubernatorial candidate of ANPP still had his appeal against the ruling of the election petition tribunal in court, the opposition is apparently in disarray as many chieftains of ANPP have differed with their leaders.
The governorship candidate of Alliance for Democracy (AD), Dr. Gbola Adetunji and Chief (Mrs.) Kemi Jayeoba Olorunsogo of Senator Ladoja's faction of PDP said that they moved over to Governor Akala's camp in the spirit of democracy.
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