As the forth coming local government council election in Kaduna state draws nearer, an aspirant for the chairmanship position in Chikun local government area, Hon Adalo ADAMU Maikai on Wednesday triumphantly embarked on a stakeholders visit to all the twelve electoral Wards making the local government council.

During the courtesy visit to APC stakeholders in NARAYI ward which happened to be the maiden outing, the APC chairmanship aspirant was received by a crowd of hundreds of supporters who thronged out to express their support and collective resolve to project his ambition as well as vote massively for the ruling APC during the June local government council election in chikun local government area.

The show of love and solidarity poured on Hon Adalo according to political pundits may not be unconnected with the fact that he was actually the very candidate that the majority of people in NARAYI and indeed chikun local government area voted for to represent and serve them in the humble capacity of chairman during the last local government council election.

The APC chairmanship aspirant colourful outing actually left many amazed as the popular major NARAYI road experienced a heavy traffic gridlock as supporters and lovers of Hon Adalo and the progressive peoples party, the APC as well as members of the opposition party registered their allegiance to the APC chairmanship hopeful.

Speaking during the visit to Traditional, religious and party leaders in NARAYI, Hon Adalo ADAMU Maikai said the visit was to reconnect with his constituents and also solicit for their support,encouragement and prayers as he embarked on the electioneering campaign to rescue chikun local government area from stagnation and politics of retrogression.

He charged the people of NARAYI to reconsider their current political situation and key into the developmental policies and programs of the APC led administration in Kaduna state.

According to him,Chikun local government area could have gotten more than what is currently obtainable in terms of dividend of democracy if only the people will continue to supported and vote for the APC during the forth coming local councils elections.

Hon Adalo ADAMU Maikai however, reiterated the APC determination to prove its antagonists wrong through the execution of more people oriented policies and projects.

The chikun local government APC chairmanship aspirant also pointed out that the performance indices of Gov Nasir El-rufai in the last six year was second to non in the political history of Kaduna state, adding that the APC was out to ameliorate the suffering of the masses, especially at the grassroots level.

Hon Adalo ADAMU Maikai whom many believed won the last local councils election in Chikun but circumstances marred his chances also expressed his resolve to bring about unity and justice to all as well as lasting development across the local government area.

He enjoined traditional, religious and party leaders in NARAYI ward to always preach peace and unity for societal growth, stressing that the APC was never for nor against any religion or ethnic group,pointing out that the APC believes in capacity and excellence.

In their separate remarks,they APC stalwarts in NARAYI pledged their readiness to support the ambition of Hon Adalo while also pledging their readiness to work productively towards the election victory of the APC chairmanship hopeful.

They also advocated massive campaign and enlightenment on the part of the electorates on the need to join the winning train,adding that the number of people registering with the APC in NARAYI ward was encouraging,hence signalling the electoral victory for the party during the forth coming local government council election in Chikun.

In the meantime, majority of people that came out to welcome the Hon Adalo ADAMU Maikai campaign train were mostly women and youth among whom is the incumbent councillor representing NARAYI ward in Chikun local government council, Hon Rehila Bivan whom recently defected from the PDP to the ruling APC.

Meanwhile, the Adalo ADAMU Maikai campaign train promises to visit all the twelve electoral wards making the Chikun local government area to interface with the masses so as to canvas for support and take stock of the various community challenges bedevilling the area.

Highlights of the APC chairmanship aspirant visit to NARAYI include consultation with women and youth groups, party leaders as well as musical interlude.

Towards ensuring a safe and smooth 2021 Easter celebrations, the Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC) National Headquarters has deployed a total of 25, 224 personnel to cover the various highways across the country with monitors deployed to ensure compliance to the operational guidelines of the special patrol scheduled to commence from 31 March and terminate on 1 April, 2021.

This was contained in a press release signed by the Corps Public Education Officer, Assistant Corps Marshal Bisi Kazeem over the weekend.

According to him, the deployed personnel include 7,100 Officers, 18,124 Marshals Inspectors and Road Road Marshal assistants 15,225 Special Marshals who would cover all the identified areas across the country. He added that Management staff, Zonal Commanding Officers, Sector Commanders and other senior officers of the rank of Deputy Corps Commanders (DCC) in the National Headquarters as well as Corridor Commanders are also deployed to the Field Commands to ensure compliance with the Operational Guidelines issued at the beginning of the exercise.

“In addition, 580 patrol vehicles, 92 ambulances, 17 tow trucks and 73 motorbikes are being deployed as part of the patrol logistics,” he stated.

“Furthermore, 2,096 reflective jackets , 1,000 traffic crones, 73 tyre pressure gauges, a number of extricating machines and digital breathalyzers are part of the tools set aside for the special operations,” Bisi further stated.

The Corps Public Officer further noted that as part of the strategies, a total of 22 Help Areas have been mobilised to ensure prompt removal of obstructions, death and injuries during the period. This, he said, is in addition to the ten traffic control camps which would be dedicated solely to identifying traffic gridlock areas to be manned by our personnel on 24/7 basis during the Easter Celebration.

“The Corps has put in place a Situation Room at the National Headquarters to monitor the activities across the country, collate and process information for dissemination to relevant commands and stakeholders as the case may be. This is in addition to the activation of 28 Road Traffic Crash Clinics and 48 Zebra points located along the major routes which would be covered by 92 ambulances that would be fully utilized to respond promptly to cases of rescue and convey injured victims to hospitals for more professional attention,” he stated.

Kazeem added that Commanding Officers have been directed to liaise with other strategic stakeholders within their operational areas to secure the needed moral and logistics as well as security support. He identified some of the stakeholders as Military formations (enroute or resident); the Nigeria Police (enroute or resident); DSS (enroute or resident); the Nigeria Immigration Service; the NSCDC (enroute or resident). Others are Federal Ministry of Works and Housing; National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA); State Traffic Management Agencies; State owned NGO’s ambulance Services providers; National Network on Emergency Rescue Services (NNES);
Federal Road Maintenance Agencies and
Federal Fire Service.

He further disclosed that the objectives of special operations are reduction in Road Traffic Crashes, Road Traffic Fatalities and Road Traffic Injuries; enforcement and strict compliance to COVID-19 Protocol by motorists and road users; prompt response to road traffic crash victims; unhindered engagement in purposeful public education and enlightenment and speedy removal of obstructions from the highways among others.

He assures members of the public that in achieving the objectives of the special operations, the Corps will combine the engagement of the motoring public through purposeful and impactful public education programmes, strengthening of surveillance activities to regulate unprofessional excesses, sustained effective patrol operations as well as adequate monitoring on the highways.

“To this end, the Corps would carryout aggressive enforcement including conducting over 200 mobile court operations, with the aim of checking the following offences:

a. Speed Limit Violations;

b. Overloading Violations/ Physical distancing in vehicles.

c. Tyre violations, light signs violations including directional lights headlights, backlight and break light.

d. Use of Phone while driving;

e. Route Violation / Lane Indiscipline;

f. Seatbelt use violations;

g. Driving under the influence of alcohol/ drugs;

h. Dangerous driving;

i. Number Plate violations;

j. Mechanically deficient vehicles and

k. Illegal parking.

On the overall preparedness of the Corps for the special operations, the Corps Public Education Officer stated that the Corps Marshal, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi has expressed optimism that Nigerians would as usual, cooperate with members of the Corps and other security agencies as well as volunteers who would come out to assist the Corps in traffic management during the period, stressing that with the massive deployment of personnel and logistics and the envisaged public support, the celebration would be a huge success.

‘The Corps Marshal wishes all Nigerians safe and successful Easter celebrations,” Kazeem stated.

Borno State House of Assembly on Friday passed a vote of confidence on Governor of the state, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, putting to bed, a mischievous online publication which falsely claimed rift between the assembly and the governor.

Speaker of the Assembly, AbdulKarim Lawan announced the resolution on Friday at a special meeting held at the assembly complex in Maiduguri, during which members of the assembly, took turns to speak highly of Governor Zulum outstanding performance with series of government projects sited in their constituencies.

The Speaker implied that the lawmakers were surprised when they saw a online medium  reporting the house had contemplated impeaching Zulum that is today considered a role model of leadership all over Nigeria.

“The house has passed a vote of confidence a in the leadership style of Professor Babagana Umara Zulum. Ordinarily, the house would not have responded to that malicious report but we felt we should speak in order to avoid innocent members of the general pubic being misled to believing that totally false story especially considering the fragile security of our state and also the giant strides
recorded by Professor Babagana Umara Zulum’s administration in all sectors of the economy. Fact is that we have very cordial and harmonious working relationship between all arms of the Borno State Government. There was never any problem let alone so called attempt motive to remove our hardworking Governor who built and accelerated people’s confidence in governance. The house totally dismiss that news publication, we commend the mainstream media and reputable online media organizations for ignoring that mischief and we strongly call on relevant security agencies to bring to book, the perpetrators of that malicious news report” Speaker Lawan said.

Our correspondent reports that a largely unknown online medium reported on social media that the assembly had attempted impeaching Zulum weeks back, in what many considered a political to stir controversy in Borno and heat up the polity, especially since the cordiality between Zulum and the state assembly members is public knowledge.