Nation's Report Report by NNEWS Correspondent	He said the agency would also seek to speak to other persons, who might have lost valuables as a result of the blast in line with the agency's mandate of providing financial assistance to such persons. This is the first blast to affect Suleja this year, after Christmas Day blast in Madalla.
NNEWS Around the Nation - Explosion in Suleja, injures one -- CP
1. The police on Sunday said a blast at Morocco road in Suleja town in Niger on Sunday injured one person and destroyed five vehicles Morocco road is at the heart of the commercial area in Suleja. It was learnt that the people in the area became suspicious of a parked vehicle without number plate and immediately took measures to keep away from it before it exploded. The Commissioner of Police in Niger, Alhaji Ibrahim Maishanu, who confirmed the story to journalists, said that one person was injured as a result of the blast which affected vehicles. ``I am at present on my way to Suleja to assess things for myself,'' he said. The Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Alhaji Mohammed Shaba, said that the agency would be moblising to Suleja. ``We will be responsible for the treatment of the injured persons.’’ He said the agency would also seek to speak to other persons, who might have lost valuables as a result of the blast in line with the agency's mandate of providing financial assistance to such persons. This is the first blast to affect Suleja this year, after Christmas Day blast in Madalla. 2. IBB says all leaders have stake in national security Former President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, has said that leaders at all levels must be involved in providing security in the country. Gen. Babangida said this in Kano on Saturday when he paid a condolence visit to the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, in his palace, over the multiple bomb blasts that killed about 200 people in Kano. The former military President, who ruled the country between 1985 and 1993, said it was the responsibility of not only the Federal Government, but leaders at all levels, to ensure peace and stability in the country. He also charged the leaders to carry out their responsibilities in such a manner as to promote understanding among different parts of the nation. The former military president commiserated with the Emir and the people of Kano over the incident and prayed for the restoration of peace and security in the state. In his response, the Emir called for continuous prayers for peace and stability to reign in the state and the nation 3. Labour ministers says`` Workers' welfare, major priority of Jonathan's administration’ Chief Emeka Wogu, Minister of Labour and Productivity, has stated that enhanced welfare of the Nigerian worker is a major trust of the present Administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. Chief Wogu stated this on Friday in Abuja when he received the executive of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), led by its National Secretary, Mr Omokhuale Marcus. ``The administration of Dr Goodluck Jonathan is a pro-people administration, the welfare of Nigerian workers whether in the Civil Service or the Private Sector is the main concern of the Administration. ``You can agree with me that this administration has been able to achieve at least 80 per cent of what it set out to do for the Nigerian workers as part of its Transformation Agenda.’’ The ministers, in reaction to some of the issues raised by the Council on the implementation of the New National Minimum Wage, said that Federal Government had kept its own side of the New National Minimum Wage bargain. ``I also agree with you that there is a need for Federal Government to advice State Governments which are yet to comply with this Act to do so.'' On the request by the Council to scrap the National Housing Fund, Wogu stated that Government would consider their earlier position on Staff Housing Loan Board. Chief Wogu, however, noted that the National Housing Fund was created by an Act. ``Where there is an Act, it is either you repeal, you amend or you totally set it aside and that is purely the duty of the National Assembly. ``I will reach out to the Head of Civil Service of the Federation with your request that the National Housing Fund Act should be repealed, amended or reviewed’’. Earlier in his remarks, Mr. Marcus stated that the purpose of the visit was to present a number of issues that centered on the welfare of Nigerian workers. ``Some of the issues we want to discuss with you are the National Housing Fund, implementation of the New National Minimum Wage. ``Others are the reform that was carried out by the Administration of Former President Olusegun Obasanjo in regards to outsourcing in the Civil Service’’. Mr. Marcus, however, lauded the Administration of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan on its role of ensuring an improved National Minimum Wage. He also commended the Minister for his efforts at ensuring industrial harmony in the Nation’s volatile labour sector. 4. ECOWAS /Commonwealth Men's Handball Championship for Abuja . The Abuja-based Commonwealth Handball Association (CHA) has scheduled the ECOWAS/Commonwealth Men’s Handball Championship for Abuja from April 18 to April 22. A statement issued on Sunday by the Chief Executive Officer of the Association, Malam Garba Attahiru, said that the championship would be hosted by the FCT Sports Council. The countries to take part in the competition include Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, The Gambia, Sierra Leone and Benin Republic (Guest team). According to the statement, Design and Build Company (D&B Company) is partnering with the CHA to provide branded jerseys for all the participating teams. Mallam Attahiru also said that the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) was expected to mobilise some secondary schools within the territory to attend the championship. The statement said that the minister of the FCT would provide free accommodation and feeding for all the participating teams 5. CNPP, NBA commend Sokoto guber election The Sokoto State chapters of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) and the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), have commended INEC and the security agencies for a hitch-free gubernatorial election on Saturday. In separate interviews on Sunday, chairmen of the chapters described the election as free and fair, and expressed the hope that the result should be acceptable to all the contestants. The state chairman of the CNPP, Alhaji Abba Sidi, said he was happy to note that INEC was able to supply the required electoral materials on time. ``We found that in all the centres we visited that materials required for the election were delivered on time and were adequate,'' he said. He also commended the security agencies for providing ``tight security'' at all polling centres and the entire state. Alhaji Sidi called on political parties to maintain the peace that was witnessed during the voting process, and accept the result of the election in good faith. He also called on the people of the state to accept the result of the election as the wishes of the majority. Also, the Sokoto State chairman of the NBA, Al-Mustapha Abubakar, said the association was satisfied with the conduct of the election. ``The conduct of the election was very transparent, free, fair and credible,'' he said. He commended INEC for ensuring the availability of electoral materials at all polling stations. . :6. Gov. Suswam appeals for unity among people of Benue Gov. Gabriel Suswam of Benue has urged the people to unite in the interest of development in the state. Mr. Suswam was speaking Sunday at St Theresa's Parish, Makurdi, in a thanks-giving mass in honour of Mr Fidelis Audu, Chairman, Makurdi Local Government Council. The governor, who was represented by Dr Eugene Aliegba, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, said peace was necessary for sustainable development. He called on the people to desist from fomenting trouble on the account of their political differences but to play the game of politics according to the rules. He said politics ought to be devoid of violence and advised them to shun violence. The Governor promised to transform the state in spite of distractions from his political rivals. In his sermon, Rev. Fr. John Ikponko advised the parishioners to always assist those in need. Rev. Fr. Ikponko, who read from Mark 2: 1-12, urged the people to continue assisting others even when it seemed difficult to do so. The cleric advised against helping people for pecuniary considerations. He called on them to support those who were not likely to return their good deeds in any way. "You should render your assistance to both the low and the less-privileged too because, you will receive more of God's blessing if you offer to the down-trodden," the priest said. He stressed that, Jesus and God are not selective with their mercy, love, kindness and generosity among others, adding that, they should emulate them in order to be worthy ambassadors of the gospel. Mr. Audu, in whose honour the thanksgiving mass was being celebrated, warned the congregation against rumuor mongering and called on them to desist from the 'Pull Him Down Syndrome'’. He also called on them never to waiver in their faith but to keep their trust in God even in times of difficulties. PDP's Wamakko wins Sokoto governorship poll The immediate past governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko, has been declared winner of Saturday's governorship election, beating 29 other contestants. Announcing the results in Sokoto on Sunday, the Chief Returning Officer, Prof Abdullahi Zuru, said that Wamakko polled 518,247 votes to beat his closest rival, Alhaji Yusha'u Ahmed of the ANPP, who polled 131, 048 votes. Prof. Zuru said the CPC candidate, Alhaji Abubakar Yabo, came third with 7, 323 votes. He said Wamakko scored 71.18 per cent of the 728,108 votes cast in the election. Prof. Zuru, who is the Vice Chancellor of Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aleiro, noted that 43, 618 votes were invalid. According to INEC, the state has 2,453, 857 registered voters. Police deploy officials ahead of Sokoto guber polls result The Police in Sokoto have deployed armed officers and men across the state to forestall a breakdown of law and order ahead of the release of Saturday's gobernatorial election result. The deployment is against the backdrop of a press conference earlier on Sunday by the ANPP, rejecting the outcome of the election, even while the final result had not been made public. Cleric rejects calls for sovereign national conference A cleric, Pastor Effa Emmanuel, on Sunday dismissed calls for a Sovereign National Conference outside the confines of the National Assembly, describing such calls as abnormal. The cleric rejected the calls when he spoke to journalists at a church service organised to mark the fourthanniversary of the World Royal City Church in Abuja. ``I think it is a misnomer when you say Sovereign National Conference and you are having it outside the confines of what the constitution provides for you; you are tacitly trying to tamper with the sovereignty of the nation. ``If you want to have a national conference, you need to call the House of Representatives and the Senate who are already representing us, in addition with local chiefs.’’ Pastor Emmanuel, nonetheless, stressed that the current challenges facing the nation could be effectively tackled by the National Assembly, which ``represents the totality of Nigerians.’’ He, however, canvassed a specific role for the Church in the House of Representatives. ``The House of Representatives is not complete; I think the Church ought to have representatives in the House because the Church is an agent of social cleansing and transformation ``Besides, I think different ethnic groups and social institutions need to be represented in the National Assembly,’’ the pastor said. The ANPP called for an outright cancellation of the election, alleging that it was marred by irregularities. The Sokoto State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Adisa Bolanta, told journalists that the deployment of law enforcement agents was to nip in the bud a possible sponsored protest by those who felt aggrieved. Alhaji Bolanta had earlier denied any police complicity as alleged by the ANPP, which claimed that the law enforcement agents had aided the PDP to rig the election. "Any trouble maker caught by law enforcement agents would face the full wrath of the law. "However, I implore all law abiding residents of Sokoto State to continue to go about their normal activities as the law enforcement agents are up to the task of maintaining order anywhere in the state," he said. The final collation of the election results was ongoing as at the time of filing this report 6pm Nigerian time and Sokoto metropolis was quiet peaceful.

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