Fellow Citizens.Today, 1st October, 2010 marks the 50th Anniversary of our independence from Britain. It is with a deep sense of humility and gratitude to the Almighty that I address you this morning. On this day in 1960, the heroes of the nationalist struggles and all Nigerians were full of hopes and dreams.

Governor Olugbenga Daniel of Ogun State has ordered the release of 15 prisoners and commuted the death sentence of a murder convict to life imprisonment in commemoration of the nation’ golden jubilee.

DELTA State Government, yesterday, set up a combined military task force to rid the state of kidnappers in the wake of the recent abduction of 15 children by ransom seekers in Abia State.

TENSION is heightening up in Akure, the Ondo state capital, over alleged extra-judicial killing of a 27-year old Damilola Agbede, a son of the immediate past Chief Register of Ondo State judiciary by policemen attached to the State Anti Robbery Squad,SARS.

THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State, yesterday, approached a Federal High Court, sitting in Benin, Edo State, asking it to stop the state government from sourcing N30 billion bond from the capital market to execute on-going projects in the state

Senator Mark in a good will message to the nation on the occasion of 50th independence anniversary signed by his Press Secretary, Mr. Paul Mumeh, lauded the resoluteness and patriotism of Nigerians, which he said, was the reason the country had remained a single, united and sovereign nation.

Defence headquarters yesterday clarified the retirement of some generals in the Armed Forces, and noted that many of such retirements arose from the fact that the officers involved had served 35 years in service or caught up with age on rank in accordance with the terms and conditions of service.

Former chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, Justice Mustapha Akanbi (Rtd), has warned the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, not to allow the party’s zoning problem create crisis for the country.

The Nigeri-an Bar Association, NBA, yesterday, declared that it was wrong for the 2010 Electoral Act to confer original jurisdiction in governorship matters on the Court of Appeal, insisting that the current number of justices of the appellate court could only produce 14 standard panels which it considered not enough for disputes that may arise from the 2011 general elections.

Last week, I recalled Alhaji Atiku Abubakar saying, when I interviewed him many years ago that he regretted the fact that it was very difficult for average citizens to survive or thrive if they didn’t have access to influential people who were willing to help them and that he would be very happy if our society eventually evolved to the point where the government provided safety nets that would enable everyone to get what they needed and deserved.