MANY Yoruba sons and daughters under the aegis of the Afenifere Renewal Group, ARG, brainstormed in Ibadan, weekend on how the South West geopolitical zone can wake up from its slumber and be a beacon of hope for the younger generations.

A GROUP, Save the Masses and Children’s Heart Foundation, weekend, lamented the poor state of roads in the South-West, describing them as the worst in the country.

The Minister of Youth Development, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, weekend, promised to reform the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, to make it more effective and efficient.

THE Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship hopeful, expected to give Governor Adams Oshiomhole, a good fight for the 2012 governorship race in the state may have emerged.

Armed men numbering about 500 suspected to be foreigners from the Niger Republic yesterday attacked two villages in Jema’a Local Government Council of Kaduna State.

Some existing shareholders in Intercontinental Bank may have buckled under the weight of pressure from the CBN to accept the acquisition of the bank by Access Bank PLC. Indication to this effect emerged weekend as the scheme of merger which was submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission SEC by Access Bank PLC received official nod of approval.

The Federal Government has denied misappropriating the five per cent fuel users’ levy since the law came into effect in 2007. It said the levy had never been collected by its Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA, much less misappropriate same.

THE Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has directed its 36 state councils and Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, to immediately commence negotiations with the state governments on implementation of the new minimum wage Act and ensure that workers’ rights especially as regards salaries were not short circuited.

A bomb believed to have been planted by Islamic sect, Boko Haram, exploded yesterday in a busy neighbourhood in Maiduguri, Borno State capital killing at least eight people.

It will be a stupid thing to be offered money and you turn your back on it especially for the reasons that we are hearing.

The northern caucus in the House of Representatives is to set up a four-man committee to study the Petroleum Industry Bill and its implication on the northern part of the country, Vanguard learnt in Abuja.

President Goodluck Jonathan and incumbent governors will not benefit from the proposed constitutional amendment to restrict the Presidential and gubernatorial tenure to a single six year term. This is in contrast to the failed third term amendment proposal conceived during the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.

PRESIDENT General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Ambassador Ralph Uwechue, weekend, said that unless the South-East geopolitical zone pressed for a constitutional amendment that would enshrine the reality and absolute equality of the six geopolitical zones and work collectively to secure the presidency after the South-South in 2015, it would be difficult for Igbo to regain their leading role in the nation’s polity.

The Amnesty Office in the Presidency has dismissed attempts to compare the grievance of members of the Boko Haram sect with that of ex-militants in the Niger Delta.

Senate President, David Mark has said the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the country is in a haste to deliver democracy dividends to Nigerians and assured that the aspirations of the people would be met by the President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration.