The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has condemned the fresh wave of violence and spate of bombings across the country, saying the trend portends danger for the unity of the country. The Guild also bemoaned the near passivity of security operatives in proactively policing and actually apprehension of culprits.

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, presided over the administration of oath of office on the 37 newly appointed members of his cabinet. He also set agenda for them on performance.

Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL, has condemned the call, last week, by the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, on the Federal Government to merge the Independent Corruption Practices Commission, ICPC, and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

FOLLOWING the Court of Appeal judgment last year postponing gubernatorial elections in some states till next year, there were strong indications, yesterday, that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, will conduct new primary elections in these states.

Speaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Tambuwal, yesterday, said the National Assembly, would create new states based “on merit”, as well as review the present revenue allocation formula and assign constitutional roles to traditional rulers.

FORMER Director-General of the Centre for Democratic Studies, CDS, Prof. Omo Omoruyi, has advocated for a referendum that will enable the Boko Haram religious sect have their own country in order to avoid further bloodshed.

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has granted a preliminary licence to Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc to provide Islamic banking services to the Nigerian populace.

Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, yesterday, wept for Nigeria as a country with no more role model to take up the leadership struggle for the betterment and emancipation of desired society.

Four persons were confirmed dead while 280 were injured in the violence that preceded the general elections in Akwa Ibom State, the Chairman of the Presidential Investigation Panel on the 2011 Election and Civil Disturbance, Justice Samson Uwaifo, has said.

The Benue State Governorship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN in the 2011 election, Professor Steve Ugba, has raised alarm over alleged threat to his life by supposed “henchmen of Governor Gabriel Suswan of the state.”

The leadership of the Senate is mounting pressure on Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, senators from the North-East Zone to rescind their decision rejecting the position of Deputy Senate Leader offered to the zone.

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, has urged the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, to ensure strict allocation of products through its legitimate members.

The Coalition of Civil Society Organizations for PIB Campaign, on Tuesday, charged the 7thNational Assembly to make the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, a major priority when it commences legislative work in the new dispensation.

FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo has been conferred with the award, “Preserver of Nigeria Unity in Diversity,” by an eminent Ijaw body, Ijaw Strategic Group.

THE people of Ijani Ekiti community in Gbonyin Local Government area of Ekiti State have alleged that a senior State Criminal Investigation Department, CID, operative in Ekiti is shielding some Fulani herdsmen alleged to have been involved in recent armed robberies in the community from arrest and prosecution.