The frenzy in the quest for succession to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State has suddenly turned cold. But it is not as if the about two dozen aspirants in the race have dropped out of the contest to manage the oil rich state.

Governor Kassim Shettima of Borno State has said that if negotiating with the Boko Haram sect would bring back the abducted Chibok schoolgirls, the Federal Government should not ignore the option.

The Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Adesina Akinwumi, has called on foreign and local investors to consider the current scientific best practices, availability of land, and good climatic conditions as reasons to support and invest in agriculture in Nigeria.

OKOMU National Park “The pride of our natural heritage” is the smallest of the seven National Parks in Nigeria. The Park is a rainforest ecosystem gazetted from the former Okomu Forest reserve in 1935.

IBADAN–AHEAD of the August 9, gubernatorial election in Osun State, governor Rauf Aregbesola, yesterday told the people of the state not to rig for him, but allow the achievements of his administration influence their judgments during the election.

ABUJA— PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan is expected to visit Borno State today to assess the security situation and possibly visit troops deployed there.
The President is expected to leave Maiduguri for France, where he is expected to attend a regional security summit that involves France, Chad and Niger.
There were reports that the President may also visit Chibok, where the abduction of over 200 girls from a secondary school sparked international condemnation and outrage.
The incidence has attracted multinational support from USA, Britain, France, Israel and China to assist Nigeria’s rescue efforts.
A statement by Dr Reuben Abati, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity said President Jonathan will be joined at the summit by heads of state and government of Benin Republic, Cameroon, Niger and Chad.
The statement added that Britain, the United States of America and the European Union will be represented at the talks which will give special attention to the coordination and intensification of efforts to curtail the destabilising activities of Boko Haram in Nigeria and neighbouring countries.
It said: “President Jonathan, who will be accompanied by the Minister of Defence, Lt Gen. Aliyu Gusau (rtd.); National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.) and other principal aides and advisers, will return to Abuja at the conclusion of the summit on Saturday.”
Meanwhile, Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, has admitted that the current Boko Haram insurgency is a problem and a challenge that is adversely affecting the economic growth of the country.
Okonjo Iweala said, however, that with the current efforts of the Federal Government and foreign assistance, the war against terrorists would be tackled and Nigeria would experience the desired development it deserved.
The Minister said this yesterday while fielding questions from newsmen in Ilorin, shortly after unveiling the distribution of PC Tablet to 100 students of the University of Ilorin and the official flag off of the oil palm plantation for the institution.
According to Okonjo Iweala, “this is a global problem and we must come together as a country to tackle this problem. We have to admit that insecurity is a problem and challenge which we must grapple with and deal with, but remember that majority of the country is functioning and let us not lose sight of that.
“That gives those of us who are not directly affected an opportunity to think of our brothers and sisters in areas where there are security challenges; to pray with them, to support the government and our military who are putting their lives on the line to end the menace.
“We should also be hopeful; we are not alone.”

At a time like this in the life of a country like Nigeria when things are not what they seem; when problems overwhelm the citizenry and life becomes uncertain; when confusion reigns almost supreme in the land and the falcon can hardly hear the falconer, there remains only one way to solution: and that is the way of the Almighty ALLAH.

ORGANISED Labour in Nigeria’s construction industry has claimed that no fewer than 40,000 members have lost their jobs in the last one year due to non-payment for jobs done and certified by governments.

“You people know me well that I do not hide my feelings on where I stand on issues. We the royal fathers have consulted widely within the state with the sons and daughters of Lagos and have come to the conclusion that the best person to take over from Mr. Babatunde Fashola, the iconic governor of Lagos State is Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.

GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday urged children worldwide to join hands in the fight against climate change, saying such would engender shared knowledge and best practices in tackling the challenge of climate change.