Yenagoa—The Bayelsa State Election Petitions Tribunal has begun a pre-trial hearing in the petition by Chief Timipre Sylva, former state governor and the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the National Assembly election, against the declaration of Mr. Ben Murray-Bruce of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as senator-elect for the East senatorial district of the state.

The Catholic Archbishop of Metropolitan See of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Martins, has called on Nigerians to join forces with the political elites to end the scourge of corruption in the country.

A 12 -year-old boy was, yesterday, swept away by flood in Ejigbo area of Lagos.

An evaluation was carried out about worry and it reveal thus; Things that never happen-40%; Past things that can’t be changed by worrying-30%; Needless health worries-12%; Petty worries about unimportant matters-10%; Real legitimate worries-8% of which 4 percent are things about which nothing can be done and only 4% of the things that most people worry about can be changed.

Western Union Foundation in collaboration with the United Bank for Africa (UBA), Skye Bank, First Bank, Ecobank, GTBank and Diamond Bank, have boosted students learning in Lagos State as they donated a hi-tech library project valued at N19.39 million or $98,500. The project which was initiated by Gabasawa Women and Children Initiative, a non-governmental organization, brought smiles to the faces of students from Archdeacon Adelaja Senior High School, Bariga, and Community Senior High School, Ketu, as the schools were refurbished and equipped to standard.

Teachers in Lagos have debunked the saying that their reward is in heaven. They made this claim as they celebrated their own, Deaconess O. Oludemi on her pen down and retirement ceremony held at State Senior Grammar School, a special school for hearing and hearing impaired. The event also corrected the belief that teaching is a job for the jobless.

“Another thing that would be a pointer in the right direction, if done within the first 100 days, would be addressing the deplorable welfare of teachers as no positive change can occur when teachers are demoralised. “The truth is that unity schools are no longer as they used to be and there is no teaching going on in these schools because teachers are not motivated and the total neglect in the human capacity has resulted in the mass failure presently being witnessed today.

Finally by way of recommendation, Government needs to return to the drawing board and fully implement the Hon. Justice Uwais Report on Electoral Reforms which provides for an Electoral Offences Commission and a Tribunal to be its adjudicative arm. This step is imperative for the maintenance of law and order during elections and beyond.

No fewer than five staff of Erhengbo Okomo Security Services Nigeria Limited, Benin, Edo State, have dragged the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Samuel Adegbuyi and a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Ezike of the Federal Special Ant- Robbery Squad, before a Federal High Court sitting in Benin, for their illegal arrest at their place of work, Oliha Market, Benin and detaining them till date.

Inspite of the fact that there is an urgent need to revive theatre going culture of Nigerians, the awareness of theatre production and the number of theatre goers seem to be a little encouraging in Lagos State. Back in the days of the iconic Hubert Ogunde, theatre was a viable art form. From city to city, Nigerians came out en masse to watch theatre productions. One can’t help but ask, where are the theatre goers in Nigeria?

In today’s academic world, reading remains the ultimate pre-requisite for excelling in any exams. Sadly, young people still see reading as a heavy burden to bear and as such, want to cut corners. It therefore, becomes imperative to inculcate in young children, the attitude of reading such that it becomes part of them as they grow older.

BENIN—BENEF-ICIARIES of Edo State Government’s Youth Employment Scheme, YES, yesterday, protested to the state government, appealing to the government to rescind its decision to phase out the scheme which has benefited over 5,000 youths. The state government had on Monday announced the phasing out of the scheme which is under the Rapid Response Agency.

Quoting from the words of former President of United States, Theodore Roosevelt, “Believe you can and you’re halfway there”; it then becomes obvious that what bedevils the mind of an individual propelling the wheel of success is fear and not in the will to do. The buffer that secures wheels of entrepreneurial success in life is unalloyed self-belief sinewed and ornamented with well-thought out and proactive mind.

President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote yesterday said plans have been concluded to construct a gas pipeline to address power supply challenges in Lagos State.

Advancements and achievements recorded in the 21stcentury have not reduced the numbers of death of great men who died as a result of depression and frustration. Most death according to studies result from man’s inability to discover himself. In trying to stem the malady of unfulfilled living or painful deaths as the case may be, resulting from the void and emptiness of man.