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Reps passes bill to revert to old national anthem

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A bill for an act to revert to the old national anthem has passed first, second, and third readings in the House of Representatives.

The bill was sponsored by the leader of the House, Rep. Julius Ihonvbere, during plenary in Abuja on Thursday.

Leading the debate on the general principle of the bill, the lawmaker said that the current national anthem was not helping.

He added that there was a need to go back to the old national anthem, whose wordings were more patriotic.

“Going back to memory lane to a time in history when things were done in a proper manner, the old national anthem helped Nigerians to be more patriotic.”

He said, “The bill will bring us together, and give us hope and courage, a sense of duty to the nation.

“That does not necessarily deny the reality and that is the maintenance of contemporary societies.”

According to him, there are those that deny reality, and pretend racism does not exist, ethnicity doesn’t exist, poverty doesn’t exist.

“They rationalise this by looking at GMP, GDP and the reality stares people in the face and that is when you are faced with the realities then you can attack and deal with it frontally. ”

Contributing to the debate, Rep. Kingsley Chinda said, “We are taking ourselves back to the old National Anthem; incidentally, I will ask again: is this bill important at this particular time in our national lives?

“What value will it add to us as a nation? These questions need to be answered.”

He added that Nigerians were looking up to the House for more fundamental issues that would cause proper change.

“What is the history we are about to make? So I stand as a Nigerian to say no to this bill. I pray that we look at it critically and urge the sponsor to withdraw this bill.”

Rep. Ahmed Jaha (APC-Bormo) however, supported the bill, arguing that the “Arise O Compatriot” anthem has not benefited the country.

He said Nigerians were not living in tune with the wording of the “Arise O Compatriot” anthem.

Rep. Ahmed Satomi (APC-Borno) said, “Nigerians are looking up to us regarding this bill because many of us in our early 40s don’t know this national anthem.

“I don’t know how this bill on the national anthem will affect the common man. Let’s be realistic how this will help the government to stop hunger, banditry, or improve security.”

“Let’s do what is beneficial to the common man and this Honourable chamber is the only hope for now standing for the common man of Nigeria.”

“I concur with the Minority Leader. Let’s look at something that will bring a development in the eyes of the international communities to Nigeria.”

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that there were heated argument among those who were for and against the motion.

However, when the Deputy Speaker, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the plenary rule, it was in favour of those who supported the return to the old anthem.

The bill was subsequently sent to the Senate for concurrence.

(NAN)

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Commission, journalists partner to revamp water sector in Kaduna

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The Kaduna State Water Services Regulatory Commission (KADWREC) says it is partnering media practitioners towards revamping water services in the state.

Mr Dogara Bashir, the Executive Chairman of KADWREC, disclosed this on Monday at a one-day workshop organised for media practitioners on regulation of ‘Water, Sanitation and Hygiene’ (WASH) activities held in Kaduna.

Bashir said the commission was aware of the importance of the role media practitioners played in the society.

He stated that the workshop was to provide an avenue to liaise with them as important stakeholders on water supply and sanitation services in the state.

Bashir said: “As media practitioners, we believe you are a gateway to the citizens so, the workshop would acquaint you with some of the regulations already in place so that you can in turn transmit it to the public

“The state of water services in Kaduna State is in dire need of attention and the State Water Corporation and KADWREC were established towards addressing the seeming challenges.

“The commission is mandated to ensure better service delivery and regulation of water and sanitation services in the State.

“The idea is that once the regulations are developed, we send them to the State Ministry of Justice to gazette and then we get the state government to endorse and give the go ahead to commence the implementation of the regulations

“We intend to implement them fully come January, 2025 God willing, as we have embarked on advocacy activities having gone to zones 1 and 2 where we talked to traditional rulers, security agencies and the Judiciary.”

He disclosed that a special Court has already been attached to the commission by the Chief Judge of the State for service providers who may likely violate regulations.

The chairman further said that amongst the commission’s objectives include ensuring security, reliability and quality of service in the production and delivery of water to the consumers as well making regulations to control the sinking of boreholes.

Others included; maximising access to water services by promoting and facilitating consumer connections to distribution systems in urban and rural areas.

According to Bashir, they also include ensuring that regulatory decision-making has regards to all the relevant health, safety, environmental and social legislation applying to the water sector.

Bashir further said that the commission collaborate with the relevant state and federal agencies on water policies.

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Crime

2 ladies docked for allegedly obtaining money by fraud

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The police in Lagos have dragged two women, Mmesuma Ofunna, and Blessing Adimekwe, before an Ojo Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, over alleged obtaining money by false pretence.

Ofunna, 22, and Adimekwe, 25, were arraigned before the Magistrate, Mr L K J Layeni, on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, stealing and conduct likely to breach peace.

They each, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The prosecutor, ASP Simon Uche, told the court that the defendants conspired with others now at large, to commit the offence on Oct. 26 at the Okokomaiko area of Ojo.

He alleged that they had obtained the sum of N70, 000 from one Faith Ahamefule, with a promise not to post her nude photo on social media.

The prosecutor alleged that the defendants later posted the nude photo of the nominal complainant on social media, knowing that their promise was false.

He alleged that they stole the N70, 0000, thereby conducting themselves in a manner likely to breach public peace.

The offence contravenes the provisions of sections 168(d), 287, 314, and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

The court granted the defendants bails in the sum of N500, 000 each, with two sureties each in like sum.

He adjourned the case until Jan. 8, 2025 for mention.

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Headlines

Driver jailed 6 months for attempting to steal a car

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A Jos Magistrates’ Court on Monday, sentenced a 37-year-old driver, Ahmad Umar to six months in imprisonment for attempting to steal a car.

The Magistrate, Shawomi Bokkos, summarily tried and sentenced the convict after he pleaded guilty to the charge.

Bokkos in his judgment, ordered the convict to pay an option of N30, 000 fine or spend six months in prison.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp Ibrahim Gokwat, told the court that the case was reported on Oct. 10, at the Area Command Police station through a distress call by one Sydney Peacemorie the complainant.

Gokwat said the complainant parked his Toyota RAV4 in front of Access Bank and went inside to carry out some transactions, only to return to find the convict inside his car.

“The convict unlawfully opened the car and was in the driver’s seat when the complainant raised alarm and he was apprehended, but his accomplice escaped.

“The convict was severely beaten by a mob but was rescued by the police,” said Gokwat.

“The prosecutor said that the offence contravened the Plateau Penal Code Law.

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