NDLEA raises alarm over rise in cannabis cultivation, consumption in Ekiti

THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ekiti State command, has raised the alarm over what it described as the rise in the cultivation and consumption of cannabis sativa, known commonly as Indian hemp, in the state.

The Commander of NDLEA in the state, Mr Bamidele Akingbade, who raised the alarm in Ado Ekiti, while addressing newsmen, at the weekend said over five cases of mentally deranged persons resulting from the use of the substance were reported at the University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, weekly.

According to him, Ekiti was one of the states in the federation “known for cultivation of cannabis,” adding that over 400 acres of Indian hemp farm had been destroyed in the state since he assumed duty in Ekiti last year as the commander in the state and now.

He said it was worrisome that another 100 acres had just been discovered in parts of the state, saying “if this continues, there would be more lunatics on the streets and this would affect the future of our youths who are the leaders of tomorrow.”

According to him, “wherever cannabis is planted, it takes another 10 years to grow another plant there. So, we appeal to our people, especially those in charge of land to discourage giving out their land to people to grow Indian hemp.”

He also disclosed that the agency had arrested 34 suspects since last year when he assumed office for dealing in hard drugs, out of which 24 were prosecuted.

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Sanusi, PFN disagree over Islamic banking

The governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has said that those opposed to the introduction of Islamic banking in Nigeria are not conversant with current happenings in the world as the system is being practised in the United Kingdom and other countries of the world dominated by Christians.

He spoke on the BBC Hausa service monitored in Kaduna at the weekened, even as the Kaduna State chapter of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) expressed concern over moves to introduce Islamic banking in the country.

The PFN while condemning the move said the action of the CBN governor at a time when Nigerians were still battling to douse the tension created by political and religious crises was unfortunate.

However, Sanusi explained that the move for the introduction of the JAIZ Bank in Nigeria had been on even before he assumed leadership in the CBN and disclosed that other superior officers in the CBN who were Christians had no problem with Islamic banking in Nigeria.

According to him, a major stakeholder in the JAIZ Bank was an Igbo businessman who saw the prospects and had since invested a lot towards the noble cause.

Nigerians, he said, should not be afraid of Islamic bank as it was going to be a non-interest banking which had been practised successfully in many parts of the world.

But the PFN in a statement by its chairman, Bishop David Bakare, said that the action of the CBN governor would further polarise the nation along religious lines as well as raise suspicions about his intention no matter how good it could be.

“Honestly if the CBN governor had embarked on this advocacy for Islamic banking as a religious leader it would have made a better sense than as a government official. Therefore, he should come out and tell the nation whose errand he is running and for whom he speaks. Is he speaking for himself, Islam, or for the government of Nigeria?

“ Sanusi should please be advised not put the nation into another avoidable distraction and dangerous crises. We call on the president not to wait until trouble begins before acting,” he said.

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Don’t create religious crisis in Ogun, PPN warns Amosun

The Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) has warned the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, against sparking off religious crisis in the state following the reversal of return of schools originally owned by Christian missions.

The party also expressed concern over the seeming inconsistencies of Amosun-led government in the state.

A statement, made available to newsmen in Abeokuta by the party’s Director of Organisation, Mr Deji Kalejaiye, said that the inconsistent decisions made so far by the governor in his almost one month in office indicated grave implications for the state.

It will be recalled that the Christian missions has dragged the Ogun State government before the court, asking for an interlocutory injunction restraining it from taking the schools back from them.

The statement further said that the state government had so far demonstrated lack of understanding of the art of governance, while advising the governor to always exercise caution before taking decisions.

“It is alarming that in just less than a month in office, the present administration in Ogun State has done enough to set the state on fire and worst still, our dear state is now a subject of mockery owing to somersault in policies that is now synonymous with Ogun State government under Governor Amosun,” Kalejaiye said.

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Saraki, son reconcile

THE political differences between the strongman of Kwara politics, Dr Olusola Saraki and his son, who is also the immediate past governor of Kwara State, Senator Bukola Saraki, were formally and amicably resolved on Sunday.

Also, two committees have been set up to look into the issue of harmonisation between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) towards giving members of the two parties a sense of belonging.

The reconciliation took place at a special prayer held at the Ilofa Road GRA residence of Chief Saraki, with a number of Muslim clerics, led by the Chief Imam of Maraba mosque, Sheik Shuaib Abdulsalam, praying for the peaceful co-existence of the political leaders and people of the state.

Though Chief Saraki regretted that the feud between Senator Saraki and his sister, Gbemisola was yet to be resolved, noting that the former ACPN gubernatorial candidate was still upset over the political bitterness she suffered at the hands of her brother, he prayed that God should intervene and settle the rift.

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Civil society tasks Fashola on procurement, tenancy bills, others

Lagos State Civil Society Partnership, LACSOP, has called on Governor Babatunde Fashola to urgently assent to Lagos State Procurement Bill, Lagos State Tenancy Bill, Lagos State Public Finance Management Bill,  the Criminal Law of Lagos State Bill and others passed by the State House of Assembly between 2009 and 2011, saying when assented to,  they will impact positively on the lives of millions of Lagosians.

LACSOP, in a statement, however, commended Governor Fashola for signing into law the Lagos State Special People Bill and  Lagos State Public Private Partnership Bill and urged him to expedite action on several other critical bills passed by the State House of Assembly towards the end of the tenure of the sixth assembly, but were still awaiting the governor’s assent.

The statement by Mr. Ayo Adebusoye for LACSOP Steering Committee, read in part: “Rising from a recent meeting of the group’s Steering Committee, the group noted that some of these bills like to the Lagos State Procurement Bill 2009, Lagos State Tenancy Bill 2009, Lagos State Public Finance Management Bill 2010, all passed on Wednesday 25th May, 2011 and the Criminal Law of Lagos State Bill 2010, passed on Thursday June 2nd 2011, are bills that In view of the imperative need for adequate legislation to cater for issues emerging from the state government developmental drive, LACSOP is using this opportunity to encourage His Excellency to give urgent and priority attention to these all important bills in the first weeks of his new administration with a view to ensuring that no time is wasted before they are assented to.”

“LACSOP also believes strongly that these bills will empower the poor and socially marginalised people of Lagos State and foster greater popular participation in the ongoing transformation of the state. The bills will also go a long way to increase citizens voice and strengthen accountability in public finance management and Lagos State should be a pace setter in striving to achieve that goal. We are quite convinced that His Excellency will see the opportunity to consolidate on the gains of the last four years by giving these additional laws to the citizens of the state as veritable tools to attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015 and the actualization of Lagos State as “ Africa ’s model Mega City ”

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