By David Owei, Bayelsa

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has described as shocking the sudden demise of one of his predecessors, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (rtd).

Olubolade, who was military administrator of the state from June 27, 1997 to July 9, 1998, died on Sunday, May 11, 2025.

Governor Diri, who spoke during 163rd state executive council session in Government House, Yenagoa, said the news of his death was received with profound sadness by the government and the people considering Olubolade’s indelible contributions to the development of Bayelsa during the state’s formative years.

A minute silence was observed by the state cabinet in honour of the late former administrator.

The Bayelsa governor described Olubolade as selfless, an astute administrator and a man of exceptional humility.

He particularly expressed sadness that late last year, the state celebrated Olubolade’s 70th birthday in Yenagoa and that he was full of life at the event.

Diri said out of office, the former military administrator identified with the state through the years and was one of the key supporters of his administration.

He extended the condolences of the government and people of the state to the Olubolade family and prayed God to grant them and his loved ones the fortitude to bear the loss.

By Our Reporter

To rid Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of activities of criminal elements,FCT Minister Barr. Nyesom Wike, has addressed concerns about indiscriminate pick-up and drop-off points in the city, saying that the new bus terminals will help curb the issue by providing designated areas for buses to operate.

Fielding questions from journalists at the end of his inspection of several projects in Abuja, including the road leading to the Court of Appeal at Daki-Biyu and the Mabushi and Kugbo Bus Terminals, the minister expressed satisfaction with the progress of the projects, commending the contractors for a job well done.

When asked about the finishing of the Mabushi Bus Terminal, Wike noted that there has been significant improvement since his last visit. He commended the contractor for taking feedback seriously and making necessary adjustments.

“Very much. That’s why I said I commend the contractor. When we went there last time, you saw that I shouted at them that I was not happy with the finishing. But from what I’ve seen now, there has been a lot of improvement.

You see the contractor has said they’ve not done the final painting, all they wanted was for me to come and look at it, and have my own view. So at the end of the day, they will now put it into consideration for finishing. But I think generally we are happy with what we have seen”.

Wike stated that the projects are part of the efforts to provide first-class infrastructure for the residents of Abuja, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He noted that the bus terminals are a crucial part of changing the transport system in the city and praised the contractors for their work.

“What it means is that you don’t need to stay the road, you have to go to the bus terminal and there, we know drivers, we know the vehicles you have boarded. That, of course, will limit this one chance. So that’s the sense of building these terminals, and also to clean up the city so you don’t have buses all over the road becoming motorparks. That’s what we’re doing”.

Regarding the Daki-Biyu road, Wike said that it is expected to be completed in time for the president’s second-year anniversary celebration.

He clarified that the commissioning of the project may not necessarily be on May 29, but rather on a date to be determined by the president.

“I have said the commissioning is not the end of May. Commissioning is to celebrate the anniversary of Mr. President. So it’s not that it must be May 29, the President can give us that from June, but it’s his anniversary. So it does not mean that everything must be done on May 29. No, not at all”.

“We don’t know the date that we’ll be given for Daki biyu road. We don’t know the date that we’ll be given for the bus terminals. Everything will not be done on May 29. We have specific dates pending the approval and confidence of Mr. President. We can’t commission the whole projects on May 29. We have to take a date out. It will take us two weeks of commissioning. So that’s what I have said”.

On funding, Wike explained that the FCT administration has been managing resources prudently, prioritizing spending, and awarding contracts based on available resources. He expressed confidence that the projects will be completed within the agreed timeframe.

“Well, it’s a matter of prudent spending and then trying to prioritize what we intend to do. That’s why we’ve always said that just don’t go and award contract for the sake of awarding contracts”.

“We award contracts based on the resources we have, with the little taxes we are collecting, and the support Mr. President has given, we’re able to prioritize our spending”.

The minister’s inspection tour demonstrates the FCT administration’s commitment to delivering quality infrastructure to the residents of Abuja.

By George Mgbeleke

Contray to its earlier resolution wherein it passed a Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to Provide for the Principle of Rotation of the Offices of the President and the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria among the Six geo-political Zones of the Country, the House on Tuesday setaside the bill for another day delibration.

The six zones as presented in the proposed legislation are North-Central, North-East, North-West, South-East, South-South, and South-West and for Related
Matters

The Bill which was sponsored by the Deputy Speaker,Hon.Benjamin Kalu who presided the legislative session was however stepped down when it was discovered that it was lumped with eight other bills by some of the lawmakers

Moreover, the bill had generated a lot of emotions during the debate on the floor whereby members who were in support argued that it will cure the long age marginalisation in the country.

But for those with the opposing view, they expressed that it will encourage rivalry among Nigerians.

Some members of the House who spoke on the bill include Hon. Aliyu Madaki from Kano State, Hon. Clement Jimbo, Akwa Ibom State, Hon. Shina Oyedeji, Oyo State, Hon. Ali Isa, Gombe State and
Hon. Bello El-Rufai from Kaduna State.

Consequent upon a motion moved by the Chairman, Rules and Business Committee of the House, Hon. Francis Waive, the green chamber resolved that each of the bills be distinctively presented on the floor on the next legislative day for better understanding of the proposed law with regard to what they seek to cure