By Suleiman Yakubu

Niger State Governor, Hon. Mohammed Umaru Bago, has approved the appointment of new Special Advisers (SAs). The special advisers, 26 in number, are Alh. Mohammed Nma Kolo; Political Matters, Hon. Mohammed Bello Mariga; Legislative Matters, Barr. Manko Bagudu; Legal Matters/Government House Counsel, Alh. Mohammed Nda; Economic Matters, Mall. Isah Audu; Public Service Matters, Comrade Adams Mohammed Erena: Labour Matters, Dr. Isah Adamu; Governance and Reform, Hon. Abdulmalik Usman Dakachi; Traditional Institutions Others are Hon. Kabiru Abbas; Project Monitoring and Evaluation, Umar Sanda Abubakar; Policy and Strategy, Yusuf Kolo (Rtd. C.P.); Heinous Crime and Substance Abuse, Alqassim Abdulkhadir; Inter-Governmental and Development Partners, Hauwa Bako Mohammed; Social Investment Programme, Ndajiya Abdullahi Nma (Phd); Solid Mineral/Bida Basin, Hon. Habila Daniel; Ecological Matters.
Also on the list are Mary Noel-Berje; Women and Affirmative Action, Hon. Ibrahim Mohammed Panti; Ward Development Programme, Mr. Goerge Dike; Inter-Tribal Matters, Hajiya Hannatu Salihu; Girl Education Initiative, Mr. Jonathan Vatsa; Public-Private Partnership (PPP), Alh. Baba Ndama; and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The rest are Mohammed Tijjani Wakili, Security Matters, Abdullahi Suleiman, Sports Development, Dr. Mahmud Mamman, Planning and Statistics, Tsalha Mohammed Buhari, Sanitation Matters, and Remi Makun, Corporate Social Responsibility. This brings the number of Special Advisers to thirty under the present administration.
In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, the governor, while congratulating them, said their appointments were based on their track records of achievements.
He called on them to give their best and bring to bear their wealth of experience for the growth and development of the state.

By Suleiman Yakubu

A Passionate appeal has been made to the Governor of Niger State, Hon. Mohammed Umaru Bago, to constitute a commission of inquiry to investigate the endless royal tussle in the Doko community of Lavun Local Government Area of Niger State.
A traditional title holder in the area, Alhaji Kudu Mohammed Jiya, made the appeal while speaking during an exclusive interview with Newsline in Minna at the weekend.
He said the constitution of the commission of inquiry into the incessant crisis in the area over the years will bring about lasting peace and security in Doko and its environs. Alhaji Kudu Jiya, who is the Sarkin Yaki of Doko land, noted with dismay the ceaseless crisis that had engulfed the once peaceful community over the years and called on the state governor to, as a matter of necessity, constitute the commission to ensure peace in the area.
"Setting up the commission of inquiry into this matter will unravel the whole issue and allegations against the dethroned village head (Dazhi) of Doko.
"The commission of inquiry will also bring about peace and security in the Doko community; hence, we are appealing to the governor of Niger State, Hon. Umar Bago, to set up the commission to settle this crisis in Doko once and for all", he stated.
The traditional title holder noted with disappointment the role some prominent individuals in Doko were playing in fueling the crisis over the years, describing the acts as painful. "Some well-to-do individuals from the community based in Abuja are behind our plight in Doko. They are funding the security agencies to arrest and detain our youth.
He called on the state governor to, as a matter of urgency, constitute the commission of inquiry to ensure the peace and security of the people of Doko; this, according to the traditional title holder, will stall peace in the area. He disclosed that the dethroned village head had dragged the state government, the Bida Emirate Council, the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the Commissioner for Justice, and the Attorney General of Niger State to Minna High Court, and he lost the case.
Dissatisfied with the judgement of the Niger State High Court, he went on Appeal at the Court of Appeal in Abuja, yet the court of Appeal dismissed the appeal and said that he could only be reinstated after due clearance from the weighty allegations.
"I'm of the opinion that resolving the remaining issues could be prejudicial to any subsequent action the emirate council might want to take on the matter.
It would be recalled that the Doko community has been engulfed in a series of land and royal crises in the last ten years, as all efforts to restore peace in the community have not yielded the needed result.
Several lives and properties have been lost to the endless crisis, even as some youths are languishing in Minna and Bida prisons.