The Zamfara State
governor, Mahmud Shinkafi has said the exit of credible personalities
from the All Nigeria Peoples Party marked the “death of the party
beyond resurrection”.

Mr. Shinkafi, who
spoke at the formal defection of ANPP federal and state lawmakers to
the PDP on Monday in Gusau, said the ANPP could no longer provide a
credible platform for the actualisation of genuine political dreams.

“A dream party
should be one that has a national outlook in terms of membership,
structure, as well as articulated agenda for development and progress,”
the governor said.

He said the exit of
a respected personality like Muhammadu Buhari from the party was a
testimony to its final collapse as a leading opposition party in the
country.

According to him, the PDP in the state had mapped out strategies to ensure victory in the 2011 general elections.

Those who graced
the occasion included the Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, and the
deputy governors of Katsina, Niger and Sokoto states.

The PDP National Chairman, Vincent Ogbbulafor; Senate President
David Mark and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji
Bankole, were also represented at the event.

A university
lecturer, Okpo Ojah, has called for the enforcement of the Child Rights
Act to check the frequent incidences of child abuse in the country. He
also advocated for a private-public synergy in addressing issues
concerning the less privileged.

Mr. Ojah, who
lectures at the University of Calabar, made the call on Monday in
Calabar while delivering a paper on “Help The Needy” at a seminar
organised by Laurel Childcare Outreach, a non governmental organisation.

He said the delay
in the enforcement of the Act passed by the National Assembly in 2003
is unfortunate, adding that the delay amounts to government’s disregard
for children’s welfare.

He also described as unfortunate, the prevailing situation where only eight states in the country had made laws on child rights.

The lecturer
stressed that, beyond enacting the Act, all tiers of government should
take more than a passing interest in the welfare of children.

“As leaders of tomorrow, Nigerian children deserve to be offered the
best of education, health, and environment and in other aspects of
life,” he said.