The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • A policing agenda for Tinubu: 5 million policemen

    A policing agenda for Tinubu: 5 million policemen

    We stand again for the upteenth time before a picture of a hopefully-better Nigeria glittering in the horizon and beckoning on us. It will not come to us. We have to go to it. This picture is of the Nigeria of our dreams, of Nigeria as it could be. Because they all thought they were all-wise, military president Ibrahim Gbadamoshi Babangida (IBB), like his civilian successors, Olusegun Obasanjo, Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan and, lately, Muhammadu Buhari, failed to lead this nation to the promised Land. They all ran their shows with small kitchen cabinets which soon overpowered them and consumed whatever energy and vision they thought they had. Like Pilate’s wife, Aisha Buhari warned her husband of the do-gooders. But he silenced her and threw her into” the kitchen and the other room”. I hope that president-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as president, will learn from the mistakes of his predecessors. If he does not, Nigerian nightmares, such as poverty, mass unemployment, psychosomatic diseases and untimely deaths will continue to flourish.

     Mistakes 

    One of the mistakes of Tinubu’s predecessors was that they failed to have a 360 degrees handle on each of Nigeria’s major menacing problems and possible solutions to them. Thus, government was conducted on “fire brigade basis”, always plodding in the dark and never really emerging fully from a dark tunnel.

     In my view, obtaining a 360 degrees handle on national questions is best done through presidential commissions. This column advised President Buhari of this. But he may be forgiven if he paid not much attention to it because his health got the better part of him in the early days of his administration. Vice President  Yemi Oshibajo would hàve helped him. But, as First Lady Aisha Buhari said, before she took her bow from the State House and hibernated in Dubai, a powerful “mafia” had hijacked the president. Even Bola Ahmed TInubu, who helped the president to power, was locked out. It must have taken “village intelligence” and political sagacity  for Tinubu to have refrained from voicing public opposition to some failings of the Buhari administration at that time and  during the political campaigns on which, vicariously, he was caught in the Buhari cob webs.

     Commissions

    The incoming president may design a totally new roadmap for Nigeria with a presidential commission for each national question, and a presidential review commission which will help him to review the performances of his ministers every quarter. Presidential commissions will examine over a time frame problems facing Nigeria in their respective sectors and provide solutions to them. The president can formulate the solutions into an agenda which the ministers will be obliged to implement. A Presidential review commission will monitor implementation of the agenda. Ministers who fall below par over two consecutive quarters will be shown the door. Gone would be the days ministers bungled and bungled but still kept their jobs. This project will cost money, no doubt. The critics will even wonder if it will not sideline the National Assembly. The critics can be told handsome handshaskes between ministers and law makers crippled oversight functions of the assembly. If they didn’t, how come the Armed Forces couldn’t fight terrorist ,bandits and insurgents until recently when they were re-armed and motivated? How come huge investments in electricity generation and supply haven’t yielded commensurate dividends? How come crude oil is stolen in the oil fields and foreigners are illegally mining and exporting gold?

     Fortunately for  him, Tinubu is never afraid of spending money. He spends money to make more money than he spends. That is the story of Lagos State for eight years and of the legacy which he left behind and has continued to make Lagos State the Leader State in Nigeria. If, for example, he throws money at a presidential commission on energy, poverty,and through that Nigeria can produce more energy than it needs and export the rest, would that not be better than stoçkpling money for the purpose of befooling the electorate four years after with savings  and savings and savings which added no value to Nigeria’s family, social, commercial and industrial well being? The experts would meet, dust the problems up and suggest solutions. We are informed that perfection comes in the union of ideas. When every national question is on the table, face up, and addressed as such, there is transparency.Do we not remember that darkness has no hiding place in the light?

    Shonekan

    On November 27, 1996, military despot General Sanni Abacha made former UAC Nigeria chairman Ernest Shonekan, chairman of a 250-member vision 2010 committee to tell  him how Nigeria  can become a world power  in 14 years( 2010). The  committee sub divided itself into 13 work groups, each group charting a route out of a huge, dark tunnel. But many of them were neither original thinkers and players in the sectors they tried to design road maps for. 27 years after the committee’s inauguration and 13 years after 2010, Nigeria still wallows and grows in the dark.The vision 2020 was rowdy and dabbled into subjects in which many of its members had neither intuitive nor intellectual competence. What he ought to have done was to make the experts tell the nation what they need to bring Nigeria at par with expert sectors in countries which had the mastery of expertise in various sectors.This time around, there could be Presidential commissions for security, agriculture, education, energy,transportation, forestry, health, telecommunications, manufacturing, youth, social welfare, policing, drug abuse, solid minerals. etc.

    Civil Servants

    Proceeding with these templates, the civil service will be purely civil or public service. Nigeria will have a goal in every sector and a vision, always, of such a grand develop skills and objectives to achieve that goal. Chief Awolowo did it in the Western Region. That is why the South West region today is the most developed of Nigeria’s six geo-political regions. Never mind that Olusegun Obasanjo, as both military and civilian president, came from the South West. This region does not accept him as its leader and did not back him up. He did not believe in Chief Awolowo and other South West leaders, and he has continued to work against them.

        The President

     A president should not be afraid of brainstorming for ideas through presidential commissions. Working through the commissions makes him humble himself before the nation as running an open and inclusive administration, as a person who acknowledges thereby that he is not Mr Know all. He does not have to fear that the government will be highjacked from him. Power is not his. It derives from the people, he is a servant of as a gift from their Creator to Whom all Powers belong. It is recognised, though, that being the one entrusted with power for four years,he cannot abdicate power as he cannot also misuse it. Chief Obafemi Awolowo was on top of this game. He was knowledgeable and visionary. He once told us he was not better than any of us, irrespective of the accolades we all showered on him. He said the difference between him and us was that , when we were under the blue and red light of club houses at night, he was contemplating the problems of the land and finding solutions to them.

    So, working through a commission, Chief Awolowo was not like a lamb in the slaughter house, naive or uninformed or prone to being misled.

    He always knew where he was heading, and only wanted the bare bones or the skeleton fleshed up for him. This was what the  likes of  Prof Oluwasanmi and Professor Sam  Aluko  did for him with the pounds, shillings, and pennies from cocoa sales.

    Bola Tinubu appears like Chief Awolowo to be tough  going. Politically, he has crossed a forest of hinderances Chief Awolowo did not cross. He has given a hint that he would name his ministers within one month. It took Buhari six months to do this in 2015 and two months in 2019. If TInubu accepts the idea of Presidential commissions, they may have long life spans, advising the government about any divergence from goal, reconciling differences as exigencies may dictate and developing new agendas for the future.

    Igbo, Kanu

    What I am not certain of is if Bola Tinubu would like to tackle the Igbo and Nnamdi Kanu questions through third parties such as a presidential commission or personally, and if he would like to do this within one month. I believe it is better for him to do this personally and within one month while the 10th National Assembly is settling down and before the ministers take their seats. The political sea and ocean are calmer at this time. He may presage a visit to Igboland with a visit to Catholic Archbishop Kukah , a leading critic of his muslim-muslum ticket. From a visit to Archbishop Kukah, a president Tinubu may head for Igboland, to the state of Nnamdi Kanu, Anambra. Should he go with Kanu? Oh yes. But under cover. Security people know what that means. He would return with Kanu to Aso rock or to Lagos the next day. And, while speculations are at their peak, he would discreetly send Kanu back to Kenya and, from there,  back to England. This should help to open up the South-East for a resolution of the Igbo question. Fences will have to be mended with anti Igbo forces who want Kanu and the Igbos to carry the cans of endsars youth revolt which almost entombed Nigeria.

     The Police

    This is where Iam headed. I do not like soldiers always called in to resolve civil disturbances such as kidnapping, terrorism and banditry. The police force is capable of resolving them if it is well trained, armed and motivated. The military should be hidden from the view of other nations, so they are not easily sized up. My father was a colonial policeman (1945-1979), so I should know what Iam talking about as someone who grew up in police barracks for 28 years. Police training nowadays is too short and there are fewer refresher courses. Police barracks are dirty. I doubt if there are weekly barracks inspection anymore. Discipline has sagged. Some smoke Indian hemp in their uniforms amidst hoodlums in street  joints. In my days as a barracks resident, police wives were not permitted to sell items such as toiletries, milk or sugar and tea at home. They  ran  rented shops outside the barracks. Their husbands were investigated for how the investment came about. The mess or the canteens, one for officers  the other for other ranks, were the official business houses. But what do you find in police barracks nowadays? Pepper soup joints frequented by the big boys of society the police should keep under watch!

    Tinubu’s Promise

    During the campaigns, Bola Tinubu said Nigeria needed about two million policemen . But some people quickly shut him up while others apologised for a slip of tongue, saying that he meant a smaller number. In my view, we should be looking at about five million policemen. We need not worry about financing. The system will be self financing.

    I proceed from the lessons we should learn from mother nature. The average adult human body has about 100 trillion cells. Cells of the immune system are comparable in cell mass to those of the liver and of the brain. Immune deficiency implies disease or death. Nigeria is “diseased” because of policing deficiency. It is doubtful if we have more than 500,000 policemen to police 200 million citizens. That is about one policeman to about 400 citizens. That was why the police force was literally liquidated by the endsars youth revolt, irrespective of their arms. Given Nigeria’s insecurity experiences today, we need young men and women for policing in the following areas

    1) REGULAR POLICE

    2) FOREST POLICE

    3). HIGHWAY POLICE

    4).NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE

    5).AIRPORT POLICE

    6). SEA POLICE

    7). TRAFFIC POLICE.

    THE GENERAL POLICE will remain in charge of offices in police stations, more of which require upgrading,-and will attend to general police duties.

    HIGHWAY POLICE fascinates me. It is because we do not have them that kidnappers abduct travellers into the forests. This special police force will govern all highways in the country. They will be different from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) , a traffic police on the highways at best. I imagine about 200,000 vehicles travel everyday on the lagos-Ibadan expressway and about the same number on the Lagos- Badagry expressway. Lately, we have been hearing of kidnappings on these roads, as we do hear on the Shagamu-Ijebu-Ode-Benin Road. If every vehicle on the Lagos- Ibadan expressway pays about N200 for highway policing, it will provide #(200,000 x 200 )which equals N40 million naira everyday or 1.2 billion naira every month. Of this conservative toll, N200 million may be reserved for road maintainance, while N800 million goes to the highway police and N200 million is kept in reserve. We were promised police patrol and security on this road when it was commissioned by the Obasanjo military administration in August 1978. Today, N200 per vehicle is incomparable with the lives of the occupants of that vehicle. We can replicate what we do on Lagos-Ibadan expressway nationwide, especially for Abuja  Kaduna expressway.

    Forest Policing is as important as policing towns and cities. It is because the forests were ignored the hoodlums, kidnappers, terrorists and bandits took them over. Why can huge farms not grow out of them as this column has been canvassing? States which wish to re settle Nigerian (not foreign) normadic cattle rearers in ranches can do this . Big businesses will spring up in the forest towns. Canning companies will be there. So will be sellers of feed for the cows. Schools and hospitals and restaurants as well as recreational centers  will come. The forest police will be there. Residents and companies will pay policing  taxes. As I suggested in 2015 and 2019, Nigeria can produce billions of rabbits from the forests every months. I witnessed such a forest activity in Senegal in 2006. There were no jobs for young persons. Women were prostituting.  Vivian Wade, french wife of president Abdoulaye Wade, took idle women to  forests  hostels . They grew cucumbers, cabbage, tubers, fruits, vegetables consumed in Senegal and  France, earnings fabulous incomes  and periodically holidaying in town. We neglected our own forests. As nature abhors a vaccum, ignoble persons took them over and are menacing us. Aren’t we at fault?

    NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE is a big deal. Regular police are overstretched and under equipped and sluggishly respond to emergencies. The neighbourhood police will have good records about many residents. Today, the street junctions and corners are dens of drug sellers and users because policing is not effective there. China fought two opium wars, the first from 1839 to 1842 with Great Britain and from 1856-1860 against Britain France and the United States. The Europeans were dumping opium, a narcotic drug, on China for money, and China was trying to shut its ports. Today, we rely only on the NDLEA to fight drug trafficking in Nigeria. The NDLEA is  doing a good job under brig Buba Marwa (rtd). But it will appear largely limited to airports and seaports. Codeine and tramadol and other narcotics from India and other countries still find their ways to Nigerian neighbourhoods . What about the street corners and road junctions where telephone recharge card businesses are camoflague businesses for selling drugs of all kinds, including those binding in biscuits, sweets,  body sprays, drinks, chewing gumes, Laundary soaps? The neighbourhood police can mark out the drug dens for the NDLEA which can then carry out location sweeps. But is the NDLEA well staffed for this policing task? Prison expansion, like the setting up of the rehabilitation centers, may be in the forests, will have to go hand in hand with this drive. The inmates of rehab centers may be trained in all sorts of skills in the food chain, to help Nigeria expand farm yield and banish food poverty.

    PORT POLICING must be stepped up. Guns and other contraband  are flooding in. Sea Ports are growing in number. Lekki has come up. Badagry is coming up. Bola Tinubu promised Akwa Ibom a sea Port. Port Harcourt would want its own. Calabar and warri are beckoning. So has been Ilaje in Bariga, Lagos, since the 1962 political crisis in Western region upset chief Awolowo’s plan to make it a sea port. Every state is struggling to have its own airport. Will there be no need to police them?

    TRAFFIC POLICING grows with population growth and population movements. Rail transportation is growing . We have witnessed assaults on trains. Abroad, there is police present at boarding stations and on the trains while Artificial Intelligence monitors the tracks

    Conclusion

    For want of space, I would like to conclude here this interesting subject. For me, the son of a policeman (Samuel Adebayo Kusa NO 7053), employing five million persons into the various police forces will drastically reduce unemployment, address youth restiveness, make the population more secure, reduce food poverty and prevent the involvement of the military in menial security matters which may distract them from their expert preoccupation , which is war against external aggressors.

  • Exciting times ahead for blind UTME candidates, says Okebukola

    Exciting times ahead for blind UTME candidates, says Okebukola

    Chairman, JAMB Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG), Prof. Peter Okebukola has said the group remains committed to the cause of visually-impaired candidates, following the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB)’s approval of gradual migration to full CBT mode customised for them as from next year.

    He noted that a pilot run would be conducted later this year to test the mode and give options to candidates who elect for full Braille, full CBT and full reading aloud mode.

    The don spoke at the University of Lagos when blind candidates were taking their Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

    Okebukola said JEOG was already implementing a strategic plan of increasing the Information Communication and Technology component of administration of the UTME to match improvement in ICT usage for the education of the blind in tertiary institutions.

    He said since 2017, JEOG has processed about 2,600 candidates for the UTME with over one third gaining admission for courses of their choice in mainly universities.

    “In 2022, 139 candidates out of the 364, who took the UTME (38 per cent), were admitted to higher institutions of their choice. Five of the blind candidates scored above 270 in the 2022 UTME. Ninety-two scored above 200. When compared proportionally with the non-blind candidates, they are doing as well, if not better than the visually unimpaired,” he said.

    Okebukola said this year’s examination was taking place in 11 centres nationwide with 337 candidates participating.

    He hailed the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, for setting up JEOG, whose goal is to ensure that no eligible Nigerian is prevented from taking the UTME regardless of disability.

    He added that the initiative has been cited in the last four years in several countries, as a good model for Africa.

  • EKSU alumni spend over N8m to reward excellence

    EKSU alumni spend over N8m to reward excellence

    Ekiti State University (EKSU) Alumni have rewarded outstanding graduates and staff  of the institution to the tune of over N8.1 million.

    As part of the initiative, staff and graduates got prizes from N50,000 to N1.25 million at the institution’s convocation.

    A statement by the alumni’s Global President  Dipo Bamisaye and Chairman, Endowment Committee, Dr Soji Ehinlanwo, noted that the group has shown the way in significantly rewarding learning, hard work and brilliance in academic pursuits.

     “Our alumni and university are setting the right tone for other institutions and even governments to follow. This is particularly even more relevant at a time when participants in reality shows get handsomely rewarded with mouth watering cash rewards while students who excel  are largely ignored or not sufficiently rewarded. This narrative ought to change if we are truly desirous of promoting vigorous knowledge and skills acquisition, learning advancement and research as catalysts for national growth,” the statement said.

    The association urged other alumni  and institutions to take a cue from their gesture.

    It noted that it would improve the scheme that had already drawn a funding commitment of well over N80 million over a 10-years period from prominent members.

  • Over 700 entries for ZODML ‘Poetry Challenge’

    Over 700 entries for ZODML ‘Poetry Challenge’

    More than 700 submissions will jostle for the top prize in what may be described as the ‘battle of the wits’ in a poetry challenge.

     The challenge, with the theme “Motherhood”, is being organised by the Zacchaeus Onumba Dibiaezue Memorial Libraries (ZODML), a non-profit organisation based in Lagos, with a focus on the education sector.

    The contest, which is open to students in public tertiary institutions in Nigeria, is aimed at inculcating a competitive spirit among students as well as challenge them to think intellectually.

     According to Ifeoma Esiri, the brain behind ZODML, while sharing insights on the ‘Poetry Challenge’, the competition has the tendency to awaken the creative process in the students. In constructing a poem for the challenge, students will develop skills of creative self-expression and experimentation with language.

    The contest will set them to think and then prepare and formulate their thoughts.

     On the choice of a ‘Poetry Challenge’, Esiri stated that the students that join the challenge would be exposed to good literature as they would need to read literary works to do well, adding that it would also allow them to acquire language skills leading to better performance in their studies.

    “I strongly believe that the challenge will make for disciplined, well-organised students with a will to compete and win. After the challenge is over, this discipline and orderliness will become part of other aspects of their lives. It will inspire them, they will gain competence, and that will give them confidence,” she said.

    Esiri noted that the challenge received 791 submissions out of which 232 were rejected for various reasons, adding that the number would further be narrowed down to 10 finalists, which would be announced on Mother’s Day, which is May 14, in line with the challenge’s theme of “Motherhood”.

    Meanwhile, the challenge will culminate in an award event in the presence of stakeholders of the literary community in Nigeria. The overall winner will receive a N100,000 cash prize. Four runners-up will get N10,000 each.

    To ensure the challenge receives the transparent process it deserves, a panel of three judges, consisting of notable poets and authors, will oversee the judging process.

    They include Mr. Tade Ipadeola as the chairman. He is a multiple award-winning author in prose and poetry, who writes in Yoruba and English. His collections of poems, ‘The Sahara Testaments’, won the Nigeria Prize for Literature in 2013.

    Other judges are Ms. Aduke Gomez (a poet and author of children’s stories), and Ms. Achalugo Chioma Ilozumba, an award-winning playwright.

    Since its inception in 2000, it has established 54 libraries – 34 in local government primary schools in Lagos and Anambra states, 19 in custodial centres and one community library in the country.

  • Expert harps on competitive skills for African’s learners

    Expert harps on competitive skills for African’s learners

    An education expert, Success Ojo, has harped on the need empower African learners with competitive tech and business skills.

    Ojo, who is the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of GotoCourse, said this during a virtual meeting with reporters and other stakeholders in the education and technology sectors.

    She noted that a lot of youths are unemployed or unemployable because they lacked the basic tech skills and knowledge that can position them for job placement and opportunities.

    According to her, in the digital world, having tech skills is critical.

    “We believe that everyone should have access to them. We strive to make IT skills accessible and affordable for everyone, no matter their location or background,” Ojo said.

    She noted that GotoCourse has provided a platform for independent teachers to reach learners globally and help them acquire innovative skills needed in the 21st century.

    Ojo added: “GotoCourse is a leading edutech solution that provides a comprehensive virtual school platform for creators and students to connect and learn. Several challenges continually exist in the provision of virtual learning systems despite the numerous opportunities they present.

    “The principal objective has remained to build solutions and functional tools that address the incessant challenges of the digital learning space. We are on the verge of launching spaces in Lagos and Ibadan to serve as practical learning hubs to support content consumed virtually. We intend to expand our reach to new markets, with a focus on untapped regions, particularly in Africa.

    “We created a platform to support Africans to get themselves trained and access real-world experts. Over 600 have benefited from our scholarship programme and 150 women have also benefited from our scholarship programmes as we look to bridge the gender gap in the tech industry.

    “Our goal of virtual training settings is to replicate the traditional classroom or learning experience and this we have done successfully without limits. Our focus is to be the No.1 global platform where millions of learners connect with top tech educators and boot camps to help up-skill, boost productivity, and reduce the cost of learning.”

    Also, Head of Administration, GotoCourse Geeta Vasandani, said the platform believes that education is the key to unlocking opportunities and transforming lives.

  • UNILORIN VC makes case for responsive unionism

    UNILORIN VC makes case for responsive unionism

    Vice Chancellor, University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) Prof. Wahab Egbewole has pleaded with the various unions to embark on responsive engagement with the institution’s management.

    Egbewole, erstwhile chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), UNILORIN,  added that the management would place high premium on the needs and demands of the workers.

    The vice chancellor said this in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital during the assumption of office of the varsity’s new Registrar, Mansur Adeleke Alfanla.

     He said: “I have no doubt in my mind that Mr. Alfanla is able and capable. I urge him to always consult with the unions in the discharge of his duties.

    “I honestly want to plead with the unions to also appreciate the administration for what we are. We must appreciate the unions’ needs before they ask for them.

    “That is what we expect will drive engagement that the registrar will have with the unions.

    “To the workers, I urge you to understand the new policies that the registrar will introduce all in the bid to reposition the registry and the university as a whole.”

    Earlier, Comrade Falowo Naheem of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities of Unilorin, appealed to the new registrar to make the welfare of the workers a priority.

    “To our new Registrar and indeed the entire management team, there is no leadership without followership. Both leadership and followership cannot exist independently of each other.

    “Hence, I want to implore the management to make the welfare of university workers a priority, as this would bring out the very best from them. In turn, the staff members should also put in their best to support the management and ultimately take the university to greater heights,” he added

  • Second term: Lagos raises panel of 22

    Second term: Lagos raises panel of 22

    Tayo Ayinde, Chief of Staff to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was yesterday named to chair a 22-member committee to coordinate activities for the May 29 inauguration of governor and his deputy Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat.

    A statement by the Information and Strategy Commissioner, Genga Omotoso, announced a former Commissioner for Education in Lagos State, Mrs. Saidat Olayinka Oladunjoye as the panel’s vice chairman.

    Named as members of the various sub-committees as Deputy Chief of Staff, Gboyega Soyannwo; Abayomi Oluyomi; Gbenga Omotoso; Mrs. Aramide Adeyoye; Olawale Musa; Sukanmi Oyegbola; Bayo Ogunlana and Dr. A. W. Olarinmoye.

    Others are: Kolade Alabi; Bolaji Durojaiye; Tunde Onigbanjo; Adetoun Sanwo-Olu; Tejumade Lawal; Belinda Aderonke Odeneye; Kunle Fagbemi; Fola Hamzat; Simi Mosuro; Dr. Hakeem Shittu and Mrs. Ayiri Oladunmoye.

    Mrs. Adenike G. Akanbi will serve as Secretary of the Committee that has the Special Adviser on Education, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab and Mr Bimbo Onabanjo as members. 

  • Russia, Ukraine war escalation likely

    Russia, Ukraine war escalation likely

    • Kremlin claims drone attack from Kyiv

    Russia’s and Ukraine’s crisis took another dimension yesterday, with Moscow accusing Ukraine of trying to carry out drone strikes on the Kremlin overnight to assassinate President Vladimir Putin.

    Russia’s vow to retaliate that action purpotedly carried out by Ukraine, which he denied, will escalate the war.

    The war has affected the economy of many countries in developed and the developing world, causing market crisi, food price hike, among other challenges.

    The Kremlin’s press service said Russian air defences shot down two drones attempting to strike Putin’s residence inside the Kremlin walls.

    Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said Russia’s air defences intercepted for the first time a U.S.-made JDAM precision-guided bomb fired by Ukraine.

    He said: “During the last 24-hour period, air defence capabilities intercepted four HIMARS rockets and a U.S.-made JDAM smart air bomb,” state news agency TASS reported.

    The Russian government warned of eventual retaliation for the alleged plot.

    “The Russian side reserves the right to take retaliatory measures where and when it sees fit,” the Kremlin said.

    Now Russian politician, Dmitry Medvedev, yesterday called for the ‘elimination’ of Zelenskyy, claiming that Russia had been left with no other option but to eliminate the president of Ukraine and his ‘clique’.

    Medvedev was president of Russia between 2008 and 2012, he’s the guy Putin used to get around Russia’s term limits on the presidency.

    It’s hard to see how this represents much of a shift in Russian policy towards Zelenskyy, considering that right from the beginning of their invasion of Ukraine, there have been hit squads tasked with assassinating the Ukrainian president.

    Mercenaries tasked with assassinating Zelenskyy have been operating since the beginning of Russia’s invasion.

    Yan Gagin, who serves as an adviser to the Russian-installed administration in the occupied parts of the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, said the Ukrainian military had employed a U.S.-made JDAM guided bomb in the area of Kurdyumivka, a village on the southern approaches to the city of Bakhmut, which the Russian forces have targeted in a major winter offensive.

    Ukrainian officials debunk allegation

    But, Ukraine’s government denied any involvement, accusing Moscow of using the incident as a pretext for escalating attacks in Ukraine.

    “We regard these actions as a planned terrorist act and an attempt on the life of the president,” the Kremlin said.

    Putin was not in the building at the time of the alleged attack, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.

    The Kremlin said no one was harmed and there was no material damage as a result of the falling fragments of destroyed drones.

    Footage shared on social media, which could not be independently verified, allegedly showed an explosion above the Kremlin.

    Moscow has accused Ukraine of carrying out previous attacks and sabotage in other parts of Russia, which Ukraine denies.

    “We are not attacking Putin or Moscow. We are fighting on our territory, defending our villages and cities,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters during a visit to Helsinki yesterday. “They will invent escalatory schemes every day.”

    A Ukrainian presidential adviser, Mykhailo Podolyak, suggested on Twitter it could have been the work of “local resistance forces.” Podolyak alleged the Kremlin is using this incident as a pretext to justify large-scale attacks on civilians in Ukraine.

    U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington could not confirm the reports of an attack and that any such accounts from the Kremlin should be viewed with heavy skepticism, according to The Washington Post.

    Analysts also cautioned against considering such a drone attack, even if it proves true, as an attempt to assassinate Putin.

    What is Joint Direct Attack Munitions or JDAM?

    The Joint Direct Attack Munitions or JDAM is a low-cost, guided air-to-surface weapon, which uses a global positioning system aided inertial navigation system to guide its 2,000 or 1,000 pound warhead to the target with a high degree of accuracy, according to the US Department of Defense.

    Essentially, JDAM is a “guidance tail kit that converts existing unguided free-fall bombs into accurate, adverse weather ‘smart’ munitions,” according to the US Air Force.

    The extended range kits (JDAM-ER) triple the striking range from 24 km to roughly 72 km.

    The commander of US Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa, James Hecker, confirmed in March that the U.S. had delivered JDAM-ER precision-guided bombs to Ukraine as part of the nearly $2 billion military aid package Washington announced end of December which simply listed “precision aerial munitions” without providing details at the time.

    Moscow had repeatedly warned of “serious escalation” to the conflict if the U.S. supplied Ukraine with long-range aerial weapon capabilities. Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened last June that should Washington arm Kyiv with such aerial weapons systems and munitions, Moscow would “strike at those targets which we have not yet been hitting,” without naming the targets he was referring to.

  • Labour disrupts Owerri-bound flights in Lagos, Abuja, others

    Labour disrupts Owerri-bound flights in Lagos, Abuja, others

    Hundreds of passengers were for the second time in 16 days stranded at the nation’s airports in the early hours of yesterday.

    Unlike that of  April17, 2023,  yesterday’s ordeal of air travellers was caused by the  Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress(TUC). The Central Working Committees of the two unions had on Monday resolved to disrupt Owerri-bound flights, especially at the domestic wings of the Murtala Mohammed  Airport(MMA), Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport(NAIA), Abuja.

    Their grouse was the reported disruption of Monday’s May Day celebration by suspected thugs.

    The state chapter of the NLC, which dissociated itself from the incident, denied that its members were attacked.

    Some of the stranded passengers at the MMA and NAIA  condemned the action of the NLC and TUC, saying they were caught unaware.

    Some passengers described the union’s action as abnormal. They said it adversely impacted their travel itinerary.

    An Owerri-, bound passenger, who identified himself as  Henry Ugochukwu,  said he almost lost a business opportunity.

    “Thanks for the airline’s proactive measure of having to reschedule him for another travel date, “ he said.

    Abel Dike, who was bound for Owerri from Abuja, said such “interloping by trade unions is creating discomfort for people’s private schedules.”

    Read Also: No end in sight to Labour Party crisis

    Another passenger travelling to Owerri from Lagos said the unions should not extend their problems with state governments to private individuals going about their daily survival.

    Managements of the three airlines—Air Peace,  United Nigeria Airlines and Green Africa Airways  –  that ply the Owerri route from Lagos and Abuja, also flayed the development. They said they were not only forced to reschedule flights but that they also lost revenue.

    Air Peace said in a statement that it risked losing  N700  due to the disruption of 110 of its flights.

    The airline lamented that its check-in counters and other aspects of its operations were taken over by members of aviation unions affiliated with the NLC and TUC. 

    The statement reads in part:” NLC and TUC officials stormed the Lagos Airport and took over our check-in counters, disrupting all our operations because of an alleged misunderstanding they had with Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State.

    “They had written us, saying that no flight should be operated into Owerri today (Wednesday) because, as alleged, Governor Uzodinma disrupted their May Day activities a few days ago.

    “Air Peace has no affiliation whatsoever with the Imo State Government or Governor Uzodinma.

    “Our duty and commitment are to the Nigerian flying public that has paid us. We have a contract with them to deliver.

    “This(yesterday) morning, they carried out a selective attack on Air Peace, took over our counters and disrupted our operations.

     They are disrupting over 110 flights of Air Peace. This particular illegal action of NLC and TUC will lead to over N700m loss to the airline.”

    Also,  Green Africa Airways said though its operations were hugely impacted, it enjoined its passengers to reschedule their flights.

      Brand Marketing Specialist of the airline. Omolara Kehinde said:” As an airline, we take seriously the issue of on-time performance. In every sense, the action of the unions affected our flights, but given the priority, we placed on safety, we managed the situation by notifying our passengers of the need to keep on until the situation normalised. And for those who intend to reschedule their travel for another date, a window has to be created.”

    In Owerri, Imo State Chairman of the NLC,   Basil Iwu, told reporters    that  the disruption of flights was uncalled for  since  ”no  attack on workers took place in the state.”

    Iwu said: “Imo workers have seen no need for any strike action for now and therefore call on our able leaders to please jettison the idea of strike action in Imo State. No worker will participate in the so-called strike.

    “The video recording can testify to this, Imo workers joyfully participated in all the activities lined up for the May Day celebrations as our worker-friendly governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma took the salute.

    “The event started well and ended well. There was no fight much less vandalism. It, therefore, baffles us that our revered   CWC can listen to lies and take decisions that can shake the foundation of Labour in this country.”

  • I won’t marginalise any part of Nigeria, Tinubu pledges

    I won’t marginalise any part of Nigeria, Tinubu pledges

    • President-elect hails Wike for believing in justice, fairness
    • Port Harcourt standstill for Asiwaju

    President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday gave a hint about what will be his style of governance after his inauguration on May 29.

    He promised to enthrone a government of equity, fairness and justice, which will mobilise Nigerians, irrespective of ethnicity and religion, for the tasks of development.

    He ruled out the marginalisation of any zone, assuring that he would work with every component unit for public good.

    Tinubu spoke in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, where he inaugurated the Rumuokwuta/Rumuola Flyover Bridge, a project implemented by his host, Governor Nyesom Wike.

    Tinubu, who is on a two-day visit to the Southsouth state, said: “I will not marginalise any region, but will leave legacy projects across the length and breadth of Nigeria.”

    The President-elect praised Wike for his development strides, particularly for the 12 flyovers constructed across the capital city, saying posterity would be kind to him.

    He said with his accomplishments, Nigeria would need the outgoing Rivers governor in higher capacities.

    There was excitement as the aircraft conveying the President-elect landed at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, around 10 am.

    Tinubu was accompanied by the Speaker House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila, Governors Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), David Umahi (Ebonyi), Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq (Kwara), Seyi Makinde (Oyo) and Hope Uzodinma (Imo).

    Former Osun State Governor Chief Bisi Akande and pioneer national Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) also accompanied president-elect.

    Also at the ceremony were former Governors Chief James Ibori (Delta), Dr Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Chief Timipre Sylva (Bayelsa), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), and Chief Ayo Fayose (Ekiti).

    Others include Rivers State Governor-elect Sim Fubara, his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare, One time Lagos State Information and Strategy Commissioner Dr Dele Alake, former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Bello Adoke, and chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) Kashim Ibrahim Imam.

    Also present were traditional rulers, industries chiefs and religious leaders.

    Also in attendance were all the 23 local government chairmen in Rivers State, who added colour to the event.

    A public holiday was declared in the state by Wike to enable residents welcome the former Lagos State governor.

    The airport road was decorated with various posters, banners and flyers. Many trooped out to catch a glimpse of Tinubu, who received overwhelming votes from the state during the February 25 poll.

    Alighting from the plane, Tinubu waved at the crowd, which erupted in jubilation as shouts of ‘Jagaban’ filled the air.

    The venue instantly became congested. Security agents had a hectic time controlling the crowd.

    An elated Tinubu thanked Wike and the people of Rivers State for their support for him.

    He said the Rivers governor was faithful to the project of rotation, zoning and power shit to the South to foster national unity.

    Tinubu, who publicly acknowledged Wike’s contribution to his victory at the poll, said as the leader of G-5 Governors, his actions and utterances promoted the virtues of fairness, justice and unity.

    He said he was in the state in line with the promise he made during the campaigns in Rivers, saying: “If you make a promise, you keep it.

    Tinubu said: “He is, indeed, a man of great integrity. He did not choose to serve his own interests, rather, the interests of the nation and the people of Rivers State. I thank him for his selfless leadership.”

    Emphasising the importance of Wike’s contributions to his victory, Tinubu added: “It is an honour and privilege to be in your midst today. I am a very happy man. If you talk of character you can say Wike is very dependable. I went through a gruesome campaign, fought hard, supported by many of you and I won fair and square.

    “Nyesom, I say thank you for your contributions to my victory. I couldn’t have done it without some structural support. In his Excellency (Wike), I see a man of principle. He took a principled stand that the Presidency must return to South.

    “And he has the courage to stand by his conviction not minding whose ox is gord. He is indeed a man of great integrity. He did not choose to serve his own interest, rather the interest of the nation. You promoted unity. You promoted fairness. You championed justice.

    “There was so much gossip and speculation. But you stood your ground. Upon the completion of this flyover and my invitation to inaugurate this project, is another way of building bridges. It is on the strength of your character that I stand to fulfill the promise I made to you during the campaign”.

    Wike’s request that the incoming Tinubu administration should refund Rivers’ money spent on the reconstruction of federal roads.

    He advised the incoming governor Fubara to lobby him, saying: “you must lobby me to collect (the money)”.

    Tinubu said Wike should look forward to a new pastime, which is dialogue on ‘Project Nigeria’.

    Tinubu commended Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde for partnering with Wike.

    He also extolled the virtues of a former Rivers Governor, Peter Odili, whom he described as “dear brother, friend, colleague, a developer of human beings and a man of integrity.

    Wike drew the attention of the Federal Government to the need to amend its procurement law to end incessant abandonment of projects.

    He said that the current procurement law only allowed for about 15/30 percent to be paid as mobilisation fee to a contractor.

    Such meager sum, he said, usually never allow the contractor to make appreciably progress on the project before being caught up by inflation and high cost of materials, which eventually required variation of the contract terms.

    Wike said when he noticed a similar snag in the procurement law in Rivers State, on assumption of duties, he interfaced with the Speaker of the House of Assembly, who worked together with other lawmakers to amend the law.

    Wike emphasized that his administration got the latitude to pay an upward of 70 percent mobilisation fee to contractors handling various projects in the state.

    The governor noted that such practice had led to the great accomplishment recorded in the delivery of development projects by his administration.

    Urging the Federal Government to refund the money ,spent on Federal roads in Rivers, Wike said: “Federal Government should say look, you have done well for us, these are our projects, can you bring your bill let us refund you the money? That is what it is supposed to be with partnership with a good Federal Government. 

    “I can assure you that as you enter office and you approve to pay this money back, other states will have the courage to also do the same thing. It is not a laughing matter. I am not asking what we are not entitled to. That is one thing my successor, the day he is entering office on May 29, a letter had been prepared for him he will sign that day and forward to you since you will also be sworn in on May 29th. That is the first request we are making”.

    In his description of the project, Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Dr. George-Kelly Dakorinama Alabo said the Rumuokwuta/Rumuola Flyover Bridge is 1007.5 meters long, completed in eight month instead of 10 months and delivered to eliminate traffic congestion by 98 percent in the State.

    The Chairman of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, George Ariolu, said the Rumuokwuta/Rumuola Flyover bridge is the 12th among similar projects that was conceived and constructed by governor Wike.

    He said the 12th flyover had greatly eased vehicular traffic, boosting commerce and improved the aesthetics of the metropolis.

    Tinubu was hosted last night to a banquet attended by the array of important personalities that attended the project inauguration earlier in the day and many others.

    The president-elect is expected to inaugurate the Magistrate’s Court complex before departing Port Harcourt today.