Author: The Nation

The governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has debunked the news making rounds in the state that he is sick and incapable of performing his official duties.

In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Onyebuchi Ememanka, Ikpeazu said he is hale and hearty and discharging the duties of the office of Governor of Abia State with zeal, zest, and passion, as he has done since 2015.

According to Ememanka, Ikpeazu had a busy schedule on Friday attending to a long line of official visitors who came to Government House Umuahia.

“Those carrying the rumor that the Governor is sick and bedridden are political fifth columnists and agents of destabilization whose stock in trade is to spin rumor mills and trade on falsehood.

Read Also: Abia governorship tussle: Ikpeazu, Ogah’s supporters put state on edge

“The unfortunate news they have been spreading exist only in their disjointed imaginations.

“The good people of Abia State are advised to completely disregard these agents of confusion and their evil machinations.

“Your Governor is in a perfect state of health and is prepared to challenge any of those spreading the rumor to a game of soccer,” the statement concluded.

The Nigerian Army has graduated 259 Cadets of Direct Short Service Course from Nigerian Army School of Infantry (NASI), Jaji, Kaduna State.

The officers, who comprised serving and non-serving personnel, graduated in different fields in the six months intensive training at the school.

The new officers were conferred with the rank of Lieutenant in the Nigerian Army by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General  Gabriel Olonisakin, who charged them to brace up to the service of their fatherland.

Their preparedness to contribute to national security and defence of the territorial integrity of Nigeria, he said, was expected to be at a higher level.

He advised them to demonstrate high level of discipline and shun every form of misconduct in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities at all times.

His words: “As professional officers who will shortly be commissioned into the Nigerian Army, each and everyone of you have various roles to play based on your expertise and previous experiences, in curtailing the country’s security challenges.

“As junior leaders, you will be confronted with various challenges. The Nigerian Army expects you to add value to the system by being innovative and providing objective leadership to the men that will be placed under your watch.”

Read Also: Nigerian Army gets first aircraft hangar in Jaji

He declared that the  Armed Forces have zero tolerance for indiscipline and unprofessional conduct, adding: “You are expected to exhibit complete and absolute loyalty to the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, as provided in the Constitution and the Oath of Allegiance which will be administered to you shortly.

“You are also expected to be guided by existing regulations in your personal and professional conduct. I need to advise you that any act of disloyalty, disobedience to constituted authority, insubordination and other unprofessional conduct will attract appropriate sanctions,” he said.

The CDS also admonished the newly-commissioned officers to understand and abide by the extant condition of service of the armed forces, assuring them that they would be exposed to further training.

He said that the entry of the new officers into the armed forces was significant considering the various security challenges facing the country at the moment.

According to him, you are entering into the army at a period when we are consolidating on the gains of years of confronting various security challenges in the country.

“The Nigerian Army, in conjunction with the other services and other security agencies, have been engaged in intensive combat against terrorist groups, especially in the North-East through Operation LAFIYA DOLE.

“It also includes our involvement in multinational operations in the Lake Chad Basin under the auspices of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MN/TF).

“The Army is equally involved in anti-banditry operations in various parts of the country, especially the North-West, North-Central and the South Western region.

“In the Southsouth, the activities of miscreants who are bent on crippling the economy by engaging in wanton destruction of oil and gas infrastructure constitute a major security challenge.”

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Saturday held consultations with the Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, as well as other monarchs in Ogun.

The consultations were on the way out of the security challenges currently confronting Nigeria.

Osinbajo was accompanied to the palace of Ajayi by Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun.

The vice president, who fielded questions from newsmen after the meeting, said the meeting was on the instruction of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“As you know, there are many significant security concerns all over the country, and there are concerns also in the Southwest.

“So, I am here on the instruction of the president to consult with the traditional ruler, the governor and others on what to do to beef up security and to generally improve the security architecture.

“Of course, you know that Kabiyesi is not just a traditional ruler, but a very important part of the government.

“That is why we are here; to talk to him and agree on few modalities for beefing up security; and ensuring that we are fully conscious of all that is going on, just to be sure that peace and security reigns here and across the country.

“I think for all of us, the most important thing to realise is that we are one Nigeria; we are one country; we need to work together to ensure that it is peaceful, secured and happy for all of us,’’ he said.

Read Also: Nigeria’s fight against corruption, insecurity is on — Osinbajo

He noted that Nigeria had the potential to give its citizens all they desired.

Osinbajo, however, said that some people were working against the interest of the country by trying to cause instability.

He expressed optimism that by God’s grace, Nigeria would overcome all its problems and set itself on the path of peace and prosperity.

The vice president, in company of Abiodun, then proceeded to Ijebu Ode, where he also held a private meeting with the Awujale of Ijebu Kingdom, Oba Sikiru Adetona.

Speaking with newsmen after, Osinbajo said that Awujale was one of the most important voices in the Southwest.

He said they had discussed on the very important steps to take in order to improve the security architecture generally.

According to him, the monarch has given a lot of insight; his own views, on what needs to be done, how to go about it; and what has been done already.

“But very importantly, it is his commitment to ensuring that there is peace and security, and that everybody lives in peace with one another and maintains the highest level of security.

“We are consulting with many of the traditional rulers across the country, but there are concerns in the Southwest now.

“I will be in Osun on Tuesday; we are going to go round to see the Alake, the Oni and other traditional rulers, and primarily, they themselves want to participate in improving the security architecture.

“The President has spoken about the role of traditional rulers in maintaining peace and security in their own localities.

“As we know, they are the closest to the grassroots; the closest to their communities.

“One of the critical things we expect with our community policing efforts is some integration between the traditional rulers, the community and police; and efforts they are making to improve intelligence; and we need to understand what is going on.

“We need to know who is where and what exactly is happening all around so they can be transmitted to the more formal security agencies such as the police and the army, depending on where and what the situation is,” he said.

The vice president had earlier attended the installation of 90-year-old Chief Emmanuel Osibona as the Father of the Church, ‘Baba Ijo’, of Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Ikenne, Ogun, his hometown. (NAN)

Less than 24 hours after a Nigerien climbed the fuselage of an AZMAN Air aircraft at the Lags Airport, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN ) has suspended indefinitely the Avistion Security Unut head who were on duty when the incident occurred.

The suspension of the officials according to its spokesperson, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu is pending the completion of on going investigation into the security infringement.

She listed the affected officials to include:

*The Airport Chief of Security, Mamman Mohammed Sadiku;

*International Terminal Security Officer, Oni Adedamola Abiodun;

*Head of Department Domestic Terminal 2, Owotor Kenneth Okezie and

*Head of Department Domestic Terminal 1, Badejo Adebowale Ayodele.

Yakubu said In the interim, a General Manager of the Authority, Dr. Anne Enyinnaya-Egbadon, has been detailed to take charge of security at the airport. Other affected officers have also been replaced.

She said :”‘The current arrangement is aimed at ensuring an efficient and thorough investigation towards the recovery and sustenance of the airport’s proactive security integrity.

“FAAN views this breach as a serious security concern and has commenced investigation to ascertain the remote and immediate causes of this incident to forestall future occurrence.”