Category: Lead

The Nigerian Army yesterday completed the pre-deployment training of 172 troops for peace-keeping mission in Guinea Bissau.

The troops began their pre-deployment training on March 21 at the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peace Keeping Centre (MLAILPKC), Jaji, Kaduna State.

The Chief of Operations (Army), Maj.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, said the troops would be Nigeria’s company 2 Stabilisation Mission in the ECOWAS-support mission in Guinea Bissau.

Gen. Lagbaja, represented by the Director (Peace Support Operations), Maj.-Gen. Bayode Adetoro, said the graduation further confirms the commitment of Nigeria to deploy quality peacekeepers as part of its contributions to the quest for global peace and security.

He explained that the pre-deployment training was aimed at refreshing and polishing troops’ knowledge and expertise in peace-support operation.

“The training is to equip you with the requisite skills required to protect yourselves, ECOWAS Mission in Guinea Bissau equipment and the citizens of Guinea Bissau, your host nation, while carrying out the mission’s mandate.

“You are to discharge your duties in consonance with the mission’s mandate at all times. The rules of engagement in the mission give you the latitude to exhibit utmost professionalism in the discharge of your responsibilities. Additionally, you must respect the culture and religious sensitivity of the people of the host nation, and must not involve yourselves in trafficking of illicit substance of any kind,” Lagbaja warned.

Commandant of the MLAILPKC, Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Undiandeye, said the training was intense, comprehensive, and was conducted using the Standard United Nations Core Pre-Deployment Training Materials.

He added that the troops were taken through crosscutting issues like sexual exploitation and abuse; conflict related sexual violence, conduct and discipline as well as protection of civilians, among others.

The Commandant charged the troops on discharging their duties in line with the mission’s mandate, and urged them to adhere strictly to the mission’s rules of engagement.

He also urged them to carry out their duties bearing in mind the multinational, as well as cultural and religious diversities of the operating environment which underscore the need for courtesy and respect for their hosts as well as others.

•It’s painful, says El-Rufai

No fewer than 1,266 persons were killed in Kaduna  State in attacks by bandits/terrorists and communal clashes   between last year and the first quarter of this year.

Out of the total figure,   1,052 were killed in 2022 alone and 214 between January and March 2023.

The  number of persons injured during the period was  put at 116.

Also,  4,973 persons  were kidnapped in the state  in the last 15 months.

The figures were given yesterday  by  the  state’s  Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, in Kaduna.

Aruwan, who presented the state’s security reports  to Governor Nasir El-Rufai,  added that 12 females, including 10 minors, were raped by bandits.

El-Rufai, who expressed  worry and “pain”   over the losses, prayed  “for the repose of the souls” of  the deceased. 

Aruwan  stated further that 717 bandits were neutralised in the 15 months under review.This comprised the 628   killed by troops in 2022 and 89   in the first quarter of 2023.

The commissioner  said: “In Kaduna Central Senatorial District, 115 deaths were recorded (54 per cent of the total). 108 of these occurred in Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Igabi, Chikun and Kajuru Local Government Areas(LGAs).

“Giwa and Birnin Gwari LGAs each recorded 32 deaths, Chikun LGA 25, Igabi LGA 13, and Kajuru LGA six deaths in the first quarter of 2023.”

He added that Southern Kaduna Senatorial District recorded 61 deaths in the period under review.

According to him, the pattern of attacks, reprisals, and deadly communal and inter-ethnic clashes   “came to play in Zangon Kataf LGA, where 19 people died. 12 persons were killed in Sanga LGA during the first three months of 2023″.

“The Northern Senatorial District recorded 38 people killed in the first quarter and  22 deaths occurring in Zaria LGA.

El-Rufai   explained that the reports detailed data on the persistence of the security challenges in the state. He  called for   escalation of security operations in the Northwest  ahead of the May 29 inauguration of new  governments.

The governor said: “The two reports  indicate  the persistence of security challenges, including terrorism, banditry, and the unfortunate toll in killings, kidnappings, injuries and threats to the livelihoods of our people.

“We regret the pain and losses, pray for the repose of the souls of those killed, pay tribute to the victims of various crimes and reiterate our solidarity with them.

“As the statistics presented show, there has been some slight year-on-year improvement in fatalities and other incidences of criminality across the state between 2021 and 2022. “

“The Kaduna State Government does its level best to prevent these sad events through institutional measures and pragmatic actions on the ground. These measures include persistent pressures on the Federal Government to launch comprehensive and sustained military operations against the terrorists and criminal elements that are menacing our people and their lives, liberty and livelihoods.

“We thank the Federal Government for finally authorising the launch of   combined military and police offensives. We commend the military and security forces for their efforts and sacrifices as they work to uproot  criminals. I wish to stress that in this region, this vital mission requires a comprehensive and consistent sweep, across the Northwest and Niger state  for sustained success.

“We appeal for an escalation of security operations over the 39 days remaining till the end of the tenure of this administration and beyond so that the change of baton at the federal level does not result in a dangerous lull that criminal outlaws can exploit.

“There is every reason to intensify and sustain simultaneous ground and air kinetic actions across the seven frontline states of the Northwest region and Niger which have continuous and contiguous forest ranges and are most heavily impacted by this security challenge.”

The crisis of confidence among members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NEC) is yet to abate.

Yesterday, the National Vice Chairman (Northwest), Salihu Moh Lukman, gave the National Chairman Senator Abdullahi Adamu one week to organise the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting before May 29.

The NWC member threatened to take legal action to enforce compliance with his demand if the chairman fails to commence the process within the time frame.

But another NWC member said the party was already working to resolve all intra-party matters.

The member, who spoke anonymously, said all the the issues would have been resolved but for the chairman’s trip outside the country.

In an open letter dated 19th April 2023 to Adamu titled: “Restoring Constitutional Order in APC – Not Negotiable” Lukman said the letter became necessary, following the drifting of the party’s vision of constitutional order as envisaged by its founding fathers in 2014.

Lukman said he had to resort to the open letter, following the refusal of the Adamu-led NWC to implement some of the constitutional issues he raised in his previous letters to the national chairman.

He said instead of running APC in line with its constitution, the National Chairman and the National Secretary have continued to steer party affairs without carrying along the other statutory organs of the party.

Lukman vowed to join forces with other like-minded party leaders and members to restore constitutional order in the party.

He said:  “As a person, I have concluded that everything must be done to compel you to respect the constitution of our party and manage its affairs based on the requirements of our constitution and not your discretion. Therefore, by this open letter, I am serving you notice of one week from today, Wednesday, April 19, 2023, to take all the appropriate steps required to convene an NEC meeting before May 29, 2023, wherein all the issues bordering on the management of smooth transition between the outgoing government of President Buhari and the incoming government of President Asiwaju Tinubu can be considered.

“If by the end of this one-week notice no action is taken to convene an NEC meeting as the first step to restoring constitutional order in APC, I will not hesitate to take further actions, including approaching our courts to enforce compliance with the provisions of our party’s constitution under your leadership.”

Lukman recalled a letter he wrote to the chairman dated April 5 titled: “Restoring Constitutional Order in APC: Demands”, where he placed a nine-point demand before the NWC.

He lamented that two weeks after, the chairman neither acknowledged nor consider all the constitutional issues raised in the letter.

  ”The only conclusion I can reach is that the demands I presented to you are not important. Perhaps, by extension, I can also conclude that given your disposition to run affairs of the party only based on your discretionary decisions without reference to provisions of the APC constitution, your commitment to the party and its electoral viability is weak.”

He complained about the neglect of the constitution and usurpation of the duties of the statutory organs of the party since the NWC was inaugurated over a year ago.

He added: “To say the least, as a member of the NWC, I am scandalised and embarrassed that after one year in office, we are yet to have a regular NEC, National Caucus or National Advisory Council (NAC) meetings. All the functions of these organs and the decisions expected from them by the constitution are being taken by you, perhaps in consultation with the National Secretary.

“As a member of NWC, we have never had any session where we were invited to consider any report of activity in the last year. Yet, Article 13.4(ii) of our constitution requires that the NWC submit quarterly reports to NEC. We have never deliberated on any financial report even when Article 13.4(iv) requires that we present quarterly financial reports to NEC. We have never deliberated on a national budget although Article 13.3A (xiv) requires that we present one to NEC and get approval.

“Perhaps, the inability to hold quarterly NEC meetings as provided under Article 25.2(i) of the party’s constitution may be the excuse for not having quarterly reports of activities, quarterly financial reports and national budgets.”

“But when one considers that the only NEC meeting, we had on April 8, 2022, decided only to allow the NWC to exercise its powers for 90 days, it means that all the sense of urgency permissible to warrant discretionary decisions is only allowed for a limited period of 90 days from April 8. Thereafter, any decision requiring the authorisation of NEC, as from August 2022, must be referred to NEC.”

Efforts to get the reaction of the national chairman failed, as the former Nasarawa governor was yet to return from his trip overseas. 

The NWC, who spoke in confidence said the party may not publicly react to the allegations raised by the national vice chairman, stressing that the APC has an effective internal mechanism for ventilating grievances from any member of the party, irrespective of the status of such member.

The NWC member admitted that some of the issues raised by Lukman, especially those that border on constitutional matters require the prompt attention of the NWC, but the administrative organ of the party will not bring its internal matters into the media.

He expressed shock that the zonal chairman made public his latest letter to the chairman. He said: “Following his last letter, a five-man committee set up by the NWC met with the national vice chairman last week. We saw reasons in some of the issues raised and we agreed to resolve them as soon as the national chairman returns from his medical trip above. We agreed with Malam Lukman to stay off the media while we resolve this matter, but we were shocked by his new letter which he made public.

“The truth of the matter is that, since we (NWC) came on board, it has been from one major activity to another. We had a national convention, primary, electioneering campaign and the just concluded general election. These are major activities in the last year. And in all the NWC has been at the centre.

“What I can tell you is that the NWC is seriously working on the issues and we shall reel out our plans soon.”

There is no iota of truth in a report that Nigeria was defaulting in the repayment of the loans it took from China, the Debt Management Office (DMO) said yesterday.

Reacting to the story captioned “DMO report: Nigeria defaulting in Chinese loan repayment”, the office said Nigeria has not breached the it agreement its signed with any creditor.

 ”Nigeria is fully committed to honouring its debt obligations and has not defaulted on any of its debt service obligations,” the DMO said in a short rebuttal.

The report being rebutted said that Nigeria had incurred a penalty of N41.31 billion for defaulting on Chinese loan used ostensibly to reactivate some of the country’s rail lines. This too was denied by the DMO.

The basis for the alleged default is linked to the spate of attacks on rail tracks and the kidnap of train passengers all of which resulted in the stoppage of train services on some routes for a while.

The loss of revenue from the stoppage of train services which is supposed to feed purse from which repayments are to be made informed the report on the alleged default.

The DMO, was however, silent on the current status of the Chinese loans to Nigeria.

The Chinese loans were used for the completion of the Idu-Kaduna section of the Nigeria Railway Modernisation Project; the Lagos-Ibadan section of the Nigeria Railway Modernisation Project and the Abuja Light Rail Project.

As at December 31, last year, Nigeria was owing China $4.293 billion according to the DMO.

Elder statesman Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu said yesterday he accepted to lead Ohanaeze Ndigbo as President-General because his choice was unanimously accepted by all relevant Igbo stakeholders.

He described this as an honour because it is unusual for Igbo to beg anybody to take up a position.

Speaking on a national television last night, the businessman said he resisted pressure from his family members not to accept to lead the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation.

Iwuanyanwu, 81, replaced Prof. George Obiozor, who died in December.

He was presented to Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma by a delegation of Imo Elders Council led by its Chairman, HRM Eze Cletus Ilomuanya. The presentation was made at the New Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Owerri.

The monarch told the governor that the decision to adopt Chief Iwuanyanwu was taken at the Imo State Council of Elders at its first quarterly meeting in Owerri on April 13.

Eze Ilomuanya said the members did not only come to present Iwuanyanwu as “the consensus candidate of the Council for the post of President-General of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo”, but also “the Imo Charter of Equity to Uzodimma the Executive Governor of Imo State.”

He described the new leader as a dynamic, versatile, purpose- driven and broad-minded personality of impeccable pedigree and appealed to the Governor to grant his seal of support and approval to his adoption by the Council.

In his acceptance speech, Iwuanyanwu described his adoption and the role he is to play as Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s President-General as a “sacred duty.”

He expressed happiness in accepting the position and said it was also a surprise that Igbos can unanimously accept that one person leads them without struggles, noting that he believes that God will lead him through.

The elder statesman Iwuanyanwu appreciated the governor for his numerous achievements, particularly in the areas of road infrastructure, health and education in the state.

He said his plans for Ohanaeze Ndigbo will include making the body financially self-sufficient, improving the agricultural sector in Igboland, setting up a Council of academics in the area of education and generally, ensuring that Igboland becomes an industrial hub.

The governor, who expressed happiness over the visit and the opportunity to host the elders, congratulated Iwuanuyanwu for his choice and adoption by the elders.

He said: “Iwuanyanwu is well–known; not only to the Igbo and Nigeria, but all over the world with impeccable credentials and high level pedigree.”

Iwuanyanwu appealed to the London Court trying Senator Ike Ekweremadu to tamper justice with mercy.

In his letter to the the Chief Clerk, The Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey, London,  United Kingdom, he said the senator and his wife, Beatrice, have learnt their lesson.

It is titled: “Letter of appeal for mercy in the sentencing of Senator Ike and Mrs. Beatrice Ekweremadu.”

Iwunayanwu said: “I believe in the supreme worth of the individual, in his right to life and liberty and pursuit of happiness. believe in the sacredness of human life and human right. I am therefore in sympathy with the case of Mr. David Nwamini, who was taken to the UK for kidney transplant.

“The Ohanaeze Ndigbo is aware of the legal issues involving one of our illustrious sons, Senator ke Ekweremadu, PhD, CFR, and his wife Lady Beatrice Ekweremadu, PhD. Senator the Ekweremadu is one of our illustrious members.

“From my contact with him, he is intelligent, patriotic and kind.

“He has also over the years applied himself dutifully and diligently to the growth of Nigeria democracy. He served meritoriously as a senior government official at the Government House Enugu, his home state. He was later elected by his constituency to represent them at the National Assembly as a member House of Representatives.”

Uzodimma noted that he was happy that the stakeholders of Ohanaeze Ndigbo were able to discover somebody who can appropriately fit into the vacuum created by the demise of the late  Obiozor, and emphasised that “the choice of Iwuanyanwu is a right one that no individual/group can fault.”

He promised that the state government, under his watch, will religiously help to implement the recent Imo Charter of Equity as proposed and endorsed by the Imo State Council of Elders at its first quarterly meeting on April 13, 2023 in Owerri.

The governor thanked the elders for proposing and adopting the Charter of Equity which he strongly believes “is a road map towards political stability, peace and inclusiveness of all the zones in Imo State.”

He expressed the hope that the Imo Charter of Equity will ensure equity, douse political tension and ensure peace, promising to ensure it is applied to the letter.

“The Charter of Equity is not intended to muscle the political ambition of any person, rather it is to ensure harmony, peace and it will enlarge the political space for all,” Uzodimma said.

The Governor added that “beyond the South East, like in the South South Delta State, the Charter of Equity has been adopted and implemented to reduce political tensions and bickering.”

Highlights of the visit were the presentation of the document on Imo Charter of Equity to the governor and the observation of one minute silence in honour of the late Prof. Obiozor.

From the traditional institutions were: Chairman Council of Traditional Rulers (HRH Okeke) and his two deputies, HRH Eze Eddy Okeke and HRH Eze Thomas Obiefule of Okigwe zone and Orlu zone respectively.

 After years of successful tenure, in the house of Representatives, he was elected to the Senate which is the upper chamber of the National Assembly, In the Senate, he rose to the position of the Deputy Senate President. He held this position for about Eight (8) years. During this period, many Nigerians were impressed with his service as a dedicated patriotic Politician. His present predicament is very painful and regrettable.

“Senator Ekweremadu must have learnt a lesson from this painful experience. We will appreciate it a prerogative of mercy can be extended to him and his wife even if for the sake of their sick daughter, who would still need their support and parental love to survive this difficult time in her life.”

•Tinubu seeks probe of debacle

•NSCDC commandant summoned 

The Federal Government yesterday said President Muhammadu Buhari chose not to get involved in the Adamawa State poll debacle in line with his policy of not micro-managing institutions.

It said the President preferred to allow the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to resolve the issues on its own.

Also yesterday, President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu called for a probe of the crisis that trailed the supplementary election in the Northeast state.

He urged the aggrieved to seek redress through legitimate means and told winners of supplementary polls to get ready to work.

Adamawa has been engulfed in political drama and intrigues following the supplementary election held on Saturday.

It began when Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Hudu Yunusa-Ari, declared Senator Aisha Dahiru-Ahmed (Binani) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the governorship election while collation was still ongoing.

INEC invalidated the announcement and suspended Yunusa-Ari indefinitely.

On Tuesday, the commission urged the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, to prosecute the REC and advised the appointing authority to sack him.

It resumed collation and eventually declared Governor Ahmadu Fintiri as the governor-elect for a second term.

INEC yesterday presented Fintiri and his deputy Prof Kaletapwa Farauta with their certificates of return in Abuja.

The Commandant General (CG) of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ahmed Audi, summoned the State Commandant, Muhammad Bello, to the Corps’ National Headquarters over his role in the premature declaration.

It came a day after the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, recalled the officer deployed for the Adamawa poll, Mohammed Barde, replacing him with Gombe State Commissioner of Police Etim Equa.

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who spoke with reporters after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, said it was not in the character of President Buhari to micromanage institutions.

He said he was not aware that a petition was written to the President on the need to take action against the REC.

The minister said: “I don’t think that this government has ever intervened in the way INEC conducts its elections. So, there’s no need for us to intervene. It was an entirely INEC matter and INEC handled it.

“The chairman of INEC is in charge of all employees and he’s handling it. So, what do you want the government to do?”

On whether President Buhari was disappointed with the REC, Mohammed added: “The President does not micromanage any institution.”

Tinubu: probe Adamawa drama

Tinubu made the probe call in a congratulatory message to the winners of the last weekend’s supplementary elections in Adamawa and Kebbi states.

In the statement he personally signed, he also congratulated Fintiri and the governor-elect in Kebbi, Dr Nasir Idris, on their victories.

The former Lagos State governor rejoiced with those elected into the Senate, House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly during the last round of elections in states.

The statement reads: “I congratulate the winners of the Supplementary Governorship elections held in Kebbi and Adamawa States on Saturday, April 15, 2023.

“I also rejoice with those elected into the Senate, House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly during the last round of elections in states where such took place.

“These victorious men and women have earned the trust of their people and I call on them to rededicate themselves to the service of their respective constituents.

“The supplementary polls have now brought the 2023 elections to a final, fitting conclusion. I observed, with satisfaction, the largely peaceful atmosphere that pervaded the supplementary election on Saturday.

“It was a further testimony that our citizens have accepted democratic norms and have unalloyed faith in the electoral process.

“However, I note the matter of the Adamawa Supplementary Governorship Election and I urge police authorities to fully investigate all that transpired in the election given the attendant controversy.

“In every democratic contest, there has to be one winner. I call on those aggrieved to pursue legitimate means of addressing their grievances.

“With the conclusion of the 2023 elections, I now welcome all of us who have been elected to brace up to serve our people with diligence and dedication and to join hands with me as your President-elect in the pursuit of our agenda to renew the hopes of our people in a better, stronger, more secure, economically vibrant and prosperous Nigeria”.

NSCDC commandant summoned 

The NSCDC Commandant General (CG), Ahmed Audi, summoned the Adamawa Commandant, Muhammad Bello, to the Corps’ National Headquarters, Abuja over the alleged complicity of the Corps’ personnel in the pre-mature declaration.

Public Relations Officer, Olusola Odumosu, stated in a statement: “The Corps helmsman directed the state commandant to immediately hand over affairs of the Command to his immediate subordinate to allow him time to provide the management of the Corps with an explanation on the role he played in the exercise.”

He said the NSCDC is a non-partisan, non-political organisation that will not tolerate the involvement of personnel or any of its formation in political controversies as widely alleged.

‘Fintiri gets CoR’ 

Fintiri and Prof Farauta received their certificates of return at a brief ceremony presided over by the Supervising National Commissioner in charge of the Northeast, Dr. Babangida Shehu.

Fintiri asked INEC to grant his request to prosecute Yunusa-Ari because the alleged offence of attempting to subvert the will of the people was committed in Adamawa.

The governor restated that the security officers who accompanied the REC to make a declaration while collation was going on would also be prosecuted.

He apologised to the commission for the assault on two of its national commissioners by hoodlums, saying it was a case of mistaken identity.

The governor said: “Hudu should be prosecuted and I believe that I am the right person to prosecute him because he committed the offence in Adamawa and I am sure I am going to prosecute him along with the security chiefs that committed the offence with him because they ought to be the ones to protect democracy.

“If the police and other security chiefs will be the ones to connive with INEC officials to scuttle our democracy, I think it is unfortunate. The wrong must be corrected and it must be done with all of us.

“In any case, it is over, what is expected has been done and democracy has been deepened and everybody is happy. The only thing I will say is that I celebrate Nigerians who stood by us and the truth.

“One apology I have to make is regarding what happened to the excellent commissioners sent to work in Adamawa and I tender an apology. Sorry for the mistaken identity by the hoodlums who thought they were Hudu. They are excellent gentlemen. I have never met them in person, but I cherish their good work.

“I want to thank God for this moment in my life and the life of Nigerians and that democracy has come to stay. It is unfortunate that we had to go through all this to arrive at this moment.”

Also, the minority caucus of the House of Representatives described Fintiri’s re-election as the triumph of the will of the people.

Okowa, Minority caucus greet governor

Delta State Governor congratulated Fintiri.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Olisa Ifeajika, the governor described Fintiri’s re-election as a hard-earned and deserved victory.

He commended Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faithful and the people of Adamawa for standing firm with the governor and the party.

“It is my prayer that God will grant you wisdom, knowledge and the needed resources to attend to your campaign promises of further developing the state and making life more meaningful for your people,” Okowa said.

House of Representatives Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu, in a statement, congratulated the governor on his victory and for his resilience in standing up against anti-democratic forces.

“Fintiri’s ultimate victory further proves that no matter how much falsehood, tyranny and manipulations appear to thrive, the truth will always prevail at the end of the day,” he said.