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Tag: Danjuma

  • Nigeria in tatters, laments Danjuma

    Nigeria in tatters, laments Danjuma

    •Accuses northern leaders of talking ‘too much’

     

    Former Minister of Defence, Lt. General Theophilous Danjuma, says Nigeria’s future lies in having a ‘clear sense of direction.’ And to chart this new direction are ‘patriotic elder statesmen’ whom, he said, the country is in dire need of.

    General Danjuma spoke yesterday in Zaria, Kaduna State, after he was conferred with the chieftaincy title of Jarmai Zazzau by the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris.

    Reviewing the socio-political situation in the country, the former Chief of Army Staff said the current perplexed nature of Nigerians is a clear indication of leadership failure over the years.

    He deplored the state of the economy which he said is in tatters and the widening gap between the rich and the poor.

    He said the north, in particular, lags behind the rest of the country, pointing out that in the present highly competitive world, northern children are missing out on qualitative and functional education.

    He added: “I have taken many risks in my life for the sake of Nigeria and at the age of 75, I thought I have paid my dues. I just wanted to spend the rest of my life in quiet retirement, leaving the public arena for a new generation of leaders to improve on the modest achievements of my generation. It seems to me now that real retirement is only possible in the grave. Our lives and living are apparently inevitably tied eternally to responsibilities.”

    According to him, the event was supposed to be festive with a durbar, “but given the sad reality of our present situation in northern Nigeria, I pleaded for a simple but dignified ceremony devoid of pomp and ceremony.

    “We are in a season of sorrow and mourning caused by decades of neglect of a sizeable segment of our society. Now, our people are dying in thousands in needless battles and conflicts.”

    He decried the state of the economy, saying, “In a highly competitive world, our children are missing out in getting qualitative and functional education. The masses of our people are chained down in dehumanising and grinding poverty, while we continue to maintain few islands of false prosperity in the turbulent ocean of penury and squalor. There cannot be peace and harmony where there is wide disparity between the few rich and a multitude of the poor.

    “Nigeria and indeed, northern Nigeria has never been in short supply of politicians scheming and screaming for due and undue advantages. What has been in short supply are patriotic elder statesmen who would use their experience and wisdom to give our country a clear sense of purpose and direction.

    “When elders become decadent, the youths are bound to become delinquent. Our people are confused and perplexed, they have become like flock scattered on many hills without a shepherd. This is a clear indication of leadership failure.”

    He stressed that northern leaders have been talking too much and doing less for the development of the region, “we urgently need to put our house in order so we can overcome our various challenges. This is the time for elders to be circumspect and temperate in their utterances. It is not in our character as northerners to talk too much. We need to think more, pray more, plan more, work harder, relate better. Battles are fought and won through wisdom and strategy than through inflammable pronouncements and political tantrums.”

    But he was optimistic that Nigeria “can be reawakened and rebuilt to achieve greatness” regardless of many years of mismanaged opportunities and resources.

    “If we renew our mind and reconcile with one another, if we coordinate our determined efforts, we can make northern Nigeria self-reliant and self-sufficient, while enhancing the unity and prosperity of all Nigerians. But we must first have peace,” he said.

    He said he was gratified for receiving the honour in Zaria where “I spent some of my formative years.”

    He described the city as one of the few in the north that first opened their gates to pioneer missionaries in northern Nigeria, “which is why Wusasa has become the second home of many northern Christian leaders.”

    Also speaking, former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida said Gen. Danjuma has emerged as a good replacement for the late Sarduna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello, to lead the north on the path of development.

    President Goodluck Jonathan who was represented by the Minister of State for Works, Amb. Bashir Yuguda, described Danjuma as a true Nigerian who helps to stabilise the country and democracy.

    Kaduna State governor, Mukthar Ramalan Yero, said the former minister has touched the lives of Nigerians through the Foundation he created, adding that rather than fold his hands in comfort, he took the discomforting path of rendering a helping hand to the poor and needy in the country.

    Among those who attended the turbaning were former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Gen. Babangida; Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State; Acting Governor of Taraba, Alhaji Garba Umar; Minister of State for Niger Delta, Darius Dickson Ishaku; Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih; former Minister of Information, Prof Jerry Gana; former Minister of Aviation, Alabo Tonye Graham- Douglas; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal; and Senate President, David Mark represented by Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi.

  • Danjuma lifts ABU with N2.3b

    Danjuma lifts ABU with N2.3b

    The Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria is to benefit from a N2.3 billion life line from Lt. General Theophilus Y. Danjuma.

    The former Minister of Defence endowed the amount which he said should be used to upgrade the university’s science faculty after he was conferred with a honorary degree of the institution during a special convocation in his honour penultimate week.

    Danjuma, who missed the convocation which was part of the university’s golden jubilee anniversary last year, had insisted on receiving his honour in person.

    With the N2.3 billion, the Science Faculty will get an administrative block, library, main auditorium and landscaping. He added that his company, South Atlantic Petroleum (SAPETRO) would provide every other structure and facility needed except for the department building.

    Praising the university for producing many graduates who have distinguished themselves in various fields of endeavour Danjuma said his gift is to enable it continue to play that role successfully.

    “I give credit to Sir Ahmadu Bello and all those whose foresight and sacrifices gave birth to this institution; whose contributions to the growth of Nigeria cannot be quantified. I bear witness to the fact that many of the products of this university have since become worthy ambassadors of the school and of Nigeria. It is for this reason that I am committed to playing whatever role I can in aiding and facilitating the achievements of this university for her noble objectives. The university’s impact on the nation is considerable. Its impact on the northern states is greater,” he said.

    President Goodluck Jonathan also praised the university for fulfilling the aspirations of its founding fathers. Jonathan, who was represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo, said the university has every cause to celebrate its golden jubilee having graduated hundreds of thousands of Nigerians and foreigners who occupy various positions in their country.

    “I am happy to note that the university has among its alumni, past and present governors, ministers, and senators, members of the House of Representatives, captains of Industry, technocrats, scientists and the clergy. I cannot fail to mention that my predecessor, the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and my Vice, Namadi Sambo also passed through the four walls of this university,” he said.

    President Jonathan, however, lamented the low absorption capacity of universities, saying barely a quarter of those seeking admission are admitted yearly. To address this problem, he spoke of plans to establish mega institutions that can accommodate hundreds of thousands.

    His words: “It is estimated that the annual number of candidates seeking admission for the last couple of years has been around 1.5 million while the carrying capacity of our universities is not up to a quarter of that figure. When mega universities are established along with the current one we believe we will address the access to universities in the medium term. Government will continue to pay attention to those areas of needs and will provide special intervention funds to address these problems.”

    Felicitating with Danjuma, whom he described as his hero and mentor, President Jonathan said he was deserving of the honour.

    “General T.Y. Danjuma, undoubtedly deserves the honour being bestowed on him as one of the most illustrious sons of our nation,” he said.

    Accolades poured from other dignitaries for the General, who was accompanied by his wife, Senator Daisy Danjuma.

    Former military president, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida who chaired the occasion described TY, as he is fondly called, as a man who has singlehandedly contributed to the development of education more than any other Nigerian. He praised Danjuma’s decision to pick education as one of the focal points of the TY Danjuma Foundation.

    Chancellor of the 50-year-old institution, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, described the awardee as a detribalised Nigerian who has transformed the lives of a significant number of people in the society.

    The high point of the event was the groundbreaking ceremony for the ABU Phase II Development performed by Vice President Sambo.

    The ceremony was attended by many northern elites including: Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu and Governor Muktar Yero of Kaduna State, Speaker of the House of Representative, Hon. Aminu Tabuwal, former Minister of Information, Prof Jerry Gana, and Education Minister Prof Ruqayyatu Rufa’i.

     

  • Boko Haram is Northern civil war, says Danjuma

    Boko Haram is Northern civil war, says Danjuma

    Former Minister of Defence and veteran of the Nigerian Civil War, Lt.- General Theophilus Danjuma said yesterday in Kaduna that the current security challenge in the North has placed the region in a state of war.

    He warned that unless a solution is found urgently the situation may consume everyone in the region.

    The former Chief of Army Staff spoke at a special convocation and launch of a N50 billion endowment fund for the development of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

    He described the state of insecurity caused largely by the activities of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, as highly contagious and one that offers no one any form of immunity.

    Danjuma, who was conferred with a honorary doctorate degree at the occasion, asked the nation’s leaders to emulate the founding fathers who placed a great emphasis on merit and self-reliance to create a united Nigeria irrespective of tribe and religion.He confessed his inability to offer any solution to the security challenges, but said: “It is up to us the elite to get together and brainstorm to solve our problem. I take this opportunity therefore, to appeal to the nation for unity. We must unite to solve our problems.”

    He said that unlike a normal war situation where the enemy is easily identifiable, the enemy in the current ‘war’ in the country cannot easily be identified as they have remained faceless.

    “Given the challenges now facing the nation, this ceremony affords us an appropriate opportunity for reflection. This is no time to doubt or to ask questions what others have done or failed to do. It is time to ask ourselves what we have done or are doing as individuals to preserve or to enhance the heritage bequeathed to us,” he stressed.

    He said further: “In their time our founding fathers placed emphasis on merit and self-reliance. They sought to create a united and self-reliant society based on respect for human life and respect for the rights of others irrespective of tribe or religion. They would certainly be appalled that today the nation is in total anarchy. Human life is very cheap and impunity has become the norm.

    “In the case of the North, the danger is very real indeed. Ladies and gentlemen we are in the middle of civil war in the northern Nigeria. There is no defined front in this particular war. Worst still, the enemy is faceless and unknown. There is no immunity for anyone. Moreover, this war is contagious. Needless to say, the social and economic cost is incalculable.”

    He described ABU as the only truly federal university in the country, as according to him, “every local government area of Nigeria has student(s) in the university and similarly, all states of the federation have representative in the staff profile of the university.”

    Continuing, he said: “Its impact on the northern states is even more so. Some of our greatest nationalists are products of this institution. The lessons that it has taught are valid at all times in all places to all our people, and indeed the world.”