Follow @davidblawal
The Director of Defence Information (DDI), Colonel Rabe Abubakar, has re-affirmed the commitment of the Nigerian Armed Forces to ward-off insurgency and other insecurity plaguing the North East and other parts of the country.
Colonel Abubakar on Wednesday appealed to the general public to be security conscious, saying that security is everyone’s business and should be treated as such.
He also solicited public cooperation with the military and other security agencies by volunteering needed information that would help in the operations against terror as 'terrorists are anti-human, anti-development and act in desperation and callous manner'.
"Therefore they must be identified, pursued and annihilated in line without Rules of Engagement".
[news_box style="3" display="tag" link_target="_blank" tag="Army" count="4" show_more="on" show_more_type="link" header_background="#293a29" header_text_color="#f2f2f2"]
Tag: David B. Lawal
-
Army restates commitment to war against insurgents
-
Senate begin screening of Service chiefs
The Senate on Tuesday commenced the screening of the newly appointed service chiefs.
The screening, which is being held behind closed doors, follows President Muhammadu Buhari’s letter to the Senate, seeking confirmation of the Service Chiefs’ appointment.
Details later…
[news_box style=”2″ display=”tag” link_target=”_blank” tag=”Security” orderby=”popular” count=”4″ show_more=”on” show_more_type=”link” header_background=”#dda8a8″ header_text_color=”#000000″]
-
Buhari greets Obama at 54
Follow @davidblawal
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday congratulated President Barack Obama of the United States of America on his birthday. The President in his congratulatory message wished Obama 'more great years ahead in health, strength, and service to humanity'. "I can wager that years ahead will be more rewarding for your family, country and humanity. Happy birthday," he said. The message, which originated from President Buhari's personal twitter handle, @MBuhari, brought back the handle to live after no fewer than 30 days in-activities. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, Obama, who turns 54 today is the 44th and current President of the United States, and the first African American to hold the office. Obama is a graduate of Columbia University and Harvard Law School, where he served as president of the Harvard Law Review. He was a community organizer in Chicago before earning his law degree. He worked as a civil rights attorney and taught constitutional law at University of Chicago Law School from 1992 to 2004. He served three terms representing the 13th District in the Illinois Senate from 1997 to 2004, running unsuccessfully for the United States House of Representatives in 2000. [news_box style="3" display="tag" link_target="_blank" tag="Obama" count="4" show_more="on" show_more_type="link" header_background="#1b911f" header_text_color="#f2f2f2"] -
Our mission in Maiduguri – Saraki
Follow @davidblawal
Senate President, Bukola Saraki on Monday promised that the Nigerian senate will do anything required to restore normalcy to North eastern Nigeria. The senate president made the statement today during his visit to Maiduguri, Borno state in order to assess the ongoing war against Boko Haram insurgents. Saraki, who posted about the journey on his twitter handle noted that the mission of the visit is to restore hope to the people, lament the situation of things in the state due to activities of Boko Haram insurgents. "The mission of our visit to NE is simple, to give hope and to let the people of NE know that the Nigerian Senate will not abandon them. "I urge everyone to continue to pray for peace to be restored while also trying to constructively and carefully engage those behind the atrocities. "I will make it a point to include it as part of the places we will inspect. Heard it holds over 18000 IDP's. "As individuals representing various districts and Senate as an institution, we promise to do anything required of us to restore normalcy to NE. "8th Senate will also continue to suggest ideas through motions and resolutions that can help the country put this problem behind us "There are no quick fix solutions to the problem of insurgency, we will continue to encourage all efforts, military and otherwise. "We cannot in good conscience talk to the people affected by this menace from Abuja. We are here to listen and hopefully get ideas of solutions. He noted that members of the 8th senate will stand together with President Buhari, "whose singular devotion to ending these senseless killings gives us greater believe that we will win the war," he said. "We stand with our troops and this new Senate will do all within power of authorization & approvals to support by providing funding and oversight. "Our country Nigeria is going through one of its worst challenges in history; with security challenge has come also economic challenges, he added. Furthermore, he lamented that it is very emotional to see over 2600 children made orphan by Boko Haram at Dalori IDP camp. "We will leave no stone unturned to address this," he stressed. He also stated that the senate will pass legislations, look over appropriation to find funding for rehabilitation, provide resources and provide oversight. [news_box style="2" display="tag" link_target="_blank" tag="Maiduguri" count="6" show_more="on" show_more_type="link" header_background="#444444" header_text_color="#61d60e"] -
Saraki visits Maiduguri
Follow @davidblawal
Senate President, Bukola Saraki on Monday visited Maiduguri, Borno state. The senate president, who visited the North Eastern state noted that he visitation was encouraged as a way to assess the ongoing war against Boko Haram insurgents. Saraki, who posted about the journey on his twitter handle noted that the mission of the visit is to restore hope to the people. "The mission of our visit to NE is simple, to give hope and to let the people of NE know that the Nigerian Senate will not abandon them. "I urge everyone to continue 2 pray for peace to be restored while also trying to constructively & carefully engage those behind the atrocities. "I Will make it a point to include it as part of the places we will inspect. Heard it holds over 18000 IDP's. "As individuals representing various districts & Senate as an institution, we promise to do anything required of us to restore normalcy to NE. "8th Senate will also continue to suggest ideas through motions and resolutions that can help the country put this problem behind us," he said. Find tweet below:Senate President @bukolasaraki has arrived in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, to assess the ongoing war against Boko Haram.
— APC Nigeria (@APCNigeria) August 3, 2015 [news_box style="1" display="tag" link_target="_blank" tag="Saraki" count="6" show_more="on" show_more_type="link" header_background="#f4f4f4" header_text_color="#000000"] -
Young Nigerian professionals to meet in Abuja
Follow @davidblawal
The Nigerian Young Professionals Forum (NYPF), has urged young business owners and entrepreneurs across the country to register for the Young Nigerian CEO's conference. The conference, which is scheduled to hold at the International Conference Centre, Abuja on Monday, 3rd August, would host President Muhammadu Buhari as the Special Guest of Honour as well as Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Guest of Honour.According to a statement by Dr. Nuhu Atta, the Executive Secretary, the conference with the theme, 'Promoting Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Building Economic Leaders for Tomorrow', will focus on key sectors ranging from Agriculture, Oil and Gas, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Blue Sea Economy (Marine), Manufacturing/ Processing and the Creative Industry. There will be industry specific break-out sessions to interact with world-class business leaders. "The value proposition of the conference includes share ideas and business models that can be adapted by young entrepreneurs in key growth areas; interact with business leaders at the industry specific break-out sessions during the event; discuss challenges they encounter in their various operations and explore global solutions; and fashion out strategies to harness the provisions of micro-credit facilities and intervention funds from government agencies for entrepreneurial development," the statement reads. The Young Nigerian CEO's conference is organized by NYPF, a Non- Governmental Organization composed of young Professionals from different fields of human endeavours, coming together under a unified platform to achieve three (3) major objectives, namely; creating sustainable livelihood for young people, engender purposeful leadership and social democratic inclusion, and encourage young people's participation in governance and the economic process. Speakers at the conference are Peter Jack – DG National Information Technology Development Agency; Denzil Kentebe – Executive Secretary Nigerian Content Development Board; Alexander Amosu Chairman, CEO - KAMSON luxury group; Alistair Soyode Founder, CEO - BEN TV and Moses Siloko Siasia, Chairman, CEO – Mosilo Group. -
Dream team VI departs for Addis Ababa
The Nigerian Super Eagles, dream team VI are set to depart the country for Addis Ababa, Nigeria football governing body reports.
This was made known on Thursday after the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) posted a tweet concerning the journey of the team.
“Dream Team VI about to depart Abuja all the way to Addis Ababa where they would connect Pointe Noire. Send in your wishes for the team,” NFF posted.
[news_box style=”2″ display=”tag” link_target=”_blank” tag=”NFF, Enyeama, Oliseh” count=”6″ show_more=”on” show_more_type=”link” header_background=”#000000″ header_text_color=”#e8e8e8″]
-
8th Senate will be more focused – Saraki
[news_list display=”tag” tag=”Saraki, Bukola Saraki, NASS, National Assembly, 8th NASS” show_more=”on”]
-
Kenyans welcomed Obama, rejected gayism
The people of Kenya last weekend welcomed President Barack Obama of the United States of America, who was visiting his fatherland first time since becoming American president, but he was not entirely welcomed.
Kenyans in Nairobi, the capital and largest city in Kenya, on Sunday gave a muted and measured response to Obama’s firm support for gay rights during his visit.
According to AFP in YahooNews, Obama answered a journalist’s question on gay rights by drawing equivalence between homophobia and racism while standing alongside President Uhuru Kenyatta outside State House on Saturday.
“As an African-American in the United States I am painfully aware of what happens when people are treated differently under the law,” Obama said.
The comparison is particularly stinging in Kenya, which, like other African countries, has a proud history of resisting and overcoming colonial rule by white foreigners.
Edna Kendi, a 29-year old software developer was unimpressed by Obama publicly advocating gay rights. “He has to respect our culture,” she said. “People can be gay but they should do so in private and quietly.”
Kendi urged Obama to “stick to issues that are pertinent to the visit,” for her, corruption and trade.
Moses Abok, a 49-year old motorbike taxi driver waiting for customers beneath a shady jacaranda tree, echoed Kenyatta’s view.
“To me, it doesn’t matter. The spirit of gayism is inside just a few people,” he said using a common Kenyan term for homosexuality. “It’s not a big deal for us.”
But Abok also welcomed Obama’s words. “What he said is we should value all people, we shouldn’t alienate or eliminate those people, because they are part of us, they are human beings,” he said.
Ruo Maina, a 50-year old businessman in the manufacturing industry who had popped out to buy the Sunday papers, said what you do at home is nobody’s business.
“As long as you do it in private, we don’t care,” he said. Maina was not interested in public debates on gay rights, but added that Kenya’s vocal anti-gay extremists are equally indulging in unnecessary “provocation”.
“We don’t need to be saying it is deviant,” he said.
Deputy President William Ruto periodically addresses evangelical Christian churches to warn against homosexuality. There is “no room” for gays in Kenya he told worshippers in May, and in July railed against the US for allowing “gay relations and other dirty things.”
Anti-gay firebrand Irungu Kangata leads a cross-party caucus seeking to have the country’s existing anti-homosexuality laws – which include a maximum 14-year sentence – to be strictly applied and makes frequent media appearances to explain that “gayism” is a lifestyle choice that can and should be unmade.
Vincent Kadala, an aspiring politician whose Republican Liberty Party has no seats in parliament, threatened to rally 5,000 naked men and women in order to show Obama “the difference between a man and woman”.
The promised protest attracted a lot of media attention but was never held.