The Nation Newspaper

Tag: General

  • Big for nothing

    Big for nothing

    •Nigeria should not repeat last year’s UN General Assembly jamboree

    If it were not such a shocking shame, the honest observation that the country’s delegation to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is usually wastefully bloated would qualify as just another evidence of laughable political administration.  What makes it even more depressingly worthy of attention is the source of the information, which would appear to be authoritative and unbiased.

    It is creditable that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bashir Wali, rose above considerations of political loyalty and non-professional sentiments during the inter-ministerial meeting in Abuja to adopt the country’s working documents ahead of this year’s 69th UNGA Sessionin New York. His candour while addressing heads of government ministries, departments and agencies reflected his understandable discomfiture, which was underlined by his declaration that he was seeking the approval of President Goodluck Jonathan to limit the number of delegates this year.

    Wali said: “The size of Nigeria’s delegation to the United Nations General Assembly last year was 567; that is something that is certainly unacceptable. On that basis I asked that they send me the list of three countries, Germany, South Africa and Egypt to compare with what we in Nigeria have. None of them is up to one third of our delegation.”   He reasoned: “So, you can see that there is certainly need to really take a second look and see that those of our delegates that go to the UN General Assembly do have value. It is not a question of having a jamboree; but indeed, it is more like a jamboree.”

    Significantly, the minister pointed out that his argument was informed by facts derived from experience. He said: “I happen to have observed for four years as Nigeria’s ambassador to the UN, the delegation of Nigeria to the UN General Assembly. So, I know and if we are going to be honest to ourselves, I know 80 percent of the delegates that go from Nigeria do not add value to our team to the UN.” In other words, apart from what amounts to a trivialisation of forum and function, it is like being big for nothing.

    Against this background, it is worth considering how such an unjustifiably high number of officials get on the train, which is to say that the business of representing the country at the UNGA may have become equivalent to riding on a gravy train with the implication that the delegates enjoy rich monetary advantages unmatched by the value they bring to their work.

    Sadly,  it is no secret that the country’s shambolic public administration system has over the years encouraged government workers to scramble for foreign official assignments in order to collect substantial travel allowances known as “estacode”. A logical but ultimately senseless consequence of such state of affairs is that many of the beneficiaries reportedly indulge in shopping trips, visit relations and attend to other personal matters while neglecting the official business that took them abroad.

    Wali’s observation, which goes to show the extent of the rot, should prompt a critical examination of this freeloading culture and a proper intervention to bring it to an end. It is instructive that he said at the meeting: “Certainly, something has to be done to put a stop to this embarrassment.” Indeed, the absurdity exposes the country to avoidable international ridicule, especially because   the sheer numerical strength of such delegations has little to do with qualitative impact.

    It is indefensible that in this framework, accountability and responsibility are relegated to insignificance, and the powers that be seem unbothered by the squandering of public funds as well as the unproductiveness of human resources. This is no way to make progress and earn international respect.

  • Corruption allegations: Attorney General set to prosecute NFF chiefs

    Corruption allegations: Attorney General set to prosecute NFF chiefs

    The problems of embattled NFF President Aminu Maigari seem not to be over yet. SportingLife can reveal exclusively that the office of the Attorney General of Federation (AGF) has received a brief to prepare proceedings for the immediate prosecution of the football federation boss and some of his executive committee members for their activities while in office between August 2010 and June 2014.

    SportingLife gathered at the AGF office in Abuja, that the brief was receieved early this week, and actions are been intensified on it.

    We futhur gathered, that the brief may have emanated from the supervising ministry, National Sports Commission (NSC) following various petitions including that of one Olajide Fashikun who is urging the government to investigate how the N2.8billion left by the Sani Lulu Abdullahi was expended, $1 million left by Lulu for the building of the NFF secretariat at the Package ‘B’  of the Abuja National Stadium, the N790 million received for the 2013 Africa Nations Cup, the N170 million received for the FIFA Confederation Cup in Brazil and the money paid by FIFA for the tournament.

    He also wants government to ask questions on the $1.5 million grant given by FIFA for preparation for the World Cup, the N1.288 billion monthly subvention received from government between Januray 2013-June 2014.

    The petitioner had threatened to drag the Minister of Sports to court if he fails to take action on all these allegations.

    According to our source at the AGF office: “We have a brief on some members of the NFF, and we are studying everything including the various petitions. We saw that some of them are very weighty and should be looked into. For instance we have seen that FIFA released some amount of money for preparing the team for the World Cup, and the Federal government went ahead to release over N850 million for the same purpose, and they expended it.

    “That on its own is against the financial regulations of the public service in Nigeria, and if proven is a criminal offence. We have also seen the facts that the government released as much as N150 million to them on monthly basis, which in most cases cover the overhead cost, but we need to also find out why their employees were been owed various months of salaries.

    “I don’t think we would sweep aside the N2.8 billion allegedly left in office by Sani Lulu Abdullahi. These are weighty accusations, it is left for the Attorney General of the Federation to give directives to the relevant anti-graft agencies to begin investigations on all these.”

    The source maintained that  such investigations are not for witch hunting.

    “Only those who are directly connected with the expending of these resources would be invited for questioning. Board members who have clues would also be interrogated by investigative agencies. So there is no cause for alarm,” the source added.

  • General Motors CEO to face US Congress

    General Motors chief executive Mary Barra is set to appear once more in front of US lawmakers.

    Ms Barra appeared in Washington  11 weeks ago, but questions have lingered over the car giant’s botched recall procedures.

    She is expected to face intense questioning from lawmakers over GM’s handling of the safety scandal.

    The firm’s failure to recall car models with faulty ignition switches has been linked to at least 13 deaths.

    In prepared testimony, Ms Barra said the firm accepted a “brutally tough and deeply troubling” report into why the carmaker failed to issue a recall or safety notice earlier, after the problems had been reported nearly ten years ago.

    She promised that changes had been made at the firm, and that those responsible for failing to report the problem had been disciplined or fired.

    The report – which was carried out by former US Attorney Anton Valukas – exonerated Ms Barra and other top executives, saying that lower level employees failed to alert them to the safety issue.

    Many lawmakers have expressed scepticism that Ms Barra, who was head of product development for a period before rising to leadership, remained unaware of the problem with the switches.

    The hearing comes days after GM announced another recall of three million cars.

    Safety actions have cost GM a total of $2bilion (£1.2bllion) this year.

    That includes the $35million the car maker was fined by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for its failures to report the safety defect. That was the maximum amount allowed under US law.

  • When a General returned home

    When a General returned home

    At home, honour came from the very top. As the immediate past Chief of Army Staff, Gen Azubike Onyeabor Ihejirika, was retired from service, the government of his home state, Abia, organised a befitting reception for their illustrious kinsman.

    It was on a Friday, a day many will not forget soon. The general served 39 years in the Nigerian Army.

    The people of Abia State rolled out the drums to celebrate the man they called the ”people’s general” for meritorious service to his fatherland and also for bringing honour to his home state.

    It was a day the retired army general saw his savoured the company of friends and people from his home town Isuikwuato who came out in their numbers to give him a resounding reception. He said that he never left them when the state was nearly overtaken by violent crimes and kidnapping.

    The people said that the army general never hesitated to obey the direct order from the presidency to send troops to the state when the state governor, Chief Theodore begged Mr President to come to the aid of the state in order to contain the violent crimes raging in the state. Suddenly, the long abandoned army barracks at Ohafia in Arochukwu Local Government Area of the state was reopened.

    The reception held for the retired general culminated in his being given a chieftaincy title of Dike Abia (the great warrior of Abia) by the council of traditional rulers led by its chairman, Eze Eberechi Dick.

    Most of the speakers who spoke at the ceremony extolled the former chief of army staff, describing him as a man of history, being the first man of Igbo extraction to head the Nigerian Army after the civil war and retired honourably after a meritorious service in addition to gathering several awards and honours while in service.

    Governor Orji said that Gen Ihejirika deserved to be honoured having proved himself as a patriotic Nigerian, “a man of integrity, a well disciplined soldier, change agent, a man who when he was in charge of the army never thought of overthrowing the government he was mandated to protect and served the nation with the highest commitment, honour and integrity”.

    Orji commended President Goodluck Jonathan for appointing Gen. Ihejirika as COAS saying that his appointment symbolised the end of marginalisation of Ndigbo since the end of the civil war. The governor added that while he was in office that he performed his duties creditably well to the envy and satisfaction of all.

    The governor said, “He has broken the jinx. I don’t know when next a COAS would emerge from Abia”. He noted with deep appreciation the contribution of the former COAS in restoring peace to Abia by deploying troops to chase out kidnappers and other criminal elements from the state, adding that he also did well in tackling security challenges in other parts of the country.

    Responding after receiving the chieftaincy title, Gen Ihejirika expressed surprise at the honour given to him, adding that by the gesture, Governor Orji has set an indelible example which other governors should emulate by honouring deserving people. He dedicated his chieftaincy title to his field commanders and soldiers who showed loyalty in the midst of daunting security challenges.

    The retired general acknowledged the role that the army played in restoring peace to Abia, describing it as one of his outstanding achievements.

    According to him, it was through the synergy between Abia state government and the army that security was restored to Abia, adding that governments at every level must always work with security agencies to maintain peace at all levels in any part of the country.

    Ihejirika’s successor, Lt. Gen Kenneth Tobiah Minimah, who was represented by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division Enugu, Major General Shehu Yusuf, said that the army was proud of the former COAS for contributing to national security in many parts of the country.

  • Weep not for the General

    Weep not for the General

    In an interview I granted a few months ago, I declared that “Azazi spoke the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth…” This was in the wake of his famous and unprecedented declaration in Asaba, Delta State, that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the ruling party, laid the foundation for the morass in which the nation found itself today. That statement is today being peddled as the reason his tragic death via the crash of a military helicopter must have been “sabotaged”. Absolute nonsense! The Armed Forces of Nigeria are already “sabotaged” by a thieving political leadership. Therefore, to state that one piece of equipment belonging to the “sabotaged” service is “sabotaged” is laughable. One helicopter, belonging to a collapsed military service crashes, as it should and the people begin to manufacture conspiracy theories! I am amazed and scandalised that sane adults can mouth such idiocy in reaction to what is truly a monumental national disaster. I am fully persuaded that Four-Star General Owoye Andrew Azazi died in a military helicopter crash, which is clearly symbolic of the collapse of the Nigerian State. The depth of the rot in the Nigerian system is abysmal. Everything has gone haywire! The roads are bad! The public power system is in turmoil. Public morality has reached the level of turpitude. Stealing of public funds has reached stupendous levels! The military is in taters! And criminals who have stolen the country blind are roaming the streets free, making ridiculous statements and enjoying generous media coverage!

    Let no one shed crocodile tears for the gentle giant. The presidency, known for its hypocrisy, has already led the way in paying false and insincere tributes. The same President, who committed the unpardonable indiscretion of bowing to the pressure of the hawks in the PDP to fire the General for speaking the truth, is now having glowing tributes paid to the General on his behalf in the public domain. It would surprise no one, if the same Presidency gets into a tussle to out-do all others in the garish display of melodramatic emotions as the General is laid to rest. Such is the level of shamelessness to which our nation has sunk. Lying Presidents aided by insincere officials of the State, careless of the sensibilities of the people but anxious to make political capital of every situation, are doubtless crafting even more glorious tributes in the honour of the fallen giant. The same rascals who led in the assault of his integrity and motives only a few months ago and who hired hack writers to take the General to the cleaners in the public space are now spending sleepless nights crafting glowing tributes. I plead with the President and his agents, not to add to our sense of deep loss by making hollow and deceitful remarks about a man who towered far above them in the perception of millions of Nigerians and indeed in the consciousness of all humanity.

    Gen Azazi was a man of many firsts. The first core Nigerian Army Intelligence Officer to be appointed Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and later Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)! The first citizen of Bayelsan extraction to hold those exalted positions! The first National Security Adviser (NSA) to publicly tell those who appointed him they were responsible for the mess into which the nation has descended. The first former NSA with the dubious distinction of being the first to die. The first to state categorically, less than a week before he died in that horrible helicopter crash “I know God!” We believe you General that you indeed “know God”. We are therefore not mourning as those that have no hope. You came, you saw, you conquered! Thousands, perhaps, millions, are genuinely mourning your sudden departure. Rest in the bosom of the Lord, “God’s Own General (GOG).”

    Finally, I appeal to Jonathan, not to show up at the funeral of the fallen giant. I appeal to him not to send one of his errand boys to come and talk nonsense. We are grieving! We are sad! We do not want to be insulted, in addition to our deep grief! Our discipline may break and a scene may be generated at the funeral! We do not want that to happen. Have the courage to stick by your decision that the gentle giant is not deserving of the office of NSA and leave him alone. Go and fix your armed services and the nation. That is the reason most Nigerians made the mistake of voting for you; a mistake most are now deeply regretting.

    •Col. Majoyeogbe (rtd) was a colleague, contemporary and close friend of the late General in the Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps.

     

  • Sad exit of a General

    Sad exit of a General

    The death of Gen. Andrew Owoye Azazi, the former Army and Defence Chief is as painful as it was unexpected.

    After his removal as the National Security Adviser (NSA) some months ago by President Goodluck Jonathan, Azazi had retired into a quiet private life, until recently when he was appointed as the Chairman, Bayelsa Flood Relief Committee.

    That Azazi had an illustrious career in the Nigerian Army is an acknowledged fact. A graduate of the Regular Combatant Course 7 of the Nigerian Academy, the Ijaw, Bayelsa State-born gentleman and officer rose through the ranks from a Second Lieutenant in 1974 to a three-star General in 2006 following his appointment as the Chief of Army Staff.

    He later joined the enviable league of four-star generals produced by the Nigerian Army after his appointment as the Chief of Defence Staff by former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

    An army intelligence officer, Azazi held the position for about two years before he retired after putting in about 35 years of meritorious service.

    Before his appointment as COAS, Azazi served as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the elite 1st Mechanised Division of the Nigerian Army in Kaduna. He was also a former Director of the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI). Azazi is the third army intelligence officer to assume the position of the Chief of Army Staff, after Lt. Gen. Aliyu Mohammed Gusau, who had a brief stint of three months as COAS from August to November, 1993, and Major Gen. Chris Alli, who served from 1993 to 1995.

    Azazi was brought out of retirement in 2011 by President Jonathan and appointed as the NSA succeeding Lt. Gen. Gusau.

    As NSA, Azazi went about his work quietly. As the coordinator of national security, Azazi faced several challenges, most especially the menace of the Boko Haram insurgence in some states in the North, necessitating strident calls by concerned Nigerians that he should be relieved of his duties.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Shuwa Killing: Tributes as slain General is laid to rest

    Shuwa Killing: Tributes as slain General is laid to rest

    Major General Muhammed Shuwa (rtd), the civil war hero who was shot dead by suspected members of Boko Haram at his Maiduguri residence on Friday was laid to rest yesterday in the city in accordance with Islamic rites.

    The burial rites were performed by the Chief Imam of Maiduguri, Alhaji Kyari in the presence of a crowd of relatives, associates, government officials and sympathisers.

    The state government delegation comprising members of the executive council was led by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Baba Ahmed Jidda.

    Also in attendance were members of the National Assembly from the State, members of the State House of Assembly and Local Government officials.

    The Northern Governors Forum (NSGF) and Senate President David Mark yesterday condemned Gen. Shuwa’s assassination.

    The NSGF called it callous and one death “too many.” It said no grievance can justify such a dastardly act against innocent people.

    Chairman of the body, Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State therefore asked terrorists across the country to stop shedding the blood of the innocent.

    The forum also expressed shock at the reported killing of about 40 youths by military men in Maiduguri on Thursday night.

    Aliyu in a statement through his Chief Press Secretary, Malam Danladi Ndayebo, said: ‘’It is sad that a committed Nigerian like Gen Shuwa who gave everything for the unity of the Nigeria could be killed in such a gruesome manner.’’

    The forum, however, applauded federal government’s acceptance of the offer of negotiation by Boko Haram and hoped that the initiative will usher in peace, security and tranquillity in the country after years of unnecessary bloodletting.

    ‘’It is our fervent belief that dialogue, rather than use of force, would help find a lasting solution to the worsening insecurity of lives and property in the country,’’ the forum said and pledged continued cooperation with the Federal Government on the issue of national security.

    The governors prayed that God might grant the souls of Gen. Shuwa and others eternal rest and give their families and the Government of Borno State the fortitude to bear the losses.

    In a similar tribute, Senate President Mark said Gen. Shuwa’s murder was “one of the many painful acts of this unrepentant sect.”

    He said that the deceased, having fought in the civil war to preserve the nation’s unity, did not deserve to be killed by common criminals.

    Gen. Shuwa, he added, would be remembered for his doggedness and steadfastness in nation building.

    Mark, himself a retired general, said: “Without sounding like a broken sync, I urge all the leaders in the North to come together and let us find a lasting solution to the problem of these incessant killings.

    “We are the first victims of this dangerous bend in the growth of nationhood. We must therefore find a solution to this unrelenting social malaise.”

    Shuwa, 79, was shot dead at his Gwange 1, Maiduguri residence along with a guest by a four man gang as he was preparing for the jumat prayers.

    He hailed from Kala Barde Local Government area of Borno State.