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Tag: Gusau

  • Gusau: Northern elders demand probe of insubordination

    Gusau: Northern elders demand probe of insubordination

    The Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF) yesterday asked the National Assembly to investigate the puported act of insubordination by Service Chiefs to the Minister of Defence, General Aliyu Gusau .

    The Deputy Leader of the NEF, Dr. Paul Unongo,told reporters in Abuja that the alleged insubordination,if true, was a dangerous development.

    Unongo said: It is not done in the Armed Forces. It dents the credibility of the minister. If they refuse to appear before him, what right has he to oversee the entire Defence Forces?

    “Disrespect is not tolerated in the Armed Forces. If he resigned, I support him. If he did not resign, what happened? I heard Mr. President pleaded with him to withdraw his resignation letter.

    “This is a serious issue that the National Assembly should investigate because it is an attack on our democracy. This is a very serious thing in a democratic set-up.

    “When such a thing happened in the United States, the Head of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces was dismissed. The President is allowed to choose anybody whom he feels can do the job.

    “This kind of thing should never be tolerated. Such officers should be flushed out of the system because if hey are not flushed out, it is dangerous for our democracy.”

    Dr Unongo,Second Republic Minister of Steel Development, hoped that President Jonathan “will take note of the grave implications inherent in the drama of his Armed Forces refusing to carry out instructions of civilian cabinet ministers appointed to oversee their various departments.”

    He added: “To oversee these functions, Mr. President invites cabinet ministers to assist him run the departments and the military is a department.

    “These heads of the Armed Forces, according to the Constitution, unless they have changed it, are directly under a director within the Ministry of Defence.

    “This is a man that has been a General for over 20 years with the Nigerian Armed Forces. This is a person that became the Chief Spy; his nickname is the Chief Spy of the Nigerian Federation.

    “This is a man that all governments, including this present administration, tap his knowledge and I know this person and how long the Government of President Jonathan tried to get him to accept this position of Minister of Defence.”

    Meanwhile, the Minister of Defence, General Gusau yesterday met with Service Chiefs in what appeared a likely resolution of the crisis of confidence between the minister and leaders of the Armed Forces.

    Gusau and the Service Chiefs reviewed the situation in Maiduguri and other parts of the North-East.

    A reliable source, who spoke in confidence, said the Service Chiefs, led by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, decided to honour the invitation after the intervention of the Presidential Villa.

    The source said: “The Defence Minister and the Service Chiefs met to iron out grey areas on the management of security challenges and out to forge a common front.

    “I think we are closer to the resolution of the misunderstanding between the minister and the Service Chiefs.

    “We expect a better co-ordination of all operations against the Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East.”

    Asked if the Service Chiefs will now report to the minister, the source added: “Not likely because National Security Agencies Act does not mandate them to do so.

    “But what yesterday’s meeting has achieved is the need for mutual respect and how to collaborate without friction.

    “It is also about drawing inspiration from Gusau who is respected globally as an expert in counter-insurgency.

    “The crisis in Maiduguri was a catalyst for the session between the minister and the Service Chiefs. It jolted all of them into action.”

  • Gusau has not resigned- Presidency

    Gusau has not resigned- Presidency

    The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati Wednesday denied the online media report claiming that the new Minister of Defence, Aliyu Gusau has resigned his appointment from the cabinet.

    Briefing State House correspondents, Abati said that the report was false as Gusau remains the Minister of Defence.

    According to him, Gusau was absent at Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting with the permission of President Goodluck Jonathan

    He said: “About two hours or so there was a report by an online medium alleging that the Minister of Defence Lt. Gen. Aliyu Gusau resigned his appointment.”

    “This is to let you know that that story is untrue. Gen. Gusau remains in office as Minister of Defence. He was absent from today’s meeting of the Federal Executive Council, and this particular online medium sighted this in support of its allegation that he had resigned.”

    “Well, he was absent from today’s meeting with the permission of President Jonathan. So the story is not true, he remains in office and he himself has already dismissed the story as untrue.”

    “But I think this further clarification is necessary before we are confronted with a situation where all kinds of wild speculations begins to come up and the story begins to develop and grow various branches,” He stated

  • Gusau, Obanikoro take a bow at Senate

    Gusau, Obanikoro take a bow at Senate

    The infamous “bow and go” syndrome played out yesterday, as the Senate screened six people President Goodluck Jonathan nominated for ministerial appointments.

    Those screened included Senator Musiliu Obanikoro (Lagos), Mohammed Wakil (Borno), Amb. Aminu Wali (Kano), Mrs. Akon Etim Eyakenyi (Akwa Ibom), Mrs. Lawrencia Labaran Mallam (Kaduna) and Gen. Mohammed Aliu Gusau (rtd) (Zamfara).

    Senator Obanikoro, who was the first to be screened, recalled his days in the Senate and his appointment as the High Commissioner to Ghana.

    He listed some of his achievements as a High Commissioner in Ghana and the motions and bills he sponsored as a senator.

    One the motions, he recalled, was the issue of ocean surge in Lagos, which he noted led the Senate to empower a committee to visit the site and seek a solution. He also recalled that he sponsored anti-casualisation bill to prevent expatriates from enslaving Nigerians.

    He was asked to “bow and go” without any question.

    Before Obanikoro was asked to “bow and go”, Senate President David Mark noted that the Senate believed that anybody, who became a senator or a member of the House of Representatives was more than qualified to be a minister.

    A former Leader of the House of Representatives, Wakil, was the second to be screened.

    The politician, who was accompanied by a former Speaker of the House, Ghali Umar Na’Abba and a host of other old House members, also recalled his days in the lower chamber and his contributions.

    He was also asked to “bow and go” without a question.

    The same treatment was extended to Gen. Gusau.

    As the Sergeant at Arms walked the ex-National Security Adviser (NSA) to former President Olusegun Obasanjo into the chamber, Mark remarked that Gusau is a retired General from NDA Course One, while he (Mark) is a retired General from NDA Course Three.

    There was a prolonged laughter in the chamber as senators shouted “it is a tale of two Generals”.

    The Senate President’s remark set the mood in the chamber, as senators shouted “bow and go, bow and go.”

    Mark asked: “Is it the wish of the Senate that Gusau should bow and go?”

    The senators yelled “yes, he should bow and go.”

    Mark asked Gusau to take a bow and go.

    The former NSA stepped forward, lowed his head toward the Senate President, did the same to the side the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators sat and turned to the side of the opposition parties’ senators and bowed.

    Gusau took calculated steps to the door where a horde of loyalists were waiting for him.

    An observer at the Senate gallery remarked: “It is good to belong.” Amb. Wali (Kano), Mrs. Eyakenyi and Mrs. Mallam did not enjoy the same privilege given to Obanikoro, Wakil and Gusau, as they were grilled by the Senate before they were allowed to leave the chamber.

    The screening of the next set of six nominees may be concluded today.

  • Senate screens six ministerial nominees

    … Nominees asked to ‘ bow and go’

    The infamous “bow and go” syndrome played out on Wednesday as the Senate screened six persons President Goodluck Jonathan nominated for ministerial appointment.

    Those screened are – Senator Musiliu Obanikoro (Lagos), Hon. Mohammed Wakil (Borno), Ambassador Aminu Wali (Kano), Mrs. Akon Etim Eyakenyi (Akwa Ibom), Mrs. Lawrencia Labaran Mallam (Kaduna) and Gen. Mohammed Aliu Gusau (Rtd) (Zamfara).

    Senator Obanikoro who was the first to be screened recalled his days in the Senate and his appointment as Nigeria High Commissioner to Ghana.

    He listed some of his achievements as a High Commissioner in Ghana and the motions and bills he sponsored as a Senator.

    One of the motions, he recalled, was the issue of ocean surge in Lagos which led the Senate to empower a committee to visit the site to seek solution.

    He also recalled that he sponsored anti casualisation bill to prevent expatriates from enslaving Nigerians.

    He was asked to “bow and go” without any question.

    Before Obanikoro was asked to “bow and go” Senate President, David Mark, noted that the Senate believed that anybody who was able to become a Senator or a member of the House of Representatives was more than qualified to be a minister.

    A former leader of the House of Representatives, Wakil was the second to be screened.

    The former House Leader who was accompanied by a former Speaker of the House, Hon. Ghali Umar Na’Abba and a host of other old House members, also recalled his days in the lower chamber and his work experience.

    He was also asked to “bow and go” without question.

    The same treatment was extended to General Gusau.

    As the Sergeant at Arms walked the former National Security Adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo into the chamber, Mark remarked that Gusau is a retired General from NDA Course one while he (Mark) is a retired General from NDA Course three.

    There was prolonged laughter in the chamber as Senators shouted “it is a tale of two Generals.”

    The Senate President’s remark set the mood in the chamber as Senators shouted “bow and go, bow and go.”

    Mark promptly asked “Is it the wish of the Senate that Gusau should bow and go?”

    The Senators yelled “yes, he should bow and go.”

    Mark asked Gusau to take a bow and go.