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Lawyers to Jonathan: your regime clamped down on rights

The National Association of Democratic Lawyers (NADL) has debunked claims made by former President Goodluck Jonathan that his administration did not detain journalists or clamp down on people’s rights.

In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday by its President, Mr. Luke Aghanenu, the group accused the former president of being economical with the truth and insisted that many journalists and Nigerians were detained during his regime.

The group, which claimed to have defended many journalists and other victims of human rights abuse under Jonathan, noted that the statement credited to him “is deliberately designed to distort our recent history”.

The group contended: “In case ex-President Jonathan has forgotten so quickly, we are compelled to remind him that many journalists and media houses were subjected to attacks in a desperate bid to silence the Nigerian people.

“Specifically, editors of The Nation and Leadership newspapers were arrested for allegedly forging the signatures of former President Obasanjo and President Jonathan respectively.”

It added that the charge of forgery filed against editors of Leadership newspaper was prosecuted by external firms of lawyers until it was withdrawn by the Attorney-General of the Federation and dismissed by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court.

The NADL recalled that some foreign governments and international human right bodies condemned the abuse of human rights in the country from 2010 to 2015, emphasizing, “it was because President Jonathan failed to stop the reckless violations of human rights of the people that the Barrack Obama administration decided to ban Nigeria from buying war planes and military hardware from United States,” the lawyers said.

The group noted that several vehicles and thousands of copies of several newspapers belonging to media houses were seized by the Nigerian Army in many parts of the country in April 2014 on the ground that they had published stories which were considered embarrassing to the prosecution of the war on terror by the former President Jonathan’s administration.

It said the compensation paid to the affected media houses for the illegal seizures of copies of their newspapers were later recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after it was discovered that the fund was part of the money criminally diverted from the arms procurement fund by the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) under Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.).

NADL added that under the pretext of prosecuting the terror war, the administration of the former president engaged in systemic violations of human rights of innocent people, including children in the Northeast.

“The members of the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) organization, who were demanding for the release of the abducted Chibok girls were physically attacked by hired thugs at Abuja. And when the organisation defied the attacks, the Jonathan regime proceeded to ban all rallies and public meetings in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The BBOG successfully challenged the ban on public protest at the FCT high court,” the group said.

It noted that many radical staff and students of tertiary institutions were dismissed for expressing divergent opinions while the Nigeria Governors Forum and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) were factionalised by his administration to pave way for their manipulation.

It noted that during electioneering campaign for the governorship election in Ekiti State in 2014, three governors were prevented from participating in a political rally of their party in Ado-Ekiti, adding that while armed soldiers were used to manipulate the electoral process, many operative of the Directorate of Security Services (DSS) wore masks to hide their identities while terrorising voters.

Conceding that the former president’s administration signed the Freedom of Information Bill into law, it said his administration refused to accede to requests for the supply of information made under the law.

“For instance, when President Jonathan was requested to direct the Code of Conduct Bureau to make his asset declaration form available to the public, he refused and said he did not give any dam about asset declaration,” the group added.

November 7, 2016
Jonathan and Comparative Government 101

Barely a week after he made the incendiary Oxford Union comment on the alleged stealing or misapplication of the $2.1bn arms fund by the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), ex-president Goodluck Jonathan again, in faraway New York, stirred the hornet’s nest with deep innuendoes on President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-democratic leanings.

In his controversial Oxford Union speech in England, Dr Jonathan cast doubt on the amount of money allegedly stolen by the former NSA, suggesting that much of it was spent on actual arms purchase, including warships, fighter jets and attack helicopters. Then, as if checking himself, he cautioned that it was improper to speak on the scandal until the courts had disposed of the case. He wisely said nothing about the $2.1bn total sum itself, whether it was an arbitrary or accurate figure conjured by detractors, or whether it was not a bureaucratic practice to lump security spending sometimes under a convenient but often inappropriate and general subhead as some have suggested. He may still be called upon to shed more light on the matter.

[news_box style=”2″ display=”tag” link_target=”_blank” tag=”Jonathan” count=”2″ show_more=”on”]If Dr Jonathan prevaricated when he spoke about the arms fund, for which, together with the 219 abducted Chibok schoolgirls, he is deeply maligned, he went full, unequivocal blast in speaking about his democratic credentials, especially vis-a-vis his successors lack of sure-footedness in that area. The former president is not one to speak in parables. In his many travels around the world since losing last year’s presidential election, he has spoken vividly and bareknuckle on a number of tough subjects as well as appears dismayed that he still draws as much vitriolic abuse as he attracted when he was in office.

He has had an earful on his Oxford Union speech. His discourse on democracy, despite its many pearls and high moments, is unlikely to canonise him as quickly as he hopes. In the foreseeable future, he will continue to be blamed for the country’s current socio-economic malaise as he will somewhat mischievously be blamed for indirectly creating the conditions that led to the electoral victory of the former military head of state, Buhari, whose democratic credentials few have ever trusted.

Speaking on the theme ‘Diversity as Our bridge to Tomorrow’, at the Nigerian Lawyers Association’s annual dinner and merit awards ceremony in New York on October 29, Dr Jonathan took the opportunity to reiterate and sell his own democratic credentials, and an even bigger opportunity to de-market his successor whose sanctimoniousness grates on him, and whose general discomfort with democracy he believes is poignantly self-evident.“No matter what my critics said about me,” he thundered with

“No matter what my critics said about me,” he thundered with self-satisfying smirk, “I ensured that there was freedom of speech and freedom after the speech…Under my watch, not a single Nigerian was sent to prison because of anything they wrote or said about me or the administration. Nigeria had neither political prisoners nor political exile under my administration. We enacted the Freedom of Information Act and by that we tore the veil of secrecy covering governance.” It is not inappropriate to boast of one’s accomplishments, whether they are verifiable or not. Every leader is anxious to defend and even promote his own legacy. Dr Jonathan cannot be denied that entitlement.

However, while it is indisputable that Nigerians enjoyed a largely unfettered freedom to say virtually anything, including abusing the president heartily, a fact attested by foreign diplomats in the country, Dr Jonathan lost his composure close to the elections and attempted a half-hearted clampdown on the press. This newspaper bears scars of that clampdown, leading to the Jonathan government’s miserly settlement with some media victims of the repression. But on the whole, Dr Jonathan squirmed under a hail of unrelenting and acerbic abuse, prompting him to describe himself self-deprecatingly as the most abused leader in the world. It was not clear at the time whether that self-deprecation was his own special tribute to democracy or a manifestation of his general unease and bitterness against those who skewer him. Whatever it was, a large dose of free speech prevailed under him, either because he felt compelled to endure it or because he had a nobler and greater understanding of the tenets of democracy.

With an eye on the current cold war between the Buhari presidency and the judiciary, Dr Jonathan has judged the moment right to weigh in on the matter and in the process burnish his own attributes. Said he: “We gave institutions unlimited freedom and ensured that the NBA (Nigerian Bar Association) and other professional institutions were devoid of any government influence, we enacted the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015 to promote efficient management of criminal justice institutions in Nigeria.” There is no doubt that his government authored a number of reforms and inspired more initiatives than his successor has done so far. Yet, Dr Jonathan shares a huge blame in the festering corruption that overtook the judiciary. He left the NBA alone, but going by the terrible disclosures of the past few weeks, some lawyers apparently cavorted in that freedom to infest the judiciary with grand and ignoble schemes of betrayal of trust. Yes, Dr Jonathan left the judges alone by and large, but Nigerians may never know whether this reputation would have been assured, given the frustrations he voiced, had the National Judicial Council (NJC) not played into his hand when they asked him to suspend former President of the Appeal Court, Ayo Salami.

Perhaps the most pungent of his views before the lawyers association in New York was his subtle attack on his successor over nepotism. “Most of my principal aides in government hailed from different ethnic nationalities,” he enthused, and ..“We ensured that appointments into INEC were not based on personal relationships.” He cannot be faulted. His successor’s bizarre tendency to skew key security and kitchen cabinet appointments in favour of his ethnic group, and worse, even his family, is simply unprecedented and indefensible. Nor can anyone defend the unflattering way President Buhari went about his INEC appointments. Dr Jonathan saw this chink in the president’s armour and has drawn attention to it to indicate that what probably inform and influence his successor’s policies and governance style are anything but the altruism and asceticism many read into his Spartan and unprepossessing style. If the president retains his baffling appointments for much longer — and there is nothing to suggest he will rejigger his kitchen or general cabinet — he will have indicated that though the processes that gave him electoral victory were political, he wishes to rule as one who is not a politician. How that will play out in the years ahead, especially in the coming polls, is hard to fathom.

While Dr Jonathan’s observations about his presidency vis-a-vis President Buhari’s are largely true, it is not clear whether he really believes and understands his own worldview or that he would have voiced his now trenchant opinions had his successor not appeared to remove the veil of immunity sitting presidents unethically extend to their predecessors. Dr Jonathan’s wife, Dame Patience, is under pressure and investigation, and there are campaigns for the former president himself to be docked, campaigns which forces within the Buhari presidency have refused to foreclose or disavow. More and more, the former president will say things that indicate his frustrations. He will hope that Nigeria’s peculiar geopolitical dynamics, with their concomitant potential for unrestrained rebellion against the state, will serve as sufficient deterrence to the president contemplating a legal move against him. Whether this brinkmanship will also prove sensible and calculating is hard to appreciate at the moment.

Overall, it is not hard to guess that the value of Dr Jonathan’s pro-democracy speeches and posturing is enhanced more by his subterranean dispute with his successor than any intuitive conviction of the virtues of democracy. As president, and perhaps because of his education, Dr Jonathan tolerated the unpleasant concomitants of democracy rather than revel in the concept and promote its virtues and spinoffs for future generations. Despised for his leadership failings despite holding out so much promise at the beginning, it is hardly surprising that Dr Jonathan seeks to mitigate those shortcomings and blunt the attacks against himself and his family by deflecting attention to President Buhari’s bewildering policies and actions. The president, he seems to say, contradistinctively promotes stark and shocking anti-democratic credentials exemplified by the unconstitutional treatment meted out to the Shiite leader, Ibrahim el-Zakzaky, detained suspects admitted to bail but locked up nonetheless, and in some insidious ways, even the judiciary.

November 5, 2016
The Jonathan theory

Poor Dr Goodluck Jonathan. I pity our former president; he is ill at ease because of what is happening to some of his aides, especially Colonel Sambo DasukI, who has been answering questions from detectives over the $2.2 billion arms cash. As National Security Adviser (NSA) under Jonathan, Dasuki was the be-all and end-all on security matters. Whatever he said was final. Everybody in government kowtowed to him. The ministers, the special advisers and military chiefs et al were at his beck and call.

Dasuki was larger than life. Who wouldn’t if he had the sort of money the former NSA had to play with. The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), which he headed was an exchequer of sorts; it was the war chest of the Jonathan administration. The office funded everything – from the buying of stationery, rams, rice, campaign tools to payment of school fees, hospital bills, salaries and furnishing of offices.

His office was a clearing-house. Top government officials walked in there, picked their own share of the cash and left. This was the practice for the three years he held office. Trust public officials, they swarmed his office like bees because of the free money. Was he generous? Because it was not his, he dished out money as if it was going out of fashion. Dasuki became a tin god overnight. Those who wanted favour from him deified him. But nothing lasts forever.

Jonathan lost the April 28, 2015 presidential election and the cookie crumbled. Then came the day of reckoning. Dasuki was pulled in to give an account of the money allocated to his office. $2.2 billion was earmarked for the purchase of arms, ammunition, vehicles, aircraft, vessels and other weapons of war in the fight against Boko Haram. Up till today, he has not given his interrogators an accurate account of what he did with the money. He has since said that whatever he might have done he did with Jonathan’s authority. In effect, he is saying that he gave out the cash to all the ministers, advisers, defence and service chiefs who came to his office with Jonathan’s approval.

Did the former president okay those disbursements? This is the question Jonathan must answer sincerely. In the past, he dodged answering the question probably because he knew that there is no way he could do so truthfully. But, last week in London, he finally stopped hiding behind a finger. Delivering a lecture on Youth Entrepreneurship at the Oxford Union, Jonathan absolved Dasuki of stealing the $2.2 billion. Then what did he do with the money? Hear Jonathan : “They said the National Security Adviser (Sambo Dasuki) stole $2.2 billion. I don’t believe somebody can just steal $2.2 billion. We bought warships, we bought aircraft, we bought lots of weapons for the army and so on and so forth and you are still saying 2.2 billion; so where did we get the money to buy all those things?”

That is precisely the issue – “all those things that were bought” – where are they? By now, Dasuki, who has been in detention for months should have shown his interrogators where the equipment are. He cannot do so because nothing was bought. There is proof to that effect. Many officers and soldiers refused to go and fight Boko Haram because they were not given arms and ammunition. Their superiors wanted them to confront the insurgents with bare hands, but they declined and were court martialled by those who are today being interrogated for mismanaging the $2.2 billion. Since Jonathan knows more about this matter as he was then the president, he should be invited to shed more light on it.

He has joined the fray with his comment, which shows that he was aware of what was going on. His intervention is, therefore, critical in the resolution of this matter so that the innocent are not punished. Who knows, those we thought might have stolen the money may not have done nothing after all by the time we hear from Jonathan. Dasuki might have been carrying out instructions for all we know. Let us hear from Jonathan again : “Yes, there were some issues. Yes, there are still corruption issues but some of them were overblown. I’d say exaggerated and they give a very bad impression about our nation. You cannot say the national security adviser stole $2.2 billion. It is not just possible”.

Where then is the money that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is looking for? Or what did the Jonathan administration do with the money since the former president’s claim that it bought warships, aircraft and lots of weapons with the cash has been debunked by military sources? According to the sources, the weapons bought by the Jonathan administration were “unserviceable” and “useless”. They stated that the administration bought three fairly used (Tokunbo) Alpha Jets and two helicopters for the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), adding that the jets were “not worth anything because they were not weaponised and the helicopters were cannibalised”.

It will be interesting to see Jonathan testify in court for Dasuki. But will his evidence stand in the face of the rebuttal of his claims by military sources?

Pound of flesh

At last, the National Assembly had its way. It has amended the Code of Conduct Bureau/Tribunal Act, investing itself with powers hitherto belonging to the President. Many believe that it took the action because of its Chairman, Dr Bukola Saraki’s case before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT). Saraki is being tried for alleged assets falsification at the tribunal. Since the case began, he has put up an attitude, which watchers see as unbecoming. They say the Senate President portrays himself as if he is above the law. Saraki’s trial has been dragging because of his numerous applications before the tribunal. The matter has gone to the Supreme Court and back, yet the substantive case is yet to be settled. The lawmakers are not happy with the CCB/CCT Act because they believe it gives too much powers to the President. What powers are we talking about? These are powers which they believe make the President use the law to oppress them. But is that possible? Having had its way, can the Senate stop the trial of any of its members caught under the law? The truth is it cannot. The best thing for any public officer is to avoid acts which can bring him in collision with the law. Anything short of that will be begging the issue. As Senator Yahaya Abdullahi said : “To remove a whole President, who has equally been elected by the country is wrong. You cannot approbate and reprobate; this substitution of the President with the National Assembly is wrong…” Need we say more?

November 3, 2016
Ex-President Jonathan at Oxford Union

On Monday, October 24, former President Goodluck Jonathan was a guest speaker at the famous Oxford Union where, at his request, he delivered a long and rambling speech on ‘Youth Empowerment, Entrepreneurship, and Corruption’ in Nigeria. The speech was intended to defend his record in office as president. I have obtained and read the full transcript of his speech in which he made some astonishing claims about the contribution of his government to job creation in Nigeria, through youth empowerment and the development of youth entrepreneurship in Nigeria. He claimed that, under his administration, the country achieved an average annual growth rate of 6 per cent, the third fastest growth rate in the world. That may be correct, but this high growth rate was fuelled largely by the stupendous growth in our oil exports and revenue, the highest ever. Sadly, it did not translate into a significant economic development of our economy; a classic case of growth without development. As we have seen in media reports of financial scandals, under his watch the rich in Nigeria got richer and the poor poorer. Today, youth unemployment and mass poverty are at highest levels in our country.

Specifically, he claimed that his tenure in office as president marked ‘an era of unprecedented growth for Nigeria’. But where are the jobs he created through the so-called youth empowerment and entrepreneurship programme? The fact of the matter is that his so-called youth empowerment and entrepreneurship consisted largely of handing over vast sums of money to unemployed youths and warlords, the Tompolos, mostly in Bayelsa, his state, who lacked any skills or much education to make use of the funds. Instead, the funds were diverted, possibly with his approval and knowledge, by the so-called ‘avengers; and militants to acquire weapons to wage a war against their own country, and sabotage oil installations and pipelines in the country. We were even threatened by these militant youths that unless Jonathan was re-elected in last year’s presidential election, they would make our country ungovernable. Is that not what the current violent militancy in the Niger Delta is all about? These were the youths Jonathan financially empowered to wage a war of attribution on our country.

His claims about creating jobs are a lot of ridiculous hogwash. Many domestic and foreign observers have already dismissed his government as inept, inefficient and corrupt. Suffice it to say that oil revenues during his administration were the highest in Nigeria’s fiscal history, and that he could have done a lot more with this huge oil revenue to address the critical infrastructure deficit and other economic challenges in our country. As we now know, most of the vast income from oil was simply squandered and frittered away on vast public corruption and unbridled foreign imports under his watch. Little, or nothing, was done by his government to diversify the economy and start the whole process of moving the national economy away from its over dependence on its oil revenues. In his last year in office the high growth rate had begun to plummet due to the fall in oil exports and revenue. It had fallen to less than 2 per cent. A year after the country is in a deep recession. If he had been re-elected president, our economic situation would have been far worse now. We needed an urgent review of our fiscal and monetary policies to stop the financial haemorrhage. Because of powerful domestic vested interests which he tended to protect and support he did nothing about the wasteful and corruption ridden oil import subsidy, or the exchange rate adjustment that had become necessary. He chose to ignore the danger signals in the economy in the hope that he could bribe his way to re-election as president. Even the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) of $1bn, a kind of investment abroad for the proverbial rainy day, was virtually depleted before he left office after his woeful defeat in the presidential elections.

As regards public corruption under his watch, the most astonishing claim he made in his Oxford Union speech was that his former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), did not steal the $2.2bn for which he is being detained and for which he may face trial in court shortly. Instead, he said the funds in question were used to buy military aircraft and weapons for the Nigerian Armed Forces. In fact, Jonathan said the issue of public corruption in Nigeria was being ‘overblown’. But in a swift reaction to his absurd claims, the Nigerian military has said the three Alpha jets and two helicopters Jonathan bought for the Air Force were largely ‘unserviceable’. It said the jets were ‘not weaponised and the helicopters were cannibalised eventually, as they were not serviceable.

But the real issue that Jonathan failed to address in his Oxford Union speech is where did all that money, the $2.2bn, that Dasuki improperly disbursed to Jonathan’s political hacks and cronies come from, and what purpose was it originally intended to serve? Was it not intended to procure arms for the Armed Forces to fight the Boko Haram insurgency? Why was the fund diverted instead to private pockets? The matter, as admitted by Jonathan, is sub jidice. It is for the courts, not Jonathan, to determine whether, or not, the funds were stolen. Already, in anticipation of his own trial, Dasuki has been reported as claiming that, in those sordid financial transactions, he acted solely and wholly on the instructions of President Jonathan. Well, Dasuki is better able to defend himself in the court of law. When the trial begins, as it should as soon as possible, Dasuki has said he will call President Jonathan as a star witness. The drama in the court between the two will be very interesting and exciting. As he is out of office, Jonathan can no longer claim any immunity from investigation, or trial for gross and inappropriate financial misdemeanours. Presidential immunity does not cover criminal actions by the president. It is intended merely to protect him from frivolous civil litigations for actions taken by him while in office. Dasuki’s lawyer has been reported as calling for a ‘political settlement” of the matter. This will be a terrible disservice to our nation, as the price we have had to pay collectively for this financial heist is just too high. In any case, President Buhari does not even have the constitutional power or authority to go for a political settlement of the case pending in court. Even if he does, prudence will require him to let the sordid matter be determined by the court. Otherwise, he will undermine the fight against public corruption in our country. It will amount to a negation of accountability in governance in our country.

The Oxford Union speech is obviously the first salvo by former President Jonathan to fight back on the allegations of corruption against him and his government. We can expect more foreign speeches by him. But he is better off giving the speech here at home. He did not impress the members of the Oxford Union as the reactions of the Union to his speech were reported to have been largely negative. Oxford students are well informed about world affairs and are very discerning. The few Nigerian students who are now able to go to Oxford and who were at the Union were reported as heckling him. As a Life Member of the Oxford Union and a former Commonwealth post-graduate scholar at Trinity College, Oxford, I was privileged to have attended and participated in some of its debates in the late 1960s and early 70s. I am proud of its noble and liberal traditions and of the fact that the Union provided Jonathan with a platform to air his views freely. That is the hallmark of the Oxford Union. Oxford students work incredibly hard. The Union provides them a relaxed place they can go to for robust debates and speeches from distinguished guests. It also has an excellent bar and a good library.

The Oxford Union prides itself on being the world’s most prestigious debating society, with an unparalleled reputation for bringing to Oxford international guests and speakers. Steeped in history the Oxford Union was founded in 1823 as a forum for debates and discussion at a time when free speech was still largely restricted in the universities and in Britain. Many of its Presidents go on to become British Prime Ministers. One of these, William E. Gladstone, was President of the Union in 1830, and went on to become one of Britain’s greatest prime ministers in the 19th century. Because of its collegiate system, Oxford University does not have a central students’ union. The Oxford Union is independent and has no political leanings. It provides, instead, a forum for debates on controversial issues in the university. Its previous guests include Tariq Ali, Malcolm X, Richard Nixon, Gerry Adams and O.J. Simpson, all of them controversial public figures. In 1933, when Hitler and the Nazis were rising in Germany, the Oxford Union passed by 275 votes to 153 a motion that “This House will under no circumstances fight for King and Country”. Winston Churchill dismissed the motion as an unprecedented disavowal of the country. It had no effect in Britain. Every year a motion is routinely debated in the Union that “This House has no confidence in Her Majesty’s Government”. It is usually passed but has no political significance. It is merely symbolic. It is in keeping with its proud and irreverent debating reputation that the Oxford Union accepted Jonathan as a guest speaker. His speech there will not in any way influence British public opinion of him as an inept and corrupt leader. It was all done in good humour.

November 3, 2016
$2.2b arms deals: Dasuki to call Jonathan as witness

Ex-NSA prefers political solution

Former National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki, who is on trial for alleged mismanagement of $2.1billion arms funds, would like former President Goodluck Jonathan to be his witness, it was learnt yesterday.

Dr. Jonathan has faulted the charges against Dasuki, claiming that the ex-NSA could not have stolen about $2.2billion votes for arms. “We bought warships, we bought aircraft, we bought lots of weapons for the army,” he said in a recent interview at the Oxford Union in the United Kingdom.

Speaking with our correspondent, Mr. Ahmed Raji (SAN), the ex-NSA’s counsel, said Dasuki wanted Jonathan to testify in court.

Raji said: “It will be desirable for Jonathan to testify for the ex-NSA. It will throw greater light into grey areas. And it will serve the interest of Justice.

“It will be fantastic for him to go to court to testify. Dasuki is an agent of a disclosed and known principal.”

Another member of the legal team said: “With what Jonathan said in London, the only logical thing for him to do is to see it through.

“We want Jonathan to follow-through. If he backs out, it will be bad.”

But, in Raji’s view, a political solution will be better than trial because of the “characters involved”.

He said: “But, frankly speaking, I pray for a political solution to the problem because of the characters involved.

“Both the accused and the government should embrace a political solution to the problem.”

Asked if Dasuki is ready for political solution, he added: “Why not? He is.

”I believe the President is very sincere. He wants to reorganise Nigeria and he deserves the support of all.

“With a political solution, Mr. President will be in good stead to overcome unnecessary distractions in order to succeed.

“I pray that everybody will key into his vision and the economic challenges facing the nation.”

Those point of advising a political solution is that it will not be “tidy” for Dasuki to mention all those who got money from his office. Among them, said a source, are a prominent traditional ruler in the North, who reportedly got N500 million and a former Head of State.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said Dasuki’s defence team was banking on Jonathan’s testimony.

The source said: “All is set for the defence of Dasuki, who is still insisting on an open trial to let Nigerians know the beneficiaries of the arms cash.

“One of those who may testify is ex-President Goodluck Jonathan whose remarks in London appeared to be the first phase of the war chest of the ex-NSA.

“You know the ex-NSA said he acted on Jonathan’s instructions in disbursing some of the cash. And from the look of things, the ex-President is now ready to accept responsibility for whatever Dasuki did.

“We believe it has reached a level that Nigerians must know what really happened, how funds were disbursed and who got what.

“This is why a secret trial is not a viable option, with the way things are going.”

The source added: “So far, we have secured the consent of Jonathan to appear in court for Dasuki. This will make the trial worth it.”

It was learnt that a traditional ruler allegedly benefitted from the arms funds to the tune of about N500million.

Another source added: “Dasuki has a list of highly-placed beneficiaries from the arms cash. A particular traditional ruler got about N500million as a gift from the government through the Office of the National Security Adviser(ONSA). There are many hidden beneficiaries whom Nigerians must know.

“Nigerians will be shocked by some revelations which will come up during the trial. Nothing short of open trial will let Nigerians know the truth. We are ready for this.”

Dasuki had on December 13, 2015 said he disbursed the funds on Jonathan’s instructions.

The ex-NSA said: “I wish to state as follows: That I have been publicly indicted and any statement may jeopardise my defence. Having been briefed by the EFCC investigators on why I was invited, I will answer the charges in court. As such, I do not wish to make any further statement on the matter.

“That I am aware in November (I cannot remember the exact date), my office requested the CBN to exchange N10billion from the account of the Office of National Security Adviser domiciled in CBN. The money was exchanged at $47m and some Euros which I cannot remember. The exact amount was delivered at my residence.

“The money was for delegates that attended the nomination convention for the PDP. Presidential nomination. The money was paid and sent to Hon. (Waripamowei) Dudafa (SSAP Household) and ADC(C-I-C) for distribution on the instruction of the President.

“Based on the statement of Director of Finance and Administration (Salisu), Ibrahim Wambai, and Yazidu Ibrahim, all the cash (both foreign and local) are usually given to them for official use.

“I also noted the statement of Sagir Bafarawa whose company is Dalhatu Investment in which he stated that he received the sum of N4,633,000,000 from the account of the Office of the NSA. I authorised the payment . The money was for vehicles, motorcycles for youth empowerment and women sent to Saudi Arabia. I got the proposal from the President. I do not have the proposal; it should be at the office in the Villa.”

October 31, 2016
Jonathan to lawyers: support democratic governance

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has implored Nigerians to continue to support democratic governance.

Speaking at the weekend in the United States at the Nigerian Lawyers Association’s annual dinner and merit awards ceremony in New York, he said: “I urge the Nigerian lawyers in the US and those in the Diaspora to do their best to support the democratic institutions we have built

The speech, posted on his Twitter page, quoted Jonathan as listing his administration’s democratic credentials.

“Under my watch not a single Nigerian was sent to prison because of anything they wrote or said about me or the administration that I headed. Nigeria had neither political prisoners nor political exile under my administration.

“Diversity could remain a strength only when all interest groups in the society feel safe and secure,” Mr. Jonathan said while speaking on the theme ‘Diversity As Our Bridge to Tomorrow.

“Most of my principal aides in government hailed from different ethnic nationalities,” Mr. Jonathan said. “We never placed ethno-religious interests above merits or individual values when making decisions.

“Nigeria is for all Nigerians. We must resist the push of ego that may make us want to pursue a regional or narrow agenda.

“We enacted the Freedom of Information Act and by that we tore the veil of secrecy covering governance.

“We gave institutions unlimited freedom and ensured that the NBA, other professional institutions were devoid of any governmental influence.

“We ensured that appointments to INEC were not based on personal relationships,” he said.

October 31, 2016
Activists: interrogate Jonathan for $2.1b arms scandal

Human rights activists have urged the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to invite former President Goodluck Jonathan to explain his role in the $2.1 billion arms fund allegedly misappropriated by the former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki.

Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) chief, Mr Malachy Ugwummadu and Civil Society Network Against Corruption Comrade Lanre Suraj agreed that Jonathan’s statement that Dasuki couldn’t have stolen $2.1 billion, provided the anti-graft agency the caveat to interrogate the ex-President.

They spoke on a Television Continental (TVC) programme monitored in Lagos.

Ugwummadu said EFCC should take advantage of the statement to interrogate Jonathan.

According to him, the ex-President had dragged himself into the fray of investigation.

The human rights activist said Jonathan should prove or deny the evidence given by ex-Minister of State for Defence Senator Musiliu Obanikoro that he collected several millions of naira from Dasuki, which he delivered to Governor Ayo Fayose to prosecute his governorship campaign.

He said the EFCC should invite Jonathan to react to the evidence of the ex-National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, that he (Jonathan) approved the N400 million paid into his private company’s account in respect of services provided for the former President during the electioneering campaign.

The rights activist noted that shortly before leaving office last year, Jonathan said his aides should be prepared for persecution under the Buhari administration.

“But some of his lieutenants suspected to have taken part in the looting have returned their share. With his statement defending Dasuki, Jonathan has started the process to undermine the anti-graft war of the Buhari administration,” Ugwummadu added.

Suraj urged Jonathan to controvert the statement credited to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) National leader Chief Olu Falae that the former President approved N100 million into his account for his party to work for him in last year’s presidential election.

October 31, 2016
Jonathan: Dasuki didn’t steal $2.2b weapons cash

‘Our best yielded an era of unprecedented economic growth for Nigeria’

Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has replied his administration’s critics, saying former National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki could not have stolen the $2.2 billion cash voted for arms purchase.

He also said his administration may not be perfect but he did his best.

Besides, he advised Nigeria and other African countries on how to break even – they should invest in education and youth entrepreneurship.

It was all at a lecture on Youth Entrepreneurship at the famous Oxford Union in the United Kingdom.

The text of the lecture and some parts of the transcript of the question session were released to the media yesterday by PRNigeria, a military propaganda outfit against Boko Haram during the Jonathan administration.

The ex-President said: “They said the National Security Adviser (Sambo Dasuki) stole $2.2billion. I don’t believe somebody can just steal $2.2 billion.

“We bought warships, we bought aircraft, we bought lots of weapons for the army and so on and so forth and you are still saying 2.2 billion; so where did we get the money to buy all those things?

”Yes, there were some issues. Yes, there are still corruption issues but some of it were overblown. I’d say exaggerated and they give a very bad impression about our nation. You cannot say the national security adviser stole $2.2billion. It is not just possible.”

But Jonathan said he would not want to speak futher to avoid engaging in any act of subjudice to the ongoing court process.

He added: “One thing about the issue of corruption is that these matters are in court; let’s allow some of these processes to end. Lately, some judges’ (homes) were also invaded. There are so many things involved and we have to follow up these matters to conclusion before we know the fact.

“I don’t want to be seen as a former president challenging what the sitting government is doing so I have decided to keep quiet for the court to look into them.”

He said allegations of corruption were not unique to his administration, adding:

“You will see that it has become a major topic whenever there is a change of government … I am not saying there is no corruption in Nigeria; there is corruption. If you look at corruption, there is almost no country that is free; the degree varies, the perception varies.

“Transparency International talks about the way corruption is being perceived in different economies; why do we talk about the way corruption is being perceived?

It depends on the issue raised in the media every day.”

Earlier in his lecture, Jonathan said his administration might not have been perfect but it offered Nigeria the best.

He said: “We may not have been perfect, but we did our best, and our best yielded an era of unprecedented economic growth for Nigeria. A growth that proved the truism that a nation’s wealth is not underneath the ground but between the ears of her people.

“Under my watch, Nigeria was projected by CNN Money to be the third fastest growing economy in the world for the year 2015 and rated as the largest economy in Africa and the 23rd in the world by the World Bank and the IMF, with a GDP above half a trillion US dollars. “

He expressed confidence that Nigerian youth and African youths could lift up the continent to a glorious economic era.

Jonathan said: “Nigeria has a crop of talented youth but the nation has not properly keyed into the global sports industry. The Fund would have been a catalyst to promoting the Nigerian sports industry by promoting training, welfare of athletes and manufacturing of sporting equipment, among other things.

“Distinguished audience, let me conclude my speech by urging contemporary African leaders to see youth entrepreneurship as a collective project transcending national boundaries. I believe in the Nigerian youth and indeed African youths. My conviction is not only an emotional one, but one grounded in my experience with youths from all over the continent.

“You will agree that foremost in the minds of many youth is a desire to develop their dreams and potentials.

“Placing them closer to the driving wheel, does a lot for their confidence. Despite incredible challenges, Nigerian youths are achieving great things and placing Nigeria positively in the world map.

“Nigerian youths are an inspiration to their leaders. I once said that I was not elected President of Nigeria to spread poverty, I was elected to generate and spread wealth.

“My belief in this regard is that getting a job or being a worker cannot completely cure the disease of poverty. It is only your own business that can provide such security and give you the financial freedom you need to prosper.

“That was why my administration introduced these initiatives and policies to enable Nigeria’s youths take their own destinies in their hands.

“You can appreciate that there was a lot of emphasis on education during my time at the helm of both my State and my Nation. This is because the richest people today are those who develop ideas and commercialise them.

“Viable ideas can only come from educated minds, and money pursues ideas. My three flagship programmes, i.e. the gifted and talented children schools in Bayelsa State, the Presidential Special Scholarship Scheme for Innovation and Development and the ICT Incubation Centers (Co-Creation Hub) were geared towards developing that calibre of youth.”

Jonathan reeled out how his administration initiated many programmes to encourage youths to develop their talents.

He said: “My administration came up with various programmes to encourage young entrepreneurs. The most popular is the Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria “YouWIN.”

“It was a unique intervention launched in 2012, which targeted youth with unique business proposals in start-ups and expansion of existing enterprises. YouWin is structured as a competitive cyclic initiative which invites and reviews business plans submitted by youth. Young people who wanted to be entrepreneurs were asked to submit their business proposals. The best business plans were chosen based on relevance, profitability, demand and practicability.

“The winners were trained and given grants. YouWIN was multi-sector- cutting across light manufacturing, food processing, and the service sector. The motivation for this program is for young people to go into SMEs, create jobs for other young people with the expectation that some would grow to large scale businesses.

“In addition to YouWin, under our broad based Agricultural Transformation Agenda, we developed the Youth Employment in Agriculture Program [YEAP] – and like many of our other youth programs, we incorporated the youth themselves in its design. This took a complete value chain approach from farming to processing and marketing.

“Just like in the YouWIN initiative, my administration gave young farmers grants and training. The young people who were involved were called “Nagropreneurs”.

“We also launched The Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS). The objective of this program was to provide temporary work experience for fresh graduates, to enhance their capacity to attract permanent jobs. Eligible graduates are posted to corporations and companies in the private and public sectors. They received practical training and mentorship for a one-year period, within which remuneration is paid by the government.

“This enabled the young graduates to acquire relevant experience. We also increased the allowances due to Youth Corp members by more than 100% in 2011. This was in line with our policy of youth empowerment and development.

“To ensure that the Nigerian youth benefit massively in the ICT revolution, we created a special Ministry of Communication Technology. We wanted the Nigerian Youth to be self-employed and exploit the advantages of ICT.

“The ministry, among other things, improved broadband penetration, set up ICT incubation centres in Lagos and Calabar. The efforts of the Young software engineers at the Lagos Co-Creation Hub (CC Hub) became so successful that it did not only give birth to many thriving start-ups, but their activities also attracted the attention of Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg who chose it as his first stop during his first ever visit to Africa. One sector we deliberately encouraged to stimulate job growth for Nigerian Youth was the Nigerian entertainment industry.

“We identified Nollywood as a sector that can employ many young people. We provided a grant of $200 million and for the first time, Nollywood became a major contributor to our GDP. In 2014, Nollywood contributed 1.4% to our GDP. The sporting industry was also not left out. We encouraged our young people in that sector. I was to launch a Fund to encourage sporting activities in the country but I had to bow out by 29th of May 2015.”

The high point of the session was Jonathan’s reaction to the ongoing trial of his former NSA for alleged mismanagement of about $2.1m arms cash.

Dasuki had on December 13, 2015 said he disbursed the cash on Jonathan’s instructions.

The ex-NSA said: “I wish to state as follows: That I have been publicly indicted and any statement may jeopardize my defence. Having been briefed by the EFCC investigators on why I was invited, I will answer the charges in court. As such, I do not wish to make any further statement on the matter.

“That I am aware in November (I cannot remember the exact date), my office requested the CBN to exchange N10billion from the account of the Office of National Security Adviser domiciled in CBN. The money was exchanged at $47m and some Euros which I cannot remember. The exact amount was delivered at my residence.

“The money was for delegates that attended the nomination convention for the PDP. Presidential nomination. The money was paid and sent to Hon. (Waripamowei) Dudafa (SSAP Household) and ADC(C-IC) for distribution on the instruction of the President.

“Based on the statement of Director of Finance and administration (Salisu), Ibrahim Wambai, and Yazidu Ibrahim, all the cash (both foreign and local) are usually given to them for official use.

“I also noted the statement of Sagir Bafarawa whose company is Dalhatu Investment which he stated that he received the sum of N4,633,000,000 from the account of the Office of the NSA. I authorized the payment . The money was for vehicles, motorcycles for youth empowerment and women sent to Saudi Arabia. I got the proposal from the President. I do not have the proposal; it should be at the office in the Villa.”

October 26, 2016
‘Jonathan didn’t win election for Lagos PDP’

The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Chief Moshood Salvador, has promised to unite the warring factions and make the party a formidable opposition. In this interview with Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN, he speaks about the proposed local government poll, reconciliation moves by the national leaders and other issues.

Observers say the money spent by former President Goodluck Jonathan enabled the Lagos PDP to win some seats in the Lagos State House of Assembly and National Assembly. What’s your comment?

I am amazed when people insinuate that it was millions of naira and dollar that Jonathan brought to Lagos during the 2015 campaign that was responsible for the PDP impressive performance in the state. The question is if Jonathan had spent that much in Lagos why didn’t he win the presidential election in Lagos? Similarly, President Buhari campaigned in Rivers and lost despite the financial support of Rotimi Amaechi who was the state governor then.

Our candidates for the House of Representatives and State House of Assembly won on merit. They were accepted by the electorate. Lagos PDP performance in the last general elections was not a fluke. We worked hard and convinced the electorate on the programmes of our party and the integrity of our candidates. Look another election is approaching we will prove to critics that our performance was not accidental. I didn’t see the money they said Jonathan brought to Lagos. People are no longer interested in money and material wealth offered by politicians. It’s no longer the determinant factor but the antecedent, personality and the integrity of the candidate.

Why is it that the division in Lagos PDP becomes pronounced at every election?

It is not only PDP that is divided; APC too is always divided at the election time. The reason is that the two parties are formidable. The aspirants believe both the PDP and the APC are strong enough for them to win election and actualise their dream. I promise that during my tenure as party chairman, there won’t be division in the Lagos PDP before, during and after elections. Immediately after I was elected, I have invited the dissenting group and listened to their grievances which we are addressing. All of us in the party have agreed to work together for the progress of the party.

Some politicians don’t know what they want and how to go about it. Without peace you can’t actualise your mission. It is only when there is peace in the party that you can achieve your aims and objectives of being a party member. There must be peace within the political party to forge ahead.

Are you surprised that two candidates emerged for the party’s national chairmanship conceded to Lagos State?

The position of the PDP national chairman was zoned to the south by the National Working Committee (NWC). It was zoned to the southwest by the party leaders in the south. When the Southwest leaders met the position was zoned to Lagos and Ogun State chapters. Initially, Otunba Gbenga Daniel from Ogun State had shown interest just like Chief BodeGeorge from Lagos State. At a stage Daniel said he was no longer interested in the race; he withdrew.

What happened thereafter? The interference of outsiders was responsible for having two aspirants from Lagos. I am happy that before the end of the convention in Port Harcourt, they realised their mistakes. We have put our house in order. I can assure you it will not happen again. If the opportunity comes up again we are going to present one candidate.

What is the true position on the reconciliation move by the two PDP warring groups?

The true position is that reconciliation is still in process. You don’t expect reconciliation process to end in a day. It takes time to unite warring groups and to restore normalcy. The key issue is that the leaders should identify the fundamental problem and solve it once and for all. The inauguration of the reconciliation committee will be done by the two leaders: Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff and Senator Ahmed Markafi. Both sides have nominated their members; 12 from each side. Since both of them are from the same party, they will put their acts together.

In spite of the reconciliation moves, Ondo PDP is having two governorship candidates. How can it be resolved before November 26?

Let me make it clear that the Ondo chapter of the PDP presented only one candidate in person of Mr Eyitayo Jegede (SAN). But a Federal High Court has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to replace his name with that of Chief Jimoh Ibrahim. Jegede has appealed against the judgment. It is possible for the appellate court to decide the matter before November 26, the day of election or after election.

What is your assessment of Governor Akinwumi Ambode’s administration?

I wish him best of luck. I say this because the people of Lagos irrespective of party leaning should pray for his success. Whether you are in PDP or APC we must pray for him to succeed, otherwise it is we people that will pay for his failure.

Are you worried that the date for local government election in Lagos State has not been fixed?

We are much concerned by the lukewarm attitude of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) towards the long overdue local council election. I doubt if the electoral body knows the importance of council poll in a democratic setting. It is the government that is very close to the people; it provides more than 70 percent service delivery to them. The people have the right to choose who represents them at the third tier level just like other tiers of government. We know what to do if the state electoral body continues dragging its feet on this issue. We will take the matter beyond the presidency, we will table it before the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the United Nations to let them know that things are not working as it supposed to be under democratic rule in Lagos State. Under my leadership of the PDP in Lagos State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) government can no longer continue to short change us simply because we are in opposition. There will be no hiding place for them anymore.

How prepared is Lagos PDP for the council poll?

We are well prepared for the local government election. If they decide to hold it tomorrow, we won’t be taken unaware. It is the APC that is afraid of losing that is why they are dilly dallying. You know it is someone who is at the top that is always afraid of coming down. Our structure is sound. We are gearing towards the coming election. We are very sure of victory.

But we have not seen sign of preparedness from the PDP aspirants compared to APC aspirants whose posters have flooded the streets.

The reason for that is because LASIEC has not come up with the time table for the election. It will be a futile effort putting up posters and banners for the election you are not sure of when it will hold. What we need now is regular consultation between the aspirants and the electorate; this is the time for the aspirants to work underground and show case their programmes to the members of the community. I believe posters have their role to play but we haven’t got to that stage.

How would your candidates emerge, through primary or consensus arrangement?

There has never been a time that the PDP didn’t conduct primary for elective offices. It is part of our culture. For instance, we are having a bye-election in Ifako/Ijaiye Federal Constituency very soon, we are going to conduct a fresh primary through which our candidate will emerge. Ordinarily, we would have adopted the former candidate who lost the election in 2015 but we still prefer to hold a new primary for a better and acceptable candidate to emerge.

October 25, 2016
From the Villa- Enter Jonathan’s Queens

History was made on October 8, 2016 when the first set of female regular course combatant cadets passed out from the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna.

A total number of 19 female cadets were part of the newly commissioned officers at the Professor Yakubu Mahmud Multi-purpose Hall on the NDA premises.

They excelled both in the classroom and in the field drills and trainings alongside their male counterparts.

Such feat had never been achieved in the 52 years of the Academy.

Through former President Goodluck Jonathan’s belief that whatever a man can do, a woman can do better and should be given the opportunity to excel, the female cadets for the first time were admitted for regular course at the NDA under his tenure five years ago.

As new entrants to the Academy, Jonathan was always very proud of the female regular combatant cadets as he never failed to showcase them anytime he had a major function in the country, showing how his administration had promoted gender equality in the country.

In the book titled ‘Goodluck Ebele Jonathan: Champion for Women’ released by his cabinet at the tail end of his administration, the female combatant cadets were referred to as Jonathan’s Queens.

The book on page 41 reads: “It took the historic vision of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to change that (admission for only men), with the directive that the NDA should admit its first female Regular Combatant cadets in 2011.

“Therefore, as part of his far-sighted and principled decisions regarding women, the 63rd Regular Combatant Course (63 RC) of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) saw 20 female officer cadets take their places on the course alongside 155 male counterparts.”

The book also revealed that Itunu Hotonu became the first female Rear Admiral in the Nigerian Navy and in Africa in December, 2010 under Jonathan.

It also disclosed that a 28-year-old Blessing Liman became the first female military pilot in the Nigerian Air Force in December, 2011, also under Jonathan.

No administration before Jonathan that preached gender equality ever intervened to promote admission of female regular course cadets in NDA.

At the parade ground on October 8 where the cadets stood still, did silent drills, slow and quick march for over six hours under the scorching sun, none of the graduating female cadets showed any sign of weakness.

They were tough, if not tougher than their male counterparts that graduated in the class of 63rd regular course cadets.

As a result of their toughness, they equaled the number of male cadets that excelled and won awards during their five years training in the school.

President Muhammadu Buhari at the passing out parade presented the awards to three male and three female cadets that performed excellently well.

A male cadet, A.D Mohammed won three awards including the Sword of Honour award, the Commandant’s award and the Army Gold award.

A female cadet, C. Lord-Mallam won the Navy Gold award while another male cadet, M. U Aminu won the Air Force Gold award.

The Army Silver award went to a female cadet, K. O Dayo-Karim while P. E Miyaptong, a male cadet, won the Navy Silver award. The Air Force Silver award was won by a female cadet, O. S Ijelu.

All the graduating 63rd regular course cadets, comprising 59 personnel for the Nigerian Army, 40 for the Nigerian Navy and 29 for the Nigerian Air Force, were conferred with presidential commission, ministered oath of allegiance and also received the flag of allegiance.

President Buhari was very elated by the smartness, silent drills, march past and parade by the graduating cadets.

He said: “The excellent parade we have just witnessed is a testimony to the high standard of training and discipline the Academy has set. I, therefore, commend the Commandant, instructors and gentlemen officer cadets for this outstanding parade.

“Today’s Passing Out Parade has an added significance because, for the first time in 52 years, this Academy is graduating female cadets who will be commissioned as regular officers into the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

“While congratulating these soon-to-be pioneer female Regular Combatant officers for their courage and resilience in the past 5 years, I advise the Services to put in place adequate institutional mechanisms to evaluate the deployment or otherwise of our female officers in active combat roles. But we must be careful to carry public opinion with us and respect cultural sensitivities.

“To the passing out cadets, I want to observe that you are graduating into the Armed Forces at a very auspicious time when the gains of several years of sacrifice by our troops are being consolidated. You are indeed moving into a path of honour, sacrifice and responsibility.

“You are also moving to the next level having been found worthy in learning and character to move from being Cadets to officers. Therefore, as you step out of this noble institution, your character will determine how far you can go.

“Endeavour to be patriotic and exhibit the highest level of discipline and loyalty to one Nigeria. Above all you must strive to keep to the tenets of the profession by remaining apolitical. You are also required to exhibit the highest sense of integrity, patriotism and exemplary service to the nation and its people.

“Gentlemen and Lady officer cadets, today you have entered a new chapter in your life. I can assure you that it is going to be adventurous, turbulent but interesting. Your survival as an officer in the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will be dependent on the extent to which you are able to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during your academic and military training in this Academy.

“You are expected to serve this country selflessly with loyalty and integrity and set new records of gallantry in the defence of our dear nation as former cadets from this Academy have done and are still doing in various military campaigns within and outside our dear country.

“Our nation puts its trust in you and looks up to you with a lot of expectations which you must never betray. You no longer belong to your parents or your family alone. You no longer belong to your village, town or state. You now belong to the Nigerian nation and you will serve it selflessly and be prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice if the need arises.” He added

Since the initial admission of female cadets for regular course in NDA five years ago, more ladies have been admitted for regular combatant course at the Academy.

Only the sky can now be the limit for female military officers in Nigeria.

With the progress they are making, Nigeria will start having female Chief of Defence Staff and also occupy other Service Chiefs’ positions not too long to come.

October 18, 2016