The Nation Newspaper

Tag: military

  • Nigerians ‘ll resist military takeover, says Bakare

    Nigerians ‘ll resist military takeover, says Bakare

    Serving Overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly Pastor Tunde Bakare yesterday warned those overheating the polity to respect the constitution.

    He said he would deploy resource available to mobilise against military takeover.

    The cleric, in a message, titled: “The birth pang to a new Nigeria”, noted that some politicians were undermining the constitution to seek unwholesome way to power.

    He said there were conflicting signals that the country was in extreme case, noting that what was happening was not strange or new.

    Bakare added that the constitution was clear on succession, stressing that those playing god by virtue of their position were making the path to a new Nigeria painful.

    The pastor, who likened the politicians’ conduct to the biblical Absalom and Adonijah, said: “Whenever leaders serve with a military energy, leadership vacuum will be created. Since nature abhors vacuum, the country will face setbacks.

    “Those trying to undermine the country are like Adinijah and Absalom, whose inordinate ambition set them against their father, King David, and the people of Israel.

    “If the President is very healthy and able to discharge his duties, there will be no room for Absalom and Adonijah.

    “So, anyone with inordinate ambition is an Absalom. Those who don’t learn from history are Adonijah. Adonijah did not learn from what happened to Absalom and he came to wrong conclusion.

    “Do not forget that we have constitution in this country, as bad as the constitution is, as unacceptable as it appears, as full of potholes as it may be, it is still the constitution of Nigeria and certain things are stipulated there.

    “In the light of the fact that the President cannot discharge his duties, he must transit power to the Vice President of this country. This President has never led without transmitting that power.

    “And if you want to know whether the President has not recover, I said during this sermon that the country was in the path of recovery, give him chance. Niger Republic has not seen their President for a while. Nigeria needs an energetic leader, the circumstances of our polity has brought us to where we are.”

  • NAFRC appeals for agric loan as 295 military personnel retire

    The Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC), Oshodi, Lagos has appealed to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to facilitate loans through the Ministry of Agriculture for retired  military personnel.

    NAFRC’s Commandant Air Vice Marshal Ajibola Jekennu made the plea at the weekend during the retirement of 295 military personnel, who underwent a six months skills acquisition training/rehabilitation to prepare them for life after service.

    According to Jekennu, 80 per cent of the retirees, comprising 270 from the Nigerian Army, 18 from the navy and seven from the Air Force, indicated interest in venturing into agriculture.

    He said: “In line with the current diversification policy of the Federal Government, over 80 per cent of the graduating trainees opted for agriculture.

    “This exposed them to various trends in agriculture and we helped their training by emplacing two green houses within the premises of the centre.

    “The current management is desirous of transforming the centre to a modern training institution that will favourably compete with any of it’s kind anywhere in the world.

    “In this quest, we have enjoyed tremendous support and encouragement from the Minister of Defence, defence committees of the National Assembly and the Permanent Secretary, MOD.”

    To the retirees he said: “Bear in mind that as retired members of the armed forces, the society you are going back to expects much from you.

    “It is important that you uphold the professional ethics you have imbibed over the years by remaining obedient to constituted authority.”

    Commending the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, on the plan to review the mandate of NAFRC in synchronisation with modern trends, Jekennu said they had commenced renovation of a 50-room hostel facility ahead of the take off.

    He said: “It is worth noting that at no other time has the centre been given attention in terms of capital projects since inception like it has enjoyed in the last couple of months.”

    In his address, Defence Minister, Mansur Dan-Ali, urged the retirees not to misuse their retirement benefits, adding that they should avoid negative influence from friends and family members.

    The minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Danjuma Sheni said President Muhammadu Buhari was committed to ensuring proper resettlement of ex-service personnel.

    He said: “The Federal Government is not relenting in its efforts to improve the welfare of service personnel. It has vigorously stemmed the tide of corruption while pursuing due process towards ensuring transparency, accountability and rule of law.

    “I enjoin you to key into this laudable strides towards building our democratic values and sustainable national development.

    “As ambassadors of the armed forces, you are also obliged to reflect the core values of loyalty, integrity and unalloyed service on your societal interactions and activities, particularly in the area of national security.

  • FRSC chief advises military, others on traffic rules

    Badagry Unit Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Assistant Corps Commander Fatai Adesina Bakare, has decried the high rate at which the military and paramilitary officers violate road traffic rules.

    Commander Bakare spoke at a public enlightenment organised by the Command for officers and men of the Nigerian Army, 243 Recce Battalion Ibereko, Badagry in Lagos State.

    He said it was pathetic that uniformed men break the law because of their professions, adding that their conduct did not portray them as good citizens.

    He said law enforcement officers were expected to show good example in the society, especially while driving, instead of using the uniform to harass or intimidate other road users.

    Commander Bakare said there was no immunity for officers on the road, adding that everybody, irrespective of the professions or status was expected to obey the supremacy of traffic laws.

    He accused uniformed men of driving on the road with worn-out tyres, invalid drivers’ licence and against traffic anytime they encounter traffic snarl, instead of assisting to control it.

    The FRSC chief said many military men drive in the night without headlights, adding that some of them do not use helmets while riding their motorcycles.

    Commander Bakare appealed to the leadership of various enforcement agencies to call their men to order in order to stop engaging in any act that constitute hazard to other road users.

    He said: “The road is expected to be used in accordance with the rules and regulations. Every road user should be disciplined, careful and be considerate to others to ensure safer roads. Safety on the roads is everybody’s business.’’

    He urged motorists not to drive on the road, especially in the night, without headlights or faulty lights; neither should they obstruct any section of the road with vehicles or in any other way that may affect free flow of traffic.

    He appealed to motorists to ensure that their vehicles have good wipers that could enable them to have clear visibility of the windscreen as we are in the rainy season. He said vehicle owners are expected to have good tyres that would grip well whenever the brakes were applied during the wet season. He stressed that traffic pointers, head lights and brakes were also important and therefore should be in good conditions.

    Bakare warned motorists against driving during the wet season without good wipers and tyres, urging them to park when they felt they could not move well due to heavy rains than to continue driving as this could be risky.

  • Northern women urged to join military

    Former Comptroller, Passport Office of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Hajia Fatima Ahmed Godowoli, has called on northern women to join the military, arguing that service to Nigeria, through the military or para-military, is not for men alone.

    She made the call during her pulling-out ceremony.

    Godowoli said she was able to weather the storms during her 35-year service through perseverance, dedication and passion for the job.

    Her words: “Being the first female Passport officer was really a great challenge for me, but I weathered the storm and here am I today retiring, but not tired. I will like to borrow a leaf from our former Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, to say I am stepping aside. Some of my colleagues are not here to witness their retirement and at 55, I thank God for serving this nation for 35 years.

    “Moreso, this job is a distinguishing one. You meet a lot of people with differences, coupled with series of challenges within the security setup, and if you are not up and doing, or fail to challenge yourself to be academically and physically bold as a woman, you won’t perform.

    “I will like to see more women in uniform, coming up as highly educated and learned persons, most especially in the north. This world is not for men alone, they should give us chance as women too.”

  • FRSC chief advises military, others on traffic rules

    Badagry Unit Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Assistant Corps Commander Fatai Adesina Bakare, has decried the high rate at which the military and paramilitary officers violate road traffic rules.

    Commander Bakare spoke at a public enlightenment organised by the Command for officers and men of the Nigerian Army, 243 Recce Battalion Ibereko, Badagry in Lagos State.

    He said it was pathetic that uniformed men break the law because of their professions, adding that their conduct did not portray them as good citizens.

    He said law enforcement officers were expected to show good example in the society, especially while driving, instead of using the uniform to harass or intimidate other road users.

    Commander Bakare said there was no immunity for officers on the road, adding that everybody, irrespective of the professions or status was expected to obey the supremacy of traffic laws.

    He accused uniformed men of driving on the road with worn-out tyres, invalid drivers’ licence and against traffic anytime they encounter traffic snarl, instead of assisting to control it.

    The FRSC chief said many military men drive in the night without headlights, adding that some of them do not use helmets while riding their motorcycles.

    Commander Bakare appealed to the leadership of various enforcement agencies to call their men to order in order to stop engaging in any act that constitute hazard to other road users.

    He said: “The road is expected to be used in accordance with the rules and regulations. Every road user should be disciplined, careful and be considerate to others to ensure safer roads. Safety on the roads is everybody’s business.’’

    He urged motorists not to drive on the road, especially in the night, without headlights or faulty lights; neither should they obstruct any section of the road with vehicles or in any other way that may affect free flow of traffic.

    He appealed to motorists to ensure that their vehicles have good wipers that could enable them to have clear visibility of the windscreen as we are in the rainy season. He said vehicle owners are expected to have good tyres that would grip well whenever the brakes were applied during the wet season. He stressed that traffic pointers, head lights and brakes were also important and therefore should be in good conditions.

    Bakare warned motorists against driving during the wet season without good wipers and tyres, urging them to park when they felt they could not move well due to heavy rains than to continue driving as this could be risky.

  • INNOSON backs DICON to produce military hardware

    INNOSON Group is willing to collaborate with the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) to meet the ordnance needs of the armed forces and other security agencies, its chairman, Dr. Innocent Chukwuma, has said.

    He spoke when he visited DICON headquarters and the Ordnance Factory with his chief engineer and other experts in his industry for an on the spot assessment of DICON’s facilities.

    His word: “DICON will surely not remain the same after this collaborative effort must have come to fruition. I am a Nigerian and I have great passion for the quick industrialisation of my country. I am highly optimistic if DICON moves well, Nigeria will also move well because it occupies a very strategic position in our collective efforts to move the nation forward in terms of local production of what we need.”

    According to the firm chairman, Nigeria has something on ground to win respect of “other global competitors, who would be ever ready to make our nation a dumping ground for their finished products, if only we would take the bull by the horn to develop what we have”.

    Chukwuma stated that his visit to DICON was not in pursuit of money but interest of his beloved country.

    He stressed that the growth of Nigeria’s potentials occupies a central place in his heart rather than pursuit of money.

    DICON Director General Maj-Gen. Bamidele Ogunkale noted that the corporation, through the ingenuity of its technical workers, complimented by an array of functional machines at the corporation’s Ordnance Factories, was able to refurbish assorted weapons back-loaded to the corporation for repairs from military theatre of operations across the country.

    He added that some challenges such as obsolete equipment in some areas, lack of spares, necessitated his efforts in approaching some selected industries in the eastern part of Nigeria of which Innoson Group was number one.

  • Opadokun: blame military for Kwara’s woes

    The convener, Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reform (CODER) Ayo Opadokun has accused the military of being responsible for the stunted development of Kwara State in its 50 years of existence.

    The former spokesman of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, added that the military dictators used the state as guinea pig by their “surrogates to come, feast and chop in Kwara.”

    Chief Opadokun who hails from Offa, Offa Local Government Area of the state, said this in Ilorin, the state capital, at a colloquium organised by the Movement for Genuine Change (MGC).

    He said, “The dynasts who installed their loyalists constituted themselves as the albatrosses and demagogues on the civilian governors so much that no significant achievements were recorded. Even while they put up structures, the costs were scandalously prohibitive and unjustifiable. All the promises made as to the benefits that the people will derive from some ventures remain a mirage.”

    Similarly, former governorship aspirant in the state, Sunday Babalola said that the state had not done well in the last 50 years. Babalola, an engineer, singled out the administrations of Brigadier David Bamgboye and Colonel George Innih for scintillating performance.

    “But aside those two, everybody that came after that did not do much to project the state positively and progressively. Lawal’s administration would have been more a commendable model of development, if his activities had spread across the 16 local government areas of the state.  He forgot the many areas that make up the state. Dr Bukola Saraki was worse. He did not basically do anything. Ahmed is just Saraki’s surrogate there. Many of the leaders that have worked in the state have not added value. When the state was bigger and maybe the size could not make them do what they are supposed to do.

    “But you find Bamgboye and George Innih doing very well within the limited knowledge they had and the limited resources they had.

    “After that we have had a lot of resources that had been squandered. It is very sad that there is no vision for the state by the leaders, no direction that the state is following.  You cannot say this is what this state will be in the next twenty or even five years except if there is a change of political leadership which is not based on religion or where the person comes from. As long as we keep saying the governor must come from a particular place, then we cannot get result.

    “We need a visioner who knows what he wants to achieve in the four years to lead the state. Until we get that, we cannot make progress. If we are using sentiments, then we cannot get any result. That will mean that in another 50 years, the state will remain the way it is unless something changes.

    “Kwarans should wake up and participate in politics and should not be bought over by pecuniary offers or money. They should look out for people who will work for them and put such people in leadership position or in power; no matter where they come from or their religious inclinations. Religion does not feed people, and tribe does not feed people,” Engr. Babalola who was represented by an official of the group, John Adeboye, added.

    Reacting, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed on media and communications, Dr Muyideen Akorede said “Kwara State has recorded growth in leaps and bounds since 1967 when it was created. The Kwara State of today has no resemblance to that of 1967 development-wise. Look at the infrastructure network, the number of universities, the level of urbanisation, the expansion of towns and cities. It is absurd to claim that Kwara hasn’t witnessed development since those governors.

    “Every subsequent administration has built on its predecessors and recorded successes. None can be labeled a failure.”

     

  • Military: There’s no coup plot against Buhari’s govt

    There is no coup plot or any plan whatsoever to derail the present democratic governance, the military said yesterday.

    It expressed their unalloyed loyalty to the constitution and President Muhammadu Buhari as the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces. The Armed Forces would not derail from protecting the nation’s democracy and would completely surbordinate themselves to civil rule, the military said.

    The Director of Defence Information at the Defence Headquarters, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, at a news conference in Abuja, said the clarification became necessary following the comments credited to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai and the reactions the comment generated across the country and at the international level.

    He said : “What I am telling you on behalf of the Armed Forces of Nigeria is that nobody should be afraid of any coup. The Armed Forces is totally loyal to the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, and in complete subordination to civil authority.

    “At all levels of commands, we are out there, including our troops, and we will remain focussed and conscious about the oath of allegiance that we have taken and guided by the constitution of this country. So, that is my remark to you, to build on that and then reassure the general public that there is nothing like coup; nothing like that would ever be supported or encouraged.

    “If there is a sign of anything like that, then there are instances and guiding rules and regulations and procedures, which we normally follow, and we want to assure Nigerians that we are not in a different world, on our own. We know what is happenning all over the whole world, our armed forces , and crop of officers and men we have are modern. We are in tune with the best international practice of governance and that is democracy, democracy, democracy.”

    Maj.-Gen. Enenche who was flanked at the briefing by Army spokesman Brig.-Gen Sani Usman and the representative of Navy spokesperson, Commander Edward Yeibo, said the statement credited to the Army chief about relationships between some civilians and army personnel was routine, to ensure conformity with ethics of the military in all ramifications.

    The Defence spokesperson said: “ Professionally, it is a command responsibility to caution officers and men on routine basis to conform to the ethics of the military in all ramifications, which includes interactions and exchange of visits, among others. This command responsibility is exercised right from the highest echelon, such as the office of the Service Chiefs down to the lowest levels of command. Hence, the caution from the Army in this case .

    “ Secondly, administratively, officers and men are regularly cautioned to exercise command and control by Appropriate Superior Authorities through commanders at various levels. This is to prevent members of the armed forces from derailing from their core focus of total dedication to their oath of allegiance. Thus, it is a usual practice in military administration.

    ”However, it is pertinent to state that if there are signs of actions that point to likely breaches of military code of conduct, as it were, cautions or warnings are issued with possible investigations following. Thus, in the present situation, the Armed Forces and the Army in particular has employed the due process to ensure that officers and men remain committed to performing their constitutional roles. As such, the mention of coup plots from some quarters are assertions which are not confirmed.

    “At this juncture, let me assure all Nigerians and lovers of this country that the Armed Forces is and will remain totally loyal to the Commander-ln-Chief (C-in-C) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and in complete subordination to civil rule.

    “Furthermore, all fears about a coup should be allayed as the contemporary Nigerian Military is abreast with the best international practices in governance, which is democracy. In this regard, the military high and other levels of command will continue to ensure effective training and administration, to ensure that the armed Forces of Nigeria, retain its place of pride amongst the military globally.”

    He dismissed as untrue the allegations that soldiers were unduly attached to some politicians, saying “only the Minister of Defence and the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces have soldiers attached to them”.

    Maj. Gen Enenche cautioned Nigerians against jumping into conclusions on certain issues, insisting that administrative procedures which  require time, would have to be explored.

    He said the armed forces were concerned about the interception and proliferation of arms at the nation’s borders and ports, adding that they are working alongside other security agencies and committees established by the government to arrest the situation.

    On the renewed efforts of insurgents and recent bomb explosions by the Boko Haram group, Maj.-Gen. Enenche described those involved as diehard insurgents who refused to be de-radicalised, adding that such groups blow up themselves when they are about to be apprehended by security forces.

    He that within a short period, the armed forces would clear the Northeast of such insurgent groups.

     

  • Military dismisses B’Haram Commander’s videos as empty threats

    Military dismisses B’Haram Commander’s videos as empty threats

    Two new video by one of the Boko Haram Commanders released by the Federal Government in exchange for the 82 Chibok girls in which he issued threats to attack the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja and other locations have been dismissed by the Nigerian Military as “mere propaganda.”
    The videos which was posted on social media by a freelance journalist Ahmad Sakilda also featured three of the abducted Chibok girls holding an Ak47 rifle while one identified as Maida Yakubu also spoke threatening the country.
    The Commander, identified as Shuaibu Moni also issued threats to Nigeria and President Muhammadu Buhari saying there can be no peace but war between the group and Nigeria. He also said more than five Commanders from the terror group were released in exchange for the Chibok girls while also warning of imminent attack in Abuja.
    He said there has been no “sulhu” or dialogue with the government and there wont be saying “ only war is between us.”
    But in a swift response, the Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Sani Usman said the terrorists have lost touch of current realities. “ In the first clip, the terrorist among other things made boastful and spurious allegations, while the second clip was about alleged indoctrination of some of the abducted Chibok school girls in captivity. We wish to state that the terrorist has lost touch with current realities,” Usman said.
    He also said the videos were designed and aimed at seeking relevance and attention. “ As you are all aware, he was a direct beneficiary of the process that led to the release of 82 of the abducted girls and does not have a say or capacity to do anything, therefore his threats should be ignored,” the Army declared.
    The military also assured the public that the Nigerian Army is totally ”committed to the Federal Government’s determined efforts of rescuing all abducted persons and peace in the country.”
    Usman: “ We will not relent our determined efforts of clearing the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists as manifested through the ongoing clearance operations. The Nigerian Air Force is unrelenting in its bombardment while other security agencies are equally doing their best. We should not give in to terrorists propaganda and empty threats, we have come to a very critical stage of the fight against terrorism and insurgency in Nigeria that require more patriotism and security consciousness.
    “Gone were the days when people glamourize terrorists and their criminal acts,” he said.

  • 55 people died in military detention centre in Maiduguri in 5 months—Group

    A human rights group, Global Amnesty Watch Foundation, has disclosed that 55 people died during the course of investigation of their alleged link with Boko Haram at the Giwa Barracks detention facility in Maiduguri between December 2016 and April 2017.

    Amnesty International has however described Giwa Barracks as a place of death where they accused Nigerian military of arbitrarily detention of Boko Haram suspects causing the death of over 240 people including about 29 children.

    The army has since denied the report. In a fact finding mission of human right violation by troops of Operation Lafiya Dole, the Country Representative of Global Amnesty Watch Foundation, Helen Adesola, in a press briefing in Maiduguri disclosed that 55 people died at the military detention camp in Maiduguri.

    According to her, those deaths occurred before 593 Boko Haram suspects were cleared and handed over to the Borno State government for rehabilitation at Bulumkutu rehabilitation centre. Mrs Adesola noted that their findings resulting to the causes of the death was as a result of “heat wave” instead of meningitis as was reported in the media.

    “Medically, the treatment and prevention for heat waves is the exposure of the detainees to fresh air and proper hydration. This the centre is doing as the detainees are being brought out into the open to sit under trees and adequate drinking water is being provided

    “The detention facility, like many other communities dealing with this kind of issues requires additional intervention to ensure that authorities are able to better cater for sick inmates,” Adesola explained She called on the Borno State government to be in the driver’s seat in the rehabilitation of over 593 cleared detainees who are mostly citizens and residents of the state, stressing that, “The Borno State government must not abandon them even though they are being held on the suspicion of their linkages with Boko Haram terror group,” .

    The Foundation, unlike Amnesty International which sees Nigeria military as huge violators of human rights at Giwa Barrack said the Nigerian Army, is doing all within its power to ensure the wellbeing of detainees in custody, but however express need for an improvement.