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Tag: Osinbajo

  • Acting President Osinbajo’s Last Order On Terrorism

    If I had a chance in my youthful days, I would have enlisted into one arm of the Nigerian Armed Forces. But I was frustrated, as several attempts I made for admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Kaduna were met with a brick wall. After the third failed attempt, I resigned to fate and gave up pursuing a career in the military.

    But to say, I have a passion for the military is grossly understating my feelings. I am very emotional about soldiering because its nature does not only blend with me, but perfectly communes with my adventurous nature.

    The satisfaction that I am battling to protect someone else, known or unknown to me, drives me crazy. That I can stand to be counted among citizens of Nigeria who can sacrifice their lives to protect and defend the territorial integrity and sovereignty of my country confers on me an infinite feeling of fulfillment and heroism.

    In addition, what keeps me glued to the military is also the sacredness any military personnel attach to “Orders”. No officer violates the sanctity of “order” and all eyes are set on the “last order”, which notifies of a detour from an action in progress and induces fresh compliance with the new direction. No officer would want to be caught napping for flouting an “Order”. Indeed, if other professionals had imbibed the discipline of unquestionable compliance with “order” religiously as done in the military, the world and Nigeria, in particular would have been a better and more cherished place.

    And the effectiveness of orders in the Nigerian military has been brought to our attention once more, in the ongoing counter-insurgency campaigns in the country. When Boko Haram insurgency raged with consuming fire, especially in Nigeria’s Northeast, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed new Service Chiefs to energize the anti-terrorism campaigns.

    The President, who doubles as the Commander-In-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, appointed the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai as leader of the counter-insurgency war and the new assignment came with an “order” that the military command and control centre in Abuja be relocated to the hotbed of terrorism in Maiduguri. It got instant compliance. And the President fleshed it by ordering the Nigerian military to defeat Boko Haram Terrorism (BHT) within record time.

    That was the order from the Commander-In-Chief to Gen. Buratai. And he lived every day working assiduously to not just comply with this presidential order, but also to post positive results in accordance with the order. The Army boss led our troops to the trenches and the tale of Boko Haram insurgency began to twist in favour of victory for Nigeria. By December 2015, barely months after this order to Gen. Buratai, Nigerian troops decimated Boko Haram insurgents considerably reducing their capacity to commit reckless atrocities on Nigerians.

    At the outset of 2016, Gen. Buratai had reclaimed nearly all Nigerian territories captured by insurgents and by the middle of the same year; Nigerian troops had completely overwhelmed terrorists. The stage was set for their final defeat and in December 2016, Gen. Buratai fully complied with the order to defeat Boko Haram insurgents, with the demystification and dismantling of the formerly dreaded Sambisa forest in Borno state, insurgents most protective enclave.

    That is the seriousness the military attach to “orders”. And the stage of the counter-insurgency war now is at the level of total elimination of terrorism by tracking down fleeing remnants of Boko Haram and also, stopping their capacity to strike soft targets.

    Therefore, days back, Gen. Buratai ordered the Commander, Theatre Command of Operation Lafiya Dole in Maiduguri, Major Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru to capture the factional leader of Boko Haram sect, Abubakar Shekau “dead or alive,” within 40 days. It’s the first indication that Shekau is in trouble as Major Gen. Attahiru has just assumed duty to co-ordinate the counter-insurgency operations in Nigeria’s Northeast. And as accustomed to the military, it’s certain that the Theatre Commander would not play with this crucial order.

    I assumed the COAS’s order was the final, until another overriding order was issued to Gen. Buratai by the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo. The Acting President was clear that Shekau should not only be arrested, but the Nigerian Service Chiefs should relocate to Borno state and through concerted efforts, scale up actions to halt further terrorists attacks on soft targets. It means the two complementary orders are being tackled simultaneously.

    And I believe since the military religiously comply with orders, they are also mindful not to go beyond the dictates of the orders. President Buhari ordered the defeat of Boko Haram terrorism and it came to pass. Perhaps, Boko Haram is yet to be totally eliminated because there was no order to this effect until now, which accounts for the flashes of suicide bomb attacks in parts of Borno.

    What infinitely excites me is that all the necessary orders have been issued now on the final military destination with Boko Haram terrorism and of course, the last one emanating from the Acting President, Professor Osinbajo. I have no modicum of doubt about the hard times awaiting Boko Haram insurgents, as a military officer would prefer death than fail to execute an order to its conclusive end.

    And relieving still, the order is backed by action and collective approach as exemplified by the relocation of Service Chiefs and Heads of other security agencies to Borno state. It appears to me, Boko Haram insurgents dread orders and the present crop of Service Chiefs who are in Maiduguri to serve humanity and save their country have never failed to fruitfully execute orders concerning the counter-insurgency war. I can safely assert that the die is now cast and terrorists have tougher times ahead. That is the essence of the “Last Order,” on Boko Haram by the Acting President, Professor Osinbajo.

    Again, it also means the current tempo of the counter-insurgency war is no more business as usual and tailored to finally eliminate terrorism from our shores. Nigerians should be assured that Nigerian troops will chase Shekau and his remnants of foot soldiers into the darkest of holes, in compliance with this order.

    I can happily sight the days of Boko Haram torment of Nigerians and our country gradually ebbing out and I feel, it’s better for terrorists to surrender than be caught up in the crossfire in the course of executing these “Orders”. Myself and indeed, countless Nigerians appreciate the sacrifices of these tactful Service Chiefs and the courageous Nigerian troops. We cannot wait to see Shekau and his minions boil in their own stew.

    Abiodun writes from Ibadan, Oyo State.‎

  • Osinbajo stops two ICPC nominees over graft probe

    Osinbajo stops two ICPC nominees over graft probe

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has withdrawn the appointment of two nominees for the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC).

    The government, in a statement last Tuesday by the Director (Press) in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Bolaji Adebiyi, appointed 14 members and chairman for ICPC.

    But, a message on the Twitter handle of the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, said yesterday the appointments of the two nominees, which was subject to confirmation of the Senate, have been withdrawn due to allegations and petitions against them.

    The message, however, did not mention the names of the two nominees.

    The postings reads: “We are stepping down two of the new ICPC board nominees, who have ongoing investigation issues with the commission as this presents a conflict.

    “While existence of allegations or petitions against someone shouldn’t necessarily disqualify them from considerations for appointments, this case presents a peculiarity as we have confirmed that the agency in which they are to serve is indeed investigating the two of them.”

    The names of the nominees released on Tuesday are Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye as chairman. Members include Dr. Grace N. Chinda, Okolo Titus M, Obiora Igwedebia, Mrs. Olubukola Balogun, Group Captain Sam Ewang (rtd).

    Other members are Justice Adamu Bello, Hannatu Mohammed, Abdullahi Maikano Saidu, Dr. Sa’ad Alanamu, Yahaya Umar Dauda, Khamis Ahmed Mailantarki and Maimuna Aliyu.

    Prof. Musa Usman Abubakar was to serve as secretary in the ICPC.

  • No going back on new vision for Niger Delta – Osinbajo

    No going back on new vision for Niger Delta – Osinbajo

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday night declared that no effort would be spared to implement the new vision for the Niger Delta.

    Stressing that the Federal Government has been committed to the vision, he said the government would be fair to all parties towards implementation of the vision.

    He stated these during over three hours closed doors meeting with members of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, the acting President endorsed the integration of PANDEF in the Federal Government’s Inter-Ministerial Group tasked with the implementation of the vision

    According to him, the federal government is fully committed to realising a new and prosperous Niger Delta developed through forthright partnerships between federal government, state governments, private sector and local communities.

    He said: “We are fully committed and thankful for your contributions and feedback. We are working on this day by day. From the beginning, we took the 16-point demand very seriously and we also developed our own plan mostly based on those demands.

    “Personally, I believe the issues of the Niger Delta must be addressed. When I undertook the visit to the Niger Delta region, my sole intention for participating in this process is that we need forthrightness and a hands-on approach.

    “There is no week that has passed that I have not held one meeting or the other on the Niger Delta issue. I have spent quality time looking at how we can implement this (new vision).

    “It can’t be done overnight. We are also looking at the integrity of the process so we can meet our targets. We are not out of line. Everything is on course the way we set it out. We have got to do it right.”

     

     

  • Osinbajo to African govts: provide for your citizens to avoid irregular migration

    Osinbajo to African govts: provide for your citizens to avoid irregular migration

    ACTING President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday urged governments of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to provide basic amenities for their citizens to avoid irregular migration.

    Osinbajo expressed shock at the rate at which innocent youth die trying to cross the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea.

    He spoke in Abuja while declaring open a two-day ECOWAS Heads of Immigration meeting, co-hosted by the Nigeria Immigration Service, (NIS) with the theme: “Fostering regional collaboration towards effective and efficient migration management in West Africa”.

    Osinbajo said there was need to strengthen capacity and synergy towards robust intelligence gathering and sharing among relevant agencies of member states.

    He acknowledged that the region faced security challenges and called for collaboration to tackle the development without delay.

    The Acting President, who was represented by Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama, advised countries to embrace and put in place latest technology for safety of their citizens.

     His words: “This meeting is very important. This is part of efforts to strengthen the bond of unity among ECOWAS member countries and its governments. We have a number of incidents with Nigerians having difficulties in entering countries, sometimes when we have valid travel documents.

    “We must ensure that we strengthen cooperation among member states in the implementation of ECOWAS protocol on free movement of persons, right of residence and establishment, in the light of the prevailing security challenges within the sub-region.

    “Strengthening capacity and synergy towards robust intelligence gathering and sharing among relevant agencies of member states is also key. We do have security challenges within our sub-region and we should develop mechanism on how to tackle this. We should put in place latest technology to ensure the safety of our citizen.

    “We should begin to fashion out proactive measures aimed at reducing the menace of irregular migration among member states. We must fashion out solutions to tackle irregular migration.

    “We as government must provide an enabling environment in all our ECOWAS countries by providing for all our citizens to be able to grow and develop, to have education and job so that they will not be dying trying to cross the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea. These two days are very important. It is my hope that this meeting will not just be a talk shop. We need to strengthen security.

    The ECOWAS heads of Immigration, which was inaugurated in 2015, is meant to bring together officials of the immigration service by comparing experiences and solving issues of interest.

    Minister of Interior Lt. Gen. Abdulrahaman Dambazau (rtd) said all hands must be on deck to fight irregular migration.

     Dambazau explained that in as much as migration helps in the development of any country, “we need constant collaboration to achieve our goals and ensure that we all work toward eradicating irregular migration.  This meeting will help us compare notes on how to move forward”.

     The president of ECOWAS Marcel Alain De Souza said the region should not rest on its oars at putting an end to irregular migration.

     Comptroller General (CG) of the NIS Muhammad Babandede said since the Abuja inaugural meeting of the forum in 2006, ECOWAS commission has sustained the noble vision of fostering regional collaboration towards effective and efficient migration management in West Africa.

  • Taraba Prepares to Welcome Osinbajo

    It was the week of Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku’s birthday anniversary. He added another year to his age on July 30. That special day met him in Kaduna where he was on a private visit. There were no special birthday ceremonies. He just attended a church service in company of his wife, Anna where no official announcement was even made about the fact that the day was his birthday anniversary.

     But before going to church, Ishaku was ambushed by some members of his personal staff with birth greetings soon as they realised he had woken up and was on his way down to the living room of his Kaduna residence. Later, it was the turn of his security staff and then members of his media crew. They all took their turns to sing birthday songs for the Governor and to wish him well. All of these happened in Kaduna except that of his media crew which took place in the evening of that day in Abuja.

    In his brief remarks in the church, Ishaku assured the people of Taraba State of his determination to ensure that peace and development are achieved for the state. He urged the people to play their own role by being law-abiding and tolerant of one another so that peace could reign in all communities in the state. He said his administration has already made remarkable progress in the provision of water to many communities, improved the quality of health services and provided job opportunities to thousands of people through direct employment and skill acquisition programmes of his administration and the Hope Afresh programme of his wife.

    He also told his audience that peace has already returned to Mambilla where herdsmen and farmers recently clashed. “Mambilla is now calm. We have also provided succour for victims and resettled many of the displaced persons”, he said, and appealed to communities in Mambilla to let peace to reign so that plans by government to develop the area will not be jeopardised.

    Back home in Jalingo August 2, Governor Ishaku began preparations for the impending visit of Acting President Yemi Osinbajo. The august visitor who is coming to this blessed state in the month of August is expected to commission a few of the Ishaku administration’s numerous completed projects. These include the popular Green House project, Kona Road and a water project in Jalingo. The Green House is a rare model farm, the first of its type in Nigeria, even West Africa. It produces vegetable of various varieties, tomatoes, pepper and cucumber, among others. Ishaku spent the better part of the week visiting sites of these projects.

    At the Green House project, hundreds of people, many of them workers on the farm, trooped out to greet Governor Ishaku. They turned the visit into a kind of carnival by singing and dancing in appreciation of the government’s decision to establish the farm that has given them jobs and improved the food situation in the state. The Governor toured various departments of the farm and gave specific instructions on what the contractors must do as part of preparations to receive the Acting President on the farm.

    On Thursday, Governor Ishaku’s convoy zoomed off to Wukari on projects inspection. The Wukari General Hospital, one of the three that government is renovating under its rescue agenda in the health sector, is among the projects Ishaku inspected. Work on the project is more than 70 percent completed. The hospital was built by the Northern Regional government in the 60s and facilities there had not been improved at all since then. The Ishaku administration is giving the hospital a complete facelift that will turn it into a brand new hospital with modern facilities. New and modern equipment already imported for the hospitals are awaiting the completion of the renovation work to be installed. One hospital each will be renovated in the other two senatorial zones of the state. Work on the other two will start after the completion of the Wukari project. Ishaku also inspected road projects in Wukari Local Government Area during the visit.

    During the week, the government announced a change of the burial date of the former Governor, Danbaba Danfulani Suntai. The burial was initially scheduled for August 5 but had to be changed to August 19 because the first date was conflicting with several other high profile national events that would prevent many high profile dignitaries from attending the burial. Suntai died after a protracted illness that resulted from a plane crash which he personally piloted in 2013. He had survived the crash but the injuries sustained had taken him to several hospitals at home and overseas until he died recently.

    A burial committee set up by the state government is already working assiduously to achieve a befitting state burial which the government had promised to accord the late Governor. He will be buried in Suntai, his home town in Bali Local Government Area.

    Reactions to the recent signing of the Bill on Anti-open grazing and establishment of ranches law in Taraba State by Governor Ishaku have been largely positive. There have been many positive commends at some events and on social media during the week. A lot of people seem to have only bothered to read the provisions of the Bill after it had become law. The law has won a lot more support and it is being celebrated in various places, including schools, churches and mosques. Reports have it that some pastors and Imams have been explaining the provisions of the law to their members during worship sessions and reactions to the enactment of the law are gradually changing from the initial resistance by some people to almost wholesale acceptance of the law as the best step government has taken towards resolving permanently crisis arising from open and unregulated grazing.

    The law is a product deep and profound reflection on the part of Governor Ishaku on the need to find a lasting solution to frequent clashes between herdsmen and farmers in the state. The plan to solve the problem through legislation was part of the items listed in Ishaku’s famous Green Book. The book was published even before Ishaku became governor. At the signing of the Bill into law recently, Ishaku took time to remind the select audience that witnessed the event that the law was a product of a patriotic concern to solve a problem that greatly devastated social and economic life in the state and rendered many people orphans, widows and widowers prematurely. He urged the people to support the law and to ensure that its implementation is hitch-free and to serve the purpose for which it was intended.

  • Osinbajo tasks ECOWAS on free movement, regional security

    Osinbajo tasks ECOWAS on free movement, regional security

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday urged the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to ensure free movement of its citizens while strengthening regional security.

    The acting President made the call at the ECOWAS Heads of Immigration meeting‎ in Abuja.

    The meeting was designed to foster regional collaboration and migration management.

    Osinbajo, who was represented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, also called for more effective and proactive migration management system in the sub-region.

    “We have to find a sub-regional mechanism to solving insecurity challenges and irregular migration in‎ ECOWAS,” he said.

    He said that despite the need for‎ free movement of persons within the sub-region, concerted efforts must be put in place to address the attendant security challenges such as human trafficking and terrorism.

    He charged immigration and security agencies within member states to develop a robust security gathering and sharing mechanism to address irregular migration and security challenges in the region.

    The Minister of Interior, Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau  (retd), said all hands should be on deck to address the perennial challenge of irregular migration in the region.

    “This meeting will help to strengthen cooperation amongst member states in the implementation of ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons in the light of the prevailing security challenges within the region,” Dambazau said.

    NAN

     

     

  • Youths promoting hate speeches, says Osinbajo

    Youths promoting hate speeches, says Osinbajo

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has lamented that people under the age of 50, who never witnessed the “mental and physical scars of war”, are those engaging in misleading and vocal demands for secession as well as hate speeches.

    But, he said agitators’ clamour for balkanisation of Nigeria is doomed to fail.

    He spoke yesterday at the opening of a two-day national seminar on, “Unity in Diversity: Security and National Development”, which took at the Institute for Security Studies in Abuja.

    The Acting President was supported in his stance by former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) and the Director-General of Department of State Services (DSS) Lawal Daura.

    The three eminent citizens lamented that the younger generations that never witnessed the civil war were being aided by social media to disseminate hate speeches and separatist agitations.

    Three traditional rulers – Chairman of Niger State Council of Traditiona Rulers Alhaji Abubakar, Chairman of South-South Traditional Rulers, King Edmund Daukoru and his counterpart in the South-East zone, Eze Ebere Chidi – delivered goodwill addresses affirming their commitment to one Nigeria.

    Osinbajo, in his 28-minute keynote address at the event, said: “My wife just turned 50 and I told her that everyone of your age, including those under forty, are largely responsible for many of the inflammatory statements that we are hearing these days.

    Osinbajo listed what he described as the “seven false narratives” he discovered after series of consultations with Nigerians from across the country.

    “The first false narrative is that countries formed the way ours was formed are bound to fail and that Nigeria is a mere geographical expression but they do not know that the expression of ‘mere geographical expression’ was first used by a German statesman to describe Italy exactly a century before Nigeria was born,” he said.

    According to Osinbajo, another false narrative was that one particular ethnic or religious group enjoys more benefit or is more responsible for the problem of Nigeria than others.

    He said: “My experience shows exactly the opposite and whenever you look at the charge sheet, where people are being charged for stealing or corruption, you will always find more or less equal representation and ‘unity’.

    “The truth of the matter is that where we have won are the places where we have not paid much attention to ethnic or religious differences; for example, all we want from our football teams is to win, we are not bothered about where they are from or whether they are Muslims or Christians or neither of the two, all we want is for them to score and win,” he added.

    “Another false narrative is that we are better when persons from our own ethnic group are in charge. But history and experience has shown that no ethnic group is necessarily better off because a member of its ethnic group was in position of leadership.

    “Yet another false narrative is that those who make the charges of marginalisation in supposedly in favour of their ethnic or religious group are altruistic but what some of them are really saying is ‘I am asking for myself’.”

    The Acting President emphasised the need to emphatically control the flow of hate speeches.

    He asserted that it was a fallacy for anyone to assume that any part of Nigeria would thrive enough on its own.

    Among five major solutions or things that Nigeria must do, according to Osinbajo, is to respect one another, assurance of safety of life and properties for Nigerians in all parts of the country and ensuring social justice through initiatives like the Federal Government’s N500 billion social investment programme for economic empowerment.

    Describing corruption and impunity as ‘the worst evil this country has ever experienced’, he said no one should attempt to justify any leader’s corrupt practices.

    He added that the youth, who presently constitute two-thirds of Nigeria’s population, must assertively seek power rather than an endless wait to become the so-called “leaders of tomorrow”.

    Gen. Gowon, whom several speakers laud as an icon of Nigeria’s unity, flayed those he described as “emergency national agitators” and their calls for secession, adding that no nation has ever survived multiple wars.

    “Rather than scare away foreign investors, agitators need to think of the danger that their actions pose.

    “The Federal Government need not use force against agitators, except as a measure of last resort.

    “Nigeria as a nation is stronger together, there is unity in our diversity,” Gen. Gowon stated.

    He stressed that the DSS has a responsibility to continue nipping in the bud all potential crises that threaten the nation’s unity and development.

    Director-General of DSS affirmed the secret service’s determination to frontally confront all forces aiming to cause divisions and threaten national growth.

  • We are greater together than apart – Osinbajo

    We are greater together than apart – Osinbajo

    The Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday urged Nigerians to exercise caution in their utterances and respect each other in their conversations and interactions to foster national unity.

    He said “we are greater together than apart.”

    Speaking at a seminar on national unity and stability at the Department of State Security (DSS) Training School, Bwari, Abuja, Osinbajo also advised the citizenry to shun all narratives which foment trouble and create divisions and embrace those that unite.

    The acting President said the language of exchange in the country must be civil, adding that we must not tolerate a situation where people speak in any way they like.

    He was reacting to hate speeches which had crept up in different sections of the country and heat up the polity.

    Osinbajo warned that the Federal Government had no choice than to ensure the security of lives and property of citizens.

    He noted that the administration had initiated series of social investment programmes to promote social justice and give all Nigerians a sense of belonging.

    “The truth is that we have a duty to ensure that we deal seriously with the issue of poverty and social justice,’’ he said, adding that the N500 billion earmarked for social investment programme would be utilised in that direction.

    He said the fund was not for poverty alleviation but specifically meant to correct the social and economic imbalance in the country.

    NAN

  • Osinbajo approves appointments for ICPC, Salaries Commission, others

    Osinbajo approves appointments for ICPC, Salaries Commission, others

    •Sets special panel for recovery of public property

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has approved the appointments of chairmen and members for some Federal Government agencies.

    A statement by the Director of Press in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Bolaji Adebiyi, listed the agencies to include: Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, Investment and Security Tribunal, as well as the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC).

    The Acting President also approved the establishment of a Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property.

    Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye was named as the ICPC Chairman. Other members are: Dr. Grace N. Chinda, Okolo Titus M, Obiora Igwedebia, Mrs. Olubukola Balogun, Group Captain Sam Ewang (rtd.), Justice Adamu Bello, Hannatu Mohammed, Abdullahi Maikano Saidu, Dr. Sa’ad Alanamu, Yahaya Umar Dauda, Khamis Ahmed Mailantarki, Maimuna Aliyu.

    Prof. Musa Usman Abubakar will serve as Secretary to the ICPC.

    The appointment of the chairman is for five years and the tenure for all the members is four years.

    The statement said the appointments are subject to Senate confirmation.

    The National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission has Ekpo Nta, Alhaji Dauda Yahaya and Garba Musa Gulma as full-time commissioners and the part-time commissioners are: Victoria Nnenna Chukwuani, Mr. Geoffery Yeilong, Prof. Ropo Shekoni, Ahmed Mahmud Gumel.

    Other members include: Permanent Secretary, (Establishment) OHCSF and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour & Productivity, Isa Aremu (NLC) and Mr. Chuma Nwankwo (NECA).

    The statement said that the new appointments are for a period of five years.

    The Chairman of the Commission, the statement said, is Richard Egbule and Mr. E. A. Thompson will servr as the Secretary. Both were appointed in August 2014.

    Siaka Isaiah Idoko was named as the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer  of the Investment and Security Tribunal. The full-time members are: Jude I. Udunni, Mr. Nosa Osemwengie, Abubakar A. Ahmad, Albert L. Otesile.

    The part-time members are: Emeka Madubuike, Kasumi Garba Kurfi, Edward O. Ajayi, Onyemaechi E. M. Elujekor and Mamman Bukar Zargana.

    Chidi K. C. Izuwah, an engineer is the Director-General for Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission and the appointment is also subject to Senate confirmation.

    The Acting President exercising the powers conferred on the President by Recovery of Public Property (Special Provisions) Act Cap R4, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 approved the setting up of a Special Presidential Investigation.

    He named the Special Assistant to the President on Prosecution, Okoi Obona-Obla as the chairman of the Panel for the Recovery of Public Property. Mr. Akingbolahan Adeniran will serve as the Secretary.

     

  • More Chibok girls to return soon, says Osinbajo

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has assured members of the #BringBackOurGirls (#BBOG) advocacy that more or all of the abducted Chibok school girls will be rescued soon.

    The Acting President also informed the group that he had been meeting with security chiefs daily and making contacts with hostage negotiators across the world.

    Osinbajo, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Political Matters, Babafemi Ojudu, spoke yesterday in Abuja. He was addressing members of the #BBOG.

    He said the public was kept in the dark about the negotiations for security reasons.

    Said Ojudu: “I have been asked by the Acting President to welcome the group.  The Acting President would have received the group personally but he had to receive the President of Ghana.

    “I’ve been asked to assure you of the suppprt of the government in your agitation for the return of all the girls that are still being held by terrorists in the Northeast.

    “On the issue of the police women being held and the girls, the Acting President has been meeting on a daily basis with the security chiefs, making contacts with negotiators across the world who have helped in the past to help in the negotiation for the release of others. We have not for any moment fogotten the girls who could be any of our children.

    “In the last two weeks, the acting President has helped coordinate the efforts at freeing the kidnapped boys in Lagos. He called on the deputy governors of Ondo and Delta states and security operatives to leave their jobs and go and search for the pupils and when they were rescued, he was the first person to be called.

    “He said that the fact that we are not coming out to say what is being done is strategic and for security reasons negotiations are going on, efforts are being made and intelligence being gathered.  Very soon, more of the girls, if not all, will be brought back to their parents safely.”

    The leader of the #BBOG and former Minister of Education Oby Ezekwesili urged the Federal Government to send a delegation to the parents of the remaining Chibok girls to assure them that the Federal Government  is not sleeping.

    She said: “We want our government to spare no effort in immediately securing the release of the remaining Chibok girls; we want all the 113 girls to be brought back.”