The Nation Newspaper

Tag: take over

  • We’re coming to take over the Assembly – Fleeing Ondo lawmakers

    Sixteen members of the Ondo State House of Assembly who fled the state for safety after the impeachment of the Speaker, Bamidele Oleyelogun and his deputy,Ogundeji Iroju, have indicated their readiness to return to the hallowed chamber and take charge of its leadership. A statement signed by the principal officers and read by the Speaker, Olamide George, called for immediate arrest of the State NURTW Chairman, Jacob Adebo (Idajo) and six other officials of the union.

    The lawmakers alleged that after the impeachment, election and swearing in of Olamide George as the new speaker and Abimbola Fajolu as deputy speaker, men of the State Police  Command, led by the Commissioner of Police,  Gbenga Adeyanju stormed the Speaker’s office to “maintain” a law and order that was never in danger of being breached. According to the statement, “Thugs visited an unimaginable violence on members and staff alike, injuring many and destroying  properties under the watchful eyes and direct supervision of the Commissioner of Police and his men. Curiously, the CP did not lift a finger to help and made no efforts to stop the thugs or to arrest the situation or anyone.

    “In a twist of an already macabre story, the Police have taken to hounding, witch hunting and intimidating the members who participated in the impeachment based on a frivolous allegation of forgery made against them by two lawmakers, Olajide Sunday and Sola Oluyede. It is noteworthy that our members had taken the case to the Vice- President who  asked Governor Fayemi Kayode to step in and resolve the impasse that had ensued between the Governor-backed minority  nine men and the 16 men who were dissatisfied with the then status quo.

    “It is instructive that at the meeting with the Vice President, it was proved beyond any doubt  that the forgery crying duo did sign the petition and merely lied to protect their return tickets granted them by the governor”. The lawmakers lamented that the same Police that could not arrest  one thug among over 200 that invaded the House, has not even deemed it fit to invite NURTW leader for questioning.

    Instead,the lawmakers said, they have been intimidating them to come and answer for a case of forgery which even the weakest attempt at investigation would have shown them was false.The statement reads” We wish to state that we have been made fugitives because of the on-going threats to our lives and the lives of our families by Idajo and his men. We have been prevented from going about our lawful businesses by the continual presence of hordes of thugs who have made the House of Assembly their offices since  November 9.

    “We also demand that the CP, Adeyanju, should be relieved of his self-serving zeal to investigate this matter and hereby call on the highest authority of the Nigeria Police to assume this responsibility to forestall a possible breakdown of law and order in Ondo State”. The lawmakers stressed that as they intended to return to the Assembly to take up their  lawful posts in the Assembly ,they should not be intimidated by any external forces.

     

  • Abidoye to youths: it’s your turn to take over

    Nigeria’s youths should brace up to the challenge of leading the nation because the older generation has failed, the Spiritual Father of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church worldwide, Most Rev Samuel Abidoye, has stated.

    He challenged them to warm up to the reality of leading the nation out of the woods because the older generation has failed the nation.

    Abidoye also urged Christians to participate in the ongoing Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) exercise.

    He added that Christians should collect their cards “and vote their conscience without any compromise of collecting money which really amounts to mortgaging our lives and that of the future generations.”

    The 98- year- old man spoke with reporters at the international headquarters of the church, Galilee Land, Orile Igbon, along Ogbomoso/Ilorin expressway to herald this year’s C$S Movement Ascension of Mont Horeb.

    He however counselled the youths not disappoint nation and their constituents when they get into various leadership positions, saying “from whom much is given, much is also expected”.

    “It has already been established youths constitute largest percentage of the population and with the challenges already created by the elders of the country and support given by some elders, it is an opportunity for them to wake up and be fully prepared to take over mantle of leadership from the elders”, he said.

     

     

     

  • AGF, take over!

    •With police concluding investigation, alleged forgers of senate rules must be prosecuted

    By the provision of section 150 of the 1999 constitution, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), was created. In that provision, the AGF is referred to as the “Chief Law Officer of the Federation and a Minister of the Government of the Federation”. The high responsibilities of that office are provided in section 174 of the constitution; and of note, section 174(3) provides: “In exercising his powers under this section, the Attorney-General of the Federation shall have regard to the public interest, the interest of justice and the need to prevent abuse of legal process”.

    Recently, there is a report that the police have concluded investigation in respect of the alleged forgery of the senate rules, with which the present senate leadership was consequently inaugurated. According to the report, the police investigation established a prima facie case of forgery, and the police have recommended to the AGF, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN), that those indicted should be tried for forgery. For reasons best known to the AGF, he has reportedly refused to prosecute those indicted, or authorise the police to prosecute them, in exercise of his powers under section 174 of the constitution.

    We consider the decision of the AGF a violation of section 174(3) of the 1999 constitution, and we urge President Muhammadu Buhari to weigh in on the side of the supreme law of the land, by supporting the prosecution of the alleged offenders. Indeed, the AGF should not be reminded that the conduct of those who forged the senate rules amounted to a constitutional coup against our grundnorm, from which his enormous powers as AGF, are derived. He should bear in mind the constitutional provision that he is not just a minister of the government, but the chief law officer of the federation.

    As the chief law officer of our country and her nascent democracy, the AGF cannot be seen to show sympathy to law makers who have shockingly turned to law breakers. The AGF must remember that the government of which he is also the minister of justice has been trenchantly fighting corruption since its inception. To now aide or abet corruption, regardless of whose ox is gored, is an aberration, unless he has forsworn allegiance to another authority which he considers more important than the laws of the country and the government that made him a minister.

    No doubt, we appreciate the enormous constitutional powers of the AGF and Minister of Justice, as provided in section 174, which gives him the power “to take over and continue” or “to discontinue at any stage before judgment” criminal proceedings, “instituted or undertaken by him or any other authority or person”. We also recognise judicial pronouncements, as in State vs. Ilori, with respect to power to enter a nolle prosequi, wherein the Supreme Court recognised that under the common law, the AGF is a power unto himself, and that his responsibility is “no doubt a great ministerial prerogative coupled with grave responsibilities”.

    But being a constitutional democracy, section 174(3) insists that the AGF must exercise his responsibility in the overall interest of our country. The AGF’s decision to forestall the fight against political corruption, in our view, is against the interest and general well-being of our country. That is why the President who appointed him should bring pressure on him to act in the country’s interest.  Whatever interest may have made him to act in the manner he did cannot be higher than the constitution and the government he represents.

  • No plan to take over ministries, agencies —Kwara Harmony Holdings chair /Emir Halidu Abubakar

    Emir of Ilesha-Baruba and the Chairman of the Kwara State government integrated company, known as Harmony Holdings, Prof. Halidu Abubakar, in this interview with selected reporters, including ADEKUNLE JIMOH, dismissed rumours making the round that the company is planning to take over the state’s ministries, agencies and parastatals, among other issues.

    What is the ownership structure of Harmony Holdings?

    Harmony Holdings is solely owned by the Kwara State Government. As you know, anybody, either a corporate organisation or individuals, can come together and own a company. Harmony Holdings is an integrated company and 100 percent of its shares are owned by the Kwara State government, which again is a normal thing. If you are from Kwara, it means that you are a stakeholder because Harmony Holdings is owned by your government.

    Since Harmony Holdings started its operation, what are its goals and objectives?

    Let us start from a background. All over the world, in order to promote development, we have what is called DFI – development finance institution. Harmony Holdings plays a dual role. It is what the name applies, holding company for government’s business interests. The whole idea of having Harmony Holdings is because government has diversified business interests. When we started development process in this country, government has diverse business interests; government was having interest in virtually everything. Over the years, it was realised that government had no business in this kind of business. Therefore, the best thing to do for some government was, they sold outright but for some governments, they leveraged on what they had by bringing together all the investments under a holding company. That is how Harmony Holdings came into being. It serves importantly as a DFI; it helps to generate funds for development. It also serves as a holding company to bring together government investments such as Kwara Investment and Property Limited. It is a very important company.

    Initially, it was just an investment company. It was a fantastic idea. People came from all over the country to monitor what was happening there, but over the years, it died down. It operated Kwara Midlands, Kwara Foods, Riverside Food etc. So, when Harmony Holdings came up, it tried to revive the initial objective of using a platform to develop the state. So, Harmony holdings’ scope is very wide. We have already existing investments like Kwara Hotel, Kwara Investment etc. But again as a virile investment company, we are looking into Green Field Investment and areas that have not been mapped out. We have that mandate from government to do what will think we bring in money and development for government and Kwara State generally. So, the scope is very diversified and the objective of course. The final analysis is to bring development to Kwara State. And I think over these three years that we have been on ground; we have done the best we can, under this circumstance.

    With my experience from other investment companies, because under my former company, NNDC, I had the opportunity to virtually interact with investment companies from virtually all over the northern states and even outside the northern states. And if you look at the model with which Harmony Holdings is working, it is a very fantastic one. Because one of the problems about government investment generally is that there is usually too much interference by government. Because if you look at it in theory, there is nothing that makes private sector more efficient than government sector. And over the 30 years, I have always been asking myself, is there anything intrinsically that makes private sector more efficient than government sector? Basically none. It is just the operational guidelines and the objectives.

    As an investors, you try to sell your products where the average cost meets the marginal cost. But for government, it sells below that cost. In other words, you are bringing in subsidy. So, that issue of subsidy tends to limit the scope of government. But now with Harmony Holdings, all those incumberances are removed and we work like any corporate organisation anywhere in the world in terms of everything and even appearance of the staff. So, I think we have done so well. Even in terms of one crucial issue, that is employment generation, I think Harmony Holdings has done a fantastic job. You see for a private investor, for instance, he set up and also said one of his objectives is to create employment. No private investor does that; creating employment by private investors is just incidental, but for us, creating employment is not incidental, it is part and parcel of our objectives.

    What exactly can you point at as the achievements of this organisation that actually has direct impact on the state government?

    Thank you, you see for a business person in a company, the bottom line is profit. If we use that yardstick, I think that best answers your question. So, in that regard, the state government I think got about N75 million or N80 million as a dividend last year. And that is fantastic. Secondly of course, if you look at a company like Kwara Investment, you will note that a lot have changed in terms of the perception of staff and the output of workers has improved. Also, another obvious one is Kwara Express, now renamed Harmony Express. Before now of course, for those of you who travel, you see Kwara Express vehicles park all over the roads from here to Kaduna, for instance, broken down.

    But, about two months ago we launched about 42 or 47 brand new vehicles with state-of-the-art technology to ensure that customers are well served and reduce all areas of leakages. So, that is one of our major achievements. But also in terms of developing business ideas, I think Harmony Holdings has done a lot. So, if you look at it within the yardstick of profitability, it has declared profit and it is going to declare profit from time to time. But a finance development institution like this, it is not just about declaring profit, you; know there are two types of profit. There are nominal profit, that is, naira and kobo profit and there is real profit, that is, how many people have benefitted from that investment. For Harmony Holdings, both interm of nominal and real profits, Harmony Holdings has done well.

    There is this rumour that the state government is planning to put all state-owned institutions under Harmony Holdings, how true is the rumour?

    Well, first of all, rumour will continue to be rumour and let me say that we Harmony Holdings cannot speak for the state government, so that people will not say that Harmony Holdings wants to capture ministries, departments, and agencies. Anyway, there is nothing like that. And on that I am risking representing government because I am not privy to whatever decision has been taken but I know that the leadership of the state cannot do something like that. What is even the basis and rationale for that? Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed will not do anything like that; because in anything you want to do, you look at the rationale, what are your objectives? I do not see any objective there. We are a company that specialises more in business, not in running government. Yes, we run government-investments but we run investments as investors, not as government. So definitely, do not believe that rumour.

    I don’t believe it because it does not make sense anyway. So, there is no future plan to take over MDAs. Harmony Holdings is not incorporated to do that kind of thing. No government will transfer its own responsibilities to any other person. If government does that, then we have taken over government. I don’t think legitimately or reasonably, any government will want to do that at all. When you hear any rumour, look at the common sense in the rumour. Transferring ministries means that I will not be chairman, I will become governor. These are just very stupid kinds of rumour.

    What is the relationship between Harmony Holdings and Kwara Revenue Service?

    There is no relationship between the two. No relationship because, first of all, I understand I do not work for government and I don’t work for the revenue service. I understand of course that the revenue service is being remodelled. I do not know the details, but the remodelling is just to make it more efficient. It has nothing to do with us as Harmony Holdings. There is no relationship; of course, if we meet once in a while we exchange ideas. We are here to advise government, whether or not there is revenue service, on how to maximise the IGR of government. So, in that part capacity, well you can say maybe we relate, but I am not aware of any formal sense of relationship. There is no relationship. Again these are two different organisations, the other one is to collect IGR for government and this is to promote development and investments of government. So, there is really no direct relationship.

     What are the future plans of the Harmony Holdings?

    The future plans are fantastic, because each time we meet as the board, we have to tell the management to hold on and apply some brakes because they have a lot of ideas that if we leave them and give them five years, you will see a lot of development. The future of course is to consolidate Harmony Holdings. We have, for instance, taken transport and we are thinking of courier service. We are even thinking of going into water transportation. I remember some two years back, we were toying with the idea of railways; in fact there was already a relationship with the railways from Ilorin to Jebba and some other places. I think for now it has cooled down. So, we want directly to emphasise development that will bring in profit for government and also to provide leadership in investment for everybody in Kwara.

    So, the future is very wide. And I think it can be actualised if they get support and cooperation from people like you, because if we keep on listening to rumours, in fact, we will just get frustrated, that we just fold our arms and doing nothing. But I think that ofcourse is not going to be any option for us. Doing nothing is not going to be an option for us. So, we want to plead with you, anytime you hear any rumour, just contact us.

    We will like you to shed more light on the ownership of Harmony Holdings

    Quite clearly, Harmony Holdings is owned by Kwara State government. Kwara State government means everybody in Kwara. This company is not owned by any individual or group of individuals. It is company wholly owned, the shares are 100 percent owned by Kwara State government. Since I came on board, I have never seen anything to the contrary. Of course, if you know investment, if you know how companies are incorporated and so on, you cannot hide anything. People who are saying it is owned by some other bodies, they are free to go to the Corporate Affairs Commission to confirm.

    In fact, the way they operate now, you can sit down and get a lawyer to search. Search for Harmony Holdings and it will show you who owns the place and so on. And that is the most important thing. Kwara State government is the legal owner of Harmony Holdings. There is no any individual or group of people who own Harmony Holdings except Kwara State government. And I think we should delete that from our minds. We cannot sit down here and begin to tell people lies. I cannot, for instance, and be serving any individual at this age when I am already moving towards the bus stop. Definitely, I want the public to believe us that it is owned by Kwara State government.

  • 19 APC lawmakers take over Ekiti Assembly

    19 APC lawmakers take over Ekiti Assembly

    AFTER a four-month hiatus, the 19 All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers met yesterday at the Ekiti State House of Assembly.

    They stormed the Assembly less than 12 hours after the APC’s presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, was declared president-elect by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Their presence stunned Assembly workers, as they headed for the chambers to hold their first legislative meeting since they were forced out in controversial circumstances last November.

    Led by the Speaker, Dr. Adewale Omirin, the 19 APC lawmakers said they were back to assume their official duties in accordance with the people’s mandate given to them.

    It was learnt the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction of seven, Dele Olugbemi, was in his office same time the 19 were meeting.

    Soldiers and policemen later came to the complex after the APC lawmakers had concluded their meeting to put the situation under control.

    The Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu,  who led about 100 policemen and soldiers, ordered the closure of the complex to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

    The seven PDP legislators on November 17 last year “elected” Olugbemi as “protem speaker” to screen and ratify Governor Ayo Fayose’s three commissioners and local government caretaker committee members.

    They returned to the complex on November 20 and “impeached” Omirin, without the constitutionally-required 18 lawmakers.

    Omirin led the APC legislators to the Assembly in a convoy of 14 vehicles at 11.30 am.

    They observed a praise-and-worship session with an  opening prayer led by the member representing Efon, Folorunso Ogundele.

    After meeting for 10 minutes, the APC lawmakers briefed reporters waiting outside.

    On emerging from the inner recesses of the Assembly complex, some of the APC Assemblymen chanted “Sai Buhari…Sai Baba.”

    Omirin said they came  back to begin their legislative duties, saying the people should not be surprised by their presence.

    He described Olugbemi as an impostor, stressing that the legitimate speaker is back and that “nobody dares stand in his way.”

    Omirin said: “Why are you surprised that we are here? I don’t expect you to be surprised that we are in our offices because we are duly elected as members of the House of Assembly.

    “This is my office and I shouldn’t be asked why I am here. Though I have instituted a case challenging the fake impeachment against me, that will not prevent us from doing what we are supposed to do.”

    When asked whether Buhari’s victory prompted their action, Omirin said “no, that is not true. It was just mere coincidence. Don’t forget the fact that because I have not been here since November does not mean I have not been performing my duties. So, whether Buhari is declared or not, we have to do our work.

    “I have been attending Speakers’ meetings in Abuja and attending to my people at my constituency, so we haven’t abdicated our duties”.

    Efforts by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Operations, to pacify the APC lawmakers not to reconvene failed.

    When Olugbemi emerged from his office, he criticised the police commissioner for closing down the complex.

    He said: “Commissioner, I don’t think it was right to close down the Assembly. We have the capacity to contain the APC lawmakers. We are ready to meet them fire for fire.”

  • ‘PDP’s desperation to take over Nasarawa’ll fail’

    ‘PDP’s desperation to take over Nasarawa’ll fail’

    Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Al-Makura has said the move to exterminate the All Progressive Congress (APC) before 2015 elections will not succeed in Nasarawa State.

    The governor spoke through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Abdulhamid Yakubu Kwarra.

    He spoke  with reporters in Jos, the Plateau State yesterday.

    Kwarra said:  “The Federal Government and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are on a mission to kill all opposition parties before 2015 election in a desperate move to win election in 2015. With the rising political profile of APC, the chances of PDP and President  Jonathan in 2015 is getting slimmer each day, it is obvious PDP or President Jonathan has no chance at all, hence they have launched a persecution of the major opposition party APC to achieve their aims. They are now instigating Members of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly to impeach Governor Tanko Al-Makura, just as they did in Adamawa State.

    “But, I want to assure them, they will not succeed in the case of Nasarawa State because the people who elected Al-Makura are going to come out to resist this impunity. Nigerians should know that this is the 9th impeachment move on Governor Al-Makura. They have tried it eight other times, but this is the first time they are making move to serve impeachment notice on the governor.

    “If the move is borne out of malice, it will definitely fail, but if it is based on genuine cause, that is only way it will succeed. But in doing so, the law makers should make sure they do not abuse the procedures. What we saw happened in Adamawa State in the name of impeachment will not stand.  I see the judiciary reversing the whole thing because it was done in clear abuse of legal procedures.”

    Kwarra, who is former Majority Leader of Nasarawa State House of Assembly, said:  “The relationship between the Executive and the legislature in Nasararwa State has been mutual in the last three years.  This impeachment move is based on external factor;  it is all about 2015 election. PDP is just desperate to take Nasarawa State from the grip of APC.

    “The authority in Abuja wants it by all means and at all cost.  They are threatened by the formidable opposition party in this country and they are doing everything to retain power, despite the fact that they are a collateral failure with all the challenges and parts of their master plan is to destabilise APC control states.

    “What PDP is doing amounts to a declaration of the war on the people of Nigeria and they way they are going about it, the thing may consume all of us if care is not taken.”

     

  • Jonathan gives NRC nod to take over property nationwide

    The Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) management said it has obtained President Goodluck Jonathan’s permission to take possession of its landed property.

    NRC’s Managing Director, Mr. Adeseyi Sijuwade, broke the news yesterday.

    He said the move is part of efforts to reposition and deepen NRC’s capacity to deliver on the Jonathan administration’s transformation agenda for the transportation sector.

    Sijuwade said with the approval, the stage is set for the corporation to take possession of its property scattered across the nation.

    He warned trespassers, government agencies, individuals, groups and corporate bodies to stay clear of NRC land because, according to him, “no efforts will be spared to recover the land or property belonging to the NRC.”

    The Managing Director said part of the immediate gains of the presidential directive is the corporation’s redevelopment plan for its Iddo Territorial Headquarters.

    Mr. Sijuwade added that the Iddo Terminus would soon have a multi-storey ultra modern shopping mall with two floors dedicated as car parks. It would also have a post for the Railway Police Command.

    He said the terminus redevelopment would be the first in the phases that would soon be replicated in other major railway stations across the country, adding that when they fully come on stream, the old, derelict appearance of the corporation would be replaced with beautiful structures that could compete with any successful enterprise anywhere in the world.

    Sijuwade said the new Iddo Terminus could be remodelled, using the Public/Private Partnership (PPP) platform, adding that the PPP remains one good way of attracting private sector investment to push the frontier of efficient service in the railway.

    He said he is championing the involvement of the private sector in the railway services.

    He urged investors to partner NRC in the task of delivering efficient and cutting edge rail services in the country.

  • French forces take over Kidal airport

    French forces take over Kidal airport

    UNLIKE Timbuktu and Gao, which were liberated by combined French and Malian forces, France has kept the Malian army at bay in Kidal, fearing the presence of government troops could stoke tensions in the predominantly Tuareg town.

    The National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA), which claims to have the town under its control, is demanding a form of autonomy for the region in return for help in fighting terrorism.

    French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told Radio France International (RFI) yesterday that French forces were waiting for “other African forces” to secure the town.

    France launched Operation Serval January 11 to help government forces halt the rebels’ advance towards the capital, Bamako.

    In three weeks, the rebel offensive has been halted and most of their urban strongholds recaptured.

    With the rebels dislodged from Timbuktu, Gao and Kidal, the battle is shifting to the Islamists’ hideouts in the desert and mountain.

    The insurgents are believed to be holding seven French national hostages in their hideouts.

    France would “contribute to,’’ but will not lead that battle, Le Drian said.

    He told RFI that “within maximum period of a month, the Malian forces will be visible present everywhere.’’

    West African nations under the umbrella of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are sending thousands of troops to join the operation.

    Ethnic tensions have been running high in the troubled West African nation with human rights groups reported attacks by Malian soldiers and militia on Tuaregs and Arabs, believed to have shielded the Islamists.

    France has called for the deployment of United Nations (UN) observers to the Northern towns to help keep the peace.

    The intervention is to have a military operation to wrest Northern Mali from rebel hands.

    France has deployed at least 4,500 troops in a three-week ground and air offensive to break the Islamist rebels’ 10-month grip on major towns.

    The mission is aimed at preventing the risk of Mali being used as a springboard for jihadist attacks.

    The French military plans to gradually hand over to a larger African force, saddled with the task of smoking out insurgents in their mountain redoubts near Algeria’s border.

    Le Drian said French forces, using planes and helicopters, defied a sandstorm late on Tuesday to capture the airport, noting that the troops were prevented by the bad weather from entering the town itself.

    “The terrorist forces are pulling back to the Adrar des Ifoghas mountains which are difficult to access,’’ Le Drian told reporters yesterday.

    “There is support from Chadian and Nigerien troops coming from the South.’’

    The deployment of French troops to remote Kidal puts them in direct contact with pro-autonomy Tuareg MNLA rebels, whose rebellion was hijacked last year by the Islamist radicals.

    Le Drian said France had established good relations with local Tuareg leaders before deploying its troops.

    MNLA leaders say they are ready to fight al-Qaeda but many Malians, including military chiefs in Bamako, blame them for the division of the country.

    The MNLA rebels, who want greater autonomy for the desert North, said they had moved fighters into Kidal after Islamists left the town earlier in the week.

    “For the moment, there is a coordination with the French troops,’’ said Moussa Ag Assarid, the MNLA spokesman in Paris.

    A spokesman for the Malian army said its soldiers were securing Gao and Timbuktu and were not heading to Kidal.

    As the French troops wind up the first phase of their offensive, doubts remain about how quickly the UN backed African intervention force can be fully deployed overrun the retreating al-Qaeda-allied insurgents.

    Known as AFISMA, the force is now expected to exceed 8,000 troops.

    Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said France’s military operation, code-named Serval (Wildcat), was planned as a lightning mission lasting a few weeks.

    “Liberating Gao and Timbuktu very quickly was part of the plan. Now it’s up to the African countries to take over,’’ he told the Le Parisien daily.

    He said: “We decided to put in the means and the necessary number of soldiers to strike hard. But the French contingent will not stay like this. We will leave very quickly.”

    One French soldier was killed in the mission, even as Fabius warned that things could now get more difficult, as the offensive seeks to flush out insurgents with experience of fighting in the desert from their wilderness hideouts.

    “We have to be careful. We are entering a complicated phase where the risks of attacks or kidnappings are extremely high. French interests are threatened throughout the entire Sahel.”