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NASS Will Sustain Support For Armed Forces, Lawan Assures

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<strong>NASS Will Sustain Support For Armed Forces, Lawan Assures</strong>

NASS Will Sustain Support For Armed Forces, Lawan Assures

PRESIDENT of the Senate, Dr. Ahmed Lawan, has assured that the National Assembly (NASS) would continue to support to the country’s Armed Forces to enable them overcome the numerous security challenges in Nigeria.

  Lawan, speaking shortly after the launch of the emblem for next year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, pledged that the legislature would also not hesitate to provide the needed financial assistance to the families of fallen heroes and veterans of the country’s military. 

  He stated: “First of all, this entire event is for Mr. President to launch the appeal fund for the remembrance for the veterans of this country and of course, you will recall that the President donated a sum of N10million for this. 

  “We, in the legislature, normally do our own contribution, but I always like to do that from the headquarters of the National Assembly, that’s the National Assembly complex, because we are a separate arm of government and I feel that this is not the right place to say what we will do to support our veterans. 

  “I commended the President for providing much funds for our Armed Forces to secure Nigeria. Of course, we have been experiencing a lot of insecurity, but you must credit this government with the fact that when it came in 2015, the Northeast, particularly Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa, were under the occupation, and I use the word occupation deliberately and purposefully, of the insurgents, Boko Haram.

  “Many of our local governments were under the control of Boko Haram, but Mr. President, decidedly, approached the matter and by two years, we could say that Boko Haram was technically defeated and today, it’s not technically defeated, but practically defeated. 

  “Our states are free and liberated. Of course, we experience other security issues in the Northwest, North Central and to some extent, the Southeast.”

  Lawan noted that the Armed Forces have been able to achieve a lot because no administration has given them the kind of support they have enjoyed under the Buhari government, adding: “But aren’t we doing something as an administration? We are doing so much and our Armed Forces are sacrificing everything with the little that we’re giving them. But this is the administration that has spent so many resources on the Armed Forces to ensure we secure the country. 

  “Mr. President promised several times that before he leaves in May 2023, he would ensure that he leaves behind a more and better secured Nigeria and the best and only most logical thing to do, for us in the National Assembly, is to also participate in that enterprise of ensuring that we provide resources for the armed forces and other security agencies to continue to fight the insecurity that we face, and it’s something that is doable.”

  He used the opportunity to call on all Nigerians to also support the Armed Forces, noting: “It’s a matter of determination and I’m taking this opportunity to appeal to all Nigerians, that we must at all times, support our Armed Forces, at all times identify with what they are doing. 

  “These are people who give their lives. Some of them lose their lives, some are maimed, lose their limbs and therefore they deserve, not only empathy, but the kind of support that will give them the sense that the citizens are behind them, and I believe that that’s going to go a long way in making them feel that we are in this thing together,” he added.

We’ve Reports Some Governors Are Promoting Political Violence, Says IGP

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<strong>We’ve Reports Some Governors Are Promoting Political Violence, Says IGP</strong>

We’ve Reports Some Governors Are Promoting Political Violence, Says IGP

THE Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, has said that some governors are influencing political violence ahead of next year’s general elections.

  Speaking at a meeting with political parties and other stakeholders at the Force headquarters in Abuja, Baba disclosed that the Police have been receiving reports of some state governors who encourage political thugs and sub-national security outfits under their control to disrupt seamless and statutorily guaranteed campaign activities of opposition parties or candidates.

  Baba said: “In so doing, they deploy their powers and influences to either prevent the mounting of campaign billboards or pull them down, while also denying political opponents of spaces to undertake their campaigns or peaceful political congregations in contravention of the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.”

  The IGP said the Force was putting in place measures to combat all forms of political violence ahead of the election season, saying the measures include heightened intelligence activity and increased deployment of security teams to all Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) assets and facilities nationwide.

  He also vowed to promptly arrest and prosecute persons found to have perpetuated electoral violence.

Buhari’s Will Hand Over Safer Nigeria To Successor, Says Monguno

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<strong>Buhari’s Will Hand Over Safer Nigeria To Successor, Says Monguno</strong>

Buhari’s Will Hand Over Safer Nigeria To Successor, Says Monguno

THE National Security Adviser to the President, Maj-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd) has disclosed the desire of President Muhammadu Buhari was to hand over a safer country to whosoever Nigerians would elect in next year’s general elections as his successor in office.

  Monguno, who stated this when he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence for budget defence, said achieving the immediate goal of defeating insecurity would therefore require the collective support of the parliament.

  He, however, stated that insecurity was not peculiar to Nigeria, but a global menace, adding: “I must also say that the type of insecurity that confronts us is not peculiar just to Nigeria, but a global thing. And in today’s context, we can only overcome this problem when we recognise the importance of intelligence as being the driver, the propellant of all activities in the whole of society approach.

  “It is important that all the problems I present are taken into consideration by this very important committee. We hinge all our hopes and aspirations on whatever action you would take in solving the myriad of problems that confront us. And I want to assure that the problems are quote enormous. 

  “The successes we have been recording so far in overcoming the security challenges, especially in the last four to five months, are basically rooted in the efforts of the Department of State Service (DSS), National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), having being able to provide timely intelligence to the operational element. I want to commend their efforts and also want to, by extension, commend the efforts of their counterparts in the operational sphere. 

  “I want to put aside whatever other competing considerations there are. Buhari has the desire the to hand over to whoever is going to inherit what he is working on right now, a safer Nigeria. It is true and I have to be very honest with you that dealing with asymmetric warfare and overcoming asymmetric problems are completely different from what we experienced in the last century. 

  “Everything revolves around intelligence, and the intelligence we are dealing with is a broad spectrum, which goes all the way down to the local level. We deal with human beings and if we are not supported in the right way, no matter how emotionally, how psychologically we are prepared, we cannot overcome this problem without legislative support.

  “I am also happy to inform you that in the recently conducted ministerial retreat, which was organised by the office of the SGF on behalf of the President, the Senate President and Speaker of the House were there and I  highlighted briefly some of the problems confronting us and they have all agreed to help us.

  “We are appealing to you in good conscience, all of you represent different parts of this country and I know you have the interest of Nigeria at heart. Our people are suffering, they are weeping, they are wailing, they are moaning, they are gnashing their teeth. We must help them. We have our limitations as intelligence agencies. The rest can only be done through legislative drive.”

  Earlier in his remarks, Chairman of the Committee, Sha’aban Ibrahim Sharada, charged the NSA and all security agencies to ensure that the country was secure during and after next year’s elections.

Employ Negotiations, Shun Strikes, Buhari Tells ASUU, Others Trade Unions

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<strong>Employ Negotiations, Shun Strikes, Buhari Tells ASUU, Others Trade Unions</strong>

Employ Negotiations, Shun Strikes, Buhari Tells ASUU, Others Trade Unions

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has advised the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other trade unions in the country to employ negotiations and shun strikes as means of pressing home their demands.

  Buhari, represented by the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, stated this at the 74th Foundation Day and Convocation ceremonies of the University of Ibadan (UI) in Ibadan on Thursday, November 17.

  He commended the efforts of the university administration in maintaining the great reputation upon which the institution was established and appreciated the leading role of the institution in postgraduate education and the production of the much-needed academic staff for tertiary institutions within and outside Nigeria.

  The President stressed the need for discipline and stability in all universities, which he noted, holds the key to the future of any nation, saying it was disheartening that all the universities’ trade unions declared protracted trade disputes this year.

  He stated that the disputes had dire consequences for the economy and unnecessary disruption of the academic calendar of universities, adding: “There is a need for the trade unions, especially ASUU, to shun the weapon of strike as a tool for pressing home their demands.

 “Strike only compounds the already poor state of our education sector, and erodes the national and international reputation of our public universities.”

  He urged the organised private sector to continue its support for the education sector, adding that government cannot do it alone.

  In a remark, the Sultan of Sokoto and Chancellor of UI, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar Ill, lamented the damage caused by ASUU’s eight months strike, saying “the worst hit are our children.”

  Abubakar stressed the need to improve the standard of education in Nigeria through collective efforts, noting that the country had been providing workforce for other countries to show that its education sector was not the worst.

  Also speaking, the institution’s Pro-Chancellor, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, urged all stakeholders in the education sector to ensure a crisis-free and uninterrupted academic calendar.

  The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, said his administration had continued to tackle challenges associated with providing a healthy, safe and conducive environment for sound education.

Appointment Of 17 Northerners As Heads Of Security Agencies Lopsided, Says Atiku 

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<strong>Appointment Of 17 Northerners As Heads Of Security Agencies Lopsided, Says Atiku </strong>

Appointment Of 17 Northerners As Heads Of Security Agencies Lopsided, Says Atiku 

THE presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, has criticised the appointment of heads of security agencies by President Muhammadu Buhari, describing the appointment of 17 northerners as heads of various security agencies as lopsided. 

  Atiku, speaking at an interactive session with members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors in Lagos on Wednesday, November 16, said: “PDP will form a government of national unity. We will bring members of the opposition who would have lost and then, of course, we will move on from there. This is when only the ways to unify this country and we will now begin to move.

  “Today, we have 17 heads of various security agencies. All of them come from the North; I will not do that. I will make sure that every geopolitical zone is represented in these security outfits. This is also another way you can unify this country and give every part of this country a sense of belonging.

  “By the time you double the strength of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), maybe you will be talking about 700,000 or so. You will have reduced unemployment. So, we will extend that operation to the armed forces. By the time you finish doing that, you will find that you would have taken more than one million people out of the unemployment market.”

  Atiku expressed his intention to continue with the economic policies the PDP embarked on between 1999 and 2007 aimed at liberalising the economy and promoting the private sector to create jobs and wealth in simple, straightforward terms, saying: “Liberalising the economy is broad. Empowering the private sector is broad, and of course, continues with the privatisation of our public enterprises. In other words, we will create a more private sector-driven economy.”

Tinubu Promises Massive Dev

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<strong>Tinubu Promises Massive Dev</strong>

Tinubu Promises Massive Devt. In Southeast

*Says Ports Outside Lagos Will Be Opened To Activities

THE presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has promised the people of Southeast massive economic development and forward-looking government that would assuage the past difficulties of the region if elected in next year’s general elections.

  Tinubu gave the assurance while speaking at a town hall meeting with leaders of the private sector and trade associations on Thursday, November 17, in Owerri, the Imo State capital, Tinubu, in response to the remarks of Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi that the region has been neglected and abandoned since the end of the civil war and his plans for the people.

  Before then, he had earlier thanked Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, who is also the Southeast Coordinator of the Tinubu/Shettima Campaign, for facilitating the meeting.

  Tinubu, recalling his experience as a son brought up by a mother who was a trader and market leader, said based on his experience and the lessons learnt, he understands the challenges traders, business owners and people of the Southeast are facing and promised new industrial hubs would in Aba and Owerri, while existing ones would be modernised.

  He told the gathering: “My government shall build an economy with a growing industrial base, more and better jobs for our youth and more high-quality home-grown goods to sell and merchandise.

  “We shall establish industrial hubs throughout the nation and modernise existing ones. We will encourage and facilitate greater production in places like Owerri and Aba. At the same time, we shall broaden opportunities for you to engage in more international commerce by steering more activity towards ports outside of Lagos such as Onne.

  “I envision the Owerri-Port Harcourt and Aba-Port Harcourt corridors becoming more active and lucrative trade and manufacturing corridors than they already are.

  “My administration will establish policies that widen your horizons and expand your business reach both in terms of the goods you sell and your geographic reach to new markets.

  “Working with the state governments, the CBN and banking industry, we shall embark on a two-pronged credit revolution.

  “First, on the sale and supply side, we shall seek to drive down interest rates on business loans, especially for investment in manufacturing as well as small and medium sized enterprises.

  “Second, we seek to make consumer loans more available. This will allow more people to afford and buy more high-quality goods from you. By empowering the consumer, we increase economic activity and prosperity for the overall economy as well as for your individual businesses.

  “We will put in place policies that will boost trade and commerce. We will solve the forex crisis and ensure that traders like you have easy access to a unified forex market. We shall seek to revive struggling industries in this region and throughout the nation.

  “Working with Uzodimma, we shall continue to push to return Avutu Poultry to its status as a world class poultry farm. This will increase food and nutrition while creating jobs and giving us a chance to open new markets. Ada Palm can, once again, become a fulcrum of job creation and foreign currency earnings.”

  He stated that the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport in Owerri would become fully operational to help large-scale movement of goods across the region, while priority would also be placed on the completion of the Abakaliki-Benin section of the rail project, integrating the Southeast to the national rail system.

  “Our national infrastructure plan shall pay great attention to roadways eaten by erosion and flooding. We shall give traders the sound roads they deserve in order to move goods for the benefit of the rest of the population.

  “For those of you in the agricultural sector, commodity exchange boards and other measures will be established to better link local markets and farmers with the global economy while also assuring them minimum prices for their harvests. The idea is to boost farm incomes, thus giving farmers greater incentive to produce more.

  “We can hold to little of these good economic things without adequate peace and security. Our response to terror, kidnapping and violent criminality includes increased manpower, better communications and mobility equipment and training,” the APC flag bearer said.

  Tinubu also promised to work towards integrating all regions in the country to ensure Nigeria continues to remain in unity, noting: “For me, the unity of this nation is sacrosanct, it is non-negotiable. However, I realise that many people have genuine and painful grievances in need of fair and durable resolution.

  “My government will be comprised of people from every section of the country and ready to discuss legitimate grievances with those in search of a peaceful resolution. Our nation is still in its infancy compared to other nations. I am proud of how far this nation has come. I also understand the great strides still to be made if we are to build for ourselves a nation of democratic good governance, development, justice, and unity.”

  “Tinubu also stated that his government would discuss with all agitating groups to address their grievances in the search of a peaceful resolution if elected, noting that only peace can guarantee a return of investment, adding that his government would comprise of people from every section that would discuss the grievances with all groups with a view to finding peaceful resolution.

  “I guarantee you that my government, our government will comprise people from every section of the country and are ready to discuss the grievances with every group in search of peaceful resolution.”

  Uzodimma said the meeting was Tinubu’s deliberate strategy to interface with the business leaders and trade associations in the Southeast, so that he can factor their positions and views in the business of government when elected.

  The party’s National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, said he was at the event to demonstrate that the APC was with the Southeast people and would not forsake them if they vote to entrust the next four years in the hands of the party.

Buhari Sacks NYSC DG

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<strong>Buhari Sacks NYSC DG</strong>

Buhari Sacks NYSC DG

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has approved the removal and immediate replacement of the Director General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brig-Gen. Mohammed Fadah.

  Fadah’s becomes the shortest in the history of the corps, having spent only six months in office. He was appointed as the corps director general in May this year.

NAFDAC Gets New Acting DG

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<strong>NAFDAC Gets New Acting DG</strong>

NAFDAC Gets New Acting DG

A DIRECTOR in the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Monica Eimunjeze, has assumed office as acting Director General of the agency, being the most senior director.

  This follows the expiration of the tenure of Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, who was appointed as director general on November 3, 2017.

Blame Pinnick For Eagles World Cup Absence, Says Rohr

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Blame Pinnick For Eagles World Cup Absence, Says Rohr

Blame Pinnick For Eagles Worls Cup Absence, Says Rohr

FORMER Super Eagles head coach, Gernot Rohr, has blamed his sack by former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president, Amaju Pinnick, for the inability of the Nigerian national team to qualify for this year’s World Cup in Qatar.

  The 69-year-old German was fired as head coach of the three-time African champions by the NFF last December after a string of poor performances and replaced by NFF’s Technical Director and a former player, Augustine Eguavoen, in interim capacity, but failed to qualify the team for the tournament.

  The Super Eagles were eliminated by long-time rivals, Ghana, on the away-goal rule, following a 1-1 draw in the second leg in Abuja, after the first leg between both sides ended goalless in Kumasi.

  Speaking on a sports radio programme, Rohr said: “Pinnick said my dismissal will avert a disaster, but in the end, he created the disaster that cost Nigeria the ticket to the World Cup.

  “I regret that I did not take my team to win the World Cup; I regret my players will not be at the World Cup, even though they deserve to be there. It was not my decision; it was a decision by Pinnick and his board.

  “He was punished for this, as Nigeria lost the chance to win the AFCON and did not qualify for the World Cup. I hope he takes better decisions now as a member of the FIFA Council.”

Friends Criticising Me Lobbied For Vice President Slot, Says Tinubu

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Friends Criticising Me Lobbied For Vice President Slot, Says Tinubu

Friends Criticising Me Lobbied For Vice President Slot, Says Tinubu

THE presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has stated that those criticising him over his choice of Senator Kashim Shettima as his running mate had approached him for the position.

  He added that most of them were close to him and had indicated interest to become his running mate, an overture he said he bluntly turned down.

  His choice of Shettima, a fellow Muslim and former Borno State governor had elicited opposition and criticisms from many Nigerians, including the then leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, among others, have been at the forefront of the criticism of APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket.

  But speaking during an interactive session with the CAN leadership, led by Archbishop Daniel Okoh, at the Ecumenical Centre in Abuja, Tinubu dismissed claims of planned Islamisation of Nigeria, insisting: “People have reacted harshly to my selection. They are because they are my friends, they lobbied me and wanted to be my running mate but I bluntly rejected them.

  “The rumour that this is some plot to suppress the Christian community is untrue and unfortunate. I don’t have that kind of agenda. The bucks stop on my table, not on the vice president’s table unless so delegated. He cannot even forgive convicted inmates if I don’t delegate the power to him. What is the vice- president?

  “I can no more suppress the Christians of this nation than I can suppress the Christians in my own household, my very family. I dare not contest the presidential position in my house because I will lose, they are all Christians. If I did not Islamise my family, I cannot Islamise Nigeria.  It is awful to hear such allegations. We cannot make progress if we continue to follow that path in the country. Religions will not help us. It won’t do any good to us.”

  He pointed out that a Christian running mate would have been politically easier, saying that was not his way, just as he added: “Why a Shettima? Why the same faith ticket? These are irrelevant to the well-being of our country. I did not choose him so that we could form the same faith ticket; I chose him because I want a progressive government and people- based ideology ticket.

  “I chose him thinking of who will best help me govern than who will best help me worship. Picking a Christian running mate would have been politically easier, but that is not my way. The easy way is rarely the right one. The selection of a running mate is at once a very momentous yet very intimate decision.”

  While appealling for the Christian leader’s support, he stated: “We are all here and witnessed Obasanjo and Atiku publicly fighting. We are asking for your votes; think twice, look at our records and the way we have behaved in one office before the other before you take a decision. How best has a Christian and a Muslim President worked for Nigeria? Maybe one of these days we will have a Christian/Christian ticket. The person that I know will help me in the election is the person I have chosen.”

  Among other demands, Okoh called for a fully decentralised Police authority, unambiguous religious neutrality of the Nigerian state, enforcement of fundamental rights of all Nigerians, including economic and social rights, as well as equitable and enforceable sharing of executive positions.

  He also demanded ethnic and religious representation in the military and other security agencies, self-determination for all Nigerian people, ranching, education and free healthcare for all Nigerians, ban on open grazing and local control of the economy, including waters, rivers, and forests.

  The cleric said the constitution failed to provide an order for a society with multiple religious beliefs and practices, stressing that this failure had thrown Nigeria into perennial religious conflicts, adding: “The constitution in Section 10 states that Nigeria and any state in Nigeria will not have a state religion. This provision is reinforced by Section 38 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees to every Nigeria the freedom of religion, which includes the right to hold, change and propagate his religion.

  “The prohibition against having a state religion is not only that the country or part of it will not make an official declaration that no one else should belong to another religion. No. it is more than that. It includes the government of the federation or the state, acting in any manner that confers one advantage or disability to one religion and not the other.

  “This means that when governors of states in northern Nigeria implement a policy of not granting the statutory right of occupancy to churches over landed property, they are violating Sections 10 and 38 of the constitution. It means that when a government spends public money to hire teachers for Islamic schools and not for Christian schools, it violates Section 10 and 38 of the constitution and vice versa. This position was brought out clearly by the Court of Appeal in the case of Adamu v. Bauchi State Government.

  “Anyone who soberly considers the actions of the previous and current Nigerian government over religion will realise that those actions proclaim a state religion. It is this flagrant violation of our common citizenship through the co-mingling of religion and politics that is the main cause of religious conflict in Nigeria, terrorism and insecurity.

  “We cannot make progress as a nation if we do not behave like other multi-ethnic, multi-religious nation-states that remove religion from politics.”

  While stressing the need to separate religion from the state, CAN contended that the next President must ensure a balance between Christians and Muslims, so that the past practice of reckless violation of the rights of one religion or the other will not reoccur, arguing: “We have to be a religiously neutral state, not a religious state. We must have a constitution that is focused on democratic citizenship where the government pays no attention to any private identity apart from citizenship.

  “This transition to a modern, democratic, secular state from a neo-feudal, theocratic state requires both constitutional and administrative reforms. It requires that the next Nigerian President carefully constitutes his policy and programme to ensure good balance between Christians and Muslims, so that the past practice of reckless violation of the rights of one religion or the other will not reoccur. That is the minimum requirement of saving Nigeria.”

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