Kingsley Okoye

Retired Lt.Gen.Tukur Buratai, former Chief of Army Staff says military action alone can’t tackle security challenges in the country.
Buratai, a non career ambassadorial designate said this, when he appeared before Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs for screening on Thursday in Abuja.
“This security challenge is something that started more than 30, or 40 years ago.

“It had penetrated the communities, the terrorists have won the communities to their side, that is why you see a small hamlet keeping Boko Haram in those locations, so it is a complex issue.

“So it requires the whole government approach to to deal with this.

“The military action is just one aspect and this is one mistake we have been making that it is only the military that is seen to solve the issue of security challenge,” he said.

He said political, economic and social factors were responsible for fueling the security challenge over the years, adding that those factors must be addressed.

“Development should be progressive, there should be roads every where, employment, schools, hospitals.

“There are so many ungovernable spaces until those spaces, locations are penetrated with roads infrastructure, rail, school, and we carry every body along, and a robust foreign and diplomatic polices pursed and sustained to solve issues of insecurity,” he said.

Retired Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, former Chief of Defence Staff told the committee that solutions to security challenges must be applied using a multi dimensional approach.

” We are talking about hybrid warfare where everyone is involved. It is a national approach that is needed, for us to surmount insecurity.

“Three years ago I conducted a research on the forests in the country, I realised that we have about 1,000 forest reserves.

” And I said to them three years ago, that our next crisis will be in the forest, some Nigerian governors were invited, we told them because most of the forest are the perogatives of the states, the state took over all the forest reserves.

“And I said to them we have to protect the forest, that the next programme will be the forest,” he said.
Olonisakin added: “So it is a multi-faceted approach, that will require everyone to come on board for us to be able to address insecurity.

“You can never have enough, either weapons, personnel, but there are issues we have to address as a nation.

“We have developed a lot of capacities, initiatives, we can begin to look at all the operations using national approach to address the issues of insecurity.”(NAN)

By EricJames Ochigbo

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Account (PAC) has summoned all Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) subsidiaries over financial queries raised by the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation (OAuGF).

Rep. Wole Oke (PDP-Osun) Chairman of the Committee, said this at an investigative hearing on Thursday in Abuja.

“This parliament is a parliament of rules and the Constitution of Nigeria has given us a window to conduct our activities in a manner that is suitable to us.

“When we asked your subsidiaries to cause appearance, it is pursuant to section 88 and 89 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“We want to hear from them, we want to extract evidences from them because there are officers that are Chief Executives of those subsidiaries.

“We have queries against NAPINS, yes they report to you, it is our own right in this parliament to determine how we conduct our businesses,” he said.

Earlier, the Chief Financial Officer of NNPC, Mr Umar Ajiya said he was in position to speak for the agencies since they reported to the NNPC.

“I am responsible for the entire financial reporting of the group and so also the Group Managing Director (GMD) with the gentlemen with me here, we can answer any question,’’ he said.

Ajiya said that in the real sense, the NNPC was not owing rather, the federal government was owing the corporation.(NAN)

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has approved the conduct of its zonal congresses in the six geo-political zones for  Saturday, March 6, 2021.

The party disclosed this in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, in Abuja on Thursday.

Ologbondiyan said that the party had slated the submission of nomination forms, including aspirants for National Ex-Officio, for on or before Feb. 25.

“Forms are to be submitted to the Directorate of Mobilisation and Organising.

“The party charges our leaders, members and teeming supporters to continue to work hard in the collective effort to win elections. (NAN)

By Abiodun Lawal

Former Governor of Ogun, Gbenga Daniel, on Thursday registered as a member of All Progressives Congress (APC) at ward 12, Ishote Unit in Sagamu.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Daniel registered alongside his wife, Olufunke.

Mr Suji Olusegun, APC Ward Chairman conducted the registration supervised by Mr Ademorin Kuye,  state Chairman of the Registration/Revalidation Committee.

The former governor, on Tuesday defected to APC, two years after quitting Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He was received by Gov. Dapo Abiodun at his Asoludero Court residence in Sagamu.

Governors who  attended the ceremony included Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo state), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano State) and Abubakar Bello (Niger).

Daniel said that his joining APC was well considered and thought out, adding that leaders needed to come together and speak with one voice to tackle security challenges facing the country. (NAN)

By Emmanuel Mogbede

The All Progressives Congress (APC) says the Federal Government capacity to end bandits’ attacks on soft targets is not in doubt.

Sen. John Akpanudoedehe, National Secretary APC Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC)said this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

He was reacting to the abduction of some students of Government Science Secondary School (GSSS) Kagara in Rafin Local Government Area ( LGA)of Niger.

Akpanudoedehe assured that President Muhammadu Buhari was focused on quick and safe return of the students.

He faulted the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) claim of lack of political will by government to end banditry in the country.

“If anyone is in doubt that the PDP shouldn’t be taken seriously on any issue in the country, here lies a stark reminder.

“To this end, we cannot join issues with the PDP, but rather focus on ongoing efforts to ensure the quick and safe release of the abducted school children and other citizens,”he said.

He added that efforts to ensure the release of the students were being coordinated by service chiefs, saying that Buhari had already deployed national security assets to Niger to achieve this.

Akpanudoedehe urged parents, loved ones and other stakeholders not to be distracted by PDP’s statement on the development.

He added that all hands were on deck to ensure the quick and safe release of the students.

“Government’s resolve and the capacity of our security services to end these cowardly attacks on soft targets, particularly schools is not in doubt.

“We urge the continued support of all Nigerians to ensure this,” Akpanudoedehe said.

The Niger government has ordered the closure of all boarding schools in the state after the incident.(NAN)

By Kingsley Okoye

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has condemned the savage attack on Government Science College, Kagara in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger, where some staff and students of the school were abducted.

Lawan in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Ola Awoniyi, on Wednesday, described the incident as a callous and despicable.

He urged the security agencies to ensure immediate rescue of the abducted persons and arrest of the criminals involved.

“Our security establishment should collaborate across the agencies and with the state government to expeditiously accomplish this task.

“Government at all levels should also ensure that our schools are henceforth protected against heartless criminals who have apparently identified them as soft targets,”Lawan said.

Lawan sympathised with the families of the victims, the government and people of Niger over the incident.

He also assured Nigerians of the determination of the Senate and the National Assembly to work with the Federal Government in finding a lasting solution to the security situation in the country. (NAN)

By Hilary Akalugwu

Mr Simeon Eze, Ex-Personal Assistant to former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Security and Protocols, has joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Eze, who is from Echara/Isiagu Ward in Igboeze-South Local Government Area of Enugu State, joined APC on Tuesday at the local government party secretariat, Ibagwa-Aka, where he registered.

Sen. Jonathan Zwingina, the Chairman of APC Registration and Revalidation Committee in Enugu State attended the event.

Sen. Zwingina who supervised the registration of Eze was accompanied by some of his committee members, Mr Ben Nwoye, the Caretaker Committe Chairman of APC in Enugu State, some state executives and party chieftains.

It was also an opportunity for the party to receive some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) youths from Unadu Ward of the LGA who defected to APC.

Eze said that he decided to join APC not only because it is the ruling party at the centre but because of good performance of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“I decided to join the ruling party at the centre because President Buhari has done very well especially in his war against corruption.

“I will support APC faithful in the state to change the narrative in Enugu state.

“A situation where PDP wins all the elective positions in the state will nolonger be possible in 2023 general elections,” he said.

The former Obasanjo’ Aide expressed appreciation to all APC members in his ward for admitting him into the great party.

“I am optimistic that my membership in APC will bring lots of benefits to me, my people and to APC in the state.

“I have the capacity to make things happen, with the support of the leadership of the APC, because many people in my ward, LGA and state have benefitted from me,” he said.

Eze, who was PA to former President Obasanjo from 1999 to 2007, said that this was his first time of joining a political party.

In a remark, Zwingina, expressed satisfaction with Eze’s joining of the party as well as the youths of PDP in Unadu defecting to APC which, he said, was good omen for the party.

“My promise to Eze and PDP defectors is that they will be given equal treatment like every other APC member.

“I am happy on the level of enthusiasm being shown by members and stakeholders of the party in the state.

“I call on the people of Enugu state to avail themselves of the opportunity of the ongoing Registration/Revalidation exercise of APC to join the progressive party,” he said.

Also in a remark, Nwoye said that the party was being repositioned to take over Enugu State by 2023.

“Members from PDP joining APC today is a clear indication that people have fully embraced APC and are tired of PDP’s empty promises in Enugu State.

“It is now clear that APC will take over the Lion Building (Enugu State Government House) in 2023,” he said.

The state chairman expressed special appreciation to Chief George Ogara, a Governorship aspirant of APC in Enugu state in 2019 for his many financial donations to APC in the state which had helped in running the party.

Some of those who defected from PDP to APC include: Mr Eze Ayogu, former Executive Assistant to Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Mr Lucky Idoko, former councilor, Unadu ward; and Mr Ikechukwu Ameh former PDP youth leader, Unadu ward.

Speaking on behalf of other defectors, Ayogu said that they decided to join APC because of the failure of the PDP-led government in Enugu state.

“All the promises of Enugu state government to our ward since 2015, none has been fulfilled.

“Ogara’s good works in Unadu as well as his empowerment of youths on skills acquisition inspired us to join his party, APC,” he said.

Earlier, the Chairman of APC in Igboeze-South LGA, Mr Matthias Ugwuanyi, pledged continued support of party members in the area for APC.

Some party chieftains present were: Ogara, a gubernatorial aspirant of the party in the 2019 general elections; Chief Eugene Odo, former speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly; and Chief Okey Ezea, a former APC governorship candidate in Enugu state.(NAN)

By Akeem Abas

The All Progressives Congress (APC), Oyo State chapter, has appealed to residents of Shasha community in Ibadan to remain calm and embrace peaceful coexistence.

This is contained in a statement issued by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Dr AbdulAzeez Olatunde, and made available to newsmen on Monday, in Ibadan.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that crisis had, on Thursday, erupted in the area, resulting in loss of lives and property.

“APC in Oyo State appeals to residents of Shasha community, neighbouring communities, Ibadan and the entire state to eschew anarchy and give peace a chance,” it said.

The party called on Gov. Seyi Makinde to be proactive by ensuring that the perpetrators of the ‘ethnic profiling’ are made to face the wrath of the law.

According to APC, it is Makinde’s constitutional obligation to protect all the citizens in the state.

“Again, it is the duty of the governor, as the Chief Security Officer of the state, to make criminal elements engaging in arson, anarchy, banditry and brigandage for their myopic and selfish agenda, face the law,” it said.

The party urged traditional rulers, religious leaders and opinion moulders in the state to voice out their concerns about the conflagration that the perpetrators intended to foist on residents.

“APC in Oyo State joins the voice of well-intended Nigerians, who are calling on the Ninth National Assembly, to expedite action in its review of Nigeria’s constitution.

“This has become necessary so that we can have a true federal constitution, both in body and spirit, which can effectively solve all the local security challenges threatening our coexistence as a nation,” it said.

The party also warned social media influencers to be cautious of what they post, so as not to ignite Nigeria’s fragile peace.

APC recalled the sad history of the nation’s civil war of between 1967 and 1970, which, it said, started from Ibadan.

According to the party, whatever may be the challenges facing the country’s hard-earned democracy can be solved through the application of the rule of law. (NAN)

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed concerns over ethnic violence and clashes in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, which led to loss of several lives.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a misunderstanding between two men of different ethnic extractions at the Shasa market in Akinyele Local Government Area in Ibadan sparked off an ethno religious violence that led to loss of lives and properties even as part of the market was gutted by fire.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, on Monday in Abuja, the party described the clash as disconcerting and called for calm while the authorities unravel the cause of the bloody incident.

Ologbondiyan decried the escalation of ethnic crisis in various parts of the country, urging the Federal Government to find a lasting solution to the growing tension in the country.

He advised the government to bring the full weight of the law on anyone or group found to be promoting divisiveness, lawlessness, injustices as well as infractions against federal sensibilities.

Ologbondiyan, however, commended the Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo state for his proactive steps to restore order in the state.

“Our party commiserates with the victims of the clash and call on all people of good faith to rally in ensuring peaceful co-existence in our country by instilling justice, adherence to rule of law as well as respect for our federal sensibilities.” (NAN)