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Buratai: “Obasanjo Nearly Retired Me 21 Years Ago” |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By  Akinwale Kasali

Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, Rtd, has revealed that former President Olusegun Obasanjo almost retired him from the Army 21 Years ago when he was President.

Buratai said he was nearly retired by  Obasanjo  describing his attainment of the rank of Lieutenant General and Chief of Army Staff as historic.

He made this disclosure during his official handover to Major General Ibrahim Attahiru at the Army Headquarters, boasting that the Army will never remain the same after his exit.

The former Chief of Army Staff did not, however, disclose the offence he committed which nearly led to his premature retirement, or why he was spared.

“Former President Olusegun Obasanjo almost retired me 21 years ago when I was a Major. My retirement after 40 years of Service is historic, hence, calls for gratitude”. Buratai said.

Buratai thanked troops serving home and abroad, insisting the Army will not remain the same owing to his transformational leadership and landmark achievements.

He added that the Nigerian Army has been better positioned with intelligence gathering techniques and equipment.

Buratai said the security situation across the country is largely stabilised under his watch.

He noted that his tenure will be remembered for improved professionalism, improved responsiveness to personnel welfare and responsiveness to Nigeria’s Democratic system.

Attahiru, however, solicited the support of soldiers and officers to reposition the Nigerian Army.

He thanked President Muhamamadu Buhari for finding him worthy, adding that  he counts himself lucky to have been chosen.

Jonathan Commiserates With Okowa Over Father’s Death |The Source

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The Source
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Former President Goodluck Jonathan
Former President Goodluck Jonathan

Former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan has commiserated with Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, over the death of his father, Chief Arthur Okorie Uzoma Okowa.

The former President described the exit of the patriarch as a great loss to the family and Delta State, adding that the wisdom and experience of elders like him remain valuable to the nation’s development experience.

In a condolence message to the Governor and the people of Delta State, Dr. Jonathan prayed for the repose of the soul of the late Okowa and urged the Governor and other family members to take solace in the fact that their father led a fulfilled and exemplary life.

The former President said: “I am saddened by the news of the passing on of your dear father, Chief Arthur Okorie Uzoma Okowa, to eternal glory.

“Elder Okowa was a dedicated patriot who gave his best to the nation. His legacies and ideals will be sustained in the lives of all those he mentored, including Governor Okowa and other respectable members of the society.”

Service Chiefs : NUJ Says Change of Guards Belated |The Source

By
Ayodele Oni
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Mr Chris Isiguzo

By Ayodele Oni

The Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ) has said the change of guards at the Defence headquarters and the various service arms is belated.

In a statement on Thursday, its  President, Chris Isiguzo,  noted that “after months of intense calls by the National Assembly, Media, Socio-Cultural Organisations, Pressure Groups including the NUJ the change is belated but however welcomed.

“NUJ hopes that the new service chiefs would put in their  best to end the rising cases of insecurity threatening the existence of the country by understanding that their  appointments  are not for merriment, but  for hard work and total commitment to the Fatherland.

“It is our hope, that the new Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Leo Irabor, will properly coordinate the other Service Chiefs to immediately confront Boko Haram insurgents, banditry and kidnappings appropriately in the best interest of the country.

“The new Service Chiefs must not see their assignments as opportunities to amass wealth for themselves, families or friends, but rather as a challenge  to re-engineer the country’s security architecture that has suffered serious setbacks.

“It will be foolhardy for the Service Chiefs to ignore the welfare of their Officers and Soldiers in the onerous task ahead of them because success can only be achieved  through boosting the morale of troops at various areas of operations.

“NUJ urges the Service Chiefs to stay away from politics if they must succeed where their predecessors did not do well. What Nigerians need now, is  the security of their lives and property to enable them live decent lives.”

The Union appealed to the Federal Government to provide adequate arms and  equipment, to ensure the welfare and well being of the fighting men and women.

It also solicited the continuous support of Nigerians for the Armed Forces.

PDP Insists Buhari’s Administration Most Corrupt, Demands Refund Of Missing Fund |The Source

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has observed that the abysmal 2020 corruption index report on Nigeria by Transparency International (TI), has further confirmed that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC Government  is not only  a citadel of corruption, but the most corrupt administration in the history of Nigeria.

The PDP pointed out that the TI report, which shows Nigeria  plunging to a putrid 149th on the corruption perception index in 2020; dropping 13 places since 2015, under the watch of ‘Mr Integrity’, is an incontrovertible confirmation that Nigeria is more corrupt under President Buhari and the APC, than it was in 2015 when they took office.

In a statement on Thursday in Abuja, the spokesman of the opposition PDP, Kola Okogbodiyan stated that “this descent into the abyss of corruption only goes to show that President Buhari’s anti-corruption stance is a mere swindle used to delude Nigerians, while the vaults were laid open for APC leaders and officials of the Buhari administration to plunder.

“Indeed, the record of unbroken decline from 136th in 2016 to 144th in 2018, 146th in 2019 and now 149th in 2020, under President Buhari, the African Union (AU) Anti-Corruption Champion’, settles the now notorious fact that the Buhari administration and the APC are title holders in corruption.

“Nigerians can now see that what the APC and the Buhari Presidency did, upon assumption of office, was to simulate a holier than thou attitude, deploy the instrument of propaganda to deliberately castigate the PDP with false corruption allegations just to divert public attention and create a safe atmosphere for APC leaders to loot our nation.

“From the oil and inland revenue sectors to security, health, agriculture, food security, healthcare, transportation, road infrastructure, power, education, environment, among other critical sectors, none was spared from the kleptomaniac fingers of corrupt APC leaders and the cabal in the Presidency.

“Nigerians can now see that our alert on the allegation of the stealing of over N15 trillion by APC leaders and political cronies in the Presidency, was not just an opposition propaganda, but a patriotic stance, which the APC and its administration has not been able to counter.

“The Buhari administration has failed to go after APC leaders and cronies allegedly involved in the stealing of over N9.6 trillion as detailed in the leaked NNPC memo, the over N3trillion in fraudulent oil subsidy regime, as well as trillions stolen from agencies including, the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the National Health Insurance Scheme, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Social Investment Programme as revealed by First Lady, Aisha Buhari, the COVID-19 funds among a litany of frauds.

“The financial rot in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under the Buhari administration, including stealing of recovered funds, underscores the level of corruption under the APC.

“It is equally appalling that the decay has reached a frightening situation where, under Mr. President’s watch, employment opportunities are sold to young boys and girls at alarming costs ranging between N1.5m and N5m.

“Now that the Buhari-led APC administration has been further exposed, our party charges Nigerians to join in the demand for the APC, as a party, to commence the processes of refunding the N15 trillion stolen by its leaders before exiting our political firmament in 2023.”

How NJC Forced Cross River To Confirm Ikpeme CJ |The Source

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Justice Akon Ikpeme

By Adesina Soyooye

Finally, Her Lordship, the Hon. Justice Akon Ikpeme had the last laugh. And she did that in style – at the expense of the Governor of Cross River State, Professor Ben Ayade, and a House of Assembly which has now been forced to swallow its smelly vomit.

On Thursday, January 28, the Cross River State House of Assembly finally confirmed Ikpeme as the Chief Judge of the State. The confirmation came very late after Ikpeme had been humiliated and embarrassed.

Her story with Ayade and the  Assembly is  one year old. It ought to have been a simple thing, a simple succession. But the usual Nigerian complication smuggled itself in.

When her predecessor retired from office, Ikpeme was the next in rank. As the most senior Judge in the state, hers was just to step- in after her appointment by the Governor.

The Governor did, appointing her in an acting position, pending her confirmation by both the National Judicial Council, NJC, and the House of Assembly. Usually, acting capacities last for three months only, unless renewed.

Ikpeme had no disciplinary action against her. No petition.  No blemish. So the NJC had no problem confirming her. But not the Cross River State House of Assembly, and a conniving Governor Ayade.

 

When Ayade sent her name for confirmation, the Assembly refused to confirm her for a very annoyingly,insulting reason.

Ikpeme is from Akwa Ibom State, but married to a Cross Rivers State man. Meaning that she is married to their brother. It was not a recent marriage. They have been married for over two decades, with grown-up children. But suddenly, the Assembly called her a stranger. Members said she was not one of them. How can she come from Akwa Ibom, and be our Chief Judge. They rejected her.

There was outrage from women groups, the Civil Society, the Nigeria Bar Association, Women Lawyers. But Ayade raised not a finger. He played the Biblical Pontius Pilate, even though everybody knew that given the relationship between Houses of Assembly and Governors, the buck stopped on Ayade’s table. A word from him, and she would have been confirmed within minutes.

So, Ayade appointed another  Acting Chief Judge. But a scandalised NJC refused to confirm the new one as a substantive CJ afer acting for three months. The Governor appointed a third one, who acted for six months, after an extension. But the NJC wouldn’t budge.

More than that, it refused to allow any other Acting CJ in the state. The NJC wanted the right thing done – a confirmation of Ikpeme.

Beaten in their own game, Ayade and the Assembly went back to their vomit – Justice Ikpeme. The Governor sent her name, asking for her confirmation.

On Thursday, members of the Assembly realised their rascality in not confirming her. They realised the wrong precedent they were setting by declaring their brother’s wife a stranger. They realised their error, and confirmed her unanimously.

Finally, the state now has a substantive Chief Judge, after righting an embarrassing injustice.

“To Aspire To Be President, A Huge Sacrifice On My Part” – Okorocha |The Source

By
The Source
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Rochas Okorocha

By Charles Igbo

Former Governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha, has an answer to those who think he is neither fit nor qualified to be the President of Nigeria, come 2023.

Okorocha says he does not need to, really, because it will be a huge sacrifice on his part. He says to even accept to be President, is like doing Nigeria and Nigerians a favour because he would lose his freedom, relaxation,  travelling the world on vacations, running his foundation, and generally enjoying himself. He said he really would be more comfortable not running than running, but that he would make the sacrifice to run for the sake of a better Nigeria.

Okorocha said these during an interactive session with some Journalists in Abuja, while emphasising why he would run for Presidency in 2023.

Okorocha: “Asking me if I will run for President of Nigeria is surprising. If I don’t, what will I then run for? However, it is not about running because if you ask me, I will say that I will be more comfortable not running for any more positions in Nigeria. I will just enjoy the best of time God has given me on earth.

What makes me run is because things are not going well. You run when you think you can save the situation. I have the vision to run, not the ambition to run.

He said he had no fears in running. “I really don’t have any fears in running, and if I should have one, it should really be the quantum of sacrifice I will make.

“Sometimes when I sit down to realise the sacrifice I will make as the President just as I did in Imo, then I ask myself whether it is worth it.

That is the only thing I have mixed feelings. Otherwise, by now, I should have been sitting comfortably, living in the best house anywhere I find myself, run my foundation, travel wherever I want, take my family on holiday, enjoy the best part of this life, especially, now that we are approaching 60- year mark.”

A perennial Presidential aspirant, Okorocha has been running for President, every four years, from 2003 to 2015.

However his ambition against 2023 is likely to be tough, if it will be on the APC platform.

Not only will he not get any support from his home state where the jury is still out on his performance as Governor, it is doubtful  the party will support him at the national level.

No wonder he is talking of the formation of a new platform by “good people in the APC and PDP.”

He counts himself as one of the good people – in the APC.

Finally, Okorocha Discloses His Parentage |The Source

By
The Source
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Rochas Okorocha

By Charles Igbo

Perhaps, without meaning to do so, former Governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha put to rest the gossips and side talks pertaining his parenthood.

For inexplicable reasons, there has always been doubts over his parental background. Not a few people would swear that:  “He is not Igbo. He is not from Imo State. He is from the North”

They would never say what part of the North, really, but many of them speculate Plateau State, because he lived in Jos. Some say Kano.

Nobody could pin-point why he was always passed on as a Northerner, an Hausa man. Perhaps, his complexion.

Good looking, Okorocha is ebony black, a colour usually associated with core Hausa. He did not help matters by being very fluent in the Hausa language.

The speculation over his parental background swung both ways. Some would say his father is Hausa, and his mother Igbo. Others would disagree and say his mother is Hausa, and his father Igbo. Whatever, and however, many would swear he is Hausa, which explains why one of the names he is called in the South-east, and especially, Imo is: Okoro-Hausa.

But this other day in Abuja, Okorocha finally cleared the air. Addressing Journalists in Abuja on his political future, come 2023, and the state of his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC,  Okorocha declared: “I am a proud Igbo man with both parents from Igbo.”

Explaining his relationship with the North, he said:” I grew up in the North which gave me life, while the West gave me my business life. That I was able to build a house today, and buy a car is because of my relationship with the West.”

Perhaps, his disclosure would finally lay to rest his seemingly shrouded parental background.

Stay At Home, Forget Salary; Imo Warns Teachers, Workers |The Source

By
The Source
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Teachers, civil and public servants in Imo State have again been reminded that the ‘No Work No Pay policy of government will definitely apply to any of them who fails to report to work.

Government on Wednesday warned that her policy of “no work, no pay” has already started, hence any person who does not report to work will not be paid.

The Commissioner for information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, made the clarifications while speaking to journalists after the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Hope Uzodimma.

Emelumba said government in an effort to effectively check the directive has resolved to set up a log-in and log-out mechanism to know the number of times workers come to work, or are  absent from duty, stressing that if a worker comes to work 10 out of  30 days, he will be paid for the 10 days only.

“We want to make it absolutely clear to every worker, teachers , local government staff and civil servants and everyone who works with Imo government that they must report to work as directed and those who do not, will not be paid because you cannot sit at home and expect to be paid salary at the end of the month.”

He said the same applies to staff of IMSUTH, Orlu who have been on strike almost endlessly, warning that they cannot sit at home and expect to be paid as government has observed that since 2014 till date, staff of the institution have been on strike for 24 months, meaning every two years they go on strike for one year and still receive salaries.

He warned that the situation was no longer acceptable to government as Council has  decided that any staff who refused to report to work will forfeit his salary.

The Council, he said, directed the setting up of a committee to look into the White Paper on the judicial panel of inquiry on land and related matters and gave them four days to bring recommendations for implementation.

The Council also gave a tentative date, February 15, 2021 for the programme of events planned towards an elaborate one year anniversary celebration of the administration to showcase quantum of achievement recorded by the Uzodimma- led administration.

Apapa Customs Seizes China Bound Pangolin Scales, Tusk

By
Bayo Bernard
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By Sandra Ukele

The Apapa Customs Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has seized China bound Pangolin skin and scales valued at N952 million. The seized items also include lion bones and ivory, on export to Vietnam, from where they will eventually be shipped to the Peoples’ Republic of China.

Pangolin scales are traditionally used in China for a range of ailments, including treating blood clots, although there is no scientific evidence they have medicinal value. Investigations also indicate that Pangolin may have been the intermediate host that transmitted the coronavirus to humans when it first emerged at a wet market in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019.

In spite of this, large quantities of Pangolin scales are shipped to Asia annually, according to sources familiar with the issue.

The seized items were carefully concealed in a container as furniture materials before they were intercepted by customs operatives at Apapa port in Lagos on January 21, according to Mohammed Abba-Kura the customs area controller.

The controller said the animals are protected under various United Nations charters.

Abba-Kura said “The Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES 1973) entails that Customs Administration all over the world protects wild life by intercepting illegal trade on such animals.

“Pangolins- scaly, shy and sensitive- are believed to be the world’s most trafficked non-human mammals, accounting for as much as 20 per cent of all illegal wild life trade.

“Their scales which are made of keratin ( the material in fingernails) have no scientifically proven curative properties but are in high demand for use in traditional Chinese medicine. Consequently, all 8 species are threatened with extinction.”

He explained how the eagle eye men of the command intercepted the prohibited items.

“Immediately the container was opened, logs were seen in front, and upon 100 percent physical examination of the container, elephant tusk and the pangolin scales were seen concealed by the logs. The items, falsely declared as furniture, comprised 162 sacks of pangolin scales… and 57 sacks of mixed endangered species of various sizes such as ivory/animal horns, lion bones and others,” he said.

He further stated that the nation’s extant laws prohibit the killing of such animals for commercial purposes, noting that the Customs and Excise Management Act, CEMA Section 147, CAP 147 empowers the service to impound any container with such items.

Insecurity: Akeredolu Seeks Presidency’s Understanding |The Source

By
Ayodele Oni
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Buhari Meets Akeredolu

By Ayodele Oni

Chairman of the South-West Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, on Wednesday, took his campaign against security challenges in the region and Ondo state to the Presidency.

Governor Akeredolu met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

A statement by the commissioner for information, Donald Ojogo, disclosed that the Governor  seized the opportunity of the meeting to brief the President as regards the precarious security situation in the region, especially Ondo state.

“The Governor met with the President at a meeting; and it centered on the issue of security concerns in the Southwest, especially in Ondo state.

“It was a huge opportunity for the Governor  to put the records straight as regards the erroneous impression that Governor Akeredolu had asked all Fulani and herdsmen to vacate the state.

“The meeting afforded both leaders a great window to explore ingenious methods to tackle the issue of insecurity in the region.

“In particular, Governor Akeredolu sought and indeed, obtained the president’s support and encouragement to flush out criminals in the forests of Ondo State.

“It was a needful meeting and more of such are  very likely in the days ahead as the unanimity of purpose against crime gets the desired attention”.

Governor Akeredolu alongside his brother Governors from the Southwest region and their colleagues from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) met with the leadership of the Miyetti Allah in Akure on Monday.

The meeting was at the instance of the Chairman of the NGF and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi.

At the Monday meeting, both the Leadership of Miyetti Allah and the Governors threw their support behind the directive of Governor Akeredolu that all herders occupying the forest reserves illegally should vacate it within seven days or properly get registered.

Aside, the meeting also affirmed the ban on night and underaged grazing and also outlawed the presence of cows in cities and highways.

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