President Muhammadu Buhari has commended the governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong for the positive roles he had played to unite all the ethnic groups in the state, thereby ending the protracted crises in the state.

“I wish to encourage your Excellency to continue with the good work you are doing, and I wholeheartedly congratulate you for uniting the people of Plateau State. I am indeed quite impressed with gains and successes recorded in the area of conflict management and peace-building, which has returned this state to the path of relative peace.”

President Buhari, who spoke today, Thursday in Jos, Plateau State capital, at a Town Hall meeting in the course of his two-day official visit to the state, added: “let me express the Federal Government’s commitment to support and assist the Peace Building Agency in its effort to arrest the vicious cycle of violence and lay the foundation for sustainable peace in our country.”

The President, who also launched the Plateau State Roadmap to Peace, commended Governor Lalong for his achievements in the development of the state and ensure that salaries and pensions are being paid regularly.

He expressed satisfaction on the strides which the governor had made in the area of Agricultural sector even as gave assurance that the Federal Government will continue to work with the State government.

“I am glad that the state government has fully keyed into the All Green Initiative and the Anchor Borrowers’ Scheme of the Federal Government considering the strategic importance of agriculture to our national development.  Equally commendable is Plateau State’s commitment to the African Development Bank-funded Potato Value Chain Support Project, which is targeted at wealth creation, employment generation and food security.”

The President  lauded Governor Lalong for continuing with the projects that were abandoned by previous administrations , adding that this has saved the state from white elephant projects and assured that the federal Government will speed up refunds on federal works executed by the state.

“I have noted the request for refund of funds expended on the rehabilitation of the Jos-Bukuru-Mararaba Jema’a Road which is a Federal road project and other interventions.  Federal Government will expedite action towards the refund of verified claims by the Plateau State Government,” he said.

President Buhari also listed some of Federal Government intervention activities such as the construction of the Pankshin-Tapshin-Gambrar-Sara-Kai-Gindiri Road to Metropolitan Construction Company Ltd; Execution of TETFUND Projects; Bail-Out Funds; Paris Club Refunds and N-Power Scheme and assured that the request for dualization and construction of the road from Abuja to Jos will be put into consideration given its economic viability and status as gateway extending to the North East.

Responding to a request by the Governor for the inclusion of more Plateau State indigenes in federal appointments, President Buhari assured that, the request will be looked into so as to reflect federal character in line with the Federal Government’s determination to address issues of marginalization in the spread of appointments and other privileges.”

President Buhari also reminisced on his time as General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 3 Armoured Division Jos, recalling that it was from this position that he was summoned to become Head of State in January 1984.

The President had earlier commissioned some road projects executed by the State Government and paid a courtesy call on the Gbong Gwom Jos, Dr. Jacob Gyang Buba. [myad]

The Nigerian Army has made it clear that its men and officers across the country have no interest in taking over the democratically elected government of the country, either now or in future.

“The Nigerian Military has come of age and is in tune with best international military practices of complete and total subordination to democratic governance. The present crop of personnel in the Armed Forces of Nigeria right from the Service Chiefs to the men; are made up of the balance of re-professionalized officers and fresh intakes from 1999, who do not nurse political ambitions.  They are fully committed to their oaths of allegiance to serve their fatherland Nigeria, with total submission to our democratic government.”
In a statement today, Thursday, by the Acting Director,  Defence Information, Brigadier General J. A Agim, the Nigerian Army said that any suggestion to the fact that its men and officers are still eying the political governance of the country, “is derogatory to the Army.”

The statement was in reaction to a comment by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu yesterday, Wednesday, during which time he was quoted as saying: “The Problem in Nigeria is that our democracy is receding. Who says army cannot take over? Let us not joke with our democracy that is the issue,”
The Army said that this statement by the Deputy Senate President might appear cautionary and sincere in the atmosphere of discourse but that “it is however derogatory to the Army used in the expression and by extension to the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
“The statement in the true sense has the capacity to denigrate the Nigerian Military in every ramification, including its loyalty to the President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces and the confidence of the general public to defend Nigeria’s democracy.
“In this regard, it is worthy to remind the general public about some key measures among others that guaranteed the present sustainable status of politically un-ambitious members of the Armed Forces:
“a.  Shortly, after the transition from a military to a democratically elected government in 1999, officers of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, who were quasi-political, were honourably eased out of service.  This was done to avoid indoctrination of other officers in the Military in order to enable the democratic government commence a re-professionalization process of the Armed Forces.  The process commenced in collaboration with international organizations such as the United States Armed Forces and the British Military.  By 2009, from the basic military training institutions through units and formation reorientation programmes to top management workshops and seminars for the military, it became clear that the Armed Forces of Nigeria has been re-professionalized to be totally subordinate to political leadership and democracy in the Country.
“b. In addition, the Nigerian Military began to take the lead at ensuring that the West African Sub Region is stable democratically through military diplomacy and physical actions where it is highly desirable and supported by ECOWAS.  The case of the Gambia last year is still fresh in our memories, where democracy was enforced by an ECOWAS Military Coalition led by the Armed Forces of Nigeria, under the focused and able leadership of Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General A. G Olonisakin (NAM).”
“Defence Headquarters hereby assures the international community, Nigeria’s democratic institutions and the general public, of its unalloyed loyalty to the President Commander in Chief, provision of all necessary support for the sustenance of our democracy and carrying out our constitutional roles.  Therefore, the apprehension by the Deputy President of the Senate should be totally disregarded.” [myad]

“If he (Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State) doesn’t stop, there is no how he will come back in 2019. Never! No, he will not. God will show him that he is a God of justice and this is a message to all those people who have caused all kinds of problem in Nigeria at different levels.”

The deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekeweremadu, made these remarks today, Wednesday, while commenting on a motion sponsored by Ahmed Ogembe, senator representing Kogi central during plenary. Senator Ogembe had, in a motion, alleged that Governor Yahaya Bello sponsored thugs to disrupt an empowerment programme he organized for members of his constituency.

Ekweremadu said that such incident indicated that efforts must be made to protect Nigeria’s democracy, warning that the road which governor Yahaya Bello is “travelling will not lead him anywhere.”

According to the deputy senate President, “you will recall that sometime last year when they wanted to recall Dino, I advised the governor that they are wasting the resources of that state; that it is mission impossible.

“They took three pages in the newspaper abusing me. Are we still hearing the recall today? Money has been wasted. Money that would have been used to pay salaries of people in Kogi state was used to mobilize people to recall senator Dino, yet those people have not been paid and Dino is still here.

“So today, I am advising the governor again, that road he is travelling will not lead him to anywhere. Ultimately, these people he is seeing here will be back here and he will leave office.”

Ekweremadu said that the problem in Nigeria is that “our democracy is receding. Who says army cannot take over? Let us not joke with our democracy; that is the issue.

“The house of a senator was destroyed in Kaduna state; we are talking about Kwankwaso who was stopped from going to his state where he ruled for eight years. In Kaduna, Shehu Sani cannot organize a meeting and we are about a democracy? The international community needs to know this because they helped us install democracy.” [myad]

Federal High Court in Abuja has today, Wednesday, sentenced Charles Okah to life imprisonment for his role in the 2010 Independence Day bombing in Abuja.

He was sentenced alongside Obi Nwabueze, his co-accused for the crime.

The elder brother of Charles, Henry Okah had been sentenced for a similar crime in South Africa, where he is based.

In a 4 hour, 30 minutes judgment, Justice Kolawole, found the defendants guilty as charged for being responsible for March 15, 2010, bomb blast which claimed one life in Warri, Delta State and the October 1st, 2010 bomb blast near Eagle Square in Abuja which claimed several lives.

The judge noted that the second defendant, Obi Nwabueze, particularly made himself available to run illegal errands for Henry Okah who provided N1.2 million used to purchase five fairly used cars deployed for the Warri blast while Charles Okah, provided the sum of N2m used for the purchase of the four cars deployed for the Independence Day blast in Abuja.

The court had earlier sentenced a third defendant, Edmund Ebiware, also to life imprisonment on July 27, 2017, for his role also in the Abuja bomb blast. [myad]

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi is obviously angery with hoodlums that launched attacks on some political leaders in Okene, Adavi and Okehi local government areas and has directed the arrest of the suspects.
In a statement in Lokoja yesterday, Tuesday, signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mrs Petra Akinti–Onyegbule, the governor vowed to ensure that the perpetrators faced justice.
“The governor has since directed the relevant security agencies to ensure a thorough investigation into the allegations and bring the perpetrators and their sponsors to justice.
“This is irrespective of political parties or personalities involved.”
According to her, the governor has raised a high-powered delegation, led by his Special Adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Sadiq Ohere, to visit the victims to express government’s condolences to them.
“This is in pursuance of lasting peace and tranquillity in the land, and to reassure them of his commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and property of every resident of Kogi State,” Akinti-Onyegbule added.
She said that the special adviser had since commenced visits to the homes of those affected, including members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who were allegedly attacked, to give them support.
“This government will not condone any form of crime or violence in any part of the state, the government is responsible for the security of lives and property of all residents of Kogi, irrespective of political affiliation,” he said.
He said that perpetrating violence in the name of political support and thuggery was alien to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the culture of the people of the state.
The governor stated further that his administration would not condone any act of violence or attack against innocent and law abiding citizens.
He refuted allegations that the APC masterminded the violence and advised the PDP to stop playing to the gallery.
He assured the PDP and other political parties in the state that his government would never indulge in political violence, urging them to stop playing politics with security.
Bello appealed to people to embrace peace, unity, love for one another while going about their normal businesses without fear.
Violence erupted in Okene on March 3 during an empowerment programme sponsored by Senator Ahmed Ogembe.
It however escalated to Okehi and Adavi local government areas on Sunday during which hoodlums unleashed mayhem on political rivals in the areas. [myad]