Don’t Try Coup: Asiwaju Tnubu Warns Nigerian Army

May 22, 2017

National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has cautioned the Nigerian army not to try anything that will derail the present democratic setting in the country.

Asiwaju Tinubu who is former Governor of Lagos State, asked the army and their civilian collaborators to perish the thought about a coup against the democratic process and that such attempt would be vehemently resisted.

Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai had recently revealed that some military officers were hobnobbing with politicians ostensibly to overthrow the present democratically elected government.

Speaking at a Special Parliamentary Session organized by the Lagos State House of Assembly to mark the Lagos@50 celebrations and the second anniversary of the 8th Assembly, Tinubu advised those behind the attempt to truncate the democratic which Nigerians fought hard for should perish such idea in their best interest.

“But amidst the celebration, I will like to sound a caution to us all the precious thing we have – democracy that we are now trying to perfect is not guaranteed to us. We must sweat hard yet think wisely if we are to keep it. There will always be some people who want to undermine democracy. These people gain more from the government in the dark.

“Just a few days ago, we had a warning that some people were trying to entice the military out of the barracks. I say don’t try it. I want to add my voice to that warning. Those who think they can break the democracy so many of us laboured and for which too many people died, sacrificed their lives, they are sure mistaken.

“Nigeria has come too far for such a thing to happen. Those people behind such idea will find no fertile ground to plant their seed in Lagos. We will not buy their bad product; whatever they want to sell is a bad product and we are going to reject it. We tell them, move away from here because Lagos State will resist it, Lagos State is saying move away from it, don’t think about it, we are all staying together to grow our democracy.”

Speaking on the Lagos@50 celebrations, Tinubu said that going by achievements recorded in the last five decades, there were so much reasons to celebrate, but that in the midst of the celebration, it was important to place emphasis on the need to create more opportunities for the people.

“We also have realized that we need to do more in order to create more opportunities, better education, improved housing and more jobs for many of our people so that all can witness the full blossom of growth and prosperity.”

Also speaking, Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode said since creation, the State had been a shining example and critical hub of socio-economic and political development, saying that the harmonious relationship between the three arms of government in Nigeria which is reflective in the governance model of Lagos State promoted the interest and welfare of the people.

“Today, we are celebrating the contributions of the Lagos State House of Assembly, particularly the 8th Assembly in the last two years, to the true principles of democratic governance through passage of Bills that advance the principle of governance and promotion of social welfare of the people within the ambits of the Law.

“It is on record that military incursion into governance has always made the legislature its first victim by suspending the constitution with all powers against the wishes of our people. Therefore, the Legislature can be said to be the most exposed in governance model in the current democratic dispensation, if we have to give its true meaning and relevance in a representative government.”

Governor Ambode said that in spite of this chequered history, the first to eighth Assemblies of the Lagos State House of Assembly had been the benchmark for assessing legislative business in governance of the Nigerian State, stressing that the 8th Assembly, in particular had been highly responsive and innovative in fulfilling its constitutional obligations and meeting the aspirations of our people for the dividends of democracy.

“The superlative performance of the 8th Assembly, including previous Assemblies, can be attributed to the quality of leadership that has been produced through a matured and democratic process with the purpose of providing a democratic process that would benefit our people.

“Over the years, the Legislative arm of government in Lagos State has been a shining beacon of democratic independence and responsiveness. It has never shirked its assigned role or responsibility even in the face of provocation. It has continuously engaged the electorate in the process of making laws through interactive engagements and contributions to the making of Laws.”

The Governor said that the synergy between the three arms of government, particularly the Executive and Legislature had become the benchmark of the democratic process in Nigeria, adding that as the State celebrates its Golden Jubilee, it had laid the building blocks for the next fifty years. [myad]

Falana Says 2017 Budget Was ‘Illegally Increased’ By Lawmakers, Advises Osinbajo Not To Sign It

Greenbarge Reporters

May 21, 2017

A Lagos constitutional lawyer and human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has advised the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo not to sign the 2017 budget because it was illegally increased by the National Assembly.

Falana said that the National Assembly has no constitutional powers to increase the budget presented by Buhari, adding that the legislators erred constitutionally by increasing their share of the budget.

Falana who spoke in Ilorin, during a colloquium organized by the Movement for Genuine Change (MGC) to mark the 50th anniversary of the creation of Kwara State, however said that President Muhammadu Buhari is not competent to sign the appropriation bill into law because he is on vacation.

He said that once Buhari had transmitted a letter to the National Assembly of his trip to London on vacation, all presidential powers had automatically been transferred to Osinbajo who is now the Acting President.

He said that until the President writes another letter to the federal parliament at the end of his vacation, he cannot exercise the powers of his office.

“The President is not competent to sign any bill into law while he is on vacation. The constitution did not envisage that a President who is on a vacation and an acting president, who is standing proxy for him will be exercising presidential powers simultaneously.

“To that extent, pending the resumption of duties by President Buhari, the Acting President, Prof. Osinbajo, is competent to sign all bills validly passed by the NASS.

“If President Buhari did not exercise powers during his vacation even though he was in the country, why would he want to do so while he is on medical vacation abroad?

“Instead of dissipating energy over the competence of an appropriation bill signed into law by the Acting President, Nigerians should subject the 2017 budget to scrutiny.

“We are therefore calling on the Acting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who is a professor of law not to endorse and sign the illegal appropriation bill of 2017 into law.”

Falana condemned any attempt to truncate Nigeria’s democracy and advised the Chief of Army Staff, General Yusuf Tukur Buratai to properly investigate the coup rumour and prosecute the culprits.

“The enemies of democracy are desperately trying to exploit President Buhari’s ill health to truncate the democratic dispensation.

“Notwithstanding, the glaring shortcomings of the fragile democratic process, the people should be allowed to take advantage of the democratic structures to take their political destiny in their own hands. On their own part, the political class should stop playing into the hands of potential coup plotters.

“While the decision of the Army chief to alert the nation of the devilish plot is appreciated, the authorites should proceed to fish out the coup plotters and their civilian collaborators with a view to trying them for treasonable felony.”

The human rights activist lauded the establishment of interest free banks, adding that those who are opposed to it should rather establish their own interest free bank. He stated that interest-free banks would compel commercial banks to reduce their interest rates on borrowers.

He lamented the abject poverty in the country and called for better economic blueprint and management that would boost the economy.

He urged the Federal Government to stop releasing funds to state governments which are unable to account for the bailout funds and London/Paris Club loan refund made available to them to fund the payment of salaries of workers and other developmental projects.

He said the anti-graft agencies have a duty to investigate and bring to book those who were alleged to have cornered and diverted the public funds.

He called on labour unions to ensure that the funds were fully accounted for as it was meant to alleviate the sufferings of the working people. [myad]

It’s Only 10 Percent Of Igbo That Are Agitating For Biafran Republic – Balarabe Musa

Greenbarge Reporters

May 21, 2017

“The number of those Igbo asking for Biafra is not more than 10 percent. Majority of the Igbo crave for a better Nigeria particularly because of their experience and they are prepared to fight for the unity of Nigeria.

“Majority of Igbo leaders have said in clear terms that they want a better Nigeria where they can expand because they are enterprising in nature. As you are aware, people who are enterprising would prefer a big community as against a small one.

“Some of them desire a better Nigeria because they don’t want the previous experience of war to repeat itself.”

These were the views of the second Republic executive governor of Kaduna state, under the late Aminu Kano Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Alhaji Balarabe Musa in an interview in Kaduna.

Balarabe Musa said that however that the fews Igbo people calling for separation from Nigeria are doing so because they have not had their fair share in the scheme of things in Nigeria.

According to him, since the civil war ended, Igbo people have not been treated as co-owners of the country, warning that in spite of the negligible number of agitators, the mere agitation for Biafra and poverty in the country are ticking time-bombs. [myad]

Stop Childish Tantrum, Incoherent Ranting Aisha Yesufu, By Lauretta Onochie

Greenbarge Reporters

May 21, 2017

I do hope you are feeling a bit better than you did at the point you had a meltdown or better still, a recorded video nervous breakdown, over a government Nigerians say is serving them better.

Most Nigerians were shocked and are still confused at your tantrum. Nigerians understood and identified with your frustration at not being able to get the government of President Jonathan to take responsibilities for the missing girls. Nigerians and the whole world were with you and the rest of the #BBOG campaign team. I joined in the UK, helping to drum up support internationally, for the campaign to free our girls.

But your childish tantrum and incoherent ranting at President Buhari were totally uncalled for especially as it is less than two weeks since 83 of the Chibok girls gained their freedom, under the government of Muhammadu Buhari and yes, Acting President Osinbajo.

Over the nearly two years since the inception of this government, you have turned the campaign on its head and the campaign is taking a personal and malicious dimension. That’s what long campaigns do to those who set out to engage in campaigns with personal and selfish motives embedded.

Aisha, the warning signs are all there that it’s now all about you. You began to feel that if an advocacy does not submit to the #BBOG format, then it’s wrong. What the whole world wants is for the girls to be rescued and brought home to their loved ones. That’s the point. The focal point.

You also began to feel that the captivity of our missing girls weighs more heavily on your heart than on the hearts of President Buhari, Acting Pres. Osinbajo and others. Consequently, when the Wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, launched a book in honour of the missing girls and donated all the proceeds to the Chibok and the Buni Yadi parents, all hell broke loose because she did not obtain permission from you. You obviously have a skewed view of your place in our nation. You are not the one who decides how people render support to others.

You have lost touch with the reality that how we contribute to the advocacy, differ from person to person. Again, you began to forget that #BBOG is not a franchise and so you do not have the exclusive rights to run the campaign. You lost the ability to respect, appreciate and accommodate others’ styles and contributions towards the campaign to bring our girls home.

For someone who has become obviously obsessed with the idea that the #BBOG campaign platform is now a personal business venture, it can be very frustrating to see the whole world, showering praises on President Muhammadu Buhari for the return of some of the girls. Ordinarily, what could have been a source of joy and pride for you too, has become a source of anger because in your warped mind, you did it all alone and only you deserve the accolades.

But the accolades on Pres. Buhari are well deserved. The government of Pres. Buhari, like any other responsible and responsive government across the world, is definitely doing a lot of things differently from the previous administration which has culminated in the return of not only some of our Chibok Girls but also, thousands of Nigerians from the North East who were also abducted and taken into captivity.

Furthermore, your obsession with wanting to set up a camp in the Presidential Villa, completely blinded you to the fact that this government has actually begun to realise what the #BBOG campaign was set up to achieve. Evidence abound that the government of the day is totally committed to the theme of your campaign. Unlike the government of Pres. Jonathan that needed convincing that the girls were indeed missing, the Nigerian government under Pres. Buhari, from its inception, put processes in place to search for and recover the Chibok girls.

So what ticked you off on the wrong side, Aisha? Are you not pleased that the Pres. Buhari led government is recovering the girls? Are you afraid of what shape your life would take if all the girls were recovered and the campaign folds up?

Whats your real reason for wanting Pres. Buhari and Acting President Yemi Osinbajo our of the way? Is there a sinister motive that you are hiding from all of us? Venting your anger in the way you did in the video, clearly suggests that you had expected something to happen that would bring about the end of the Buhari/Osinbajo Administration but that thing did not happen. Could it be the much touted Coup de tat? Just asking!

I do understand that you do not understand that it’s okay to appreciate this government for the much it has done and keeps doing to secure the return of all captives in our nation.

This is a clear pointer that you have lost the plot and need help! I believe too, like many well meaning Nigerians that you have successfully hijacked the #BBOG Campaign for your selfish ends so you need to step aside for the #BBOG Campaign to refocus and find its bearing.

This will accord you the time to reflect of your recent actions and seek help. I do mean it in the nicest way. YOU NEED HELP, Sis.

On the 17th of January 2016, I had cause to make the same suggestion to Ms. Bukky Shonibare. I have no way of knowing if she took my counsel or not, but her pattern of campaign has assumed a fairly more sensible and reasonable face.

Again, everyone I know in the campaign, has something else they are doing. Bukky is now a Social Entrepreneur, working to support an IDP camp and making a success of it.

Dr. Oby Ezekwesili’s busy lifestyle outside the BBOG’s Campaign, is well documented and in the public domain.

Mrs. Hadiza Bala Usman joined politics and although still campaigning for the safe return of our girls, she’s now the boss at the Nigerian Ports Authority.

Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo, the wife of the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, is still supporting the campaign to bring back all our girls and playing her role in supporting the rehabilitation of the girls that have so far been rescued.

You would have still had this nervous breakdown had all the girls returned two weeks ago, because that would have meant the end of the campaign, a reality, you are not prepared to face up to in your present hate-filled state of mind. Howbeit, Our prayers have been that all the girls are recovered and brought home safely.

Once you have repented of your machinations and attention-seeking tantrums, in addition to running the campaign, you’ll need to find something else to engage yourself. As they say, “An idle mind is the devils workshop”.

#BBOG was doing a fantastic job of advocacy for the return of the missing girls. So is the Murtala Mohammed Foundation, the wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari and millions of other individuals across the world. The recovered girls are being given the best of all round care, as enumerated by the Hon. Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Aisha Al-Hassan.

Advocacy for the return of our Chibok girls doesn’t have to be a one-size-fit-all. It’s not the exclusive right of any group or persons. The important thing is that we all want our girls home and alive. The goal is the same. And that goal is being achieved in the midst of Pres. Buhari giving further assurances that all will continue to be done to find the remaining girls and bring them home to their families. That’s our focus. That should be yours too. Repent and quit throwing childish tantrums!

@Laurestar

CBN’s Monetary Policy Committee Targets Convergence Of Rates

Greenbarge Reporters

May 21, 2017

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) may work for the convergence of rates between the interbank and Bureau de Change segments at its meeting tomorrow, Monday, May 22.

The dollar at the end of last week crashed against the Naira, as the Nigerian currency gained at the parallel market, exchanging at between N376 and N380 to $1 compared to the rate of N390 and N385 at which it had exchanged for about a week.

However, in other segments of the market (Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) and Travelex, the naira did not exchange above the N362 threshold.

Experts have expressed hope that the rebounding Naira would boost the Nigerian economy and reposition it for even greater gains. They, however, urged the apex Bank to keep its pledge of sustaining forex liquidity.

Meanwhile, a source at the CBN said that the Bank remained committed to ensuring a convergence of forex rates and that the recent gains recorded by the Bank are sustained.

According to the CBN source, the CBN would continue to make necessary interventions to ensure the stability of the naira.

The source further reiterated that the windows established by the CBN for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as well as for investors and exporters continued to yield the desired results by providing access to forex and easing pressure on the market.

The Acting Director of Corporate Communications at the CBN, Isaac Okorafor confirmed the development and said that the apex bank is committed to ensuring that there is enough supply of forex to genuine customers to achieve the goal of forex rates convergence.

It will be recalled that at the last MPC meeting of the Bank in March, the Governor, Godwin Emefiele stressed that one of the objectives of the Bank was to achieve a convergence of the rates in the various segments of the market.

As the MPC meets tomorrow, watchers are expectant to see what new measures and rates the MPC plans to unfold in its goal of ensuring stability in the financial system. [myad]

Gov El-Rufai May Sack Over 3,000 Traditional Rulers In Kaduna

Greenbarge Reporters

May 21, 2017

Kaduna State Governor may sack no fewer than 3,121 traditional rulers in many parts of the state if the recommendation of a committee he set up to restructure the traditional institution is anything to go by. The committee was specifically charged with Restructuring of district and village administration in Kaduna State.

The committee recommended the scrapping of the positions of 194 district heads, 2,927 village heads, as well as 643 council members and staff of the traditional institutions in the state.

The committee said that the restructuring had become expedient because “most of the new districts were created based on political considerations,” and funding them had become “major constraints to infrastructural development at the grassroots level.”

There are presently 390 district heads, 5,854 village heads, 399 council members and 1,152 staff in the 32 emirates and chiefdoms spread across the 23 local government areas of the state.

About 4,447 of the 5,854 village heads are not on the payrolls of the local government councils, according to the committee.

Of the 32 emirates and chiefdoms,10 of them are of first class status thus: Zazzau, Birnin Gwari, and Jema’a emirates; and Kagoro, Moro’a, Jaba, Atyap, Bajju, Gwong, and Adara chiefdoms.

There are nine second class status chiefdoms: Numana, Lere, Gbagyi, Kauru, Kajuru, Kagarko, Koro, Jere, and Ninzo.

The remaining 13 chiefdoms of third class status are: Saminaka, Kumana, Godo-Godo, Kaninkon, Fantswam, Nyenkpa, Ikulu, Tsam, Kurama, Piriga, Ayu, Takad, and Anghan.

The state government may announce the restructuring this week.

Hundreds of district and village heads have not been paid since the coming of Governor Nasiru el-Rufai administration two years ago.

The seven-member committee, chaired by the permanent secretary, Ministry for Local Government in the state, Ibrahim Sabo, submitted its report to the governor in January, 2017.

Other members of the committee are Abdullahi Sani, acting permanent secretary, Ministry of Rural and Community Development; Hassan Junaid, acting director, admin and finance, Ministry for Local Government; Sani Galadima, overseer, Chieftaincy Matters, Ministry for Local Government; and Emmanuel Ishaya Anche, principal local government officer, Ministry for Local Government, as secretary.

Mu’azu Abdul, deputy director, finance, and Murtala Haruna Yahaya, principal executive officer – all in the Ministry for Local Government, were co-opted as members of the committee.

The committee’s terms of reference are: to find out the number of districts in the emirates/chiefdoms of the state before creation of additional districts in 2001; to identify the current number of districts and justify the need for restructuring the existing ones bearing in mind the history, landmass, and population of the districts as well as the financial position of the respective local governments and; to come up with a modest and uniform structure for the district and village administration.

The committee was also mandated to produce a modest structure of the emirates and chiefdoms bearing in mind the history, size and status of the emirates/chiefdoms; to make any other recommendation(s) that will guide government to take informed decision(s) on districts and village administration; and to submit report within one week from the date of first sitting.

The report said the need for sacking of the district and village heads was informed by the fact that “the average total monthly income of local governments is grossly inadequate to cater for the average monthly expenditure of the councils.”

Other reasons given by the committee is that “the ever-increasing cost of maintaining the districts and village administration has been the major constraints to infrastructural development at the grassroots level.”

The report said that before 2001, there were only 76 districts and 1,407 village heads, adding that “the creation of most of the additional districts in the year 2001 and those created after 2001 were not based on a standard criteria, i.e historical antecedents, population and landmass but rather informed by political considerations.” [myad]

Question Of What’s National Interest Resurfaces at Media Retreat In Lagos

Greenbarge Reporters

May 20, 2017

The unresolved issue of what constitutes national interest came up for discussion today, Saturday, at a retreat in Lagos by media men and women who are covering the Presidential Villa in Abuja under the auspices of State House Press Corps (SHPC).

The issue, which was raised by the Vice chairman of the SHPC, Attach Ikharo, after the main lecture by the National Security Adviser, retired General Babagana Monguno, through his senior aide, Ambassador Yusuf Mamman, still remained unresolved as the two parties held on to their views.

General Monguno had spoken on the topic: News Reporting: Balancing National Security versus public interest, where he stressed the need for media men and women to always put national interest at heart when writing news items.

This was even as the representative of the special adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity, Femi Adesina also quarreled some state House reporters who recently misinterpreted a statement he issued on the canclled visit of an African President to President Muhammadu Buhari.

The NSA acknowledged the difficulties which journalists had to go through in the process of news gathering and writing, which he said are similar to the security agents’ roles of providing security for the country and still maintaining the tenets of democracy without compromising any of the two.

He said that it is in view of the peculiar nature of the work of the security people and the journalists that the two need to work hand in hand to avoid conflicts.

However, after the main lectures had spoken, Attah Ikharo asked the speakers to define the true national interest vis-a-vis personal interest of the leaders and their handlers to which the speakers found no answer.

Ikharo cited many instances where the leaders attacked journalists for publishing news items that were factual simply because it offended the personal interest of the leaders.

“One of such instances was the one in which Ubale Musa of the Radio Germany (Hausa Service) was thrown out of the Aso Villa because he asked a question which the President then did not like.”

One of those who also delivered lectures at one-day retreat is the Chief Executive Officer of Phase3 Telecome, Mr. Stanley Jegede. His lecture was titled: Harnessing the Power of Broadband Technology for effective new media practice.” [myad]

Ooni Donates N2 Million, Acres Of Land For Construction Of Elderly People’s Home

Greenbarge Reporters

May 20, 2017

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has donated N2 million and acres of land for construction of elderly people’s home in Ile-Ife, Osun.

Ooni gave the donation at the Ife Ooye Elegant Women Association Worldwide, Historic Fund Raising/Launching for the Construction of Elderly People’s Home in Ile-Ife today, Saturday.

The Oba, who was represented at the occasion by his wife, Queen Wuraola Ogunwusi, commended the organisers of the programme for their concerns for the aged and for improving their lives and providing for them.

He said that history would not forget them and their names would be written in gold.

He promised not leave them alone, saying he would fully support them financially, physically and morally for the success of the programme.

Speaking at the occasion, Mrs. Temilomo Lawal, the President of the Association, gave thanks to God for giving them the heart to serve.

Lawal said that observation revealed that loneliness could lead to sudden death of some aged people and this prompted them to gather together to build for the aged and to properly cater for them.

She called for the support of indigenes, philanthropists, NGOs and stakeholders to ensure the success of the programme.

Earlier, the Guest Speaker, Prof. Rufus Adedoyin, the Dean-elect, Faculty of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, in his lecture, urged aged to shun loneliness.

Adedoyin called on children to take good care of their aged parents as well as persevere with them, eat with them, listen to them and provide conducive environment for them.

The dean admonished them to shun stress and anxiety; smoking and drinking of alcohol; unhealthy diet and obesity; and urged them to regularly do exercise and keep their personal hygiene. [myad]

Chairman, FCT Traditional Rulers Raises Alarm Over Imminent Boko Haram Attack

Greenbarge Reporters

May 20, 2017

Chairman of the council of traditional rulers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaji Adamu Yunusa has raised alarm over threats of attack the Federal Capital Territory through Abaji and neighbouring communities by the Boko Haram insurgents.

The first class traditional ruler, who spoke when he visited the Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG, Shuaibu Gambo, said: “we have been hearing that Boko Haram are planning to attack the FCT and the plan is to infiltrate and carry out the attack from Abaji. We will be the first casualty. We need the police now more than ever.

“Another issue that I want to bring to your attention is that of recruitment in the police. We discovered that recruitment is done by states but the FCT is not considered as a state. Even the big men in FCT will bring their candidates from these other states. I want to appeal that FCT indigenes be given special consideration in subsequent recruitment.”

The traditional ruler appealed to the authorities to improve the welfare of policemen, adding that adequate provision should be made for their accommodation and other necessities that will enhance their work.

Responding, the DIG, Shuaibu Gambo, said that security would be beefed up and that intelligence platforms will be deployed to Abaji and its environments.

He said that the message will be relayed to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris who will do justice to it.

“The plan is that in the next six years, the Police will recruit 30, 000 personnel every year to meet the security challenges confronting the nation.” [myad]

Osinbajo Renames Federal University In Ekiti After Adebayo

Greenbarge Reporters

May 20, 2017

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has announced the decision of the Federal Government to rename the Federal University at Oye-Ekiti as The Adeyinka Adebayo Federal University, Oye-Ekiti.

The Acting President, who spoke today, Saturday, at the funeral service held at the All Saints Anglican Church, Iyin-Ekiti, assured that the government will send a bill for an amendment of the Act establishing the University to the National Assembly to reflect the new name of the University.

The full text of Professor Osinbajo goes thus:

We are gathered here to celebrate a life of service and sacrifice. We are here to honour an officer and a gentleman who gave his all to Nigeria, to his people and to his race.

His Excellency, President Mohammadu Buhari would have loved to be present at this occasion. I recall that the last time he was in Ekiti during our presidential campaigns, he made it a duty to see his old boss, General Adebayo. Late General Adeyinka Adebayo was not a person the President had a casual acquaintance with. General Adebayo was the President’s Commander in the Congo in 1963.

He was the President’s first indigenous Chief of Army Staff, and in these military roles, he had a major influence on the President as a young officer. It was therefore not a surprise that the President specifically asked me to represent him on this occasion, not being able to attend this funeral personally and further asked me to deliver the funeral oration here.

What shall be said of us when we are no longer here?

In General Adebayo’s case, his departure has elicited tremendous outpouring of love and nostalgia across the country. For General Adebayo, the reactions since the Lord called him on March 8, 2017 have all been positive.

As one of the pioneers of Nigeria’s most enduring institutions, the military, General Adebayo played a critical role in rescuing Nigeria from the abyss of disintegration. Not only did he advice against the use of force in resolving the Biafran crisis, in what turned out to be one of the most clairvoyant statements on the war, he declared in a broadcast before the war thus, “I need not tell you what horror, what devastation, and what extreme human suffering will attend the use of force. When it is all over, and the smoke and dust have lifted, and the dead are buried, we shall find, as other people have found, that it has all been futile, entirely futile, in solving the problems we set out to solve.”

But General Adebayo was no peacenik. When the situation demanded as Governor of the West, he worked hard alongside others to protect the region from the onslaught of the rebel army by halting the advance into Lagos in Ore. Immediately the civil war ended though, he was readily at hand to play the role of the post-war conciliator, as the officer requested by General Yakubu Gowon to chair the Committee on the reconciliation and integration of the Ibos back into Nigeria. By most accounts, he handled the task admirably.

General Adebayo’s life was a light-bearing one. Though kindled in the ancient town of Iyin, in Ekiti State, Nigeria, his light shone brightly for the world to see. In an obituary in The Times of London on April 18, 2017, he was described as the “Governor of the Western Region of Nigeria whose attempts to promote peace and prevent the Biafran war failed, with devastating consequences”.

Whatever may be said of what eventually spiraled into the civil war, General Adebayo’s pioneering role in the quest for peace did not go unnoticed. In fact, this became his most significant imprimatur all through his life. As the oldest living Nigerian military officer at the time of his death (NA7), his rise through the military was as meteoric as it was admirable.

From serving as the Aide-de-Camp to the last colonial Governor-General James Robertson, from 1957 – 58, he chalked up a string of firsts:

*first Nigerian General staff officer,

*first indigenous Chief of Army Staff, & Chairman of the Organisation of African Unity Defence Planning Committee-1963-65,

*first Nigerian army officer to attend the Imperial Defence College, where he was during the 1966 coups,

Governor of Western Region,

Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy.

Indeed, his military trajectory in a way was a study in Nigeria’s history.

Even in retirement, he remained passionately committed to the unity of Nigeria. His life of meritorious service to God and country is a testament of faithfulness, diligence, humility and integrity. His impact has clearly reverberated beyond the confines of his first love – the military and across all spheres of life.

Many remembered his role during the dark years of military rule as one leader who supported the struggle in various ways, unafraid to speak truth to power with his house serving as the foundational headquarters for NADECO – the National Democratic Coalition.

It was a fitting recognition of his steadfastness that his first son, Adeniyi, was elected as the first civilian Governor of his native Ekiti State.

In the last years of his glorious life, though General Adebayo remained an unapologetic nationalist, he challenged the leadership of the South West of Nigeria, to relive and revive the glories of the Old Western Region. As he said, “Awolowo earned the respect of the people by leaving an enduring legacy that defined the Yoruba heritage, the Yoruba political elite is now compelled to do better.” He was particularly concerned that the West had fallen behind in education, in Agriculture and in the provision of social services and urged that a renaissance of the Western Region was called for and immediately necessary.

The good General is gone. But as scripture says a good man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children. That inheritance is not money or property, it is a legacy of character, of patriotism, love of country, and service to the people. We thank the Lord for the life and times of this good man.

It behoves those of us that remain on this side of eternity, as we gather to celebrate this great man of honour to reflect and rekindle our lives with the light from the life of the General – that the dark aspects of our nationhood might be illuminated by his unyielding search for peace and justice in our land.

We can never thank the late General enough for his service and sacrifice to the nation. But we must also not take for granted the labour of this redoubtable hero. Indeed, we owe him a duty to continue to pursue the values which his iconic life represented. It is for this reason that the Federal Government of Nigeria has decided in recognition of his service to Nigeria to name the Federal University in Oye-Ekiti–The Adeyinka Adebayo Federal University.

On behalf of the Government and the people of Nigeria, I offer heartfelt condolences to the Adebayo family, to the people of Ekiti State, to the Nigerian Armed Forces, and all those who hold him dear. We shall all miss him greatly. [myad]

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