The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has announced the promotion of 153 senior officers.
A statement today by the Director of Public Relations and Information for the NAF, Air Commodore Dele Alonge, said that the officers include 14 Air Vice Marshals, 26 Air Commodores, 22 Group Captains, and 91 Wing Commanders.
Along said that the promotions are in line with one of the key drivers of the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar’s vision which is to promote and inculcate the core values of integrity, excellence and service delivery.
“As an annual exercise, the purpose of promotion is to encourage officers to rededicate themselves to assigned duties as well as the development of the Nigerian Air Force and the nation as a whole.”
Those promoted to the rank of Air Vice Marshal are the: Chief of Aircraft Engineering at the Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Onyemaechi Osahor; Director of Works at the Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Shehu Adamu; Director Air Intelligence at the Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Usman; Principal Air Staff Officer to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Muhammad Abdul-Wahab; Commander 75 Strike Group Yola, Air Vice Marshal Isiaka Amao; Commander 303 Flying Training School Kano, Air Vice Marshal John Baba; Commander 81 Air Maritime Group Benin, Air Vice Marshal Okechukwu Ntukogu; a Directing Staff at the National Defence College, Air Vice Marshal Humphrey Okpala; Commander 203 Medium Airlift Group Ilorin, Air Vice Marshal Yekeen Ishola; Director of Information Communication Technology at the National Defence College, Air Vice Marshal Christian Dii; the Managing Director Nigerian Air Force Housing and Construction Company, Air Vice Marshal Sambo Usman; Commander 335 Base Services Group Kaduna, Air Vice Marshal Auwal Muhammad; Director Search and Rescue, National Emergency Management Agency, Air Vice Marshal Charles Otegbade, and Commander 333 Logistics Group Kaduna, Air Vice Marshal Isyaka Bukar.
The senior officers elevated to the rank of Air Commodore include Group Captains Emmanuel Udenyi, Aliyu Bello, Iboro Etukudo, Chiebonam Ozougwu, Abidemi Marquis, Abubakar Liman, Pius Oahimire, Kabiru Aliyu, Ubrufih Uzezi, Nkem Aguiyi, Sule Lawal and Paul Masiyer. Others are Group Captains Isah Muhammad, Kurotimi Obidake, Dalhat Ladan, Adeniyi Amesinlola, Olagoke Ogunmola, Raheem Tijani, Obainana Imafidor, Framah Batnah, John Dibal, Mohammed Sini, Barisi Keenam, Sunday Ogba, Habib Adamu and Emma Enam.
A fire outbreak at the Kano Government Girls College in Jogana town, has killed seven students and wounded 21 others.
The fire was said to have ripped through the college’s dormitory in the early hours of today, Monday, while students were still asleep.
It was gathered that the damage would have been more but for one of the senior students, who upon noticing the fire, made efforts to avert the tragedy.
In reaction to the incident, the Director General, Kano Senior Secondary School Board, Alhaji Hussaini Umar Ganduje, told journalists that most of the wounded students are receiving proper medical attenton.
In the same vein, the Director of press to the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Usman Bello, in a statement said that fire fighters successfully put out the inferno, adding: “students were evacuated to their classes and those affected were rushed to Gezawa and Sir Sanusi Hospital.”
He appealed to parents and guardians to exercise patience and understanding as the incident has been brought under control.
The cause of the fire was not ascertained as at the time of filing this report. [myad]
Nigerian leader, President Muhammadu Buhari has made a string appeal to the world leaders to save the planet from extinction by designing what he called binding resolutions for sustainable development. President Buhari spoke today at the Conference of Parties 21 (COP21) which began today in Paris, France. Buhari wanted the Conference to make Paris a global landmark in the history of climate change negotiations, even as he advised that nations must scale up their commitment to ensure a successful outcome and contribute to transforming the world through sustainable development. “Like many countries, Nigeria continues to witness the adverse effects of climate change in all its ramifications. Presently, we are reeling under the challenges of climate change as the frequency and intensity of extreme events like floods and drought are on the increase. “These challenges have resulted in the destruction of many economic and social structures and more worryingly, threatening our national food production and security. “The magnitude of insurgency Nigeria is facing cannot be completely explained away without taking cognizance of the threat of climate change. Without a doubt, “Climate change is threatening not only the sustainable development of our social and economic activities but also the totality of human existence in our country as in other parts of the world. “At the sub-regional level, we are saddled with the challenge of the drying up of the Lake Chad Basin, which is resulting in the total wipe out of livelihoods of many communities surrounding this trans-boundary natural resource. “Regrettably, the world is leaving behind millions of people who depend on the Lake for their survival. The Government of Nigeria welcomes the Lake Chad Development and Climate Resilience Plan, and the Lake Chad Basin Commission and international partners for designing this climate-based Plan. “In all, the experience of countries sharing the Lake Chad further illustrates the mutual challenge we face today and which must be collectively addressed without further delay.” President Buhari lamented the inadequacies of existing climate change treaties, protocols and conventions, saying tht for the potential of Paris Agreement on Climate Change to be meaningful, achieve its objectives and eventually become universal in nature and scope, it must draw extensively on the principles of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. “Indeed, for the Agreement to be durable, it must recognize not only the emission right but also the survival rights of the citizens of developing countries. “The inadequacies of the existing climate change treaties, the Conventions and its Protocol, constitute the driving force propelling Parties to reach another climate change agreement as the main outcome of this Conference of Parties. “Nigeria appreciates the efforts and demonstration of flexibilities of all in the run up of discussions since Durban towards evolving the new global climate regime. Yet, we are very concerned at the pace of progress made so far. “This is more important, since the negotiation continues to go back and forth without necessarily addressing the interests and concerns of the developing countries in general and African countries in particular. “In this regard, Nigeria strongly believes that the agreement we reach here in Paris must equitably address climate change mitigation and adaptation activities in terms of the means of implementation with emphasis on adequate financing, technology transfer and capacity development. “It is our fervent hope that these implementation modalities will be explicitly enshrined in the Agreement.” President Buhari gave Nigeria’s target on cutting greenhouse emissions, which was arrived at after extensive consultations with stakeholders by up to 45 percent by the year 2030. “On our part in Nigeria, we undertook an extensive and participatory process of multi-level consultations with a cross section of stakeholders within the different tiers of government towards determining our national contributions to global mitigation reduction. “Based on national considerations, Nigeria intends to attain the mitigation reduction objective of 20 per cent unconditional and 45 per cent conditional below the Business as Usual level of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions by 2030. “It is our expectation that this nationally-determined ambitious target given our national circumstances and developmental requirements will eventually pass the green test.” Buhari reiterated that the Paris Agreement must be legally binding, all-encompassing and sustainable for it to be universally applicable, result-oriented and in all, effective. “The Agreement we reach here must also be a fair, multilateral and rules-based regime guided by science with an overall aim of ensuring the right to equitable access of every country of the world to sustainable development.” The conference is being attended by about 150 world leaders. [myad]
The Senate Committee on Appropriation has asked the Federal Ministries of Petroleum Resources, Budget and National Planning and Finance to reconcile their records and include an additional N108 billion in the N465.3 billion supplementary budget submitted to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari last week.
Pesident Buhari had recently sought approval of the National Assembly for the supplementary budget of N465.3 billion.
However, the increase in the budget came in order to meet up with subsidy claims to the major oil marketers between October to December 2015, which was not currently included in the N413 biilion subsidy claims due from January to September 2015, according to the committee.
The committee asked the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to furnish it with details of the N437 billion, that had so far been paid to NIgerian National Petroleum Corporation as its subsidy claims but which was not appropriated by the National Assembly.
The Chairman of the committee, Senator Danjuma Goje, noted at a meeting with the ministers and heads of Federal Government agencies that intelligence reports at the disposal of the panel indicated that the Ministry of Petroleum was seeking approval for N413b billion out of the total N950 billion accrued subsidy.
Goje alleged that while the ministry had paid the subsidy due to NNPC as first line charge being its own share of the 48 per cent of the fuel it imported, the subsidy due to the oil marketers were withheld.
He said the inclusion of the N108 billion would enable the Senate to approve the money so that the minds of Nigerians would be at rest that the oil marketers would not hold the nation to ransom again during the forthcoming festive season as a result of the outstanding amount.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Jamila Soara, told the committee that she was representing the Minister, Ibe Kachikwu, who was in Lagos, to hold meetings with the major oil marketers.
Soara said her ministry’s proposal was for N413 billion, being a component of N120.552 billion as outstanding for 2014 and N292.8 billion for subsidy from January to September 2015. [myad]
Pope Francis has described Muslims and Christians as brothers and sisters who should unite against violence exercised in the name of religion and to “say no to hatred.”
“Christians and Muslims are brothers and sisters,” the Pope said during a visit to a Mosque in Bangui, capital of the Central African Republic, where inter-religious violence has killed thousands of people since 2013.
“We are well aware that the recent events and acts of violence which have shaken your country were not grounded in proper religious motives,” Francis said.
He called on Christians, Muslims and followers of African Traditional Religions to work “for an end to every act which, from whatever side, disfigures the face of God and whose ultimate aim is to defend particular interests by any and all means”.
“Together, we must say no to hatred, to revenge and to violence, particularly, that violence which is perpetrated in the name of a religion or of God himself,” the pope said.
On Sunday, the pontiff had met with representatives of evangelical communities, saying the lack of unity between Christian churches “is a scandal.”
The 78-year-old Argentinean pontiff arrived on Sunday in the CAR for the last leg of his six-day African tour, which first took him to Kenya and then to Uganda.
He met with CAR interim President, Catherine Samba-Panza, visited a camp for displaced people and celebrated a Mass at which he called on Christians to forgive their enemies to overcome violence.
Violence by Christian and Muslim militias has claimed thousands of lives and displaced about a quarter of CAR’s 4.7 million people since mainly Muslim Seleka rebels overthrew President Francois Bozize, a Christian, in March 2013.
Pope Francis came to CAR despite concern for his security- local security forces received backing from UN peacekeepers and French troops, which together number about 12,000 in CAR.
Francis’ first visit to a crisis zone was his 11th trip abroad since he became pope in 2013. [myad]
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) of Nigeria for the climate change to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). A statement today by the special adviser to the President on media and publicity, femi Adesina said that Nigeria’s the President did the approval on November 26 and submitted to the UNFCCC on November 28, ahead of today’s opening in Paris, of the United Nations Climate Change conference, widely known as COP 21. Adesina said that the federal government’s policy on climate change, as espoused in the country’s INDC, is aimed at being committed to 20 per cent unconditional and 45 per cent conditional Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) emission reduction post 2020. “The action plan announced by the Federal Government represents a fair and meaningful contribution to address climate change and equally reaffirms President Buhari’s commitment to an economic transformation which places inclusive, green growth as key priority for this administration.” The statement said that President Buhari is fully aware of the acute threat that climate change poses to Nigeria’s development through flooding, desertification and insecurity, and many of these accrue from weather-related natural disasters. Adesina said that the issue of Lake Chad’s current depletion, which has become a cause of international concern, will be major focus of a meeting of the Lake Chad Basin Summit of Heads of State and Government, which President Buhari will attend with Nigeria’s delegation in Paris tomorrow, Tuesday. “The Lake Chad is currently less than 10 per cent of its original size and little of the remaining waters is in Nigeria. Of an estimated 20 million people that lived on the Lake Chad Basin as at 2013, about 11.7 million were in the North Eastern region of Nigeria. “Also during the conference in Paris, President Buhari is scheduled to participate in the launching of International Solar Alliance by the Indian Prime Minister and the French President, where he will seek international partnerships to deliver Nigeria’s climate change response.” [myad]
All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially picked Alhaji Yahaya as replacement for late Prince Abubakar Audu as its candidate in the inconclusive Kogi governorship election and has forwarded his name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The INEC Deputy Director of Publicity, Nick Dazang confirmed to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the receipt of the APC letter naming Yahaya Bello as its candidate in the December 5 supplementary election in the 91 polling units of Kogi state, to complete the results for the election that was declared inconclusive on November 22 after the election of November 21.
Dazang, who could not say when exactly the APC submitted Bello’s name however, confirmed: “they (APC) have sent the name of their replacement candidate, the second runner-up in their primaries, that is Yahaya Bello, to the commission.” The deputy director said that the commission is ready to conduct both Kogi State supplementary and Bayelsa State elections, scheduled for December 5. “The commission is committed to conduct the two elections. That is why in respect of kogi, in spite of what happened, we came out with public notice which invites the APC to submit its replacement candidate for the election.” Dazang said that as part of the commission’s preparation for the Bayelsa State poll, INEC would be holding stakeholders’ forum in the state tomorrow, adding that INEC had concluded the distribution of non-sensitive materials for the Bayelsa State poll. He said that the commission would be going to Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to collect sensitive materials for onward distribution for the Bayelsa State election on Wednesday. “After the stakeholders’ forum, the commission will immediately on Wednesday commence the distribution of sensitive materials in the state. “We are inviting the representatives of political parties, their agents, observers, Civil Society Organisations and the media, among others, to witness the distribution of sensitive materials.” Dazang said the commission would deploy its officers at National Commissioners and Resident Electoral Commissioners levels from neighbouring states to monitor the Bayelsa State election. “You will agree with me that we don’t take any election for granted, no matter how small it is.” [myad]
The gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Saturday, December 5 election in Bayelsa state, and the incumbent governor of the state, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson has set a new standard in electioneering campaigns in Nigeria. He has raised the bar so high that it would never be the same again. The extent of outreach and depth of discourse in his rallies have made it easy to separate the wheat from the chaff and the contenders from the pretenders and in this race, there is only one contender. My many years of learning has taught me that elections are won by credible candidates who vigorously canvass for support and votes. This Henry Seriake has done excellently well. I joined him in traversing the length and breadth of Bayelsa State as part of his campaign train. In deed, when I discovered sometime in October that I would be on the campaign trail, I did not exactly realize what lay ahead and how grueling every single day in the next couple of weeks would be. I did not realize I would be visiting almost every community in the state and connecting with people and issues I never in a million years thought I would, but every single minute of it was worth it. I learnt to jump deftly in and out of boats after suffering a bad fall from the pier on my first week. But my confidence grew by the day, especially from watching the Governor not just enduring every single experience with us, but defying the scorching heat and pouring rain to lead the charge like a five star general. We all drew strength from him. I witnessed sights and sounds that will stay with me for the rest of my life and heard stories I would share with my grandchildren when they come. Women in Ikolo literally removed the wrappers on their backs and trunk boxes and had them laid on the ground through the winding foot path linking the jetty and the town hall in appreciation of a governor that had done so much for their community. Men, women and youths of Okumbiri jumped into the river with glee in their hearts and a glint in their eyes as they swam a good fifty metres to welcome their “contriman” governor and his entourage. I saw women tie their wrappers across their chest in a way symbolic of nurturing and care that it left us all in awe. I looked on in amazement as community leaders and paramount rulers gave their blessings and prepared the governor for the coming polls with symbolic gifts of wrappers, bibles and lanterns. From Oluasiri where we lost our way several times navigating through the rivers and creeks because even the boat drivers were not sure of the route, to the great Nembe city where we were drenched in the rain, Governor Dickson demonstrated why the people wanted him to lead them in 2012 and why they overwhelmingly want him to continue until 2020. He empathized with the people when sympathy was needed and even though he towered above everyone in height and stature, he was quick to remind the crowd that the forthcoming election was about peace and not war. He cautioned that restrain was an imperative no matter the level of provocation every time concerns about violence and the use of federal might to intimidate voters were raised. If the campaign took a toll on the governor which I figure it must have at times, it did not show because he spoke eloquently everywhere we went (in fact I have never seen anyone do extempore better). And when he had to tie those heavy wrappers that must have weighed a ton and then some, he did not miss a beat as he danced with his legions of supporters or slow down his pace as he walked from jetty to palace to town hall completely surrounded by a sea of people, so much so that photographers and cameramen had to climb on tree stumps and tall buildings to get a good shot. Even though I remember the frenzy and the carnival like atmosphere that welcomed HSD throughout the tour, what caught my attention the most was his message and the things he spoke about. I appreciated his admonition to pursue peace and why it was important for Bayelsans to come out and vote for a party and a governor that had worked so hard to obliterate from their memories an era when they did not feel safe and secure as they do today. In community after community the people chanted “tufiakwa” (God forbid) in unison, united in their resolve to reject the APC and its candidate. Dickson reminded his supporters of the infrastructural developments the state had witnessed in the last three and the half years of his administration. The road linking Nembe to the state capital and the other senatorial roads that are all in advance stages of completion will make agriculture and commerce more profitable for the people. These roads will bring investments, tourists and investors to faraway communities and places in Ekeremor, Southern Ijaw, Ogbia, Brass and Kolokuma that were only once imagined, never visited. I also appreciated his concern that this election be used to make a statement. A strong and irrefutable statement about their Ijawness and why they should not allow themselves to be misled into willingly surrendering the governance of their state and its finances to forces and influences in Lagos and Abuja, by desperate politicians who care only about their personal interest and momentary gains. Politicians that would do anything including the betrayal of the very people that entrusted them with leadership in the first place just to stay relevant. If you are from Bayelsa State, live in Bayelsa State or have family and friends living in the glory of all lands then Saturday 5th December 2015 is a date you should look forward to with great expectation for a historic outcome, and understandably so. Bayelsans will be answering the important question of whether we are going forward or backwards, if we want to make progress or experience regression. Or if like one of the billboards proclaim loudly, we want to return to Egypt or continue to press on to Canaan. What HSD accomplished in the last four weeks has redefined what grass-root campaigning is about. In deed he has set the bar so high, it would never be the same again. HSD connected with the people he serves. In some places he slept over so he could lengthen his conversation with them and where it was not possible he partook of their bread and water and whatever else they offered from the kindness of their hearts. He smiled and shook hands with school children. Young boys and girls who in spite of their ineligibility to vote came out in their numbers to show appreciation for the positive transformation in their fortunes. As governor, Henry Seriake Dickson declared a state of emergency in the educational sector and made education a top priority issue for his administration recording visible and verifiable outcomes. HSD was always the first to come out of the boat or car. He reached out extensively. He defied protocol, making unscheduled stops to meet and greet mechanics and artisans, market women and youth groups, farmers and fishermen, Bayelsans and non-Bayelsans and as many people as wanted audience with him. He had a chance to explain first hand, issues about salaries and the financial position of the state. Communities expressed their problems to him and they got immediate solutions and where that was not possible the channels were created for further discussions. Henry Seriake Dickson has done everything a good man ought to do to ensure victory at the polls. He has played his part. His score card has high grades in performance and campaigning. All that is left is for INEC and the security agencies to be allowed to do theirs without interference. Like they say in situations like this, let the best man win and in my books the best man is the one who worked the hardest and who has God on his side. In this contest, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson stands head and shoulders above his competitors. He certainly deserves all the goodwill he received along the way.
*Michael Afenfia wrote in from Yenagoa, Bayelsa state. [myad]
I have been amused, reading a number of jokes concerning the frequency of the President, Muhammadu Buhari’s foreign trips.
Questions have been raised about why so many visits, and what are the benefits Nigeria is getting?
I will make it clear from the beginning that the critic is entitled to his and her opinion and nothing said here is intended to silence him or her.
Criticism goes with the territory and as it is often said in a wisecrack, if you don’t like the heat, get out of the kitchen.
President Muhammadu Buhari came into office under the mantra of change. While Nigerians are yearning for change, you need someone who will set up the infrastructure, both at home and abroad for it. President Buhari is busy doing that.
The change is manifest in where he visits and what he does.
In the delegations accompanying him abroad, President Buhari has slashed the numbers, bringing them down to a tolerable or the bearable minimum.
He went to the United Nations General Assembly in September with an unbelievable 32 officials in his delegation. These included his cook, his doctor and luggage officer.
His predecessor in office went to the same meeting with 150 officials and family members the year before.
Wherever they are given government accommodation and feeding, members of President Buhari’s entourage receive reduced allowances, thereby saving the government some money.
In public diplomacy, experts say that it is better conducted through face-to-face interaction than through third parties. This is even moreso at the level of heads of state. To do by it by proxy is to miss the effect of fostering strong interpersonal relations between leaders, by which nations benefit.
President Buhari has so far visited Germany, South Africa, USA, Niger, Tchad, Cameroon, Benin, Ghana, South Africa, India, Iran and Malta, where we are presently for the Commonwealth Summit. Mostly, these were due to either the United Nations, EU, African Union or energy and security-related summits. They were mostly undertaken to attend specific meetings, not State Visits. Looking at these assignments, the trips are inescapable for the President. What would Nigerians say of their leader when see the array of world leaders assemble, as they would shortly be doing discussing climate change in Paris on Monday and their own President is missing from the table?
Those of us who were around under Abacha read all the taunts about him being a sit-at-home leader. Abacha was despised for not representing his country abroad.
President Buhari’s foreign visits have been marked by punishing schedules. They are always business-like and results-oriented.
All trips have been marked by tight schedules. Meeting after meeting, happening back-to-back morning, afternoon and evening. The President has had to travel overnight for some of these meetings.
The visit by any president to another country is the highest act in international relations.
It sends out a message that that county is important to the visitor.
It is not like your usual vacation abroad. Official discussions involving political leaders, the military, the diplomats and at times, business people are held at multi- track levels. In foreign policy you stand on a quick sand of events and you slip up if take a rest or lose focus. Governments also know that their achievements at home will be meaningless if they cannot project them abroad. Who or where are the foreign investors,whose hand you are seeking if you can’t travel meet them? Will they come if they don’t know about the country? President Buhari demonstrated a keen understanding of these when in the first week of his taking the office, he brought together foreign policy and all three cardinal objectives of his administration-security,economy and war on corruption- by embarking on visits to neighboring countries.
In our recent history, much of the West had ignored Nigeria under the corrupt PDP administration for many years, which warranted the country’s tilt towards some Asian countries.
As a consequence, this country has suffered past isolation of various types, including the denial of access to the arms-purchase market.
As a member of the then Standing Committee of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, I remember being in a delegation that visited the Aso Rock Villa, to beg the government at that time not the execute the writer and activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa.
At the meeting with the Number Two man in that government, Major-General Oladipo Diya, he announced to everyone’s shock and disbelief that Ken had been executed. “Honestly,” he muted, “I think he has been executed about two days ago.”
What followed that pronouncement was a global outrage.
The then Foreign Affairs Minister, Arch. Tom Ikimi representing Nigeria at the Commonwealth meeting in New Zealand, shattered the feelings of the leaders of those countries when he announced to them that he had not been briefed about the executions and begged for time to talk to the leaders back in Nigeria.
Nigeria faced an imminent expulsion from the group and would have been so sacked but for the intervention of the then President of South Africa, late Nelson Mandela.
In place of this extreme form of sanction, a suspension and and a barrage of sanctions followed and remained in place until an appreciable remorse was was shown and progress made towards the return to democracy by Nigeria.
Throughout that period of time, it was difficult being a Nigerian in the international space.
As council members of the UN Human Rights Commission, Africans would caucus in Geneva without us Nigerians. Like lepers, we were shunned wherever we showed up.
I mentioned this short narrative to illustrate two things: one, for a country to do the right things all the time and two, you don’t know the joy being a part of international gatherings until you suffer the pain of exclusion from them.
Short of begging the world, there was nothing that the Abacha government didn’t do to be taken back into the Commonwealth.
And it is against this background that I felt the need to pen this opinion in the hope of bringing better understanding to fellow countrymen and women on the current subject matter.
There is no reason to be angry with anyone criticizing President Buhari for traveling abroad. In politics, even if President Buhari were to bring with him a suitcase full of cash and a pot gold each time he returned from a trip, someone will criticize him, saying that the journey is wasteful.
The PDP will kick, knowing that they got 16 years and did nothing with it. Those who didn’t do much during their term of governance will find it instructive to fault whatever the President is doing.
If President Buhari is successful as a leader, the PDP will be history.
My own point here is that he is doing a great job and the fruits are here, and many more will soon come. He is working to strengthen diplomatic relations, trade and the security of our nation. He holds serious meetings with serious investors and has fetched us investments in the range of billions of US Dollars.
Now, countries such as France, UK, The U.S are supporting Nigeria with intelligence, weapons and training for our military against Boko Haram and the economic saboteurs in the Delta region.
President Buhari will definitely make Nigeria great,what the PDP fooled us for 16 years.
All heads of countries around the world now take Nigeria seriously. His foreign trips are for business, security of the country and bilateral contacts- contacts that get actualized by follow-ups and the love and support a leader enjoys at home and abroad.
Today the world is in a warm embrace of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Nigerians should be proud of the attention, love and admiration, importance, respect and investment he is bringing to Nigeria. These trips are not for enjoyment.
Lastly, to answer those who ask all the time, what is he bringing back home?
We are not a country of beggars. It is good if something is in the bag as the leader comes home from a trip.
Culturally, we never return home from a trip without a souvenir for everyone left at home. Yes it is good he declares something upon his return.
But the most important task for the President at this time is to reset the image of Nigeria abroad, given the damage it sustained over many years in the past.
So far, in fairness, the President has projected a large image of Nigeria and of himself which should be a matter of pride for all our citizens. Marketing of Brand Nigeria can never be more important than currently it is.
The President is doing a great job for the nation. He needs to be supported.
Garba Shehu is Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity. [myad]
Former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was awarded Doctor of Science (Edu.) in Political Science by the Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ogun State today.
L-R: The Vice Chancellor of Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ogun State, Professor Oluyemisi Obilade; the Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; Obasanjo; and TASUED’s Pro- Chancellor, Professor Olufemi Bamiro, after the award of the Degree to Obasanjo to mark the 10th anniversary and 2015 convocation ceremonies of the University. [myad]
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The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has announced the promotion of 153 senior officers.
Buhari’s Trips Are Not For Fun, By Garba Shehu.
I have been amused, reading a number of jokes concerning the frequency of the President, Muhammadu Buhari’s foreign trips.
Questions have been raised about why so many visits, and what are the benefits Nigeria is getting?
I will make it clear from the beginning that the critic is entitled to his and her opinion and nothing said here is intended to silence him or her.
Criticism goes with the territory and as it is often said in a wisecrack, if you don’t like the heat, get out of the kitchen.
President Muhammadu Buhari came into office under the mantra of change. While Nigerians are yearning for change, you need someone who will set up the infrastructure, both at home and abroad for it. President Buhari is busy doing that.
The change is manifest in where he visits and what he does.
In the delegations accompanying him abroad, President Buhari has slashed the numbers, bringing them down to a tolerable or the bearable minimum.
He went to the United Nations General Assembly in September with an unbelievable 32 officials in his delegation. These included his cook, his doctor and luggage officer.
His predecessor in office went to the same meeting with 150 officials and family members the year before.
Wherever they are given government accommodation and feeding, members of President Buhari’s entourage receive reduced allowances, thereby saving the government some money.
In public diplomacy, experts say that it is better conducted through face-to-face interaction than through third parties. This is even moreso at the level of heads of state. To do by it by proxy is to miss the effect of fostering strong interpersonal relations between leaders, by which nations benefit.
President Buhari has so far visited Germany, South Africa, USA, Niger, Tchad, Cameroon, Benin, Ghana, South Africa, India, Iran and Malta, where we are presently for the Commonwealth Summit. Mostly, these were due to either the United Nations, EU, African Union or energy and security-related summits. They were mostly undertaken to attend specific meetings, not State Visits. Looking at these assignments, the trips are inescapable for the President. What would Nigerians say of their leader when see the array of world leaders assemble, as they would shortly be doing discussing climate change in Paris on Monday and their own President is missing from the table?
Those of us who were around under Abacha read all the taunts about him being a sit-at-home leader. Abacha was despised for not representing his country abroad.
President Buhari’s foreign visits have been marked by punishing schedules. They are always business-like and results-oriented.
All trips have been marked by tight schedules. Meeting after meeting, happening back-to-back morning, afternoon and evening. The President has had to travel overnight for some of these meetings.
The visit by any president to another country is the highest act in international relations.
It sends out a message that that county is important to the visitor.
It is not like your usual vacation abroad. Official discussions involving political leaders, the military, the diplomats and at times, business people are held at multi- track levels. In foreign policy you stand on a quick sand of events and you slip up if take a rest or lose focus. Governments also know that their achievements at home will be meaningless if they cannot project them abroad. Who or where are the foreign investors,whose hand you are seeking if you can’t travel meet them? Will they come if they don’t know about the country? President Buhari demonstrated a keen understanding of these when in the first week of his taking the office, he brought together foreign policy and all three cardinal objectives of his administration-security,economy and war on corruption- by embarking on visits to neighboring countries.
In our recent history, much of the West had ignored Nigeria under the corrupt PDP administration for many years, which warranted the country’s tilt towards some Asian countries.
As a consequence, this country has suffered past isolation of various types, including the denial of access to the arms-purchase market.
As a member of the then Standing Committee of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, I remember being in a delegation that visited the Aso Rock Villa, to beg the government at that time not the execute the writer and activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa.
At the meeting with the Number Two man in that government, Major-General Oladipo Diya, he announced to everyone’s shock and disbelief that Ken had been executed. “Honestly,” he muted, “I think he has been executed about two days ago.”
What followed that pronouncement was a global outrage.
The then Foreign Affairs Minister, Arch. Tom Ikimi representing Nigeria at the Commonwealth meeting in New Zealand, shattered the feelings of the leaders of those countries when he announced to them that he had not been briefed about the executions and begged for time to talk to the leaders back in Nigeria.
Nigeria faced an imminent expulsion from the group and would have been so sacked but for the intervention of the then President of South Africa, late Nelson Mandela.
In place of this extreme form of sanction, a suspension and and a barrage of sanctions followed and remained in place until an appreciable remorse was was shown and progress made towards the return to democracy by Nigeria.
Throughout that period of time, it was difficult being a Nigerian in the international space.
As council members of the UN Human Rights Commission, Africans would caucus in Geneva without us Nigerians. Like lepers, we were shunned wherever we showed up.
I mentioned this short narrative to illustrate two things: one, for a country to do the right things all the time and two, you don’t know the joy being a part of international gatherings until you suffer the pain of exclusion from them.
Short of begging the world, there was nothing that the Abacha government didn’t do to be taken back into the Commonwealth.
And it is against this background that I felt the need to pen this opinion in the hope of bringing better understanding to fellow countrymen and women on the current subject matter.
There is no reason to be angry with anyone criticizing President Buhari for traveling abroad. In politics, even if President Buhari were to bring with him a suitcase full of cash and a pot gold each time he returned from a trip, someone will criticize him, saying that the journey is wasteful.
The PDP will kick, knowing that they got 16 years and did nothing with it. Those who didn’t do much during their term of governance will find it instructive to fault whatever the President is doing.
If President Buhari is successful as a leader, the PDP will be history.
My own point here is that he is doing a great job and the fruits are here, and many more will soon come. He is working to strengthen diplomatic relations, trade and the security of our nation. He holds serious meetings with serious investors and has fetched us investments in the range of billions of US Dollars.
Now, countries such as France, UK, The U.S are supporting Nigeria with intelligence, weapons and training for our military against Boko Haram and the economic saboteurs in the Delta region.
President Buhari will definitely make Nigeria great,what the PDP fooled us for 16 years.
All heads of countries around the world now take Nigeria seriously. His foreign trips are for business, security of the country and bilateral contacts- contacts that get actualized by follow-ups and the love and support a leader enjoys at home and abroad.
Today the world is in a warm embrace of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Nigerians should be proud of the attention, love and admiration, importance, respect and investment he is bringing to Nigeria. These trips are not for enjoyment.
Lastly, to answer those who ask all the time, what is he bringing back home?
We are not a country of beggars. It is good if something is in the bag as the leader comes home from a trip.
Culturally, we never return home from a trip without a souvenir for everyone left at home. Yes it is good he declares something upon his return.
But the most important task for the President at this time is to reset the image of Nigeria abroad, given the damage it sustained over many years in the past.
So far, in fairness, the President has projected a large image of Nigeria and of himself which should be a matter of pride for all our citizens. Marketing of Brand Nigeria can never be more important than currently it is.
The President is doing a great job for the nation. He needs to be supported.