The Presidency is angry with Daily Trust and ThisDay newspapers for blaming President Muhammadu Buhari over the dire security situation in Benue State in what it called “a series of apparently syndicated editorials.”

The Presidency regretted that the newspapers, “in their near identical articles, elected to give” Samuel Ortom, who had been the governor of the State for the past eight years “a free pass.”

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari on media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu said that the people of Benue State know the truth.

“After all, it is they who have suffered under Ortom’s “leadership” – if one can call it such. It is they who have experienced first-hand the mass killings, the torture, the litany of atrocities as Benue’s security situation plummeted ever further. It is they who buried their loved ones while watching their careless, irresponsible and incompetent governor politicise on those freshly dug graves.

“And it is they who turned to the last privilege they had left: their democratic privilege, to resoundingly kick out Ortom and his so-called People’s Democratic Party in favour of a new governor, Reverend Father Hyacinth Iornem Alia from Buhari’s party, the APC.

“But since the Daily Trust and ThisDay may not be as well informed as their Benue compatriots, this blatant rewriting of history must be addressed. For their education, we humbly submit a list – far from exhaustive – of the steps taken personally by President Buhari to address the deteriorating situation in Benue. These were, in many cases, roundly ignored – if not outright obstructed – by former Governor Ortom:

1. A number of in-person meetings with the Governor of Benue State and other community leaders, assuring them of the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting farmers and communities.
2. The establishment and funding of Joint Security Operations, code-named Operation Whirl Stroke (OWS). To date, the OWS Team remains in place. A number of OWS security agents have given their lives protecting the people of Benue. Many were endangered further by Ortom’s fake news and disinformation campaigns, and his unwillingness to engage with the project.

iii. The deployment of special security forces to flash-points in the State including the Nigerian Army,  Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Police Force, Department of State Services and other security agencies.

1. The deployment of an array of NAF fighter aircraft, Mi-35 helicopter gunships as well as Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance platforms.
2. The Deployment of ten (10) Units of the Police Mobile Force, Ten (10) Units of Police Special Forces (Tactical Operation Units) and Aerial Surveillance Teams (Police Helicopters).
3. The Acquisition and deployment of modern military armaments.

vii. The provision of timely and actionable intelligence to Ortom (which were routinely ignored).

viii. The prompt provision of humanitarian support to victims via the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.”

Garba Shehu said that despite these efforts, “we know that the new Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has his work cut out. In his own words, he is inheriting a State that is in the Intensive Care Unit. Perhaps if disgraced Governor Ortom had been more concerned with doing his job than politisicing the tragedies so frequently taking place under his watch, the situation in Benue might be very different, like in any of its neighbours – Taraba, Nasarawa, the FCT – which all enjoy peace.

“Instead, Ortom stubbornly refused to engage with the detailed, holistic approach clearly spelt out by the Federal Government. He arrogantly chose his own, destructive path. He blamed the Fulani for every problem that arose. He ignored numerous intelligence reports passed to him for action. He rejected police findings into investigations that didn’t meet his egotistical worldview. He politicized every life lost on his watch.

“So, thank God the people of Benue rejected him so roundly at elections. His contract was not renewed. He failed a Senate election. Even the person he endorsed for Governorship was rejected.

“They know better than anyone else the true reasons for the situation in Benue. If anyone is looking for someone to blame, just ask the people of Benue.”

The Presidency has indicated that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) will appeal the judgment by Federal High Court in Abuja, restoring the official status of Senator Ifeanyi Ararume after being sacked.
A statement today, April 19, from the Presidency signed by Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina said that NNPCL has already been given instruction to appeal the judgment.
The statement said: “President Muhammadu Buhari has taken due notice of judgment by the Federal High Court, Abuja, restoring Senator Ifeanyi Ararume as the non-executive Chairman of Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
“While the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation /Minister for Justice is yet to receive a formal copy of the ruling, the President affirms that due judicial process will be followed, and NNPCL has already taken steps to go on appeal.
“The Administration respects the Rule of Law, and nothing will be done outside it to resolve the matter.”
The statement quoted President Buhari as calling for calm from all sides involved.

The Federal High Court, which restored the status of Senator Ararume, asked NNPCL to pay him the sum of N5 billion as general damages.

President Muhammadu Buhari has retired the acting Comptroller-General (CG) of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Isah Jere Idris.
This is sequel to the expiration of his initial extended one-year tenure as well as the dust raised by several Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), who warned the Presidency against another consideration for Jere.
The development was contained in a secret notification of one year tenure extension expiration memo addressed to Jere.
The memo, dated April 17, 2023 with code number CDCFIB/APPT.CG&DCG/61/VOL.IV/74 was signed by the secretary to the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board, Obasi Edozie Edmond, on the orders of the Board’s chairman, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who is the Minister of Interior.
Jere is by the retirement notice directed to hand over the duties and responsibilities of his office to the most senior officer in the Service, pending the appointment of a substantive CG of Immigration.
Recall that Isah Jere Idris was appointed in acting capacity just before his retirement in April 2022 but got his tenure for one year ahead of its expiration.
The extended tenure will automatically elapse on April 24, 2023.
Source: People’s Security Monitor

Here are the 109 Senators-elect in the 2023 elections, to legislate for country in the 10^th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

APC senators-elect

• Orji Uzor Kalu – Abia NortH
• Elisha Cliff Ishaku Adamawa North
• Godswill Obot Akpabio – Akwa Ibom N/West
• Umar Salihu Baba – Bauchi South
• Udende Memsa Emmanuel – Benue North East
• Titus Tartengar Zam – Benue North West
• Mohammed Tahir Monguno – Borno North
• Kaka Shehu Lawan – Borno Central
• Mohammed Ali Ndume – Borno South
• Williams Eteng Jonah Cross River Central
• Ekpenyong Asuquo – Cross River South
• Dafinone Ede Omueya – Delta Central
• Joel Onowakpo Ewomazino – Delta South
• Nwebonyi Onyeka Peter – Ebonyi North
• Eze Kenneth Emeka – Ebonyi Central
• Nweze David Umahi – Ebonyi South
• Okpebholo Sunday – Edo Central
• Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole – Edo North
• Fasuyi Cyril Oluwole – Ekiti North
• Bamidele Michael Opeyemi – Ekiti Central
• Adaramodu Adeyemi Raphael – Ekiti South
• Mohammed Danjuma Goje – Gombe Central
• Osita Bonaventure Izunaso – Imo West
• Ndubueze Patrick Chiwuba – Imo North
• Abdulhamid Madori Ahmed – Jigawa North East
• Hussaini Babangida Uba – Jigawa North West
• Barau Jibrin – Kano North
• Nasir Sani Zangon Daura – Katsina North
• Dandutse Mutari Mohammed – Katsina South
• Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua – Katsina Central
• Isah Jibrin – Kogi East
• Sadiku Abubakar Ohere – Kogi Central
• Sunday Steve Karimu – Kogi West
• Umar Sadiq Sulaiman – Kwara North
• Salihu Mustapha – Kwara Central
• Oyelola Yisa Ashiru – Kwara South
• Sanni Wasiu Eshilokun – Lagos Central
• Abiru Mukhail Adetokunbo – Lagos East
• Idiat Oluranti Adebule – Lagos West
• Mohammed Sani Musa – Niger East
• Sani Bello Abubakar – Niger North
• Salisu Shuaib Afolabi – Ogun Central
• Daniel Justus Olugbenga – Ogun East
• Solomon Olamilekan Adeola – Ogun West
• Ipinasagba Emmanuel Olajide – Ondo North
• Adegbonmire Adeniyi Ayodele – Ondo Central
• Jimoh Ibrahim Folorunso – Ondo South
• Akintunde Yunus Abiodun – Oyo Central
• Buhari Abdulfatai – Oyo North
• Alli Sharafadeen Abiodun – Oyo South
• Diket Plang – Plateau Central
• David Jimkatu – Taraba South
• Ibrahim Geidam – Yobe East
• Ahmad Ibrahim – Lawan Yobe North
• Ibrahim Bomai – Yobe South
• Sahabi Ya’u – Zamfara North
• Abubakar Abdulaziz Yari – Zamfara West
• Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko – Sokoto North
• Ibrahim Gobir -Sokoto East

PDP senators-elect

• Yaroe Binos Dauda Adamawa South
• Aminu Iya Abass Adamawa Central
• Bassey Aniekan Etim Akwa Ibom N/ East
• Akpan Ekong Samson Akwa Ibom South
• Abdul Ningi Bauchi Central
• Samaila Dahuwa Kila Bauchi North
• Agadaga Benson Sunday Bayelsa East
• Benson Friday Konbowei Bayelsa Central
• Henry Seriake Dickson Bayelsa West
• Patrick Abba Moro Benue South
• Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe C/River North
• Nwoko Chinedu Munir Delta North
• Ngwu Osita Enugu West
• Ibrahim Hassan Dakwambo Gombe North
• Yaro Anthony Siyako Gombe South
• Khabeeb Mustapha Jigawa S/West
• Khalid Ibrahim Mustapha Kaduna North
• Lawal Adamu Usman Kaduna Central
• Katung Sunday Usman Kaduna South
• Mohammed Adamu Aliero Kebbi Central
• Musa Garba Kebbi South
• Onawo Mohammed Ogoshi Nasarawa South
• Jiya Peter Ndalikali Niger South
• Fadeyi Oluwole Olubiyi Osun Central
• Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi Osun East
• Oyewumi Kamorudeen Olarere Osun West
• Napoleon Binkap Bali Plateau South
• Mwadkwon Simon Davou Plateau North
• Onyesoh Allwell Heacho Rivers East
• Mpigi Barinda Rivers South East
• Ipalibo Harry Banigo Rivers West
• Manu Haruna Taraba Central
• Isa Shaibu Lau Taraba North
• Aminu Tambuwal Sokoto South
• Ikra Aliyu Bilbis Zamfara Central
• Yahaya Abdullahi Kebbi North

LP senators-elect

• Darlington Nwokeocha Abia Central
• Tony Nwoye Anambra North
• Victor Umeh Anambra Central
• Imasuen Neda Bernards Edo South
• Ezea Okechukwu Enugu North
• Onyewuchi Ezenwa Francis Imo East
• Kelvin Chukwu Enugu East
• Ireti Heebah Kingibe FCT

SDP senators-elect

• Godiya Akwashiki Nasarawa North
• Aliyu Ahmed Wadada Nasarawa West

NNPP senators-elect

• Rufai Hanga Kano Central
• Kawu Sulaiman Abduraman Kano South

APGA senator-elect

• Enyinnaya Harcourt Abaribe Abia South

YPP senator-elect

• Ifeanyi Patrick Uba Anambra South