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  • Have Tinubu’s appointments been equitable and fair?

    Have Tinubu’s appointments been equitable and fair?

     

     

    By Bolanle Bolawole

    turnpot@gmail.com 0705 263 1058

    Have the President’s appointments been fair? Have they been equitable? Some say he has not been fair, equitable and just; especially those who say that he has unduly favoured his Yoruba ethnic group.

    To buttress their point, they have listed some important and critical appointments which they say have gone the way of Tinubu’s Yoruba ethnic group.

    Let us take the appointments one after the other, beginning with the office of Chief of Staff, created in 1999 by the then President Olusegun Obasanjo. We have since then had the following as Chief of Staff. 1. Abdullahi Mohammed (Northerner), 29 May, 1999 – 2 June, 2008; 9 years. 2. Relatively-unknown Gbolade Osinowo (South-west), 2 June 2008 – 18 September, 2008; three-and-half months, after which the then President Umaru Yar’Ádua abolished the position. 3. Mike Oghiadomhe (South-South), 17 May, 2010 – 10 February 2014; about 4 years (after President Goodluck Jonathan reinstated the position). 4. Jones Arogbofa (Yoruba), 18 February 2014 – 29 May, 2015; one year, three months. 5. Abba Kyari (Northerner), 27 August 2015 – 17 April, 2022, almost seven years. 6. Ibrahim Gambari (Kwara state/North Central), 13 May, 2020 – 29 May, 2023, three years).

    So, the North has held the position for 16 years; South-South, 4 years; North-Central, 3 years; South-west, one-and-half years before the current holder of the post, Femi Gbajabiamila, who came into office on 14 June, 2023, less than 5 months ago. My verdict: This appointment by President Tinubu is justified.

    Next is the position of the National Security Adviser; WIKIPEDIA described this position as “a senior official in the cabinet of the President of Nigeria who manages national security on behalf of the President and serves as his chief advisor on all matters that are vital to the very survival of the State.

    The position is a statutory member of the Presidency, National Security Council and the Federal Executive Council”.

    The occupants since 1993 are: 1. Aliyu Mohammed Gusau, 2 January 1993 – 30 August, 1993, eight months. 2. Ismaila Gwarzo, 30 August 1993 – 9 June, 1998, about 5 years. 3. Abdullahi Mohammed, 9 June 1998 – 29 May, 1999, 1 year. 4. Aliyu Mohammed Gusau, 29 May, 1999 – 1 June, 2006, seven years. 5. Abdullahi Sarki Mukhtar 1 June, 2006 – 8 March, 2010, five years. 6. Aliyu Mohammed Gusau, 8 March, 2010 – 18 September, 2010, about six months. 7. Kayode Are (in acting capacity for only two weeks), 18 September, 2010 – 4 October, 2010. 8. President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan broke the North’s monopoly of the position when he appointed Owoye Andrew Azazi (4 October, 2010 – 22 June, 2012), less than two years. 9.

    The North seized the position again with the appointment of Sambo Dasuki, 22 June, 2012 -13 July, 2015, three years. 10. Babagana Monguno, 13 July, 2015 – 26 June 2023, eight years. The current holder of the position, Nuhu Ribadu, appointed on 26 June, 2023, is also a Northerner.

    No person of South-west origin has held the position in a substantive position. If President Tinubu appoints a Yoruba man into the office tomorrow, there will be an outcry of “Yorubanization” but he will be justified.

    Next is the Chief of Army Staff, the undisputed flagship of the Nigerian Armed Forces: The last time a Yoruba (South-west) was Chief of Army Staff (Lt. Gen. Ipoola Alani Akinrinade) was in 1979 – and for only six months! It has been Northerners all the way: Lt. Gen. Gibson Jalo; Lt. Gen. Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi; Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Babangida; Lt. Gen. Sani Abacha; Lt. Gen. Salihu Ibrahim; Lt. Gen. Aliyu Mohammed Gusau; Maj. Gen. Chris Alli; Major-Gen. Alwali Kazir; Lt. Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi; Lt. Gen. Victor Malu; Lt. Gen. Alexander Ogomudia (South-South); Lt. Gen. Martin Luther Agwai; Lt. Gen. Owoye Andrew Azazi (South-South); Lt. Gen. Luka Yusuf; Addulrahman Bello Dambazzau; Lt. Gen.Azubuike Ihejirika (South-East); Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah (South-South); Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai; Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru; Lt. Gen. Farouk Yahaya and the incumbent, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, who was appointed on 23 June, 2023. Is his appointment justified? 100% justified!

    The incumbent Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, is the first Yoruba (South-west) to head the organization in a substantive capacity since its inception despite that the chunk of its revenue comes from the region!

    The list of the Comptroller-Generals is dominated by Northerners: Shehu Ahmadu Musa; Gen. S. O. G. Ango (Sole Administrator); Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu Mustapha; Jacob Gyang Buba; Hamman Bello Ahmed; Bernard-Shaw Nwadialo; Dikko Inde Abdullahi and retired Army Colonel Hammed Ali. Is Adeniyi’s appointment justified? It is!

    What of the Nigeria Immigration Service? The current acting Comptroller-General, Caroline Wura-Ola Adepoju, is the first Yoruba (South-west) to occupy the post, though still in an acting capacity. Is her appointment justified? Very, very!

    What of the EFCC, founded in 1999 by President Olusegun Obasanjo? The list of appointees into the position of Executive Chairman as well as acting Chairman of the EFCC has been an exclusive preserve of the North: Ibrahim Lamorde (Adamawa), acting Chairman, 2008; Ibrahim Magu (Borno state), Acting Chairman, 2015 – 2020; Mohammed Umar Abba (Kano state), acting Chairman, 2020 – 2021; Abdulkarim Chukkol (from Borno state), acting Chairman (June 2023 – October, 2023).

    The substantive chairmen are: Nuhu Ribadu (from Adamawa, appointed in 2003 and re-appointed in 2007), Farida Waziri (Benue state), AbdulRasheed Bawa (Kebbi state). The incumbent, Olanipekun Olukoyede, is the first Southerner ever to occupy the position. Is the appointment justified? Super justified!

    What of the position of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, which some people think is their birthright and exclusive preserve? This is the list: Mobolaji Ajose-Adeogun (1976 – 1979); John Jatau Kadiya (1979 – 1982); Iro Abubakar Dan Musa (1982 – 1983); Haliru Dantoro (1983); Mamman Jiya Vatsa (1984 – December 1985); Hamza Abdullahi (1986 – 1989), Gado Nasko (1989 – 1993); Jeremiah Timbut Useni (1993 – 1998); Mamman Kontagora (1998 – 1999); Ibrahim Bunu (1999 – 2001); Mohammed Abba Gana (8 February, 2001 – 17 July, 2003); Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai (17 July, 2003 – 27 July, 2007); Aliyu Modibbo Umar (27 July, 2007 – 29 October, 2008; Bala Mohammed (8 April, 2010 – 29 April, 2015); Mohammed Musa Bello (November 2015 – 29 May 2023) and the incumbent, Nyesom Wike, who was appointed on 21 August, 2023.

    Since the federal capital was moved from Lagos to Abuja on 12 December, 1991, no Southerner has been made its Minister. Is a Southerner’s appointment as the FCT Minister justified? It is!

    The incumbent governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, was appointed by President Tinubu on 15 September, 2023. His predecessors are: Roy Pentelow Fenton (24 July, 1958 – 24 July, 1963); Aliyu Mai-Bornu (25 July, 1963 -22 June, 1967); Clement Nyong Isong (15 August, 1967 – 22 September, 1975); Adamu Ciroma (24 September, 1975 -28 June, 1977); Ola Vincent (28 June, 1982 – 30 September, 1993); Paul Agbai Ogwuma (1 October, 1993 – 29 May, 1999); Joseph Oladele Sanusi (29 May, 1999 – 29 May, 2004); Charles Chukwuma Soludo (29 May, 2004 – 29 May, 2009); Sanusi Lamido Aminu Sanusi (3 June, 2009 – 20 February, 2014); Sarah Alade (in acting capacity: 20 February 2014 – 3 June, 2014); Godwin Emefiele (3 June, 2014 – 9 June, 2023); Folashodun Adebisi Shonubi (in acting capacity: 9 June, 2023 – 15 September, 2023).

    As usual, the North has held the post for 22 years, far more than the other regions of the country. South-South (eight years) but if Emefiele is counted as South-South and you add his nine years, then, South-South shoots up to 17 years! South-west 10 years plus seven months in acting capacity and the South-East, 11 years; but if Emefiele is treated as Igbo and you add his nine years, then the South-east moves up to 20 years, next to the North! In view of these statistics, is Tinubu’s appointment of Cardoso as CBN governor justified? It is!

    The Minister of Finance is another example of Yorubanization being pointed at. Let’s look at the statistics: Wale Edun is the incumbent, appointed by President Tinubu on 16 August, 2023. Since the Fourth Republic began in 1999, it has been Adamu Ciroma (Yobe State), 1999 -2003; Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Delta State), 2003 – 2006; Nenadi Usman (Kaduna State), 2006 – 2007; Shamsuddeen Usman (Kano State), 2007 – 2009; Mansur Mukhtar (Borno State), 2009 – 2010; Olusegun Aganga (Ekiti State), 2010 – 2011; Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Delta State) 2011 -2015; Kemi Adeosun (Ogun State), 2015 – 2018; and Zainab Ahmed (Kaduna State) 2018 – 2023.

    Recall that Adeosun’s tenure was truncated as a result of the controversy over her NYSC discharge certificate and as if Buhari and the cabals around him were waiting for that to happen, the position was quickly given to one of their own from the North! It remains to be seen whether the Yoruba, who led the bandwagon of those who roasted Adeosun, have learnt any lesson! The South-west has done only about five years, less than what Okonjo-Iweala alone chalked up for Delta and what Zainab Ahmed did for the North! Is the appointment of Edun as Finance Minister justified? It is!

    I can go on and on! For instance, no one from the South-west has been the INEC chairman since 1999. The list is: Ephraim Akpata (1998 – 2000); Abel Guobadia (2000 – 2005); Maurice Iwu (2005 – 2010); Atahiru Jega (2010 – 2015); and the incumbent, Mahmood Yakubu, in office since 2015. Is it not only just, fair and equitable for the next INEC chairman to come from Yoruba land?

    There are countless other important offices, agencies and parastatals of the Federal Government (Code of Conduct Bureau, Code of Conduct Tribunal, among others) where Southerners, and specifically the South-west/Yoruba, have been marginalized for ages.

    Not only can we not wish away Prof. Richard Joseph’s theory of prebendal politics in Nigeria, a federal state such as Nigeria must also ensure that no section is marginalized to the point that succession becomes an enticing option. That is what the agitation for Biafra and Yoruba Nation tells us.

    Nigeria’s minority groups, too, have their grievances; one of which is the erroneous assumption, always, that only the major ethnic groups matter. Some of President Tinubu’s appointments have been sensitive to the need to change that narrative. A few examples: The Chief of Defence Staff is General Christopher Gwabin Musa, from the minority Zangon Kataf of southern Kaduna State. We have not forgotten the controversy generated when Vice-Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla was named the Chief of Naval Staff, with some Igbo leaders saying he did not come from “mainstream” Igbo! George Akume, appointed Secretary to the Government of the Federation by President Tinubu, is a minority from Benue State. There are so many other such appointments which, in my mind, were directed at correcting the injustices of the past.

    But all said and done, is the President infallible or can he please everyone? No mortal can! That is the wisdom in Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey’s evergreen song titled “Ketekete” (The Horse, The Man and The Son)! Tinubu appears to have moved away from Buhari’s 97% and 5% analogy that saw him give virtually all the important votes to his tribe, region, and religion because they voted massively for him while the Igbo that did not were only reluctantly given the dregs.

    This same attitude the Igbo have displayed towards the Yoruba through the ages: Awo, MKO Abiola, Olu Falae and now Tinubu. Although they have always maintained stoic silence, suffering in silence, the Yoruba have been more marginalised in the sharing of political largesse than the Igbo.

    And the silence of the Yoruba is not cowardice. It is evidence of political sophistication. Now that some people are crying Yorubanization, they may not be aware that even among the Yoruba, there is the understanding that some Southwest states that contributed less to the votes in the Southwest that brought Tinubu to office have ended up being more favoured than those of their counterparts who delivered more votes. Again, it is a measure of the political sophistication of the Yoruba that you will not hear them make an issue of this in public. The Yoruba are one!(Flowerbudnews)

  • NLC, TUC Declare Nationwide Strike From Nov 14

    NLC, TUC Declare Nationwide Strike From Nov 14

    The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has declared a total nationwide strike effective next Tuesday, November 14, 2023

    The leadership of the two union reached the resolution after an extraordinary National Executive Council meeting on Tuesday in Abuja.

     

    The two major labour unions said nationwide mobilisation of members and allies have begun immediately.

    The action by the Organised Labour followed the brutalisation of NLC National President, Joe Ajaero, last week in Imo State.

     

    There had been widespread outrage by the Organised Labour accusing the Commissioner of Police in Imo State, Mohammed Barde, of complicity in the recent attack on Ajaero, in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

     

    The Organised Labour last Friday handed the Federal Government a five-day ultimatum to replace the police commissioner, while also blaming Governor Hope Uzodimma who is seeking re-election of the attack on Ajaero though the governor had since said he had no hand in the attack on the labour leader.

     

    The Organised Labour also demanded the arrest and prosecution of some of the governor’s aide and threatened to embark on a nationwide industrial action if their demands were not carried out.

    Already, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on Sunday, redeployed Barde for “neutrality sake” ahead of the November 11, 2023 governorship election in Imo State.

     

    See communique issued after the NEC meeting:

     

    COMMUNIQUE AT THE END OF THE JOINT NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (NEC) MEETING OF THE NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS (NLC) & TRADE UNION CONGRESS OF NIGERIA (TUC) HELD ON TUESDAY, THE 7TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2023

     

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) joint National Executive Council (NEC) convened to conduct a comprehensive review of the progress made in executing its directive to initiate an industrial action in Imo state. This decision was prompted by a series of infractions and encroachments on the rights of workers within the state.

    in Imo state as guaranteed by our extant labour laws and the Constitution;

     

    3. the Police supported a group of Imo state Governor’s thugs led by its SA on Special Duties invaded the premises of the Imo NLC Secretariat and unleashed mayhem on the few workers who had gathered inflicting injuries and stealing and damaging personal effects including various sums;

     

    4. the President of the NLC was subsequently subjected to brutalization, blindfolded and abducted by the Police and taken to an unknown destination where he was further subjected to further violations and humiliation;

     

    5. the NLC and TUC have made demands on the Government which have not been met as at the time of this session;

     

    6. the continued prevalence of the use of violence and impunity in negotiating rights and interests within the nation’s socioeconomic space against all known dictates of democracy and Social Dialogue;

     

    Consequently, the NLC/TUC NEC-in-Session resolved as follows:

     

    1. To order the immediate withdrawal of services and shutdown of Imo state beginning midnight today. All workers and affiliates are expected to ensure compliance from wherever they are. All flights into and out of Imo state, fuel supplies and Electricity be stopped immediately as applicable. All Public and Private Sector workers are to immediately down tools indefinitely.

     

    2. That if our demands are still unmet, workers all over the federation shall join in withdrawing their services by Midnight Tuesday, the 14th of November, 2023

     

    3. All State Councils of NLC & TUC and affiliates are by this resolution mandated to ensure full compliance with NEC’s decision

     

    Comrade Adewale Adeyanju (Deputy President NLC)

     

    Comrade Festus Osifo (President TUC

  • BREAKING: Labour orders indefinite shutdown of power supply, flights in Imo

    BREAKING: Labour orders indefinite shutdown of power supply, flights in Imo

    The Organised Labour comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress on Tuesday, ordered a shutdown of electricity and fuel supplies in Imo State following the brutalisation of the National President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, last week, by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force.

     

    The Labour Centres also directed aviation workers to ensure that flights into and outside the state are suspended.

     

    This is according to one of the decisions taken at the extraordinary National Executive Council meeting summoned by the TUC and NUC on Tuesday afternoon.

     

    “The NEC-in-session orders the immediate withdrawal of services and shutdown of Imo State beginning midnight today. All workers and affiliates are expected to ensure compliance from wherever they are. All flights into and out of Imo state, fuel supplies and Electricity be stopped immediately as applicable. All Public and Private Sector workers are to immediately down tools indefinitely,” a communique released at the end of the meeting noted.

     

    The implementation commences at midnight, November 8, 2023.

     

    The PUNCH reports that the Organised Labour, comprising of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, on Friday, issued a five-day ultimatum over the earlier arrest of the National President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, by the police in Owerri, Imo State, on Wednesday.

     

    The labour centres demanded the redeployment of the commissioner of police in the state and the arrest and prosecution of the aide of the government who was alleged to have perpetrated the attack.

    The unions also threatened to embark on a nationwide industrial action if their demands were not met in five days from Friday.

     

    Ajaero was arrested by the police ahead of the state-wide protest in Imo on Wednesday. This was disclosed by the NLC’s Head of Information, Benson Upah.

     

    Although the police denied arresting Ajaero, stating that he was merely taken into protective custody to prevent a mob attack, the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, accused the labour leader of meddling in the political affairs of the state.

     

    The attack on the labour leader has been condemned by many prominent Nigerians and civil society organisations, including the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, and human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN

     

  • Gov Adeleke Reinstates Mrs Fagbola As Secretary, State Judicial Service Commission

    Gov Adeleke Reinstates Mrs Fagbola As Secretary, State Judicial Service Commission

    The Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke has approved the reinstatement of Mrs Abosede Folasayo Fagbola as the Secretary of the Osun State Judicial Service Commission.

     

    According to a terse statement by Mallam Olawale Rasheed, Spokesperson to the State Governor, on Tuesday, the appointment takes immediate effect.

     

  • Osun: Adeleke sacks newly recruited health worker

    Osun: Adeleke sacks newly recruited health worker

    Newly recruited health workers for the University of Osun Teaching Hospital, UTH, have been relieved of their appointment days after their recruitment was ratified.

    The directive for the termination of the appointments was allegedly approved by the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke.

     

    The order was contained in a document obtained by DAILY POST which was duly signed by the Director of Administration, Dr. Owolade O. A.

    The Teaching Hospital notified the newly recruited staffs that their employment has been nullified by the state government.

     

    The message read this, “NOTIFICATION: SUSPENSION OF STAFF RECRUITMENT.

     

    “This is to inform the newly recruited staff to the outreach centers that the recruitment exercise earlier conducted had been nullified in accordance with the Osun State Government directives.

    This notification supercedes the earlier memorandum released.

    Thank you.”

     

    It was learnt that the newly appointed employees were to provide healthcare services at the Teaching Hospital’s outreach centers.

     

    DAILY POST gathered that the initial recruitment exercise had been carried out with much anticipation, as it was seen as a ray of hope for many job seekers in the state. However, the newly recruited staff got the shock of their lives when they were asked to go home few days after they were recruited.

    Many of this affected workers have stated that the reasons behind the sudden turnaround by the governor remained a subject of speculations which has left many to wonder about their fate.

     

    “We resumed early October 2023 but before we received our salary for the month, we were asked to go home on October 19, 2023.

     

    “The excuse is that the appointment exceeded the number of employees required.

    We are still hoping they would call us back. The information we heard was that they recruited more than they needed,” one of the affected staff, who pleaded anonymity, said.

     

    Confirming the report, the UTH Chief Medical Director, Prof Olaitan Peter in a response to DAILY POST enquiry said, “Yes, it is true

     

  • FG picks Enugu for e-governance pilot training

    FG picks Enugu for e-governance pilot training

    The Federal Government has selected Enugu State as one of the states slated for the e-governance pilot training programme, which will commence in the first quarter of 2024.

    This was disclosed when a delegation from the Federal Ministry of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy led by Engr. Ekworo MalcDonald, Chief Programme Analyst, and Mrs Oriloye Elizabeth, Principal Programme Analyst, paid a courtesy call on Dr. Malachy Agbo, the Enugu State Commissioner for Human Development and Poverty Eradication in his office in Enugu on Tuesday.

     

    According to them, the pilot programme would train one hundred civil servants on e-governance and other information technology skills that would enhance their ability to deliver on their jobs.

    They commended the state government led by Dr. Peter Mbah, for iembarking on e-governance programme in state, adding that the training of civil servants in information technology was in tandem with the vision of the governor, Dr Peter Mbah.

     

    Earlier in his welcome remarks, Agbo expressed thanks to the ministry for choosing Enugu State as one of the pilot states for the training, assuring that it has facilities suitable for the training.

     

    He stressed that the state government had started the process of migrating from manual to digital processes in its various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to enhance work efficiency and effectiveness.

    They commended the state government led by Dr. Peter Mbah, for iembarking on e-governance programme in state, adding that the training of civil servants in information technology was in tandem with the vision of the governor, Dr Peter Mbah.

    Earlier in his welcome remarks, Agbo expressed thanks to the ministry for choosing Enugu State as one of the pilot states for the training, assuring that it has facilities suitable for the training.

    He stressed that the state government had started the process of migrating from manual to digital processes in its various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to enhance work efficiency and effectiveness

     

  • President Tinubu Makes Fresh Appointment

    President Tinubu Makes Fresh Appointment

    President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dr. Abdu Mukhtar to serve as the National Coordinator of the Presidential ‘Unlocking Healthcare Value-Chain’ Initiative, which is domiciled under the Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare.

     

    According to a statement by Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, this strategic approval seeks to unlock billions of dollars of new investment into the nation’s healthcare delivery system through a time-bound and cross-ministerial collaboration to restructure the ecosystem of Health Product manufacturing, Health Logistics services, Health Technology services, Health Retail services (e-Commerce), Health Provider facilitation, and Health Payor reform (Third Party Administrators & Insurers) in order to achieve the following.

     

    Measurable increase in the domestic manufacturing of generic pharmaceuticals, vaccines, biologics, and devices.

     

    Reduction of outbound medical tourism by enhancing service quality in Nigeria while catalyzing alternative health ecosystems in-country.

     

    Measurable increase in the quantity of quality jobs across the value chain through enhanced FDI and local capital mobilization.

    Ngelale said Dr. Mukhtar comes to the task as the immediate past Director of Industry & Trade Development at the African Development Bank (AfDB). Prior to joining the AfDB, Dr. Mukhtar served as the Group Chief Strategy Officer of the Dangote Group of Industries, where he played a key role in the conglomerate’s expansion of its cement production footprint into fourteen African countries, in addition to important joint ventures in the power, oil & gas, and agriculture sectors.

     

    “This followed a four-year tenure as the Chief Executive Officer of the FCTA’s Abuja Investment Company Limited from 2007 to 2011.

    Dr. Mukhtar holds a Doctorate in Biotechnology from Boston University (USA); a Masters in Business Administration from Harvard Business School (USA); a Masters in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, and a Medical Degree from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

     

    “The President expects that the National Coordinator of this new cross-ministerial initiative will bring to bear his vast experience and academic qualifications in the effective execution of this essential national assignment such that the massive economic boon represented by Nigeria’s healthcare-delivery system can move from potential and theory into reality and practice in accordance with the Renewed Hope Agenda of his administration,” he said

  • Police arrest 53 suspects, recover arms, ammunition, others in Enugu

    Police arrest 53 suspects, recover arms, ammunition, others in Enugu

     

    By Flowerbudnews

    Enugu: The Police Command in Enugu State has arrested no fewer than 53 criminal male suspects for various offences while recovering firearms, ammunition and others exhibits in the state.

    The police covered the following items which included: 28 firearms of assorted calibers, 30 live ammunition, 66 live cartridges, 25 vehicles and 16 motorcycles from the suspects arrested in various parts of the state.

    Parading the criminal suspects on Tuesday in Enugu, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Kanayo Uzuegbu, said that the police operatives within the Command also rescued five kidnapped victims in the state.

    Uzuegbu noted that the state had remained relatively peaceful enough for all and sundry to go about their lawful businesses.

    According to him, this is not to mean that there are no pockets of crimes and criminality in the state, like every other state in the country and human society in general.

     

    He said: “It is on record that we have been able to drastically reduce incidences of kidnapping, particularly on some of our highways like the Opi/Nsukka and Ozalla/Udi Roads, which at some point were topical and challenging issues.

     

    “Unfortunately, we have recently intercepted some social media reports suggesting that there are still high incidences of kidnapping in the state.

    “Interestingly, after diligent analyses of the reports, most of which are basically unfounded and uncalled for.

     

    “We realised that what the peddlers of the reports do is to exaggerate and blow cases of night time abduction and carjacking most of which are not recent occurrences, out of proportion; thereby making it appears as if there were real-time occurrences that one should be worried about.”

     

    The commissioner said that the Command had found out that some of the criminal activities, particularly that of abduction during night hours, are mostly committed by secret cult members.

    Uzuegbu said that he had directed the officer in-charge of my Anti-Cultism Squad to put in more efforts and ensure that cult groups and their criminal activities are further reduced to the barest minimum.

     

    “In fact, I have the approval of Gov. Peter Mbah, to ruthlessly deal with and rid the state of unrepentant cultists and their criminal activities. We must ensured that this is carried out to the latter.

     

    “However, let me categorically make it clear that we remain focused in ensuring a more secured and safer Enugu State, and shall not be distracted by such narratives.

    “Especially now that the good and law-abiding people of the state are beginning to truly commend and appreciate our candid efforts in tackling crime situations in the state,” he said.

     

    The commissioner said that the “state is safe and peaceful enough for residents, visitors and investors to carry out their businesses, adding that residents should continue to be law-abiding, vigilant and promptly report criminal activities to the nearest Police Station.

     

    On the Christmas and New Year festivities being around the corner, Uzuegbu assured the residents especially those that would be coming back to celebrate the season with their loved ones, of adequate security.

    He said: “I use this opportunity to once again thank Gov. Mbah for all the support his administration has been giving to the Police, and his commitment to enthrone a peaceful, safe, secured and economically prosperous Enugu State.

     

    “I also wish to thank the Inspector-General of Police, Dr Kayode Egbetokun, for his sound leadership style and guidance, which have made our policing duties less cumbersome and more productive in the state.

     

    “I wish to appreciate other security agencies, the Neighbourhood Watch Group, Forest Guards and local vigilantes, as well as the law-abiding citizens for all their support and assistance, which have immensely contributed to our operational successes. I, therefore, urge them to remain supportive.” (Flowerbudnews)

  • NAFDAC urges nursing mothers to embrace exclusive breastfeeding

    NAFDAC urges nursing mothers to embrace exclusive breastfeeding

     

    By Sani Idris
    Kaduna:  The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration (NAFDAC) has advised nursing mothers to embrace exclusive breastfeeding to improve the health status of their newborns.

    The North West Director of the agency, Mrs Josephine Dayilim, gave the advise at a one-day workshop on the ban on promotion of breast milk substitutes on Friday in Kaduna.

    The workshop was organised by NAFDAC, in collaboration with the Carelink Resource Foundation.

    Dayilim, represented by Rahila Maishanu, NAFDAC Desk Officer in charge of breast milk substitutes in Kaduna, expressed the need for stakeholders to educate nursing mothers to maintain exclusive breastfeeding.

    She said that nursing mothers needed to be sensitised on the dangers involved in using breast milk substitutes on their newborns.

    He said that there was a code that expressly banned the inappropriate marketing and advertising of breast milk substitute.

    She said that the code also banned the promotion of such products.

    Dayilim called on stakeholders to adhere to the code, while urging them to also step down the initiative to their communities.

    She appreciated their efforts towards sensitising the public on the importance of embracing exclusive breastfeeding.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that participants at the workshop cut across various organisations, such as National Union of Road Transport Workers, traditional leaders and health workers, among others.

    The participants promised to adhere to the code and implement it in their respective domains. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng) / Flowerbudnews