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Army Chief lauds South-East governors’ support in fighting insecurity in S’E
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt-. Gen., Taoreed Lagbaja, has lauded the South East Governors for their continuous support to its officers in the fight against insecurity in the region.
Lagbaja gave the commendation when he and his men paid a courtesy visit to Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State at the Government House, Enugu on Tuesday.
He said that the support to the security agencies had contributed to the peace in the zone.
The army chief said, “I am reassured that the support of the governor of Enugu State as well as other governors in the southeast through the efforts of our troops has created a stable, peaceful and enabling environment to the economy of the southeast”.
He said that following his assumption of office as Chief of Army Staff on June 23, 2023, he had taken out time to visit formations and units of Nigeria Army to access the deployment of troops across the country.
This, he said, was in a bid to address some challenges confronting the troops to improve their operational effectiveness.
“I want to start by apologising that I am just coming to Enugu six months after assumption of office Owing to the fact I am still there since the knowledge of the troops deployment to the security challenges in southeast zone.
“I arrived Enugu State this morning for operational visit to 82 Division, and the General Commanding Officer (GOC), Maj-Gen., Hassan Dada, had taken time to brief me on the operational situation and effort of the division to combat the threats.
“I want to appreciate his Excellency and the good people of Enugu State for the support you have provided to 82 Division, 103 battalion and other deployment we have across state,” he said.
According to him, through Mbah’s support, the troops were able to show presence in operation centres, conduct patrol and other operations to create stability and peaceful environment.
He promised that the headquarter would take steps to address and look into the areas the governor pointed out in a bid to expand the frontier of peace and stability in the state.
“I want also to pledge continued support of the formation and units of Nigeria Army through the effort of the Enugu State Government to ensure that peace reign in this state as well as thank his excellency and good people of the state for being host to our troops and their families.
“We will continue to remain loyal and worthy partners to you towards realising your wonderful plan for the people of the state by having our men on ground at Isi-Uzo Council Area as it is our desire to rid the area of criminal elements.
Responding, Mbah commended Lagabaja for the visit which he described as homecoming for him having served as GOC of 82 Division, Enugu.
The governor said when he assumed office on May 29, 2023, he executed a social pact by signing a social contract with the people of the state.
According to him, I promised them that Enugu will be one of the top three states in the country in terms of their GDP and that they are going to grow their economy from the current level of $4.4 billion to $30 billion.
“We also said to them that our mission is to make the state the premier destination for investment, living, tourism and business, adding that all these will not be achieved where there is insecurity.
“Private sector investment does not agree with insecurity. So, we immediately recognised that if we must keep to our pact of this bargain with Enugu people, we must address the challenges of insecurity frontally,” he said.
While acknowledging the tireless efforts, support and commitment of the army chief and his men in securing the state, the governor said, “Today we can proudly say that we are on the part of fulfilling those promises we made to our people.
“We can now boldly say that the so-called Monday’s sit-at-home have been bid goodbye in Enugu and we are going to continue to provide necessary support to sustain and improve on the state of security.
He, however, requested the chief of army staff to approve the setting up of an army barracks in Isi-Uzo Council Area of the state to help fight insecurity in the area. (NAN)
Aides, Allies Disown Him, Say You’re a Traitor, We’re not Leaving PDP
Barely two weeks after his defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), crisis has enveloped the political camp of a member of the House of Representatives for Obokun/Oriade federal constituency in Osun State, Oluwole Oke.
Indeed, these are not the best of times for him as his defection to the APC is eliciting rejection from his close circles and constituency.
His key allies who he groomed into politics and government positions have rejected his calls on them to join him to defect to the APC.
A source said that in the last few days, key aides and allies of the lawmaker have rejected his movement to the APC, describing it as a political tragedy.
“With the way he betrayed PDP, Oluwole Oke is like the proverbial Leopard that can never change the spots on its body. He will also betray the APC. We are staying back in PDP while severing political links with him”, one of his allies, Bamidele Johnson said.
Some of his allies were said to have openly declared that the defection marks a political waterloo for the 6th term legislator.
For instance, some of Oke’s allies in his Local Government scorned his move as “a decision borne out of greed and selfishness.”
One of them described him as “an ingrate who betrayed a party on whose platform he got married in life as a lawmaker and on whose platform he gained all his material riches.”
The Northern Youths Consultative Forum for Justice (NYCJ) has urged Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Zamfara State, citing a complete breakdown of governance, law, and order.
In a statement issued on Monday in Kano, NYCJ President Dr Sanusi Rano described the situation in Zamfara as “organised abandonment of duty” by elected officials.
“What we are witnessing in Zamfara is not governance. It is betrayal of the people,” Rano said, pointing to the absence of a functional state House of Assembly and allegations linking officials to criminal activities.
The group highlighted the suspension of 10 lawmakers who spoke out against the deteriorating security situation, arguing that their removal has left Zamfara without a legally recognised legislative body.
“This is a dictatorship of silence,” said Rano, adding that the lack of checks and balances has deepened the state’s crisis.
“The same hands that should protect Zamfara are profiting from its destruction,” Rano stated.
Calling for decisive action, the group demanded the appointment of a non-partisan administrator to rebuild the state’s institutions.
“If this is not done now, Zamfara risks becoming a permanent state of anarchy, which threatens our democracy,” Rano warned.
Justice Nwosu-Iheme of a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, on Monday, sentenced the husband of late gospel singer, Osinachi, Peter Nwachukwu, to death by hanging.
Nwachukwu was found guilty of culpable homicide resulting in the death of the deceased ( his wife) on April 8, 2022.
The judge held that the prosecution had proven the burden of proof placed on it by the law and subsequently found the defendant guilty.
Nwachukwu was arraigned on June 3, 2022 by the Office of Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF), on behalf of the Federal Government, on a 23-count charge .
The charge was on culpable homicide punishable with death, criminal intimidation, cruelty to children, criminal intimidation of children, spousal battery, among others.
In the course of trial, the prosecution called 17 witnesses, including two children of the late Osinachi, who testified as fourth prosecution and fifth prosecution witnesses, PW4 and PW5 respectively.
The prosecution also tendered 25 documents as exhibits before the court.
The defendant testified for the defence and further called four other witnesses and tendered four exhibits in his defence.
Shortly before sentencing, the defendant, counsel , Reginald Nwali, in his allocutus pleaded with the court to be lenient in its judgment.
Similarly, the prosecution counsel, Mrs Aderonke Imala, urged the court to give force to the law as stipulated.
Justice Nwosu-Iheme subsequently sentenced Nwachukwu to death by hanging on Count 1, while he was sentenced to two years imprisonment each on Counts 2, 3, 8,9, 12, 13, and 18.
The court sentenced the defendant to six months imprisonment on Count 10, three years imprisonment in Count 11, while he was fined the sum of N500,000 and N200,000 respectively on Counts 6 and 7 respectively. (NAN)