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Akinboyewa assumes office as NAF spokesman, solicits synergy with media
He took over from the erstwhile spokesman, AVM Edward Gabkwet.
In his remarks, Akinboyewa lauded Gabkwet’s efforts toward projecting NAF’s image over the years, saying his predecessor had done an outstanding job.
Akinboyewa said that Gabkwet always kept the public abreast of all the Air Force’s efforts in ensuring that Nigerians were safe to do their lawful businesses.
The new NAF spokesman also solicited the support, synergy, and partnership of the media toward achieving the directorate’s mission.
Akinboyewa said that the assignment given to him was daunting, and pledged to put in his best to justify the confidence reposed in him through the media’s support.
He said: “Let me start by expressing my profound gratitude to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar.
”This is for the confidence he reposes in me to entrust me with the very great responsibility of managing the image and reputation of a great service such as the NAF.
“It is important to also mention that the successes that he has recorded would not have been possible, if not for the support and the synergy that we enjoy from our partners, the media, your good selves.”
He stressed that without the media’s support and cooperation, the successes would not have been possible.
Akinboyewa solicited for the same support, partnership, and synergy to continue.
He said that he was very open to the media’s input and advice, and urged journalists to reach him at whatever time of the day or night.
“If a call does not go through, put a message through on WhatsApp and you definitely will hear back from me.
“The key thing that we need to meet is that we are firm partners when it comes to securing this country and protecting the people.
“The armed forces and the NAF in particular and the media, must maintain a very strong, firm and robust synergy,” he emphasised.
According to him, without such synergy, the goals of making Nigeria a peaceful, prosperous and safe place for the people, which the service and media both share, cannot be achieved.
Earlier, the former spokesman, Gabkwet, thanked the Chief of Air Staff for giving him a second opportunity to serve the NAF as its spokesperson.
He expressed confidence that his successor would continue to project NAF and its activities, urging the media to continue to support NAF in its operations.
“He will be continuing from where I stopped.
“I strongly believe that the Chief of Air Staff could not have picked a better senior officer to continue to project the image of Nigerian Air Force to the Nigerian public.
“I strongly believe that Akinboyewa comes fully prepared for this appointment.
”This is because he is somebody that I have known for about 30 years now, right from our days at the Nigerian Defence Academy in the early ‘90s,” he said.
Gabkwet enjoined journalists to extend the kind of relationship which he enjoyed with them to his successor.
He explained that it was the surest way that he would be able to settle down quickly and continue to do the good work, which he was known for.
“I would like to use this opportunity to solicit for your friendship, for your hand of fellowship to the new director.
“And for your collaboration, advice, and guidance to enable him to settle down in his new assignment and continue to do what is very important to us,” he added.
The Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Abuja Chapter, Mr Stanley Ogadigo, also lauded Gabkwet’s professional way of handling, projecting and managing the image of NAF over the years.
Ogadigo urged the new spokesman to sustain the high level of professionalism of NAF’s public relations to deal with issues of reputation building and management.
According to him, reputation is a core asset that every organisation should work very hard to maintain.
He added that, being a member of NIPR, the institute would appreciate his flying its flag at the highest professional level. (NAN)
The Confederation of All Progressives Congress (APC) Support Group (CASG) and Concerned Nigerian Citizens for Justice and Sovereignty have condemned what they describe as a coordinated campaign by US federal agencies targeting President Bola Tinubu, warning that such actions threaten Nigeria’s sovereignty and democratic integrity.
Engr Muhammed Kailani, Director General of the groups in a statement
issued on Wednesday, accusing the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of orchestrating a “politically engineered witch-hunt” against Tinubu.
He described the actions as an affront to Nigeria’s democracy.
“President Tinubu was elected to lead, not to be distracted by foreign conspiracies or trial by media,” Kailani said.
“The world must respect our sovereignty and our right to choose our leaders without external intimidation.”
The groups pointed to the recent release of decades-old documents by US agencies as evidence of a deliberate attempt to tarnish Tinubu’s reputation and undermine the will of Nigerians, who elected him in the 2023 presidential election.
The vote, widely regarded as free and fair, saw Tinubu emerge as the country’s leader despite longstanding allegations that have never been substantiated in court.
“This sudden rush to dredge up old documents is nothing short of a politically motivated attack,” Kailani added.
“Nigeria is a sovereign nation, not a satellite state to be dictated to by foreign intelligence bodies acting on behalf of interest groups.”
He called on the FBI and associated agencies to “immediately halt this charade,” warning that continued actions could be interpreted as foreign interference in Nigeria’s domestic politics.
The groups also raised concerns about the timing of the allegations, suggesting they were fuelled by “politically biased actors” seeking to destabilise the country.
The brand new magnificent Enugu State International Conference Centre was the venue of the 14th Chief Emeka Anyaoku Lecture Series on Good Governance with the theme “The Imperative Of Good Governance: Nigeria in a Global Comparative Perspective”, and organised by the Board of Youth Affairs International Foundation.
The event was a Spectacle of immense didactic importance with great minds in attendance. The Former Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations, Chief Emeka Anyaoku was the Star of the day, the former Military Governor of the Old Imo State, and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Major General Ike Nwachukwu was the Chairman of the event, and Nigeria’s former Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari was the Guest Speaker at the event where the Performing Governor of Enugu State Dr Peter Mbah amongst other Esteemed Guests stood in honour of a nonagenarian whose life is a testament of dignity, integrity and discipline.
At the event, the Former Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, described Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State as an epitome of good governance, noting that the Governor was genuinely and quietly transforming Enugu State.
Chief Emeka Anyaoku was clear and unambiguous in his appraisal of the Enugu State Governor as a visionary, and that Peter Mbah’s leadership style works for the speedy development of the State. Anyaoku was emphatic that the spate of development in Enugu State under Governor Peter Mbah, would become the norm should Nigeria have a genuine Federal Constitution that engenders True Fiscal Federalism.
The Super Diplomat whilst speaking at the 14th Chief Emeka Anyaoku Lecture Series on Good Governance hosted in his honour at the Enugu State International Conference Centre on Tuesday, was unequivocal in his praise of the Enugu State Governor, hear him, “Allow me the privilege of describing him (Governor Peter Mbah) as a truly performing Governor. Yesterday, I was given glimpses of projects that have either been completed or in active progress towards completion. I saw, for example, this magnificent International Conference Centre. I saw an array of CNG Buses at Okpara Square. I saw the Smart Green Schools, which I gather that the Governor’s plan is to replicate in every Electoral Constituency (Wards), and I learnt that there are as many as 260 of them. I was also able to visit a state-of-the-art Bus station, the Holy Ghost Terminal. So, I would say that Governor Peter Mbah is genuinely transforming Enugu State, which used to be described as a Civil Service State. He is transforming it into an Industrial, Educational Hub and Agricultural Innovation.”
Chief Anyaoku continues, “The surprising thing is that all these developments are going on with little publicity. I had expected, as my experience visiting many other States in this country has shown, that in places where you have two to three projects going, you will have massive publicity of them. But not so in Enugu. So, Governor Peter Mbah is not just a performing Governor, but he is also a quiet and noiseless Governor”, he noted.
In a few days, the Enugu State Government will be hosting the National Convention of the Nigerian Bar Association NBA, another testament to the beauty, the peace, the Security, the Industry and the camaraderie that attends the Enugu space, thanks to the ebullient Servant Leader, Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah.
We, the Concerned Professionals For Good Governance (A Good Leadership Advocacy Group) are committed to a private sector driven appraisal of leadership any and everywhere in Nigeria. We shall praise, applaud and celebrate PERFORMERS whilst profusely lampooning all underperforming Political operators across the nation, such is our creed. And in furtherance to this creed of ours, we hereby adopt the salient and unequivocal words of the 92 years old Elder Statesman, Chief Emeka Anyaoku to wit that Peter Mbah is genuinely quietly transforming Enugu State… And such is the unassailable TRUTH.
Okechukwu Nwafor
Concerned Professionals For Good Governance. (A Good Leadership Advocacy Group).
Emomotimi Agama, director general (DG) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), says the agency has not received any formal notice regarding the sale of Lafarge Africa Plc to Chinese investors.
Agama announced in a letter dated April 23, addressed to the clerk of the national assembly, and distributed during a hearing with the committee on the capital market on Wednesday.
The clarification followed a resolution by the senate (S/Res/2/78/24), which urged the federal government to stop the reported sale of Lafarge Africa Plc to Chinese interests on the grounds of national security and economic sovereignty.
“I acknowledge receipt of your letter referenced above, requesting the Commission’s intervention in the ongoing sale of Lafarge Africa Plc, with specific emphasis on safeguarding national security and economic sovereignty,” Agama said.
“The Commission wishes to inform the national assembly that it has not received any formal filing regarding the proposed divestment of majority shareholding in Lafarge Africa Plc.”
He noted that the commission was only informed of an internal restructuring by Holcim Group, which holds 83.81 percent of Lafarge Africa’s issued share capital.
Agama explained that Holcim Group controls its stake through two wholly owned entities — Caricement B.V. with 56.04 percent, and Associated International Cement Limited with 27.77 percent.
“As part of the internal restructuring, the 27.77% equity stake held by Associated International Cement Limited was transferred to another Holcim-owned entity, Davis Peak Holdings Limited,” he said.
“There has been no change in the ultimate beneficial ownership of the shares as a result of this transaction.”
He added that no regulatory action has been taken and no approval has been granted by the commission in relation to any sale to Chinese investors.
“Please be assured that the Commission remains committed to transparency, strict adherence to regulatory requirements, and the protection of national interest in all capital market operations,” Agama said.
In February, Agama assured the national assembly that the capital market operates a disclosure regime rather than a merit regime.
“Every company and director has a responsibility for figures that are disclosed to the public,” he said.
The DG also said it is the responsibility of the SEC to monitor and ensure that documents provided to members of the public are accurate, adding that if they do not meet standards, such institutions will be penalised.