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Bishop Onuoha calls for improved civilian-miilitary relationships
By Abubakar Yunusa
A bishop of the Methodist Church and President of Vision Africa, Bishop Sunday Onuoha, has called for an improved military-civilian relationship in order to ensure an enduring peace.
Reacting to the death of a manager of Royal Damgrete Hotel, Umuahia, Abia State capital, Mr James Etubi, from alleged torture by military personnel, he asked the Nigerian Army to implement an open-door policy in its relationship with civilians.
Soldiers had stormed Royal Damgrete Hotel and arrested the late Etubi and other staff following the drowning of an Air Force cadet, Chidiebere Onyemereche, at the hotel’s swimming pool.
The deceased, while in the custody of the soldiers was allegedly tortured, which resulted in his death.
In a statement on Tuesday, Bishop Onuoha described the incident that led to the hotel manager’s death as unfortunate.
He described it as “a distressing reminder of a failing system, needing urgent and enhanced civilian-military relationships to prevent further misunderstandings, and promote peace within our communities.”
According to him, “that the tragedy at Damgrete Hotel was mismanaged and subsequently degenerated into disorder underscores the critical importance of open dialogue and understanding between the Nigerian Army and civilian communities they serve and protect. It is evident that such incidents are avoidable with proactive measures aimed at fostering mutual respect and cooperation.”
Bishop Onuoha asked the army to “urgently implements an open-door policy for civilian-military relationships, providing civilians with accessible avenues to engage with the military, seek clarification on matters of concern, and report grievances. Where such policies already exist, then I implore that they be resuscitated with intention and actually implemented.”
He called for prioritisation of dialogue and transparency in interactions in the country, while urging the Nigerian Army, as well as other security agencies to continue to commit to “fostering an environment of trust and cooperation, prevent further misunderstandings, and build a stronger, more harmonious society for our communities.”
The bishop called on “all stakeholders, including government officials, community leaders, and military personnel, to sincerely support this initiative and work collaboratively towards resolving conflicts peacefully.”
Bishop Onuoha expressed hope that Nigerians would commit “to fostering positive humanity and humane relationships anchored on mutual respect and consideration for all.
“Boots on the ground, hands on deck, everyone contributing to a peaceful human society for all; together we can pave the way for a brighter and more unified future for Nigeria, and Nigerians.”
The Director General of the Confederation of APC Support Groups, Professor Kailani Muhammad, has called on former military ruler General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) to reveal the full truth about the annulment of the 1993 presidential election, which was won by the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday night, Professor Muhammad stated that Babangida’s recent claims regarding the annulment of the election were an attempt to shift responsibility onto the late General Sani Abacha.
According to him, Babangida’s actions plunged Nigeria into its current economic and political difficulties.
“Babangida’s deliberate misdeeds and misconceptions are what pushed Nigeria into its present comatose state.
He singlehandedly devalued the Naira through the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP), despite warnings from economic experts,” Muhammad said.
He further alleged that Babangida squandered Nigeria’s wealth, using state funds to secure the loyalty of military officers and traditional rulers.
Professor Muhammad also criticised Babangida’s recent remarks on Nigeria’s civil war, where he suggested that the Yoruba played a key role in fuelling the conflict, rather than the Igbo.
“This has raised tensions across the country. While the Igbo have been alleged to be seeking compensation and an apology from the Federal Government, Babangida’s comments have only stirred unnecessary controversy,” he said.
He warned that elder statesmen must be careful with their public statements, as they could incite division within the country.
Shifting focus to governance, Muhammad criticised Nigerian states for their over dependence on federal allocations
He urged state governors to explore agriculture and mineral resources to drive economic growth.
“State governors need to think outside the box and focus on productivity and creativity for sustainable development,” he advised.
Speaking on local government autonomy, Muhammad expressed disappointment that the Supreme Court’s ruling on financial independence for local councils had not been fully implemented.
He urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure that his administration upholds local government financial autonomy as a key reform initiative.
“The excuses from state governors about bureaucracy are not encouraging.
The President must stand firm in his commitment to local government financial independence,” he concluded.
By Nasiru Jagaba
Nasir El-Rufai’s interview with Arise TV was indeed a calculated move, showcasing his political strategy. He made some bold claims, including that President Bola Tinubu was behind his ministerial rejection, not the Senate. El-Rufai also accused National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani of orchestrating a smear campaign against him.
Nasir El-Rufai’s blame on Nuhu Ribado for his current struggles seems to overlook his own history of betraying former bosses and allies. El-Rufai has betrayed notable figures like Atiku Abubakar, Olusegun Obasanjo, and Muhammadu Buhari, as well as other business partners.
Given his track record, it’s surprising that El-Rufai didn’t anticipate potential repercussions. His tendency to betray those he works with has raised concerns about his loyalty and trustworthiness. It’s only logical that leaders would exercise caution when dealing with someone who has consistently demonstrated a pattern of betrayal.
El-Rufai’s past actions have likely created a sense of distrust among his former associates, making it challenging for him to find support or allies in his current endeavors. Rather than blaming others, El-Rufai might need to reflect on his own actions and consider how they’ve contributed to his present situation. Nasir El-Rufai’s move to point fingers at Nuhu Ribado can be seen as a strategic attempt to deflect attention from his own controversies.
Moreover, El-Rufai’s involvement in several pending allegations, including the Chibok girls’ kidnapping and accusations related to security and financial misappropriation, may indeed be a reason for him to preempt his likely arrest by shifting the focus to Nuhu Ribado.
On lopsided appointment he raised, El-Rufai’s failure to speak out against Buhari’s northern-dominated appointments, while now condemning Tinubu’s similar actions, is hypocritical. During Buhari’s tenure, key positions were held by northerners, with 81 out of 100 political office holders being from the North. These included:
<Federal Character Commission:
Chairman and Secretary were from the North
<Security and Law Enforcement:
National Security Adviser, Chief of Army Staff and Air Force, Director of DSS, Immigration Boss, Inspector General of Police, and Controller General of Customs
<Judiciary:
Attorney General of the Federation and Chief Justice.
Similarly, Nasir El-Rufai’s criticism of President Tinubu’s policies seems insincere, considering his own track record in Kaduna State. His policies were so hash that have destroyed the state’s economy, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises. He demolished thriving markets that generated significant revenue for the state and replaced it with a shopping malls that only a select few can afford to patronize. Many families have been left homeless, and numerous individuals have lost their jobs, shelter without receiving entitlements, with some even dying from trauma.
Nasiru El-Rufai’s plans to unseat Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State and President Bola Tinibu in the 2027 elections may be more challenging than he anticipates. Despite his reputation as a force in Nigerian politics, El-Rufai’s influence has limitations. El-Rufai’s strategy to exploit ethnic, regional, and religious sentiments may not yield the desired results, as Uba Sani is well-versed in El-Rufai’s tactics.
While El-Rufai played a significant role in toppling the PDP government in 2015, it’s essential to acknowledge that he wasn’t the sole architect of that victory. President Tinibu, who was part of the APC’s campaign, brought significant votes from the Western region, while El-Rufai leveraged former President Buhari’s popularity in the North.
Uba Sani’s experience working alongside El-Rufai has equipped him with the knowledge to counter El-Rufai’s strategies. Additionally, Uba Sani’s ability to connect with people across party lines and religions may prove to be a significant asset in the 2027 elections. Unlike El-Rufai, who is perceived as proud and aloof, Uba Sani has demonstrated humility, he came down from his high horse with willingness to listen to others.
El-rufai may not be aware that the non-Hausa/Fulani populations, who form the majority of the North, have become wary of his treacherous, manipulative, and deceptive tactics. They will no longer be swayed by his ego-driven agenda. They know that if El-rufai was appointed Minister, he would have been busy defending the government of President Tinibu at all costs.
El-rufai should trade with caution because he is not prepared and time is not by his side. The situation bears some resemblance to Adolf Hitler’s catastrophic mistakes during World War II. Blinded by pride, Hitler underestimated his enemies and overextended his military, fighting multiple fronts to feed his ego rather than serve Germany. Initially, Hitler’s confidence was palpable, but by 1945, his voice was shattered, and he faced a dire choice: surrender or suicide. Similarly, El-Rufai’s actions may lead to a comparable downfall. When El-Rufai reaches the point of defeat, it remains to be seen whether he will choose surrender or continue down a path of destruction
BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto
Honourable Ahmad Kalambaina, the lawmaker representing Sokoto’s Wamakko/Kware Federal Constituency at the National Assembly has pledged his commitment to championing the cause of advocating and supporting the zero dose efforts in his constituency.
Kalambaina who gave the assurance when the Zero Dose Learning Hub (ZDLH) Advocacy Team led by Dr. Aminu Magashi Garba, Coordinator of the Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN) and Hon. Muhammad Usman, paid him an advocacy visit, added that, he is committed to quality health services, welfare and general well-being of his people.
This, according to the Kalambaina, were parts of his cherished political philosophy which he held tenaciously unto right from his days as the chairman of Wamakko local government and till now that he is the Federal lawmaker representing Kware/Wamakko Federal constituency.
The lawmaker further divulged that, aside contributing significantly to peoples oriented projects in his constituency, he has also allocated funds to build PHCs in Wamakko and a laboratory for disease screening and sample collection.
In his commitment, Hon. Kalambaina pledged to connect the ZDLH advocacy team with high-level political actors in Sokoto State to advance policy implementation, ensure sufficient budget allocations, and drive effective resource utilization.
Earlier, the ZDLH advocacy team in their presentation said, they are committed to strengthening immunization efforts in Wamakko, being one among the LGAs with the highest number of Zero Dose children in Sokoto state.
The AHBN team shared updates on the Sokoto Zero Dose Learning Hub (ZDLH) and emphasized the need for stronger CSOs engagement, increased immunization funding, timely fund releases, and greater government accountability to improve transparency in immunization financing.