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The Obligatory Onus Of Ousting Osinbajo

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Vice President Yemi Osinbajo

 

By Bala Ibrahim.

Since yesterday Monday, when Vice President Yemi Osinbajo threw his hat into the race for the seat of his boss, come 2023, the media space became charged with all manner of comments, mostly accusing him of the betrayal of trust. Yes, 24 hours after his declaration, the learned SAN was virtually convicted of treachery in the public court, not just by his political opponents, but even some faithful church members.

At the risk of being too harsh, I would say the idiom, what goes around comes around, is expedient here, because a person’s actions, whether good or bad, will often have consequences for that person, be him a pastor, a senior lawyer or a Vice President. If someone treats other people badly, he or she will eventually be treated badly.

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The first call of condemnation came from the Asiwaju himself, the celebrated benefactor of the Vice President. In astonishment, because, obviously he is not expecting one of his political mentees to challenge his lifelong presidential ambition, Asiwaju denied Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as a political son, telling journalists he has no son grown enough to declare for president.

Shortly after, the Lagos State APC chapter spokesperson, Seye Olajedo, gave notice to the effect that, Osinbajo is no longer their member. That is on the political front.

On the religious front, few hours later, members of his faith, the Northern Christians Movement (NCM), sent their salvo, saying, Osinbajo will deny Jesus and betray Adeboye as he did to Tinubu. The Northern Christians Movement warned certain spiritual and political leaders to be wary of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, predicting that he would betray anyone that has been instrumental to his achievements.

In a statement issued by its President, Rev. Jonah Omera in Abuja, the movement said, “Professor Osinbajo’s Monday morning online declaration rather unveiled him as a serial betrayal. His eventual declaration is an insult to the intelligence of Nigerians and a slap on their faces, especially when he initially denied having such ambition. Such devious behaviour points to a government that would thrive on being dubious if the electorates ever made the mistake of making him president.” – Rev. Jonah Omera.

The social media was flooded with comments, virtually all like sermons on the ills of treachery. Prof. Yusuf Dankofa’s comment is prototypical, and I quote, “Politics is not madness. It has some ethos and thrives on certain measure of loyalty and appreciation. That Prof Yemi Osinbajo will contest against his benefactor raises some questions of ethics and honour. Africans love backstabbers and any action that will undermine respect for certain core values. How can the Prof. muster enough courage, enter into the primaries with Jagaba Tinubu and be able to look at him eyeball to eyeball. If Tinubu had not suggested his name, if he didn’t submit his name and what of if he didn’t even consider him. But as they say, politics is an unethical venture where vultures who are ready to feast on human carcass holds sway”.

The question begging for answer from people like Dr Usman Isyaku is, where would the Vice President even get the wherewithal to fight the fight, and he wrote, “Osinbajo has never won any elections in his life before he ran with Buhari in 2015. This will be the first time he is running as a candidate and this will be the biggest litmus test in his political career. To my knowledge, he hasn’t got any network that he has personally built both in his native southwest and other regions to leverage his campaign for victory. He is grossly inadequate in terms of grassroots mobilisation beyond Abuja. He must be a political Einstein to pull this off successfully!”

To restore the credentials of honour, and put a tag of shame on the brazen betrayal and tactless treachery exhibited by the Vice President, every patriotic Nigerian owe it a duty to de-market Osinbajo, and there is a long shopping list of reasons to justify that, I think.

I would start by looking at the standpoint of his principal, President Muhammadu Buhari, who had since 2019, stopped giving the powers of acting President to Osinbajo.

PMB first registered his loss of confidence on Osinbajo, by stripping him of the chairmanship of the Economic Management Team, EMT, which was superintending the economic programmes of the administration. In its place, PMB named an Economic Advisory Council, CAC, with Prof Doyin Salami as the chairman.

Next came the stripping of the same Osinbajo of the supervisory powers over the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the National Social Investments Programmes (NSIP). The two were transferred to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.

Information from the grapevine quoted many cases of misdeeds that angered the President, about the roles played by the Vice-President when the President went on medical leave.

From the perceived President’s standpoint, and the profusion of perfidy placed against the Vice President, it is inevitable, for Nigerians to see the onus of ousting Osinbajo from the political stage as an obligatory assignment.

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NUJ Online Chapel Inaugurated In Enugu

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New exceutives

 

Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Enugu state Council has inaugurated a new Chapel; Corporate Online Chapel, bringing to Eleven, the number of Chapels in the Council.

Performing the inauguration of the newest chapel which has Comrade Clinton Umeh, Publisher of Journalist101 as the Chairman, on Thursday at the Rt. Hon.(Dr.) Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi NUJ Press Center, Enugu, the Council Chairman, Comrade Sam Udekwe said the election of the Executive members of the chapel in their last Congress, marked the beginning of the Online Chapel.

He urged the Executives “to ensure that the members of the chapel comply with what we believe in as members of this profession’”

Comrade Udekwe further said, “this is a very promising chapel. You have your membership now I want to assure you that more members will come in. You know what it takes to be qualified to be a member and we expect you to take this to heart while admitting new members because It is not open to just anybody . It is not open to all bloggers , that’s why we say it is Corporate Online. It’s for online practitioners that are Journalists.

There are online publishers that are not Journalists. That’s why we want you to make a difference. So, we want you to show the society that there are online practitioners, the ones that are members of NUJ,” he said.

He charged the executives to take care of their members in line with the tenets of the NUJ profession and maintain peace between themselves anf other members including the NUJ.

Responding on behalf of other members, the Chairman of the Online Chapel, Comrade Clinton Umeh thanked the President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade Chris Isiguzo for their foresight in creating the Online chapel.

He assured that “members of the Chapel will live up to expectations and work in accordance with what the Constitution says.

This Chapel is a new dawn in online practice and will provide a platform for us to unite all that are qualified under one umbrella to ensure professionalism in the discharge of our duties as Journalists.”

He also thanked the chairman of the state council and members of his executive for their guidance and direction to help the chapel see the light of the day.

The newly inaugurated executive members are:
Comrade Clinton Umeh Chairman,
Comrade Jonathan Emmanuel Ikechukwu (First News)— ViceChairman
Comrade Odomero Igbodo (Dome TV)—Secretary
Comrade Christian Nwangene ( Aproko Republic)— Assistant Secretary
Comrade Maureen Ikpeama ( Newsline Global)—Treasurer
Comrade Sebastine Okafor— (Journalist 101) Internal Auditor
Comrade Emmanuel Terwase ( Afriquecast)—Financial Secretary.

The event was witnessed by the Vice Chairman of NUJ, Comrade Regis Anikworji, the Secretary, Comrade Ifeoma Amuta, Comrade and among other members.

Journalist 101

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Defence Headquarters Declares 8 Wanted Over Killing Of Soldiers

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The Nigerian Defence Headquarters has issued a declaration naming 8 individuals wanted in connection with the heinous killing of Late Lt. Col. AH Ali and 16 other troops in Okuama, Delta State, on March 14, 2024.

The announcement was made via the verified Defence Headquarters’ X handle on Thursday.

The wanted persons are identified as:

1. Akevwru Daniel Omotegbono (Amagbem)

2. Prof. Ekpokpo Arthur

3. Andaowei Denis Bakriri

4. Igoli Ebi

5. Akata Malawa David Sinclair Okili

6. Clement Ikolo Oghenerukvwe

7. Reuben Baru

It could be recalls  that the 17 fallen heroes were laid to rest at the National Military Cemetery, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu honoring their memory.

 

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President Tinubu Attends Burial of Slain Soldiers, Offers Scholarships to Families

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President Bola Ahmad Tinubu paying his respect to Slain Soldiers

 

President Bola Tinubu says the federal government will provide scholarships up to the university level for all the children, including the unborn, of the Nigerian Army personnel killed in action at Okuama community in Delta State.

The President, who announced this at the funeral of the personnel at the National Military Cemetery, Abuja, on Wednesday, directed the military authorities to ensure that the benefits of the departed are paid to their families within 90 days.

The President also declared that the federal government would provide a house in any part of the nation to each of the families of the four officers and thirteen soldiers.

At the solemn event attended by some state governors, the military hierarchy, and families of the deceased, the President bestowed posthumous National Honours on the 17 fallen heroes.

Lt Col Ali, Major D.E Obi, Major S.D. Ashafa, and Captain U. Zakari were given the honour of Member of the Order of Niger (MON).

Staff Sergeant Yahaya Saidu, Corporal Danbaba Yahaya, Corporal Kabir Bashir, Lance Corporals Abdullahi Ibrahim, Bulus Haruna, Sole Opeyemi, Bello Anas, Private Alhaji Isah, Clement Francis, Abubakar Ali, Adamu Ibrahim, Hamman Peter, and Ibrahim Adamu were awarded Federal Republic Medals.

“On the 14th day of March, Lt. Colonel A. H. Ali, the Commanding Officer of 181 Amphibious Battalion, led three other officers and 13 soldiers to the Okuama Community to mediate in the lingering dispute with Okoloba Community.

“They went as peacemakers and peacekeepers respectfully seeking to bring an end to the hostilities between the two communities.

“They did not go with tanks, machine guns, and other weapons. They were on a mission of peace.

“Before the dastardly attack, Lt. Colonel Ali, as the Chief of Army Staff narrated to me, achieved great operational exploits; fighting terrorists and insurgents in the North East and North West before his deployment to the Niger Delta.

“Ali kept faith with his military calling until the end.

“On behalf of a grateful nation, we honour the sacrifice of Ali and the other gallant patriots who died that day. They will forever be remembered as heroes who answered the call of duty and paid the ultimate price,” the President said.

Reaffirming government’s commitment to justice, President Tinubu vowed to bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to account.

While commending the military for not embarking on a reprisal attack on the community, the President declared: “I want to make it clear, once more, that those who committed this heinous crime will not go unpunished. We will find them, and our departed heroes will get justice.

“The elders and chiefs of Okuama also must help the military in fishing out the gunmen who committed the barbaric crime against our men.

“I wish to commend our Armed Forces for their restraint in choosing not to carry out any reprisal attacks on Okuama or its neighbouring communities. We must all ensure that the innocent people of Okuama are not made to bear the punishment of the guilty and wicked among them,” the President stated.

President Tinubu, while commiserating with the families of the fallen heroes and the entire Armed Forces, prayed God Almighty to comfort the bereaved.

“It is worth restating the debt of gratitude we owe these valiant soldiers and their families.

“As Commander-In-Chief, I do not take the contributions of members of our Armed Forces for granted. I recognize your valour and bravery. I honour your unflinching commitment to making our country safe from criminals, bandits, kidnappers, and insurrectionists.

“While we continue to grieve for the courageous men we lost that day, let us also, on this solemn occasion, be reminded of the unfinished business of working for peace and harmony in our communities. We must begin to rebuild our communities and make them into places where love, tolerance, and harmony will reign.

‘‘Leaders at all levels, especially community leaders and traditional rulers, must work to strengthen the bonds that unite us. We must end the cycle of violence and bloodletting,” the President said.

President Tinubu urged the Armed Forces not to be discouraged by the death of their fellow compatriots but to honour their memory by rededicating themselves to the service and defence of the nation.

“As the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I have a message for you: Do not let the death of your compatriots discourage you.

‘‘There is no higher honour than the vocation you have chosen to pursue. We cherish you. We cherish your labour of love. We salute your daily sacrifice in protecting your fellow citizens from danger. We acknowledge your sacrifices to defend our nation,” the Commander-in-Chief affirmed.

 

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