The Obafemi Awolowo University was agog on Saturday, December 11 as the institution celebrated its 60th foundation anniversary graced with the attendance of the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo who stood in as visitor on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari.
In the course of the event also attended by Governors Gboyega Oyetola and Rotimi Akeredolu of Osun and Ondo states respectively, the Ooni of Ife, Etsu Nupe and several other dignitaries
The Ooni of Ife was one of the prominent Nigerians who hailed VP Osinbajo at the event. Photo credit: Ooni media team Source: Facebook
Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo was the centre of attraction as speaker after speaker praised the vice president at the institution's 60th foundation anniversary. The speakers lauded the vice president who also spoke towards the end of the ceremony where doctoral students were conferred with their earned academic degrees.
Accordingly to Governor Akeredolu who was the convocation lecturer, discribed the vice president as real example of a true statesman.
His words:
“Mr Vice President is a true statesman, I bear witness to it.”
Akeredolu who in his speech gave a critical review of the issue of restructuring, however, paused to praise the vice president adding that as chairman of the National Economic Council, he has been supporting the states.
He added:
“The vice president fights on behalf of states, he fights to get us money numerous times, thank you.”
When it was the turn of the Ooni of Ife, who was honuored alongside Chief Michael Ade Ojo of Elizade with honourary doctoral degrees, he said of Professor Osinbajo:
“We are always proud of you in everything you do, in your thoughts, your deeds, and your carriage.”
Earlier, the Chancellor of the University who is also the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Dr. Yahaya Abubakar in his welcome address recalled that only last week he hosted the vice president in his domain in Bida where he conferred on him the title of the Defender of the Nupe kingdom.
He also praised the vice president for his physical presence at the convocation ceremony.
The Etsu Nupe added that:
“It is also pleasing to me sir, that one week after your maiden visit to my domain, I am opportuned to host you again at another historic occasion honouring eminent citizens of the country.”
A coalition of Civil Society Organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have urged President Muhammadu Buhari to strengthen the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) in order to win the war against insurgency and banditry in Nigeria.
A statement jointly signed by, Dr Aliyu Bello of Peace and Conflict Resolution Initiative and Ambassador Jude Uchenna of Alliance for Justice and Peace gave the advice to the president.
President Buhari has been urged to take decisive actions concerning the security challenges across the country. Photo credit: Aso Rock Villa Source: Facebook
The group noted that the failure of the DIA in providing links that will lead the troops on the battlefield as well as rancour within the military hierarchy has affected the fight against insurgency and banditry
Giving insights as to why the war against insurgency and other violent crimes is persisting in the country despite huge support given to security agencies, the coalition stated that efforts of the National Security Adviser, Maj-Gen Mongonu (rtd), is being hampered due to lack of coordination.
The groups lamented that:
“Monguno, a brilliant and determined intelligence officer who understands what national security entails seems to be caught up in this whole battle or web.”
According to them, unless urgent steps are taken to resolve internal wranglings in the military architecture and the DIA effectively strengthened, the challenge of insecurity may regrettably persist.
It further urged President Muhammadu Buhari to look inward and right some of these wrongs stressing that they are fundamental lapses that should not be allowed in the military especially within the intelligence unit.
The group noted:
“The attacks on military formations and some communities makes one begin to question the Defence Intelligence Agency strategy of intelligence gathering.
“This is because the agency is vested with the responsibility to provide an efficient system of obtaining military intelligence for the Nigerian Armed Forces and ministry of defence and enhance military cooperation with other countries, protect the lives of Nigerian citizens, and maintain the territorial integrity of Nigeria.
“However, blame must be squarely put at their doorstep for failure to provide the best intelligence possible to deal with the terrorists.
“Very importantly, there is sabotage even within the military and other security agencies involved in the war against terrorism. There seem to be ill feelings within the ranks of the military as a result of the violation of the seniority and ranking order of appointing heads of formations.
“The head of the Chief of Army Staff and the head of Defence Intelligence Agency are of course 37. With these appointments, all seniors in the intelligence unit, especially in the army have been moved to the Army Resource Center.
“This has relegated the experience of the members of the course 36 participants. This is seen as a grave injustice to course 36 and capable of nurturing sabotage and even mutiny.” They added.
It will be recalled that a coalition of 76 NGOs and civil society activists have knocked the intelligence arms of the military and the Department of State Security Services (DSS) for continued attacks on military formations and other infrastructure of the state by terrorists.
The activists also lamented over the kidnapping and robbery by bandits saying the attacks were not only a setback to the war against insecurity but a blatant embarrassment to the armed forces and Nigeria in general.
The group particularly made reference to the recent kidnapping of travellers in broad daylight along Abuja-Kaduna road, an attack in Borno that resulted in the killing of an army chief and three other soldiers, and several others as clear instances of intelligence failure.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Military has accused a commander of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), Aminu Sani, in the Rigasa area of Kaduna of aiding banditry in the state.
Sani, popularly known as Bolo in the area was arrested by troops of the Operation Thunder Strike and Whirl.
Speaking on Sani's arrest, defence spokesperson, Brigadier-General Benard Onyeuko said Sani was arrested because he was aiding bandits in the state with their operations.
The president also predicted that after the emergence of a democratically elected presidential candidate, there will be a peaceful transfer of power, Channels TV reports.
President Buhari made these remarks which came as promises on Friday, December 10, during the Virtual Summit for Democracy organised by President Joe Biden of the United States (US),
Buhari said the federal government is doing everything to strengthen the electoral processes that will make the next general elections hitch-free.
Added to this, the Nigerian leader said the country will continue to support democracy across West Africa and the entire continent at large despite the unwholesome trend of coups in some black nations.
His words:
“As we countdown to our next general elections in 2023, we remain committed to putting in place and strengthening all necessary mechanisms to ensure that Nigeria will not only record another peaceful transfer of power to an elected democratic government but will also ensure that the elections are conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner.
“Your Excellencies, Nigeria will continue to actively support the democratisation processes in our region West Africa and the African continent at large. But regrettably, our democratic gains of the past decades are under threats of unconstitutional takeover of power."
The FRSC denies the allegations. Photo credits: Gidigba News, Federal Road Safety Corps Nigeria Source: Facebook
There have been speculations that men of the FRSC had a role in the unfortunate incident.
However, the FRSC sector commander in Lagos, Olusegun Ogungbemide, said the articulated truck lost control, resulting in the death of “unverified number of students and leaving many injured.”
He explained that the men of FRSC were called upon by passersby to help intervene after the crash had occurred.
Ogungbemide said about seven of the victims were rescued and immediately taken to Lagos State Emergency Centre Ojota by FRSC personnel while another road user helped in carrying about seven also to the same emergency centre.
He urged members of the public to "disregard the information been circulated by some people that FRSC men caused the crash."
The sector commander added:
“We want to place on record that our men were not in any way involved in the cause of the crash as patrol activities was not ongoing along that axis as at the time of the crash.”
He commiserated with the families of the deceased and prayed that God will grant them the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss, and also prayed that the injured will recuperate fast.
Today a truck reportedly suffered a brake failure and rammed into school children along Isheri Road in Lagos state, though the exact number of casualties was yet to be ascertained.
Our source gathered that the children were returning from school when the incident occurred.
Witnesses were cited as saying that the truck driver ran into the children just outside Ojodu Grammar School and sped away.
An eyewitness was quoted as saying:
“THe driver was pursued and caught around Ogba and was brought back to the Ojodu Police Station. That is why the youth are attacking the police station.”
Meanwhile, following the pandemonium that trailed the unfortunate incident, the RRS Patrol teams and divisional police units have reportedly restored normalcy to the area.
A Facebook post by Lagos Monitoring Team said the area is calm and safe for road users.
"The number of casualties can't be determined now, but it was confirmed that a number of students sadly lost their lives," the post read.
President Mohammadu Buhari Photo credit: Femi Adesina Source: Facebook.INEC has replied President Mohammadu Buhari’s letter he wrote to the electoral body.The reply highlighted important provisions of the bill which the electoral body said capable of deepening public trust, public confidences and overall credibility of the elections and the electoral process.
The commission also highlighted landmark proposals in the bill that would radically improve the quality of elections in Nigeria.
The source said:
“An accelerated assent to the bill will facilitate the preparation of major elections such as the FCT municipal area council election, Ekiti and Osun governorship election and the 2023 general elections.” It therefore urged the president not to hesitate in signing the bill on electoral reforms."
The president has until December 19, to assent or decline. Meanwhile members of the National Assembly have expressed readiness to override President Buhari's veto on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill currently before him
The president is under pressure to withhold assent to the Electoral Act amid concerns due to electronic voting and direct primaries. Buhari has until December 19 to either sign the bill or decline assent after it was transmitted to him by NASS following its passage.
A report by Leadership indicates that some members of the National Assembly have vowed to veto President Muhammadu Buhari if he declines to sign the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
This is coming amid somedays to the December 19 expiration of the timeline for the Nigerian leader to assent to the electoral bill
A senator who spoke in confidence with Leadership newspaper on Thursday, December 2, said that they had met and resolved to overrule Buhari if the president declines to sign the bill. “We have already met on this issue. If the president does not sign the bill, we will veto it. The 2021 Electoral Act Amendment Bill is something Nigerians believe will improve the electoral system.
“So, for the interest of Nigerians and the electoral process, if the president did not sign the bill, we would veto his assent.”
The First Lady of Lagos state, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu on Monday, December 6 commiserated with the parents of the 12-year-old student of Dowen College, Lekki in Lagos, Sylvester Oromoni who died last week, describing it as heartbreaking.
A distraught Dr. Sanwo-Olu said the incident was a big slap on the face of the education sector, the community, and Lagos state as a whole.
Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu spoke on the issue for the first time publicly. Photo credit: Lagos state government Source: Facebook
She expressed her heartfelt condolence to the family of the deceased during an advocacy visit to some schools in furtherance of the ongoing 16 Days of activism against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).
She further described the incident as unfortunate, saying never again should it reoccur in the state.
“I am aware that the Lagos state government is at the moment investigating the incident and honestly it is something we are not very happy about. It’s a big slap on the face of the education sector, the community, and Lagos state as a whole.
“It is a case that is being investigated and for the parents and everybody involved, honestly, we commiserate with them and send our condolences.
“As I said, the case is being investigated and I will not be able to say much on it at the moment.”
Meanwhile, the family of the late 12-year-old Sylvester, has hired the popular human rights lawyer and activist, Femi Falana, to prosecute the case against the institution over the unfortunate death of their son.
