• Military top brass sends off C-in-C •President charges Armed Forces to do more on security

President Muhammadu Buhari is battling with enormous pressure as his administration winds down.

On a day he juggled many activities, including inaugurating no fewer than eight projects, he also left a parting message to the military: do not give up until the battle against insurgency is won.

President Buhari spoke on Tuesday night at the Regimental Dinner organised in his honour by the Armed Forces at the newly commissioned Nigerian Armed Forces Officers’ Mess, Asokoro in Abuja.

He was accompanied by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; the Minister of Defence, Maj. Gen. Salihi Magashi; the Chief of Defense Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, and Service chiefs.

The President said he could not wait to exit office in four days as the pressures of the last lap of activities were taking a toll on him.

President Buhari, who unusually arrived late to the event, apologised.

He said he had been under immense pressure catching up with the array of events lined out for the transition, coupled with wrapping up official duties of his office.

He had inaugurated the new Nigerian Customs Service Headquarters in Maitama District of the FCT, before virtually inaugurating six other projects across the country.

He also presided over another extraordinary Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting from midday till late Tuesday, before heading out for the Regimental Dinner.

“Please, I will like to digress a bit from the prepared speech. I apologise most sincerely for keeping you waiting for about at least half an hour.

“Actually, I can hardly cope with the pressure and I’m desperately looking forward to the next six days,” he told the gathering made up of the top brass of the Armed Forces.

Regimental Dinner is a ceremony to send off an exiting Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces by the military hierarchy. 

President Buhari will step down on Monday, giving way to President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu to become the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

The President urged the military and other security and intelligence agencies not to relent in their efforts to secure all parts of the country.

He expressed appreciation to members of the Armed Forces for their sacrifice.

Paying tribute to “their unwavering loyalty, hard work, dedication and selfless service to our beloved nation”, the President stressed that until insecurity is surmounted, nobody should relax.

He said: “Consequently, the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the other security agencies must always remain resolute in the face of the country’s security challenges. 

“In this vein, our administration, though winding down soon, will never relent in providing the needed support to the military, to enable them to effectively carry out their constitutional responsibilities.

“Let me now thank the chief host, the Chief of Defense Staff, the Honourable Minister of Defence, the Service Chiefs and heads of other security agencies at this event, for your dedicated service to the nation. 

“I commend you and thank our esteemed guests for coming to this historic occasion.

“Let me now pray for the repose of the souls of our fallen heroes. Their ultimate sacrifice will never be in vain. 

“May the Almighty God continue to grant them eternal rest,” the President said.

Other dignitaries at the event were Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu; Chairman of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote; Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Tony Elumelu; Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari; Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele; and members of the National Assembly

[Nation]

After serving for four years as a minister of state for labour and employment, Festus Keyamo, has expressed dissatisfaction with the Office of the Minister of State, calling it a “constitutional aberration.”

Keyamo stated this on Wednesday at the valedictory Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Keyamo, who thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for the appointment, criticised the limited role of ministers of state and the constraints they face in presenting their original ideas.

According to Keyamo, the individual performances of ministers of state are hindered by the discretion of their superior ministers, as any innovative ideas proposed by the former must be cleared by their colleagues before consideration by the council.

He said his remarks should not be misconstrued as ingratitude, but rather as his contribution to the country’s constitutional development.

“The concept or designation of ‘minister of state’ is a constitutional aberration and is practically not working for many so appointed,” Keyamo explained.

He highlighted the persistent issues between ministers and ministers of state, despite numerous attempts to resolve them through Ministerial Retreats held by successive governments.

Addressing the concern of unnecessary proliferation of Ministries, Keyamo noted that the argument of cramming two Ministers into one Ministry for cost-saving purposes is no longer valid.

He emphasised that both Ministers and Ministers of State already have separate offices, cars, security personnel, and personal aides, rendering the argument obsolete.

In a similar vein, the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Hajiya Ramatu Aliyu, shared her own experiences, highlighting the limitations faced by Ministers of State.

She questioned why the voice and actions of a Minister of State are dependent on another minister’s decisions, leading to the label of ineptitude if the latter fails.

Aliyu stressed the need for the next administration to address these issues and ensure that all ministers are given the opportunity to perform.

She commended the achievements of President Buhari’s administration but cautioned that if the roles of Ministers and Ministers of State are not clearly defined, it could hinder the progress of the government.

“While my experience was fantastic and worth the journey, it also exposed me to the challenges of operating within limited capacities.

It is my hope that future opportunities will unleash the untapped potential of ministers representing various sectors,” Aliyu stated.

[Leadership]

 

Highly decorated and award-winning Nigerian author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, has set the world abuzz with anticipation as Pope Francis unveils his groundbreaking new book, “Hands Off Africa,” which condemns the continuing exploitation of Africa by Western powers.

This is coming weeks after she wrote a controversial open letter to United States President, Joe Biden, about Nigeria’s ‘Hollow Democracy.’

The Vatican yesterday announced that the esteemed author had written the preface for the Pope’s extraordinary work, adding her powerful voice to the Papal’s visionary message.

 

“Hands off Africa! Stop choking Africa: It is not a mine to be exploited, or a land to be plundered. May Africa be the protagonist of its own destiny!”

These were the words of Pope Francis on his first day during his historic visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo earlier this year.

The release of this transformative book on Tuesday marks a momentous milestone in the quest for African empowerment and global solidarity.

In the thought-provoking preface of “Hands off Africa,” Chimamanda bestowed high praise on Pope Francis’ powerful message, describing it as a beacon of hope for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the entire African continent.

She passionately denounced the long-standing exploitation and conflict-induced exhaustion that have plagued the region, asserting that the world’s silence on these matters represents a tragic betrayal.

Adichie boldly underscored that this silence symbolises the continued devaluation of African humanity, even as the global community eagerly consumes the continent’s resources. She fervently described the Pope’s messages as “potent” and “a necessary rebuke” to affluent nations.

Adichie’s resounding words echo with unwavering strength: “His message is not merely that Congo – and, by extension, Africa – matters, but that it matters for one reason only. Not for its resources, which the global North depends on, not for fear that the continent could become again the scene of Western proxy battles as happened during the Cold War, but simply because of the people. Africa matters because Africans matter.”

The Vatican Publishing House shared that “Hands off Africa” is a compilation of Pope Francis’ speeches during his visits to the conflict-ridden regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan in January/February 2023. This book also incorporates the authentic voices and stories of the individuals Pope Francis encountered throughout his transformative journey, ensuring their narratives are heard and cherished.

 

As the revered leader of the global Catholic Church and the esteemed Bishop of Rome, Pope Francis consistently advocates for world peace and harmony.

Crucially, however, the book does not contain only the Pope’s voice, but also those of those he met during his journey.

In both the DRC and South Sudan – two countries torn by vicious conflict – Pope Francis listened to the testimonies of war victims, and their stories, too, are included in the volume.

Chimamanda, the first woman to receive a chieftaincy title in her hometown of Abba in Anambra State, continues to lend her literary prowess and unwavering commitment to causes that guarantee world peace and freedom. Her poignant preface in Pope Francis’ book further amplifies the call for global unity and empowerment.

In her preface, Adichie focuses in particular on the Pope’s trip to the DRC, “a country whose resources have long been exploited, a country exhausted by pillage and conflict, a country desperate to be made whole again.”

The greatest tragedy of the situation, she says, is “not the internecine conflicts but the silence of the world”, which “speaks to the continued devaluing of African humanity by a world that nevertheless eagerly consumes African resources.”

In this context, she says, Pope Francis’ visit to the DRC, and his “potent” messages there, read as “a necessary rebuke” to wealthy nations.

“His message”, she continues, “is not merely that Congo – and, by extension, Africa – matters but that it matters for one reason only. Not for its resources, which the global North depends on, not for fear that the continent could become again the scene of Western proxy battles as happened during the Cold War, but simply because of the people. Africa matters because Africans matter.”

And that had an effect that went into the second round.”

Williams outraised and outspent Mobolade in both the general election and Tuesday’s runoff.

[Guardian]

With barely four days to the end of his regime, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Wednesday, in Abuja, presided over a valedictory meeting of the Federal Executive Council, thanking ministers for their loyalty since 2015.

He also gave a short thank-you address to all members of the State House Staff, at the forecourt of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Details of the six-hour meeting held behind closed doors were later disclosed to journalists in a statement signed late Wednesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, and a post-FEC briefing anchored by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed.

After ministers took turns to express their minds, Buhari thanked them for their steadfastness in pursuing the goals of his regime, urging support for the incoming Bola Tinubu-led administration, even from the outside government.

“I am proud to say we gave our best,” said Buhari.

He directed all cabinet members to return to their ministries, tidy their desks and avoid last-minute rush that could jeopardise their years of work.

He stated, “In the cause of our years together, ranging from our newest addition to the oldest members of the team for the past seven and half years, we have differed on many issues.

“I urge that we understand that those positions were for the collective good, and no one should keep grievances or carry these differences forward.

“For those of us that will not directly be in government, I know that I am one of such, I ask that we continue to provide our support, in whatever way we can, if called upon by our great party, All Progressives Congress that gave us the platform to stand and we must continue to support it in every way we can,’’ the President said.

Buhari also ascribed the achievements of his regime to God’s intervention, saying “I also thank God for the strength and for keeping us together.’’

Return to cattle-rearing

“I will also be happy to do the many things that I have not been able to since May 29th, 2015, one of such is my favourite pastime of taking care of my cattle.’’

After the meeting, Buhari met State House members of Staff at the forecourt, thanking them for “tolerating” him and assuring them that he had not withheld any benefits that were due them in the past eight years.

“I thank you very much for your cooperation. Thank you for tolerating us as a government and particularly for tolerating me as a leader.

“I tried to lead myself with a clear conscience. Whatever was constitutionally your right according to the conditions of service, this government hasn’t cheated you,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Information and Culture, Mohammed, described the atmosphere in the Council Chambers, saying all cabinet members were given a few minutes to describe their time in office.

He also debunked a rumour claiming that FEC had been dissolved, saying the council was still in force.

Mohammed said the President had directed Ministers to continue work in their various offices till May 29, 2023.

“The news that the Federal Executive Council has been dissolved is not correct. We’ve been directed by the President that we should all go back and return to our offices.

“So it is not true that the Federal Executive Council has been dissolved, it is still very much alive. And I’m sure that we’re going to work up till May 29. So please ignore the fake news,” he explained.

The minister revealed that ministers adopted minutes of the two extraordinary FEC meetings as they took turns to give their farewell speeches.

“It’s instructive to note that each and every minister present today, and I’m not aware of any who was absent, was given between two to five minutes to make his or her own valedictory speech and I think largely everybody commended Mr President and thanked the President for the opportunity to serve the country at this level.

“Many also took the opportunity to reel out what his or her own ministry or department had achieved over the last eight years. There are about three categories of ministers; there are ministers that came in 2015 and us who were retained till 2023. There are ministers that came in 2019 and have been there till 2023 and there are the last batch of ministers that came in about nine months ago.

“So everybody made his or her own valedictory speech, depending on how long he or she had been occupying the position. But generally, I think it was just a glorious moment for all the ministers to thank the President, thank their colleagues and also give gratitude to God, that a journey that started in 2015 is ending very well in 2023,” Mohammed explained.

“Everybody, including the Chief of Staff, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Head of Service, the Vice President, all made their valedictory speeches and then the President responded, and I think, largely, he thanked all of us for our contributions and prayed for us in our next endeavour.

“He reiterated the fact that we should all go back to our offices so that we can carry out the assignments and tasks assigned to us in respect of the transition program”, he added

Also at the FEC on Wednesday approved N281bn worth of projects for the Ministry of Power including the provision of a new power plant for Daura, Buhari’s hometown.

State cabinets

Meanwhile, state governors on Wednesday started dissolving their cabinets.

In Lagos, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, announced the dissolution of his cabinet ahead of his swearing-in for a second term in office on Monday, May 29.

According to a circular issued on Wednesday by the Head of Service, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, all appointed commissioners, special advisers, and others would officially vacate their positions on Friday, in line with the directive of the governor.

The governor directed the appointees to declare their assets in line with “the provision of paragraph 11 (1b), Part One of the Fifth Schedule of Nigeria Constitution on End of Tenure Assets Declaration.”

The circular stated that “It is hereby notified for general information that Mr Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has directed that political appointees, specifically honourable Commissioners, Special Advisers (cabinet and non-cabinet), all Assistants (Senior Special Assistants, Special Assistants, Personal Assistants, Technical Assistants, personal aides, etc) be notified of the end of the term of their appointments, with effect from the close of work on Friday, 26 May 2023.”

The circular, however, added that tenures of political appointees, whose appointments were by legislation or are tenure-based and members of statutory commissions and governing councils had not lapsed.

“Therefore, all affected political office holders are expected to prepare individual handover notes and return any government property, including utility/project vehicles in their possession to the accounting officer/most senior director of their respective ministries, department and agencies.

“In addition to handing over to their respective permanent secretaries, cabinet members are to send a copy of the handover notes to the permanent secretary, Cabinet Office not later than Friday, 26, May, 2023,’’ it further noted.

The governor, while wishing the affected political officeholders success in their future endeavours, appreciated their contributions and roles to the development of the state, especially the significant milestones recorded under the T.H.E.M.E.S agenda.

Sanwo-Olu thanked the appointees and wished them well in their future endeavours.

The governor would be sworn in on Monday for his second term in office after winning the March 18 governorship election in the state.

In Oyo State, Governor Seyi Makinde disbanded the state’s executive council and terminated the appointments of all political officeholders.

The directive was conveyed in a letter signed by the Chief of Staff to the Governor and Chairman of the Transition and Inauguration Committee, Segun Ogunwuyi.

The governor instructed all affected officials to immediately hand over government properties in their possession to the most senior civil servant in their respective ministries, departments and agencies.

The governor’s first term in office will end in five days.

Political officeholders in statutory commissions are excluded from the directive.

The governor expressed gratitude for the contributions of the appointees to the development of the state and wished them success in their future endeavours.

The letter read, “I have the directive of the Executive Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde to inform you of the dissolution of the Oyo State Executive Council and the termination of the appointment of all political officeholders with effect from today. Tuesday, May 23, 2023.

 “All political officeholders are required to officially hand over and submit all government properties in their possession to the most senior civil servant in their respective Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

“Please note that political officeholders in statutory commissions are excluded from this directive.

“His Excellency appreciates your tremendous contributions to the development of our dear State and wishes you success in your future endeavours. I thank you.”

Similarly, the outgoing Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje has ordered all political appointees to hand over the affairs of their offices in line with the established procedure.

The directive was contained in a statement titled, ‘Handover Activities’ from the office of the Secretary to the State Government and signed by the Permanent Secretary, Hajiya Bilkisu Maimota.

The governor directed all commissioners, special advisers, chief executives of parastatals, government-owned companies and other political appointees to hand over to the permanent secretaries and directors, administration and general services in their respective establishments.

He further ordered that all the government properties in possession of the appointees be handed over to the permanent secretaries or directors, administration and general services or directors, and personnel management, as the case may be latest by May 26.

Kano gov-elect

Meanwhile, Ganduje has presented the 2023 transition report to the Governor-elect, Abba Yusuf.

In a short meeting at the Kano Government House ante chamber on Wednesday, Ganduje who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Usman Allah, reiterated his commitment to ensuring a seamless transition on May 29.

He urged the incoming administration to study the transition report and provide feedback where necessary as he appreciated the members of the outgoing government transition committee for producing three volumes of the report that cover all sectors of the state.

In his remarks, Yusuf, represented by the Chairman of the New Nigeria People’s Party Gubernatorial Transition Committee, Dr Abdullahi Bichi indicated that his committee will report to the incoming governor and revert with any observations, if any.

“At this time, we have just 105 hours to formal handover and takeover of government in Kano State; as such we are committed to a hitch-free transition in the interest of Kano and its people,” he stated

A statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor-elect, Sanusi Tofa explained that the details of the inauguration ceremony would be made available to the public after some certain agreements have been reached between the outgoing and incoming governments.

[Punch]