News
Leaders Mourn Akhigbe’s Death
Senator representing Rivers South East Senatorial District, Senator Magnus Abe (left) present a cheque of fifty thousand naira N50,000.00 to Miss Patience Jaja (right) during the Anual Presentation of Finance Support to Law Students going for Law School from the District last Monday in Port Harcourt.
Photo: Chris Monyanaga.
President Goodluck Jonathan has extended sincere condolences to the wife, children and relatives of the former Chief of General Staff, Vice Admiral Mike Akhigbe who died on Monday, October 28, 2013
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, yesterday. Jonathan commiserated with officers and men of the Nigerian Navy which Akhigbe once led as Chief of Naval Staff, and with the government and people of Edo on the passage.
He described Akhigbe as a “very courageous officer who patriotically served his nation to the best of his God-given abilities through-out a most distinguished career in the Nigerian Armed Forces’’.
The president joined the Akhigbe’s family, colleagues and subordinates in the Nigerian Navy, friends, associates and all who knew him in mourning the former Chief of General Staff.
“President Jonathan believes that he will live on forever in the hearts and minds of all whose lives he touched positively during his long and remarkable career of national service in military commands and in the political offices he held as a military officer.
“The president believes that Akhigbe will be especially remembered and honoured by present and future generations for serving with distinction as military governor of Lagos and Ondo States.
“He will also be remembered for serving as Chief of General Staff in the military administration that midwifed the present democratic dispensation in Nigeria and began the commendable re-professionalisation of the Nigerian Armed Forces after decades of involvement in politics.’’
He said that the president prayed that God would comfort all who mourn Akhigbe and grant his soul eternal rest.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has expressed his shock and sadness over the death of former Chief of General Staff, retired Vice Admiral Mike Akhigbe.
In a statement issued in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, Tambuwal described Akhigbe as a gentleman officer whose contributions, and that of his peers, towards restoration of democracy in Nigeria in 1999 will remain indellible in the annals of Nigeria’s history.
He said Nigerians will forever remain grateful to the Abdulsalami Abubakar-led regime which Akhigbe served as the Number Two officer, for their diligence and commitment to ensure the return of democracy to the country.
“As a proof of his commitment to democratic ideals, Akhigbe continued to render selfless services to the nation post-1999 until his death on Monday.
“Nigeria has lost one of it’s eminent sons. I extend my condolence to his family, Fugar community in Edo State, the Nigerian Navy and Nigerians as a whole,” the Speaker added.
Vice-President Namadi Sambo has commiserated with the family of the former Chief of General Staff, Vice Admiral Mike Akhigbe, describing his death as a great loss to the country’’.
Our correspondent reports Akhigbe died at the age of 68 in New York on Monday.
This information is contained in a statement issued by his Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Malam Umar Sani, in Abuja on Tuesday.
Sambo described the deceased as a disciplined military officer who rose to the peak of his profession by dint of hard work and commitment and served this nation selflessly.
“He was governor, Chief of Naval Staff and the Chief of General Staff to the military administration that ensured the smooth transition to a democratically elected government.
“As a statesman, his invaluable counsel will be greatly missed by us. Indeed, his loss is a sad and great loss to the country.’’
The vice-president prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased and for God Almighty to the give the family the courage and fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
Tambuwal also prayed to the Almighty God to give his family the fortitude to bear the great loss.
The Senate President, David Mark, on Tuesday described the death of retired Vice Admiral Mike Akhigbe, as a loss of a brother, confidant, friend and comrade-at-arms.
A statement signed by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, said Mark recalled their days at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), noting that “Mike was fearless and very diligent in our course.”
“He took these attributes to all the formations where he was privileged to have been posted either in his core military postings or political offices,” he said.
The statement also said the late Akhigbe’s death was a huge personal loss to Mark, the members of Course 3, the Armed Forces, Edo and the nation.
“But we cannot question God. He alone gives life and takes it when he so desires. We are bound by His decision to take our brother and friend at this time.”
Mark, who is the Chairman of Course 3 Alumni of the NDA, said: “We are consoled that while Mike was with us, he lived his life in the service of God and mankind.”
He prayed that God would grant the family the fortitude to bear the very painful departure.
Meanwhile, activities at the Western Naval Command and NNS Beecroft, at the Naval Base, Apapa, were low-keyed on Tuesday following the dead of former Chief of General Staff, Vice Adm. Mike Akhigbe (rtd).
Akhigbe, 68, who served under the Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar-led military government between 1998 and 1999, died in New York, U.S. on Monday.
Our correspondent who visited the commands in Lagos yesterday observed that officers and ratings were looking sober over the demise of the admiral, who had also served as a one-time Chief of Naval Staff.
Some of the officers who spoke to newsmen on condition of anonymity, expressed shock over his death.
“We lost an officer and a gentleman whose exemplary life is worthy of emulation by every officer who aspires to be an accomplished naval officer,” a Navy Captain said.
Our correspondent, however, could not reach the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, and some senior officers, as he was said to be on tour of some formations under his command— outside of Lagos.
Similarly, the Command’s Information Officer was also not available to comment on the development, as he was said to be on the FOC’s entourage.
Meanwhile, Commodore Kabir Aliyu, the Director of Naval Information, who confirmed the death of the admiral, expressed the condolences of the service to the Akhigbe family.
He described the late Admiral as an elder statesman whose contributions to national development would remain indelible.
Akhigbe was Military Governor of Ondo State between 1985 and 1986, and Lagos state governor from 1986 to 1988.
He served as Chief of General Staff in the Gen. Abdusalam Abubakar-led military government from 1998 till the termination of military government in Nigeria in 1999.
Akhigbe attended the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna; the Royal Naval School of Maritime Operations, Dryad, Southwick, UK; Command and Staff College, Jaji; the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, and the University of Poitiers, Rouan, France.
He was one-time the Principal Welfare Officer of the Nigerian Navy Flagship, NNS Aradu; Director, Naval Plans, Naval Headquarters; Flag Officer Commanding the Eastern Naval Command, and Chief of Naval Staff.
After his retirement from the Navy, Akhigbe went to read law and became an attorney with specialisation in Maritime and Real Estate Law. He was a seasoned businessman with substantial interest in real estate.
Akhigbe hailed from Fugar, headquarters of Etsako-central local government council of Edo.
Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
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