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Political Cabal Working Against Joint Counter-Insurgency Efforts – Gov Shettima

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 President Goodluck Jonathan (middle) signing the 2014 Pension Reform Bill into Law at the State House in Abuja, yesterday . With him are Vice-President Namadi Sambo (2nd left), Director-General, National Pension Commission, Ms Chinelo Anohu-Amazu (left), Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke (2nd right) and Pdp National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu. Photo: NAN

President Goodluck Jonathan (middle) signing the 2014 Pension Reform Bill into Law at the State House in Abuja, yesterday . With him are Vice-President Namadi Sambo (2nd left), Director-General, National Pension Commission, Ms Chinelo Anohu-Amazu (left), Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke (2nd right) and Pdp National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu. Photo: NAN

The office of the Special Adviser to Governor Kashim Shettima on Communications, respectfully alerts members of the Nigerian public and relevant establishments on the activities of a political cabal, working very hard to ensure there is complete disunity between the Presidency, the military and the Borno State Governor; a plot that clearly undermines a joint effort that is critical in the ongoing fight against insurgency in the troubled Borno State.
The office would have ordinarily ignored the activities of the political group for their shoddiness but for the fact that keeping silent could affect existing coordination between the Presidency, the military and the Borno State Government and which when overlooked, would not be in the interest of Borno citizens, the Presidency, the Military and indeed other Nigerians, especially if one takes into account, the fact that disintegration between the three groups would cause cracks in a joint counter insurgency effort that had been in place since 2011 which had succeeded in relatively freeing some major towns in the State that were hitherto, under the full control of the Boko Haram insurgents, even though so much work still needs to done in the light of recent attacks across the State.
The cabal, made up of some discontented politicians, some serving and former leaders, has a single agenda which is to create problems between the Presidency, Military and the Borno Government in order to dubiously secure the political blessings of the Presidency and top ranks of the military with a view to seizing control of the Military, the police force and State Security Service, divert the security’s attention away from counter insurgency, drag them into politics, destabilize the polity and use security agencies in furthering their political ambitions ahead of the 2015 elections.
The cabal have been deploying all possible means including publishing falsehoods and spreading same on the social media to accuse the Government of so many wrong doings that include unimaginable financial misappropriation that is beyond the income of the Government, making efforts for personal contacts with a section of the military and other security agencies in Abuja and to feed them with falsehoods aimed at creating an impression that the Borno State Governor and his administration was funding insurgents, making efforts for personal contacts with close associates of the Presidency and other Presidential aides to induce and talk them into misinforming and misleading the Presidency on false roles of Borno State Government as well as creating an impression through the same channel that Governor Shettima had vowed to ensure the President was not re-elected, all in a bid to sever any kind of relationship between the Presidency, Military and the Borno State Governor and his administration, mainly for their selfish political interest at the expense of the stability of Borno State and the northeast as well as the success of the ongoing counter insurgency operation which, when achieved, would be of credit to the Presidency.
The office has noted that in the early hours of Sunday, June 29, 2014, the cabal created a sham facebook page, bearing the name and picture of Governor Kashim Shettima and started posting mischief; on Monday morning, the cabal published a complete falsehood raising all manner of allegations in line with their agenda, on a Newspaper associated with them, while on Tuesday morning, the same cabal planted a fictitious and evil minded interview on a website site it created to pursue its agenda, claiming in the interview that a certain arrested and detained member of the Boko Haram (that is none existent) had admitted to being sponsored by Governor Shettima and some officials close to him, all in a vicious and inhuman attempt to set the Presidency and the Military against the Governor and the administration with only 2015 elections at the back of their minds.
The Governor believes that power squarely lies in the hands of God; for it is God that gives power or keep anyone in it.
It is for that reason that he respects the institution of power which is why he has the highest respect for the Presidency and has shown that in his regular interfaces with the Presidency in the last three years, in his prompt acceptance and delivery of tasks assigned to him by the Presidency and in the manner in which he ensured that the President was well received, respected and accorded his due courtesies during his Presidential visit to Borno State in 2013 and also in the fact that the Governor had never at any time, disparaged the person of the President in all his speeches and public commentaries.
Those who have come in direct contact with the Governor have always parted with feelings about his unconscious humility, realness, openness, friendliness, his farthest passion and commitment towards ending the insurgency and his assiduous works on the solid foundation he has since laid, for the regeneration of Borno State.

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198 UNIBEN Students Bag First Class

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A total of 198 students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN ) Edo State, bagged a First Class degree out of 14,083 students to be awarded first degree at the institution’s 51st Convocation and Founder’s Day ceremony.
Vice Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, disclosed this on Monday in Benin at a pre-convocation press briefing.
He said 4,217 students bagged a Second Class Upper,  7, 928 got a Second Class Lower, while 578 bagged a Third Class degree.
He said 15 new approved programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC) would commence in the 2025/2026 academic session.
According to him, “The wheel of progress is on course and moving steadily in the University of Benin.  This administration is poised to deliver on its mandate of effective, practical teaching, sound learning, result-oriented research and impactful community service.
“We must applaud the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for establishing NELFUND, and by so doing significantly reducing the financial stress of students in the process of acquiring tertiary education.   We enjoin students and their parents to take full advantage of the federal government’s benevolence in instituting the fund.”
Prof. Omoregie disclosed that Nigeria’s Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, would deliver the Founders’ Day lecture with the topic,  “Reforms for a Shared Prosperity”.
The UNIBEN VC said Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and Former Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, would deliver the Convocation Lecture on the theme, “Making Our Universities Great”.
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Bayelsa Education Fund, British Council  trains tra 1,000 teachers

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The last batch of 400 public school teachers in Bayelsa State on Monday commenced training under the sponsorship of Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) and the British Council.
This batch will bring to 1000 the number of public school teachers in the state who have benefited in the partnership arrangement.School supplies
The EDTF, British Council and Teachers Training, Registration and Certification Board collaborated in the capacity development programme.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the five day capacity building program, Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah reiterated the commitment of the Bayelsa government to training and capacity of teachers in the state.
He noted that the improved teaching methodology in the state was responsible for the state producing the best student in the 2025 West African School Certificate Examinations.
Prof Ebimiowei, Executive Secretary at EDTF, noted that the collaboration is aimed at improving learning outcomes for pupils and students of public primary and secondary schools in Bayelsa.
“You will agree with me that until the cutlass is sharpened, it will have no impact on the hands of the farmer and so it is with our teachers., you need to be sharpened very well to give good delivery in your various classes and schools.
“Let me at this juncture appreciate the British Council for accepting to train 1,000 teachers, 50 education managers and 60 trainers for Bayelsa,” he said.
On his part, Chairman of the EDTF board, High Chief Fidelis Agbiki expressed appreciation to the Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah for his supportive role to the fund.
Agbiki urged the beneficiaries to justify the enormous resources invested by the government of Bayelsa by being dedicated within the five days the exercise would last.
He said; “This board will not operate on business as usual but on business unusual as we will push the frontiers outside the box to ensure that we get value for money,” Agbiki said.
 Chairman of Development Partners Committee of the EDTF applauded the commitment of the partners for the successful completion of the programme, urging them to sustain the tempo
Speaking on the programme, Mr Fwanshishak Daniel, Head, English and Schools, British Council noted that the Bayelsa government had shown exemplary commitment to educational development.
He explained that the commitment has enabled the British Council and Bayelsa government to achieve within one year greater milestones that took other states three years to achieve.
He explained that the resources of the British Council have been made available to Bayelsa with the training of 60 resource persons from the state who will in turn train other teachers to improve education.
According to Daniel, the training will lay emphasis on new teaching methods, use of digital tools for self development and access to school amongst others.
Dr Peremoboere Ogola, Acting Chairman of TTRC, which facilitated training, thanked the EDTF for supporting training of teachers in Bayelsa with world class resources of the British Council.
She noted that another batch of newly recruited teachers are currently undergoing training at State government owned University of Africa, Toru Orua, Sagbama LGA in Bayelsa
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RSG INAUGURATES ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY COMMITTEE

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The Rivers State Government has inaugurated a Central Planning Committee to organize the celebration of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD) in the State.

The committee was formally inaugurated by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba in Port Harcourt, last Thursday.

Dr Anabraba who also serves as Chairman of the Committee

highlighted the State Government’s deep appreciation for the sacrifices of Nigeria’s fallen heroes who laid down their lives for the nation’s peace and unity.

“These heroes have given their lives for the security and peace of our nation and deserve to be celebrated. The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is an opportunity to show our gratitude for their sacrifice,” he said.

Dr. Anabraba further extended recognition to all Security Agencies in the State, emphasizing the importance of the event in appreciating their contributions to national security and sovereignty.

The annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day, observed on January 15 across the country is dedicated to remember Nigeria’s departed soldiers and honouring the nation’s veterans.

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