News
Ministers, Political Appointees Seek Acting President’s Favour
There are indications that Ministers and other top political appointees in the Presidency have intensified moves to get into the good books of Acting President Gooluck Jonathan.
This is sequel to growing conviction that the Acting President would carry-out his earlier threat to remove officials who mischievously advance their personal interest.
According to The Tide’s source, their worry is based on the belief that Dr. Jonathan is awere of the roles they played in the wake of the constitutional crisis that arose following the prolonged absence of ailing President Umaru Yar’Adua.
It would be recalled that President Yar’Adua had been hospitalised at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia since November 23, 2009 when he left the shores of Nigeria.
The Tide’s source gathered that currently, subtle lobbying for the Acting President’s attention is rising, particularly, since he redeployed the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mike Aondoakaa to the Ministry of Special Duties.
The Ministers and top government functionaries are also worried over the incessant calls from various quarters for the Acting President to dissolve the Cabinet if he wants to make any meaningful improvement in governance.
Some political parties, notably the Action Congress (AC) and Chief Edwin Clerk, a fron line Niger Delta advocate, have advised Dr. Jonathan to drop ministers noted to be underperforming.
Such calls and seeming regrets over their earlier attitude towards Dr. Jonathan while Yar’Adua was in charge have made them feel insecure in the present dispensation.
Some of the ministers had in the early period of Yar’Adua’s departure engaged in actions that had undermined Vice President Jonathan to the point that he had called them to order.
Vice President Jonathan, it would be recalled, had on January 16 warned that ministers and other heads of ministries, departments and agencies who engaged in causing acrimony in the party may do so at the expence of losing their jobs.
Jonathan’s spokesman, Mr. Ima Niboro, said the then Vice President had warned against “efforts by some well-placed individuals within and outside the administration” to take advantage of the President’s absence to cause mischief.
Currently, these set of ministers and political appointees are eargerly adopting every available means to mend fences with the Acting President through his aids.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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