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How Senate Endorsed Troops For Mali

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Senate
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria  last
Tuesday endorsed the deployment of One thousand, two hundred (1200) Nigerian
soldiers on Peace Keeping Mission to the Sahel region of Mali among the
African-led force(AFISMA) on limited combat duties.

The Nigerian troops are to
join other contingents across the continents to help the Malian Government
quell the insurgence of rebel Islamic extremists ; Al Queada.

The Senate during its Plenary
sitting, gave the approval following a request from the President and
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed forces , Goodluck Jonathan for the law makers’
consideration and approval for the deployment of the troops.

President Jonathan in a letter
to the Senate read by the Senate President David Mark at plenary drew the
Senate’s attention to the political and security crisis in Mali and the
attendant grave consequencies on both security of lives and property and
political stability of the Sahel region as well as the entire West African sub-
region

Mr. President notified the
Senate that the depoyment is also in line with the ECOWAS security council
resolutions 2071 and 2085 on the crisis in Mali

President Jonathan in the
letter to the Senate was clear on the reasoning that the activities of the
Islamic extremists are threats to not only Mali but all neighbouring countries
in the region

The letter read in parts “
Having satisfied myself that our national security is under imminent threat of
danger as a result of the crises in Northern Mali, I, in consultation with the
National Defence Council, approved the deployment of a contingent of 1,200
members of the Armed Forces to serve in the African-led force(AFISMA) in Mali
for limited combat duties.

“Nigeria is currently facing
daunting security challenges and given its proximity to the Sahel region, the
crisis in Mali, if not brought under control, may spill over to Nigeria and
other West African countries with negative consequences on our collective
security, political stability and development efforts.

“As responsible member of the
international community and given our recent experiences with insurgency and
terrorist activities especially in the northern parts of the country, I felt
compelled to urgently approve the deployment of Nigerian troops.

“The deployment of Nigerian
troops is in line with Security Council resolution 2085(2012) and is
necessitated by the need to combat armed and terrorist groups including
Al-Qaida in the Islamic Mageb(AQIM) and their activities, as well as
proliferation of weapons, from within and outside the region with grave
consequences on the security and stability in the northern parts of Mali and
beyond, including Nigeria.”

Just before the debate on the
request was concluded , President of the Senate, Senator David Mark said
because of the nature of the crises and considering Nigeria’s current security
situation , if Nigeria does not intervene on her own , the rest of the world
would be suprised.

According to him, Nigeria is
not only a big brother in ECOWAS but equally a big brother in African
continent.

He also maintained that if Nigeria fails to
intervene in curbing the crisis, if the situation continues, it may not be long
before the fire gets to Nigerian borders.

Senators who spoke on the
issue were very blunt on the height of terrorism consuming Mali at the moment
and the fact that Nigeria is already exposed to such.

However, many of them
considered the financial implications the deployment on Nigeria’s economy and
feel is time Nigeria started attaching economic policies to such military
assistance to other countries since many of them hardly reciprocate Nigeria’s
gesture in economic affiliations after their cloudy moments.

That not with standing, contributors
in Senator Magnus Abbe’s line of thought insisted that Nigeria’s assistance to
Mali or other African countries in need should not be linked with financial
gains but simply saving a brother in need even as we may need them some day
also.

He regretted that countries
like Nigeria waited for too long before deciding to move to Mali. According to
him, such delay had cost Africa lives, properties and even historical sites
like Timbuktu.

Abbe’s words “If we remember
the historical site of Timbuktu, just as the Asian has their own history we
also have our own history. I am shocked that we allowed them to go as far as
Timbuktu, the security if our country is being threatened by the activities of
these bandits I think we should help the Malian in their time of needs. I don’t
think when it comes to matter of security, we should start thinking of what we
are going to benefit. I think that we should stand by our soldiers and let them
know that in this journey Nigerians are behind them”.

The Leader of the Senate,
Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba in his lead debate fully supported President
Jonathan’ decision.

He said the lesson from the
Malian experience is that military regimes are out of fashion because the world
has come to know that they do not solve the problem of any nation.

According to Senator Ndoma
Egba this will send a very clear message to any ambitious military men that
their day is long gone.

However, he is of the opinion
that Nigeria must tie economic interests to her foreign policy stressing that
experiences in the past have shown that while Nigeria assist in achieving peace
in Liberia, Sierra Leone and other West African countries it must move up to
the next level of economic ties.

Deputy President of the
Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu said the rest of West Africa believed that
Nigeria should have acted long ago and like the Americans we need to take this
war to their homes.

“I think we need to commend
France for taking the lead in this effort. We must be our brother’s keeper we
need to save Mali from itself. I think what we are discussing today is germane
to us as a nation”.

Senator Chris Anyawu in
supporting President Jonathan’s decision reminded all stakeholders that Mali is
too close to Nigeria to ignore though there is every need to define the confine
of our engagement.

“Nigeria
is no longer in a position to play Father Christmas again. As we are going to
Mali we must know what we are going there for. As we are going we must carry
our business men along. That mindset of Nigerian foreign policy formulators
must change now. “ She said.

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Makinde Renames Polytechnic After Late Ex-Gov

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Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has renamed The Polytechnic, Ibadan as Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan, in honour of a late former governor of the State, Dr Omololu Olunloyo.
Dr Olunloyo, who died on April 6, 2025, was the pioneer Principal of the Polytechnic, Ibadan, while he also served as Governor of Oyo State between October 1 and December 31, 1983.
Governor Makinde made the announcement at the state interdenominational funeral service held yesterday in honour of the late former governor at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Liberty Road, Ibadan.
Governor Makinde said Dr Olunloyo lived an eventful life, adding that his attainment and personality could not be summarised in one sentence.
“He was not a man we could summarise in one sentence. He was a scholar, a statesman, a technocrat, a lover of culture and, above all, a man of deep conviction.
“While giving the exhortation, I was listening to Baba Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu and he said in 1983, Baba became Governor of Oyo State. Though his time in office was brief, his election victory over a popular incumbent remains a powerful testament to the trust people gave him.
“I talked about preserving and digitising his library yesterday [Wednesday] as a mark of honour to Baba Olunloyo.
“Today, we will be giving Baba another honour to immortalise him. He was the first Principal of The Polytechnic, Ibadan; that institution will now be named Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan.”
Earlier in his sermon, a retired Methodist Archbishop of Ilesa and Ibadan, Ayo Ladigbolu, described the late Olunloyo as a role model with intellectual inspiration and unassailable integrity.
The cleric said the deceased also demonstrated leadership in most superior quality during his lifetime.
In attendance were the state Deputy Governor, Chief Abdulraheem Bayo Lawal; wife of a former Military Governor of the old Oyo State, Chief (Mrs) Dupe Jemibewon; wife of a former Governor of Oyo State, Chief (Mrs) Mutiat Ladoja; former Deputy Governor and PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; and former Deputy Governor, Hazeem Gbolarumi.
Others were the member representing Ibadan North-East/South-East Federal Constituency, Hon Abass Adigun Agboworin; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi; Oyo State Exco members; Chairman of Oyo State Elders’ Council, Dr Saka Balogun; Chairman of All Local Government Chairmen in Oyo State, Hon Sikiru Sanda; President-General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Chief Adeniyi Ajewole; religious leaders and family members, among other dignitaries.

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10 NWC Members Oppose Damagum Over National Secretary’s Reinstatement

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Ten members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) have countered the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, on the reinstatement of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary.
The dissenting members, led by the Deputy National Chairman ( South), Taofeek Arapaja, in a joint statement, said no organ of the opposition party could overturn the decision of the 99th meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC).
The dissenting NWC members include Arapaja; Setonji Koshoedo, Deputy National Secretary; Okechukwu Obiechina-Daniel, National Auditor; Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary; Ologunagba; Woyengikuro Daniel, National Financial Secretary and Ahmed Yayari Mohammed, National Treasurer.
Others are Chief Ali Odefa, National Vice Chairman (South East); Emmanuel Ogidi, Caretaker Committee Chairman (South South); Mrs. Amina Darasimi D. Bryhm, National Woman Leader and Ajisafe Kamoru Toyese, National Vice Chairman (South West).
The group also insisted that contrary to the position of the acting National Chairman, the 100th NEC meeting of the party would be held on June 30 as earlier scheduled.
The statement read: “The attention of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to a press briefing by the acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, today Wednesday, June 25, wherein he attempted to overturn the resolution of the 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting which scheduled the 100th NEC meeting for Monday, June 30.
“The acting National Chairman in the said press briefing also reportedly announced that Senator Samuel Anyanwu has been asked to resume as National Secretary of the party contrary to the resolution of the 99th NEC meeting, which referred all matters relating to the office of the National Secretary to the 100th NEC meeting.
“The pronouncements by the acting National Chairman have no foundation as no organ of the party (including the NWC), individual or group has the power to cancel, overrule, veto or vary the resolution of the National Executive Committee (NEC) under the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).
“For the avoidance of doubt, the NEC is the highest decision-making organ of the party, second only to the National Convention. By virtue of Section 31 (3) of the PDP Constitution, the resolution of the NEC to hold its 100th meeting on Monday June 30, is binding on all organs, officers, chapters and members of the party and no organ, group or individual can vary or veto this resolution of NEC.
“Furthermore, the claim by Damagum that Sen Anyanwu has been asked to resume office as the National Secretary of the party is, therefore, misleading being contrary to the resolution of NEC.
“In the light of the foregoing, the 100th NEC meeting as scheduled for Monday, June 30, has not been canceled or postponed.”

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Presidency Slams El-Rufai Over Tinubu Criticism …Says He Suffers From Small Man Syndrome

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The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has fired back at former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, following the latter’s scathing criticism of President Tinubu’s administration and his 2027 re-election prospects.
In an interview on live television, Mallam El-Rufai said it would take a “miracle” for President Tinubu to be re-elected in 2027, citing an internal poll that purportedly shows a 91 percent disapproval rating for the president across key regions in the country, including the South-East and the North. He also claimed that President Tinubu’s disapproval rating in Lagos stood at 78 percent.
Reacting on Wednesday via a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mr Onanuga took a swipe at the ex-governor, quoting a harsh assessment of Mallam El-Rufai’s character from former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s memoir, My Watch.
“Nasir’s penchant for reputation savaging is almost pathological,” Mr Onanuga wrote, citing Chief Obasanjo’s words. “Why does he do it? Very early in my interaction with him, I appreciated his talent. At the same time, I recognised his weaknesses; the worst being his inability to be loyal to anybody or any issue consistently for long, but only to Nasir El-Rufai.”
The presidential adviser emphasised Chief Obasanjo’s remarks that Mallam El-Rufai often tries to elevate himself by diminishing others. “He lied brazenly, which he did to me, against his colleagues and so-called friends,” Mr Onanuga continued, quoting the former President. “I have heard of how he ruthlessly savaged the reputation of his uncle, a man who, in an African setting, was like a foster father to him.”
Chief Obasanjo, who appointed Mallam El-Rufai as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory between 2003 and 2007, did not mince words in the memoir, describing Mallam El-Rufai as suffering from “small man syndrome.”
Mr Onanuga’s post is seen as a direct rebuttal to Mallam El-Rufai’s recent criticism and growing opposition role. The former governor is reportedly playing a central role in forming a new coalition to challenge President Tinubu in the 2027 general election.
In March 2025, El-Rufai officially dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP), intensifying speculations about his 2027 political ambitions.
As the political rift deepens, Mallam El-Rufai remains one of the most vocal critics of the Tinubu administration, while Mr Onanuga and other presidential allies continue to push back against what they describe as “reckless” opposition rhetoric.

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