News
Saraki, Tambuwal, Ortom Lead PDP Campaign To Osun …As Party Faults Buhari’s Comment On Nigerian Immigrants
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has appointed the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, as well as the Governors of Sokoto and Benue States, Aminu Tambuwal and Samuel Ortom respectively into National Campaign Council for the governorship election in Osun State.
Saraki was appointed by the PDP to chair its National Campaign Council, while Tambuwal and Ortom are members of the council.
The council, which also has other PDP governors and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu as members, will be inaugurated by the party’s leadership today in the nation’s capital.
“The National Working Committee (NWC) of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has approved the composition of the National Campaign Council for the September 22, 2018, Osun State Governorship Election.
“The Campaign Council will be inaugurated today, September 3, 2018, by 2pm at the Legacy House, Abuja,” the party said in a statement signed by its National Organising Secretary, Austin Akobundu.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has described President Muhammadu Buhari’s address to German Chancellor, Angela Merkel that Nigerians caught while attempting to illegally migrate to Europe, are on their own, as insensitive.
PDP said Buhari’s statement has further exposed him as an “insensitive leader, who cares less about the plights of his compatriots.”
A statement by PDP’s spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan, yesterday, said, “While the PDP does not, in any way, support illegal migrations, our party holds that such does not warrant incendiary statement against our citizens by no less a person than the President, who should be seeking for ways to solve the problem.”
PDP noted that such statements by, “our President against Nigerians fuel violent attacks and inhuman treatment being meted out against our citizens abroad, including those with legitimate documents and engaged in lawful activities.”
The party said that President Buhari has shown that he is not “bothered that no fewer than 10,000 Nigerians died in the deserts between January to May, 2017 alone, while trying to escape the economic hardship and escalated insecurity occasioned by his misrule.
“Is it not disturbing to Mr President that reports by Nigerian Immigration Services showed that many more Nigerians have been trapped in detention and slave camps in various parts of the world?
“Also, is it not an act of gross leadership failure that, in his outburst against Nigerians, President Buhari admitted that they left in search of “greener pastures”, yet he could not articulate any solution to mitigate the suffering his administration has unleashed on our nation in the last three years?
“Mr. President knows he is the cause of the problem, yet he has no words of assurances for suffering Nigerians. Instead, he has continued to worsen the situation with unsavoury statements against our nation and her citizens whenever he is before an international audience.
“If President Buhari is not condemning our youths as lazy and lovers of freebies, he is disparaging our women as inconsequential or demarketing our nation to investors as corrupt.
“It is the duty of the President, as elected leader of the government, to pursue the fundamental human rights of his citizens, as well as find solution to the problems that are pushing Nigerians to adopt illegal migration, irrespective of the huge risks, as an option for survival.
“Moreover, if the Buhari administration and the APC had not wrecked our once robust economy, Nigerians would not be seeking for greener pastures in other lands.”
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.
-
News1 day ago
Obuah’s Victory Excites Former Lawmaker as APC Primaries Conclude in Rivers West
-
Politics3 days agoAPC PRIMARIES: FUBARA’S WITHDRAWAL, HISTORIC SACRIFICE FOR NATIONAL STABILITY ……. GROUP
-
News3 days agoCourt Sentences Seven To Death Over Murder Of Cleric In Rivers
-
News1 day ago
105 Nigerians Killed In S/Africa In Seven Years
-
Sports3 days agoPH Arsenal Community Set For Streets Procession, Saturday
-
Politics3 days agoIPAC Flays INEC Over Election Guidelines Judgement
-
Politics3 days agoNDC To Adopt Electronic Voting For Future Primaries
-
Niger Delta1 day agoRoyal Father Endorses PH Arsenal Community, Pledges To Support