News
Ijaw Activist Wants Urgent Restructuring
Niger Delta activist and Life President of Patriotic Youth Brigade, Rev Sokari Soberekon, has declared the need for President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently initiate the process of restructuring the country along regional lines.
He also said that during the exercise, governors should not vacate their offices but should remain as sole administrators to supervise the restructuring process.
Speaking with journalists recently in Port Harcourt, Soberekon said the only solution to Nigeria’s problems was to restructure the country along the six geo-political zones by granting them autonomy to function as nations.
Soberekon, who is the Senior Advocate of Niger Delta, counselled that the six nations would now form the United Nations of Nigeria with headquarters in Calabar, adding that the new nations could have trade, philanthropic and sports links.
On why the restructuring was necessary, he said it would enable the geo-political zones to develop faster, using their God-given resources.
He lamented that under the current Nigerian federation, development was not spreading to the people because all the power was concentrated.
According to him, the South-South zone, which produces the oil being used to run the country, has less than 16 miles of railway line from Port Harcourt to Imo River, wment is planning to construct a railway line from the northern part of the country to Niger Republic and also lay a gas pipe from Bonny to Morocco up to Europe.
He therefore called on President Buhari to stop the two projects and focus on restructuring Nigeria, adding that he should assume the position of a Supervising Prime Minister while restructuring is going on.
The clergyman also advised that all the governors should become Sole Administrators of their states during this restructuring period so that they could maintain peace and order but not under their political parties platforms.
Quoting Job 12:16 which says that both the deceiver and the deceived belong to God, Soberekon asked all the political parties to go, to make room for easy restructuring of Nigeria.
He urged President Buhari not to be distracted as he commences this task, adding that his name will forever be written in gold.
On the Coalition for Nigeria Movement being proposed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Rev Dr Soberekon, who in 2015 prophesied that Buhari might be the last President of Nigeria, said the coalition would only be welcome if it was not coming as a political party and would advocate for restructuring of Nigeria.
He called on all political parties to return to Abuja where they came from so that Nigerians would start on clean slate.
“Buhari as Prime Minister and the Governors as Sole Administrators should team up to organize a referendum for Nigerians and forget about 2019 election”, he said.
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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