News

‘Accidental Public Servant’ … Book For Every Nigerian –Amaechi

Published

13 years ago

February 8, 2013

Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, says “The Accidental Public Servant”, a new book written by former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Mallam Nasir el Rufai, is a book every Nigerian needs.

Governor Amaechi said this yesterday during the launching of the book at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

Represented by his Deputy, Engr. Tele Ikuru, Governor Amaechi, who is also the chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, lauded the intellectual prowess of the author, pointing out that “this is one book every Nigerian needs. It will help us avoid the mistakes of the past and do the right things.” He congratulated the former Director General, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) for the successful publication of the book.

Former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, eulogised Mallam el Rufai for being forthright; noting that “the book is a product of so much courage and intellectualism,” urging political office holders to justify the confidence reposed in them by performing well while in office.

Governors of Lagos, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, Ekiti, Dr Kayode Fayemi, Niger, Dr Babangida Aliyu, and Gombe, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo, all commended the intellectual sagacity of the author, describing him as “a deeply family man, quintessential public servant” and “a man who has made us proud to be Nigerians.” They noted that the book “is a welcome book, a book about projects that failed and projects that succeeded,” while lamenting corruption in the nation’s public service.

Chairman of the occasion and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Aminu Masari, noted that “Nasir is a man that is difficult to describe, given his many parts,” praising his intelligence, radicalism and non-conformist approach to issues, advising public office holders to write and keep records of their activities while in office for posterity.

Speaking, the book reviewer and Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Professor Chidi Odinkalu, stated that “in writing the book, Nasir has made a transition from a political activist to a statesman,” observing that “the book is about faces, cases and places, telling the story of the unforgettable years.” He pointed out that the book makes a case for equal application of laws to everyone, regretting that “impunity has become the bane of Nigeria’s socio-political development,” noting, however, that the book contains factual errors.

In her welcome address, Chairperson of the Book Presentation Committee, Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, said “Nasir is a quintessential non-conformist,” stating that “his fearlessness to withstand opposition defines his personality,” noting that the author deployed intellectual rigour in writing the book, pointing out that the book traverses the nation’s public sector.

Before then, eL-Rufai had explained, “My hope is that you people will elicit on some of the things we did in government that were right and many of the things that we did that were mistakes.

“I think that lessons are learnt when additional memories are protected, when people learn from what works and what doesn’t work and personal mistakes and errors of leaders.

“That is how to build a nation; that is how future generations learn and this is why I wrote the book, I don’t think we should have the conspiracy of silence about how our government is being run, I think we should talk openly about it, celebrate what we did right and admit where we made mistakes and name names so that people will know that when you are in leadership position, history will judge you, that is what is my biggest motive here,” he said.

Meanwhile, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, yesterday picked holes in the books Accidental Public Servant by former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Mallam Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai, stressing that the book could be described as a fiction for self-glorification at the expense of truth.

According to Atiku Abubakar, what the former minister requires at the moment was prayer rather than anger. The attack is coming barely twenty four hours after the book was formally presented to the public at the Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

The former presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), dismissed the book, just as he said that it was a collection of fiction, half-truths, exaggeration and reflection of selective memory.

In a statement from his media office yesterday, ‘’Atiku Abubakar was particularly piqued by the claim of el-Rufai that he had almost resigned as the former Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) because of alleged persistent pressure and interference by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who was then the Chairman of the National Council on Privatisation.

‘’Atiku’s Media Office expressed disbelief that the former FCT minister forgot soon what he said at the Senate public hearing on BPE on August 8-13, 2011. That adhoc committee was headed by Senator Ahmed Lawan.

‘’It recalled el-Rufai as saying that he had special relationship with former President Obasanjo, which gave him direct access and the discretion to bypass the Council on Privatisation headed by Atiku in order to get the approval of the President.

‘’The Media Office wondered how el-Rufai could reconcile his threat of resignation with the accounts he told the Senate about the latitude of freedom he enjoyed at BPE because of his closeness to former President Obasanjo.

News

NDLEA Intercepts Drugs Hidden In Clothes, Garri

Published

12 minutes ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted consignments of cocaine and various opioids concealed in walls of cartons used to package cloths and other items going to the United Kingdom and Australia.

Spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi, in a statement shared on X yesterday confirmed the interdiction.

According to him, “The two seizures were recorded at a courier company in Lagos on Friday 15th May 2026 during examination of shipments going to the UK and Australia.

“A total of 170grams of cocaine sealed in cellophane parcels and buried in the walls of a carton of cloths heading to Australia were recovered.

“A wide range of opioids including: 200 ampoules of pentazocine injection; 1,100 capsules of tramadol and 100 ampoules of promethazine injection were recovered from another carton which has United Kingdom as its final destination”.

“In FCT Abuja, NDLEA operatives on Monday 11th May arrested a 29-year-old businessman Ogadi Peter who specializes in producing drug laced cakes and cookies for parties and social gatherings in the capital city.

“Following credible intelligence, he was traced to his home in Life Camp area of the FCT where he was nabbed while 800grams of skunk and 2.70kg drug laced cookies recovered from him”.

“In Delta state, NDLEA operatives on Sunday 10th May, raided Ejeonu village in Ukwuani local government area where they destroyed 27,500 kilograms of skunk on 11 hectares of farmland and recovered 22.9kg of same substance while a 52-year-old suspect Ifeanyichukwu Peter was arrested in a follow up operation at Obiaruku.

“A similar raid in Orogun village, Ughelli North LGA on Tuesday 12th May led to the destruction of 37,500 kilograms and recovery of 55.4kg of same psychoactive substance on 15 hectares of farm as well as the arrest of 30-year-old Godwin Vincent Osadera.

“This brings the total weight of skunk destroyed by NDLEA operatives supported by soldiers in the two operations to 65,000 kilograms”.

“In Kaduna State, 361kg of skunk was recovered during a raid operation at Dan Magaji area of Zaria town on Wednesday 13th May. and a suspect Husaini Suleiman, 42 ,was arrested.

“A large cache of military-grade ammunition was intercepted by NDLEA officers on patrol along Abuja-Kaduna highway, Kaduna on Tuesday 12th May.

“A suspect, 35-year-old Abdullahi Hassan was caught conveying the 1, 989 rounds of RLA 7.62mm concealed in fresh white cassava granules locally known as garri.

“Both the suspect and exhibit have since been transferred to another security agency for further investigation’.

Also, a total of 181kg skunk was recovered from a suspect Aliyu Sani when NDLEA operatives raided the Ogere area of Ogun state on Wednesday 13th May, while another suspect Sufiyanu Mohammed Misa, 27, was arrested with 105,850 pills of opioids including tramadol, diazepam and exol-5 along Zaki- Biam road Wukari LGA, Taraba state on Thursday 14th May.

In Oyo State, two suspects: Adeleke Olamide Aliyah, 20, and Aloba Abdulazeez, 25, were arrested on Thursday, 14th May at Challenge II, Saki town, in connection with the seizure of 99 litres of skuchies.

NDLEA also said a total of 1,388.4175 kilograms of skunk were destroyed on two farms on Friday, 15th May when NDLEA officers raided Ago forest, Orhionmwon LGA, Edo state.

A 25-litre jerry can of palm oil used to conceal 1.2kg pills of tramaking 225mg was recovered from Kofar Ruwa motor park in Kano on Monday, 11th May following credible intelligence while a suspect Aminu Isa, 35, was arrested at Sabuwar Sharada area of the state same day with 30.5kg skunk.

The War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy activities by NDLEA Commands equally continued across the country in the past week including: WADA sensitization lecture delivered to students and staff of The Apostolic Church Model College, Ijokodo, Ibadan Oyo State; School of Health Technology, Lambata, Niger state; Yewa Junior High School, Agege, Lagos; Government Secondary School, Yardaje, Katsina; Igogo Commercial High School, Igogo Ekiti and Government Girls Secondary School, Magwan, Kano state; among others.

While commending the officers and men of DOGI, Delta, Kaduna, Oyo, Taraba, Kano, FCT and Edo Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) also praised their counterparts in all the commands across the country for pursuing a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.

News

Five Die In Abuja Building Collapse

Published

12 minutes ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

No fewer than five persons have been confirmed dead after a three-storey building under construction collapsed in the Durumi 3 area near Gudu Market in the Abuja Municipal Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory on Saturday morning.

Ten other persons were rescued alive from the rubble, according to the media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Lere Olayinka, who provided an update on the incident via his X handle on Saturday.

Olayinka further stated that the Mandate Secretary of the Health Services and Environment Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, who visited the site, disclosed that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, had directed that “all casualties be given free medical treatment.”

According to him, emergency responders continued efforts to evacuate more victims believed to be trapped beneath the rubble.

Officials of the Federal Fire Service, health workers, security agencies and local volunteers were at the scene working to rescue victims.

Recall that in April, six persons were injured following a similar collapse of a two-storey building under construction in Jikwoyi within the AMAC area.

News

Odu Charges Newlyweds To Build Marriage On Love

Published

13 minutes ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

Rivers State Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, has charged newlywed couples to build their marriages on the virtues of love as taught in the Word of God.

Prof. Odu gave the charge at the wedding ceremony of Amblessed Favour Sunny-Cookey and Samson Jesuganji at Lifegate Power Ministries, Dominion Cathedral, in Port Harcourt at the weekend.

This was contained in a statement by the Head of Press, Deputy Governor’s Office, Owupele Benebo last Saturday.

The statement identified the bride as the daughter of Pastor Sunny Cookey, the Founder and Presiding Pastor of Lifegate Ministries.

The deputy governor congratulated the couple on a new phase of life, and prayed for God’s blessings upon their union, noting that the couple were raised by godly parents and encouraging them to uphold the Christian values instilled in them.

Referring to the sermon delivered during the ceremony, Odu emphasized that the principles of love and submission remain fundamental to a successful marriage.

According to her, genuine love reflects the nature of God, stressing that love should remain the foundation of the couple’s relationship as they journey through life together.

She prayed for enduring peace, happiness, and progress in their home, expressing confidence that the marriage would continue to flourish under God’s guidance.

The deputy governor commended the families of the couple for their support and upbringing, while urging the newlyweds to always remember the significance of the day and the commitment they had made before God and witnesses.

In his sermon at the wedding, the Founder and Presiding Pastor of Salvation Ministries, Pastor David Ibiyeomie, stated that marriage did not originate from Western culture, traditions, or human ideas, but from God, whom he described as the “manufacturer” of marriage.

According to the cleric, couples seeking lasting and peaceful homes must rely on biblical principles rather than societal trends or assumptions.

He explained that many marital crises and rising divorce rates stem from ignorance and failure to apply scriptural teachings in family life.

Drawing from the biblical parable of building a house on a rock, Ibiyeomie said the Word of God remains the only solid foundation capable of sustaining marriages through challenges and difficult times.

He noted that marriage naturally comes with unexpected realities and pressures, stressing that religious ceremonies or cultural practices alone are not enough to sustain a home without proper understanding of God’s instructions.

The pastor further warned that ignorance of scripture remains one of the greatest weapons against believers, urging Christians to study and practice the Word of God rather than merely attending church services.

The ceremony had many ministers in attendance including Apostle Zilly Aggrey, Pastor George Izunwa, and Bishop Winston Iwo.