News
Presidency Denies Funding Pro-Jonathan Groups
The Presidency has said it is not financing the 8,000 groups that are currently canvassing for the realisation of the second term ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan.
The Special Adviser to President Jonathan on Political Matters, Prof. Rufai Alkali, said it was not true the Presidency was funding the groups.
Alkali told our correspondent there were many groups across the country that claimed to be supporting the “transformation agenda of the Goodluck Jonathan administration,” but that they were being privately funded by their sponsors.
He said most of the identified support groups voluntarily came under one umbrella, the Goodluck Support Group for proper coordination and administrative convenience since they all share a common goal of mobilising support for the Federal Government.
Alkali, who is the national coordinator of the GSG, said, “I want to say that these groups are completely independent and self-financing and the Presidency does not in any way foot the bills for the activities of these groups.
“They are voluntary non-governmental organisations and every Nigerian is aware that these NGOs source their funds independent of government.”
He said there were about 8,000 groups that had been screened by his office.
He added, “The preliminary observation from the report of the team is that contrary to our earlier position that there were about 3, 000 groups rooting for Mr. President, we now have more than 7, 000 support groups nationwide, all calling on President Jonathan to declare for the Presidential race.
“Indeed, initially we printed 5,000 forms that were distributed to the NGOs and other support groups but the forms soon ran out and we had to print additional 2,000.
“As I am speaking to you now, we have at least another 1,000 groups demanding to be screened.”
Alkali added that “with the report of the Screening and Evaluation Committee now submitted to us, we are going to the next level, that is to say, we shall undertake content analysis of the reports with a view to properly positioning the various support groups for the challenges of the 2015 general election.
“We want to assure every support group, irrespective of their size, from two-man group to 20 million-man group, that they are all important to us and we shall carry them along.”
The Deputy Co-ordinator of the group, Olusola Oke, who also spoke with our correspondent on the matter, defended the screening of the groups.
Oke, who was also a member of the screening committee saddled with the responsibility of ascertaining the identities of those behind the groups, said the exercise was carried out with the aim of making sure that the groups were not being used for any other thing.
He said, “These groups are volunteering groups and are supposed to be funding their activities. They are not campaign groups, because we have not started campaigning for the President, who of course has not declared his intention to run in 2015.
“The way the groups were carrying on before, some of them might not be noticed. We need to notice them and also know the characters of those behind the groups.”
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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