News
Adamawa Governor Threatens To Dump APC
The Adamawa State Governor, Jibrilla Bindow, has complained against the way federal appointments and projects concerning his state were being handled, warning he and his officials may be forced to dump the All Progressives Congress if the complaints were not addressed.
The Chief of Staff to the governor, Abdulrahman Jimeta, made the complaint on Thursday, in the presence of the governor without any rebuke, while addressing a team from the APC National Secretariat which was in the state to conduct the north-east mini convention of the party.
The team headed by a senator, Abdulkadir Jajere, was in Yola to brief the governor on arrangements for filling vacant party positions in the zone created by appointments in Adamawa.
“We here are loyal, but tell the leadership of the party that there is limit to loyalty and that party business is optional. In fact, even religion, you have the right to change it because of pressure.
“So, tell them we are loyal, but there is limit to that, especially if they are not recognising us, since we are the army of the party that is supposed to enjoy the fruits of the party; or out of frustration we join the opposition enemy party,” Mr. Jimeta said as the governor looked on.
Mr. Jimeta said various appointments were made without consulting the state government, adding that many of the appointees were not known to the government.
“Unfortunately, there is no difference between an opposition state and APC-led state like Adamawa because even appointments at the federal, we are not consulted.
“Some of them, we don’t know them neither were we consulted before their appointments as indigenes of Adamawa State,” he said.
The governor’s top aide said even some of the federal projects that the state was supposed to enjoy were being “hijacked by some people in Abuja”.
“Even our own rights that we are supposed to get through some agencies like UBEC (Universal Basic Education Commission) and MDGs (Millennium Development Goals) were hijacked and (when) we contacted them, we were told that somebody somewhere has collected the money and is doing the contract somewhere.”
Addressing the delegation, however, Governor Bindow spoke in a more conciliatory tone, as he pledged to co-operate with the team in the discharge of its assignment.
He commended the leadership style of the APC National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, and pledged his government’s loyalty to the party.
Responding, the leader of the delegation, Mr. Jajere, said he was keen to interface with the party structure in the state.
Mr. Bindow has a knack for delegating to his Chief of Staff the responsibility for making volatile political statements on his behalf.
Last year, the top aide had declared at a public gathering attended by the governor that the state government would support former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, for president in 2019.
Mr. Abubakar, who is from Adamawa State, challenged President Muhammadu Buhari for the APC presidential ticket prior to 2015 election. Although still a member of the APC, Mr. Abubakar is expected to run for the 2019 presidential election, even if he has to leave the party. The former vice president was one of those who bankrolled Mr. Bindow’s election as Adamawa govern
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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