President Muhammadu Buhari condoles with the Adetiran family, their friends and associates on the passage of an accomplished musicologist, Assistant Venerable Oluwole Isaac Adetiran, who passed on at 75.
The President urges the family to take solace in the quality of life lived by the departed, having left his footprints on the sands of time as composer of the NYSC Anthem, sung round the country, and inspiring innumerable youths.
President Buhari prays God to rest the soul of the former Head, Department of Music, The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Director of Music, Celestial Church of Christ Worldwide, and holder of the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) National Award.
He charges the younger generation to learn lessons from the devotion of the departed to both secular and spiritual things, and excelling in all.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)
July 14, 2022
PRESIDENT BUHARI LAUDS COMBAT READINESS, OPERATIONAL CAPABILITY OF NIGERIAN MILITARY, PLEDGES MORE SUPPORT IN FIGHT AGAINST INSURGENCY
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Jaji, Kaduna State celebrated the sacrifices and successes of the Nigerian military in defending the country courageously.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony of 247 students of the Senior Course 44 of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, the President pledged that his government would continue to provide the needed support required to wipe out terrorists and insurgents ‘‘off the face of the earth.’’
‘‘The Armed Forces of Nigeria are working tirelessly to enhance their combat effectiveness, operational capability and training necessary to eliminate the threats, in synergy with other institutions and nations.
‘‘The response of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to the Boko Haram insurgency, banditry, militancy, kidnapping as well as the activities of separatists and armed militias amongst others have been commendable.
‘‘This government will continue to provide the required guidance and support to ensure that the desired results are achieved,’’ he said.
The President noted that most of the security challenges facing the world today were both asymmetric and trans-border in nature, involving mainly non-state actors in different regions and sub-regions of the world.
He added that the West African sub-region and indeed our beloved continent of Africa are not immune to these threats.
‘‘We have witnessed recent terrorist attacks in Nigeria bearing the hallmark of national and trans-border insurgents trying to cause havoc in Nigeria as well as in neighbouring countries.
‘‘It will be part of your duty to confront these terrorists and insurgents and wipe them off the face of the earth and bring peace to our countries,’’ the President told the graduating students.
President Buhari described the specifics of their training which focused primarily on countering security threats as very important, adding that ‘‘combating these prevalent security threats effectively demands that African countries continue to work together at all levels; be it tactical, operational and strategic.’’
Appraising the ongoing collaboration of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger Republic, Benin Republic and Chad in a multinational operation to combat the Boko Haram Insurgency in the Lake Chad region, the Nigerian leader said it has been productive, commendable and successful.
He said: ‘‘The synergy achieved in operating together must have been enhanced by an understanding of the doctrines of the cooperating forces.
‘‘This occasion provides me another opportunity to briefly reflect on the state of the Nigerian nation, particularly regarding national security. The last 12 years have been very challenging for our nation, considering the different security threats that have besieged the country.
‘‘Our government is poised to promote national security and development, as well as to remain committed to promoting a vision of a secure, safe, just, peaceful, prosperous and strong Nigeria.
‘‘We shall be employing all elements of our national power in ensuring security, a just society, peaceful coexistence, national unity and sustainable development while promoting our good standing internationally.’’
President Buhari expressed delight that amongst the graduating students were international officers from sister African countries, saying he is confident they enjoyed the friendliness of the country during their stay.
Describing Nigeria as still one of the most hospitable and enjoyable countries to visit and stay, despite her diversity and challenges, the President enjoined the Course 44 fellows to keep fond memories of the over 40-year college, which prepares officers for tactical and operational level leadership, focusing on national security, joint planning processes, inter-agency cooperation and operations as well as multinational integration.
Further, he told the graduating students that their participation in the Course was a further testimony of national security aspirations to promote international peace, friendship and cooperation.
‘‘To the graduating students from Nigeria’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies, you have indeed justified the confidence reposed in you by your respective organizations. Congratulations!
‘‘We must specially commend the spouses of the graduands here for keeping the home front and without whose sacrifices there would have been no celebrations for many here today.’’ he said.
President Buhari also commended the Commandant and his team for transforming the graduating students into highly refined products and for the ongoing work to expand and upgrade the facilities of the College. This is to provide a conducive and amenable environment that is fit for purpose.
‘‘Your efforts are maintaining the status of the College as a mid-level military training institution of repute. I therefore commend the College Board as well as the Commandant and staff for these remarkable achievements.
‘‘This government will continue to support the College in its developmental strides. My administration will also continue to give priority to the training and welfare of officers and men of our Armed Forces.
‘‘You, the graduating students, should realize that the nation has made a lot of investment in your training up to this stage of your respective careers.
‘‘I am confident that you have been sufficiently groomed in character and learning to take up the challenges you will be confronted with hereafter.
‘‘For the Nigerian graduating students amongst you, the graduation today is a clarion call to duty in service to our country. Nigeria expects the very best from you in terms of loyalty, commitment to duty and service to your fatherland.
‘‘Therefore, you must endeavour to make honest and positive contributions in the discharge of the constitutional responsibilities of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, your strategic Ministries, Department and Agencies and be good ambassadors of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College,’’ the President said.
In his address of welcome, the Commandant of the College, Air Vice Marshall (AVM) Olurotimi Tuwase, explained that 111 army officers, 69 naval officers, 42 air force officers, 10 students from paramilitary organisations and Ministries, Department and Agencies as well as 15 international students completed the 48 weeks intensive training, leading to the award of Pass Staff Course (PSC).
AVM Tuwase added that the international students on the Senior Course 44 were from Burkina Faso, Cameroun, Chad, The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo and Zambia.
The Commandant thanked the President for his unflinching support to the College, noting that students from the prestigious school have been sufficiently trained and equipped to cope with most challenges in their career, with the staff and leadership skills acquired in the College.
‘‘The College has laid a solid professional foundation for you to make informed decisions,’’ he said.
At the event, President Buhari presented PSC certificates and awards to select graduands as well as the best graduating students.
Major Sunday Olayinka Atomode, bagged three awards namely Minister of Defence Award for highest overall score, Chief of Defence Staff Award for Department of Joint Studies and Chief of Army Staff Award for Department of Land Warfare.
Lt.-Cdr. Godwin Emeka Okutue won the Chief of Naval Staff Award for Department of Marine Warfare, Squadron Leader Peter Chika Echeazu bagged the Chief of Air Staff Award for Department of Air Warfare while the Commandant’s Award for best non-military student was awarded to CDIO AM Ajiamah, and Major Errol Donkoh from Ghana for best international student.
Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
Press Statement
Rt. Hon. Dekor Qualifies For Nomination Into Most Valuable Parliamentarian Hall Of Fame
…Also Receives HOSTCOM National Merit Award
Following his outstanding performance as a member of the House of Representatives and particularly as Chairman, House Committee on Host Communities, Rt. Hon. Dumnamene Robinson Dekor has been nominated for another honour.
Rt. Hon. Dekor, who represents Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency of Rivers State in the House of Representatives and doubles as Chairman, House Committee on Host Communities who has been severally honoured before now, is currently nominated for induction into Most Valuable Parliamentarian (MVP) Hall of Fame by OrderPaper Nigeria, a private and independent multi-platform parliament-focused organization dedicated to reporting, tracking and archiving activities of the Legislature since 2015.
The Ogoni-born politician, former Deputy Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly and one time Commissioner of Works in the state is being considered for the honour on account of serving as most passionate and dedicated Committee Chairman of the 9th House of Representatives so far.
In preparation for the prestigious honour, Rt. Hon. Dum Dekor will be presented with a formal recognition memento on July 14, 2022, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, as a prelude to the induction into the Most Value Parliamentarian Hall of Fame upon completion of the four year tenure of the 9th National Assembly.
Based on dedicated coverage of the National Assembly and from random survey among select stakeholders in the parliament, OrderPaper Nigeria in collaboration with other renowned Civil Society Organisations found Rt. Hon. Dekor worthy of the honour designed to applaud and encourage exemplary performances of federal lawmakers.
By this honour, Rt. Hon. Dekor is already recognized as one of the MVPs distinguished as performance-driven, excellence-inspired and public-spirited hoped to spur them into more improved service delivery and encourage others to toe same path for the collective interest of the Nigerian masses.
Rt. Hon. Dumnamene Robinson Dekor has also been selected by Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas for HOSTCOM National Merit Award.
The award will be bestowed on him at the forthcoming national festival and inauguration of newly elected national officers of Oil and Gas Producing State and Communities.
The epoch-making event is scheduled for July 29, 2022 at Banquet Hall, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Recall that Rt. Hon. Dekor was recently voted Lawmaker of the Year by TRENDSETTER Award (TSA). He also bagged the 2021 prestigious DMOMA Lawmaker of The Year Award among many other recognitions.
Signed:
Rt. Hon. Dum Dekor Media Team.
July 14, 2022
PRESIDENT BUHARI MOURNS PUBLISHER, BUSINESSMAN, AKANNI ALUKO
President Muhammadu Buhari commiserates with the family and friends of Chief Akanni Aluko, Publisher of defunct Third Eye Newspaper, who died days to his 79th birthday.
The President joins them in mourning the loss of the very benevolent humanitarian who will be remembered for his philanthropic gestures to the less privileged as well as passion for the development of the media profession.
The President believes that as an active member of his local community, Chief Aluko impacted many lives positively through his goodwill and never allowed his personal challenges to affect his consummate interest in the progress of others.
President Buhari prays for the peaceful repose of the soul of the departed and comfort to all who mourn.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
July 14, 2022
ECOWAS Court declares Twitter ban unlawful, orders Buhari govt not to repeat it
Following a suit by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and 176 concerned Nigerians, the ECOWAS Court has “declared unlawful the suspension of Twitter by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, and ordered the administration never to repeat it again.”
This development was disclosed today by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare.
It would be recalled that following the deletion of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tweet, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed announced the suspension of Twitter in Nigeria. The government also threatened to arrest and prosecute anyone using Twitter in the country, while the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) asked all broadcast stations to suspend the patronage of Twitter.
But in the judgment delivered today, the ECOWAS court declared that it has the jurisdiction to hear the case, and that the case was therefore admissible.
The Court also held that the act of suspending the operation of Twitter is unlawful and inconsistent with the provisions of Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights both of which Nigeria is a state party.
According to the Court, “The Buhari administration in suspending the operations of Twitter violates the rights of SERAP and 176 concerned Nigerians to the enjoyment of freedom of expression, access to information and the media, as well as the right to fair hearing.”
The Court also ordered the Buhari administration to take necessary steps to align its policies and other measures to give effect to the rights and freedoms, and to guarantee a non-repetition of the unlawful ban of Twitter.
The Court also ordered the Buhari administration to bear the costs of the proceedings and directed the Deputy Chief Registrar to assess the costs accordingly.
Reacting to the judgment, Femi Falana, SAN SERAP lawyer in the suit said, “We commend the ECOWAS Court for the landmark judgment in the case of SERAP v Federal Republic of Nigeria in which the Judges unanimously upheld the human rights of community citizens to freedom of expression, and access to information. Even though the Court had granted an interim order of injunction last year which restrained the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami SAN from prosecuting Nigerians who defied the Twitter ban, SERAP deserves special commendation for pursuing the matter to a logical conclusion.”
“Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right and the full enjoyment of this right is central to achieving individual freedom and to developing democracy. It is not only the cornerstone of democracy, but indispensable to a thriving civil society.”
“With the latest decision of the Court to declare the suspension of Twitter in Nigeria illegal it is hoped that the Heads of State and Governments of the member states of the Economic Community of West African States will henceforth respect and uphold the human right of community to freedom of expression guaranteed by Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.”
It would be recalled that SERAP 176 concerned Nigerians had in suit No ECW/CCJ/APP/23/21 filed before the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice in Abuja, sought: “An order of interim injunction restraining the Federal Government from implementing its suspension of Twitter in Nigeria, and subjecting anyone including media houses, broadcast stations using Twitter in Nigeria, to harassment, intimidation, arrest and criminal prosecution, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.”
The suit, read in part: “if this application is not urgently granted, the Federal Government will continue to arbitrarily suspend Twitter and threaten to impose criminal and other sanctions on Nigerians, telecommunication companies, media houses, broadcast stations and other people using Twitter in Nigeria, the perpetual order sought in this suit might be rendered nugatory.”
“The suspension of Twitter is aimed at intimidating and stopping Nigerians from using Twitter and other social media platforms to assess government policies, expose corruption, and criticize acts of official impunity by the agents of the Federal Government.”
“The free communication of information and ideas about public and political issues between citizens and elected representatives is essential. This implies a free press and other media able to comment on public issues without censor or restraints, and to inform public opinion. The public also has a corresponding right to receive media output.”
“The arbitrary action by the Federal Government and its agents have negatively impacted millions of Nigerians who carry on their daily businesses and operational activities on Twitter. The suspension has also impeded the freedom of expression of millions of Nigerians, who criticize and influence government policies through the microblogging app.”
“The suspension of Twitter is arbitrary, and there is no law in Nigeria today permitting the prosecution of people simply for peacefully exercising their human rights through Twitter and other social media platforms.”
“The suspension and threat of prosecution by the Federal Government constitute a fundamental breach of the country’s international human rights obligations including under Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Article 19 of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Nigeria is a state party.”
“The suspension has seriously undermined the ability of Nigerians and other people in the country to freely express themselves in a democracy, and undermined the ability of journalists, media houses, broadcast stations, and other people to freely carry out their professional duties.”
“A lot of Nigerians at home and abroad rely on Twitter coverage of topical issues of public interest to access impartial, objective and critical information about ideas and views on how the Nigerian government is performing its constitutional and international human rights obligations.”
“The implication of the decline in freedom of expression in Nigeria is that the country is today ranked alongside countries hostile to human rights and media freedom such as Afghanistan, Chad, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Zimbabwe and Colombia.”
Kolawole Oluwadare
SERAP Deputy Director
14/7/2022
Lagos, Nigeria
Emails: info@serap-nigeria.org; news@serap-nigeria.org
Twitter: @SERAPNigeria
Website: www.serap-nigeria.org
For more information or to request an interview, please contact us on: +2348160537202
2023: Oborevwori remains our guber candidate – Delta Mandate Group
The Delta Mandate Group has reacted to the Abuja Federal High Court ruling allegedly disqualifying Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori as governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State.
In a communique from its meeting on Wednesday in Asaba signed by its National President, Hon. Chief Isaac Anwuzia, the group said no matter the set back occasioned by the ruling, the group like other members of the party in the state remained resolute and ever-committed to the candidacy of Oborevwori pending the determination of the suit before the Appellate Court.
“We have been inundated with the Abuja Federal High Court ruling on our party candidate, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori and we received the news with mixed feelings.
“Although our candidate has filed for appeal and a stay of execution, we will continue to stand with him until he crosses all legal hurdles before him.
“As true party leaders across the state, we are convinced that Oborevwori is a true party man who was unanimously elected as governorship candidate of the party.”
The group said they remained committed to following the direction given by Governor Okowa on the politics of the state.
“We congratulate Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta and Vice-Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP for his exemplary leadership in the state and we pledge our unalloyed commitment to Atiku-Okowa’ rescue ticket for our country.” The group stated.
Osun guber critical to PDP – Okowa
Delta Governor and Vice-Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, said Saturday’s Osun governorship election was critical to the party and Nigerians because it would signpost the beginning of the ‘Rescue Nigeria’ mission.
Okowa stated this while addressing party faithful at Osogbo on Wednesday ahead of the polls.
Accompanied by Chairman, PDP Governors Forum, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, Bayelsa Governor, Senator Douye Diri and Edo Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, Okowa appealed to the party leaders to sheath their swords and support the party’s candidate for the Saturday governorship election, Senator Ademola Adeleke.
He stressed that the Osun election was important to the party as it would give hope to Nigerians that positive change was in the offing.
“I want to thank our leaders who have spoken to us. I want to also thank all our followers for showing that they are truly good followers.
“Osun election is very critical and important to the PDP. This election is very important to us because if we win in Osun, it will send a strong signal that we are ready to rescue the nation.
“The foundation of what is to come is that we have to deliver Osun state to be able to inspire hope and change the narrative in the country for positive development.
“So, we are pleading with you generally to look beyond your differences and look at what the PDP stands for by working together for the victory of the party in Saturday’d governorship election in the state.
“We cannot allow this nation to continue to suffer, we cannot allow a situation where our children will continue to be at home instead of being in school.
“People are pained because of insecurity, devaluation of the naira and other challenges but if we are to turn around this nation for good, we must work together to form the government at the national level.
“With PDP, there is great hope for the future. It is for us to collectively work together for the success of the party starting with the Osun election,” Okowa stated.
Also speaking, Chairman, Osun State PDP Governorship Campaign Council, Senator Douye Diri, said “as a miracle governor we have come here to rub it off on Osun people.
“By God’s grace, we will break the ice because we have had very fruitful meetings with our leaders and all that we have agreed we will implement them.
“Let me assure you that with the matured, competent and capable leaders we have here, I foresee success for our party in the Osun Governorship election
“Osun state election is not just for Osun people, it is a test case for the 2023 general elections and I am sure that our party will not be disappointed,” he said.
Diri lampooned the All Progressives Congress (APC) for its choice of Muslim-Muslim ticket, and told the people that APC had taken the country backward by over 100 years.
“Today our currency is the worst in Africa and the world. So, let us come together to defeat them and that starts with our victory on Saturday,” he said.
Earlier in his remarks, former Governor of the state, Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola, while welcoming the party leaders said “today marks another positive turning point in the history of PDP.
“The in-coming Vice President of our country wouldn’t have found time to be here if not that they are deeply interested in the unity and success of our party in Osun State.
“We have listened to them and they have promised immediate action and we are satisfied with their discussions with us and as leaders, we will not disappoint your expectations.
“PDP is the party that the entire people of Osun State want to lead them and we are hopeful of victory on Saturday,” he stated.