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  • Nigerian President Buhari Posts Ambassador Appointees, Ex-Ministers to UK, Spain

    Nigerian President Buhari Posts Ambassador Appointees, Ex-Ministers to UK, Spain

    Seven months after nominating ambassador nominees for Senate confirmation, Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has approved the deployment of 52 non-career envoys and 43 career ambassadors based on the confirmed list from the Senate.

    According to the postings contained in a list circulated on Sunday, former Minister of State for Defence, Demola Seriki, was posted to Spain as the Nigerian Ambassador while another former Minister of Mines and Steel, Sarafat Ishola, will serve as the High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

    Ishola, an Ogun State born politician is an ally of a former Governor of the state, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

    Another notable figure in the list is the Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian newspaper, Debo Adesina, who has been posted to Togo as the Ambassador.

    Out of 11 ambassadors who were re-appointed, eight were retained in their current countries of posting and three others were redeployed.

    Detail of the Posting

    Mohammed Rimi (United Arab Emirates), Jidda Baba (China)

    Gani Bura (Lebanon)

    Yusuf Tuggar (Germany)

    Baba Madugu (Switzerland) and Deborah Illiya (Congo).

    Ambassador Tijani Muhammmad-Bande will retain his position as the Permanent Representative to the United Nations, New York.

    Adeyinka Asekun will remain the High Commissioner to Canada.

    Modupe Irele, current Ambassador to France, redeployed to Hungary.

    Eniola Ajayi, Ambassador to Hungary, redeployed to the Netherlands.

    Posting of Non-career diplomats

    Ms Ijeoma Chineyerem, Ambassador to Ireland

    Oma Djebah posted to Thailand.

    Abdulahi Shehu (Russia).

    Haruna Manta (South Africa).

    Kayode Laro (France).

    Paul Adikwu (The Vatican).

    Abubakar Moriki (Japan).

    Mrs. Opunimi Akinkugbe (Greece).

    Ali Magashi (South Korea).

    M.O. Abam (Italy).

    N.A. Kolo (Israel).

    A. Sule (India).

    G.Y. Hamza (Ghana).

    A.N. Madubike (Australia).

    O.C Onowu (Belgium).

    Other appointees to serve as deputy ambassadors or heads of mission include:

    A.E. Alleboy (Deputy Ambassador to France).

    G.E. Edokpa (Deputy Permanent Representative to The UN).

    Ben Okoyen (Cuba).

    G.M. Okeke (Deputy Head of Mission to Switzerland).

    S.Sani to London, (Deputy High Commissioner to UK)

    I.A Iwejuo (Ethiopia as Deputy Ambassador).

    I.A. Alatishe (Deputy Ambassador to Russia).

    I.R. Ocheni (Germany).

  • Lagos Schools: Second Term to Run for 61 Days

    Lagos Schools: Second Term to Run for 61 Days

    The Lagos state government has scheduled the second term of the 2020/2021 academic session to run for 61 days for public and private schools in the state.

    Recall that the Lagos State Government earlier confirmed that all public and private schools below the tertiary level, will resume on Monday, January 18, 2021.

    The Honourable Commissioner for Education in the State, Mrs Folasade Adefisayo, this will be the start of the second term for 2020/2021 academic session she also noted that this is in line with the Federal Government’s resolution after reaching a consensus with relevant stakeholders.

    A revised calendar for the 2020/2021 academic session released by the Office of the Education Quality Assurance (OEQA), on Sunday shows that the second term for all schools in the state is scheduled to run from January 18, 2021, to April 30.

    According to the revised calendar, the mid-term break has been scheduled for March 4 and 5 while two public holidays Good Friday on April 2 and Easter Monday on April 5, will be observed by the students.

    Also, resumption for the third term has been scheduled for May 4, while the term ends on August 6.

  • Notable Politicians in Ogun Express Sadness Over Death of Ex-Minister

    Notable Politicians in Ogun Express Sadness Over Death of Ex-Minister

    Notable politicians in Ogun State express sadness following the death of Nigerian ex-Minister of Commerce and grassroot politician, Jubril Martins-Kuye on Sunday.

    The immediate past Governor of the State, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun and governorship candidate of Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Hon. Adekunle Akinlade has sympathised with the family of the late former Minister, Sen Jubril Martins-Kuye.

    In separate statements, Senator Amosun and Hon. Akinlade described the late grassroot politician as having left large footprints in the sands of time.

    Describing Martins Kuye as a consummate politician, humanist bridgebuilder, Amosun said, “My family and entire stakeholders of the Ogun Central Senatorial District mourn the death, early today, of our leader and political mentor, Senator Jubril Martins Kuye.

    File Photo: Senator Ibikunle Amosun

    Amosun further expressed regret that the death of Martins-Kuye has further depleted the number of truly committed Nigerian patriots whose experience and dedication are needed at this critical time.

    However, Amosun said he takes solace in the fact that the octogenarian lived a life worthy of emulation.

    “Our sincere condolences to his wife, children and extended families; our people in Ago Iwoye; Ogun State stakeholders as a whole, and all loved ones left behind. We beseech Almighty Allah, swt, to forgive his sins and reward him with Aljanah Firdaus,” he said.

    In his statement made available by his media aide, Azeez Adelani, Hon. Akinlade, expressed a deep sense of shock and immense sadness over Martins Kuye’s death, saying he died at a time his wealth of experience is being sought after.

    According to Akinlade, Martins-Kuye was a grass root politician, scholar and community builder, whose immense devotion has contributed to the socio-political stability of his home town – Ago-Iwoye and Nigeria.

    He said: “While he will be dearly missed, I implore the Almighty God to accept his return, grant him eternal rest and give his family, friends and Nigerians the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss”.

  • Ex-Minister of Commerce Dies

    Ex-Minister of Commerce Dies

    A former Nigerian Minister and Senator, Jubril Martins-Kuye has died on Sunday morning at his Ago-Iwoye residence in Ogun State.

    The death of the octogenarian grassroots politician who became a Senator during the third republic was made known by the Senator representing Ogun East, Lekan Mustapha

    Senator Mustapha described the death of the elder statesman as a big blow to Ogun and Nigeria, saying, “he was a mentor and a pathfinder.”

    Jubril Martins-Kuye was appointed the Nigerian Minister of Commerce and Industry on April 6, 2010.

    On August 16, 2020, he clocked 80 and was celebrated by many, including President Muhammadu Buhari.

  • Buhari Appeals to Nigerians for a Fair Assessment of his Government

    Buhari Appeals to Nigerians for a Fair Assessment of his Government

    Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has appealed to citizens especially the elite class to be fair in their criticism of his administration.

    President Buhari made the appeal in his address to Reverend Yakubu Pam, the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission, who visited the Presidential Villa on Thursday in Abuja.

    “Those criticising the administration should be fair in terms of reflecting on where we were before we came, where we are now and what resources are available to us and what we have done with the limited resources,” Buhari said.

    “We had to struggle paying debts, investing in road repairs and rebuilding, to revamp the rail and try to get power. This is what I hope the elite, when they want to criticise will use to compare notes.”

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    Youth Vows to Retaliate Attack on Kukah as Presidency Cautions Muslim Group

    While commenting on security issues in the nation, particularly the Northeast, Buhari said “What was the situation when we came? Try and ask people from Borno or from Adamawa for that matter and Yobe.

    “What was the condition before we came and what is the condition now? Still, there are problems in Borno and Yobe, there are occasional Boko Haram problems, but they know the difference because a lot of them moved out of their states and moved to Kaduna, Kano and here (in Abuja).

    “We were not spared of the attacks at a time. The government is doing its best and I hope that eventually, our best will be good enough.”

    Th President however gave assurances that the welfare of Internally Displaced Persons was paramount on the agenda of government.

    “The people in IDP camps, the weak, aged, I feel sorry for the young because this is the time they are supposed to get education,” Buhari said. “We must not allow this time to pass because it will never be regained. So we are really interested in what is happening there and we are doing our best,” the President said.

    He commended the executive secretary on his appointment and activities on peace building around the country despite his short time in office.

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    Former Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi Hospitalised with Heart Problem

    Buhari assured him of the listening ear of the government whenever he had contributions to make.

    In his speech earlier, the visiting Reverend Yakubu Pam briefed President Buhari on some of the activities of the commission since he was appointed in July 2020, which he gave as the organisation of a peace summit on Southern Kaduna as well as peace building efforts in Plateau, Benue, Taraba and Nasarawa states.

    In addition to his achievement, Reverend Pam disclosed that the commission has proposed to host Christian religious leaders in a summit to help douse pressures within the polity.

  • Former Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi Hospitalised with Heart Problem

    Former Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi Hospitalised with Heart Problem

    A former Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi has suffered heart problems and is now admitted to hospital in Monaco.

    Spokesman and a doctor to the said 84-year-old media tycoon disclosed to AFP on Thursday that Berlusconi “is at the Cardiothoracic Hospital in Monaco for tests. He will return home within a few days”.

    READ ALSO: US VP kicks as House Impeaches Trump the Second Time

    In a statement, personal doctor, Alberto Zangrillo, told the ANSA news agency that he made an urgent visit to Berlusconi at his home in the south of France on Monday because of an irregular heart beat.

    The former premier was hospitalised for 11 days in September after contracting coronavirus, in what he said was “perhaps the most difficult ordeal of my life”.

    The Former Prime Minister had contracted coronavirus after returning from a holiday at his luxury villa in Sardinia. Two of his children also became infected, as did his companion Marta Fascina.

    READ ALSO: Youth Vows to Retaliate Attack on Kukah as Presidency Cautions Muslim Group

    “Thank heavens, thanks to the doctors, I got over what was perhaps the most difficult ordeal of my life. Once again, I seem to have got away with it!” he said as he left hospital.

    In 2016, the three time Prime Minister for the centre-right Forza Italia between 1994 and 2011, underwent open heart surgery.

  • Youth Vows to Retaliate Attack on Kukah as Presidency Cautions Muslim Group

    Youth Vows to Retaliate Attack on Kukah as Presidency Cautions Muslim Group

    The Buhari-led Presidency has condemned Sokoto-based Muslim Solidarity Forum (MSF) for calling on the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Dr. Matthew Kukah, to tender unreserved apology to the Muslims, or quietly and quickly leave the state, over his controversial Christmas essay.

    According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media and Publicity), Garba Shehu on Wednesday, the Presidency took a stand saying the MSF’s comment “is wrong because it is not in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

    While Professor Isa Maishanu of MSF had described the essay as “malicious comment” against Islam, Shehu affirmed that under Nigeria’s constitution, every citizen has the right to, among others, freedom of speech and expression, the right to own property and reside in any part of the country, and the right to move freely without any inhibition.

    READ ALSO:

    Nigeria’s Secret Service Warns Citizens on Plots to ‘Incite’ Religious Violence

    “The Sultanate has historically had good relations with followers of all faiths. That is why Fr. Kukah was received on his arrival in Sokoto with friendship and tolerance.

    “Under our laws, groups or factions must not give quit notices, neither should they unilaterally sanction any perceived breaches. Where they occur, it is the courts of law that should adjudicate,” he added, urging groups like MSF to share and uphold the country’s multi-religious principles.

    In reaction to Maishanu’s statement, asking Kukah to vacate the Seat of the Caliphate, the Youth Wing of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) has vowed to retaliate any form of attack on Kukah, over his recent message on Nigeria’s woes.

    National leader of the SOKAPU youth wing, John Isaac, pointed out that MSF was trying to incite the peace-loving people of Sokoto and some Northerners against the cleric over his Christmas essay, in which, “out of patriotism, he voiced out the obvious truth.’

    The SOKAPU statement entitled ‘Enough of the Bigotry and Senseless Attacks on Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, lamented: “Prof. Maishanu could descend so low, throwing caution to the wind and toeing the path of religious rascality and bigotry by deliberately attempting to paint the bishop’s message in religious colour and further inciting the general Muslim Ummah against the bishop.

    Kukah had written in his Christmas essay: “Every honest Nigerian knows that there is no way any non-Northern Muslim President could have done a fraction of what President Muhammadu Buhari has done with his nepotism and got away with it.”

    Isaac said the demeaning call by “the so-called professor” for Kukah to apologise to the Muslim Ummah or quietly leave Sokoto was not just ridiculous and unacceptable, but an affront to the rights of all Nigerians to live freely in any part of the country.

    His words: “We believe that the reckless statement credited to the professor does not, in anyway, reflect the position of a responsible group such as MSF.

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    US VP kicks as House Impeaches Trump the Second Time

    “While we call on the Department of State Services (DSS) to arrest Maishanu to serve as deterrent to those already misled by his unguarded statements and prevent a religious war.”

    The youths and people of Southern Kaduna will not accept further attacks on the person and character of Bishop Kukah under any pretence, as neither Maishanu nor any person or group can mourn more than the bereaved, he added.

    “The bishop’s message was directed at the powers-that-be and cannot in any way be said to have been directed at Muslims and Islam, a religion well-known to profess peace.

    “The youths of Southern Kaduna, therefore, vow to retaliate any form of attack directed or aimed at putting the bishop in harm’s way by any group of ethnic loyalists, religious extremists and enthusiasts.”

  • US VP kicks as House Impeaches Trump the Second Time

    US VP kicks as House Impeaches Trump the Second Time

    United States Vice President, Michael Pence has kicked against the decision of 231 lawmakers who voted to impeach President Donald Trump on the grounds of inciting his loyalists to storm the Capitol last week, an incident that threatened the lives of the US lawmakers and halted legislative proceedings.

    Vice President Pence on Wednesday in his protest against the impeachment move urged the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi and Congress to desist from actions that would further divide the country

    Donald Trump would go down in history as the first U.S. President to be impeached twice.

    A growing number of Republicans have also voiced their support for impeachment, including senior House Republican, Liz Cheney but Republican Tom Cole urged others to vote against impeachment because it’s “flawed process” that will fuel divisions.

    READ ALSO:

    Jihadists Kill Six Nigerian Soldiers in Borno State

    An impeachment of Trump by the House mean the Senate will then hold a trial. A two-thirds majority is required to convict him.

    Pence’s stand is contained in a statement, released by the vice president following efforts by the House to impeach the President.

    Trump is accused of inciting his supporters to storm the Capitol building at a speech before a violent riot kicked off last Wednesday. An impeachment would formally charge the President with inciting insurrection.

    Pence said impeaching the president was not in the best interest of the nation or in line with the constitution.

    “With just eight days left in the President’s term, you and the Democratic Caucus are demanding that the cabinet and I invoke the 25th Amendment. I do not believe such a course of action is in the best interest of our nation or consistent with our constitution. Last week, I did not yield to pressure to exert power beyond my constitutional authority to determine the outcome of the election, and I will not now yield to efforts in the House of Representatives to play political games at a time so serious in the life of our nation,” Pence said.

    He further stressed that the 25th amendment, which the House relied on, was designed to deal with issues of incapacity or disability and not issues or comments that was not favourable as pointed out by Pelosi.

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    Nigeria to Post 95 Ambassadors-Designate as President Buhari Gives Approval

    “As you know fully well, the 25th Amendment was designed to address presidential incapacity or disability. Just a few months ago, when you introduced legislation to create a 25th Amendment Commission, you said, “(a) President’s fitness for office must be determined by size and facts.” You said then that we must be ‘very respectful of not making a judgment on the basis of a comment or behaviour that we don’t like but based on a medical decision.’ Madam Speaker, you were right. Under our constitution, the 25th Amendment is not a means of punishment or usurpation. Invoking the 25th Amendment would set a terrible precedent,” he stated.

    According to Vice President Pence, after the events of last week, the administration’s energy was directed towards ensuring an orderly transition. He called for support to unite the country and lower the existing temperature.

  • Jihadists Kill Six Nigerian Soldiers in Borno State

    Jihadists Kill Six Nigerian Soldiers in Borno State

    Six Nigerian soldiers have died during an attack by jihadists who rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into them during a clash in Borno state, Nigeria’s North East.

    Two military sources on Tuesday disclosed to AFP that the suicide bombing by a member of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) group occurred Monday as the soldiers were conducting a raid of the group’s stronghold in the village of Talala.

    They said scores of jihadists have been killed in the operation launched last week on ISWAP’s second largest camp.

    “Our men dominated the terrorists, killing dozens, and out of frustration they sent a suicide bomber who killed six soldiers,” one of the officers said.

    They said the troops overran the Talala camp despite the bombing.

    On Saturday 13 soldiers were killed in an ISWAP ambush near the town of Gujba in the neighbouring state of Yobe, according to military sources.

    ISWAP, which split from the mainstream Boko Haram in 2016, has become a dominant group, focusing on military targets and high-profile attacks, including against aid workers.

    The jihadist group has in recent times stepped up attacks on troops and frequently abduct travellers at bogus checkpoints along the highway linking the Borno capital Maiduguri and Damaturu, the capital of Yobe.

    No fewer than 36,000 people have been killed in the conflict since 2009 with around two million displaced in the northeast, according to the UN.

    Ravaging neighbouring countries – Chad, Niger and Cameroon, the endless violence prompted a regional military coalition that would bring the deadly activities of the jihadist groups to an end.

  • Nigeria to Post 95 Ambassadors-Designate as President Buhari Gives Approval

    Nigeria to Post 95 Ambassadors-Designate as President Buhari Gives Approval

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the posting of Ambassador-Designates to Nigerian Missions abroad.

    A statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the list includes 43 career ambassadors and 52 non-career ambassadors.

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday by its Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Gabriel Aduda.

    While Aduda did not state when the President gave the approval, he noted that those to be posted included 43 career ambassadors and 52 non-career ambassadors.

    He said following the development, the government has already commenced the process of requesting Agrément from the prospective host countries.

    The permanent secretary revealed that the ministry would organise an induction course for the ambassadors-designate and their spouses.

    He explained that the event which would hold on a date to be announced soon was to prepare and facilitate the movement of the ambassadors-designate to their respective missions.

    In a letter dated May 6, 2020, about nine months after the President nominated 42 career ambassadors-designate to the Senate for confirmation, Buhari informed the lawmakers that his request was in accordance with section 171 (1),(2)(c), and subsection (4) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

    “I have the honour to forward for confirmation by the Senate, the under-listed forty-two (42) names of nominees as Career Ambassadors-Designate,” he had said in the letter.

    The ambassadors-designate who were nominated included C.O Nwachukwu; A. Kafas, R. U. Brown, G. A. Odudigbo, O. C. Onowu, Y. S. Suleiman, E. S. Agbana, B. B. M. Okoyen, G. M. Okoko, A. M. Garba, M. l. Bashir, M. O. Abam, A. E. Allotey, G. E. Edokpa, and A. N. Madubuike.

    Others are Adamu Lamuwa, Innocent lwejuo, M. S. Abubakar, Y. A. Ahmed, S. D. Umar, A. Sule, G. Y. Hamza, N. Rimi, L S. Ahmed-Remawa, M. Manu, l. R. Ocheni, l. A. Yusuf, M. Abdulraheem, W. A. Adedeji, and A. U. Ogah.

    Also among the ambassadors-designate are A. A. Musa, N. A. Kolo, S. O. Olaniyan, A. R. Adejola, E. Awe, O. Aluko, I. A. Alatishe, V. A. Adeleke, M. S. Adamu, l. N. Charles, Z M. lfu, and B. B. Hamman.

    In another letter dated July 1, 2020, the President asked the Senate to confirm one career ambassador-designate and 39 non-career ambassadors- designate.