The Clerk of the Rivers House of Assembly, Emeka Amadi, has disowned Victor Oko-Jumbo as the newly elected speaker of the assembly.

Mr Oko-Jumbo, a member representing Bonny State Constituency, is believed to be an ally of the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

A statement, signed by the factional speaker, Mr Oko-Jumbo and G. M. Gillis-West, said to be the clerk of the assembly, claimed Mr Oko-Jumbo emerged as “speaker” during plenary on Wednesday.

The statement was forwarded to PREMIUM TIMES by the governor’s spokesperson, Chukwudi Nelson, on Wednesday.

The development occurred about 24 hours after Governor Fubara declared that Rivers State had no House of Assembly.

‘No change of leadership’

But the Clerk of the House, Mr Amadi, in a statement later on Wednesday, said the claims that there was a change of leadership in the House was false.

“There was no change in the leadership of the House today (Wednesday) and Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule remains the speaker of the House while Rt. Hon. Dumle Maol and Rt. Hon. Major Jack remains deputy speaker and majority leader respectively,” he said.

The clerk stressed that there was no vacant seat at the assembly apart from the seat of Khana Constituency II which was declared vacant following the death of the member representing the constituency.

He said Mr Oko-Jumbo, two others – Goodboy Sokari and Timothy Orubienimigha – who allegedly participated in the election of the factional speaker were suspended from the assembly in October last year.

“Their suspension is yet to be lifted and they cannot lay claim to be officers of the House,” he said.

Referencing Mr Fubara’s declaration against the assembly, Mr Amadi said there was a subsisting court injunction restraining the governor from “impeding or frustrating” the assembly under the leadership of Mr Amaewhule as the speaker.

The clerk said the House was still conducting legislative business in line with the Standing Order of the House and the Nigerian constitution.

He urged residents of the state to disregard the reported leadership change in the assembly.

Rivers House of Assembly

The Rivers legislature is a 32-member assembly. One lawmaker died shortly after the 2023 general elections, leaving 31 members.

Out of 31 members, 27 are loyal to the immediate-past governor of the state, Nyesom Wike, now the minister of FCT, while the remaining four are loyal to Governor Fubara.

Mr Wike, who was instrumental to the emergence of Mr Fubara as governor, has since fallen out with the governor, a development that split the assembly into two factions.

Mr Amaewhule is the speaker of the Wike-backed faction, while Edison Ehie was the speaker of the four-member faction backed by Governor Fubara.

The political feud between Messrs Fubara and Wike steadily deteriorated, prompting the intervention of President Bola Tinubu, who brokered a peace deal between them after the seats of Mr Wike-backed lawmakers were declared vacant following their defection to the All Progressives Congress.

After the peace deal, Mr Ehie resigned as speaker and also from the assembly. He was appointed chief of staff to Mr Fubara, leaving the governor’s faction with just three lawmakers.

With their overwhelming majority, the pro-Wike lawmakers, after their return to the assembly, have been at loggerheads with Governor Fubara.

They have, for at least six times, overridden the governor’s veto on bills passed by the assembly.

Barring of pro-wike lawmakers

Meanwhile, in a fresh twist, the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt, on Friday, barred Mr Amaewhule and other 24 lawmakers, loyal to Mr Wike, from parading as members of the state assembly.

The suit was filed by Mr Oko-Jumbo and the two other House members loyal to Governor Fubara – Messrs Sokari and Orubienimigha.

The court adjourned the case till 29 May for hearing of motion on notice.

The Nigerian Army on Friday pulled out 29 generals of the Infantry Corps who retired from active military service.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that out of the 29 retired infantry officers pulled out of active service at the Jaji Military Cantonment in Kaduna State, 19 were major generals and 10 brigadiers general.

Leading the pack was Victor Ezugwu, a major general, who spoke on behalf of the retirees.

Mr Ezugwu encouraged their successors to not only sustain the modest strategic, operational and tactical achievements made, but also to surpass them.

”The frontline is expanding and the Nigerian Army is becoming increasingly committed with the eyes of the nation and the world on it.

”Our Infantry Corps must therefore not relent or rest on her oars as the entire Nigerian Army depends largely on the Infantry Corps to achieve its core mandate and mission.

”I admonish the Infantry that as the threats to Nigeria sovereignty is becoming asymmetric in time and space, you must be proactively way ahead of our adversaries in all aspects of the unfolding combat scenarios,” he added.

Mr Ezugwu also called on the Infantry Corps to review some of its tactical and operational strategies in the areas of night fighting capabilities, and frontline intelligence gathering on enemy activities.

He further advised the corps to strengthen basic field crafts training in the areas of aggressive fighting patrols to dominate at least 5 km radius of their locations, ambushes, listening and observation posts as well as all levels of battle drills.

Mr Ezugwu advocated for employment of modern technology and ICT enablers, and deliberate efforts to develop the leadership skills of junior commanders.

“Be rest assured that my colleagues and I will be glad and willing to avail the Infantry Corps our time, energy and resources until our last breath on earth.”

He announced the donation of 200 books and encyclopedia to the Infantry Corps Centre and Nigerian Army School of Infantry libraries to promote training, reading culture, mentorship and capacity development of officers and soldiers.

“We are also availing the infantry Corps the sum of N1 million to purchase more Corps related books.

“This is our modest way to encourage the edification of younger Infantry officers and soldiers so as to inspire and motivate them to reach their full potentials as they grow in service,” Mr Ezugwu said.

He described military career as the most priceless, honourable and sacrificial call to duty globally, and thanked God for allowing them to end their careers alive after serving the nation for between 30 -38 years.

The general described the day as full of emotional feelings, nostalgic memories, wholesome gratitude, unending joy and unwavering fulfilment.

“For every service personnel, retirement from active service remains a natural and inevitable end which begins to count from the day we passed out from NDA as officers in the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

”Our joy and that of our families, colleagues and friends gathered here today knows no bounds as we take a final bow from the Infantry Corps.

“On behalf of my retired colleague generals, I most respectfully and dutifully appreciate the incumbent Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Taoreed Lagbaja for organising this benefitting and memorable pulling out parade in our honour,” he added.

He also appreciated the Commander Infantry Corps, Olufemi Oluyede, a major general, for mobilising the entire Infantry family including veterans and other luminaries in the Infantry Corps to honour them.

”As I stand on this podium and looking around this Parade Ground, I am moved with hysterical feeling of excitement considering the mammoth turn out of the infantry family, host and neighbouring communities of Jaji, Labar, Wusono, Railway, Birnin Yero, Angwan Loya and other parts of Zazzau Emirate, led by our revered Emir, to celebrate our retirement.”

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says troops have eliminated a total of 135 terrorists, apprehended 182 and rescued 140 kidnap victims in ground and air operations across the country in the last one week.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Edward Buba, a major general, made this known in a statement on Friday in Abuja on the operations of the armed forces.

Mr Buba said the troops recovered 97 assorted weapons and 3,117 assorted ammunition during the week.

He said the recovered items comprised 47 AK47 rifles, one PKMG, one FN rifle, 17 locally fabricated guns, 21 dane guns, nine pump action guns, three locally fabricated pistols, 3×36 hand grenade and one IED.

Others according to him are: 1,087 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 840 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 402 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammo, 88 rounds of 5.56mm, 33 rounds of 9mm x 99mm ball ammo, 90 live cartridges, 29 magazines, 15 vehicles, 21 motorcycles, six bicycles, 43 mobile phones and the sum of N2.02 million, among other items.

In the North-east, Mr Buba said, the troops of Operation Hadin Kai killed 47 terrorists, arrested 53 suspects and rescued 40 hostages.

He said the air component on 3 May conducted air interdiction on terrorists assembling in Mandara mountain, killing several of them and destroying their logistics.

According to him, the terrorists were converging with their equipment for possible attack on troops and locals before the location was acquired and attacked with rockets and bombs.

In the North-central, Mr Buba said the troops of Operations Safe Haven and Whirl Stroke killed 29 insurgents, arrested 58 violent extremists and rescued 42 hostages as well as recovered cache of arms and ammunition.

In the North-west, he said the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji, killed 36 terrorists, arrested 25 and rescued 45 hostages as well as recovered several arms, ammunition and other items.

Under Operation Whirl Punch, Mr Buba said the troops killed nine terrorists, arrested 21 suspects and rescued 30 kidnapped victims within the week.

According to him, the air component conducted air interdiction on 3 May, following reports and aerial surveillance on migration of sets of terrorists with their equipment towards the deserted Allawa village and nearby forest in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

“The air component conducted pre-emptive air strikes to destroy terrorist at the location and the Battle Damage Assessment revealed that several terrorists were eliminated with their equipment destroyed,” he said.

In the South-south, Mr Buba said the troops of Operation Delta Safe discovered and destroyed 40 illegal refining sites with 11 dugout pits, 29 boats, 24 drums, four receiver, seven reservoirs and 41 storage tanks.

He added that 115 cooking ovens, two generators, 13 vehicles and three pumping machines as well as 14 weapons and 250 assorted ammunitions were recovered.

He said the troops also recovered 588,400 litres of stolen crude oil and 238,686 litres of illegally refined AGO while 18 suspected oil thieves were apprehended and two killed during the week.

In the South-east, Mr Buba said, the troops of Operation UDO KA killed 23 terrorists, arrested 31 violent extremists and rescued 13 hostages as well as recovered several arms and ammunition.

In the South-west, he said the troops of Operation AWATSE arrested five violent extremists and rescued one hostage while cache of weapons were recovered.

The Enugu State Government has signed a N100 billion deal with Pragmatic Palms Limited to resuscitate the moribund United Palm Products Limited in Enugu State.

United Palm Products Ltd was set up by the state government to plant palm trees and engage in production of palm products such as palm oil and kernel, among others.

The firm is an offshoot of the now defunct Agricultural development Corporation established in 1970 by the then Eastern region government led by the then premier Michael Okpara.

However, the United Palm Products Ltd has remained moribund as efforts by successive administrations in the state to revive it were unsuccessful.

The N100 billion deal

The Enugu State Government, on Friday, signed the deal which will enable the Pragmatic Palms Limited to take over the moribund palm company temporarily.

The state government did not give details of the deal.

Speaking during the signing of agreement at the Government House Enugu, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State said the move was in line with his administration’s determination to grow the state’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion.

Mr Mbah assured the investing firm that his government would play its own part of the agreement.

“This is a moment we must all be very proud of because it represents a major leap in our quest towards the revival of our dormant assets in line with our vision and the promises we made to our people.

“This investment outlay of over N100 billion is very significant because we also see agriculture beyond food security. We see agriculture as business,” he said.

Continuing, the governor said: “I want to assure you that the government you are dealing with is business-facing, and given my background as an entrepreneur, we understand what it means to have the ease of doing business.

“So, we are going to ensure that this is going to be an experience that you will use as a reference point. We will be very responsive, and we are going to make sure that this partnership works for the benefit of the company and also that of Enugu State. So, what we are doing here today will mark the beginning of great things ahead.”

Speaking to reporters on the development, the Enugu State Commissioner for Trade, Investment and Industry, Adaora Chukwu, described the partnership as a milestone, saying it would benefit the state greatly.

Ms Chukwu said the partnership was in line with the administration’s plan to revive non-operational assets in the state.

She said the partnership signalled a “partial handover” of the UPPL to the Pragmatic Palm Limited.

“The economic significance of what we did today is huge: The number of jobs it will create, the multiplier effects in terms of increasing production in the oil palm industry. You know that oil palm is an export commodity.

“We are not talking about the forex earnings into the state and also the building of capacity in-house, technology transfer, as well as skills and knowledge transfer to the people of Enugu State,” she said.

Also speaking, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Pragmatic Palms Limited, George Nwangwu, said palm products are in high demand.

Mr Nwangwu stressed that the United Palm Products Ltd was capable of kick-starting the economic transformation of Enugu State.

“We have to realise that agriculture is a business. We are going to bring in a lot of equipment, and we are going to process the palm. Not just the palm, the palm kernel is an export commodity. If you go back and look at the biggest import over the years, palm is actually number five on the list. So, it is a significant product, and we tend to make sure we optimise its potential here,” he said.

Job opportunities

The United Palm Products Ltd’s three plantations in the state are located at Ugwuoba in Oji River Local Government Area, Akiyi, Umulokpa in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area and Ibite Olo in Ezeagu Local Government Area.

Mr Nwangwu said the plantations can provide job opportunities to thousands of unemployed people in the state.

“Also, just to give you an example, to get the one at Oji River running, you are talking about close to 500 people because we need people to weed, to operate the plants and process it.

“So, you are also creating direct employment. If you put all these together, you can see that it runs into thousands of jobs,” he said.

President Bola Tinubu, on Friday in Abuja, reaffirmed Nigeria’s strategic position in Africa as a bastion of peace, saying the nation will continue to play its role as a stabiliser on the continent.

Receiving a letter of credence from the Egyptian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mohamed Ahmed, President Tinubu emphasised the shared commitment of both countries to promoting global peace and stability through collaboration within international organisations, such as the United Nations.

He noted that since establishing diplomatic relations in 1961, Nigeria and Egypt have collaborated on key international priorities, including promoting regional peace, security, and stability.

The discussions at the meeting also touched on the situation in the Sahel and Sudan.

Acknowledging Egypt’s role towards a truce in the crisis in Gaza, President Tinubu said: ”We need to do more. Stability in the region is of paramount importance.”

Mr Ahmed conveyed President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s willingness to bolster economic partnership with Nigeria, emphasising Egypt’s interest in increasing trade and investments between the two countries.

”We need to complement each other on investments. Many Egyptian companies are interested in coming to Nigeria to invest,” the Egyptian ambassador said.

In discussions with the High Commissioner of Pakistan, Sohail Khan, a retired major general, President Tinubu described the ambassador’s military background as invaluable for exchanging ideas to expand security and defence cooperation.

He underscored the need for global cooperation in combating terrorism and violent extremism.

”We must do more to stop extremists. We need to enhance our collaboration and exchange of ideas and knowledge in these areas.

”As a government, we will keep an open-door policy with countries and development partners on enhancing cooperation on security, economy, education, and the information and communication technology sector where the minister is doing very well. How can we improve our bilateral relationship? We must do more,” the president said.

The Pakistani envoy noted the demographic similarities between the two countries and expressed a desire to elevate the relationship to new heights.

”Pakistan has the fifth largest population in the world while Nigeria is the sixth largest. We have a significant youth population, and our national flags are similar. I would like to take our relationship to a new level, from strength to strength,” the high commissioner said.

In a separate meeting with the Greek Ambassador to Nigeria, Athanasios Kotsionis, President Tinubu reiterated his administration’s commitment to an open-door policy that encourages collaboration and progress for the benefit of all.

He restated Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Greece and building bridges of cooperation to address common challenges.

The president assured the ambassador of Nigeria’s commitment to creating an environment conducive to socio-economic growth and development.

”Nigeria and Greece have good historic ties. We have shared priorities, including promoting democracy, and there is room to expand cooperation.

”The economic situation in Africa and Europe is still very unbalanced. We should build on the opportunities from our challenges and strengthen relations between the two countries.

”What I expect is an improvement in the relationship between both countries, and I look forward to us working on that.

”Our government is about renewed hope. Nigeria will continue to play its role as a stabiliser on the continent,’’ the president said.

Mr Kotsionis outlined Greece’s efforts to finalise agreements with Nigeria in the areas of tourism, scientific exchange, technology, and maritime.

”We are ready to sign the agreements with Nigeria as soon as they are ready. There is a lot to be done between the two countries, and we will need the support of your government. We hope to achieve incredible things in Nigeria during my stay,” the ambassador said.

Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

May 10, 2024

To reduce the incidence of bullying among students, Chrisland Schools, Lagos, has empowered its learners to stay safe and speak up against all forms of bullying.

This is part of the school commemorating its ‘Safeguarding Week’ across all its branches in Lagos and Abuja, according to a statement from the school Thursday.

The statement quoted the Head, Risk, Compliance Safeguarding and Child Protection, Kemi Fajemirokun, as urging parents and their wards to always speak up whenever they see something wrong.

According to the school, the week-long event held every term is designed to empower learners and provide them with the necessary tools and knowledge to navigate each term safely and confidently.

Cases of bullying across schools in Nigeria have been on the rise in the past few years and some schools are now taking initiatives to sensitise and empower their learners against the vices.

Recently, another Lagos school, Wellspring College held its maiden anti-bullying campaign involving the students, teachers, and parents to raise awareness about the dangers of bullying and its direct impacts on child development, family values, and social life.

Safeguarding week

According to Chrisland Schools, the safeguarding week is themed, “Promoting total well-being and positive mental health through protection from cyberbullying and general bullying.”

The objective of the week was to raise awareness about the effects; and protection from all forms of bullying, as well as to sensitise students about the importance of speaking up.

The school noted that the activities for the week featured song presentations, playlets, debates, drama presentations, spoken word performances, and talk shows, among others, adding that the safeguarding ambassadors for each level were reintroduced and encouraged to be exemplary in their roles.

Parents’ participation, comments

The statement noted that during one of the sessions, Maureen Ada-Leonard, an organisational psychologist and a parent at Chrisland High School Ikeja, encouraged the learners to communicate with their parents at home and counsellors at school.

Mrs Ada-Leonard emphasised the importance of upholding moral values such as respect, integrity, and responsibility.

She admonished parents at the event on the need for a holistic approach from both home and school in raising a well-rounded child.

Another parent, Opeoluwa Adeyemi, urged learners at Chrisland School Ladipo-Oluwole to remain vigilant, emphasising that bullying can occur not only within the school premises but also outside of it.

She pointed out that “Bullying does not only take place in school; it can happen anywhere. However, its effects can be felt or observed while the child is at school.”

Ensuring safety

In her comments at the grand finale of Safeguarding Week at the school branch in Ikeja, Mrs Fajemirokun explained that the term’s theme was chosen through a questionnaire survey conducted to understand the concerns of the children.

According to her, the chosen theme will resonate throughout the term, noting that “an empowered learner is a strong learner, less susceptible to bullying or abuse.”

“This commitment to safety is evident in the involvement of parents who are part of the safeguarding committee of each school. We are raising children who will be global leaders. So, if you ‘see something’, ‘say something’ and ‘do something’,” she said

The first term’s safeguarding week focused on ‘The Duty of Care’, that is, the responsibilities of staff in ensuring the children are well cared for, protected, and safeguarded while in school.

Nigerian student, David Akanmu, has been selected as one of the beneficiaries of the 2024 Knight-Hennessy Scholars Award at Stanford University.

According to the announcement on the website of Knight-Hennessy Scholars at Stanford University, the 2024 cohort comprises 90 students from 30 countries who will pursue degrees in 45 graduate programmes across all seven graduate schools at Stanford University.

Mr Akanmu was the Best Graduating Student (BGS) at the 54th convocation ceremonies of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) held in January.

The student, who graduated with a perfect Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 5.0 in Civil Engineering, is one of five Africans and the only one from an African-based tertiary institution selected for the 2024 cohort which is the seventh and largest cohort since the inception of the award.

UNILAG reacts

In reaction to the news, UNILAG in a statement Thursday signed by the Head of Communication Unit, Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem, said the university has “underscored its position as an international springboard for success.”

UNILAG noted that Mr Akanmu is the third UNILAG graduate to receive the Knight-Hennessy Scholar Award.

The university statement further noted that for over five decades, it has provided qualitative and research-oriented education to Nigerians and all those who have entered its domain in search of knowledge.

“The University has built a legacy of excellence, and has been instrumental in the production of top-range graduates and academia that have had tremendous impact, directly or indirectly, on the growth, development and international recognition of Nigeria,” it said.

About award

The UNILAG graduate will pursue a Ph.D. in Energy Science and Engineering at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability.

Among the 2024 scholars, according to the Knight Scholars, 47 per cent hold a non-U.S. passport, 49 per cent of U.S. scholars identify as a person of colour, and 11 per cent have served in the U.S. military.

It noted that the scholars earned undergraduate degrees at 60 different institutions, including 12 international institutions, adding that 22 per cent are the first in their family to graduate from college.

“With each new cohort of scholars I am even more encouraged about the future,” the Stanford University president emeritus, John Hennessy was quoted to have said,

“The challenges our world faces are only growing more complex, which validates the importance of our mission here.”

About Knight Hennessy Scholars

Knight-Hennessy Scholars is a multidisciplinary, multicultural graduate fellowship program spanning all seven schools at Stanford University.

The scholars receive up to three years of financial support to pursue graduate studies at Stanford while engaging in experiences that prepare them to be visionary, courageous, and collaborative leaders who address complex challenges facing the world.

Scholars are selected based on their demonstration of independence of thought, purposeful leadership, and a civic mindset.

The Knight Scholars also announced that the application for the 2025 cohort of Knight-Hennessy Scholars will open on 1 June 2024, and is due on 9 October 2024.

The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, has said his opposition to state policing in Nigeria has not changed but he concedes to the stance of President Bola Tinubu who is promoting state policing, which many believe may help address some of the security challenges facing the country.

Nigeria currently runs a unitary policing system controlled by the federal government. However, President Tinubu and state governors recently agreed on the need for states to have their police and agreed to work together to implement it. Discussions are ongoing and there would be a need to amend some of Nigeria’s laws to accommodate state police.

In 2012, Mr Bagudu, then a senator, said Nigeria was not ready to operate state police. His main argument, similar to that of many critics of the proposal, is that it would be abused by state governors, many of whom have shown the penchant to be intolerant of criticism.

Despite serving as a state governor for two terms (in Kebbi, 2015-2023) and now as a minister, Mr Bagudu said his position has not changed but he defers to the stance of his principal, President Tinubu.

“President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu understands dissent,” Mr Bagudu told PREMIUM TIMES in an exclusive interview. “I’m not changing my view. I agree with him. But I have the right to express my view.”

Mr Bagudu indicated that the Tinubu administration is pushing the policy because some government officials raised superior arguments to his.

“I’m not flip-flopping. I was opposed to it as a senator, but superior argument and logic emerged,” the minister said.

At a recent dialogue on state police organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review last month, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, also opposed the idea of state police.

Mr Egbetokun, instead, proposed that the Nigerian government should merge the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Commission (NSCDC) as departments under the federal police to increase its manpower as well as funding.

“I was at a dialogue on state policing,” Mr Bagudu said. “Even the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives spoke about many issues that need to be appreciated in order that we can do it right. So it’s not even whether for or against, there are issues about state police and that is what is important.”

The state police bill currently before the National Assembly seeks the removal of police from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent list.

The exclusive list contains all items that only the federal government can act upon while the concurrent list contains issues that both the federal government and state governments can act on.

In the last assembly, the state police bill was rejected by the lawmakers, who felt that state governors may abuse state police. However, in the face of rising insecurity and the support of the president, there seems to be a favourable disposition to the bill by the current assembly. 

In the interview with PREMIUM TIMES, Mr Bagudu also spoke about the economy, budget ‘padding’ of President Tinubu’s first full-year budget by the National Assembly, the 2023 elections that brought Mr Tinubu to power and other matters.