Featured

Opinion:Threats to Nigeria’s 2023 Elections

Published

2 years ago

January 10, 2023

Editor

Threats to Nigeria’s 2023 Elections

BY Reuben Abati

From today, we have just about 47 days to Nigeria’s general elections, a major transition that would involve a change of government, the seventh since the return to civilian rule in 1999, but the biggest fear is that the current electoral process faces threats from different directions more than any other before it. I intend to identify some of these and reflect on them, as we all begin to count down to this year’s major elections. Yesterday in Ojota, Lagos, it was reported that there was a shoot out between members of the Oodua Progressives Congress (OPC), and the Oodua self-determination activists and Nigeria’s security agencies. Persons were killed, others were injured. By 9 am, concerned citizens had declared the Ojota area of Lagos a no-go area except you would willingly take a stray bullet in your head and die just like that. In Anambra State, unidentified gunmen burnt down a police station in Umuchu community in Aguata Local Government Area.

The same station was destroyed by #EndSARS protesters in 2020 during a mass protest. The Umuchu Improvement Union decided to rebuild it, only for it to be set ablaze again. In parts of the East and elsewhere, both police stations and the offices of the electoral umpire have been special targets of evil-minded arsonists and unknown gunmen, ahead of the elections. As of December 2022, we were told that over 50 INEC offices had been attacked in four years, across 15 states. Of these, 11 incidents in Imo state alone, seven in Osun, five in Akwa Ibom, five in Enugu and Ebonyi, four in Abia and Cross River, two in Anambra, Taraba, Borno, and one in Ogun, Lagos, Bayelsa, Ondo and Kaduna. The frequency of these attacks has since increased as the elections draw nearer, causing understandable panic and concern among right-thinking members of the Nigerian community. The truth is that INEC facilities and security stations have become targets of arson and vandalism.

The attacks point to a trend: the determination to destroy INEC infrastructure, incapacitate the institution, and derail the 2023 electoral process. The details are as follows: yet uncollected Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) have been stolen, generating sets and computers are destroyed and the assailants across the country disappear into thin air. There is no record of arrests having been made. When INEC offices are not attacked, there are other attacks that point to what is beginning to look like a deliberate attempt by some hoodlums to make sure the 2023 elections do not take place. On March 28, 2022 for example, a Kaduna bound train from Abuja was attacked and bombed and passengers were injured and abducted. More than 100 of the abducted passengers did not all regain their freedom until September 2022. The families who lost their loved ones, or paid ransoms, and those whose relatives were injured, humiliated and flogged, would never forget their pain and loss. Their only crime, at the risk of sounding repetitive is that they are Nigerians living in a country of strange occurrences where life has become “nasty, short and brutish”.

On Saturday, just a few days ago, the railway station at Igueben in Edo State was attacked. This time, it was the station, not the train. Over 30 persons were abducted including the manager of the train station. This is all made more worrisome because before the re-opening of the Abuja-Kaduna rail line on December 15, 2022, the Minister of Transportation had boasted that special measures had been taken to ensure the safety of passengers and the entire Nigerian railway value chain. The Minister has since visited Igueben and he simply repeated the same tosh without even thinking about how additional security measures would eb taken. What we see is that government officials do not learn from what happens to the people. They repeat the same embarrassing script in an odious advertisement of their lack of capacity. So much money and commitments have been invested by Nigeria in the country’s rail network, but the management is atrocious because it is in the hands of incompetents who on top of it all, have not learnt the lesson of keeping quiet when you have nothing intelligent or reasonable to say. In some other countries, where merit is more important than connections, the Minister of Transportation and the Managing Director of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) would be out of job by now.

But the bigger picture, the big elephant in the room, is that this is election season and it seems that some fifth columnists are determined to truncate the process, derail it, make it impossible, as it were for Nigerians to have credible elections. This may sound hypothetical, but from the evidence of current trends, it is possible to do a threat assessment and conclude accordingly. We face a very high level of security threat as we get closer to the 2023 elections, and it is one reason why the security agencies must arouse from their slumber and stop playing possum when the house is threatened by arsonists. President Muhammadu Buhari had given, before now, the security agencies a deadline of December 2022 to make sure that they “got on top of the security situation” in the country. The various service chiefs pledged that they would do their job. The joke is now on them. Where are they? Are they hiding in some secret cupboards somewhere? There is widespread insecurity in the land. The people have played their part by seeking to register and collect their Permanent Voter’s Cards: 93. 5 million registered voters and over 48 million young people who want to use the 2023 opportunity to have a say in how they are governed. Who is afraid of the people’s voice and power? Buhari wants to leave a strong legacy. The starting point, and the obvious redemptive choice is to leave behind a free and fair election that produces the best options for Nigeria. This week, the President would begin to show up as we have been told at rallies of his party in 10 states (why 10?),,for the APC’s Presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The last time President Buhari was sighted at any APC rally was during the flag off of the campaign in Jos, Plateau State. But now, he wants to come out to throw his weight and influence behind his party’s Presidential candidate. In doing so, at this crunch time, he must be reminded that he had told us again and again that he is for everybody and for nobody and all he wants is for Nigerians to vote according to their conscience. He has an obligation to toe that chosen path even as he relishes photo opportunities at campaign rallies by his own party, otherwise he would be accused of hypocrisy. His party members expect him to deliver single-handedly, over 12 million votes from the North. But the times have changed. Out of the total of 93. 5 registered voters, over 48 million of them are young men and women, and they are majorly in the South, espousing a combination of #EndSARS, #IPOB and #TakeOurCountry Back ideals. There is a new generation in the electoral space that does not know the older generation. This is bound to be an election like no other. It would be a contest between the old and new order, the rich and the poor, the establishment and the people. Whoever wins, Nigeria stands the strong chance of new realignments and awakening. The best bet for President Buhari as he goes into final retirement from public service and partisan politics is to protect his legacy for Nigerians, and take ownership of his own narrative. He is not getting the help that he badly needs!

The 2023 election process is further threatened by the inability of the people, especially young men and women who dominate the electoral register to get their PVCs. In Lagos state or elsewhere, the story has been that either the INEC officials do not show up, or they arrive late and close early, provoking the anger of majorly young voters who believe that there is an attempt to disenfranchise them. INEC spokespersons continue to argue that they are prepared and ready, but what explains the inefficiency in INEC collection centres from Local Government Areas to the wards, and the fact that INEC ad-hoc staff are mostly unavailable at their duty desks. There has been a clamour for the extension of the INEC time-table for the collection of PVCs beyond January 22, 2023. INEC must also audit its own processes beyond merely making promises it cannot keep. The people have been told that the only way they can vote and for their votes to count is for them to have a voter’s card. One man, one vote. INEC must in addition to everything else explain why its Voter’s Cards are showing up in refuse dumps and drainage channels. How did they get there? The PVCs must be in the hands of Nigerian voters who expect to use them to exercise their due rights under the law. This is not something that INEC must sweep under the carpet. The organization has announced that beginning from today, it would embark on the enlightenment of the electorate across the country. It is not just the voters that need enlightenment, the process must begin with INEC officials and ad hoc staff.

The politicians also must be called to order. The beauty of the Electoral Act 2022 is that it spells out in no uncertain terms, the penalty for misconduct. Sections 91, 92 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, guide conduct during elections accordingly, with penalties properly spelt out in Sections 92 (7), (8), 93(2), 94(2), 95 (6), 96(3) and 97 (1) but nonetheless, the level of impunity has been horrendous. Candidates go to campaign rallies and the major thing they do is to abuse their own opponents with a barrage of hate speech, toxic language and argumentum ad hominem. In some states where certain parties are in charge politically, they do not allow the opposition to campaign or erect campaign materials. There has been in fact a rank disregard for Section 97 of the Electoral Act which forbids any form of campaign on “religious, tribal or sectional reason for the purpose of promoting or opposing a particular political party or the election of a particular candidate…” Meanwhile, it has been reported that a special prayer session was organized by Muslim clerics in Kano recently in support of the APC Presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. At the event, one Abdulmutalab Mohammed Auwal, a Sheik, advised Muslims to vote only for a Muslim-Muslim ticket as a call to Jihad. He argued the Bola Tinubu/Shettima Muslim/Muslim ticket is an indication of the supremacy of Islam. The meeting was attended by about 75 Muslim groups from the North and other parts of Nigeria. Other speakers at the event promoted the politics of religion. The last time we checked, the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria at Section 10 thereof says: “The Government of the Federation or of a state shall not adopt any religion as State Religion”. It is the same provision that is reflected in Section 97 of the Electoral Act 2022 on the prohibition of “campaign based on religion or tribe”. But here in Nigeria both the people and the government break the laws routinely because impunity reigns. How on earth can a total of 75 groups gather at a forum and preach hatred based on religion and they are allowed to get away with it?

So in essence, the security agencies are not doing their work! They have an obligation to protect the state against all levels of threat, and they must do so, proactively, and consistently, not when it is convenient for them to do so. A general election such as this country is about to hold in the next two months is not just about the ballot paper, and the people’s ability to choose, it is also a national security operation. It is the integrity of the Nigerian state that is at stake. The electoral framework is clear on that. The people’s right to vote and choose, freely and without inducement or any form of harassment or molestation, must be protected and defended. Election managers often talk about a certain concentric circle of security operations on election day, but clearly, the security dimension of any major national security event is not a day-event, it is a process: before, during and after. Not enough has been done before the elections as indicated by the multiple security breaches around the country. The challenges ahead are clear and obvious. The politicians are behaving as if the election this year is a kind of war. The last thing this country wants is any form of war. Nigerians want peace. The 2023 Budget as defined has a deficit of N77 trillion. Unemployment rate is over 33%. There is a debt overhang of over N22 trillion. Revenue projection is about N10 trillion. There is the possibility that fuel subsidy and other subsidies will be removed but there is no guarantee that the gains accruing therefrom will be properly managed. Tighten your seat belts. This is bound to be a tough year for us, as Nigerians. The politicians will win or lose, but they don’t seem to care enough about us. This is our sad reality.

Related Topics:2023 elections Rueben Abati

Up Next

‘Rogue Officers’ Attack NDLEA Operatives, Soldiers, Rescue Lagos Drug Baron

Don't Miss

Peter Obi Will Win Presidential Election Barring Rigging – Ex-Gov

Click to comment

Featured

Henrietta Ugboh Becomes Independent Non- Executive Director As Owanari Duke Retires from UBA Board

Published

1 day ago

November 13, 2024

Eric

Africa’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has announced the appointment of Henrietta Ugboh as an Independent Non-Executive Director.

The appointment has been approved by the relevant regulatory bodies, including the Central Bank of Nigeria.

UBA’s Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu, CFR commenting on the appointment, said, “Henrietta Ugboh brings a track record of professional success, integrity and leadership, which will further strengthen the UBA Group Board, underlining once again the Group’s commitment to robust corporate governance.”

Ugboh holds a degree in Economics and Statistics from the University of Benin, an MBA from ESUT Business School, and is an alumnus of the Harvard Business School’s Executive Management Program. She has over 30 years experience in banking with Citibank and is an Honorary Senior Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and a Fellow of the Institute of Credit Administration (FICA).

Elumelu added that with her considerable experience and expertise, which includes commercial banking, credit, and risk management, the UBA Board is delighted to welcome Mrs Ugboh to the Group Board, “We look forward to her invaluable contribution to the Group, as we continue to execute our unique growth strategy across Africa and globally.”

The Board also announced the retirement of Mrs. Owanari Duke, an Independent Non-Executive Director, who joined the UBA Group Board in October 2012.

During her tenure, Mrs. Duke provided distinguished leadership, serving on Committees of the Bank including the Board Governance Committee, Board Audit, Governance, Nomination & Remuneration Committee, Board Credit Committee, Finance & General Purpose Committee and Statutory Audit Committee.

On behalf of the board, Mr. Elumelu expressed UBA’s deep appreciation to Mrs. Duke for her dedication and significant contributions to the Group, wishing her the best in her future endeavour.

United Bank for Africa Plc is a leading Pan-African financial institution, offering banking services to more than forty-five million customers, across 1,000 business offices and customer touch points in 20 African countries. With presence in New York, London, Paris and Dubai, UBA is connecting people and businesses across Africa through retail, commercial and corporate banking, innovative cross-border payments and remittances, trade finance and related banking services.

Featured

Dusk at Dawn: The Life and Times of Nigeria’s COAS, Taoreed Lagbaja

Published

4 days ago

November 10, 2024

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

Nigerians were thrown into mourning in the early hours of Tuesday, November 5, 2024, when the news of the death of the country’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) was formally announced.

It has earlier been rumored that the COAS had died many days before the official announcement from many quarters including a popular online news platform, but both the Army and the presidency had been consistent in their denials of the late Army chief’s death prior to Tuesday.

Lagbaja goes down in history as the third Chief of Army Staff to die in office.

In the presidential statement, it was revealed that Lagbaja battled and died of undisclosed illness.

In a message announcing his death, and signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, it was noted as follows:

“Announcement of the Passing of Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, regrets to announce the passing of Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, Chief of the Army Staff, at age 56.

“He passed away on Tuesday night in Lagos after a period of illness.

“Born on February 28, 1968, Lt. General Lagbaja was appointed Chief of Army Staff on June 19, 2023, by President Tinubu.

“His distinguished military career began when he enrolled in the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1987. On September 19, 1992, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Nigerian Infantry Corps as a member of the 39th Regular Course.

“Throughout his service, Lt. General Lagbaja demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment, serving as a platoon commander in the 93 Battalion and the 72 Special Forces Battalion.

“He played pivotal roles in numerous internal security operations, including Operation ZAKI in Benue State, Lafiya Dole in Borno, Udoka in Southeast Nigeria, and Operation Forest Sanity across Kaduna and Niger States.

“An alumnus of the prestigious U.S. Army War College, he earned a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies, demonstrating his dedication to professional growth and excellence in military leadership.

“Lt. General Lagbaja is survived by his beloved wife, Mariya, and their two children.

“President Tinubu expresses his heartfelt condolences to the family and the Nigerian Armed Forces during this difficult time. He wishes Lt. General Lagbaja eternal peace and honours his significant contributions to the nation.”

Described as a warrior soldier, Lagbaja followed through his military career with equanimity, excelling on all fronts he was posted to. His supervision of the Nigerian Army since June 19, 2023, when he assumed leadership has received commendations.

Earlier, when Lagbaja disappeared from public view, an online news media, reported exclusively that the army chief was dead, but the army, on October 20, 2024, dismissed the story as unfounded rumours that Lagbaja had passed on, adding that the army chief was undergoing medical treatment abroad.

But on October 30, President Tinubu appointed Major General Olufemi Oluyede as the acting COAS, and on November 5, decorated Oluyede with a new rank of lieutenant-general. Less than 24 hours, news filtered in that the army chief was dead. Unconfirmed report says he had been clinically dead, and was on life support, having suffered untreatable ailment, until an agreement was reached to remove the life support. Neither the army nor the president has however, corroborated the report.

With condolence registers opened in all army formations and the Defence Headquarters, many Nigerians have been registering their condolences to the President, the army, his immediate family and the country at large.

Some of the condolences messages include:

NEWS RELEASE

OSUN GOVERNMENT DECLARES THREE DAYS MOURNING FOR LATE COAS LAGBAJA

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has declared three days mourning for the late Chief of Army Staff of the federation, Lt General Taoreed Lagbaja.

The State government also directed that half mast flags should be flown in the state during the same period.

This was stated in the release by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, who disclosed that Condolence Registers has also been opened at the government house and Governor’s office for the condolence messages of the people of Osun.

According to the information Commissioner, the death of the late COAS is devastating, a collosal loss to humanity and the nation, and we can’t forget him.

The government is sad at this irreparable loss of one of the Glory of Osun state, and we particularly condole with the Lagbaja family of Ilobu, the Olobu of Ilobu and everyone.

The mourning period is to start today Thursday November 7, 2024 and end on Saturday 9th, while the Condolence Register is for people to pen down their memories of him, for the immortality of the late COAS, who died at age 56.

Once again, we pray God repose the soul of late Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, General Taoreed Lagbaja, and grant him Aljanna Fidaus

GOVERNOR ADELEKE LAMENTS, MOURNS EXIT OF GENERAL LAGBAJA

Governor Ademola Adelele has described as a sad loss the untimely exit of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoheed Lagbaja, calling his transition “a huge misfortune”

“A huge misfortune has befallen the people of Osun State, the Nigerian army and the great Lagbaja family of Ilobu. We lost a rare breed, a gentleman and a true patriot to the cold hand of death.

“Our late brother has a big vision of operational reforms for the Nigerian Army. He launched out and commenced the implementation of root and branch reform of the Nigerian Army. Within his short stint in office, he enforced professionalism and battled terrorists and bandits with terrifying fierceness.

“Our late brother was a very hardworking officer, a true workaholic, a fierce soldier, a replica of the traditional army officer with an ambitious plan for modernization and integration of the Nigerian Army.

“In my last encounter with him, he exuded hope and aspirations of a better Nigeria with the military as a stabilizer and unifier of the federation. In late General Lagbaja, we had a great military leader with the poise, the confidence and the firmness to realize the vision of a new Nigerian Army.

“Unfortunately, the end came suddenly. We surrendered to the will of the Almighty creator. I commiserate with the Commander – in- Chief, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the men and women of the Nigerian Armed Forces, my people of Ilobu and the great Lagbaja family.

“We mourn together on this sad occasion. On behalf of the people and Government of Osun state, we extend commiseration to Mrs Mariya Lagbaja and the two children .”, Governor Adeleke noted in a statement he personally signed.

Signed:
HE, SENATOR ADEMOLA ADELEKE,
EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF OSUN OSUN STATE

NORTHERN GOVERNORA MOURN LATE COAS LAGBAJA

The Northern States Governors’ Forum has conveyed its heartfelt condolences to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, over the demise of Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff, who died on November 5, 2024, from a protracted illness.

The Chairman of the forum, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, of Gombe State, described the late COAS as a distinguished officer, who served the nation with remarkable courage and dedication.

“General Lagbaja’s life and career were defined by a commitment to the Nigerian Armed Forces and an exceptional dedication to safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty amid the ongoing challenges posed by insurgency, banditry, and other criminal activities”, Governor Yahaya remarked.

The NSGF Chairman also noted that the late Lagbaja embodied the values of discipline, bravery, and integrity that characterize the finest traditions of military service, adding that his leadership played a significant role in strengthening the nation’s defence framework and upholding peace and stability.

Governor Yahaya, on behalf of the Northern States Governors Forum, sent his deepest sympathies to the Acting Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede and members of the Nigerian Armed Forces, who have lost a remarkable leader, colleague, and patriot.

He also extended his heartfelt condolences to the wife of the late army chief Mariya Lagbaja, an illustrious daughter of Gombe State from Tula in Kaltungo LGA, and the entire family members as well as the government and people of Osun State where the deceased hailed from, urging them to find solace in his legacy of valour and service.

The Governor prayed to Almighty God to grant the soul of the deceased eternal rest and provide comfort to all who mourn this immense loss.

GOV OTU MOURNS LAGBAJA’S PASSING, DESCRIBES HIM AS COURAGEOUS SOLDIER

Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, has expressed profound sadness over the sudden death of Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, who, until his passing, was Chief of Staff of the Nigerian Army.

Describing the death of Lagbaja as a great loss to the Nigerian Army, the military, and the entire nation, Governor Otu, in a condolence message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Nsa Gill, said: “The late Chief of Army Staff’s untimely departure is a devastating blow and a monumental loss not only to the military but to our nation as a whole.”

Lamenting the painful death of Lt. General Lagbaja while acknowledging his bravery, Governor Otu noted that “he was known for his unwavering commitment, exemplary leadership, and dedicated service to Nigeria. Throughout his distinguished career, he played a crucial role in safeguarding the country’s sovereignty and enhancing the security of our citizens.”

The governor praised the fallen Chief of Army Staff and his strategic vision, saying: “His relentless pursuit of excellence in the face of challenges was inspiring to all who served under him.”

As the nation mourns the loss of Lagbaja, Governor Otu urged Nigerians to celebrate the late Chief of Army Staff’s legacy of courage, bravery, and dedication, adding that “Lt. General Lagbaja’s service to Nigeria will forever be remembered, and his contributions will continue to inspire future generations of military personnel.”

On behalf of the government and the good people of Cross River State, Governor Otu extended his deepest sympathies to Lagbaja’s family and the Nigerian Army, adding: “May his soul rest in peace, and may we find solace in the memories of his service to our nation.”

OYEBANJI MOURNS DEATH OF COAS LAGBAJA

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, has expressed his condolences on the death of the Chief of the Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja.

General Lagbaja who hailed from Osun State, died after a period of illness. He was aged 56 years old.

The Governor in a statement on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, described the death of Gen. Lagbaja as a monumental loss to the nation.

He described the deceased as a dedicated soldier, a committed officer and a tested general who fought many battles to defend the territorial integrity of the country.

Governor Oyebanji pointed out that the deceased committed his youthful and adult life to the service of the nation as a commissioned officer of the Nigerian Army and served meritoriously in many formations across the country.

According to him, history would always be kind to Gen. Lagbaja in the fight against insurgency in the Northeast as the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole in which he deployed his skills and experience to ensure the routing of terrorists.

He said Gen. Lagbaja’s exploits was recognized in the Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTF) as a leading commander of the troops from the countries in the Lake Chad Basin in their quest to defeat insurgency.

Governor Oyebanji stressed that the deceased’s industry and resourcefulness were instrumental to his appointment as the Chief of the Army Staff, noting that although his tenure was brief, it was remarkable especially in the deployment of technology in soldiering.

Recalling his encounters with the late COAS, the Governor said the late Chief of Army Staff’s swift response to the security challenge in Ekiti State after the gruesome murder of two traditional rulers and the kidnapping of school children is responsible for the current peaceful atmosphere in the state.

Governor Oyebanji commiserated with the family of the deceased urging them to take solace in the worthy legacies left behind by the three-star general.

The Governor also extended his condolences to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Service Chiefs, the Army High Command, the government and people of Osun State and the entire nation on the loss of a great patriot.

MINISTERS OF DEFENCE, BADARU AND MATAWELLE, MOURN LAGBAJA

Ministers of Defence, Mohammed Badaru and Bello Matawelle, commiserated with the President, military and Lagbaja’s family over his death.

In a statement by the ministry’s spokesperson, Henshaw Ogubike, the ministers described Lagbaja’s death as a great loss to his family, the army and the nation at large.

“The passing on to eternal glory shocked us at the Ministry of Defence as our working relationship with him is commendable. He exhibited the spirit of camaraderie and cooperation with us in the discharge of our mandate.

“The late Chief of Army Staff contributed in no small measure to the internal security operations across Nigeria and also exhibited a high level of professionalism.

“He will be greatly missed by the family, the military and the nation as he served the nation with commitment and dedication,” the statement added.

CDS MUSA MOURNS CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF, LAGBAJA

The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, described Lt Gen Lagbaja’s death as a great loss to the country, military and his family.

Musa said Lagbaja was courageous, hardworking, reliable, loyal and a dedicated service chief.

The CDS in a statement by the Director of Defence Information, Brig Gen Tukur Gusau, added that Lagbaja was committed to the security and well-being of the nation.

He said, “The CDS on behalf of the AFN, expresses profound sorrow over the passing of Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, Chief of Army Staff, yesterday, Tuesday, after a brief illness.

“General Musa conveys his deepest condolences to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, family of the late General Lagbaja and all Nigerians over this sad loss.

“He is described as a courageous, hard-working, reliable, loyal, and dedicated service chief whose tireless efforts and unflinching commitment to the security and well-being of the nation were unparalleled.

“Therefore, his passing is a tremendous loss, not only to his family, the Army and the AFN but also to the entire nation and humanity.”

ACTING COAS OLUYEDE MOURNS EXIT OF GENERAL LAGBAJA

The Acting Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Olufemi Oluyede, expressed deep sadness over his predecessor’s demise.

who was scheduled to see the President, spoke to journalists at the forecourt of the Aso Rock Villa, urging Nigerians to celebrate Lagbaja’s life of service.

He said, “I want to urge citizens, for someone that has given his all for Nigeria, we need to celebrate him. So, I want Nigerians to celebrate him for his good work.

“The country as a whole, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, did the very best for him to be alive with us today. But we all belong to God, and He takes when He feels it necessary for him to do so.

“So it’s on a very sober note that I am talking this moment because the entire Nigeria Army is in a sorrowful mood because we have lost our leader, Lt Gen Lagbaja. He was someone who gave his all to Nigeria.”

Oluyede described Lagbaja as a dedicated and selfless leader who was deeply committed to Nigeria and served as an exemplary figure within the Nigerian Army.

He said he was known for his courage, professionalism and attention to detail, which set a standard for others to follow.

He added that Lagbaja’s passing was a significant loss, and those who knew him prayed for his peaceful rest in the afterlife.

At 56, many believe that Lagbaja died even as his career dawn started budding, having served only 16 months into his appointment. His last public appearance, according to reports, was at the 60th birthday party of billionaire businessman, Chief Kola Adesina.

Featured

Endure a Little Bit More, FG Tells Nigerians Amid Hardship

Published

6 days ago

November 8, 2024

Eric

The Federal government, on Thursday, said it appreciates the endurance of Nigerians on side effects of economic reforms, which it says have started yielding results.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, stated this during an interactive session with the Senate Committee on Finance.

According to him, teething problems from the reforms are over for Nigerians as positive indicators for better days are already emerging.

“The two critical reforms on market-based price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and foreign exchange, are now at the stage of results delivery and by extension, viability of the Nation’s economy through restoration of fiscal viability,” he stated.

“These two pillars of the economic reforms that have taken positive shape now portends additional revenue for government, recovery of the finances of NNPCL and strong basis for growing the economy, in terms of attracting investment and creating of jobs.

“I think we need to commend Nigerians for staying the cause to this stage of getting benefits.”

On his part, the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Sani Musa, said the session was a fact finding one on workability or otherwise of the various reforms.

“Today we gather to deliberate on the pressing matters related to the sales of crude oil to domestic refineries in Nigeria, in Naira and its implication on the approved medium-term expenditure framework and fiscal strategy paper for 2024-2026 and what we should expect for 2025-2027.

“Additionally, we will examine shortfalls in NMPCL revenue remittances, focusing on key areas such as foreign and domestic excess crude accounts, the signature bonus accounts, NMPCL cash call account and any outstanding or remitted revenue linked to under-recoveries.

“This meeting underscores our commitment to transparency, accountability and the responsible management of our national resources.

“I am confident that with the collaboration of the Ministry of Finance under the able leadership of the coordinating Minister of the Economy, the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, the Central Bank of Nigeria and Revenue Mobilization and Physical Commission and other critical stakeholders present here, we will identify solutions and ensure that due process are upheld for the benefit of our economy and the Nigerian people.”

Aside the Finance Minister, the Group Executive Officer (GCEO) of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Mele Kyari, the Director General of Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Gbenga Komolafe, representatives of Governor of the Central Bank also attended the session which was later joined by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio while in closed door.