Aare Adetola Emmanuelking Hails Ooni of Ife at 10, Praises Reign of Unity

The Chief Executive Officer of Adron Group, Sir Aare Adetola Emmanuelking, KOF, has congratulated His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife, on the occasion of his 10th coronation anniversary.

In a goodwill message, Aare Emmanuelking described the monarch’s decade-long reign on the revered throne of Oduduwa as divinely inspired, visionary, and transformational, noting that it has ushered in a new era of cultural renaissance and national unity.

He stated that since his ascension, the Ooni has redefined traditional leadership by modernising kingship, reviving Yoruba cultural identity, and strengthening Ile-Ife’s position as the spiritual and cultural epicentre of the Yoruba people.

According to him, the monarch’s leadership has significantly advanced youth empowerment, cultural diplomacy, innovation, and community development, while also strengthening ties between Africa and the global African diaspora.

Aare Emmanuelking commended the Ooni for successfully combining the preservation of ancient traditions with progressive governance, peacebuilding, and sustainable development initiatives, describing him as a beacon of cultural pride and purposeful leadership.

Speaking on behalf of his family, the Board, and Management of Adron Group, he expressed gratitude to God for the monarch’s impactful reign. He prayed for renewed strength, wisdom, and long life as he continues to serve the Yoruba nation and Nigeria at large.

“FALSE ALARMS & FAILED NARRATIVES: Why Allegations Linking Lt. Gen. T.Y. Buratai to Terror Financing Don’t Add Up

By FEMI OYEWALE

For the past few weeks, an online storm has been stirred by a sensational report alleging financial links between former Chief of Army Staff and former Ambassador, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai (Rtd.), and certain terror suspects. But as more security analysts, military insiders, and policy observers examine the claims, one conclusion continues to stand out:

The allegations simply do not align with Buratai’s track record, the facts on the ground, or the history behind the source making the accusations.

1. A General Defined by Results, Not Rumours

When Buratai took over as Chief of Army Staff in 2015, Nigeria was grappling with one of the most dangerous phases of the Boko Haram insurgency. Within months, the narrative began to shift:

Boko Haram—which once hoisted its flags across several local governments—lost territorial control.

The Nigerian Army under his command recaptured over 20 communities previously overrun by terrorists.

Supply routes were restored, internally displaced persons began returning home, and key towns like Bama, Gwoza, Monguno, and Dikwa came back under government authority.

The dreaded Sambisa Forest saw unprecedented military pressure, culminating in operations that broke the insurgents’ logistical backbone.

These achievements were not theoretical; they were verifiable, observable, and globally acknowledged.

So, the idea that the same military leader who dedicated his tenure to dismantling terror structures would simultaneously be “financing” the very networks he risked his life to defeat—defies logic, military culture, and national security realities.

2. Timing, Tone, and Tactics: Why the Claims Raise Eyebrows

The controversial report came from Sahara Reporters, a platform whose style of journalism has long been criticised for sensationalism, politically-motivated framing, and frequent inaccuracies in high-profile cases.

Over the years, several of its most explosive headlines have later collapsed under scrutiny:

Stories based on anonymous sources that were later discredited

Allegations that never aligned with official investigations

Publications later withdrawn or contradicted by law enforcement findings

The recurring pattern has sparked public debates about the outlet’s editorial motives and the possibility of politically-driven storylines aimed at specific individuals.

Some analysts argue that Buratai’s name offers guaranteed traffic—a factor that thrives in the era of click-economy journalism.

3. No National Security Agency Has Confirmed the Claims

Despite the noise across social media, no credible security institution in Nigeria—not the DSS, not the NPF, not the NSA’s office—has validated the allegations.

In fact, security officials have repeatedly emphasised that:

Terror financing accusations undergo long, forensic, multinational investigations, not gossip.

Such operations require solid financial trails—bank logs, transactional evidence, international cooperation.

None of these have been presented publicly or verified.

Instead, what exists is a media article built on unnamed sources, without any government confirmation, court filings, or legal indictments.

In an era where national security issues are sensitive and deeply complex, such unverified allegations carry consequences and should not be taken at face value.

4. A Target of Repeated Campaigns

Buratai has been a consistent subject of targeted reports by Sahara Reporters—many of which have previously been challenged or debunked.

Observers note several possibilities:

Political grudges arising from the military’s past anti-corruption stance

Factions unhappy with his reforms in the Army

Attempts to smear former service chiefs for ideological or partisan reasons

Power bloc battles ahead of future political alignments

Whatever the motive, the pattern is unmistakable:
when it comes to Buratai, sensational claims seem to surface without credible substantiation.

5. Service, Sacrifice, and a Record That Speaks Louder Than Rumours

Throughout his career, Buratai has been known for:

His frontline presence during operations

His push for enhanced military welfare

Strengthening civil-military cooperation

Modernizing combat equipment

Increasing international partnership on counterterrorism

His post-service appointment as Nigeria’s Ambassador further signals the confidence successive governments placed in his loyalty and competence.

For a man who spent decades risking his life to combat insurgency, the narrative that he would undermine national security is inconsistent with documented history.

Rumours Are Loud—but Facts Are Louder

The allegations may generate online buzz, but when weighed against:

Buratai’s proven leadership in the war against insurgency

The lack of verified evidence

The source’s reputation for sensationalism

His longstanding commitment to national security

…it becomes increasingly clear why experts dismiss the claims as unfounded, illogical, and inconsistent with Nigeria’s counterterrorism realities.

Until credible evidence emerges—if ever—it remains what many analysts call it:

A political smear attempt packaged as journalism.

FEMI OYEWALE is the publisher of Sahara weekly magazine and sahara online. He is also the president of NASRE

*Agbese: Linking Buratai, Matawalle to Terror Financing Is Illogical, Insulting to Nigeria’s Security History*

Hon Philip Agbese, Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, has dismissed allegations linking former Chief of Army Staff and ex-Ambassador to Benin Republic, Lt-General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (rtd), and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to terrorism financing, describing them as “reckless, fabricated and utterly unacceptable”.

Agbese, speaking to journalists in Abuja on Saturday, said the claims were not only false but an orchestrated attempt to malign two men who, according to him, have played pivotal roles in strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture.

He said it was “deeply unfortunate” that individuals who have made significant sacrifices for Nigeria were being targeted with allegations that contradict everything they have stood for throughout their public service careers.

Agbese particularly condemned the attempt to link Buratai to Boko Haram sponsorship, arguing that such claims were both illogical and insulting to Nigeria’s security history under the Buhari administration.

“General Buratai fought Boko Haram terrorists from the front. Anyone who followed Nigeria’s security trajectory from 2015 knows that before the Buhari administration took office, Boko Haram had bombed the Police Headquarters, the United Nations building, Banex Plaza, Nyanya Motor Park, and countless mosques, churches and markets. Entire communities across Borno, Yobe and Adamawa were under the absolute control of the insurgents,” the lawmaker said.

He said Buratai’s leadership as Army Chief led to the recovery of captured territories, stabilisation of the North-East and restoration of confidence across the country.

“Under his command, Boko Haram lost grip of territories they previously occupied. Basic governance returned to towns that had been abandoned for years. Abuja, which had faced repeated deadly bombings, became safe again. The scale of devastation Nigerians experienced between 2009 and 2014 reduced drastically because of his strategic leadership,” Agbese said.

The lawmaker added that Buratai’s efforts were not limited to the North-East, noting that other security threats also reduced significantly under his tenure.

“The de-escalation of violent criminal groups, including IPOB’s militant wing and various armed gangs across the country, was part of the broader national security gains recorded during his service. These were not accidental achievements but outcomes of coordinated security reforms he championed,” he said.

Agbese insisted that attempting to paint such a figure as a terrorism financier was not only contrary to the facts but a “grave injustice” that Nigerians must reject.

“This is a man whose career is defined by integrity, patriotism and sacrifice. To accuse him of supporting the same enemies he spent decades fighting is beyond absurd,” he said.

He said the former Army Chief deserved appreciation, not defamation, for his contributions.

“Buratai’s legacy remains one of honourable service. The Nigerian Army under him confronted terrorism with renewed vigour, and Nigerians today enjoy the safety dividends of those efforts,” he added.

Turning to the charges against Matawalle, Agbese said the allegations were equally baseless and crafted to undermine the minister’s commitment to securing the country.

“As governor of Zamfara State, Matawalle inherited a complex web of criminal gangs and terror groups operating across several parts of the state,” he said.

“Despite limited resources and a deeply entrenched security crisis, he took bold steps, both kinetic and non-kinetic, to weaken these networks, dismantle their logistics, and restore hope to citizens who had been completely abandoned.”

Agbese said Matawalle worked closely with security agencies, strengthened community-level intelligence structures, and pushed for federal collaboration long before assuming office as minister.

“Anyone familiar with the dynamics in Zamfara at the time knows the extent of the crisis he confronted. The suggestion that he supported these groups is false and malicious,” he said.

The deputy spokesperson urged Nigerians to disregard what he described as “sponsored propaganda designed to distract the public from ongoing reforms in the defence sector”.

The legislator warned that attempts to demoralise serving and retired security leaders would only embolden criminal elements and undermine national stability.

“Nigeria must never reward service with slander. We cannot allow individuals who risk their lives for this country to be casually defamed for clicks and traffic,” he said.

Agbese called on those behind the allegations to retract them and desist from further attempts to mislead the public.

“Nigerians stand firmly with Buratai and Matawalle. Their records speak for them. No amount of blackmail will erase their contributions to national security,” he added.