society

Anxiety over Army chief Lagbaja’s health

Published

5 months ago

October 20, 2024

Anxiety over Army chief Lagbaja’s health

Indications have emerged that some Army generals are lobbying for the position of the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), following reports that current COAS, Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, is on admission at a foreign hospital undergoing treatment for a yet-to-be-disclosed health issue.

Army Headquarters (AHQ), through the spokesman, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, responded to the reports, saying Lagbaja is on leave and that arrangements are in place to ensure there is no vacuum in his absence.

An online medium, Saharareporters, had reported that the Army chief, who was allegedly flown out over the undisclosed ailment, is incapacitated, as a result of the sickness.

The medium said Lagbaja’s health had taken a turn for the worse, and that “he is now bedridden and incapacitated due to his deteriorating condition”, noting that it is causing significant concerns within the military establishment.

“His health is seriously deteriorating and he is currently incapable. He is on a sick bed; he can’t hear what people are saying again, just like someone with hearing problems. We are praying for his quick recovery”, it quoted one of the sources as saying.

“So it’s a very serious illness but the Army authorities can never disclose it now. Even before this stage, General Lagbaja was prepared to resign because of the health challenge.”

Consequently, there are indications that some generals, particularly of the Regular 40 and 41 intakes, who are the next most senior officer cadre following those of 38 and 39 Regulars, have commenced underground lobbying of traditional rulers, NASS members, top politicians and even former heads of state for consideration for appointment as the next COAS.

Tongues started wagging about the whereabouts of Lagbaja after he was conspicuously absent at the October 1, 2024 independence anniversary celebrations held at the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock.

Since then, several other functions have taken place without his presence, including the burial ceremony organized for the late Major General Seidu Inaboya Musa, Director of Army Legal Services, at the National Military Cemetery where he was represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans, Major Gen Abdulsalami Bagudu Ibrahim.

The online medium had reported that Lagbaja was flown abroad by his family members following the “strange illness”.

Quoting a source, the medium said, “The Chief of Army Staff is nowhere to be found for many days now. He hasn’t been seen at the Army headquarters or any military function in the last three weeks.

“I can confirm to you that he is seriously sick and was taken to the hospital. However, his family members arranged for him to be moved out of the country for medical treatment”.

“The COAS is a leader and most of the Major Generals are doing anyhow because they have no one to report to currently.

“Anybody can fall sick but someone needs to be in charge. I wish him a very quick recovery, I have known him since our days in Makurdi, Benue State. We were both young officers then and he was a captain.”
Another source told the medium, “As military men, we were taught to be observant, so I noticed he was not at the October 1 Independence Day parade ground in Abuja. I asked my superiors including a general and I was told that he was out of the country. You know, it is unusual for him not to be around at that time.
“Also, the 2024 promotion list of soldiers which was completed a few weeks back is yet to be signed by the COAS. I was told that the Chief of Administration cannot do it because it will escalate the COAS’s absence. Some of my subordinates who are due for promotion are already grumbling.”

‘No Leadership Vacuum’

Meanwhile, AHQ said, yesterday, that Lagbaja is on leave and that all necessary protocols were in place for the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), Major General Abdulsalami Bagudu Ibrahim, to act on his behalf, hence there is no vacuum in the force.

“This is not peculiar to the Nigerian Army as there have been instances where unforeseen human frailty kept service chiefs away for about three months, and their Chiefs of Policy and Plans held sway in their absence”, it said.

Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, made this known in a statement titled, ‘Nigerian Army Operational and Administrative Activities on Course, Contrary to Insinuations in the Media Space.’ The statement read, “Recently, the media space, especially social media, has been awash with stories, rumours, and innuendoes about happenings in the Nigerian Army (NA).

“While some of these are laughable and deserve no further reference, others have bordered on pure mischief calculated to cause panic and confusion within the rank and file, as well as the general public.

“Specifically, many insinuations about personnel postings, promotions, and even training activities have been raised vis-a-vis the official leave of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS).

“There have even been insinuations that there is a leadership vacuum, with officers confused about what to do. Nothing can be farther from the truth.

“To be very clear, the Nigerian Army is a highly structured establishment with well-laid-out procedures and processes for dealing with different circumstances.

“Before proceeding on leave, necessary protocols were put in place for the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), Major General Abdulsalami Bagudu Ibrahim, to act on behalf of the COAS, while he is away.

“This is not peculiar to the NA as there have been instances where unforeseen human frailty kept service chiefs away for about three months, and their Chiefs of Policy and Plans held sway in their absence.
“Claims of a leadership vacuum in the NA presently is, therefore, mere speculation, as all routine and scheduled activities of the Service are on course.

“Indeed, in line with its Forecast of Events for 2024, the Nigerian Army recently conducted the Captain-Major Practical Promotion Examination in Akure.

“Subsequently and in line with extant procedures, the Commander Training and Doctrine Command, Major General Kevin Aligbe, announced the result after due authorisation by the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), who currently answers for the Chief of Army Staff in his absence on leave and medical checkup abroad.

“Additionally, the Master Warrant Officer to Army Warrant Officer Promotion Exercise is currently ongoing in Jos.

“This follows a similar exercise held for Warrant Officer to Master Warrant Officer (WO-MWO) in Kaduna.
“The results of these exercises are expected to be released in the coming days, pending final reconciliation between the respective Corps and the Army Headquarters Department of Personnel Management.

“Contrary to the insinuation that the absence of the COAS occasioned by his leave, has caused undue delay in the release of the result of the WO-MWO promotion exercise, the NA wishes to clarify that it has never been the practice for the COAS to sign postings or promotions for both officers and soldiers in the NA.
“The appropriate departmental chiefs perform these functions routinely.

“These Departmental Chiefs, demonstrating their unwavering commitment, are fully carrying out their responsibilities in line with the COAS Command Philosophy.

“The Army Headquarters, therefore, enjoins the general public to remain confident in the NA and be assured that the Service remains on top of the security situations in the country and is ever ready to defend Nigeria against any aggression on its land territory.

“Meanwhile, the Army Headquarters wishes to thank all well-meaning Nigerians who have shown genuine concern about Lt Gen TA Lagbaja and have continued to pray for him.

“The Army Headquarters assures Nigerians and the international community that all land-related training, operational, and administrative activities are on course and that the COPP (A) is firmly and effectively running the affairs of the Service pending the return of the COAS.”

Born on February 28, 1968, in Ilobu, Osun State, Lt. Gen Lagbaja was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023, as the 27th Chief of Army Staff.

He took office on June 23, 2023, replacing Faruk Yahaya as COAS.

The COAS reports to the Chief of the Defence Staff, who, in turn, reports to the Defence Minister, accountable to the President of Nigeria.

A seasoned operational officer, Lagbaja has held various command, staff, and instructional appointments.
His previous appointments include serving as the Chief of Staff, Theatre Command, Operation Lafia Dole, Director of Operations, Army Headquarters, General Officer Commanding at Headquarters 82 Division, GOC 1 Division and Chief of Operations, Army Headquarters.

society

EMIR OF BIU CONFERRED TRADITIONAL TITTLE ON MAJOR GENERAL BULAMA BIU mni (Rtd)

Published

6 hours ago

April 1, 2025

Sahara Weekly

EMIR OF BIU CONFERRED TRADITIONAL TITTLE ON MAJOR GENERAL BULAMA BIU mni (Rtd)

His Royal Highness Alh (Dr) Mustapha Umar Mustapha Aliyu II CON, the Emir of Biu elogised the great contributions of Major General Bulama Biu mni (Rtd) in the promotion and sustenance of security in Biu Emirate, Borno State and Nigeria in general.

The Emir descibed Gen Bulama Biu as a true and worthy patrotic son of the Emirate. He recalled the bold steps exhibited by General Bulama in fighting BokoHaram across the state, a situation that greatly brought about peace and security. “The people of Biu Emirate are proud of you as a very distinguished professional soldier.”

In appreciation thereof, His Royal Highness has conferred on General Bulama Biu mni (Rtd) the traditional tittle of SARKIN YAKI BIU EMIRATE. It is hoped that General Bulama Biu mni (Rtd) would bring to bear his wealth of experience in the defense and security of Biu Emirate, Borno State, and Nigeria at large. Former Chief of Army Staff and Ambassador,His Excellency Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai CFR the Betara Biu commended His Royal Highness the Emir of Biu for finding General Bulama Biu worthy of the tittle, stating that General Bulama Biu roles in fighting Boko Haram and other professional military engagements will not be forgotten soon.

He described Gen Bulama Biu as an astute soldier who was quick to consolidate on his military background, being a son of a very distinguished, outstanding and higly regimental military trainer, the first NDA Regimental Sergent Major, late Major Bulama Biu MON. I remain proud of General Bulama Biu, especially his stewardship as then GOC 7Division and Commander Sector 3 MNJTF. Iam confident that Gen Biu will discharge his responsibility with all sense of commitment. Gen Buratai thanked the Birma of Biu, other Kingmakers, and the good people of Biu Emirate for applauding the good decision of His Royal Highness. In the same vien, the Borno state Deputy Governor His Excellency

Alh Umar Usman Kadafur rejoices with the Emir in conferring a title welldeserved on General Bulama Biu, who has undoubtedly represented well the good people of Biu Emirate. In words, ” we are all living witness to how General Bulama Biu displayed high level of military dexterity in fighting BokoHaram. He was a fairless, pragmatic, and highly professional who enjoyed good followership of his troop and other security organizations in Borno state, especially the civilian JTF and Hunters. He was always in the bush and never got tired. I heartly congratulate and wish him great success. The traditional turbanning ceremony is slated for a date to be announced.

society

Senator Jibrin Barau: Why He is North West’s Most Important Political Force

Published

9 hours ago

April 1, 2025

Sahara Weekly

Senator Jibrin Barau:
Why He is North West’s Most Important Political Force by Tayo Williams

_“Senator Jibrin is a steady and stabilising force in the Senate and beyond. He is blessed with the moral authority and rare ability to put an issue on the national agenda that wouldn’t naturally be there. Although he may not be getting the desired coverage or recognition for his legislative, political, and social interventions, the deputy senate president has mastered the art of being relevant in the centre and indispensable at home.”_

The Northwest, Nigeria’s most populous geopolitical zone with over 22 million registered voters, is the coveted ‘bride’ for all presidential aspirants. According to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, three states in the region – Kano, Kaduna, and Katsina – rank among the top 10 in the list of states with the highest number of registered voters. Kano State, number two on the list behind Lagos, has 5,921,370 registered voters. Kaduna and Katsina have 4,335,208 and 3,516,719 registered voters respectively. The closest to it is the southwest with about 18million registered voters.

The gulf is, indeed, wide and almost unassailable.

During the last presidential election, the northwest gave President Bola Ahmed Tinubu 2.7 million votes – the highest by any region. Even in the southwest, Tinubu’s traditional political base, he could only poll 2,279,407 votes. From the five southeast states, he got a measly 127,605 votes and did not score 25 percent in any of them. The South-South’s 799,957 votes contributed nine percent to the APC’s total votes.

Though it is still early in the day, sustaining influence and popularity in the northwest will be critical to the survival of the APC in the next electoral cycle. Former President Muhammadu Buhari, a Katsina native, is the singular most formidable political figure from the region. However, his legendary aloofness to party politics is a deal-breaker. And after serving out his two-term presidency, he has been ‘far from the madding crowd’ of party nay Nigerian politics. Though he still has a cult following in the north, his reluctance to participate in any electioneering will not help the party.

Conversely, Nasir El-Rufai, the immediate past governor of Kaduna State, would have been the natural successor to Buhari’s political leadership in the region. However, the fractious El-Rufai has left the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the Social Democratic Party. Kano State, with the highest number of registered votes behind Lagos, is a major battleground considering the popularity of the Rabiu Kwankwaso-led NNPP, which inflicted considerable damage on the APC in the last elections.
This is where Senator Barau Jibrin, deputy senate president, comes in.

Senator Jibrin is the highest-ranking APC Senator in the North-West region. An understated force of nature with admirable charisma and eloquence, Barau has been in the National Assembly since the dawn of the Fourth Republic starting as a member of the House of Representatives representing the good people of Tarauni Federal Constituency of Kano State from 1999 to 2003.

A thoroughbred, successful accountant, he chaired the Appropriations Committee and served as a member of others. After his first legislative odyssey, Jibrin returned to his private practice, but not for long, as he was tapped to serve as chairman of the Kano State Investment and Properties Ltd and, later, Commissioner of Science and Technology. He is a foundation member of the APC on which platform he contested and won the Kano North Senatorial District seat in 2015. This is his third term as a senator, and he was the only APC senator in 2023 from Kano, as the other two seats were won by the NNPP, a testament to his formidable political acumen and grassroots appeal. But for political expediency, he would have been the Senate president.

Having won the Kano North senatorial seat three consecutive times, there is no controverting that Jibrin has excelled as a legislator and, therefore, comes well-acquitted to help the APC reclaim Kano, and provide the leadership crucial for the success of the party in the region. Indeed, the president needs not to look far for who to lead the charge in the northwest; that is a role that has naturally fallen on the lap of Senator Jibrin.

Cerebral and controversy-free, Senator Jibrin is a steady and stabilising force in the Senate and beyond. He is blessed with the moral authority and rare ability to put an issue on the national agenda that wouldn’t naturally be there. Although he may not be getting the desired coverage or recognition for his legislative, political, and social interventions, the deputy senate president has mastered the art of being relevant in the centre and indispensable at home.

Assertive, but never abrasive, Jibrin is a man whose thinking has often proved to be ahead of the curve. He was the brain behind the North West Development Commission to address gaps in infrastructural development in the region, which has now been replicated in other regions. He also supported and sponsored a bill to build the Federal University of Education Technology in Bichi, Kano State, and the Federal Polytechnic Kabo, where his father was born.

While other politicians are engaged in a never-ending race to amass riches to guarantee eternally their obscene residence in their snug life of luxury and privilege, Senator Jibrin strives to spread joy daily among kith and kin, and the next needy family on the block. Evidence of his amazing compassion and superior culture of philanthropy abound everywhere in the region whether in education, agriculture, health, and youth empowerment. He is there when the people need him.

The ranking senator recognises the role that fate has inadvertently thrust upon him and he has been playing the part pretty well by reaching out to opposition politicians and convincing them that the APC needs them. Recently, he hosted a strategic meeting with the former Secretary to the Kano State Government, Dr. Abdullahi Baffa Bichi, and other NNPP stalwarts, including the former Commissioner for Project Monitoring and Evaluation, Muhammad Diggol, in his Abuja residence.

Jibrin said, “We had fruitful discussions with them on the development of our dear state and the country. The development of our state and the country is always at the top of our agenda. We will continue to collaborate with other stakeholders to advance our state and the nation. Let’s do it together to better the lots of our people.” For him, it is about Kano and Nigeria, not any self-serving purpose.

Indeed, there is no clear-cut path to greatness in politics. It requires a special kind of talent that is rare in today’s politicians, but which Senator Jibrin embodies in large quantity. For the APC to make any headway in the northwest in the next general election, it would need, most importantly, Senator Jibrin, leading the charge.

_*-Williams is a Lagos-based media executive*_

society

Coalition of Nigerians Write African Union Over State of Emergency in Rivers

Published

12 hours ago

April 1, 2025

Sahara Weekly

Coalition of Nigerians Write African Union Over State of Emergency in Rivers

A coalition of Nigerians has expressed dismay and disappointment over President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, describing it as a gross abuse of power and a blatant disregard for the Constitution, democratic principles, and the rule of law.

In a letter to the African Union Commission, the coalition urged the commission to take immediate action to address the situation and ensure that democratic principles are upheld.

See full letter below:

*COALITION OF NIGERIANS*
No. 24 Seriki Street, Off Odunsi Street, Bariga Shomolu Lagos, Nigeria.

March 26, 2025

His Excellency, Alhaji Mahmoud Ali Youssouf,
The Chairperson, African Union Commission,
P. O. Box 3243, Roosevelt Street W21K19,
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Your Excellency,

UNCONSTITUTIONAL DECLARATION OF STATE OF EMERGENCY IN RIVERS STATE: A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA AND AFRICA

We are writing to express our utmost dismay, disappointment, and disillusionment over the recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu. This decision is not only a gross abuse of power but also a blatant disregard for the Constitution, democratic principles, and the rule of law.

With President Tinubu as the Chairman of ECOWAS, Nigeria is expected to be a shining example of democratic governance in Africa. Unfortunately, President Tinubu’s actions have fallen woefully short of this expectation. His decision to suspend the democratically elected Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminilayi Fubara, and the State House of Assembly, is a clear violation of the Constitution and an affront to democratic principles.

Section 305 of the Constitution, which the President cited as the basis for his action, does not grant him the power to suspend or remove elected officials. The Constitution is clear on the grounds for removing a governor, which is explicitly stated in Section 188. The President’s action is a blatant disregard for the Constitution and the democratic process.

This action is not only a threat to democracy in Nigeria but also sets a dangerous precedent for the suppression of democratic institutions and the rule of law in Africa. It is imperative that the African Union Commission takes immediate action to address this situation and ensure that democratic principles are upheld.

The implications of this action are far-reaching, and if left unchecked, could lead to a breakdown in law and order, undermine the legitimacy of democratic institutions, and damage Nigeria’s reputation as a beacon of democracy in Africa. Furthermore, this action raises serious concerns about the President’s commitment to democracy and the rule of law. It is worrisome that the President would resort to such draconian measures, rather than exploring democratic solutions to the challenges facing Rivers State.

We are also concerned about the potential consequences of this action on the stability of Nigeria and the African region. The suspension of democratic institutions and the imposition of emergency rule could lead to widespread unrest, violence, and instability. In addition, this action undermines the principles of federalism and the autonomy of states in Nigeria. The President’s decision to suspend the Governor and the State House of Assembly is a clear infringement on the powers of the state government and a violation of the principle of separation of powers.

We urge you to prevail upon President Tinubu to immediately lift the State of Emergency in Rivers State and restore the democratically elected government. We request that the African Union Commission take concrete steps to ensure that Nigeria, as a member state, upholds the principles of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. We also request that the African Union Commission take the following steps:

*Condemns the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State and the suspension of the democratically elected Governor and State House of Assembly.
*Calls on President Tinubu to immediately lift the State of Emergency and restore the democratically elected government.
*Sends a fact-finding mission to Rivers State to investigate the circumstances surrounding the declaration of a state of emergency and the suspension of democratic institutions.
*Takes concrete steps to ensure that Nigeria, as a member state, upholds the principles of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

We look forward to your prompt response and action.

Signed;
Professor Senator Opeyemi Ola
Professor Adah George
Rt. Hon Dr James Oloko
Dr. Mrs Evelyn E. Ogolime