celebrity radar - gossips
Where Are The Class Of 1999 Governors Now? 10 Dead, Many Convicted
Where Are The Class Of 1999 Governors Now? 10 Dead, Many Convicted
On Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu hosted some former governors, who were his colleagues, at the council chamber of the presidential villa in Abuja.
The ‘class of 1999’, as they are referred to, were the first elected governors who served after the military era was halted and the fourth republic was welcomed on May 29, 1999. It has been over 20 years since the governors made the historic moment and have all moved into various facets of life.
While one was an ex-president, one is currently the president and another is the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF). Some were senators; some party national chairmen; some battled corruption cases; some have seen the four walls of the prison; while some have died. In fact, some have even retracted from the public glare.
With the recent reunion, this piece takes a quick glance into the lives and journeys of these historic leaders after they left office as governors.
TINUBU: CURRENT PRESIDENT
President Bola Tinubu was the governor of Lagos state from 1999 to 2007 and was once the senator for Lagos West in the Third Republic. During the military era, Tinubu was an activist calling for the return of democracy. He played a significant role in forming the All Progressives Party (APC) and became its national leader in 2014. He supported President Muhammad Buhari’s election in 2015 and in 2023, he won the presidential election.
KALU: SENATOR
In 1999, Orji Kalu was elected the governor of Abia state and four years after, he was re-elected and served till 2007. He was arrested by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged corruption on July 11, 2007, but released on bail. He lost his senatorial bid to represent Abia North in 2011 and 2015 but later won during the 2019 election.
His senatorial position was partly cut short when he was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment in 2019 but released in 2020 on a re-trial order. He was the immediate past senate chief whip who served from 2019 to June 11, 2023.
HARUNA: STILL POLITICALLY ACTIVE
Boni Haruna was elected governor of Adamawa state in 1999 and re-elected for a second term. He also faced corruption charges in 2008. Haruna lost the 2011 election for Adamawa North senatorial district and was later appointed the minister of youth development for one year in 2015. He is currently a member of the PDP board of trustees and campaigned for Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 election.
ATTAH: NOW A CONSULTANT
Attah, former Akwa Ibom governor. For eight years, Victor Attah governed Akwa Ibom state under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He was a member of the PDP board of trustees and in 2003, he became the chairman of the governors’ forum.
Attah gave up politics after he lost his presidential nomination in the PDP and ventured into consultancy to assist firms in managing business challenges. The Akwa Ibom airport was named after him by Udoh Emmanuel, the immediate past governor of the state.
NBADINUJU: DEAD
Chinwoke Mbadinuju was governor of Anambra state from 1999 to 2003. Before his political career, he was an associate professor of politics and African studies at the University of New York. He lost his re-election bid to become governor for the second term. On April 11, 2023, Mbadinuju died after a brief illness at the National Hospital, Abuja.
MUAZU: FORMER PDP NATIONAL CHAIRMAN
After serving for four years as Bauchi governor from 1999, Adamu Muazu won his re-election in 2003. In 2015, he was the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and rallied support for Goodluck Jonathan, who was the presidential candidate of the party. On May 20, 2015, Muazu resigned as chairman of the PDP following the defeat of the party in the 2015 general election.
ALAMIEYESEIGHA: DEAD
Diepreye Alamieyeseigha was governor of Bayelsa state from 1999 to 2005. He was among the class of 1999 governors who faced corruption charges. This led to his impeachment on December 9, 2005.
He was said to have embezzled the sum of $3.2 million in cash and bank account but pleaded guilty before a court in 2007. Former President Goodluck Jonathan pardoned Alamieyeseigha in March 2013. He reportedly died of cardiac arrest at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital in 2015.
AKUME: NOW SGF
George Akume was a two-term governor of Benue state from 1999 to 2007. He was elected senator representing Benue North-West district from 2007 to 2019, where he later became the minority leader from 2011 to 2015. After he lost his senate re-election bid, Akume was appointed minister of special duties and inter-governmental affairs in the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari from 2019 to 2023. He was recently appointed secretary to the government of the federation by Tinubu.
KACHALLA: DEAD
Mala Kachalla was Borno governor from 1999 to 2003 under the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). He later joined the Alliance for Democracy (AD), but he lost his re-election bid to Ali Modu Sheriff. He later moved to the PDP. His political journey was cut shut when he died in 2007 at the age of 66 after battling a brief illness at his residence in Maiduguri, the Borno capital.
DUKE: POLITICALLY VIBRANT
Donald Duke, elected governor of Cross River state in 1999 at the age of 38, served for eight years. In 2004, he introduced the famous Calabar Carnival which was known as ‘Africa’s biggest street party’.
Duke was also among the governors who were not under investigation by the EFCC. In 2018, he stated his interest in contesting for the presidential election of 2019. He left the PDP to pursue his ambition under the social democratic party (SDP) platform but later returned to the PDP in 2021.
IBORI: CONVICTED
James Ibori, former governor of Delta state, also served two terms from 1999 to 2007. He also faced corruption charges. Ibori was arrested by the EFCC and arraigned for several charges bordering on abuse of power, theft of public funds, and money laundering among others. His 170 corruption charges were acquitted by a federal high court in Asaba, Delta state, in 2009.
In 2012, the UK Southwark Crown Court sentenced Ibori to 13 years in prison for money laundering. After serving four years, he was released from prison after a court order in 2016. It’s the second time Ibori is meeting Tinubu in the past two months. A picture of Ibori “re-uniting” with Tinubu and Kalu trended on social media in 2017.
EGWU: SENATOR
Sam Egwu served as Ebonyi governor from 1999 to 2007. In 2008, former President Umaru Yar’adua appointed him as minister of education, a position he held till 2010 after the death of Yar’adua. He won the Ebonyi North senatorial position in 2015 and he is currently the state committee chairman on industry.
IGBINEDION: NOT POLITICALLY ACTIVE
Lucky Igbinedion was governor of Edo state from 1999 to 2007 and was elected chairman of the Nigerian governors’ forum during this period. After leaving office, he was declared wanted by the EFCC for alleged 142 counts of financial fraud. Igbinedion was later invited by the EFCC for alleged diversion of public funds in 2021. In May 2023, he celebrated his 66th birthday with family and friends.
ADEBAYO: APC CHIEFTAIN
Adeniyi Adebayo was Ekiti state governor from 1999 to 2003 on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD). He served as the minister of trade in the administration of former president Muhammadu Buhari from 2019 till 2003.
NNAMANI: POLITICALLY VIBRANT
Another 1999 class of governor is Chimaroke Nnamani, a medical doctor turned politician. He was governor from 1999 to 2007. He contested the Enugu East senatorial position, which he held from 2007 to 2011. Nnamani later won the senatorial seat in 2019. During the 2023 senatorial election, the former governor, who contested under the PDP platform, lost his bid to Kelvin Ugwu of the Labour Party (LP).
HASHIDU: DEAD
Abubakar Hashidu is among the 1999 governors who had a dramatic political career. He was the first elected governor of Gombe state and served from 1999 to 2003.
He lost his re-election race in 2003. In 2007, Hashidu was arrested for alleged violence during his political campaign but was freed from court during the trial by his supporters who stormed the court premises. The former governor died after battling an illness on July 27, 2018.
UDENWA: NOT POLITICALLY ACTIVE
Achike Udenwa’s political career started smoothly when he was governor of Imo state from 1999 to 2007 under the PDP. He became the minister of trade and commerce in 2008 until Goodluck Jonathan assumed office as acting president in 2010 and dissolved the cabinet. In 2015, he worked as the coordinator of the PDP presidential campaign organisation in Imo state and was arrested for an alleged campaign fund scandal.
TURAKI: LOST 2023 SENATE BID
Like some of the 1999 governors, Ibrahim Turaki also had a tussle with the EFCC. He was governor from 199 to 2007 and was fortunate to get into the senate when he won the Jigawa north-west senatorial district election in 2007, but he lost his re-election bid in 2011. He was arrested in 2007 over allegations of money laundering and corruption and was letter apprehended in 2017 for “evading court order”.
In October 2022, Turaki was discharged of the corruption charges by a federal high court in Dutse, the Jigawa state capital. In the same year, he won the PDP ticket to contest Jigawa north-west in the 2023 general election which he lost to Husaini Babangida Uba.
MAKARFI: A PDP CHIEFTAIN
Ahmed Makarfi was Kaduna state governor from 1999 to 2007. He was a famous member of the PDP. He won his senatorial race for Kaduna North district after he completed his eight-year tenure as governor. Makarfi was removed as PDP national chairman in 2018 but later reinstated by the supreme court.
He joined the presidential race in 2019 but dropped the ambition after what he described as an “unsatisfactory outcome” of the race. Makarfi was recently appointed by PDP as the chairperson of the electoral committee for the Kogi election.
KWANKWASO: THE STRONG MAN OF KANO POLITICS From 1999 to 2003 and from 2011 to 2015, Rabiu Kwankwaso served as governor of Kano state. He lost his re-election ambition in 2003 but was compensated with the position of the first minister of defence. In 2015, he was elected to the senate and had since chased a presidential position but has been unsuccessful to date.
Ahead of the 2023 election, he founded the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and got the presidential ticket but lost the election. Two weeks before his inauguration as president, Tinubu met with Kwankwaso for four hours in Paris, France. Last month, Tinubu received Kwankwaso at the presidential villa.
YAR’ADUA: DEAD
Umaru Yar’Adua won the Katsina governorship election in 1999 and served two terms. He was the first governor to publicly declare his assets. Yar’Adua became Nigeria’s president after winning the 2007 election to succeed former president Olusegun Obasanjo.
The former president travelled out of the country for a medical trip but did not return after several months. The senate then transferred the presidential powers to Goodluck Jonathan, the then vice-president who became acting president. In 2010, Yar’adua, who returned to Nigeria after months of medical treatment in Saudi Arabia, died at the age of 58.
AUDU: DEAD
Abubakar Audu was the first civilian governor of Kogi state in 1992, but the democratic space was disrupted by military rule in 1993. In 1999, he became the governor of the state under the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). He also had a corruption case with the EFCC in 2003. He won the APC ticket for the Kogi gubernatorial race in 2015 but died as a result of a “bleeding ulcer” on November 22, 2015.
[b]ALIERO: SENATOR[/b]
Adamu Aliero also served as governor from 1999 to 2007. He was a member of the PDP and was a senator for Kebbi Central till December 18, 2008. He is famous for switching from one political party to another. During the Yar’Adua administration, he was named minister of federal capital territory (FCT) but vacated office after the death of Yar’Adua in 2010. He won the Kebbi Central senatorial election in 2023.
KURE: DEAD
Abdulkadir Kure was elected governor of Niger state from 1999 to 2007 under the PDP platform. He was famous for introducing Sharia in the state in 2000 and also revamping the state education system. He died at the age of 60 in Germany on January 8, 2017.
ADESINA: DEAD Lamidi Adesina was Oyo governor from 1999 to 2003. He died in November 2012 at a private hospital in Lagos.
ODILI: NOT POLITICALLY ACTIVE
Peter Odili is another prominent Nigerian politician who was governor of Rivers state from 1999 to 2007. His political career was defined by dramatic events with the EFCC. In 2007, he filed a suit challenging the right of the EFCC to investigate his administration. In 2006, he declared his intention to run in the 2007 election but later stepped down for Yar’Adua.
AKANDE: STILL ACTIVE
Adebisi Akande was Osun governor from 1999 to 2003. He was the first interim chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and Tinubu’s close ally. He marked his 84th birthday in January 2023.
YERIMA: APC CHIEFTAIN
Ahmad Yerima of the then All Progressive Party won the Zamfara governorship race in 1999 and was also re-elected for a second term in 2003. He was the first governor in Nigeria to introduce Sharia law in his state.
After the completion of his second tenure in 2007, he went ahead to contest for the senatorial seat in Zamfara West district, a position he won and held till 2019. In 2022, Yerima got approval from former President Muhammadu Buhari to contest in the 2023 presidential election. However, he was not cleared by his party to contest in the primaries.
BUKAR IBRAHIM: STILL ACTIVE
After serving as Yobe state governor between January 1992 to November 1993 when the military took over, Bukar Ibrahim was elected governor again in 1999, serving two consecutive terms that terminated in 2007. He later became the senator representing Yobe East in the 2007 elections and served in that capacity until 2019.
NYAME: CONVICTED Jolly Nyame’s governorship tenure in Taraba was cut short in November 1993, one year after inauguration, as a result of a military takeover. He, however, came back to contest in 1999 and won the governorship election. He got re-elected in 2003 for a second term which ended in 2007.
Immediately after leaving office, EFCC charged Nyame for fraud to the tune of N1.64 billion. He was convicted in 2018 and eventually sentenced to a 12-year jail term. Before leaving office, former President Muhammadu Buhari granted him a presidential pardon on April 14, 2023, an action widely criticized by civil society organisations and the public.
BAFARAWA: ACTIVE
In 1999, Attahiru Bafarawa became the governor of Sokoto state under the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP). He served for two tenures till 2007. Upon leaving office, Bafarawa contested as president under Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), a party he founded, but lost the election to the late Yar’Adua.
He was among the governors charged for alleged corruption by the EFCC. The charges bordered on illegal sales of government shares,& misappropriation of funds, among others. After a 10-year-long case, he was discharged and acquitted in 2018 by a high court in the state.
DARIYE: CONVICTED
Another 1999 governor that had a dramatic political journey was Joshua Dariye. He contested and won the Plateau state governorship election on the platform of the PDP. He ruled from 1999 to 2003.Dariye was re-elected for another four-year term but was impeached three years later by eight of the twenty-four state assembly members.
In 2007, the state court of appeal ordered that Dariye be reinstated as governor and he completed his tenure in 2007. Dariye won the Plateau Central senatorial seat in 2011 and was re-elected in 2015.
The EFCC, in 2007, charged Dariye with a 23-count charge of money laundering and was finally convicted on June 12, 2018 and was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. He was, however, released after receiving a presidential pardon by Buhari in April 2023.
ADAMU: APC NATIONAL CHAIRMAN
Abdullahi Adamu won the 1999 Nasarawa governorship election under the platform of PDP, a party he co-founded. He got re-elected in 2003 and completed his two-term tenure in 2007. Subsequently, he became the secretary of the board of trustees (BOT) of the same party.
He further contested and won the Nasarawa West senatorial seat in 2011 and ran for three consecutive terms till April 2022. He was a member of the New PDP that integrated into the APC before the 2015 elections. In March 2022, Adamu became the national chairman of the APC.
MOHAMMED LAWAL: DEAD
Mohammed Lawal was elected as the governor of Kwara state in 1999 under the platform of the All Peoples Party. He held office till 2003 and lost the re-election bid to Bukola Saraki of the PDP. Lawal died after a brief illness in a London hospital in November 2006.
ADEFARATI: DEAD
Adebayo Adefarati was elected governor of Ondo state on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy party (AD). After the completion of his first tenure in 2003, Adefarati lost his re-election bid to Olusegun Agagu, a PDP candidate. In 2007, Adefarati was chosen as AD’s flag bearer in the presidential election but died a few weeks before the poll at the age of 76.
OSOBA: POLITICALLY ACTIVE
Another governor whose tenure was truncated by the 1993 military takeover, but later came back to be elected governor in 1999 was Olusegun Osoba. He first served as governor under the SDP from January 1992 to November 1993. He won the 1999 governorship election under the AD party. He is also Tinubu’s close ally.
The 1999 set of governors was a vibrant one and still remains in close association as seen in the recent reunion with one of theirs who is the new president. In 2006, Tinubu, Boni Haruna, Orji Kalu, Ngige, Yerima and Shekarau objected to the third-term bid of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
@Cable
Celebrating Sir Edwin Ogidi-Gbegbaje At 60 By Jimmy Enyeh
Majority of Deltans are unanimous in their submissions that the name of
Sir Edwin Ogidi-Gbegbaje, a celebrated top civil servant and retired permanent secretary in Delta State Government House has been recorded in the good side of history.
As he clocked 60 today, family members, friends, associates and well wishers have been falling over themselves to pay tribute to a kind hearted and jolly good fellow.
Edwin, a scion of the famous Gbegbaje family in Ekpan, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State, a family noted for producing top bureaucrats and influential public servants.
For 35 years until he retired in January 2024, he added values to Delta State civil service, deepening its positive nuances and was one of the people that nurtured the civil service of the young state upon creation in 1991 to its now enviable heights, setting it along with others on a trajectory that has made it one of the best in the country.
Gbegbaje’s story is far from the proverbial rags-to-riches . He was born into comfort and high society, but suddenly lost his affluent parents in his first and third years at the University of Jos, but with good counsel and guidance of relatives who were bureaucrats, Edwin Ogidi-Gbegbaje made a career choice that saw him becoming a permanent secretary at 46, a very rare feat in those days.
In an interview conducted three years ago to celebrate his 57 years, he offered a glimpse into his life, challenges and triumph. “I come from the larger Gbegbaje family in Ekpan, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State. We have quite several branches of the genealogical tree. We have the Abesan. The patriarch of the family is Chief Gbegbaje Dasone.
“We have Oloyo Gbegbaje and Ogidi Gbegbaje. My parents were civil servants like myself. My mum was a social welfare officer who rose through the ranks.During the late Ambrose Ali administration in Bendel State, she was appointed permanent secretary. My father was a medical doctor.
“He was the first radiologist in the defunct Bendel State and second in the country. My father was the chief consultant radiologist in Bendel State. I also have an uncle, Mr. K Gbegbaje who was a permanent secretary. When he retired, he became the Chairman of Bendel State Civil Service Commission. I have an uncle who was the first Accountant-General of Kwara State. He was in the northern civil service in the 60s.He later became Chairman of National Oil. I am from a family of bureaucrats. I attended Emotan Primary School in Benin.
“I proceeded to Edo College. When I left Edo College, I had the desire to leave Benin. Even when I was admitted into UNIBEN to study Economics and Statistics, I wasn’t enthusiastic. So, I got admission to study Political Science in Jos in 1981. Prof Emovon from UNIBEN was the Vice-Chancellor in Jos at the time. As I was entering, Jos ceased being a campus of the University of Ibadan. I was there from 1981 -1985. I graduated before my 21st birthday.
“Unfortunately, I lost my dad as I was entering the university in 1981. When I was just getting into my third year, I lost my mum.
It wasn’t easy being the eldest among my siblings. In fact, I was encouraged to come for Christmas holiday in Benin without knowing that the evening of my arrival in Benin was the period of my mum’s service of songs.
“I didn’t have an inkling that such a thing had happened. I didn’t even hear that she was ill. I was shocked when I saw canopies in my compound at Ovie Whiskey Avenue close to Ekhewan Campus. A prominent Jos-based businessman from Ughelli encouraged me to visit home for Christmas.
“I graduated in 1985 and taught at a secondary school in Iko-Eket, Cross River State. Just as I was finishing, there were some advertisements for jobs. I didn’t see the one for NNPC early enough.Towards the end of 1988, my uncle who was the Chairman of Bendel State Civil Service Commission, said since I couldn’t get a private sector job, I should participate in extended interviews, especially since I had sat for ASCON examination.
“He advised me to start a career in the civil service. By the end of 1988, letters of appointment were out. I wasn’t conscious of the fact that the person who resumes first becomes the senior in service. I didn’t resume early. My uncle said I was supposed to have resumed instead of waiting to resume in the New Year. A few of my friends who were conscious of it had resumed and they became my seniors in service. I resumed on January 3, 1989.
“That was how my career started. We were supposed to come in as administrative officers Grade 7, but at that time there was a decree. So, by the time we came in, we were designated as personnel officers. We were regarded as the special class.
“Upon the creation of Delta State on August 27, 1991, we all had to move to Asaba. In fact, the movement was swift.
We were all not fully prepared for the swift movement. There was a surge of human beings into Asaba with the state creation. A lot of us couldn’t get accommodation in Asaba when we came. In fact, I stayed in Ibusa for nine years. It was when I met my wife that we moved to Asaba. A lot of my colleagues were sleeping in the offices then.
On his retirement, the Delta State governor praised Gbegbaje’s contribution to the growth of the state.
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, at the retirement thanks-giving service of Gbegbaje, urged civil servants in the state to emulate his virtues.
Speaking at a grand reception in honour of the celebrant at the Events Centre, Asaba, Governor Oborevwori described Ogidi-Gbegbaje as an intelligent, humble, diligent, transparent, process driven, selfless, accountable and compassionate bureaucrat.
While congratulating the retired Permanent Secretary for his diligent and patriotic service to the state, Oborevwori said Ogidi-Gbegbaje was very helpful in the last seven months of his administration.
According to him, “a lot has been said about Sir Eddy Ogidi-Gbegbaje and I also have a personal experience about him while I was Speaker and in the last seven months as Governor of Delta State, we have worked very closely and he helped me to settle down quickly.
“Sir Ogidi-Gbegbaje played his role very well, he is diligent in his duties and was always giving good and useful advise wherever he worked.
“Your service to humanity is something worth emulating and I must say that I enjoyed working with you. I congratulate you for 35 years of unblemished and meritorious service to the government and people of Delta State.
“We are going to miss you, the civil service will miss you, the machinery of government will miss you, you are retired but you are not tired, and your service is still needed.
“I want other civil servants to emulate your commitment to duty. So my message to other civil servants is that they should emulate Edwin Ogidi-Gbegbaje.
“If you look at his journey in the civil service from Bendel to Delta, you see his commitment to duty. Today, he has finished strong and we rejoice with him and his family”.
Chairman of the occasion and former Minister of Information, Professor Sam Oyovbaire, congratulated the celebrant for a successful retirement from service and urged other civil servants to emulate his kind virtues and commitment to duty.
From all indications, Edwin Ogidi-Gbagbaje is worth celebrating, he has touched numerous lives in the last six decades.
At the cusp of his 60th anniversary, the social and the civil service landscapes pulse with milestones he has achieved thus reasserting his worth as a rare force of nature. As family and friends join him in celebrating his 60th birthday, the image that pops into head is that of his genius and the passionate intensity he possesses, literally squizing water from stone as far as the public service is concerned. His brilliant performance as a permanent secretary, Delta State Government House, has earned him another appointment. He is currently the Chairman, Delta State Bureau for Pension and has been giving a splendid account of himself.
“In All Life’s Hardships, Keep Your Smile” By Prudent Ludidi
Let’s talk about a powerful tool that can help you navigate life’s challenges with confidence, resilience, and hope. That tool is your smile.
Life can be tough. It can throw us curveballs, test our resolve, and push us to our limits. But in the midst of hardship, it’s easy to lose sight of what truly matters. We forget to smile, forget to laugh, and forget to live.
Your smile is more than just a facial expression. It’s a symbol of strength, courage, and determination. It’s a beacon of hope that shines brightly, even in the darkest moments.
When life gets tough, it’s tempting to frown, to cry, or to give up. But I urge you to do the opposite. Smile. Smile through the tears, smile through the pain, and smile through the struggles.
Smiling doesn’t mean you’re ignoring your problems or pretending everything is okay. It means you’re choosing to rise above, to find the silver lining, and to focus on the good.
Your smile has the power to transform your mindset, inspire others, diffuse tension, and heal emotional wounds. It’s a powerful antidote to stress, anxiety, and fear.
Think about it. When was the last time you smiled? Really smiled? Not just a polite smile or a forced grin, but a genuine, heartwarming smile?
Smiling can:
Reduce stress and anxiety
Boost your mood and energy
Improve your relationships
Increase your resilience
So, how can you keep your smile shining bright, even in the face of adversity?
Find the humor in difficult situations. Laughter is a powerful way to shift your perspective and lighten the load.
Practice gratitude daily. Focus on the good things in your life, no matter how small they may seem.
Surround yourself with positivity. Spend time with people who uplift and support you.
Take care of your physical and mental well-being. Get enough sleep, exercise regularly, and prioritize self-care.
Remember, your smile is contagious. It can light up a room, brighten someone’s day, and change the atmosphere.
In all life’s hardships, keep your smile. It’s a reminder that better days are ahead, that you’re stronger than you think, and that you’re not alone.
Your smile is your superpower. Use it to overcome obstacles, to uplift others, and to create a ripple effect of joy and positivity.
Don’t let life’s challenges steal your smile. Keep shining, keep smiling, and keep pushing forward.
You are stronger than you think.
You are braver than you feel.
And you are capable of overcoming anything that comes your way.
So, smile. Smile with confidence. Smile with courage. Smile with hope!
celebrity radar - gossips
Lagos State’s Stability is a Barometer for Nigeria’s Stability – Amb. Tukur Buratai
Lagos State’s Stability is a Barometer for Nigeria’s Stability – Amb. Tukur Buratai
The Former Chief of Army Staff (COAS, Nigerian Army) and Former Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Republic of Benin, Ambassador (Lt General rtd) Tukur Yusufu Buratai, CFR has said that Lagos State has all the qualifications of a modern city and is one of the most populated cities in Sub – Saharan Africa. He went further to affirm that Lagos is also indicative of the degree to which Nigeria’s economic, political, social, and cultural landscape is deeply embedded within the global system.
He made this assertion on Wednesday 20th November, 2024 as the keynote Speaker at the Second Edition of the Lagos State University of Education Security Summit, with the theme: Insecurity, Cost of Living and Good Governance in the 21st Century.
Ambassador Tukur Buratai, while delivering the lecture in a paper titled: Lagos in Nigeria’s National Security and Defence Architecture: An Analysis.
Ambassador Tukur Buratai postulated in his paper that, “The presence of strategic military installations, the verse Atlantic Ocean and extensive coastline has placed Lagos State on the strategic defense map of the Armed Forces of Nigeria”, He said further that, ” While the sea provides a strategic economic status it could also be vulnerable to external attacks across the ocean”.
In his paper, Ambassador Tukur Buratai reiterated that the Lagos State government should begin to look at the options and implications of having its own security.
Ambassador Tukur Buratai also emphasized the urgent necessity to bolster our nation’s troop level to 800,000. He said a larger and more robust force will enhance operational readiness, improve our country’s capacity to respond to various contingencies, and strengthen our alliance on the international stage.
He also called for the establishment of a Marine Corps for the Nigerian Navy to be strategically stationed in key regions such as Lagos, Borno, Cross River, and Port Harcourt.
He also raised the pressing issue of the persistent lack of stable power supply in Lagos. He asserted that the Lagos State Government must urgently prioritize the development of independent power generation.
Ambassador Tukur Buratai also lauded the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s strategy regarding security in Lagos, which provides an example for governor’s throughout Nigeria. He said the governor recognizes that genuine security transcends mere physical presence or reactive measures. He commended the governor’s innovative approach, which has redefined the urban governance, and has also set a benchmark for other states to follow.
Ambassador Tukur Buratai also recalled that during his tenure as the Chief of Army Staff, he had the distinct privilege of witnessing the fruitful collaboration between the Nigerian Army and Lagos State under the leadership of Former Governor Ambode and now Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Ambassador Buratai, during the lecture, also appluaded the Lagos State Government on its infrastructural development in Lagos State, especially the Red and Blue Railway lines.
Ambassador Tukur Buratai also commended the Federal Government interventions in the development of Lagos State, while applauding the construction of the Lagos to Calabar Highway, he adviced the Lagos State and Federal Government on the security implications of opening up the high way, he suggested to the government to be proactive by early planning for its security when opened and becomes operational.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the Lagos State University of Education, Prof B. B Lafiaji-Okuneye welcomed Ambassador Tukur Buratai to the institution. In her words, she said, ” The great warlord and global peace ambassador is visiting our great institution for the first time. Sir, we appreciate you and what you stand for. Your desire for a Nigeria that is peaceful and safe, where the citizens and residents are free and are given every opportunity to prove their worth and contribute to the growth and development of the nation is evident “.
While making his contribution during the summit, the Commissioner of Tertiary Education, Lagos State, appreciated and commended Ambassador Buratai for adding value to the security summit and more importantly adding value to the Lagos State University of Education. The Commissioner also drew the attention of the participants of the summit to parts of Ambassador Buratai’s paper, where he elaborated on the strategy of social inclusiveness rather than the use of force to curb insecurity.
The Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Barr Tolani Sule on behalf of the Lagos State University of Education, presented a Plague of Honour to Ambassador Buratai for his role in nation building.
Other discussant at the Summit included, HRM, Oba Kamorudeen Animashaun, (Arolugbade 11, the Oloja of Epe Land and the Vice Chairman, Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs), HRM, Oba Momodu Afolabi Ashafa ( The Aladi of Ijanikin Kingdom), HRM, Oba (Dr) Aina Josiah Olanrewaju ( IKUYAMIKU 1, the Oloto of Oto Awori Kingdom) and HRH, Oba Babatunde Ogunlaja JP ( ALADESHOYIN, the Paramount Ruler of Odo – Noforija Kingdom), all of whom spoke on the theme :Insecurity, Cost of Living and Good Governance in the 21st Century.
The event which was attended by various Traditional Rulers, Members of the Governing Council and Senate of the Institution, the Commissioner of Tertiary Education in Lagos State, Barr Tolani Sule, Captain of Industries, Security and Para Military Chiefs in Lagos State, various invited guests and the students.
Ambassador Tukur Buratai’s delegation to the summit included, Lt General Lamidi Adeosun (rtd), Former Chief of Policy and Plans, Nigerian Army, Colonel Emmanuel Adegbola (rtd), Comrade Oladimeji Odeyemi, Alhaja Toyyibat Adeosun, Alhaji Isa Dogo amongst others.
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