COAS BURATAI'S CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR 2017 GOODWILL MESSAGE

FROM LIEUTENANT GENERAL TY BURATAI CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF TO OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS OF THE NIGERIAN ARMY

LIEUTENANT GENERAL TY BURATAI

It is with utmost humility and gratitude to the Almighty that I send this goodwill message to officers, soldiers and indeed the Nigerian Army family on the Christmas and New Year Celebrations. Let me use this opportunity to commend the efforts and sacrifices of our gallant officers and men currently engaged in the counter insurgency operations in the North East and other operations across the country and abroad. I congratulate you for your bravery, doggedness and loyalty in these endeavours. 

I want to urge you all to maintain the momentum and remain steadfast as we continue to professionally and responsively carryout our constitutional roles. On my part, I would continue to ensure that troops’ welfare and that of their families, remains my utmost priority.

Speech by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Ramadan Breaking of Fast with the Diplomatic Corps

President Muhammadu Buhari Addressing  Diplomatic Corps

Protocols:

I welcome you all to this iftar dinner and I thank you for accepting my invitation. It has become an annual tradition which I am quite happy to maintain.

2. This Ramadan season is auspicious to me in one very important respect as it coincides with our administration’s first year in office. It has indeed been a challenging time for Nigeria. But our government has striven to meet these challenges head-on and with a proper commitment to address them. Much has been achieved but clearly much remains to be done.

3. As everyone knows, the security situation that we met at inception in May 2015 was one that portended great danger for the unity and territorial integrity of the country. Boko Haram was running rampant across the country seizing territories. Today, thanks to our motivated Armed Forces, Boko Haram has been technically defeated.

War Against Terror: 186 Junior Military Officers Get Counter-terrorism Training

The Armed Forces Command and Staff College in Jaji, Kaduna State, has conducted a special training course for junior military officers on counter-terrorism and peace support operations.

The training equipped them with appropriate skills to function as Grade Three Staff Officers and Junior commanders in their various military services and organisations.

During their graduation ceremony, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, said the training had become necessary due to the emerging security challenges.

NINE KEY MILESTONES IN PRESIDENT BUHARI'S FIRST YEAR BY GARBA SHEHU

Twelve months ago, President Muhammadu Buhari was sworn in as the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He came to power following the decisive victory of his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC over the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP and its candidate, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. The victory ended the 16-year reign of the PDP.

President Buhari campaigned on a promise to fight Boko Haram terrorism and secure the whole country, fight corruption and develop the economy to the point that it creates jobs for the teeming unemployed.

NORTH EAST DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION BILL - DOGARA'S KEYNOTE ADDRESS

KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY RT HONOURABLE YAKUBU DOGARA, SPEAKER, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLC OF NIGERIA ON THE OCCASION OF THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE NORTH EAST DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION BILL, HELD AT THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NEW BUILDING, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WING, NATIONAL ASSEMBLY COMPLEX, 9TH MAY 2016.

Protocols:

I warmly welcome everyone who has made out time to participate in this very important Public Hearing on the North East Development Commission Bill which seeks to lay a concrete legal framework to remedy the grave social dislocation and progressive socio economic devastation of the North Eastern states of Nigeria occasioned by the destructive escapades of the Boko Haram insurgency.

2. As noted at similar occasions in the recent past, Public Hearing is a governance window by the legislature in the promotion of citizens’ participation in the law making process and by implication in governance. I therefore wish to encourage all of us here seated to participate zealously by offering our views and opinion with total commitment in the confidence that we are thereby contributing towards quality of legislation that we all desire.

3. Our aspirations for the establishment of the commission are not far fetched, even though there is poverty across Nigeria, in comparative terms, the North East suffers an exceptional poverty amidst little opportunities to push itself out of this unfortunate socio economic quagmire. Our industries have all nearly collapsed, schools are dilapidated, destroyed or non-existent in most communities, roads are death traps and largely inaccessible and farming completely in virtual comatose due to insurgency. Besides, the region groans under the pangs of desertification, ethno-religious crisis, climatic factors, predatory diseases among others.

Saraki's Remarks at the Public Hearing on the North East Development Commission Bill

It is my pleasure to be here with you today to declare open the public hearing on this very important bill, The North East Development Commission Bill, 2016.

Distinguished colleagues, our invited guests, it is very hard to under-estimate the importance of this bill. This is especially so, in the context of what we as a nation especially the North Eastern part of our country have gone through and endured in the last 7years. The North East has endured unprecedented pervasive brutality, satanic barbarism meted out against them; Christians and Muslims alike, young and old, men and women by the activities of Boko Haram.

For 7 years, innocent citizens of our dear country Nigeria suffered untold destruction of both private and public properties worth billions of naira. In an orgy of un-abating and indiscriminate attacks on the Nigerian state and its circularity, they employed everything destructive to threaten our national security and socio-economic stability; maiming, bombing, attacking every institution that would help us remain a virile and united nation.

BUHARI IN CHINA: BOKO HARAM TREATMENT FOR PIPELINE VANDALS - BUHARI WARNS

President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday in Beijing warned vandals and saboteurs blowing up oil and gas installations in Nigeria to desist immediately or face the same drastic action being taken against Boko Haram by the Armed Forces.

Speaking at a meeting with members of the Nigerian Community in China, President Buhari also reaffirmed his total commitment to winning the war against corruption, saying that corruption was an arch-enemy of the nation which has destroyed the lives of many Nigerians.


"I ask for your support to make our vision of stamping out corruption a reality in the shortest possible time. Whoever is caught will not be spared.

Breaking: There is an ongoing battle between members of the Armed forces and Boko Haram in Maiduguri

The yet to be confirmed report says there is an ongoing battle between members of the armed forces and Boko Haram in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.

Details later....
Updates:
Reports reaching our correspondent in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital indicate that, there was an attack leading to a battle between the Nigerian forces and the Boko Haram insurgents who had vowed to over run Borno state.

Adamu Chiwar, a resident of Maiduguri, who is from Lassa in Askira/Uba local government area told our Correspondent that, the massage he received from his relations at home urged him to pray for their safety as the Islamic militants, Boko Haram has launched an attack on the people of Lassa and security forces are fighting hard to repel them.

The Ekiti Saga: The Road To Tyranny And Anarchy By Senator George Akume

Thursday the 10th of June 2014 will remain a very frightening and disturbing day in the history of democracy in this country since 1999. The nation woke up to the incredible news that the military “had barred all APC Governors from entering and attending the APC Governorship grand rally for their Ekiti State colleague, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi. There was also an alleged threat by soldiers to shoot one of the APC Governors-Rotimi Amaechi in the process. It was like a coup d’état rehearsal by soldiers in a Banana Republic. Whichever way one looks at this saga, it represents a major threat to democracy and dangerous drift towards total anarchy in Nigeria.

It will be recalled that only a week ago, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan led all PDP Governors and other stakeholders to the same Ekiti State for a similar rally for the PDP Candidate, Ayo Fayose. No PDP Governor was stopped or harassed and the incumbent APC Governor provided all the needed security for the rally to hold successfully in the true spirit of democracy and fair play. The PDP rally was successfully held with fanfare.

SAVE OUR ARMED FORCES BY GUMI

Yes I mean our Armed forces. With the recent circular to press by the Military, it is evident that there is some personality crisis in the armed forces. It’s now taking a political pose probably to efface its glaring failures and the damaged international image of its own making. The latest victim of the Boko Haram saga is a North-East first class emir who was shot dead today, therefore to suggest that there are political figures in the North East who are sympathizers of Boko Haram is an understatement. It is just mischievous.

We should first and foremost dispel the notion that those men and women in uniform or the commander in chief of the armed forces own the armed forces. This is the first fundamental step to saving and liberating the armed forces from the shackles of the much talked about parochialism, corruption and nepotism that has crippled this giant Africans are looking up to. The members of the armed forces are Nigerians owned one hundred percent by Nigerians and sustained by Nigerians. This has to be made clear to all members of the armed forces and it has to sink into their psyche. They are here to serve not to be served. Their duty is to protect and maintain the integrity of our dear nation not to terrify the law abiding citizens and humiliate them.

Bring Them Back! Gen. Muhammadu Buhari On Chibok School Girls

Over the past few weeks, the abduction of the school girls at Chibok, Borno State has underscored the threat we have been facing as a nation in recent times from the actions of misguided persons masquerading as adherents of Islam.

Our hearts are with families who have lost loved ones in this cycle of senseless violence. We also empathize with the parents of children whose daughters are in the custody of a group of anarchists.

That horrific video posted on the internet is a clear manifestation of the mindlessness of the bigots. It shows them for whom they are, such men cannot threaten nor should they be allowed to violate our sovereignty. It is clear from what they profess that they are not following God. They do not mean well for our country and her citizens.

I am a Muslim, I am versed in the teaching of Christianity and I understand both religions seek peaceful coexistence of all humanity. I wish to reiterate that there is no justification whatsoever for this unrestrained disregard for the sanctity of human life. It has no place in the Holy Qur'an and neither does it have a place in the Holy Bible.

Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen Aliyu Gusau says he is satisfy with current fight against insurgency

Nigerian Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen Aliyu Gusau (rtd) has said the current military operation in the north east in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency is going on well and government is ready to provide whatever it takes for the Armed Forces to bring this fight to an end. Defense  minister stated this yesterday during his maiden visit to the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.

Russian Federation Council authorised Putin to use armed forces in Ukraine's Crimea

Russia's parliament has approved the use of armed forces in Ukraine's Crimean peninsula. Western leaders expressed concern with the move, which President Vladimir Putin said was to protect ethnic Russians in the region.

Russia's upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, unanimously approved the motion on Saturday after Putin had submitted the proposal. 

The chamber announced that the decision would go into effect immediately, and also recommended that Russia's ambassador to the United States be recalled over comments by President Barack Obama.

Putin said the action, which he said he took to protect ethnic Russians and military personnel in the region, was necessary until the political situation in Ukraine stabilized. 

NIGERIA: APC Criticises Jonathan over Comments on Borno Governor

Nigeria Opposition Party, All Progressives Congress (APC) has deplored  President Goodluck Jonathan's remarks against Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima during his media chat on Monday night, calling it unwarranted, unpresidential and petty.

The party's position over the President's comment came just as the former Vice President of the country Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in his  reaction Tues day accused the Federal Government of chasing shadows rather that tackling the security menace squarely.