News
Be Wise and Discerning Elders, not Charlatans, CSO Cautions NEF
A Civil Society Organisation (CSO), Conference of Civil Society for Peace, Security and National Development has described as mischievous and unacceptable, a publication in the Punch newspaper attributed to the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) calling for the immediate resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari over insecurity in the country.
In a press release jointly signed and made available to journalists in Abuja by Dr. Adamu Muhammad and Hon. Mike Msuaan, the CSO expressed shock that an organisation like NEF that is supposed to be politically neutral and a responsible stakeholder has decided to play to the dictates of the opposition without looking at the facts on ground.
“It has come to us as a rude shock that elders from the north, a region that was once the flashpoint of violent terror groups and bandits before the coming of President Muhammdu Buhari cannot appreciate the fact that the situation has drastically changed. To ignore the fact that President Bihari has done well for the northern region in the area of security is outright wickedness”, the group noted.
Charlatans, the CSO noted have taken over the media and political space to propagate their empty ideologies to unsuspecting Nigeria as 2023 draws near without attempting to proffer solutions to any of Nigeria’s problems. This is unhealthy and dangerous for our nascent democracy.
“It is a pity that the charlatans criticising the present administration do not have any solutions to offer except a blind greed for power. Their desperation is evident in the kind of tactics they are employing to sway public opinion to their devilish agendas but they won’t succeed”, the statement added.
The CSO noted further that security is everyone’s business and that those masquerading as elders should know that they have a role to play if there is insecurity in their regions. They fact that they have not done anything for the past seven years apart from criticisms and a refusal to acknowledge the tremendous efforts made to restore security to the country speaks volumes.
“You cannot claim to be elders and do nothing to curtail the insecurity in your region. Instead of calling for the immediate resignation of President Buhari, tell Nigerians what efforts you have made. If you cannot point to anything you have done then at least appreciate the good works President Buhari has done”, the statement added.
The CSO called on Mr. President and all Nigerians to shun the antics of politicised and biased groups like NEF who are shopping for political patronage and can say anything including inciting civil unrest just to get some attention and morsels from their masters tables.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has reported its seventh partial grid collapse in 2024. Despite the recurring issue, TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, reassured the public that efforts to restore power are well underway, with about 90% of substations receiving bulk power.
Mbah noted that the Azura Power Station initiated the grid recovery, although a minor setback occurred. However, power supply has been restored to the Abuja region and other key distribution centers. The Ibom Gas Generating Station remained unaffected, continuing to supply power to the South-South region.
An investigation into the cause of the collapse will commence once full grid restoration is achieved.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic tanker explosion in Jigawa State, which claimed over 100 lives. In a statement issued by his media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima, on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, extended condolences to the affected families, praying for strength and comfort in their time of grief.
Shettima assured the public that the federal government is mobilizing resources to support the injured and assist those affected. He has directed the immediate deployment of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide aid. The Vice President also stressed the need for a review of fuel transportation safety protocols to prevent future incidents.
In a separate statement, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu offered her condolences to Jigawa Governor Umar Namadi and the people of Jigawa, praying for peace and comfort for the families affected. She called the incident “unfortunate” and extended prayers for the recovery of the injured and the repose of the souls lost in the tragedy.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has revealed that it intercepted a total of 10,598 pieces of arms and 114,929 rounds of ammunition valued at N9.58 billion over the past six years. Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, made this disclosure during a press conference on enforcement activities in Zone A.
Adeniyi highlighted that 60% of these seizures occurred in 2023, reflecting the Customs’ increased efforts to curb arms smuggling. He also mentioned that recent operations such as Operation Whirlwind and Operation Swift Sting are part of a strategic response to tackle evolving smuggling tactics.
In addition to arms seizures, the Customs CG announced the largest pangolin scale seizure since 2020, with 9,493 kg of scales confiscated in collaboration with the Wildlife Justice Commission. The joint operation led to four arrests across Kano, Kaduna, and Lagos. The NCS continues to intensify efforts against wildlife trafficking, targeting supply routes in northern Nigeria and border areas.
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