Bauchi/Benue Govs’ feud: Gov Diri to the rescue

By Princess Rose Yusuf

The Bayelsa State Governor, Duoye Diri has waded in to the war of words between the Governors of Bauchi and Benue State as the recent altercations between the Governors have become very disturbing.
He called on the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to wade in and ensure that the matter is resolved.
He was speaking during a courtesy visit to Governor Bala Muhammed in Bauchi State Government’s House Thursday.
Diri said,
“The raging current issue between two brother Governors of the same party is not good, I seize this opportunity to advise and call on both of you who are members of our great party to please cease further actions and reactions on the burning national security issues.
“May I also use the opportunity to call on our party to immediately intervene and resolve whatever issues that are still yet unresolved amicably as a party and as brothers.”

In his response, Governor Muhammed promised to cooperate and reduce the tension and he gave the assurance that no words would be heard on the matter again. He also seized the opportunity to  apologise to all Governors, the national assembly, his constituents and all Nigerians.
He said, “There is no disharmony between me and my brother and my friend in Benue, we are just having the courage to discourse a burning National issue and I am happy that Nigerians have the opportunity, to discourse the issue and we are going to do everything on my own part to make sure we disedcalate the issue that it will not bring injury to our party and to national unity. I was not doing anything in anyway to insult, or to cause any injury to my brother whom I have worked together with at the cabinet and now as Governors.
“I want to use this opportunity to apologise to my various contituencies; especially the national assembly even though I said the truth but it has injured their sensibilities or it has touched on their privileged as we used to say in parliamentary parlance.
“I was doing it out of nationalism and patriotism. At the same time the Governors if what I said was also injurious to them, I apologise to them and say sorry to them and indeed all Nigerians.
“But certainly as I said, my brother, I have no apology for saying the truth, but certainly sometimes you say the truth and it would be injurious.

Amnesty for Bandits: coalition of Northern groups aligns with Gumi

The coalition of Northern groups says it aligns with the position of Islamic scholar sheikh Ahmed Gumi on the need to grant Bandits amnesty.

The group also said they support the decision of the amalgamated Union of foodstuff and cattle dealers of Nigeria to suspend the movement of goods to the south as way to press for compesation of losses suffered by its members.
The spokesperson of the group Abdulazeez Suleiman stated this during a news conference  in Abuja Thursday.
“We align directly with Sheikh Ahmad Guni’s position with regards to constructive engagement, opportunity for amnesty leading to reorientation, reintegration and reassimilation of those who embrace peace within a reasonable time frame after which resort can be made to force in crushing the recalcitrant ones.
“It is important to place on record that all those against the proposal for engagement for peaceful resolution of the conflict by singling out sheikh Ahmad Gunmi for attack are those who benefit directly from the conflict with proceeds from the supply if arms and drugs or remotely with the hope of riding to power on its back.

Tears flow freely as NAF buries officers

When an officer of the Nigerian armed forces dies in active service, his shoes are laid on a coffin wrapped with the nation’s green and white flag signifying the maximum honour in the funeral of the personel.

This was the sorrowful scene at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja, on February 25, 2021 for the seven Airforce personel
who died in the crash of a military aircraft while trying to rescue the kidnapped school children and their teachers in Niger State

The military aircraft crashed near Nigeria’s capital Abuja.

The plane was scheduled to conduct a surveillance mission in connection with an operation to rescue dozens of people abducted from a school in nearby Niger State.

As a mark of final respect, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), buried the personnel who died in the Beechcraft King Air B350i that crash on Feb. 21.
The officers were buried in National Military Cemetery, Karonmajigi, Airport Road, Abuja.

The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), AVM Oladayo Amao, said that the officers had paid the supreme price in the service to the nation.

“I stand here today bearing my personal grief as well as the entire NAF and the country as we lay to rest the remains of our fallen colleagues while in active duty to the service of their fatherland.

“I must confess that even at this moment, NAF is still in palpable shock and grieving very deeply upon this loss of our gallant and courageous heroes,” he said.

Amao said that it was in connection with the concerted efforts to secure the release of the staff and students abducted from the Government Science College Kagara, Niger that the officer died.

He advised that the death of the officers and airmen ought to spur the rest of Nigerians to relentlessly expose and fight crimes.

“We must throw everything that we have into this fight to ensure that our departed colleagues did not die in vain.

“Their death is a huge loss to NAF family and indeed the entire nation.

“They will be greatly missed but fondly remembered for their invaluable services to the nation and humanity,” he said.

The CAS also assured the families of the late officers that the service is with them at this time, as well as others both within and outside the country.

Earlier, the Director, NAF Chaplaincy Protestants, Group Capt. Dogo Gani, prayed that the remains of the fallen heroes continue to rest in peace.

Gani urged all the NAF personnel as well as the civilian staff of the service to make it a point of duty to pray for the souls of the fallen heroes to rest in the bosom hands of the Almighty God.