Personality in Focus
Benue, Kebbi, Delta, Kaduna CPs, RRS Commander, Others Felicitate with Ogunsan on NAOSNP Man of the Year Award
Benue, Kebbi, Delta, Kaduna CPs, RRS Commander, Others Felicitate with Ogunsan on NAOSNP Award
Accolades have continued to trail the Chairman, Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Dr. Ayo Ogunsan, on his well deserved award as the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP) Man of the Year.
Among the latest of congratulatory messages to honour the celebrated philanthropist were from distinguished Commissioners of Police from various states of the Federation including Wale Abass of Benue State, Ari Mohammed Ali of Delta State, Ahmed Kontagora of Kebbi State and Yekini Ayoku of Kaduna State. Others are CP Jonathan Towuru, who is in charge of Ports Authority, Western Command, Apapa and CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi, Commander, Rapid Response Squad (RRS) Lagos.
In their separate congratulatory messages, the senior Police officers noted that Ogunsan is well fitted for the award as a result of his unequalled humanitarian tendencies and passion to ensure that security is maintained at all levels of human existence, especially in Lagos State..
“The Award is no doubt a fitting recognition of your selfless service in the security sector. The Invaluable role you have played and will to play to play in the nation’s security space has not gone unnoticed. It is hoped that you will continue to place at the service of our fatherland, your deep wealth of knowledge and experience in your professional calling and vocation. Be assured, history and posterity will have a pride of place to record your patriotic contributions as we work collectively towards securing our people,” the Kaduna State CP, Yekini Ayoku revealed.
In his remarks, the CP Towuru of the Ports Authority Command said:
“While celebrating your achievements within the security sector and the due recognition accorded, it is expedient to remind your humble self that there is still much work to be done. The challenges are enormous as can be gleaned from the theme of this year’s conference, but not insurmountable with active collaborations of all stakeholders.
“I rejoice with you once more and also accept my congratulations on this great and noble achievements.”
Ogunsan is expected to receive his award among other awardees during NAOSNP National Security Conference billed to hold on Wednesday September 21, 2022 at the prestigious Civic Centre on Victoria Island, Lagos.
The theme of the even is Crime Prevention and Intelligence Gathering: Institutionalising Citizen Participation, Technology and Way Forward, and will be chaired by an elder statesman and former Governor of Ogun State, Otunbe Segun Osoba.
Other dignitaries expected at the meet are former Minister of External Affairs and Military Administrator of old Imo State, General Ike Nwachukwu (Retd.), Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Chief of Army Staff, General Farouk Yahaya; Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba; Commandant General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and a host of others.
When the President called to inform me of his decision to magnanimously confer on me the the National Award of Commander of the Federal Republic, CFR, on account of my much advertised role in the struggle for the validation of the June 12th election and affirmation of Chief MKO Abiola’s mandate, my first reaction was why only me and not all those unsung heroes. Those officers and men who actively participated in that struggle, risking their careers and even lives.
Although I was one of the leaders of that movement within the military, my contribution was by no means bigger than theirs. While I have been recognised and celebrated, including this National Honour by the President, they have remained anonymous.
It is therefore incumbent upon me to reveal the identity of these patriots if only to acknowledge and commend their contributions to the emergence of the current democratic dispensation.
The fact that Chief Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12th election won over 80% of the Armed Forces votes, clearly demonstrated the contribution of the other members of the military. I should add that this list is by no means exhaustive.
There are a lot more participants who have remained unknown to me since they served under others. I apologise to all those whose names I must have missed.
May God recognise and reward your sacrifice.
Top on my list is my deputy at the Armoured Corps Centre and School, Col MA Garba, whose commitment was so strong that he continued with the execution of our plans after some of us were arrested, detained and mercifully retired in October, 1993. He went on, as he should, to attain the enviable rank of a Major General in the army.
Others are:
-Lt col Lawal Jaafaru Isa.
-Lt col UF Ahmed.
-Lt col MS Dasuki.
-Lt col ML Gwadabe.
-Lt col J. Temlong.
-Lt col Musa Shehu.
-Lt col Chris Eze.
-Lt col HM Dzarma.
-Lt col Isa Jibrin.
-Lt col JOS Oshanupin.
-Lt Col A Oloruntoba(kabiesi Olugbede of Gbede kingdom).
-Lt col Moke.
-Lt col Happy Bulus.
-Lt col Olagunsoye Oyinlola.
-Col J Okai.
-Col E. Ndubueze.
-Lt col Yakubu Muazu.
-Lt col Yahaya Abubakar ( current Etsu Nupe).
-Major Saad Abubakar (current Sultan of Sokoto).
-Maj Abba Maimalari.
-Maj Jamil Tahir.
-Maj Buzugbe.
-Maj LP Aprezi.
-Maj MK Yake.
-Maj J Dawah.
-Maj Suleiman Wali.
-Maj Dauda Komo.
-Maj Lucky Torrie.
-Maj JS Zaruwa.
-Maj M Sumaye.
-Maj Sani Bawa.
-Maj Ndaliman.
Maj Ahmed.
-Maj M Bawa.
-Lt col JB Ahmadu.
-Capt Junaid Bindawa.
-Capt Lar.
I therefore accept this award with all sense of humility on behalf of all these officers and men. Obviously, it goes without saying that this award will be doubly more meaningful if the democracy we all fought for delivers the real dividends.
This can happen only if leaders at all levels govern with the fear of God and in accordance with the tenets of democracy. It remains the hope and prayers of all patriots that nothing is done to derail this infant democracy.
To achieve the stability and progress of our democracy, leaders must prioritise good governance over politicking for self aggrandizement.
The three co-equal branches of government must operate independently while cooperating with each other.
One enduring lesson from the conduct of the officers and men is their decision to operate above sycophancy but to hold their superior officers to account.
Sadly, this does not appear to have a positive impact on our political leaders. Sycophancy everywhere has become the scourge of selfless and accountable leadership. It is the reason for the arrogance and vanity we see in our leaders at all levels. Men of straw are widely and falsely being elevated to the position of icons by self seeking sycophants.
Mr President must lead in a war against sycophancy in all its forms. This must allow for no exceptions including the rapidly growing trend of naming and renaming public institutions, facilities and other infrastructure after a President or State Governor while in office.
The other day, the Senate President was reported to have predicted that President Bola Tinubu would win the 2027 election with 99.9% of the votes! Even allowing for the fact that this Senate President is widely known for his humorous incitement, Mr President will do well to shun such oracles.
God bless Nigeria.
Abubakar Dangiwa Umar,
Colonel (Retd)
Deputy National Chairman (North) of the All Progressives Congress, Ali Bukar Dalori, has assumed office as the acting National Chairman of the ruling party.
This came following the resignation of Abdullahi Ganduje on Friday.
Ganduje’s resignation, though not officially explained as of press time, reportedly took many by surprise.
A top party official confirmed, “Yes, it is true. He has resigned.”
One source said his resignation may be linked to ongoing permutations around the vice-presidential slot, with increasing pressure to zone it to the North-West, Ganduje’s region.
“If the vice-presidential ticket is retained in the Northwest, the party chairmanship might have to shift elsewhere. Don’t forget, the APC had originally zoned the national chairmanship to the North-Central,” the source said.
Dalori, who holds the northern portfolio, now steps in.
Amid the quiet evacuation of Ganduje’s personal belongings from his office, staff and visitors at the APC national secretariat were left in shock.
As the party prepares to fill the vacancy, insiders say former Nasarawa State Governor, Senator Tanko Al-Makura, is a leading contender.
“Al-Makura is top of that list, as far as I know,” a source stated.
The Daily Editor of Vanguard Newspaper, Mr. Eze Anaba, has been re-elected as National President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE).
He was re-elected at the Biennial National Convention of the Guild currently going on at the International Conference Centre, Enugu.
Anaba was returned unopposed, a development attributed to his widely acknowledged record of administrative capability.
Also elected at the convention was the Managing Director of The Sun newspaper, Mr. Onuoha Ukoh, who clinched the position of General Secretary with 218 votes.
He defeated his closest rivals – Wole Sogunle and Qasim Akinreti – who polled 45 and 30 votes respectively.
Other elected officers include:
Deputy President: Sabastine Abu (175 votes), defeating Mohammed Sanusi Jubrin.
Vice President, West: Karbi Alabi
Vice Presidents: Hamza Idris and Sheddy Ozoene
Treasurer: Iyobosa Uwugiaren
Assistant Secretary: Gabriel Fulajimi Akinadewo
Publicity Secretary: Charles Kanu
Members elected into the Standing Committee from various zones are: Rose Moses, Ejiro Umukoro, Olabisi Deji-Folutile, Juliet Bumah, Umoru Ibrahim, Paulyn Ugbodaga, Chinedu Max Egere, and Ikpong Essien-Udoh.
The convention, which attracted over 400 editors from across Nigeria, was graced by several notable media veterans and public figures. Among the dignitaries in attendance were founder of Channels Television, Dr. John Momoh; former Ogun State Governor, Chief Segun Osoba; ex-NDDC Chairman, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu; and former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, Femi Adesina.
