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Buhari Tasks Army to Remain Neutral, Professional Ahead 2023 Elections
He commended the doggedness of the Nigerian Army for returning peace not only to the northeastern part of the country but the entire country.
He expressed confidence that the renewed vigour and standard injected in operations as well as the collective resolve and improved civil-military relations would engender lasting peace and stability in the country.
The president reiterated that the provision of security to Nigerians would continue to receive premium attention by his administration, adding that deliberate actions are ongoing to provide the necessary support to enhance national security.
Citing numerous equipment and facilities provided to boost the capability of the Nigerian Armed Forces, Buhari pledged that special intervention would be made to fast-track the activation of the Nigerian Army Aviation.
‘‘Additionally, is the acquisition of platforms for the Army Aviation which has been considered in the 2023 Budget.
‘‘This modernisation drive would be vigorously sustained as efforts are also being made to reform our indigenous military industrial complex, through partnership with our allies.
‘‘I am optimistic that this objective will be achieved soon to make us self-reliant in meeting our defence needs,’’ he said.
Buhari further urged the military to maintain the tempo in all theatres and double efforts in information gathering to comprehensively defeat all forms of security threats facing the nation.
Speaking earlier in his remarks, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Faruk Yahaya, assured that the Nigerian Army would remain apolitical during the polls.
He assured that the Nigerian Army would build upon the success recorded during the recent governorship elections in Osun, Ekiti and Anambra states.
While commending Buhari for his support to its operations over the years, the army chief reassured the president and the citizens of the country of continuous loyalty to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He said the Buhari-led administration had done more than enough in assisting the security agencies especially the Nigerian Army in its fight to restore peace and tranquility to every part of the country, especially the North-East and the North-West.
Also speaking in his remarks, the governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, commended the efforts of the Nigerian Army for restoring peace not only to the state but the entire North-West.
He reaffirmed the commitment of his administration to continue to support the security agencies in the state to sustain the return of peace back to the state.
He said his administration had recently increased subvention support given to the security agencies in the state by 150 percent.
The Punch
The first hostages freed from Gaza under a long-awaited ceasefire agreement are back in Israel. The news sparked jubilant scenes in Tel Aviv where large crowds gathered ahead of their release.
The three freed Israeli hostages – the first of 33 to be released over the next six weeks – are Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari. They are said to be in good health and are receiving treatment at a medical center in Tel Aviv.
In exchange, 90 Palestinian prisoners and detainees are set to be released by Israel from Ofer Prison in the occupied West Bank.
The Israeli military withdrew from several locations in southern and northern Gaza after the truce began earlier on Sunday, an Israeli military official told CNN.
Displaced Gazans have started returning to their homes, while the aid trucks laden with much-needed supplies have crossed into Gaza. Here’s what we know about how the ceasefire deal will work.
Hamas, despite suffering devastating losses, is framing the Gaza ceasefire agreement as a victory for itself, and a failure for Israel.
One of Hamas’ main goals for taking some 250 people during its brazen October 7, 2023, attack on Israel was to secure the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. As Israel pounded Gaza in response, Hamas vowed not to return the hostages until Israel withdrew its forces from the enclave, permanently ended the war, and allowed for rebuilding.
Source: CNN
The leader of UK’s Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has said she doesn’t want Britain to be like Nigeria that is plagued by “terrible governments.”
Speaking on Thursday at an event organised by Onward, a British think tank producing research on economic and social issues, Badenoch expressed fears that Britain may become like Nigeria if the system is not reformed.
“And why does this matter so much to me? It’s because I know what it is like to have something and then to lose it,” Badenoch told the audience.
“I don’t want Britain to lose what it has.
“I grew up in a poor country and watched my relatively wealthy family become poorer and poorer, despite working harder and harder as their money disappeared with inflation.
“I came back to the UK aged 16 with my father’s last £100 in the hope of a better life.
“So I have lived with the consequences of terrible governments that destroy lives, and I never, ever want it to happen here.”
Badenoch has been in the news of late after she dissociated herself from Nigeria, saying she has nothing to do with the Islamic northern region.
She also accused the Nigeria Police of robbing citizens instead of protecting them.
She said: “My experience with the Nigeria Police was very negative. Coming to the UK, my experience with the British Police was very positive.
“The police in Nigeria will rob us (laughter). When people say I have this bad experience with the police because I’m black, I say well…I remember the police stole my brother’s shoe and his watch.”
