Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate Datti Baba-Ahmed has claimed that he nearly halted the swearing-in of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He stated that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has not recovered from a few comments he made.
Speaking, Baba-Ahmed lamented that his warning to Nigerians was ignored.
He urged citizens not to wait for foreign powers, especially the United States, to rescue the country.
He said, “I nearly stopped the swearing-in of this government. Up till today, some elements are blaming me. Ever since a few comments I made, the APC has not recovered.
“We were telling the people repeatedly, and they wouldn’t listen. That is why we are paying a very high price.
He noted that he and others have advocated for such measures since 2019, and expressed relief that the President has shifted from his earlier position, which he described as insensitive, during attacks in the South-West.
Former Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has called on President Bola Tinubu to ban open grazing nationwide, describing it as the only sustainable solution to end the recurring violence between herders and farming communities.
Rhodes-Vivour welcomed the President’s recent directive supporting the establishment of ranches for herders, calling it a long-overdue and sensible step.
He noted that he and others have advocated for such measures since 2019, and expressed relief that the President has shifted from his earlier position, which he described as insensitive, during attacks in the South-West.
“The President’s recent directive supporting the establishment of ranches for herders as a means to reduce conflict and senseless killings across the country. This is a sensible step, one that should have been implemented long ago. We have actively clamoured and advocated this position since 2019.
“It is encouraging to finally see movement in the right direction,” Rhodes-Vivour said.
“I am happy to see that he has found his voice and recognises the painful reality Nigerians have been living with. This new acknowledgment is welcome, but it must be followed with real courage.”
He urged that banning open grazing, similar to practices in Namibia, would modernize livestock management, protect farming communities, and prevent avoidable clashes.
“To truly end this cycle of violence, the President must take the next bold step: ban open grazing nationwide. This is the only sustainable path toward modernizing livestock management, ensuring the safety of farming communities, and preventing these avoidable clashes. ( Namibia is an example that can be referenced)
“Nigeria has suffered enough. Let’s move decisively toward solutions that protect lives, respect communities, and bring lasting peace,” he added.
Rhodes-Vivour also criticised repeated paragraphs in official documents, stating that presidential aides must ensure thoroughness in communications, as the world is closely watching Nigeria’s response to its security challenges.
His statement comes amid the President’s declaration of a nationwide security emergency and directives for the recruitment of additional police and military personnel to tackle rising insecurity across the country.
Tinubu in a statement personally signed by him, on Wednesday, declared a nationwide security emergency and urged herders to end open grazing.
“Today, in view of the emerging security situation, I have decided to declare a nationwide security emergency and order additional recruitment into the Armed Forces.
“By this declaration, the police and the army are authorised to recruitmorepersonnel. The police will recruit anadditional 20,000 officers, bringing the total to 50,000,” he said.
“Our administration created the Livestock Ministry to address the persistent clashes between herders and farmers. I call on all herder associations to take advantage of it, end open grazing and surrender illegal weapons. Ranching is now the path forward for sustainable livestock farming and national harmony. The Federal Government, in collaboration with the states, will work withyou to solve this problem, once and forall.”
Former Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has called on President Bola Tinubu to ban open grazing nationwide, describing it as the only sustainable solution to end the recurring violence between herders and farming communities.
Rhodes-Vivour welcomed the President’s recent directive supporting the establishment of ranches for herders, calling it a long-overdue and sensible step.
He noted that he and others have advocated for such measures since 2019, and expressed relief that the President has shifted from his earlier position, which he described as insensitive, during attacks in the South-West.
“The President’s recent directive supporting the establishment of ranches for herders as a means to reduce conflict and senseless killings across the country. This is a sensible step, one that should have been implemented long ago. We have actively clamoured and advocated this position since 2019.
“It is encouraging to finally see movement in the right direction,” Rhodes-Vivour said.
“I am happy to see that he has found his voice and recognises the painful reality Nigerians have been living with. This new acknowledgment is welcome, but it must be followed with real courage.”
He urged that banning open grazing, similar to practices in Namibia, would modernize livestock management, protect farming communities, and prevent avoidable clashes.
“To truly end this cycle of violence, the President must take the next bold step: ban open grazing nationwide. This is the only sustainable path toward modernizing livestock management, ensuring the safety of farming communities, and preventing these avoidable clashes. ( Namibia is an example that can be referenced)
“Nigeria has suffered enough. Let’s move decisively toward solutions that protect lives, respect communities, and bring lasting peace,” he added.
Rhodes-Vivour also criticised repeated paragraphs in official documents, stating that presidential aides must ensure thoroughness in communications, as the world is closely watching Nigeria’s response to its security challenges.
His statement comes amid the President’s declaration of a nationwide security emergency and directives for the recruitment of additional police and military personnel to tackle rising insecurity across the country.
Tinubu in a statement personally signed by him, on Wednesday, declared a nationwide security emergency and urged herders to end open grazing.
“Today, in view of the emerging security situation, I have decided to declare a nationwide security emergency and order additional recruitment into the Armed Forces.
“By this declaration, the police and the army are authorised to recruitmorepersonnel. The police will recruit anadditional 20,000 officers, bringing the total to 50,000,” he said.
“Our administration created the Livestock Ministry to address the persistent clashes between herders and farmers. I call on all herder associations to take advantage of it, end open grazing and surrender illegal weapons. Ranching is now the path forward for sustainable livestock farming and national harmony. The Federal Government, in collaboration with the states, will work withyou to solve this problem, once and forall.”
Information reaching us have it that tragedy struck on Thursday in parts of Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State as a woman lost her life after being caught in a violent gun battle between unidentified gunmen and police escorts attached to a convoy linked to former Governor of the state and former Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige.
Former Spokesman to Ngige, Chief Fred Chukwulobe, who revealed this in a statement shared through his social media handle, explained that the deadly incident reportedly occurred when suspected armed men attacked the convoy along the busy Nkpor–Nnobi axis. Although Senator Ngige was not physically present in the convoy at the time of the attack, the escort team came under sudden and intense gunfire from the assailants.
During the attack, a police officer in the pilot vehicle of the convoy was reportedly shot, while his service rifle and uniform were forcibly seized by the attackers. The pilot vehicle was also reportedly riddled with bullets.
The incident, however, became fatal when, a woman (civilian) who was video-recording the gun battle with her phone was sighted and shot dead by the gunmen. Her death reportedly occurred instantly at the scene, igniting more panic in the area as residents scampered for safety.
Also caught in the crossfire was a shop owner in the area, who reportedly rushed out to observe the situation as the incident tarried; and he was also shot by the gunmen, resulting in serious injuries on him and loss of significant amount of blood. However, it was gathered that the victim has been hospitalized and is expected to make a full recovery after undergoing surgery to remove the bullets lodged in his body.
Further checks and details, according to Mr. Chukwulobe, revealed that no police officer was killed during the incident. The escort leader who sustained gunshot injuries was also said to have undergone successful surgery and currently responding positively to treatment.
It was learnt that the Ivorian government had already made arrangements to fly Jonathan using the country’s presidential jet, with some aides of President Bola Tinubu, getting in touch with a Jonathan aide in Abuja, rather than official communication from the highest level of the Nigerian government.
Côte d’Ivoire yesterday airlifted former President Goodluck Jonathan from Guinea-Bissau where the ex-Nigerian was trapped after a coup d’état in the West African country, once again bringing to the fore what appeared to be the increasingly lackadaisical posture of the Nigerian government.
While Abidjan acted with urgency to protect a visiting African leader, Abuja appeared flat-footed, offering little visible coordination or assertive diplomatic engagement despite Jonathan’s status as a former head of state and an envoy of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
It was learnt that the Ivorian government had already made arrangements to fly Jonathan using the country’s presidential jet, with some aides of President Bola Tinubu, getting in touch with a Jonathan aide in Abuja, rather than official communication from the highest level of the Nigerian government.
Côte d’Ivoire yesterday airlifted former President Goodluck Jonathan from Guinea-Bissau where the ex-Nigerian was trapped after a coup d’état in the West African country, once again bringing to the fore what appeared to be the increasingly lackadaisical posture of the Nigerian government.
While Abidjan acted with urgency to protect a visiting African leader, Abuja appeared flat-footed, offering little visible coordination or assertive diplomatic engagement despite Jonathan’s status as a former head of state and an envoy of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
It was learnt that the Ivorian government had already made arrangements to fly Jonathan using the country’s presidential jet, with some aides of President Bola Tinubu, getting in touch with a Jonathan aide in Abuja, rather than official communication from the highest level of the Nigerian government.
The Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has proposed cutting back on certain discretionary government services, including activities of the National Assembly, as a way to redirect funds toward tackling rising insecurity in Nigeria.
Ndume suggested that lawmakers could meet less frequently, such as on a quarterly basis, with compensation reflecting the adjusted sitting schedule.
He argued that Nigeria should reduce spending on areas that do not significantly benefit the majority of citizens and focus instead on ensuring public safety.