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.
Insecurity: ‘I didn’t know that God will disgrace me’ – Buba Galadima
A chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, Buba Galadima, has said that the escalating insecurity in the country has made him reassess his past criticisms of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
The NNPP chieftain stated this while fielding questions on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Monday.
Galadima said he was once one of Jonathan’s “greatest critics” but now believes the former president performed better in managing national security compared to those who succeeded him.
Galadima recalled that in the buildup to the 2015 general elections, Jonathan postponed the polls for six weeks to address rising insecurity, bringing in mercenaries who, according to him, helped stabilise the country and ensured elections were held in every polling unit nationwide.
He argued that the current government would not take similar steps if faced with a similar situation, alleging that it would instead allow insecurity to worsen in order to manipulate the electoral process.
Galadima said Jonathan’s decision at the time demonstrated a level of “humane” leadership and respect for democratic processes, despite knowing that a free and fair election could cost him a second term.
He said: “I spoke to journalists and I said something. Me that speak to you seated here was one of the greatest critics of Jonathan’s presidency. The way at that time he handled matters, I didn’t know that God will disgrace me to show me that Jonathan was even a saint and a better administrator than those that follow him.
“First, he is a third world leader. The insecurity reached its highest level, six weeks, I mean, some few days to election. And Jonathan suspended the election, put off the election, and took another six weeks and brought mercenaries.
“If this government today has that opportunity of chaos, one or two weeks to election, they will allow it continue so that they can write figures and announce themselves as winners. But Jonathan stopped that election, and he knew for sure that if there was a free and fair election, no incumbent government can get second term.
“He’s an educated man with PhD. He knows that, but because of his humane nature, he postponed the election for six weeks, brought in mercenaries, and within six weeks, those mercenaries stabilized Nigeria, and there was no polling booth in Nigeria that elections did not take place”.
Presidential Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, says Nigeria’s security agencies know the identities and locations of the bandit groups responsible for recent mass abductions, including the attack on St Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, Niger State. He warned, however, that military operations are often restrained by the danger of collateral damage to civilians living around the hideouts.
Speaking, Onanuga said: “The security people, they know all the bandits that are operating in that axis. They know them. They know where they operate.”
But despite this intelligence capability, he said the government cannot simply bomb suspected enclaves.
“Our people are living around where they operate. So you can’t just go there,” he noted. “They need to be very careful that in the course of chasing these bandits, they don’t go and bomb innocent Nigerians.”
Onanuga referenced a past error in which the military mistakenly struck civilians: “Some years ago in Borno State, when the military thought they had the right satellite connection, they bombed the wrong people. They must avoid that kind of mistake.”
Presiding Bishop of Living Faith Church Worldwide, David Oyedepo, has called on Christians in the country to intercede in prayers following recent attacks on churches that have left several worshippers dead and others abducted.
Speaking at the 4th Pre-Shiloh Encounter Service yesterday, Oyedepo expressed deep concern over the state of the nation.
He said: “Developments in the past two weeks, particularly in Nigeria, are worrisome to say the least. There is need for a prompt response in prayers to stop the killings once and for all. You can’t trade people’s lives for your comfort.
“All the innocent blood shared is speaking vengeance…all the perpetrators will pay with their lives.”
The governor said: “On this day, I call upon every resident of Borno, regardless of faith, to join in prayer for the lasting peace and prosperity of our beloved state and Nigeria.
“Consequently, let us therefore devote ourselves to constant prayers, seeking Almighty God’s mercy.
“I also urge the people to use this period to pray for divine protection against evildoers, saboteurs, and all enemies of peace.”