₦airaland Forum

BUHARI: BEYOND THE IRON AND STEEL

They were called the unsmiling duo. In his first incarnation as Nigerian leader, the then Major General Muhammadu Buhari was paired with another top brass military officer, Babatunde Idiagbon, who was the number two man. Smile was alien to their lips, laughter a total stranger. They had a job to do, which was to rid the country of corruption, crime and indiscipline, and anybody who didn't fall in line was liable to being dealt with. And summarily too. Laughter was, therefore, a distraction.
Buhari was reticent, Idiagbon, taciturn. A fearful and fearsome combination. Do the crime, serve the time was their motto. Manifest indiscipline, even in something as pressing as answering the call of nature, urinate by the roadside, and you can't tell anybody it was the work and of the Devil. They would tell you the Devil does not pee. Vandalize public utilities? Twenty years in jail. Traffic in cocaine? Goodbye to the world. Nigeria was being whipped into line, and no mistake. But that nirvana lasted only 20 months, and forces of reaction struck. The regime was toppled.
Along the line, Idiagbon went the way of all flesh. But 30 years later, Providence brought Buhari back to the number one position. Did Nigerians who were of age forget the reticent, ramrod straight man from Daura? No. The mental image they had (and still have) of him, is a man of iron and steel, a new sheriff in town, who whips all malefactors into line. A forbidding man who rarely smiles, and who never enjoys the music of the soul; laughter. Such frivolities are for the flippant and unserious. True? Not so. Yes, there is iron and steel in President Buhari, which makes him able to set his face as flint against the corrupt, no matter who such person is. The iron makes him abhor indiscipline, the steel compels him to crave order and decorum at all times. But is the man all iron and steel? Follow me, as I let you into another vista, another side of the essential Buhari. The human sde, flesh and blood.
By Wednesday, June 1, it would be exactly a year that I started working with the President as his adviser on media and publicity. And I have seen him in many moods: sober, pensive, business-like, and light, yes, easy, jocular mood. This President enjoys good laughter, and, indeed, has a rich sense of humour.
On resumption day, I met the President at Defence House, his temporary outpost, while the Aso Rock presidential villa was being renovated.
"Chief Adesina, welcome," he said, as he exteded his hand to me. We both burst out laughing. Of course, I was no chief. Simply Mr. And the President knew it. He was only pulling my legs.
Having waved me to a seat, the President gave me what can be called the rule of engagement, which would guide my service to him, and to the country.
"Tell me the truth always," he declared. " That is what I want from you. The truth. I may argue with you, you know I am a General, but please argue with me. If your argument is superior, I will bow to it."
And the President has lived up to his word, one year down the road.
On his very first day at Aso Villa, I had approached the President, saying it was necessary for him to visit journalists covering the seat of power at the Press Gallery. He agreed, and strolled from his office a few minutes later. In his first coming, the then General Buhari was not known to be enamoured of the Press. He enacted Decree 4, which was meant to protect public officers against false accusation, and two journalists were actually jailed under the decree.
For President Buhari to then visit journalists in their gallery on the first day at the presidential villa was, therefore, historic. The true democrat was here. After his remarks, soliciting the support of the press men, he shook their hands one after the other, making witty remarks. When Juliana Taiwo Obalonye introduced herself as representing The Sun, the President said:"Warn your cartoonist. Warn your cartoonist. My chin is not as long as he usually draws it." Loud guffaws from everyone.
He had one thing or the other to say about almost all the media houses present. It was an evening of conviviality.
There were two instances when the President exhibited good humour at what could potentially rile someone else. Following his many overseas trips, which have been unjustifiably criticised in the media, there was a cartoon in a newspaper, which said when a country elects a nomadic Fulani as President, how would they expect him to sit in one place? The President laughed and laughed. He even told the story to some people who visited him later in the day.
On another occasion, somebody wrote an opinion piece with the headline: 'When will President Buhari visit Nigeria?' Rib cracking laughter was what it elicited in the President. The writer was insinuating that the President was more abroad than at home, and whenever he came back, it meant he was visiting Nigeria. But since the President knew the purpose behind his foreign trips, he rather laughed off the cheeky newspaper headline.
Have you heard the story of the German sentry? The President loves to tell it. The first occasion I heard him relate the story was when the Peace Committee headed by Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar visited him. Also in the team were people like the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Sa'ad Abubakar 111, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, and many others. They had come to appeal that the anti- corruption war be waged within the ambit of the rule of law. The President listened patiently, and then responded:
"In the military, there used to be this joke about the German sentry. When a sentry is on duty, and he heard any movement, particularly if it was dark, he barks out. 'Who goes there? Advance to be recognized.' With his gun at the ready, he interrogates the person, and if he tells an acceptable story, he waves the person on. But when the German sentry hears movement in the dark, he lets out a volley of shots, and then shouts:'Who went there?' Of course, he knows he has killed the person."
The President explained that when he came as a military ruler, he was like the German sentry. " I packed all the people who were suspected to be corrupt, and kept them in protective custody. And I told them they were corrupt, until they could prove themselves innocent.
"But now, under a democratic setting, I see corrupt people going around in Rolls Royce, but they remain innocent, until I can prove them guilty."
Of course, the President and his guests laughed heartily.
From time to time, President Buhari grants interviews to television stations at home and abroad. And they have to fit their microphones on his dress. Whenever the interview is concluded, the President would fiddle with the microphone, which had been passed under his dress, and then exclaim:"Can somebody disarm me, please?" For a retired army officer, that is quite creative, and it causes people to laugh.
The President notices everything, even the seemingly insignificant. One day, I was in a Yoruba native dress, with a cap which was rather big for my head, product of a tailor who was too generous with his fabric. When the President saw me, he said:"Adesina, this cap is too big." I was surprised at his attention to details. Or talk of Bayo Omoboriowo, the President's personal photographer. Typical of his young age, Bayo loves multi-coloured socks, which may, or may not rhyme with the colour of his clothing. And he would wear trousers that are several inches above his shoes, thus displaying Joseph's coat of many colours, which his socks are. That has become his trademark. And then comes in Bayo one day, donning sober socks like people of my generation would wear. To our amazement, President Buhari said:"Bayo, you are not wearing multi-coloured socks today. What happened?" General laughter.
In 1985, while he was military head of state, Nigeria won its first Under 17 World Cup title. Thirty years later, under President Buhari, Nigeria won the same laurel again. The day the trophy was handed over to him, the President admired it, turned it from side to side, and then submitted:"Soccer loves me." Really true.
Those who think President Buhari is all iron and steel and nothing else have not experienced what I did in 2013. My mum had passed on, aged 75. We planned a commendation service for her in Lagos, and I had invited a number of people, Gen Buhari included. As I stayed with my siblings at the gate of the hall in Alausa, welcoming people, an SUV drove in. The door opened, and a man alighted. Who was he? "General, you are here!You came all the way from Kaduna!" I exclaimed. And he gave that smile that often makes him look like a child, without guile or trickery. Simple, trusting. He said it was his pleasure to come, and he sat through the Christian service. Didn't some people say he was a religious bigot? Bigotry sure needs to be redefined.
The same thing the President has done this week. Peter Claver Oparah is a dyed-in- the-wool Buhari supporter. His mother died and was buried just yesterday in Imo State. When I told President Buhari that one of his most ardent supporters had lost the mother, he sympathized, did the family a condolence letter, which he personally signed. How very human!
Last Decembr, I told the President that it would be good if he made personal calls to some of his faithful supporters, to wish them a merry Christmas. He agreed. We compiled the names. Rev Moses Iloh. Rev Chris Okotie. Barrister Monday Ubani. Chief Duro Onabule. Gen Sam Momah (retd), and many others. The President spoke with them one after the other, laughing and making them laugh at the other end. Then, he told me to include Dr Tunji Braithwaite in the list. I quickly called journalist and activist, Richard Akinnola, who gave me the man's number. The President and Dr Braithwaite talked for a very long time, and it was mirth all the way. They kept laughing. Unknown to the President, it was a valedictory call. When Braithwaite passed on about two months later, the President told me he was glad he had spoken to him that December night. It was their last conversation.
My sister, Professor Foluke Ogunleye, died in an auto crash last December. The President read of the tragedy in the newspaper, and placed a call to me. He was quite sympathetic. It pacified me a great deal, and reduced my status as a wailing wailer.
Give me a stern President. We need such. But also give me a human and humane President. We equally need such. All these are embodied in Muhammadu Buhari, the man whose footprints would be indellible in the sands of time in Nigeria. He would bring change, and the change would be enduring.

.Adesina is Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, to President
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1023426457749694&id=100002470489894

The Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Oyo State, will on Friday graduate 10,317 students and conferred first class honours on 105 graduands and 112 doctorate degrees on Post graduates students at its 13th convocation ceremony.
The Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof Adeniyi Gbadegesin disclosed this while addressing journalists at press conference held at the newly built TETFUND hall, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso, on Wednesday.
Gbadegin disclosed that this year’s convocation ceremony commenced on April 15 and will end on Saturday April 23, with the university conferring honours on a total of 10,317 first degrees on persons for the award of degrees in both 2013/2014 and 2014 and 2014/2015 academic sessions.
According to him, 105 make first class honours; 50 student’s in 2013/14 and 55 students in 2014/15 academic sessions, while for the first time LAUTECH crossed the 100 landmark for
doctorate degrees with 112 students for Ph.D.
Other categories Gbadegesin said includes; 2,434 students in the second class upper division, 5,527 students in Second class Lower Division, 1,692 in the Third Class Division, 122 in the Third Class Division and 437 in the unclassified category.
The university don also disclosed that Ige Olufemi Elijah of the Department of Mathematics and Sanni Saidat Abidemi of the department of Statistics emerged best graduating students for 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 respectively.
Ige emerged with 4.85 Cumulative Grade Point of Average (CGPA), while Saidat emerged over all best student of the institution this session with 4.88 CGPA.
http://thenationonlineng.net/lautech-graduate-10317-105-first-class-112-ph-d/

UPDATE ON KIDNAP OF COLONEL SAMAILA INUSA; HE HAD BEEN KILLED

The Nigerian Army wishes to regrettably inform the public that Colonel Samaila Inusa who was kidnapped on Sunday 27th March 2016, was found dead today at about 6.00pm. Preliminary investigation revealed that most likely the late senior officer was killed same day he was kidnapped by his abductors. This is because the body was found already decomposing around Ajyaita village off Eastern Bypass Kaduna, Kaduna State.
Arrangements are in progress to move the body to 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna. May His soul rest in peace, Amen.

We wish to state in unmistakeable terms that whoever is behind his abduction and murder would be fished out to face the full wrath of the law.

You are kindly requested to disseminate this information to the public through your medium.

Thank you for your kind cooperation.

Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman
Acting Director, Army Public Relations

We killed a Snake today at our Corpers Lodge in Sapele Today
Cc
lalasticlala

Are you interested in working with RCCG? Here is your opportunity. Send your CV to this mail NOW and tell others: admin@trccgpsf.org INTERNAL ADVERTISEMENT The Redeemed Christian Church of God invite application from suitably qualified candidates for employment into offices in the Redemption Camp in the following professional speciality areas: Town PlannersRCCG/CODE/001 Building EngineersRCCG/CODE/002 Architects RCCG/CODE/003 Structural Engineers RCCG/CODE/004 Landscape Planner (Horticulturist)RCCG/CODE/005 Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) SpecialistRCCG/ CODE/006 CartographersRCCG/CODE/007 Quantity SurveyorRCCG/CODE/008 Civil EngineersRCCG/CODE/009 Mechanical EngineersRCCG/CODE/0010 Electrical EngineersRCCG/CODE/0011 Electronic Engineers RCCG/CODE/0012 Electronic Material Store OfficerRCCG/CODE/0013 Technicians (Plumbing, Electrical, Mechanic and Electronic) RCCG/CODE/0014 Chemical EngineerRCCG/CODE/0015 Water Specialist EngineerRCCG/CODE/0016 QUALIFICATIONS: For positions i. to xii, a good Bachelor Degree with a minimum of Second Class Lower or Higher National Diploma (HND) with Upper Credit from a recognized accredited tertiary Institution. For positions xiii and xiv, an Ordinary National Diploma (OND) with Upper Credit from a recognized accredited tertiary Institution. Prospective candidates should be a member of relevant professional body such as COREN, NSE, NIA, etc. Candidates must be highly computer literate, particularly with applications such as AutoCAD and other Engineering Design Software. Candidate must be born again child of God, Baptized Member and Certified Worker in the Redeemed Christian Church of God. METHOD OF APPLICATION: Interested candidates for the advertised positions should prepare detailed Curriculum Vitae which must include: Name of three Referees (one of whom must be a Pastor I/C of Province or a substantive Head of Department or Special Unit in RCCG). Suitably qualified current employee of the Mission may apply if they wish. EXPERIENCE: Minimum of 4 years post NYSC relevant working experience required. REMUNERATION: The salary package attached to each position is very attractive with fringe benefits obtainable within the range in the RCCG salary scale and condition of service. Happy sunday

President Muhammadu Buhari has
approved the appointment of Mrs.
Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire as his
Senior Special Assistant on
Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs).
Mrs. Orelope-Adefulire served as
Deputy-Governor of Lagos State in the
last administration and is an
accomplished politician with many
years of experience in public service.
She has also served as Commissioner
for Women Affairs and Poverty
Alleviation in Lagos State.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media& Publicity)
March 7, 2016
http://www.statehouse.gov.ng/index.php/news/1996-former-deputy-governor-appointed-ssa-to-the-president-on-sdgs

Happy birthday to our amiable Vice President

Oluyemi Oluleke Osinbajo (born 8 March 1957) is the Vice President of Nigeria , in office since 29 May 2015. He is
also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, [2] Professor of Law and until his inauguration as Vice President, a Senior Partner
with SimmonsCooper Partners, a commercial law practice.

OVI75:
Wu do we blv nw,sahara liars or liar muhmd?or nid I remind op,DAT d tweet WS on sat.around 5pm,NAD he WSmeant to minister 9am after wish its posble to be in Dubai as at wensahara liar,tweets abt his yemi d traveler.

Sahara said Vacation, so how come VP will leave vacation to come and preach.
I smell lies sahara reporters.
Media agencies like Sahara reporters will reboke the dying state of the social media bill

it's good Sahara reporters are more accurate with their information

The Vice President as claimed by Sahara reporters is not in Dubai. He will be ministering at RCCG OLIVE PARISH BANANA ISLAND

The Vice President as claimed by Sahara reporters is not in Dubai. He will be ministering in RCCG Olive Parish Banana Island Lagos

Proudly Ladoke

Her name was DOLAPO Agric Economics Graduate A fellow LADOKITE REST IN PEACE MATE

victorazy:
Bubu is just a scalawag.
If Kogi is also rigd he should order for INEC to reep Bello of APC off the flag

Bro its spelt scallywag
Why not just speak simple English

Pls will i get a place to repair my phone in the maami market, My phone got spoilt and I'm travelling tomorrow

Pls will i get a place to repair my phone in the maami market, My phone got spoilt and I'm travelling tomorrow

Team Rivers Team Lautech Stream 1 Guys show some love Add me up, 07068375842

Team Delta Team Lautech Stream 1

There were only two Batches this year because of the general elections Starting from next year there would be there batches again

emmalezy:
[img]http://1.bp..com/-ygJ5xOEnfSo/VhKSYYcbvJI/AAAAAAAG3EU/D3SunMiDZ58/s400/unnamed.jpg[/img]
Love Oyedepo and husband Stephen Ogah, who got married in 2013, welcomed their first child in September. The baby named Rejoice Ibukun Lydia, was dedicated yesterday. Congrats to them.

source
http://www.reportnaija.com/2015/10/bishop-oyedepos-first-daughter-welcomes.html

Congrats

PASTOR E.A Adeboye finished from OAU, only had his MSC and PHD in UNILAG I rep LAUTECH

Being text of speech by President Muhammadu Buhari to mark Nigeria’s 55th Independence anniversary. OCTOBER 1 is a day for joy and celebrations for us Nigerians whatever the circumstances we find ourselves in because it is the day, 55 years ago; we liberated ourselves from the shackles of colonialism and began our long march to nationhood and to greatness. No temporary problems or passing challenges should stop us from honoring this day. Let us remind ourselves of the gifts God has given us. Our Creator has bequeathed to us Numbers – Nigeria is the ninth most populated country on the planet. We have in addition: • Arable land • Water • Forests • Oil and gas • Coastline • Solid minerals We have all the attributes of a great nation. We are not there yet because the one commodity we have been unable to exploit to the fullest is unity of purpose. This would have enabled us to achieve not only more orderly political evolution and integration but also continuity and economic progress. Countries far less endowed have made greater economic progress by greater coherence and unity of purpose. Nonetheless, that we have remained together is an achievement we should all appreciate and try to consolidate. We have witnessed this year a sea change in our democratic development. The fact that an opposition party replaced an entrenched government in a free and fair election is indicative of the deeper roots of our democratic system. Whatever one’s views are, Nigerians must thank former President Jonathan for not digging-in in the face of defeat and thereby saving the country untold consequences. As I said in my inaugural speech, I bear no ill will against anyone on past events. Nobody should fear anything from me. We are not after anyone. People should only fear the consequences of their actions. I hereby invite everyone, whatever his or her political view to join me in working for the nation. My countrymen and women, every new government inherits problems. Ours was no different. But what Nigerians want are solutions, quick solutions not a recitation of problems inherited. Accordingly, after consultations with the Vice President, senior party leaders and other senior stakeholders, I quickly got down to work on the immediate, medium-term and long-term problems which we must solve if we are to maintain the confidence which Nigerians so generously bestowed on us in the March elections and since then. As you know, I toured the neighboring countries, marshal a coalition of armed forces of the five nations to confront and defeat Boko Haram. I met also the G-7 leaders and other friendly presidents in an effort to build an international coalition against Boko Haram. Our gallant armed forces under new leadership have taken the battle to the insurgents, and severely weakened their logistical and infrastructural capabilities. Boko Haram are being scattered and are on the run. That they are resorting to shameless attacks on soft targets such as IDP camps is indicative of their cowardice and desperation. I have instructed security and local authorities to tighten vigilance in vulnerable places. On power, government officials have held a series of long sessions over several weeks about the best way to improve the nation’s power supply in the safest and most cost effective way. In the meantime, improvement in the power supply is moderately encouraging. By the same token, supply of petrol and kerosene to the public has improved throughout the country. All the early signs are that within months the whole country would begin to feel a change for the better. Preliminary steps have been taken to sanitise NNPC and improve its operations so that the inefficiency and corruption could be reduced to a minimum. Those of our refineries which can be serviced and brought back into partial production would be enabled to resume operations so that the whole sordid business of exporting crude and importing finished products in dubious transactions could be stopped. In addition to NNPC, I have ordered for a complete audit of our other revenue generating agencies mainly CBN, FIRS, Customs, NCC, for better service delivery to the nation. Prudent housekeeping is needed now more than ever in view of the sharp decline in world market oil prices. It is a challenge we have to face squarely. But what counts is not so much what accrues but how we manage our resources that is important. We have seen in the last few years how huge resources were mismanaged, squandered and wasted. The new APC government is embarking on a clean up, introducing prudence and probity in public financing. At an early stage, the Federal Government addressed the issue of salary arrears in many states, a situation capable of degenerating into social unrest. The APC government stepped in to provide short-term support to the owing states and enabled them to pay off the backlog and restore the livelihood of millions of Nigerians. Fellow Nigerians, there have been a lot of anxiety and impatience over the apparent delay in announcement of ministers. There is no cause to be anxious. Our government set out to do things methodically and properly. We received the handing over notes from the outgoing government only four days before taking over. Consequently, the Joda Transition Committee submitted its report on the re- organisation of Federal Government structure after studying the hand over notes. It would have been haphazard to announce ministers when the government had not finalised the number of ministries to optimally carry the burden of governance. Anyway, the wait is over. The first set of names for ministerial nominees for confirmation has been sent to the senate. Subsequent lists will be forwarded in due course. Impatience is not a virtue. Order is more vital than speed. Careful and deliberate decisions after consultations get far better results. And better results for our country is what the APC government for CHANGE is all about. I would like to end my address this morning on our agenda for CHANGE. Change does not just happen. You and I and all of us must appreciate that we all have our part to play if we want to bring change about. We must change our lawless habits, our attitude to public office and public trust. We must change our unruly behavior in schools, hospitals, market places, motor parks, on the roads, in homes and offices. To bring about change, we must change ourselves by being law-abiding citizens. Happy Independence celebrations. Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

leoblaze:
Pls can someone enlighten me about " delta camp life" what to expect, who to avoid , hostel and toilet pix if possible, d best hostel etc...... Ama pcm, choosed delta as first choice.

Seconded

COUNTDOWN 28 DAYS TO STREAM 1 56 DAYS TO STREAM 2

June 28

Bamidele001:
08064460314

Copy that, will hook you up