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Group canvasses ministerial appointment for Gen. Dambazau
Former Minister of Interior and Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General, Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd), has been described as the best man to supervise the Nigerian military as minister of defence.
Ben Lion Heart Vanguard, a non governmental Organization made this call to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in a press statement, describing General Danbazzau (retd) as an officer whose loyalty to the Nigerian State, constitution and national security has remained impeccable.
According to the Group, providing General Dambazzau the opportunity to serve, the former minister of interior would provide professional oversight on security as he harnesses the military resource he understands very well, to stabilize Nigeria internally and otherwise.
Ben Lion Heart Vanguard said the antecedent of General Dambazau commands respect from all arms of the military as these officers across military arms know that the quality and character of the Danbazzau was fit for defence assignment, this they said was critical.
The statement signed by Mr. Ben Willam, a retired air force officer and security consultant, said, Nigeria needs a patriot at this time to carry out purposeful security oversight with surgical precision to ensure the safety of Nigerians and their property.
He argued that this has consistently featured in the period of service across various commands of the former minister of interior while serving in the military.
According to him, General Dambazau’s positive impact in the various command and public offices he held have remained a footprint of reference in good and exemplary leadership and he did not perform less as minister of interior in institutional/public administration.
Williams said, for example, the former minister of interior created a situation room for the coordination activities of all security and public safety agencies, for a seamless response to emergencies, anywhere they may arise.
Another footprint was that he led the US-Nigeria Security Sector Initiatives for the reforms of the security sector in response to emergencies, defence procurements, and activities in the northeast.
Beside these he developed the idea of establishing the institute of domestic security for the strategic training of senior officers in the security agencies.
For Dambazzau,national security was a critical stabilizing factor for national development, thus, to allow for easy national security, he proposed the idea of production of passports in Nigeria rather than overseas to make passports cheaper for Nigerians and also protect the database.
The statement said while Nigeria has a pool of officers who may be deemed qualified for this task, it was of national interest and promotion of national security that the association deem it fit to draw the attention of the president to a square peg in a square hole, in the person of General Abdulrahman Danbazzau (rted) at this juncture of our national life.
He said the General’s contribution was immense during the presidential campaigns. This started with the keenly contested National Convention that saw the emergence of the President as the presidential candidate for APC.
As the special adviser, strategic engagement, General Danbazzau deployed his experience and contacts to engage hundreds of interest groups all over the country into the pro-Tinubu campaign and the nation has seen the impact of his right judgement
The statement noted that in the bid to promote food security, Danbazzau created the agro rangers in the Civil Defence Corps for the protection of agricultural investments for individuals, groups and institutions against attacks from bandits and other criminals.
Statement argued that his rise through the rank in the army was due to his responsible disposition to each assignment and office he occupied, as all duties assigned were executed with patriotism and national defence at heart.
For example the statement recollected that before assuming the position of the 26th Chief of Army Staff, General Danbazzau has functioned effectively to the admiration of his superiors, contemporaries and junior officers in his various command as the Registrar/Instructor, Nigerian Defence Academy (1993-1999) and later Chief Instructor, at the Support weapon Wing of the Infantry Centre and School from 1999 – 2001.
He also served with respect for the codes as Director Staff at the then National War College from 2004 – 2006. Later, he became the Director, Higher Military Organization and Operations at the same Institution in 2006. His excellence here earned him the highly revered appellation of the Fellow of the War College Dagger (fwc [+]).
Lieutenant General Dambazau has also held several staff appointments, being staff officer at the headquarters of the Nigerian Army Corps of Military in 1979 before he became an aide-de-camp to the then Chief of Army Staff.
He was also a Special Investigator at the Special investigation Bureau of the NACMP from 1984 – 1985 amongst other appointments.
The statement said he is a military officer with deep interest in intellectualism which played out in his life as an officer who elected for further study to improve and earned for himself Ph.D in Criminology, a knowledge that has helped him serve the country better in various capacities.
The Group said With Danbazzau, performance and excellence is his watchward and that would diminish whatever constitutes interagency rivalry as the focus is national unity not agency accolade.
The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared that it has been vindicated by recent revelations from the state’s former Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke.
The Rivers APC Chairman, Chief Tony Okocha, stated this in a statement he personally signed and made available to journalists on Wednesday.
The former Head of Service, who recently resigned had alleged that the suspended Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, was directly responsible for the political crisis in the state and the bombing of the State House of Assembly.
In response, the Rivers State APC asserted that Nwaeke’s testimony aligns with the party’s long-held position, as frequently stated by Chief Okocha, that the suspended governor was the architect of the state’s political crisis, including masterminding the October 29, 2023, bombing of the State House of Assembly.
Chief Okocha further emphasized that Nwaeke’s account, given his high-ranking position in the state, cannot be dismissed as mere speculation.
He said attempts to discredit the former Head of Service will not deter him from exposing the alleged corruption and misconduct that the APC has repeatedly highlighted.
“What is most interesting to the APC in Rivers State as a responsible political party is that Dr. George Nwaeke’s revelations and testimonies of how suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his squad bombed the Rivers State House of Assembly is an eye witness account.
“Again , it has clearly vindicated the APC in Rivers State as the only visible and viable opposition political party in the State, and has cemented the love for the party in the heart of well meaning Rivers people as the voice of the voiceless, and the hope for a better Rivers State.
“The revelations made by the former Head of Service in Rivers State has further positioned her as a political party with high level of integrity, and the hope of Rivers people for a viable alternative to produce the Governor of Rivers State in 2027.
“The verbal attacks staged against the resigned Head of Service will not deter him from exposing the corruption within Sim Fubara’s administration, which we have consistently highlighted as the opposition party. On this matter, the APC shall function as watchdogs”, the party stated.
Chief Tony Okocha expressed confidence that security agencies would thoroughly investigate the matter.
“The APC in Rivers State strongly believes that the relevant security agencies will be professional enough to get to the root of the matter and make their findings public”, he said.
A coalition of civil rights organizations, the Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness (CCLCA), has called for an immediate and thorough investigation into the allegations leveled against suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, by Dr. George Nwaeke, the former Head of Service of the state.
During a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, Dr. Gabriel Nwambu, Director General of the CCLCA, urged the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), Department of State Services (DSS), and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to take swift action in probing the allegations. He emphasized that if proven true, these claims pose serious risks to governance and democracy.
The coalition, comprising 30 civil society organizations, stands in solidarity with Dr. Nwaeke, who has expressed willingness to provide evidence of alleged corruption and constitutional breaches involving Governor Fubara and his Chief of Staff, Mr. Edison.
“We collectively urge the relevant authorities to act swiftly and transparently. Addressing these allegations is critical to restoring public confidence in governance at both the state and national levels,” Dr. Nwambu stated.
He commended President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for his intervention in Rivers State, which led to the declaration of a state of emergency, a move he described as crucial for stabilizing the region.
Dr. Nwaeke’s accusations against Governor Fubara include:
Arson and Sabotage: Allegedly instructing his Chief of Staff to burn down the Rivers State House of Assembly to prevent impeachment proceedings, a violation of Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution.
Corruption and Financial Misconduct: Claims of large sums of money being used for personal and illegal activities, contravening Section 15(5) of the Constitution.
Threats to Public Safety: Alleged plans to sabotage state infrastructure, potentially inciting public disorder, which falls under Section 1 of the Terrorism Prevention Act (2011).
Collusion with Militant Groups: Alleged meetings between the governor, his Chief of Staff, and militant leaders, posing a threat to national security and violating Section 43 of the Constitution.
Suppression of Labour Rights: Alleged attempts to bribe labour leaders to silence dissent, contravening Section 40 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of assembly.
The coalition has urged law enforcement agencies to ensure a thorough, transparent, and expedited investigation into these allegations.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu has appointed Sam Ifeanyi Hart, Esq. as his new Chief of Staff (CoS).
Hart replaces Hon. Toby Okechukwu who was recently appointed Executive Director, Projects of the newly established South East Development Commission (SEDC).
Prior to his appointment, Hart served as Special Adviser to the Deputy Speaker on Public Affairs and has an extensive background in training and consultancy.
Hart also previously served as Director-General, Abia State Marketing and Quality Management Agency from 2019 to 2023 after occupying other appointive positions.
He was also a member of National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS), Kuru where he attended the Senior Executive Course 45, serving as Course Secretary-General.
He has also served on the Boards of several corporate and non-governmental entities.
Hart brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his new role, with a distinguished career spanning law, leadership, and public service.
A lifelong learner, he holds multiple academic qualifications, including a Master’s Degree in Environmental Law (LLM) and a Bachelor’s Degree in Law (LLB) from Abia State University.
The new Chief of Staff is also currently pursuing a Doctorate Degree in Law.
A seasoned professional, Hart has attended prestigious institutions, including the GOTNI Leadership Centre, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS), and the School of Politics, Policy and Governance (SPPG).
He is also a member of several professional bodies, including the Chartered Institute of Directors of Nigeria (M.IoD), Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators (ACIArb), and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
As Chief of Staff, Hart will provide strategic guidance and support to the Deputy Speaker legislative activities, leveraging his expertise to drive policy initiatives and promote good governance.
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