Politics
Gulf of Guinea: Nigeria’s President Tinubu advocates joint maritime task force to boost regional security
Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, seized the opportunity at the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union, AU, Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to urge the African Union Peace and Security Council, AUPSC, to prioritise the establishment of a combined maritime task force.
He said the move would enhance security in the Gulf of Guinea.
Tinubu stated that Nigeria is open to hosting the task force’s headquarters in Lagos.
He conveyed Nigeria’s position as the AU considered the report on the AUPSC, focusing on peace and security in Africa, as well as the biennial report on the implementation of the Master Roadmap of Practical Steps to Silence the Guns in Africa (2023–2024).
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, delivered the statement on behalf of President Tinubu on Sunday.
According to the Nigerian government: “The time is right for the African Union Peace and Security Council to prioritise the creation of a Combined Maritime Task Force for the Gulf of Guinea.
“I wish to announce that Nigeria would like to host the headquarters of the task force in Lagos.”
Nigeria’s recommendation for a maritime task force coincided with the signing of an agreement with the AU to provide Strategic Sea Lift Services for AU peace support operations, natural disaster response, humanitarian missions, and personnel movement.
The Nigerian Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar, signed the agreement.
Under the agreement, the Nigerian Navy will provide a vessel for the operations on a cost-recovery basis.
Nigeria’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, Naval Chief, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, and Director-General of the Nigerian Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Muhammed Muhammed, witnessed the signing.
Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, signed on behalf of the AU.
Tinubu welcomed the AUPSC’s decision to adopt the outcomes of a high-level meeting, including the upgrade of Nigeria’s National Counter-Terrorism Centre to a Regional Counter-Terrorism Centre.
He also commended the Peace and Security Council’s decision to renew the mandate of the Multinational Joint Task Force, which addresses the twin challenges of terrorism and violent extremism in the Lake Chad Region.
On Libya, the Nigerian leader expressed concern that instability in the North African country continues to exacerbate security challenges in the Sahel and urged the Assembly to support initiatives to restore law and order.
“The Sahel cannot enjoy peace as long as Libya does not,” he warned.
FCT Minister and former governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike, has said that any senator, House of Representatives Member, Minister, or governor who supports betrayers will suffer betrayal in their lives and that such person will join their creator when they experience their own betrayal.
Wike who is currently in a running battle with his godson and incumbent governor of Rivers state, Sim Fubara, said this while speaking at a public function in the state today February 6.
Speaking to the crowd at the public function, Wike said
‘’Wether you are a Senator, House of Reps member, a Minister or Governor, and you support betrayers, people will continue to betray you in life. You see people who betray and support them, betrayal is your portion! Betrayal is your portion! and that day you will not have mouth to say anything and there you will collapse and there you will go and they will announce such person has died because that is the seed you have planted because whatever you plant, you reap and so since you are sowing betrayal, betrayal will always follow you.
Watch! Every governor who is doing his second term and has ambition to put a successor and is supporting betrayals, you will never survive it. Betrayal will follow you. From the day your successor comes in. My own took so many months, your own will start immediately the person has been inaugurated. That is what the gods of the land have told me to tell all of you’’
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Chairman, Policy Manifesto Committee of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, John Odigie-Oyegun, says former president Muhammadu Buhari gave him the shock of his life, six months into his administration as Nigeria’s leader.
Oyegun made this disclosure on Friday when he featured in an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’.
He revealed that as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, he went to tell Buhari that he was not delivering his election promises to Nigerians but that the late president told him he would not rule with strictness, but rather wanted to show Nigerians that he is a true civilian president.
The former APC National Chairman lamented that it became business as usual, from there.
“I was national chairman of the APC. Six months or less into our assuming office, fairly alarmed, I went to the late President Buhari for a one-on-one talk. I said Mr President, this is not what the people were expecting. They wanted a bit of the old president Buhari.
“And he explained to me, Mr Chairman, I have learned my lesson. I was shocked. And don’t forget at that time, a lot of prominent Nigerians took their holidays abroad, just to be sure and see what this new sheriff in town will be.
“Buhari told me he wants to now show the people that he’s a true civilian president in Agbada. And by the time we finished the conversation, I said Oh God, we are finished. Because, if he’s not ready to be strict, what’s the point?
“Weeks later, months later, years later, I was proven correct. And of course, it became business as usual, only that they are a new set of tenants in Aso Rock. That was a shocker,” he said.
Former lawmaker, Dino Melaye Esq, has raised concerns over the Senate’s reported rejection of the electronic transmission of election results.
The move, according to Melaye, is a clear endorsement of election rigging and an indication of a sinister plan to rig the 2027 elections.
In a statement on Friday, the former lawmaker criticized the Senate’s decision, stating that it undermines the credibility of the electoral process.
The African Democratic Congress, ADC chieftain, also stated that the move opens the door for electoral manipulation and fraud.
He further warned that the rejection of electronic transmission of results is a step backwards for democracy in Nigeria.
Melaye called on lawmakers and citizens to stand up against “this blatant attempt to undermine the will of the people and ensure that future elections are free, fair, and transparent”.
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