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The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has approved the offer of appointment to 902 officers into various cadres in the mainstream of the state’s civil service. The recruitment said to be the first of its kind in the history of Oyo State, covered about 60 cadres across Ministries, Departments and Agencies, including Education Officers for
Hot SourceObi Okonjo Thrilled About Unified Ineh Festival in Ogwashi-Uku in 18 Years
*Dismisses protest by certain aggrieved persons
Omon-Julius Onabu ithe n Asaba
The traditional ruler of Ogwashi-Uku in Delta State, HRM Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo, has commended the people of the kingdom for demonstrating renewed unity and sense of commonality by turning out in unprecedented numbers during the just-concluded celebration of the community’s annual Ineh Festival, saying it was a testimonial of fledging harmony and peace in the land.
Obi Okonjo noted that it was the first time since 2007 that the people of Ogwashi-Uku would celebrate, without any division, a unified Ineh Festival peacefully and to do so harmoniously with the monarch.
“We thank God that for the first time since 2007 we didn’t have double calendar for the festival. And, we thank the people for their solidarity with the Obi”, he said.
He particularly thanked the people for coming out in their thousands aa tgey queued behind him when he led the jubilant procession on Thursday, the concluding day of the famous annual feast, which is similar to the Ofala Festival celebrated by the Igbo communities across the River Niger.
Speaking through his Personal Assistant, Prince Onyeama Okonjo, who briefed newsmen on Friday at the Palace of the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku, the royal father said that a section of the community had previously come up with another calender from the one issued by the Palace since 2007, suggestive of the extent of intra-community conflicts of the past.
On the protest to the Government House Asaba by somw aggrieved persons against his alleged high handedness, the monarch described the exercise as a charade, and not indicating that the Ogwashi-Uku people were not solidly behind their roual father.
Obi Okonjo said that it was ridiculous that a handful of persons would go on a protest to the state government at the same time that thousands of their kit-and-kin were dancing and celebrating with their king the succesful conclusion of a historic Ineh Festival in Ogwashi-Uku in nearly two decades.
He said that it was unfortunate that the masterminds of what he called “a failed protest clearlyrejectedby the people” were actually individuals “facing serious criminal trials in court” in connection with their alleged involvement in certain activities in and around Ogwashi-Uku.
The Palace and Obi-in-Council remains law-abiding and not ready to trade words with such individuals because they constituted an infinitesimal fraction of Ogwashi-Uku people at home and the Diaspora, who were desirous of sustainable peace and progress in their ancestral land, the Obi said.
According to him, the fact the organisers of the so-called protest had hired more than 15 buses to convey people to the Government House Asaba but could load “only a two buses eventually” with less than 30 people bore eloquent testimony that the people of Ogwashi-Uku had rejected the those who obviously want to make the kingdom crises-ridden and unmanageable.
Obi Okonjo underscored the fact that he, as the traditional father of Ogwashi-Uku people and custodian of the people’s customs and traditions, including the unique land tenure system, would not do anything to undermine the Commission if Enquiry instituted by the Delta State Government in 2024 to resolve around land disputes within Ogwashi-Uku and neighbouring communities.
The traditional ruler wondered whether the said protest to the Government House Asaba was pre-emptive of the state government’s Commission of Enquiry or an attempt by the organisers to influence the yet-to-be-released white paper on the outcome of the investigation.
The same individuals who had appealed to Obi Dr Okonjo to take urgent steps to address the issue of land-grabbing around the Ogwashi-Uku Polytechnic when he ascended the throne in 2019, were the same people who rose up against the monarch after going to court and securing a judgement that reaffirmed that he had right to manage Ogwashi-Uku land in line with its land tenure system, Prince Onyeama Okonjo lamented.
“They came up with several frivolous and nonsensical allegations against the Obi, like the chain that the Obi had demanded for permission from the palace for access to their ancestral farmlands. How ridiculous! Who does that?!
“I will provide you copies of the letter that the spokesperson for the protesters, Adigwe Eluemunor wrote to the Obi asking the Obi to urgently intervene in the labd issue behind the Ogwashi-Uku Polytechnic. So that you can see that the Obi acted on their request and eventually got the court judgement.
“Also, we shall provide you, if you want, copies of the judgement that affirms the Obi’s right over Ogwashi-Uku land, that nullified the letter that Chieftaincy wrote, and which prompted the (state) attorney-general to go to Court and said the Obi is the person who manages Ogwashi-Uku land, or he is in charge. And, there is an order of Perpetual Injunction restraining the government from (tampering) with this right to manage Ogwashi-Uku land.”
Thursday’s protest to the Government House Asaba was led by Osamor Patrick Izu, President-General of Ogwashi-Uku Development Association and Sunday Adigwe Eluemuno, General Secretary of the group.
Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, Senior Political Adviser to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, who spoke with protesters at the entrance of the Government House, assured the people of the commitment of the state government to peace in Ogwashi-Uku, thanking them for carrying out their protest peacefully.
*Dismisses protest by certain aggrieved persons Omon-Julius Onabu ithe n Asaba The traditional ruler of Ogwashi-Uku in Delta State, HRM Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo, has commended the people of the kingdom
Hot SourceShake up in Army as COAS Redeploys Top Generals, Other Senior Officers
Linus Aleke in Abuja
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved the posting and appointment of senior officers to key command, staff and instructional positions across various formations, units, and training institutions of the Nigerian Army.
In a statement, the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, explained that the shake-up forms part of deliberate efforts to reinvigorate leadership, strengthen command structures, and reposition the Nigerian Army (NA) for enhanced operational effectiveness.
She disclosed that the newly appointed senior officers include Major General Bamidele Alabi, who has been redeployed to the Army Headquarters Department of Policy and Plans as Chief of Policy and Plans (Army). Major General Jamal Abdulsalam, formerly Chief of Special Services and Programmes at Army Headquarters, proceeds to the Defence Headquarters Department of Operations as Chief of Defence Operations. Major General Peter Mala moves from the Office of the National Security Adviser to the Headquarters of the Training and Doctrine Command, Nigerian Army (TRADOC), as Commander.
In the same vein, Major General Samson Jiya has been posted from the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre (NAHFC) to the Defence Headquarters Department of Defence Accounts and Budget as Chief of Defence Accounts and Budget.
Other strategic appointments include Major General Mayirenso Saraso, redeployed from NAHFC to the Army Headquarters Department of Operations as Chief of Operations (Army); Major General Isa Abdullahi, from Defence Headquarters to the Army Headquarters Department of Administration as Chief of Administration (Army); and Major General Musa Etsu-Ndagi, from the Army Headquarters Department of Training to the Army Headquarters Department of Civil-Military Affairs, as Chief of Civil-Military Affairs.
Major General Abubakar Haruna moves from NAHFC to the Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC), Kontagora, as Commander, while Major General Philip Ilodibia transfers from the Army Headquarters Department of Policy and Plans to the Defence Space Administration as Chief of Defence Space Administration.
Also appointed are Major General Godwin Mutkut, from the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), N’Djamena, to the Headquarters Infantry Corps Centre as Corps Commander Infantry; Major General Umar Abubakar, from the Ministry of Defence to the Headquarters Nigerian Army Armour Corps as Commander Armour Corps; and Major General John Adeyemo, from the Nigerian Army School of Artillery (NASA) to the Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery as Corps Commander Artillery.
Similarly, Major General Mohammed Abdullahi moves from the Nigerian Army Cyberwarfare Command to the Headquarters Nigerian Army Signals as Corps Commander Signals.
In addition, Major General Taofik Sidick has been redeployed from NAHFC to the Headquarters Nigerian Army Finance Corps as Chief of Accounts and Budget (Army); Major General Abdullahi Ibrahim, from NAHFC to the Headquarters Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps as Corps Commander Ordnance; Major General Adeyinka Adereti, from Defence Headquarters to the Headquarters Nigerian Army Electrical and Mechanical Engineers as Corps Commander; and Major General Nansak Shagaya, from the Army Headquarters Department of Operations to the Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport as Corps Commander Supply and Transport. Brigadier General Yusha’u Ahmed has been appointed Acting Corps Commander Education.
Lieutenant Colonel Anele added that the COAS also approved the appointment of Major General Oluyemi Olatoye, from Headquarters 82 Division/Joint Task Force South East Operation UDO KA, to the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, as Commandant. Major General Emmanuel Mustapha moves from the Defence Space Administration to the Nigerian Army Signal School as Commandant; Major General Adamu Hassan, from the Nigerian Defence Section, Riyadh, to the Nigerian Army School of Artillery as Commandant; and Brigadier General John Bulus, from the Headquarters Nigerian Army Finance Corps, to the Nigerian Army School of Finance and Accounts as Commandant.
Senior officers appointed as field commanders include Major General Saidu Audu, from the Army Headquarters Department of Training to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), N’Djamena, as Force Commander; Major General Warrah Idris, from Defence Headquarters to the Joint Task Force North West Operation FANSAN YAMMA as Commander; and Major General Oluremi Fadairo, from the Army Headquarters Department of Civil-Military Affairs to 82 Division Nigerian Army, Enugu, as General Officer Commanding and Commander, Joint Task Force South East Operation UDO KA.
The COAS further appointed Major General Olatokunbo Bello as Director, Defence Media Operations, at Defence Headquarters, while Brigadier General Samaila Uba was redeployed from the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, to Defence Headquarters as Director, Defence Information.
Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu charged the newly appointed senior officers to bring to bear their wealth of operational experience, administrative acumen, and strategic foresight in driving a disciplined and combat-ready Army capable of decisively confronting contemporary and emerging security challenges.
He urged them to sustain the current operational momentum, strengthen interagency collaboration, and remain unwavering in upholding the Nigerian Army’s core ethos of loyalty, selfless service, integrity, and excellence.
