Zabarmari Massacre: Garba Shehu is Highly Irresponsible—Senator

Image

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

A Senator from Kastina State, Mr Ahmed Babba-Kaita, has described spokesman of President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr Garba Shehu, as “highly irresponsible” for his comments on the killing of rice farmers in Borno State.

Over the weekend, scores of farmers were killed on their farms by Boko Haram terrorists and during an interview with BBC Hausa, Mr Shehu reportedly said the farmers were killed because they did not get clearance from the military due to the volatility of the area.

This angered several Nigerians, including Mr Babba-Kaita, who represents Katsina North Senatorial District at the National Assembly.

While speaking at the plenary on Tuesday, the lawmaker said, “It is no longer acceptable to any Nigerian on the situation we found ourselves.”

“If the statement by Garba Shehu is true, then he is highly irresponsible. And we can no longer accept the explanation by our military.

“It is time we sit one-on-one with the military to know what is really happening. If nothing is done, then we must be prepared for another mourning.

“Mr President is doing his best but if there is no result then his best is not good enough,” the Senator, who spoke on the motion moved by former Governor of Borno State, Senator Kashim Shettima, said.

Another member of the red chamber of the parliament, Mr Adamu Aliero, in his contribution, said it was wrong for the President to send a delegation to Borno, saying that Mr Buhari should have personally gone there.

“As I speak, my heart bleeds because innocent people have been killed. These people were trying to make a living and unfortunately, they met their end. Mr [Senate] President, this doesn’t happen anywhere in the world. It is the height of insecurity. This is a condemnable act.

“Mr President should have gone to Borno State to condole with the government and people of the state and not to send a delegation.

“It is now time to act. The service chiefs have outlived their usefulness. It is now time to take new blood,” he declared.

“The primary function of the government is to protect. Have we not failed? This is about leadership doing what it ought to do.

“We swore to this Constitution to protect lives and property. We have deprived Nigerians who want to farm of farming. We are crying about food shortage.

“The President is the Commander-In-Chief. If there is a failure in the military, it means the President is not doing enough. It is time we take the issue of community policing seriously.

“If you take an Ijaw man to Borno State, and there is an attack, he/she will not know where to run to. Let us use those who know the work to do the work,” Mr George Sekibo submitted.

At the end of the debate, the Senate asked Mr Buhari to take immediate steps to restructure, remodel and revamp the country’s entire security architecture and provide enough state-of-the-art weapons and equipment to effectively combat the belligerent power of the insurgents.

Share
Related Stories
Image
07-March-2024

SERAP Demands Details of $69.3m NBET Electricity Supply to Benin Republic

By Adedapo Adesanya The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET) to give an account of the $69.3 million it reportedly collected for the supply of electricity to the Benin Republic. According to the organisation, a report by the Auditor General of the Federation had shown that NBET collected over $69,384,699.20 for the supply of electricity to two firms that are based in the neighbouring country but failed to account for the money. The report also showed that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reportedly paid over N1 billion for a new

Image
18-March-2024

Nigeria’s Data Regulator Investigates Alleged NIMC Breach

By Adedapo Adesanya The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) is investigating allegations of unauthorised access to the personal data of enrollees in the database of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). This was disclosed by Mr Vincent Olatunji, the National Commissioner of the data regulation body in a statement signed by Head of Legal, Enforcement and Regulations, NPDC, Mr Babatunde Bamigboye on Monday. He said the investigation is a further regulatory measure to be taken by the commission in the wake of public concerns over reports of illegal access, to the personal data of enrollees by a shadowy entity called

Image
17-March-2024

Budget Padding: SERAP Urges Senate to Reinstate Ningi

By Adedapo Adesanya The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Senate President, Mr Godswill Akpabio, to recall Senator Abdul Ningi who was suspended for three months over his allegation of budget padding. Mr Ningi, the lawmaker representing Bauchi Central, was suspended for three months over an interview in which he alleged that the National Assembly padded the 2024 N28.7 trillion budget with about N3.7 trillion. He was quoted as saying, “For the first time in Nigerian history, today we are operating two different budgets. One budget was approved by the National Assembly and signed by President Bola

More Stories
Image
23-July-2020

Buhari Most Followed African Leader on Twitter—BCW Study

By Dipo Olowookere A study conducted on Tuesday, July 21, 2020, by Burson Cohn & Wolfe (BCW) revealed that Nigeria’s President, Mr Muhammadu Buhari, is the most followed Sub-Saharan African leader on Twitter during the COVID-19 pandemic. A statement from the leading global communications agency disclosed that President Buhari recorded 3.1 million followers ahead of President Paul Kagame of Rwanda’s 1.9 million followers. The Twitter follower growth of PMB, as the Nigerian leader is fondly called, within the period when Coronavirus emerged in mid-March until June was 51 per cent. According to BWC, its Twiplomacy study 2020 focused on how

Image
12-July-2018

Lower Naira Notes Scare Because of Hoarding—CBN

By Dipo Olowookere Nigerians, who have been wondering why lower Naira notes have been short in supply lately, can now know the reason behind this. Yesterday, at a public sensitisation and enlightenment campaign on its direct intervention on lower denominations in Kurmi Market, Kano, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said there have shortage of the lower currencies as a result of hoarding. Acting Director of Currency Operations Department at the CBN, Mrs Precillia Eleje, described the alleged hoarders as “unscrupulous people” who she said also approach commercial banks to get new notes to resell to party goers and others.

Image
20-August-2020

Lagos to Seize Allocated Homes of Housing Scheme Defaulters

By Adedapo Adesanya The Lagos State Government has called on the allottees of the various public housing estates who are yet complete the payments on their allocated homes to do so or forfeit the rights over the housing unit as stipulated in their letters of allocation. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing, Mr Wasiu Akewusola, made the appeal on Thursday,  August 20 while inspecting ongoing construction of housing schemes in Sangotedo and Epe axis of the state, noting that the plea was directed to those who purchased homes under the outright sales arrangements. According to him, “Government’s revenue has been

Image
23-January-2023

Nigeria to Hold First Census Since 2006 March 29

By Adedapo Adesanya Nigeria will start its first national census in 17 years at the end of March as the National Population Commission (NPC) has fixed the national population and housing census for March 29 to April 2, 2023. The NPC chairman, Nasir Kwarra, disclosed this while speaking with State House reporters after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Friday. “By March 29 to April 2, our staff will be in the field enumerating people,” he said. Nigeria’s estimated population is more than 200 million, and the United Nations expects that to double by

Image
16-December-2021

Time to Invest in Mobile Game Developers?

Nigeria, like the rest of the world, is showing dramatic growth in smartphone gaming. Playing games on an Apple or Android device is becoming the preferred modern-day entertainment option for all ages. The music and on-demand movie/television streaming services are popular alternatives, but the number of Nigerians shifting to play an assemblage of smartphone gaming releases is increasing rapidly. The huge collection of games and game genres to choose from means there is a game for everyone. Titles such as Clash of Kings and Idle Heroes are popular in Nigeria and when compared to PC or console games, they are

Image
23-December-2016

Residents Rush Lake Rice at Sale Centres

By Modupe Gbadeyanka Residents of Lagos State on Thursday besieged the various sale centres across the state to buy the much-anticipated LAKE Rice, with vast majority of the people lauding the initiative of government to introduce the commodity at a critical time of the Yuletide season. LAKE Rice, which is locally produced, came into being following a partnership between Lagos and Kebbi States, and was aimed at ensuring food security as well as to showcase the ability of Nigeria to become a producing nation. Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and his Kebbi State counterpart, Mr Atiku Bagudu had launched the rice on

Image
07-August-2019

Zedvance Gives Loans to Non-Salary Earners With MoneyPal

By Adedapo Adesanya Leading consumer finance firm, Zedvance, in its bid to drive digitally oriented services and widen the scope of serving its customer base efficiently, has launched a dedicated mobile lending app called MoneyPal. The recently launched channel is part of Zedvance’s #MadeForYou campaign designed to project the company’s readiness to cater to customers’ instant loan needs. Prior to now, Zedvance has traditionally provided loans to only salary earners in the public and private sectors, but with the launch of MoneyPal, the company will now be able to cater to the lending needs of non-salary earners as it seeks

Ad
Ad
Recent Stories
Image
19-March-2024

How Putin Won March 2024 Presidential Election

By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh After three days (March 15 to 17) of voting, Vladimir Putin is leading the Russian presidential election with 87.34% after 98% of ballots were counted, according to data from the Russian Central Elections Commission. Undoubtedly it gives Putin, who has been in power since the last days of 1999, another six-year term (2024-2030) to lead Russia, and to pursue with much vigour its foreign policy ambitions in the international system and push forward the much-trumpeted multipolar configuration with a focus on Global South. Putin’s assertive control over the political landscape has been solidified due to the

Image
19-March-2024

Moove Raises $100m in Fresh Race to Conquer New Markets

By Adedapo Adesanya Exactly a year after raising $105 million in an oversubscribed Series A2 round, African mobility company, Moove, has raised $100 million in a Series B funding round as it plots expansion into new markets. According to reports, the funding round was led by mobility giant, Uber and saw injection from others such as sovereign wealth fund Mubadala, The Latest Ventures, AfricInvest, Palm Drive Capital, Triatlum Advisors, and Future Africa. This now pushes Moove’s post-money valuation to $750 million. The company is helping to solve the continent’s acute problem of limited access to vehicle financing for millions of

Image
19-March-2024

Oil Stocks Trigger 1.77% Gain at NASD OTC Exchange

By Adedapo Adesanya Oil stocks, Aradel Holdings and Acorn Petroleum, led the NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange to a 1.77 per cent appreciation on Monday, March 18. They increased the value of the alternative bourse by N24.85 billion during the trading session to N1.428 trillion from the N1.403 trillion it closed in the preceding, and the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) rose by 18.33 points to wrap the session at 1,053.98 points compared with 1,035.65 points recorded at the previous session. Aradel Holdings Plc, after recent profit taking, appreciated by N114.28 yesterday to settle at N1,734.28 per unit compared with last

Image
19-March-2024

Naira Trades N1,597/$1 at Official Market, N1,600/$1 at Black Market

By Adedapo Adesanya The Naira appreciated against the US Dollar at the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM) segment of the currency market on Monday by 0.3 per cent or N5.41 to close at N1,597.34/$1 compared with last Friday’s value of N1,602.75/$1. It also improved its value against the Pound Sterling in the official market yesterday by N50.97 to wrap the session at N2,003/£1 compared with the preceding session’s N2,054.06/£1 and gained N41.89 against the Euro to close at N1,712.69/€1 versus N1,754.58/€1. It was observed that the supply of forex, according to data from the FMDQ Securities Exchange, slightly waned

Image
19-March-2024

Brent Jumps to $86 Per Barrel on Low Crude Exports, Stronger Demand

By Adedapo Adesanya  The price of the international crude benchmark, Brent Crude, rose by 88 cents or 1.0 per cent to $86.22 per barrel on Monday, triggered by lower crude exports from Iraq and Saudi Arabia and signs of stronger demand and economic growth in China and the US. Also, the US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude appreciated by $1.01 or 1.3 per cent to $82.05 per barrel, as Iraq, the second-largest producer in the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), said it would reduce crude exports to 3.3 million barrels a day in the coming months to compensate

Image
18-March-2024

Cardoso Begins CBN Clean-up, Removes Directors Close to Emefiele

By Aduragbemi Omiyale There are strong indications that some directors at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) may have to lose their jobs in the in-house clean-up exercise by the Governor, Mr Yemi Cardoso. Reports suggest that Mr Cardoso wants to let go of some directors who worked closely with Mr Godwin Emefiele, who President Bola Tinubu believes worked to stop him from going to Aso Rock. Recall that during his electioneering campaign, Mr Tinubu accused the former CBN chief and some persons of introducing the botched Naira redesign policy to frustrate him. Immediately after he assumed office on May

Image
18-March-2024

Profit-Taking Depletes Nigerian Exchange by 0.40%

By Dipo Olowookere The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited succumbed to profit-taking on Monday, shedding 0.40 per cent despite a bullish investor sentiment. The local bourse ended with 27 price gainers and 18 price losers today, implying a positive market breadth index. The selling pressure was just investors booking profit after gains in the past few trading sessions, especially in MTN Nigeria, GTCO, Zenith Bank and others. The heaviest price depreciation was recorded by McNichols, 9.30 per cent, closing at N1.17, and was trailed by DAAR Communications, which shed 8.97 per cent to 71 Kobo. UPDC declined by 7.89 per cent

Image
18-March-2024

NCC Announces 90% Restoration of Voice, Data Services After Cable Cuts

By Adedapo Adesanya The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) has announced that voice and data services affected by undersea cable cuts last week have been 90 per cent restored. In a series of tweets signed by Mr Reuben Muoka, the Director of Public Affairs at the commission on Monday, March 18, the NCC said, “Following the disruption on March 14, 2024, which affected data and voice services due to cuts in undersea fibre optics along the coasts of Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal, we are pleased to announce that services have now been restored to approximately 90% of their peak utilization capacities.”

Image
18-March-2024

Unity Bank, SkillPaddy to Train Female Software Engineers

By Modupe Gbadeyanka At least 1,000 female software engineers will undergo a training programme organised by SkillPaddy through its Count Her In tech programme with support from Unity Bank Plc. The IT skill development and empowerment initiative is intended to bridge talent supply gaps while providing individuals with the opportunity to meet their training goals and launch careers in the tech industry. It was disclosed that about 40 young girls will receive full sponsorship from Unity Bank in the special training initiative which was conceived as part of activities to commemorate this year’s International Women’s Day 2024. All beneficiaries of

Image
18-March-2024

Your Moods Soundtracked With Spotify’s New Daylist Feature

Throughout the day, your mood changes, and so does the music you listen to. Last night might have been an island vibes riddim Monday night, while this moment is more of a nostalgic 2010s Tuesday afternoon. The point is, that you’re ever-changing, and your playlists should be too. Say hello to daylist, your day in a playlist. This new, one-of-a-kind playlist on Spotify ebbs and flows with unique vibes, bringing together the niche music you typically listen to during particular moments in the day or on specific days of the week. It updates frequently between sunrise and sunset with a