Ethnicity Not The Basis For Our Appointment - SGF

New Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, David Babachir Lawal has said that his appointment by President Buhari was not based on ethnic or religious considerations, but purely on merit. He said the same thing applied to other appointments so far made by the president.

He spoke on the backdrop of complaints from Southern Nigeria that Buhari's appointments have been skewed in favor of the North. Of the 31 appointments made so far by Buhari, only 5 have come from the South.

Speaking after taking his oath of office on Monday, the SGF said,
“We want to thank God for granting Mr. President the vision, wisdom, kindness and boldness to consider us worthy of positions of responsibilities.

“We did not have to pass examination to get appointed into these positions; not because of our tribes, our faiths or our political groups that we were considered worthy for these positions.

“If it were such, I am sure none of us would have been considered worthy of these appointments.

“We appreciate the President and we appreciate God that He has blessed us with these privileged appointments. It is a privilege to serve Nigerians in these capacities at this point in time.

“Nigeria is at the threshold of achieving greatness and it is our honour and privilege to be senior members of the team that will propel the country to this greatness.

“We have in you (the President) and the Vice President, leaders that lead by example; leaders that are focused; leaders whose goal is to build a Nigeria where there is liberty, security, economic prosperity and the rule of law.

“We are grateful that we are part of the team to deliver this goal. Accept our assurances that by the grace of God, we will not fail you. We will not fail our country; we will not fail ourselves; our families and our friends.

“By the grace of God, we will not fail you either. We will strive at all times to serve our country and to serve you with excellence, hard work and integrity.”

President Muhammadu Buhari did not make any speech at the event.

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Boko Haram Horsemen Kill 68 In Borno Village

A band of gunmen on horseback suspected to be Boko Haram terrorists last week killed at least 68 people and injured many others when they attacked Baanu village in Nganzai local government area of Borno State.

Eyewitnesses said the militants rode into the village on Friday night, shooting indiscriminately. The villagers fled into the bush. They returned the next day only to be confronted with the grim reality that more than sixty of their kinsmen had either been slaughtered or shot.

Governor Kashim Shettima confirmed the attack while addressing parents of the abducted Chibok girls on Saturday. However, he put the number of people killed at 56.

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Anti-corruption War Not Negotiable - Presidency Tells Jonathan's Ministers

In a swift reaction to the statement issued earlier in the day by former president Goodluck Jonathan's erstwhile ministers, the presidency has declared that the current war being waged against corruption is not negotiable.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu said this in a statement he released to newsmen in reaction to an earlier statement by Jonathan's ex ministers.

He said, "this war against corruption knows no friend nor foe. There is no intention to deny anyone of their good name where they are entitled to it and  President Buhari reserves the highest regards for the country’s former leaders including Dr Goodluck Jonathan, who he continues to praise to high heavens for the way and manner in which he accepted defeat in the last election.

“That singular action remains a feat that has earned the former President and Nigeria as a country befitting commendations all over the world, the latest coming from Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who visited a week ago.

“For the purpose of emphasis, the issue of fighting corruption by President Buhari is non negotiable.

“It is sine qua non to the overall reconstruction of the economy and social systems  which suffered  destruction and severe denigration under the last administration.

“President Buhari will not be deterred or blackmailed into retreat and surrender.”

He reminded the ex ministers that what they handed over to the present regime was a tottering economy which has been made more challenging by the continued slide in oil prices.

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Ex Ministers Tell Buhari To Stop Insulting Jonathan

Ministers who served under Goodluck Jonathan have told President Muhammadu Buhari to desist from his unprovoked attacks on the former president. They also asked Buhari to give Jonathan the respect due to him as a former president of the country.

In a joint statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, the former ministers maintained that it was wrong for Buhari to cast aspersions on Jonathan and the ministers who served under him, while discrediting the monumental achievements of that administration.

The statement which was signed by former National Planning Minister, Abubakar O Suleiman pointed out that the sweat of the Jonathan administration is what Nigerians are now enjoying under President Buhari.
. The former ministers maintained that they served the country diligently and therefore deserved commendation and not vilification.

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Kaduna Pilgrim Slumps, Dies On Way To Tarmac

An intending pilgrim has died at Kaduna airport while riding in a bus to the tarmac for boarding. The deceased pilgrim identified only as Zainab is reported to have a history of asthma, although it is not clear whether she died of the ailment.

According to the Amirul Hajj of Kaduna State, Alhaji Zubairu Jibril who broke the news to pressmen at the Mando Hajj camp on Sunday, Zainab hailed from Kagarko local government area of the state.

The deceased has been buried according to Islamic rites.

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Buhari Promises More Action On Chibok Girls

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday assured parents and relations of the abducted Chibok girls that his government was making genuine efforts to rescue them.

Buhari spoke through Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima during a meeting with the girls' relations in government house, Maiduguri. He assured that efforts were being intensified to ensure the safe coming home of the girls who were kidnapped from their hostel on 14 April 2014.

Governor Shettima said he called the meeting on the orders of the President.

“I have called all of you here today (Saturday) on the direc­tive of Mr. President to address you on the release of your 219 daughters abducted last year in April, while writing their examinations. The President asked me to tell you to exercise more patience on our daughters still in Boko Haram captivity.

“I’m with all of you here to­day, as our President is also with you. He is very much concerned and committed towards the unconditional release of these abducted girls. We leaders have a responsibility that these girls are released, as soon as possible God willing. "

The governor gave each of the parents  N100,000 naira which he said was a token from President Buhari to help them "keep life going."

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DSS Arrests Boko Haram Commander

The Department of State Services, DSS said on Sunday that it has arrested key Boko Haram suspects including a commander linked with suicide attacks in various parts of the country.

The DSS said that a major suspect, Usman Shuaibu and other suspects were picked up in Lagos, Gombe, Kano, Plateau and Enugu states between July and August.

A statement issued by the DSS said, "of particular note was the arrest on 8th July, 2015 in Gombe state of those responsible for the coordination and execution of the suicide attacks in Potiskum, Kano, Zaria and Jos,"
"Shuaibu admitted being the leader of the team of nine sect members that was dispatched from Sambisa Forest to carry out the attacks. He disclosed that four out of the nine of them were used as suicide bombers in executing all the suicide attacks. "

It said that the arrest of the terrorist elements has stemmed the spate of attacks by the militant group.

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