Defence Minister Aliyu Gusau speaks: I have not resigned

Defence minister, Aliyu Gusau, has denied widespread reports of his resignation Wednesday, in what has deflated concerns about the implication of such an exit on the Nigerian government’s effort to curtail a bloody rampage by the extremist Boko Haram sect.

Mr. Gusau said reports of his leaving office were untrue. “No I did not,” he said in a brief text message response to a PREMIUM TIMES’ inquiry asking if he had resigned. His response came as the Nigerian government scrambled to dispel the reports that the minister, who was appointed barely a week ago, stepped down after an altercation with military commanders.

A spokesperson for President Goodluck Jonathan, Reuben Abati, said reports that Mr. Gusau submitted his resignation were false.“It is not true, Mr. Abati told PREMIUM TIMES during a brief telephone interview Wednesday afternoon. He said Mr. Gusau’s absence at the weekly federal cabinet meeting, a development cited as the most ostensible indication the minister had quit the cabinet – was due to illness. “He has flu,” Mr. Abati said.

Mr. Gusau himself did not respond to our question on why he was absent at the Federal Executive Council, meeting. All officials contacted offered to seek clarification from the relevant offices for confirmation. Only Mr. Abati returned his call. He said the minister remained at his post but did not give further details of an alleged row involving service chiefs. Reports of Mr. Gusau’s resignation sparked an online frenzy Wednesday after news website, Saharareporters, quoting unnamed administration officials, reported a row between Mr. Gusau and the defence chief of staff, Alex Badeh.

The report said the minister submitted his resignation citing insubordination from military officials, and refused to rescind same after the intervention of President Jonathan.

Comments

ALLEGED BRIBERY OF APPEAL COURT JUDGES IN DELTA JUDGMENT: A Disservice To The Rule of Law

Deltans have expressed deep concern over troubling allegations of bribery against judges of the Delta State Governorship Appeal Court, whose judgment was recently delivered in Lagos State. In a widely circulated leaked audio, Hon. Daniel Mayuku, a senior member of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and a former three-time member of the State House of Assembly representing Warri South West constituency, can be heard making disturbing claims. Mayuku stated in the leaked audio that three days before the pronounced judgment of the Appeal court, the Delta State PDP knew that the judgment favoured Ovie Omo Agege based on facts and available evidence. They allegedly used financial inducement and blackmail to influence the change of the judgement in favour of the PDP governorship candidate, Sheriff Oborevwori, against the true picture of the case. Mayuku in the leaked audio claimed that the Court of Appeals is highly corrupt and expensive, and that the Appeal court is the only place they

FEDERAL ALLOCATION TO THE TWENTY FIVE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN DELTA STATE IN 2023

Below Is The Federal Allocation To The Twenty five Local Government Areas in Delta State In 2023: Aniocha North: ₦2,631,989,064.8 Aniocha South: ₦2,847,788,192.94 Bomadi: ₦2,491,779,057.87 Burutu: ₦3,367,885,422.51 Ethiope East: ₦3,178,376,209.24 Ethiope West: ₦3,226,505,207.54 Ika North East: ₦3,279,681,589.37 Ika South: ₦3,117,284,050.15 Isoko North: ₦2,968,741,529.30 Isoko South: ₦3,372,633,698.8 Ndokwa East: ₦2,766,813,948.49 Ndokwa West: ₦3,108,983,376.16 Okpe: ₦2,750,960,811.06 Oshimili North: ₦2,683,889,807 Oshimili South: ₦2,890,887,684.18 Patani: ₦2,416,623,048.75 Sapele: ₦3,008,977,295.44 Udu: ₦3,018,102,746.7 Ughelli North: ₦3,981,014,554.26 Ughelli South: ₦3,255,554,002.56 Ukwuani: ₦2,660,755,459.71 Uvwie: ₦3,081,517,453.34 Warri South: ₦3,755,492,329.81 Warri North: ₦2,820,237,

OBOREVWORI: How Not To Glorify A 'One Chance' Governor - By Zik Gbemre

It is appalling how, in desperation to sustain its thieving hegemony over the Delta State Government since 1999, the Delta PDP had the audacity to impose the weakest, most uninformed contender, a local champion, as Governor over a state replete with accomplished men and women of immense capacity. Given this unenviable privilege, one would have expected the fortunate placeholder governor, Sheriff Oborevwori—whose only election campaign manifesto was pledging to improve on the failed leadership of Ifeanyi Okowa, his predecessor—to engage creative minds and individuals of proven integrity to assist him in making a difference. Rather than doing the needful, Oborevwori has worsened matters by electing to engage the same spent leaders, deadwood, and gluttons that have gained prominence in running the state down over successive administrations. The result has been a government of mediocre officeholders competing to run the state for their pockets at the detriment of the populace, under a gove

Innocent Ojefia Blog

Search This Blog