Ndubuisi Kanu’s Night Of Tributes: He Was A Detribalised Nigerian, Outstanding Military Officer —Sanwo-Olu

GOVERNOR Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, yesterday, described late military administrator of Lagos and Imo states, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (retd) as a detribalised Nigerian and an outstanding military officer.

The governor, who promised to host another church service and night of tributes in honour of the late military general, said this at the Night of Tributes, organised by Ndigbo Lagos.

Sanwo-Olu said: “He (Kanu) was a man I came to appreciate as a detribalised Nigerian, an outstanding military officer and a man that held everybody’s hand across Nigeria. He was the first Igbo man to be part of the military council. He was able to start the development of Owerri. It was because of his excellent performance in Imo that he was transferred to Lagos as a military administrator.

“At the young age of 34, he was able to distinguish himself in leadership. He left the military, led the NADECO fight from the front; he brought men and resources together. He was a Nigerian we all need to be proud of, because he started the conversation of true fiscal federalism.”

Besides, the governor said the late Kanu “would be honoured in a double fold, at a proper church service to be held in his honour, and a night of tributes.”

 He’s The Only Igboman I Trusted—Opadokun

Also speaking, a chieftain of the National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, Mr. Ayo Opadokun said: “If we are to have many more of Ndubuisi Kanu, Nigeria would not be what it is today.

“When I was in detention, he was the only Igbo man I could trust to do something for me. I scripted a short note on a cigarette pack to him to please support my wife with my monthly stipend, and he kept to it until I was released.”

  He Was Very Principled —Madueke, Ex-CNS

Also speaking, a former Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Allison Madueke (retd) described Kanu as a “humble, down to earth person.”

He said: “He (Kanu) was a very principled person, an officer who served Nigeria and Igbo land to an excellent level. It is on record that Kanu was the first Commanding Officer of the Biafra warship. We have lost a friend and administrator.”

He Epitomised Our Zeal For Success—Umahi

On his part, a former  General  Officer Commanding, GOC, 81 Division Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. Obi Umehi (retd), described the late Kanu as a “selfless person that lived the rest of his life doing what was right.”

Umehi said: “Indeed, he was a rare gem, an icon. He epitomised our zeal for success; he did not just lead from the front, he was protectively committed to our collective goal. He was solder and a nationalist to the core. He was a first-class naval officer.”

  He Was A Man Of Conviction—Prof. Anya

Also paying glowing tribute to the former military administrator, former Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group, Professor Anya O. Anya said: “It is extremely difficult to be speaking of Godwin in the past. We met last December 2020 at the funeral of a mutual friend, the late Chief K.K Ogba in Abiriba.

“Kanu was a man of conviction, who marshalled points with logic and firmness to the point where you always knew where he stood on issues. He was also a straight forward and loyal friend. He cared for his friends and was always willing to sacrifice for what he believed in and for those whom he cared for.”

Declare Bandits Terrorists, Wage Total War Against Them, Senate Tells Buhari

THE Senate yesterday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately declare bandits who have been engaging in massive killing, wanton destruction of property and kidnapping across the country as terrorists and declare total war against them.

It also asked President Buhari to ensure there was bombing of all locations of bandits in order to annihilate and eliminate them.

The Upper Chamber equally called on the Federal Government to declare all the known leaderships of the bandits wanted, track them for arrest and prosecution, especially those operating in Sokoto East senatorial district.

It asked the Federal Government to direct the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA and other relevant Federal Government agencies to urgently give all the necessary support to the victims of the menace of banditry in Sokoto and other parts of the country.

The Senate observed a minute silence in honour of the fallen heroes and civilians who lost their lives in the unwholesome activities of bandits.

Resolutions of the Senate were sequel to a motion, titled ” Banditry in Sokoto State, particularly Sokoto East Senatorial District”, sponsored by Senator Ibrahim Gobir, All Progressives Congress, APC, Sokoto East and cosponsored by Senators Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, APC, Sokoto North; Ibrahim Danbaba, PDP, Sokoto South; Abdullahi Barkiya, APC, Katsina Central and Mohammed Sani Musa, APC, Niger East.

Others were Senators Kabiru Gaya, APC, Kano South; Bala Ibn Na’allah, APC, Kebbi South; Sabi Aliyu Abdullahi, APC, Niger North; and Ya’u Sahabi, APC, Zamfara North.

Senator Gobir, who came under Order 42/52 of the Senate Standing Orders, said  Sokoto East senatorial district had now become a safe haven for bandits due to the current crackdown taking place in Zamfara State.

He said the situation had become of serious concern, especially after bandits on September 25, killed 21 security personnel, including 15 soldiers, three mobile policemen, three members of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, at Dama and Gangara villages.

Gobir, who noted that it had become worrisome that losing such number of trained security personnel would further deplete the numerical strength of the security personnel in the country, said the wanton loss of security personnel had further jeopardized the security architecture of the country.

He expressed worry that most of the bandits had now relocated to Sabon Birni and Isa Local Government Areas in Sokoto due to the sustained military operations at the Zamfara axis.

The senator said while the crackdown on the bandits was taking place in Zamfara State, no concrete measures had been put in place in Sokoto state to contain the fallouts.

Senator Gobir said:  The Senate notes that Sokoto East senatorial district has now become a safe haven for bandits due to the current crackdown taking place in Zamfara State;

“It is further worried that most of the bandits have now relocated to Sabon Birni and Isa Local Governments due to the sustained military operations at the Zamfara axis;

“Concerned that while the crackdown on the bandits was taking place in Zamfara State, no concrete measures have been taken in Sokoto State leaving it totally exposed to the activities of the Bandits.‘‘

‘‘The present military onslaught on the bandits is not well co-ordinated because it is only being orchestrated in Zamfara State instead of all the front line states ravaged by banditry, i.e. Sokoto, Katsina, Niger and Kaduna states.

”The operation should be holistic instead of restrictive in order to produce effective and the desired results.”

In her contribution, Senator Uche Ekwunife, PDP, Anambra Central, who decried the rising state of banditry and other forms of insecurity across the country, said that governments must rise up to its primary responsibility of protecting lives and properties.

She said the time had come for President Muhammadu Buhari and the executive arm of government to address the nation on the rising trend of insecurity in the country.

In his remarks, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, commended the efforts of the Armed Forces in the sustained fight against insecurity in the country.

While calling for increased funding for the military, Lawan tasked relevant committees of the National Assembly to ensure that funds appropriated to the armed forces were judiciously applied for the purpose they wee budgeted.

“Distinguished colleagues, I think the issue of insecurity is one we will never get tired of debating here, and we must commend our Armed Forces and other security agencies.

“They give their lives in trying to secure this country, and that is the ultimate sacrifice anybody could pay.  I believe that they are doing their best, but we also need to do our best as a government by giving them the kind of resources that they need.

“I believe we have done that in the supplementary budget.  As I pointed out earlier, we also need to improve the annual appropriation for them.

“If we could pass over N800 billion in the supplementary budget, I don’t see why we cannot improve the resources up to N1 trillion and then hold our security agencies accountable. And I believe we need to monitor the procurement processes when we give such kind of resources to our Armed Forces.

“The security related committees, particularly the armed forces related committees – Defence, Army, Navy and Airforce Committees need to work very closely on the procurement processes by these services.

“We must ensure that funds appropriated are not put in the wrong areas, and ensure that this fight is taken to its logical conclusion.

The Senate, accordingly, in its resolutions, urged the President to declare bandits as terrorists and wage total war against them, including bombing all their locations to annihilate and eliminate them.