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Olanipekun, Tinubu’s lead lawyer, Jega, ex-INEC boss, head UNILAG, UDUS, councils
Wole Olanipeku, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), lead lawyer of President Bola Tinubu in the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) at both the Court of Appeal level and Supreme Court, and Attahiru Jega, former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), whose tenure saw to the emergence of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in power at the national level, were on Saturday named as Chairmen of the Governing Councils of University of Lagos (UNILAG) and Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto (UDUS), respectively.
It came as the Federal Government, released the names of Pro–Chancellors, Chairmen and members of the Governing Boards of 111 Federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education eleven months after they were dissolved by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
Yusuf Alli, SAN, Peter Okebukola, former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Issa Aremu, Director General of Michael Imoudu Institute of National Labour Studies (MINLS), Ilorin, were also named in the list, released, few days after the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), complained that the absence of the structure in universities, had rendered most of its activities illegal.
Alli, Okebukola and Aremu will chair the councils for the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Rivers State, and Federal College of Education (Technical), Keana, Nasarawa State, a statement released on Saturday by Didi Esther Walson-Jack, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, said.
She said: “The inauguration and retreat for the Governing Councils will take place on Thursday, May 30 and Friday, May 31, 2024, at the National Universities Commission, 26 Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja. Both events will commence at 9:00am daily.”
The list contained names of technocrats, politicians and traditional rulers for 50 universities, 37 polytechnics, and 24 colleges of education.
Others on the list include a former Governor of Bauchi State, Isa Yuguda, who will chair the governing council of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN); Joy Emordi, a former Senator, who will chair the council of Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri, Imo State, and a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Yayale Ahmed, who will ead the council of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Kaduna State.
The immediate-past Executive Secretary of NUC, Adamu Rasheed, who resigned from office a few months into his second term in office, was also named to chair the governing council of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State.
This is coming few days after the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) threatened to strike nationwide over the non-constitution of governing councils for universities months after they were dissolved.
In June, the National Universities Commission (NUC) dissolved the governing councils of all federal universities after a directive from President Bola Tinubu.
But months after the move, ASUU insists that the dissolution is “illegal”, claiming that the move has “paved the way for all manner of illegalities in the Nigerian University System”.
“ASUU shall do all within its powers to ensure that the dignity of the academia is fully restored in line with practices obtainable in forward-looking climes,” ASUU’s president Emmanuel Osodeke said in a Tuesday press conference.
“So, Nigerians should hold the Federal and State Governments responsible if the matter of Governing Councils is allowed to snowball into an avoidable industrial crisis.”
Unlike in other cases, security operatives in Nigeria have upped the ante by adding the arrest of perpetrators to the menu of rescue operations, with the announcement of the capture of eight terrorists who participated in the abduction of school teachers and students in Oyo State on May 15.
All the 46 pupils, students and teachers abducted by terrorists from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, regained their freedom on Friday, after about 56 days in captivity, with several others reportedly also neutralised during the operation.
Giving a clue of what transpired during the operation, Bayo Onanuga, who broke the story of the feat, said it was the outcome of sustained security operations, which also foiled the attempt by the abductors to secure the release of one of their captured leaders.
Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, using his X handle to give details about the operation, said: “Finally, all the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Orire, Oyo have been rescued by our security agencies. In the course of the rescue operation, eight of the kidnappers were arrested and are now in DSS custody, while some of them were neutralised.”
“There was no quid pro quo in the rescue as one of the terrorists, a kingpin, that the kidnappers demanded his release, is being prosecuted for his atrocities. The security agencies will give full account soon.”
The victims were abducted on May 15 when heavily armed bandits attacked Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School in the Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area, seizing dozens of pupils, students and teachers.
The abduction sparked nationwide outrage, with parents, labour unions, traditional rulers and civil society groups mounting sustained pressure on the authorities to secure the victims’ release.
The incident also triggered an indefinite strike by the Nigeria Union of Teachers in Oyo State over growing insecurity in schools.
President Bola Tinubu had condemned the attack and ordered security agencies to intensify intelligence-led operations to rescue the captives and bring the perpetrators to justice.
The President subsequently dispatched a high-powered Federal Government delegation to the affected communities, approved the deployment of specialised rescue assets and authorised the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards to strengthen security across Oyo State.
For the umpteenth times in recent months, President Bola Tinubu, was on Thursday, again locked in a crucial meeting with security chiefs at the Presidential Villa in Abuja to review the security situation across the country, with the duo of Christopher Musa, Minister of Defence and Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser (NSA), leading the other Service Chiefs to the parley.
Channels Television, reports that each agency heads, briefed the President on ongoing efforts and strategies aimed at tackling insecurity in different parts of the nation, while acknowledging improvement in the security situation in Nigeria with a resolve to build on the current achievements.
While they agreed that Intelligence will continue to play a critical role in the security arena of the nation, the security bosses, were said to have also resolved to strengthen collaboration with neighbouring countries for greater results at the meeting, which held behind closed doors.
The report indicated that Thursday’s meeting was coming amid renewed moves by the Nigerian government to address insecurity across the country. President Tinubu had already sent the bill for the establishment of state police to the National Assembly as part of measures to restore stability to troubled zones and secure Nigeria.
Apparently not swayed by the rumble in informed political quarters over the Muslim-Muslim ticket in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, President Bola Tinubu, has sworn his readiness to swim and sink with Kashim Shettima, as Vice President in the 2027 presidential election.
The President rested the issue of retaining or dumping the VP, which has been a subject of intense speculations over several months now, when he forwarded the name of the former Governor of Borno State for the Aso Rock Villa’s joint ticket on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The ruling party forwarded the names of the duo on Friday to formalise its presidential ticket for the 2027 general election, brushing aside contentions that unlike the 2023 edition, such a ticket might not fly this time.
Nentawe Yilwatda, APC National Chairman, received the duly completed nomination forms for both Tinubu and Shettima from Ibrahim Masari, the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, at a colourful ceremony at the Ladi Kwaki International Conference Centre of Abuja Continental Hotel, Abuja, for onward transmission to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal.
The high-profile ceremony drew heavyweights from across the party, including members of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) led by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, representatives from the National Assembly, the Federal Executive Council (FEC), and state party chairmen.
Welcoming dignitaries to the brief but solemn ceremony, APC National Organising Secretary Sulaiman Muhammad Argungu noted that the event was the natural climax of a highly transparent internal process.
“The presidential flag bearer emerged through a thoroughly transparent primary process,” Argungu said, while praising President Tinubu’s “positive strides” and urging party faithful to remain united, prayerful, and steadfast.
The ceremony culminated in the presentation of the completed nomination forms for the President and his running mate by the Presidential Adviser, Masari, who was accompanied by all the governors in attendance, members of the National Assembly and the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
Reinforcing the governors’ total commitment to the ticket, PGF Chairman Governor Hope Uzodimma stated that the transparent nature of the primaries had made marketing the candidates seamless.
Uzodimma, said: “We are delighted that this event is coming after a well-organised and thoroughly supervised primary process. We reiterate our commitment to continue supporting President Tinubu and the party.”
Describing the APC as a beacon of internal democracy and inclusiveness, promising that the governors would spearhead a total clean sweep at the polls, he added: “We will continue to support him in the larger interest of Nigerians and to take the country to greater heights. Together, we are going to deliver victory for President Tinubu and ensure the party wins all elective positions, including the National and State Assemblies.”
On his part, Yilwatda stated that the revalidation of the Tinubu-Shettima ticket represents the authentic heartbeat of the party’s grassroots, adding: “Today is a reflection of the wishes of over 12 million members of our party who supported the President’s candidature,” Yilwatda remarked. “We are proud of the support already in the kitty of President Tinubu, and we are convinced that many more Nigerians will vote for him.”
The APC boss, while pointing to key initiatives such as the student loan scheme—which he noted has already benefited over 1.5 million students—alongside targeted agricultural interventions and nationwide infrastructure projects as verifiable proof of performance, urged members to return to their local communities armed with facts rather than rhetoric to dismantle opposition narratives.
His words: “While others are busy spreading propaganda, let us counter them with facts. Nigerians have seen governance that touches lives across the six geopolitical zones. APC holds a distinct institutional advantage over its rivals, being the only political platform in the country backed by a fully digitalised and verified membership database.
“We already have about 12 million verified members. We are going round the country to mobilise support for the President. I am also confident that our governors will compete among themselves to deliver the highest number of votes.
“Go and tell the leader of our party (President Tinubu) that our members and Nigerians will vote for him to continue the excellent work he is doing. As a party, we are proud to be presenting the best candidate. There is no shaking at all. Come 2027, our victory is assured.”
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