Former Vice Presidential candidate, Peter Obi has advised the federal government to allow region-like state security system to function in the country.

Obi who gave the advice while commenting on the widespread insecurity witnessed in the country on a Channels Television program on Monday March 1, stated that government has to come out genuinely to tackle the issue of security of lives and properties by investing in region-like state security system. 

He said; 

“Allow some region-like state security system to function. The government has to come out genuinely to tackle the issue of security of lives and properties by investing in them. 

“I served as a governor and when I found out that we had a security issue, I decided that every community in Anambra State must have their own security outfit funded and supported by the government.

“If you go to Anambra State, every community has a pickup for security. In fact, some own two or three. A community like Nnewi owns four or five because it is critical.

“Just support every community, let governments of the states support every community. There is no better protection or security you can have within a community than those communities being in charge of their own security because they know the criminals.

“They know those who are foreigners in their community, so it is very easy. You can’t come to my village and provide a better community than my villagers.”

The Governor of Gombe State, Inuwa Yahaya has sacked three commissioners in a minor cabinet reshuffle.

The sacked commissioners are Alhassan Ibrahim Kwami – Information & Culture, Dr Ahmed Mohammed Gana- Health and Mela Audu Nunghe (SAN)- Special Duties.

The Secretary to the State Government, Ibrahim Njodi made the announcement on Monday March 1.

He added that six commisioners were redeployed to other ministries.

Three persons have already been nominated by the governor for confirmation by the state House of Assembly as replacements for the sacked commisioners.

Njodi said; 

“In his bid to further consolidate on the operations of government, Governor Inuwa Yahaya has approved a minor cabinet reshufflement as follows:

“Mohammed Danladi Adamu from Lands and Survey to Rural, Community Development and Cooperatives; Dr Habu Dahiru from Education to Health, and Usman Jafun Biri from Ministry of Rural, Community Development and Cooperatives to Ministry of Lands and Survey.

“The others areJulius Ishaya from Ministry of Youth Development to Ministry of Information and Culture; Dauda Batari Zambuk from Ministry of Internal Security and Ethical Orientation to Ministry of Education and Adamu Dishi Kupto from Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to Ministry of Internal Security and Ethical Orientation.

“In the same vein, His Excellency has relieved the following commissioners of their appointments with immediate effect: Alhassan Ibrahim Kwami – Information & Culture, Dr Ahmed Mohammed Gana- Health and Mela Audu Nunghe (SAN)- Special Duties.

“They are expected to hand over the affairs of their ministries to their respective Permanent Secretaries.

“His Excellency wishes to thank them for their services to Gombe State and wishes them well in their future endeavors.”

The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday March 2, confirmed the appointment of the new Service Chiefs that were forwarded for screening and confirmation by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The confirmation followed the presentation and consideration of a report of the Senator Aliyu Wamakko-led Senate Joint Committee of Defence, Army, Airforce and Navy.

The Senate challenged the Service Chiefs to do everything in their power to stem the tide of insecurity in the country.

The Department of State Security (DSS) has denied reports of arresting or even inviting the former Special Aide to Governor Ganduje, Salihu Tanko Yakasai over his comments against the government of President Buhari and the ruling APC.

Bubble Reports earlier reported that Salihu Tanko-Yakasai, on Friday, February 26, via his Twitter handle, called on the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government to either deal with bandits in the Country or resign from office. He stated this on Twitter while reacting to the abduction of 317 schoolgirls in Zamfara.

Shortly after tweeting, his whereabouts became unknown, causing many of his friends to come on Twitter to demand answers.

This morning, one of the aides of the Kano state governor who handles the official handle of the state, Abubakar Sadiq, disclosed on Twitter, that Tanko-Yakassai was with the DSS.

The DSS has however denied this claim, saying it did not arrest or even invite Salihu.

The DSS State Director Muhammad Alhassan, who denied the reports, said

”The DSS State Director Muhammad Alhassan said that, “we have not arrested or even invited Yakasai. don’t forget he is our friend, sometimes, he advise us on issues of critical Security situations in the state”.

The Minister of Interior and former governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has revealed that he never collected any salary all through his eight years in office as governor of Osun state.

Aregbesola who is currently serving as Nigeria’s Minister of Interior Affairs, stated this while dismissing reports published by online that he received 96-month salary arrears in secret when he served as the governor of Osun state. 

A statement from Aregbesola’s media aide, Sola Fasure, described the report as a fiction written by elements bent on casting “aspersion on the integrity of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola”

“The report is entirely a piece of fiction, a good exemplar of fake news and disreputable journalism. Let me state categorically again, that Ogbeni Aregbesola did not receive any salary in the entire duration of his eight-year stint as governor in Osun.

His reason being that the state government provided accommodation, security, transportation, food and other conveniences for him and would not need to pay for these from his pocket.

He also explained that all his children are grown up and have graduated and he would not need to pay school fees again. He therefore donated his salaries to the state government.

The author of the report claims to have got the information from some anonymous government officials. He provides no evidence.

The report fails basic journalistic ethical requirement that only truth and verifiable fact should be reported as news. Reading through it, one is not in doubt that the evil intention behind the piece was to smear and cast aspersion on the integrity of Ogbeni Aregbesola.”