News
VP Shettima’s rare gift for his Christian aides for Christmas/New Year
By Stanley Nkwocha
The mood at the Vice President’s wing of the Presidential Villa on Friday December 22, 2023, was different from what it used to be during preparations for festivities in the yuletide. On the faces of the aides and staff working in the VP’s office was a concatenation of excitement and incredulity. Even an amateur telepath would effortlessly sense the relief and exhilaration coursing through them as they discussed among themselves.
What was the excitement all about? The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, had just directed that all his aides and staff who are Christians should proceed on Christmas holidays and resume after the New Year celebrations. It was a big relief for them, especially those who had already been slated for advanced movements ahead of the VP’s official visits to some states.
The thrilling sensation in the VP’s office that weekend was however not unexpected. Such a gesture from a leader pertaining to the welfare of his workers is quite rare in this part of the globe, especially in Nigeria where aides and staff of Aso Rock Villa would have to work round the clock to maintain and sustain presidential schedules.
As an aide or staff in the seat of power, your life is no longer your own. Work-life balance doesn’t exist. You hardly have a weekend planned, entailing that you must have to cope with events of close friends and family members you will have to miss. This is apart from not seeing them more often, as you would not be at liberty to frequently take a vacation.
However, it was a completely different ball game for the 2023 yuletide, as the workers were asked to go home and celebrate the Christmas holiday with their families, courtesy of the VP’s human side of officialdom and bureaucracy. That is Vice President Shettima for you – a boss who takes the welfare of his workers seriously. He cares about life outside of work and is conscious about the things that are important to those working with him, irrespective of class and religious affiliations. He would check in to see how things are going for them.
A true example of what it means to be a servant leader, the Vice President is one of the most humble, compassionate leaders that I have personally met. He is a man who leads by example and is committed to creating a better future for the next generation.
His approach to work and style of leadership which treats the ‘ordinary’ man with the same delight as those of the ruling class are fundamentally both humane and democratic. At work, he gives you ample time to explain your expectations, as he patiently answers your questions, and he is available if you need help. He also encourages all his staff to work together, help one another and be a true team.
Yet, for himself, state governors and other top government officials, Vice President Shettima did not see the need to go on vacation when, according to him, a lot needed to be done to save the nation’s economy. At the 138th meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) which was held on December 21, 2023, he told council members to shelve the idea of vacation and concentrate on issues of governance with a view to easing the burden of the citizens.
“As the year draws to a close, none of us in this chamber should anticipate a vacation. I tend to think so because upon our shoulders rests the weight of responsibilities from which we cannot escape. We are returning to be judged by the promises we made to be here,” he told the NEC members suggestively.
The message here was simple and direct: as public office holders, members of NEC should realise that there is no time for revelries and merriment because ‘to whom much is given, much is expected.’
At the national level alongside his principal, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a seasoned democrat, Kashim Shettima is replicating the same leadership direction required by his Boss as manifested during his visit to Bende in Abia State last Friday where he unveiled the Peace in South East Project (PISE-P) initiated by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu.
The VP declared the readiness of the Tinubu administration to put an end to the reign of terror in the South East region by those he designated as self-serving criminals working in cahoots with certain persons taking advantage of the security situation to foster their dangerous political agenda. He vowed that the administration will deploy all available resources to eliminate the purveyors of falsehoods and propaganda that have become weapons against Nigeria’s unity.
And to confirm the confidence the people of the South East have in the VP and his boss, the duo were given traditional titles. President Tinubu was conferred with Omeziri Igbo 1, while VP Shettima got the traditional title of Enyioma Ndigbo by the Chairman of the Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Linus Mbah.
Tacitly justifying the traditional titles conferred on the VP and his principal, chairman of the South East Governor’s Forum, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, said Senator Shettima has demonstrated sufficient goodwill to the people of the region. “Our Vice President has shown sufficient goodwill to the people of the South East. From this part of the country, we will continue to work with the rest of Nigeria to make the country a prosperous nation for the interest of all of us for service to God and humanity,” the governor stated.
Indeed, in a country where religion, tribalism and regionalism are often used to divide and conquer, Vice President Shettima remains a staunch believer in the unity and progress of Nigeria. He has consistently demonstrated his commitment to a united Nigeria where every citizen is treated equally, regardless of their religion, tribe or ethnicity.
As we return to work following his ‘henlele dey go’ directive, one cannot but see the freshness amongst fellow colleagues who clearly are more invigorated and focused to support the Vice President in achieving the monumental set goals, targets and visions of the Tinubu administration.
May God bless us with a most prosperous new year.
– Nkwocha is the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications (Office of The Vice President).
By Bonaventure Phillips Melah
High Chief Engr. Phillip Nwabueze Chinedu Atanmo, s former Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), of the Ajaokuta Steel Company, Ajaokuta, Kogi State, has passed on, at the age of 86 years.
Prof. Atanmo was appointed in 1993 by then Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida. He also served as the General-Manager (Technical Services) at the Delta Steel Company, Aladja, and was appointed as Pro-Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, adjunct professor at the Anambra State University, where he served as the Dean Faculty of Engineering, and subsequently, a lecturer, Faculty of Engineering, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, in Anambra State.
According to his son, Engr. Chinedu Atanmo (jnr), the late sage, attended St. Philip Primary School, Akpogwe, Ogidi, Anambra State and Denis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha, before proceeding to the University of Connecticut, United States of America, where he obtained a Bachelor and Masters Degrees in Electrical and Metallurgical Engineering with Distinction, before obtaining a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Metallurgical Engineering from Case Western University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
A prolific engineer and scholar, Prof. Atanmo held three (3) US patents and authored over 100 technical publications in his lifetime.
After his retirement from the Ajaokuta Steel Company, he was elected a member of the Constitutional Conference in 1997, during the late General Sani Abacha’s administration.
He later became the Vie-President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Anambra State Chapter, before he passed on.
Stanmo reportedly died 21st March, 2026 of Cardio-Plumunary Arrest, according to a death certificate issued by Dame Irene Memorial Hospital, Irefi Oraifite, Anambra State.
He will be buried on Saturday, 6th June, 2026 at his country home, opposite St. Philip’s Anglican Church, Akpakogwe, Ogidi, Idemili-North Local Government Area, Anambra State.
News
Nigeria’s opposition reject one-party state, to field joint presidential candidate, want INEC chairman removed
Major opposition political parties in Nigeria and their leaders, have vowed to resist attempt by President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to impose a one-party state on the country. They also demanded the removal of the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and pledged to work together towards fielding one candidate to challenge the president in the 2027 general election.
The opposition leaders took the stands Saturday during a national summit that had in attendance several presidential aspirants from the different political parties as well as national leaders of the parties.
Among those that attended the summit are former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, national chairman of African Democratic Congress, ADC, senator David Mark, former governor of Osun state, Rauf Aregbesola and former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, among many others.
They were hosted by the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
In a communiqué they jointly signed at the end of the summit which took place in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, the opposition leaders noted what they described as the “collective threats that we face and the existential challenges facing our country under the stranglehold of the oppressive and anti-democratic All Progressives Congress (APC),” adding that, given the need for urgent, collective action to rescue the nation and the destiny of over 200 million compatriots,” hereby resolve as follows:
1. That we shall resist all machinations by the APC to foist a one-party State on Nigeria and fight for the survival of multi-party democracy in our country.
2. That despite the onslaughts and manoeuvrings of the ruling party, the APC to impose President Bola Tinubu as the sole Presidential candidate in 2027; we shall field candidates and contest the 2027 Presidential and other elections.
3. That we shall work towards fielding one Presidential Candidate for the 2027 elections, which shall be agreed and supported by all participating opposition parties to rescue our nation and her long suffering masses.
4. That the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, having shown bias and partisanship in favour of the ruling APC, should not conduct the 2027 general elections as Nigerians across board have lost confidence in him and his capacity to guarantee the required neutrality to deliver free, fair, transparent and credible elections. His continuous stay in office is vexatious and capable of triggering wide spread crisis in our nation.
5. That the National Assembly should immediately review the Electoral Act, 2026 to remove all sections that threaten the sanctity and integrity of the elections and run counter to constitutional provisions.
6. That all leading politicians that are being detained or harassed on bailable offencbe released with immediate effect and allowed to exercise their fundamental rights of participation and inclusivity as Nigerians.
7. That we consider the recent guidelines released by the INEC as obstacles, deliberately engineered to impose conditions and deadlines on the opposition parties. We therefore demand that INEC extends the deadline for primaries till the end of July, 2026.
8. The Summit commends Nigerians for their resilience and readiness to work with Opposition Parties to free our nation from State capture.
9. The National summit of Opposition Political Parties thank the Oyo State Governor Engr. Seyi Makinde and the people of Oyo State for hosting the epochal event.
SIGNED:
Chairmen of Participating Opposition Parties.
Kenya’s President William Ruto has credited Aliko Dangote with solving a fuel scarcity crisis that Nigeria’s oil wealth failed to prevent for decades.
Ruto also rallied support for a planned East African refinery modelled on Dangote’s Lagos facility.
He made the remarks at an infrastructure summit in Nairobi while making the case for African-led solutions to the continent’s energy challenges.
“Nigeria has been a producer of oil for all the years that we know. Yet, when you went to Nigeria, there were queues of people looking for fuel in petrol stations for a long time.
“Until one African stepped forward and built a refinery, Aliko Dangote,” he said.
The Kenyan president used the example to argue that Africa possessed the human and financial capital to solve its own problems, without looking to Europe or Asia.
Ruto urged regional leaders, industrialists and financiers present at the summit to act without delay.
“The solution wasn’t in Europe or Asia. The solution was in Nigeria for a problem that disturbed Nigeria for years.
“I dare say, ladies and gentlemen, we have in this room the political leadership, we have the industrialists, we have the financials to transform our continent and we must waste no time looking any further,” he said.
Dangote, who was present at the summit, pledged support for the proposed East African refinery if regional governments committed their backing.
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