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Editorial: Togbe Afede’s Ex-Gratia Act of Honour

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THE CHRONICLE
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Editorial

The Good Book has many scriptures for humanity to live decently. One of such scriptures is Deuteronomy 24:14-15, where it is written: “You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your brothers or one of the sojourners who are in your land within your towns. You shall give him his wages on the same day, before the sun sets (for he is poor and counts on it), lest he cry against you to the Lord, and you be guilty of sin.”

The above scripture is authoritative and underscores the urgency in paying any one who renders an agreed service to you. The Chronicle would like to add that there cannot be any crime committed if someone decides to forfeit what is due him after rendering a service. That’s the person’s conviction.

In January 2021, Parliament approved the Prof. Baidu Ntiamoah Committee’s report, recommending emoluments for the Executive, Judiciary and Legislature. The Committee’s report also made provisions for the spouses of the President and Vice President to be paid salaries.

The decision to formalise the payment of salaries to the First and Second Ladies gained massive attention on traditional and social media, with many expressing angst against the idea.

In response, the First Lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo, refunded an amount of GH¢899,097.84 paid to her as allowance from the year 2017, and further declined any allowances in the future.

The First Lady stressed that she only received that which existed and [was] attached to her status, albeit informally.

Following the gesture, the Second Lady, Mrs. Samira Bawumia, refunded an amount of                               GH¢887, 482 to the State and pledged to continue to deliver humanitarian interventions and initiatives in the areas of health, education and economic empowerment.

The Chronicle recalls that in the above scenarios, both the First and Second Ladies decided to refund allowances paid to them and reject future payments following public outcry against the decision to formalise their allowances and/or salaries.

Fast forward to 2022 and Togbe Afede XIV, Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, President of Asogli Traditional Area and former President of the National House of Chiefs, does a master stroke.

The Chief felt, though legally, he is entitled to GH¢365,392.57 as ex-gratia for services rendered to the country as a Council of State member for four years, though morally he thought otherwise.

The Chronicle is particularly struck by the reason the respected traditional ruler assigned for rejecting the huge amount – that he was undeserving of the amount, considering that he offered his services on a part-time basis, especially as he received a monthly salary and was entitled to other privileges.

The Chronicle would have thought that the entire population would have applauded Togbe Afede for the historic deed of returning to the State what was legally due him. Togbe Afede believes serving on the Council of State is a privilege and not an avenue to demand compensation. He is convinced the work of the Council of State does not merit ex-gratia.

He has not instructed any past or current member of the Council of State to refund or reject their ex-gratia. What he has only done is set a golden example for fellow Ghanaians to emulate, if they wish to save the country some Ghana Cedis.

The total of GH¢8.76 million paid as ex-gratia to the members of the Council of State for their four years of service could do a lot for the whole country.

GH¢8.76 can build 12 six-unit classroom blocks at a cost of GH¢700,000 each. The same amount can procure 87,600 desks at GH¢100 each and save 226,542 pupils from learning on the bare floor.

Again the amount can provide 4,171 beds to deal with Ghana’s no-bed syndrome in public hospitals. It can give life to 604 pre-mature babies in need of incubators, sold at GH¢14,500 each.

However, since the payment of the ex gratia is legally supported by the constitution, The Chronicle can only wish that there will be more Togbe Afedes who will let go of their ex-gratia to the state, to take care of very pressing issues. Perhaps where The Chronicle might disagree with Togbe is when he said that the extra payment was inappropriate. In our humble view this statement might have slurred the dignity of the other honourable members who took the money, which is backed by the constitution.

Legalities may not always be morally right. So just like Rebecca and Samira did last year which we captioned ‘Mongyi Mo Sika’, to wit ‘take your money’, in the July 14, 2021 edition of The Chronicle, Togbe Afede says Ghana should take his ex-gratia and we thank him for that gesture.

BTAC changes lives in Ashanti Region

By
SEBASTIAN R. FREIKU
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The Renovated classroom block at Atasemanso RC primary school
Inside the “Beautiful Minds Kids library” at Atasemanso RC primary school

Bridge-To-Africa Connection (BTAC), a USA nonprofit making organisation, has since 2016, adopted, rehabilitated and equipped eight government schools at the Primary and Junior High School (JHS) levels in the Ashanti Region with the help of great partnerships and a circle of supporters of about 756 visitors to Ghana occasionally to help.

The beneficiary schools are New Kokobriko in Abidjan Nkwanta (Bosomtwe District) and Feyiase R/C Primary School, both in the Bosomtwe District; Hemang M/A JHS and Hemang R/C Primary in the Afigya Kwabre South District.

The rest are the State Experimental Basic 1 and 2, Atasemanso R/C Primary, and Atasemanso M/A JHS in the Kumasi Metropolis.

Mad. Dawn admiring an awardee in the Top Play role of the “Unlimited possibilities” programme

At the New Kokobiriko Primary School, BTAC installed a borehole, completed a new 10- room block classroom and a new six-stall toilet facility, outfitted 10 classrooms, and provided 200 seated desks, besides providing a breakfast and lunch programme for nursery to class one for 200 children daily.

The BTAC has also installed a borehole and water elements to provide an endless flow of water for the students of Feyiase Primary and JHS.

The non-governmental organisation (NGO) has also renovated all the classrooms and school blocks of the Hemang M/A JHS, and provided each of the six classrooms with 30 seated desks.

The Hemang R/C Primary has had its 12 classrooms renovated and provided with over 250 seated desks, including special round table desks for the kindergarten classes.

SHS students collect school materials for school

The State Experimental Basic 1 and 2 schools have benefitted from the construction of a new 12-stall toilet facility, and the renovation of a four-room block classroom facility and teachers’ lounge, with the provision of 250 seated desks in six classrooms by the BTAC with the help of its developing partners.

The BTAC has also provided the Atasemanso R/C Primary School with a state-of-the-art library, christened “Beautiful Minds Kids Library”, as well as providing over 500 seated desks and the roofing of a four classroom block with the help of Freelance Ghanaian Volgger Wode Maya.

It has also renovated a four classroom block and provided 108 seated desks for the Atasemanso M/A JHS with the assistance of Dr. Donta Morrison and friends.

The BTAC has renovated the Kindergarten (KG) classroom and the bathrooms of Mampong Bunuso and provided “Boots on the Ground” donated primarily by IBWPPI, one of BTAC’s partners, to help the IBWPPI Women Empowerment Group in the village where the women farmers who are taught how to be self sufficient.

The BTAC has a Sistah Cycle Programme, under which girls are taught to manage their menstrual cycle and take care of their bodies, with over 1,500 girls receiving menstrual kits to partake in this Sistah Cycle programme.

Bridge-To-Africa Connection also serves 294 children, primarily in the Ashanti Region, with an initial figure of 12 children in 2016.

With the support of its circle of friends, notably 12-year-old Khloe Kares and Wode Maya, BTAC supports students from KG to Senior High School (SHS) to stay in school by providing clothing, school supplies and hygiene products.

Currently, BTAC is sponsoring the SHS education of 24 students (eight in 2021 and 16 this year) at GH¢3,500 per student in addition to the provision of books and materials.

Madam Dawn Sutherland, alias Adwoa, BTAC’s Executive Director’s passion for the development of Africa, which informed her relocation to Ghana as her second home, explained her tireless efforts to promote education and empower the girl-child and women.

As Dawn was given opportunities to gain higher education, so was her desire for the youth to have an appreciable level of education, hence, her mission “Changing one life, one person at a time,” under the Unlimited Possibilities programme.

A true lover of culture and art, she devotes time in the building and developing a cultural center at her residence at Atasemanso in Kumasi where she has an Arts Collection.

In September  last year, Bridge-To-Africa Connections (BTAC) organized a  four-week Creative Arts Learning Summer and Talent Mentorship Training programme in Kumasi  at the first ever Akatamanso Arts Festival for about 113 school children between the ages of 7 and 17 which training  programme  was facilitated  by Artivist Project of USA.

Following the Creative Arts Learning Summer and Talent Mentorship Training programme in Kumasi, two young artists, out of selected five, Priscilla Bengha and Akram Awudu, both 13-year-old class six pupils of the Atasemanso Roman Catholic Primary School, participated in an art contest in Los Angeles, California, in the USA, and emerged winners, receiving a $100 gift  from Noahs Ark Publishing Service, which published the artwork of the winners in a book: “Kids draw Through COVID-19: United Africa Speaks.”

Bridge-To-Africa Connection (BTAC) is dedicated to investing in education and health in Ghana and Africa through development partners of African Americans in the Diaspora.

It was founded by Madam Dawn Sutherland when she relocated from Los Angeles in the USA in 2014 to Kumasi and hit the ground running to empower women and girls and promote education to change lives.

Madam Dawn told Ashanti File that “To date BTAC and its circle of friends have donated over $3Million in real money and supplies to Ghana”.

KMA set to implement ASTon project; to e-mobilise revenue

By
SEBASTIAN R. FREIKU
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Sam Pyne - KMA boss

The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) is in the final stages of implementing the African Smart Towns Network (ASTon) project being funded by the Agence Française de Developpement (AFD).

Kumasi is one of 12 cities in Africa privileged to implement the project which focuses on using digitisation to manage internally generated revenue.

The KMA is piloting the project at the Nhyiaeso Town Council and Sub-Metro Council levels with the demarcation of revenue collection zones, valuation of properties and correct identification of businesses, as well as building the capacity of revenue collectors and field officers.

As a result, the Assembly has organised a Town Hall Meeting at Atasemanso to explain the project to chiefs, landlords, business owners and stakeholders to solicit support of their constituents for the project.

The KMA Chief Executive, Sam Pyne, addressing the forum last Wednesday, emphasised that digitisation was the answer to most of the challenges in the area of revenue mobilisation, hence, the need to adopt the 100,000 Euros intervention by the AFD.

He said after a careful study of the project, which proposed the use of smart technology in the management and operations of cities, the KMA decided to focus on the Electronic-Tax option which digitised revenue mobilisation.

The Mayor said a comprehensive data base of all properties and their values with commercial and residential demarcations had been established for the proper tax management to maximise revenue collection to sustain digital revenue mobilsation which was a requirement of the ASTon project.

Mr. Pyne, however, assured the participants that the doors of the KMA were always open to members of the public seeking enhanced explanations regarding policies and programmes being rolled out in the metropolis.

Meanwhile, the Queenmother of Atasemanso, Nana Afia Konadu, has appealed to the KMA to consider a better drainage system for the local market which was affected by flooding when it rained. She also called on the KMA to help redesign the Community Centre to meet the social needs of the community.

Access Bank opens agency at Accra Technical University

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Officials of the Bank commissioning the new branch

Access Bank has commissioned a new Agency Banking network at the Accra Technical University (ATU) in Accra.  This is in line with the Bank’s vision of becoming the world’s most respected African Bank through strategic expansion and retail dominance.

Through this expansion drive, Access Bank has brought banking operations close to the doorsteps of the student community and surrounding vicinity. The ATU Agency brings to five, the number of the Bank’s Agency networks and the fourth of its physical presence in tertiary institutions.

Sharing his remarks ahead of the event, Managing Director of Access Bank Ghana, Olumide Olatunji, intimated that the launch of the ATU Agency will further deepen the Bank’s financial inclusion agenda and play a facilitating role in improving the banking experience of students on campus. He said this will grow the businesses of Small and Medium Enterprises and impact their financial lifestyle.

In a short ceremony at the Accra Technical University on Friday, the Executive Director for Retail and Digital Banking Pearl Nkrumah noted that banking is not only about where one does a transaction but the experiences that come with the transactions. She said Access Bank Ghana offers that unique experience customers need through the provision of innovative banking solutions.

“This is another opportunity to bring best-in-class banking products and services to the doorsteps of students right here on your campus and indeed, the public. Over the past thirteen years, Access Bank has brought innovation to banking and the financial sector. Our range of specialised products, including those targeted at the youth among other groups, clearly show that we are a Bank to reckon with for customers’ financial solutions”.

She explained that the Bank’s expansion drive is in line with its mission of becoming the world’s most respected African Bank “As a Bank, we are pursuing our vision of becoming the world’s most respected African Bank, offering the best financial solutions. This ambitious vision comes with a lot of responsibility. It comes with a lot of hard work and commitment on our part as a Bank to ensure that our cherished customers get the best value from us. This expansion means that students of this great Institution will enjoy the benefits of having a physical banking experience right here; the experience will not be different for customers in this vicinity” Pearl noted.

Gracing the occasion, the Vice Chancellor of the Accra Technical University, Professor Samuel Nii Odai shared his excitement at the opening of the new banking facility. He said Access Bank has remained committed to its promise of establishing a physical presence at the university. He revealed that, many banks were contacted to help solve the problem of fee collection, but Access Bank has been one of the banks that responded to the call. He was optimistic that students will take the opportunity to open personal accounts and begin their future banking experience with Access Bank.

The Chief Operations Officer of Access Bank Ade Ologun was hopeful that the entire ATU community will take advantage of the facility. “We have brought the bouquet of all our unique banking products and services right here to you. It is our hope that you will take advantage of the presence of our Bank here to explore the “beyond banking” world Access Bank offers.

Operating from 54 business locations across the country, Access Bank continues to build solid long-term relationships with customers based on trust, digital innovations, good customer service and transparency. The Bank has over the years developed a deep understanding of its customers, delivering excellent services and empowering them to achieve more through financial education.

Churches urged to inculcate socio-cultural values in younger generation

By
FRANCIS OWUSU-ANSAH
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Madam Owusu Banahene addressing the Catholic church synod in Sunyani
Bishops and priests of the Catholic church at the synod

The Bono Regional Minister, Madam Justina Owusu-Banahene, has called on religious bodies to inculcate in the younger generation the nation’s socio-cultural values, and virtues of love, respect and truthfulness.

“If our churches and other religious bodies instil in the younger generation the social and cultural values, as well as virtues, of love, respect and truthfulness, it would help to fill and shape them well to become complete and responsible adults to take up [the] leadership of the country,” she said.

Madam Owusu-Banahene gave the advice during the opening session of the four-day Episcopal Conference phase of the Synod on Synodality of the Catholic Church in Sunyani.

The Synod was on the theme: ”For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission,” and attended by Catholic bishops and priests across the country.

Madam Owusu Banahene emphasised that the youth remained the future leaders of the country, and, therefore, needed to be guided in life and the decision-making process.

“Let me emphasise that our youth of today remain the leaders of the country tomorrow and for that reason they need the guidance from us to enable them make the right decisions in life,” she said.

CHURCH CONTRIBUTION TO DEVELOPMENT

The Regional Minister commended the contribution of the Catholic Church toward the development of the nation.

“I would like to emphasise that the Catholic Church has in the past, reliably partnered with successive governments in building a better nation and improving the socio-economic livelihoods of the people,” she said.

The Minister noted that the Catholic Church had, apart from the spiritual growth of its members, made several interventions in the infrastructural growth of the country.

“Aside from the spiritual growth of members, the church’s several interventions, including the provision of schools, scholarships, health facilities, water and sanitation, relief services and micro-credit to vulnerable people, especially women and youth in the country have not gone unnoticed and, therefore, deserved commendation,” Madam Owusu-Banahene said.

GOVERNMENT APPRECIATION

According to the Regional Minister, “The government appreciates the role churches and some religious bodies have played and continue to play in the socio-economic development of the country.”

Madam Owusu Banahene underscored the need for the Synod to deliberate and find strategies to solidify the country’s security against the growing threat of terrorism within the West African Sub-region.

She noted that terrorism is a threat to the peace of the sub-region and appealed to the church to partner the government and security agencies to intensify public sensitisation and education on terrorism and extremism by embracing the “See Something, Say Something campaign.”

Archbishop Charles Palmer-Buckle

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Opinion

Archbishop Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle is a well-known clergyman and prelate of the Holy Roman Catholic Church. He was ordained a priest on Sunday December 12, 1976 and was consecrated a bishop on Wednesday January 6, 1993 and installed archbishop on Saturday May 28, 2005.

Lately Most Rev. Charles Palmer-Buckle had twice appeared in the news and in my opinion today, I thought I should share my comments.

Firstly, the Roman prelate, advised H.E. President Nana Akufo Addo, to review the Free SHS policy. This very harmless advice rather incited the ever-spiteful Kevin Taylor to spew uncultured and uncouth language at the archbishop, someone who is more knowledgeable and experienced than this self-acclaimed Ghanaian journalist, who has gone on self-imposed exile in the United States.

The words Kevin used cannot be repeated in a decent paper like the Ghanaian Chronicle, and to me all I can say to his family especially his parents is that they did their best and also that their home is not the only good home that wayward children come from.

Kevin’s problem, and no one seems to understand him, was that Archbishop Palmer-Buckle, made the same suggestion, Ex-President Mahama did, which he supported very much, however in the case of the archbishop, he did not make it in 2020, when Mahama, did. And this called for foul language. I only hope, Kevin’s children will not adopt this kind of hare-brained kind of life of their father’s.

The next thing that came out about Archbishop Charles Palmer-Buckle was a letter he authored, in which he suspended one Rev. Fr. Robert A.K. Oduro from the ministry of the holy priesthood.

From the reasons given by the archbishop, the priest in question had violated his vow of obedience to his bishop. This is a very serious offense that any priest can commit. It is like a minister or any government appointee flatly disobeying orders from the president.

The reason for Fr. Oduro’s suspension was that he had set up an unauthorised prayer camp and even though he was invited for discussions and even visited on site for deliberations on his prayer camp, he flatly ignored his bishop.

Some comments on social media on this issue especially against the archbishop clearly shows that lots of people do not understand how the Catholic Church operates. The most decent attack on the archbishop was that he is not the owner of the Holy Spirit and that Fr. Oduro could apply for retirement and concentrate on his Jesus’ ministry.

The Holy Catholic Church of which the Holy Roman Catholic Church is one and in fact the largest, has been through lots of experiences these almost two thousand odd years. Events throughout her history have guided the Church in taking up certain decisions that would maintain some orderliness in its mission to win souls for Christ. Since the Holy Trinity is a God of Orderliness, the Holy Spirit which blows within the Church, requires some form of decorum and nothing that will create confusion.

Setting up a prayer camp without authorisation, and there are authorised Catholic prayer camps across the country, means the priest wanted to operate without supervision of the Church, represented by the archbishop. It also means that he has some hidden agenda which he may want to promote under the guise of a Catholic priest. Nothing stopped him from applying to his bishop to set up a prayer camp and to wait patiently to be granted permission.

We all know what mostly transpire in such camps: healing and deliverance, prophecies and what have you. One essential thing especially to the Catholic Church is to test the spirit behind such activities.

The Catholic Church had faced such challenges before and one such person who threw the whole community of guard, for over forty years, making almost everyone believe she was working with the Holy Spirit when in fact she was a devil’s saint was Sister Magdalena of the Cross (1487-1560).

Before she was five, she started seeing visions and was almost always in church praying. Before age ten she performed her first miraculous healing and things kept happening with almost the whole of Christendom, believing she was indeed a living saint. Only a few people like St, Ignatius of Loyola and St. John of Avila would not be fooled.

It was in 1543, during a long ailment that it was detected that Sr. Magdalene of the Cross was actually operating under the influence of demons. During her exorcism she admitted having a forty-year pact with Satan. She repented and gave her life to Christ.

The important missing element which allowed for the ongoing demonic deceptions in the life of Sr. Magdalena was the absence of a priest spiritual director to guide and discern her alleged mystical gifts and supernatural graces. Obedience is the “litmus test” of the Church, and it seems that Sr. Magdalena was never subjected to obedience to a spiritual director.

To curb such occasions of fake mystics, the Church would suspend that particular clergy or religious to test the spirit. The great mystic of modern times, St. Padre Pio of San Giovanni Rotondo was suspended from saying mass publicly or even meeting people for over ten years. He passed the test and was allowed back to continue his public service to the faithful and today he has been canonised a saint.

Without such measures, the Catholic Church could become like a circus and no one would know who are the good and genuine priests. Today, we have some men of God doing things that are very alien to the mind of Jesus Christ, like sleeping with junior pastors’ wives, bathing women in public, giving out lotto numbers, etc., etc.

A Catholic Priest, who cannot obey his Bishop, even if that bishop, himself is a problem, cannot obey the Church. Pride and disobedience are the signs of the evil one. Pride brought the fall of Lucifer and disobedience, the fall of Adam and Eve.

What Archbishop Charles Palmer-Buckle did was right. It is more essential to maintain the sanctity of the Catholic Church at all times, after all, generally, Catholic priests are the most holy in the Christendom and filled with the Holy Spirit.

Archbishop Palmer-Buckle needs support in prayers as a shepherd of the faithful.

Hon Daniel Dugan

Heavy downpour kills 2, destroys 30 houses in Kankara, Katsina

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Heavy downpour in Kankara, Katsina

Two women lost their lives and over 30 houses were reportedly destroyed as a result of heavy rainstorm that occured on Saturday in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State.

According to an information officer at the council area, Abdulkarim Sani, one of the women died when the walls of her building collapsed and fell upon her. The deceased, he said had since been buried according to Islamic rites.

Sani also noted that Nasarawa and Matsiga communities were the worst-hit by the rainstorm which fell at different intervals between Saturday and Sunday..

Local authorities were still trying to determine the extent of damage to humans, homes and farmlands as at time of this report.

The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) were yet to issue any statement or respond to inquiries on the incident.

Credit: dailypost.ng

Osinbajo to join President of Ghana, Queen of Netherlands, others at Africa CEO Forum

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Vice President Yemi Osinbajo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN yesterday departed Abuja for Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire to participate alongside other leaders in the continent and beyond, at the annual summit of the Africa CEO Forum taking place from the 13th–14th of June, 2022.

The forum (organised by Jeune Afrique Media Group in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation, an arm of the World Bank), is Africa’s largest private sector event which features conferences, debates and high-level meetings dedicated to highlighting the role of the private sector in the development of the continent.

Senior Special Assistant to the President, Laolu Akande, in a statement On Sunday said Prof Osinbajo will join President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, other business and political leaders in the opening panel in discussing the topic “Economic Sovereignty: From Ambition to Action”.

The Vice President will also hold bi-lateral meetings with different stakeholders including United Nations SG’s Special Advocate on Inclusive Finance for Development, her Majesty, Queen Maxima of Netherlands and the Managing Director of the International Finance Corporation, IFC, Makhtar Diop among others.

The VP who is accompanied by the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, Ambassador Adeyemi Dipeolu departs Abuja today and he is expected back later on Monday. Credit: channelstv.com

Kaduna train attack: Gunmen free 11 hostages

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The train came under gunfire as the attackers apparently surrounded the train

Kidnappers who had detained some victims of the March attack on the Abuja to Kaduna train in northern Nigeria have released 11 hostages.

The spokesman to the cleric acting as go-between for the government and the attackers, Tukur Mamu, told the BBC that 51 people were still captive.

During the gruesome assault gunmen planted explosives on the rail line and shot at travellers.

At least nine people died and the incident sparked outrage.

The government blamed the attack on a jihadist group working in collaboration with local militia, known locally as bandits.

Last month the gunmen released a heavily pregnant woman. In a video message circulating on social media, the woman said the abductors told her she had been freed on “compassionate grounds”.

Negotiations continue between the government and the kidnappers to release the remaining captives, Tukur Mamu said.

On Sunday President Muhammadu Buhari addressed the widespread insecurity caused by armed gangs in his speech marking the country’s democracy day.

He described the “daily grief and worry” he feels for the victims or “terrorism and kidnapping” and said his government would continue to seek justice for families of victims.

However, most of his speech focused on politics and the coming 2023 general elections.

Last week suspected Islamic State (Iswap) group gunmen invaded a Catholic church in the usually peaceful southwestern town of Owo killing at least 40 worshippers.

Credit: bbc.com

Nigerians must trust the military for insecurity to end; CDS Irabor

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Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, on Sunday said citizens must trust the military and other security agencies for the war on insecurity to be more effective.

He made the comment while speaking on a Channels Television special program for Democracy Day.

“It is for us to have an understanding that we can’t withhold information and expect miracles to happen,” he said. “Certainly it’s not going to happen. I’m a victim as well as any Nigerian that is on the street. We are all victims together. There’s no one who is on the other side. We are in it together. We are on the frontlines. Trust is not something we need to beg for.

“I will seek and crave the indulgence of all Nigerians to say that there has to be trust. Trust must exist and trust must be given in all respect, so that together we will achieve the state of peace that we so desire.”

The General noted that “a lot of improvement” has been recorded in securing the country in the past one year. However, he admitted that the desired state of security is yet to be achieved.

Parts of the country continue to be subjected to repeated acts of violent crimes, including kidnapping and gunmen massacres.

On June 5, gunmen attacked St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, killing more than 30 people.

The CDS regretted the violent incidents but argued that security agencies have averted several others.

He said in the same week of the Owo attack, security agencies had halted what could have been a major attack in Kano and Abuja.

“We recovered a large quantum of arms and ammunition and other materials which, of course, the criminals were intending to use in various parts of the country, including Abuja,” he said.

“That the Owo incident happened does not imply that improvements have not happened.”

“Peace is a process,” he said. “It is not an end-state. We are working to get to a stage where we get to zero-incidents.”

Credit: channelstv.com

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