A former Minister of Defence, retired General Theophilus Danjuma, says if he reveals what is happening in the country, Nigerians will no longer sleep. He spoke yesterday at the University of Ibadan during the launch of a book, 70 Years of Progressive Journalism: The Story of the Nigerian Tribune and the presentation of Tribune’s Platinum Awards.

“So, Chief Ayo Adebanjo’s warning and advice is very timely. If you want details, I will give it to you privately.

“We are in a big hole as nation. And people who put us in this hole have continued today. So, we’ve to wake up. Only we can save ourselves. “The fifth columnists’ activities going on among your people are not helping matters. May Almighty God continue to bless this country, but only we can save ourselves from ourselves.”

Earlier, Adebanjo, an Afenifere leader, had raised the alarm that Yorubaland was in danger, saying “We’ve been submerged.” He said only few governors in the southwest “are responsible for us. They’ve shut down. They cannot face the head of state because of their own shortcomings. “Buhari is not ruling the country. He wants to dominate us. I don’t mince words about it. There’s tyranny in the country. There’s anarchy. When the Head of State said there’s no respect for the rule of law, where are the lawyers? The moment there’s no respect for the rule of law, there’s no government again, there’s anarchy.”

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, said Boko Haram had not been technically defeated as claimed by the Federal Government. The monarch also kicked against the Hate Speech Bill before the Senate.

Following the demise of Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu on Wednesday morning, the House of Representatives and indeed, the senate may adjourn plenary till Friday.

Uwajumogu is a serving senator from Imo North Senatorial District.

Reports said he slumped and died while taking his bath.

The essence of the adjournment is to honour the deceased.

It is a tradition to adjourn plenary for one day in the honour of any serving member that loses his life.

The House had planned to proceed for Christmas and New year holidays after tomorrow’s (Thursday) sitting before the news of the senator’s death filtered in.

The two chambers don’t usually hold plenaries on Mondays and Fridays.

The sad occurrence on the eve of adjournment is however seen as a coincidence which may necessitate both chambers to hold sessions at least for closing formalities for the year.

Speaker of the House of Representatives is expected to brief correspondents any moment from now but it is not readily known whether the briefing will dwell on the adjournment.

(Vanguard)

Tragedy struck Nigeria’s National assembly this midweek with the death of a serving senator, it has since left the chamber in a sober mood as it is just days before the 2019 Christmas celebration.

Senator representing Imo West Senatorial District, Ben Uwajumogu was said to have slumped in the toilet while taking his bath and rushed to a private hospital in Apo, Abuja where he was confirmed dead.

Uwajumogu according to reports was 51 and some sources of also claimed he was initially treated in the United Arab Emirates for a protracted illness and only recently returned after recuperating.

It is expected that the Senate will make a formal announcement on the sad event which has definitely thrown his family into mourning, but a senior aide to the President of the Senate Ahmed Lawan has confirmed the sad event.

Senator Uwajumogu was a member of the ruling All progressives Congress

Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno south, has reintroduced a bill seeking to establish the Nigeria Peace Corps at the senate.

The bill was among six proposed laws introduced at the upper legislative chamber on Tuesday.

The first reading of the peace corps bill was taken after Nelson Ayewoh, clerk of the senate, read the short title of it.

In February 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari refused to sign the bill after the eighth assembly passed it in 2017.

The president expressed concern about funding for the organisation.

Buhari said given the “scarce government resources”, funding the organisation will be a financial burden on the federal government.

The Peace Corps of Nigeria was embroiled in controversies with other security organisations — the police and the Department of State Services (DSS).

In 2017, the office of organisation in Abuja was sealed by the police.