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Premium News
FORMER PRESIDENT YAR’ADUA’S MOTHER DIES AT 101
Hajiya Aya Dada Yar’Adua, the mother of former Nigerian President Umaru Musa Yar’adua, has passed away at the age of 101.
She died at her home in Katsina after a period of illness.
Affectionately known as “Dada,” she was also the mother of two other prominent figures, the late General Shehu Musa Yar’adua and Senator Abdu Soja Yar’adua.
FAMILY SEEKS PROPER RECOGNITION FOR LATE BRIGADIER-GENERAL BENJAMIN ADEKUNLE The family of the late Brigadier General Benjamin Maja Adekunle, a.k.a Black Scorpion, has voiced their disappointment over what it called lack of adequate recognition for his contributions to Nigeria. Adekunle, Civil War hero and an Ogbomoso-born distinguished Nigerian Army officer, trained at the Sandhurst Military Academy. He died 10 years ago. He was renowned for his leadership in reclaiming the Delta and riverine areas from the Biafran forces during the Nigerian Civil war. Speaking with journalists during a Golf Kitty organised by the Adekunle family at Ogbomoso Recreation Club in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, on Saturday, the deceased veteran’s eldest child, Barr. (Mrs) Busola Olagunju, said the recognition for her late father was long overdue. She added that her father did his best for the country and there was the need for proper recognition for him. “My late father was a patriot who loved his country and sacrificed everything he had for the unity of this country. He was a good father, and we still miss up till today,” she stated. Asked how she wanted him to be properly immortalised, Barrister Olagunju said: “the same thing they did for other patriots and nationalists, by naming notable monuments, institutions, roads, etc, after them. Same thing could be done for him just for people to remember that such patriotic person existed. “I believe with time, some of the issues in the past will be corrected. We are hopeful that whatever the case may be, in future more recognition will be accorded him for his achievements and contributions to Nigeria.” Also speaking at the event, Brig. Gen. Sameul Gbenga Ladipo said: “I am happy that the family has put this together because for a long time Black Scorpion has not been given the recognition he deserved and I want to believe that charity begins at home. Now that Black Scorpion is being recognised at Ogbomosoland, in no distant future, Nigeria will accord him the recognition he deserves. “Brigadier General Benjamin Maja Adekunle is one of the heroes of the Nigerian Civil War, all these are well documented. However, you can hardly find any monument, road or a military installation named after him now that Ogbomoso has begin to recognise its own. I will suggest we name a major road after him, nothing can be too much to immortalise him,” he added. A retired Permanent Secretary at the Federal Civl Service, Sir Olusegun Adekunle, while expressing optimism that that late civil war hero would be given adequate recognition, said: “I believe that process is underway, there is no time that God cannot touch the heart of a leader to remind him of somebody who deserve to be honoured. It happened in the Bible and I am sure it will happen in our lifetime.” A nephew of the late warlord by the name Adekunle reminisced, saying: “He played great roles in my upbringing and my career. He loved the family and the nation. I am proud to be associated with him. This is a unique event because we are celebrating the 10th year remembrance anniversary and we are thanking God by putting this up. The Golf Kitty is to bring life into the kitty and it is sending a message that keeping alive is part of the legacies he left behind.” He said the family will take over the sponsorship of Hole 9 named after Brig-Adekunle by the Ogbomoso Golf Club and will be financing an annual golf tournament in his honour. For his part, Captain of the Ogbomoso Recreation Golf Club, Engineer Aderibigbe Adeyinka, said golfers from IBB Golf Club Abuja, Tiger Golf Club Ibadan, Ilorin Golf Club and others have arrived for the competition and prizes will…
281 MISSING FROM BORNO CORRECTIONAL CENTRE AFTER FLOOD Some of the missing inmatesThe Nigerian Correctional Service has declared 281 inmates missing from the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. The service noted that this followed an evacuation process in the aftermath of the flood incident in the state, as seven inmates were returned to the centre. In a statement on Sunday in Abuja by its spokesman, Umar Abubakar, the service released the details of the inmates, including their biometrics. Abubakar said, “The Nigerian Correctional Service has observed the flooding currently being experienced in Maiduguri, Borno State, and its environment. “The unfortunate incident has left scars, bringing down the walls of the correctional facilities, including the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Maiduguri (MSCC), as well as the staff quarters in the City. “Upon the evacuation of inmates by officers of the service with support from sister security agencies to a safe and secure facility, 281 inmates were observed to be missing.” He, however, added that “it is important to note that the service is in custody of their details, including their biometrics, which is being made available to the public below. “The service is working in synergy with other security agencies as both covert and overt deployments have been activated to look out for them. “Presently, a total of seven inmates have been recaptured and returned to custody, while efforts are on ground to track down the rest and bring them back to safe custody.” “While this effort is on, the public is assured that the incidence does not impede or affect public safety.”
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