Tinubu Pays Tribute To Nigeria’s First Female Army General Who Dies @84

President Bola Tinubu has expressed heartfelt condolences to the Kale family, the Nigerian Army, and the medical community in Nigeria following the demise of Major-General Aderonke Kale (rtd), MNI, at the age of 84. Major-General Kale, renowned as the first female Major-General in the Nigerian Army and the inaugural female Commander of the Nigerian Army Medical Corps, retired in 1997 after a distinguished career. In a statement released by his media aide, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu lauded Major-General Kale as a trailblazer, describing her passing as a poignant loss for the nation. “Major-General Aderonke Kale was a pioneer in her field. She embodied the courage, professionalism, capacity, and resilience of the Nigerian woman. She thrived and conquered where many feared to tread.  She was a towering figure; an inimitable role model,” remarked the President. President Tinubu offered prayers for the repose of Major-General Kale’s soul and urged her grieving family to find solace in the indelible legacy she leaves behind.

Nigeria @63: Soludo Renames Anambra Cargo Airport After Chinua Achebe

Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has renamed the state’s International Passenger and Cargo Airport after late Chinua Achebe, a novelist, to immortalise him for making an indelible mark on the history of human civilisation. Achebe was a native of Ogidi in Idemili North Local Government Area of the state and died on March 21, 2013 at the age of 82, in Boston, Massachusetts. Soludo said this on Sunday in Awka at the Independence Day parade to mark Nigeria’s 63rd anniversary, describing Achebe as an example of Africa’s unsung hero. “Achebe, a Nigerian novelist, poet, and critic, gave the African literature an identity and a voice and he rightly reconstructed and refined the identify of the people,” he said. The governor said that Achebe was not just an Anambra hero nor a Nigerian hero, but an African and global hero and yet largely unsung at home. He said that henceforth, the state shall be deliberate in fishing out and celebrating its largely unsung heroes as motivation to children and youths. “Unfortunately, some people wrongly think of legacies in terms of brick and mortar. Legacy is about impact on human life and human civilisation. “Achebe was not a president or governor or military. He did not build bridges or roads or airports but he will outlive most presidents, governors and ministers in our minds. “Achebe rejected Nigeria’s national honours twice in protest against what he perceived as injustice to his home state Anambra. Today, Anambra will finally honour him. “After wide consultations, there is a broad consensus that no one is more deserving to be named after the first airport in Anambra than Anambra’s all-time greatest literary gift to the world, Chinua Achebe. “Consequently, we will rename the Anambra International Cargo and Passenger Airport, Umueri, to Chinua Achebe International Airport, Umueri. “Yes, it has to be an international airport, and we hope to work with the Federal Government to give full effect to its international status,” he said.Soludo urged Nigerians to be intentional about making the project Nigeria work and believe in the potential greatness of the country. “We have muddled through the past 63 years with squandered opportunities and yet with the promise of potential greatness “No country or nation is a perfect. Every nation continues to struggle in its match to a more perfect union. The path to stability, growth and sustainability will be challenging as there are no quick fixes. “But all of us must collectively think and work Nigeria out of the current challenges. We have no other country but Nigeria, and we must make it to work for everyone, “he said. The governor said his administration was founded on the true progressive agenda and would continue to create the enabling environment for residents to thrive and survive. The police, paramilitary organisations and students from different schools took part in the parade.

Tinubu mourns designer of Nigeria’s national flag, Pa Akinkunmi

President Bola Tinubu has conveyed his sympathy to the family of Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi, who designed the national flag in 1958, following his passing into glory at the age of 87. This is contained in a statement by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, on Wednesday in Abuja. Tinubu condoled with friends and associates of the retired civil servant, who dedicated his life to the service of the nation, sharing knowledge and experience with old and young, and inspiring many to think and act patriotically. The President affirmed that the Green and White flag is a legacy that has consistently reflected the fruitfulness, resilience, and harmony enjoyed by the nation. He said that it represented the boldness and uniqueness with which Nigerians characteristically reach for and achieve success around the world. The President believed Pa Akinkunmi lived and worked for the greatness of the country, with a generational legacy and a place of honour in Nigeria. Born Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi in Ibadan, the older of a set of twins, he lived with his father until he was eight years old before he relocated to the Northern part of Nigeria. He began his early education in the North and after his father’s retirement, he came down to the West and was re-enrolled at Baptist Day School, Idi-Ikan in Ibadan. He was a Nigerian civil servant who was best known for designing Nigeria’s national flag. He was commonly referred to as Mr Flag Man. 

COAS, Matawalle present as military lays 22 slain officers to rest

A somber atmosphere enveloped the National Military Cemetery in Abuja as military personnel, led by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Maj.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, along with grieving family members and friends, gathered to pay their final respects to fallen comrades who lost their lives in Niger State. The burial ceremony held special significance as it paid tribute to 36 officers who were tragically killed in action, including an air mission, on August 14, as reported by the Defence Headquarters (DHQ). The solemn event commenced with the arrival of Bello Matawalle, the Minister of State for Defence, who arrived at approximately 9:46am. In attendance alongside him were Major General Christopher Gwabin Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff, and several other service chiefs. The combined presence of high-ranking officials, military personnel, and the bereaved families underscored the gravity of the occasion. It is noteworthy that some of the deceased officers had already been laid to rest by their families. The ceremony included a roll call of the military personnel who were to be interred, commemorating their dedication and sacrifice. The list includes: LATE MAJOR SA ONI LATE FLIGHT LIEUTENANT ANTHONY DURYUMSU LATE FLIGHT LIEUTENANT IBRAHIM ADAMU LATE LIEUTENANT GM ODUSAMI LATE LIEUTENANT US ALKALI LATE SERGEANT FARUK MOHAMMED LATE CORPORAL IBRAHIM GARBA LATE CORPORAL CIROMA POGU LATE CORPORAL ADAMA ISAAC LATE CORPORAL HARUNA JAMILU LATE CORPORAL SAMAILA BASHIRU LATE ABLE SEAMAN SULEIMAN MK (NIGERIAN NAVY) LATE CORPORAL JAURU AMOS (NIGERIAN AIR FORCE) LATE LANCE CORPORAL SUNDAY OKOPI LATE LANCE CORPORAL EKPANYO EDET LATE LANCE CORPORAL ABARIBE DANIEL (NIGERIAN AIR FORCE) LATE LANCE CORPORAL BRIGGS STEPHEN (NIGERIAN AIR FORCE) LATE LANCE CORPORAL YAKUBU AYUBA LATE LANCE CORPORAL NURA MOHAMMED LATE PRIVATE HABIB ALIYU LATE PRIVATE TANKO WAJE LATE AIRCRAFTMAN ABUBAKAR ABDULRAHAMAN (NIGERIAN AIR FORCE) The ceremony stood as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by these brave individuals in the line of duty. Their commitment and dedication to Nigeria will forever be remembered, as their names echo in the hearts of those who gathered to honour their memory. May their souls rest in perfect peace. Amen.

Supreme Court Justice, Chima Centus Nweze dies @64

Supreme Court Justice Chima Centus Nweze has passed on. He died on Sunday at the age of 64. Festus Akande, the Director of Information at the Supreme Court, confirmed the news to NIGERIAN ANCHOR, whilst adding that and an official press statement will be released soon. Justice Nweze gained prominence for his dissenting judgment in 2020, which declared Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the rightful winner of the 2019 Governorship election in Imo State. This decision triggered extensive debates and divided opinions among legal experts and the public. In another significant moment of his judicial career, Justice Nweze, in a three-against-two split decision, declared Ahmad Lawan, then Senate President, as the authentic candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Yobe North Senatorial District during the 25 February general election. These rulings underscored the profound impact of his decisions on the political landscape. Born on September 25, 1958, in Obollo, Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State, Justice Chima Centus Nweze had a long and distinguished career within the Nigerian legal system. In 2014, former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration approved his appointment to the Supreme Court upon the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC). Justice Nweze’s demise leaves a significant void in the legal community. He was renowned for his thoughtful and meticulous approach to cases, earning respect among peers and legal scholars alike. As the nation mourns the loss of this accomplished jurist, his legacy of upholding justice and the rule of law will undoubtedly endure in Nigeria’s legal history.