From Olukayode Idowu, Maiduguri
SUNRISE NEWS, Borno, Aug 2020 Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum has appointed a new Chief of Staff.
The newly appointed CoS, Prof. Isa Marte, who will be sworn in next Monday, was until his appointment the Commissioner of Higher Education.
His appointment followed the death of the former occupier of the office, Dr. Babagana Wakil, who died last month after a protracted illness.
Wakil served as Zulum’s chief of staff from Tuesday, June 25, 2019 till he died 42 days ago.
Marte, according to a statement by the governor’s spokesman, Mallam Isa Gusau, is to handover to Dr Babagana Mustapha Mallumbe, who has been given an extra task of handling the Ministry of Higher Education in addition to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, which has been holding since the start of the administration.
Mustapha is now a Commissioner of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, with the merger on the order of the governor.
Marte, the incoming chief of staff, is a professor of pharmacology with specialty in cancer research and is a fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science.
“Zulum’s choice of Professor Isa Hussaini Marte is in recognition of his proven capacity, strong passion for development, unbending principles that align with the governor’s, and above all, his proven integrity” Gusau said.
The spokesman added that Prof Marte is expected to work round the clock to efficiently coordinate all affairs of the government house to enable the full attainment of the governor’s bold vision that is already a work in progress for a peaceful, stable, economically recovered and highly progressive Borno State.
The statement noted that Prof Marte will be sworn-in on Monday, August 17, 2020, as governor Zulum looks forward to working with him at a higher level.
[8/12, 8:56 PM] Michael Olugbode: Army begins investigation into allegation of soldiers involvement in illicit fishing and farming
The Nigerian Army has commenced investigation into allegations that soldiers of its counter-insurgency on North East (Operation Lafiya Dole) are engaged in illicit fishing and farming activities in Borno State.
The allegations surfaced after an attack on the Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum in Baga, over a week ago.
The governor, who had to turn back from his schedule visit to the shores of Lake Chad which is rich in fish after his convoy was shot at, had alleged sabotage and accused soldiers of involvement in illicit farming and fishing in the state
The Deputy Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Felix Omoigui led a panel of investigation on a two-day facts-finding mission to Baga, to verify the allegations.
The panel visited the 130 battalion, Baga, a forward operating base that is at the center of the allegations against the Army since Governor Zulum’s attack.
The panel interrogated the Commanding Officer of the 130 Battalion Baga and the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF),
The Commanding Officer, Lt. Col Umar Abdulmajid while responding to questions vehemently denied the allegations saying “there is nothing like that, farming or fishing from either civilian or military, nobody is farming and nobody is fishing in fact from Monguno to Baga there’s no civilian and there’s no civilian vehicles coming to Baga.”
Omoigui told journalists that: “There was an allegation that soldiers are involved in farming activities fishing and trading of fish and other farm produce from here to Maiduguri and other places and the Chief of Army Staff got wind of this and being that he has zero tolerance for infractions like this he mandated us to come for a fact finding mission to ascertain whether the allegations are true.”
He said: “During the course of our investigation you have also been there, And the investigative session was open we’ll leave you to judge; We are going to go back and write our report and the outcome will be made public.
“Once I finish we’ll submit to the appropriate superior authority and if need be we’ll let the public know because that allegation is so damaging and that is why the chief of army staff is very concerned about it and that is why we are here.”
He added that: “You’ve seen the whole place, there are no civilians here and there are no farmlands I don’t know where this rumour is emanating from. I really don’t want to arrive at any position now because the investigation is still going on but from what they have said it follows that the allegations are baseless.”
“We just liberated this place and we have made it secured now and the civilians can come in. But once in a while we do witness these infiltrations of the BH so in an atmosphere like that why would the soldier leave their primary duty of protecting civilians and then go and be farming? It’s not possible.” The Deputy commander said.