The credible print and online newspaper ThisNigeriaVol.1.Vol.1. No No 36 16 N200 N200 N2001 Monday May 24, – May 30, 2021 Monday May 24, – May 30, 2021 N32.915trn: Issues in Nigeria’s Rising debt index PG Monday, January 4 – January 10, 2021 8 OPEN GRAZING/MOTOR SPARE PART Malami seriously missed PG the point – Ozekhome 5 AS MORE TRIBUTES TRAIL TRAGIC END OF COAS... The PG 14 Final Salute •General Attahiru’s unfulfilled dream •His stint at Brigade of Guards under IBB and Abacha •Why General Buratai withdrew him as Lafiya Dole Commander 2 ThisNigeria Monday May 24, – May 30, 2021 Lt. Gen. Attahiru: Life and Times in pictures Lt. Gen. Attahiru: died in the ill-fated NAF aircraft that crashed in Kaduna Attahiru (left) recieving the staff of office from former COAS, Lt.-Gen Tukur Buratai President Buhari (left), Attahiru, Mrs. Fati Attahiru with the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo President Buhari (left), Attahiru and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo Attahiru and Irabor at TRADOC, Minna Attahiru Minister of Defence, Maj-Gen Bashir Magashi (M) Chief of Staff to the President, Prof Ibrahim Gambari (4th R) Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar (3rd R) President of the Senate Ahmed Lawan (2nd R) Gov. Imam of National Mosque Abuja, Dr Ahmad Onilewura Army officers carrying the casket bearing the remains of the late Lt.-Gen Babagana Zulum of Borno State (4th L), during a prayer ,leading a prayer for the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Attahiru for the late Attahiru and other officers who died in the Ibrahim Attahiru and other officers. ill-fated NAF aircraft. ThisNigeria 3 Monday May 24, – May 30, 2021 One crash too many OUR VISION To be Nigeria and Africa’s nce again, the nation woke accident, but rampant air crashes any weather. foremost print and to the grim news of another have really become worrisome, It therefore means that to prevent digital newspaper brand, Oplane crash which claimed especially for military jets that are air crashes, we have to critically projecting our country and the life of the army chief, his aides supposed to be objects of precision. look at these issues. continent in their authentic among others, eleven souls in all. colours to the world According to aviation experts, Beyond the official explanations The nation is mourning, and flags generally, there is not a single cause we are given about frequent jet are flying at half-mast at the barracks for an accident, but a combination crashes in Nigeria, it simply means OUR MISSION and military formations nationwide of several factors. that something is drastically wrong: To deliver high-quality as we mourn the horrible demise of Apart from losses during military Navigational issues, poor pilot the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.- actions or wars, accidents and training, dilapidated or unserviceable journalism through our Gen Ibrahim Attahiru. incidents involving military aircraft aircraft, or even sabotage by military print and digital platforms could be due to mechanical failures or extraneous actions or all of the in objective, unbiased The list of the dead also includes or weather and pilot error. Others above are possibilities. and credible manner, that Brig.-Gen. M. Abdulkadir (the Chief are chronological lists, lists by guarantees justice, equity of Staff to the COAS); Brig.-Gen. conflict and lists by aircraft model. We at ThisNigeria strongly believe and fairness to all Olayinka (acting Provost Marshall of that the time is ripe to tell ourselves the Army); Brig.-Gen Kuliya (acting Of the causes of plane crashes and some basic truths. Nigerians are Chief of Military Intelligence); how to prevent them, experts list tired of official explanations rooted THISNIGERIA Major L.A. Hayat (the Aide-de-Camp human error as by far the most in the “immediate cause of the MEDIA COMPANY to the COAS) and Major Hamza (the common cause of air crashes, This crash is still being ascertained’’. Chief Security Officer to the COAS) is said to account for about 50 per Eric Osagie and five non-commissioned officers. cent of accidents. History have shown that such Publisher and CEO reports are never made public, and This, indeed, is one crash too many. Next is mechanical failure or defect. the game of Russian roulette usually It would seem that we are at the Modern planes are adjudged far safer continues until another ‘bird’ falls mercy of death these days, with than aircraft used in the past, and are from the sky. three military air crashes claiming becoming more safe with time. 20 souls in just three months. It is high time we took a pragmatic We also have weather problems. look at the state of our military Editorial Recall that the spate of bad luck But modern planes are generally hardware, personnel and equipment Charles Abah lurking in our skies in recent times rated as being able to fly in almost to check our poor military aviation Kassim Omomia started on February 21, 2021; seven history, especially in recent times. Emma Obe persons were confirmed dead when Mudiaga Affe military aircraft, NAF201, crashed Are our pilots exposed to the right Online on approach at Abuja airport after training and welfare? Are we buying Adekunle Aliyu an ‘engine failure’. We are yet to get the right planes and equipment? Technical a report on that incident. What about the prospect of military Vincent Chukwuka action and sabotage? Graphics In the North-East, hotbed of Jonathan Agboola insurgency, another jet in pursuit There is need There is need for a proper and Accounts of terrorists disappeared from the thorough investigation into incidents Blessing Nwosu radar at about 5.08 p.m. on 31st for a proper such as this. Plane crashes are not Sales & Distribution March, 2021 and up till date, it has and thorough something to gloss over. Perhaps John Okpaire not been found. The two pilots have the authorities take delight in Advert / Marketing also not been accounted for. investigation into classifying these type of accidents The Media Post as a ‘military affair’. It should not be The latest calamity to befall the incidents such as any longer. Contributing Editors/ nation happened on Friday, May Special Columnists 21, 2021 when eleven military this. Plane crashes The authorities can take a cue personnel, including the nation’s are not something from a Civil Society Organisation Mike Ozekhome, SAN, PhD army chief and ten others perished (CSO), Concerned Nigerians, which Issa Aremu, mni at the Kaduna airport. to gloss over has called for the employment of Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa SAN independent air accident experts to Sam Kargbo The incident has been attributed unravel the cause of the crash. Tony Iyare to ‘bad weather’ by the Defence Headquarters. As usual, the authorities We have lost far too many human say investigations are ongoing. and material resources to air crashes of all types. It would seem there will always be rationalisation or reason(s) for any We cannot afford to lose more. 4 ThisNigeria Monday May 24, – May 30, 2021 ThisNigeria 5 NewsInsight Monday May 24, – May 30, 2021 OPEN GRAZING/MOTOR SPARE PART Malami seriously missed the point – Ozekhome, other SANs tackle AGF of Nigeria, why have they not elicited any resentment of other Nigerians? It is simply because they live and do their business peacefully without any problem. It is the murder- ous activities of Fulani herders that have given rise to the current demand for laws that will bring about peaceful co- existence of all Nigerians. “Why should an AGF be so fixated in evoking ethnic/re- gional fault lines when duty calls for him to be a statesman? It is disheartening that Mr. Abubakar Malami has chosen to debase our country. He has indeed questioned Nigeria’s unity. Very unfortunate,” Abaribe said in a statement by his media aide, Uche Awon. For Ajulo, attempt to criticise the actions of the southern governors on open grazing was detrimental to national se- curity. Ajulo, who runs a law firm in Abuja, said, “From all indica- tions, any attempt to criticise the actions of the southern gov- ernors on the ban of open grazing which is a regulation of pasturing and herding of cows is calculated to fan the embers of sectionalism, and to polarise people along ethnic lines to the detriment of national security.” Malami unfit to remain as AGF- Lawyers Also, a lawyer, Elempe Dele, said Malami reduced his sta- Malami Ozekhome tus by comparing killer herdsmen with legitimate spare parts dealers. “How can the Minister of Justice reduce By Mudiaga Affe, Andy Asemota, David Lawani of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, missed the point sorely himself to the level of not knowing the difference between and Cajetan Mmuta when they compared Igbo peaceful spare-parts dealers who go trespassers (let’s put it lightly) and legal occupiers of about their normal spare parts business legitimately, (building shops who pay rents to landlords? ore knocks have come the way of the Attorney- or renting their shops), with savage, maniacal AK-47-wielding “I wish Malami could compare bandits to school teachers, kid- General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, herdsmen. nappers to medical doctors, robbers to estate developers, ter- MMr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), as senior lawyers, “Igbo traders do not kill or attack northerners with their rorists to taxi drivers, and perhaps Abubakar Malami to Abuba- activists, and groups have called for his sacking from the stock of motor-tyres, rims, spanners, or chassis. They do kar Shekau since the names sound alike. cabinet. not pour petrol from fuel tanks that they sell on Fulani The AGF’s comparison of open grazing with the sale of herdsmen.