The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, has commended President Bola Tinubu for defeating Boko Haram terrorists within his first year in office.
The SGF made the development known during a book launch in Abuja to celebrate President Tinubu’s achievements since he assumed office on May 29, 2023.
This was as the Defence Headquarters on Thursday revealed that 103 Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists and their families surrendered to the Nigerian military in Borno State between May 21 and May 23, 2024.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba during the DHQ’s bi-weekly press briefing on Thursday, said the terrorists and their families comprising 13 adult males, 29 adult females, and 61 children surrendered to troops in Mafa, Bama, Gwoza, and Monguno Local Government Areas of Borno State.
Buba said, “Between May 21 and May 23, 2024, a total of 103 Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorist fighters and their families comprising of 13 adult males, 29 adult females, and 61 children surrendered to troops in Mafa, Bama, Gwoza, and Monguno LGAs of Borno State.”
However, a statement issued on Thursday by John Ameh, media aide to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Nicholas Ella, said Akume lauded Tinubu for defeating Boko Haram, adding that the criminal activities of kidnappers are also being tackled by law enforcement agents.
Akume said, “There is no one that is in doubt of President Bola Tinubu’s giant strides in the last year. The federal government under President Tinubu’s leadership has defeated Boko Haram terrorists,”
He further commended the president for infrastructural developments achieved during his first year in office.
“President Tinubu, in just one year, has built many roads across Nigeria and other critical infrastructures like the Abuja Metro Rail,” SGF Akume added.
The statement further revealed that the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Ganduje, said, “President Tinubu has demonstrated remarkable leadership in the face of adversity by resetting Nigeria on the path of growth and development.”
It added that billionaire businessman, Arthur Eze, eulogised President Tinubu for standing up to state governors in trying to reform the country’s local government system.
The oil tycoon accused governors of cornering local government funds, thereby depriving the third tier of government of development.
The PUNCH reports that the Federal Government recently sued the 36 state governors at the Supreme Court, for tampering with funds released from the Federation Account for the benefit of local governments.
Meanwhile, in commemoration of the President’s first anniversary in office, two academics, Bolu Folayan and Ajibolu Balofine, chronicled Tinubu’s political journey – his triumphs and successes.
The book titled, ‘365 Days of Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Presidency: Resetting the Strategic Foundation for a New Nigeria,’ examines the President’s “stunning political success” by leveraging on his “prowess in strategic communication management.”
The authors, who are both communications professors, said they were inspired to document President Tinubu’s achievements on the political scene for posterity and academic purposes.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Nicholas Ella, said he knew one of the authors, Mr Balofin, as an accomplished researcher whom he first encountered during his tour of duty as a career diplomat in New York.
At the unveiling of the 420-page book at the Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, Messrs Akume and Ganduje donated N10million each, while Prince Arthur Eze bought 10 copies of the book for N20million.