News

Ex-Governor Masari is GOCOP’s keynoter at 2025 annual confab in Lagos

Published

3 months ago

September 12, 2025

Advocate News Nigeria

Rt Hon Aminu Bello Masari

Spread the love

● To speak on reconciling campaign promises with governance realities

A former Speaker of the House of Representatives and immediate past Governor of Katsina State, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, will deliver the keynote address at the 2025 Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) Annual Conference.

The confab is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

This ninth edition is themed: “Reconciling Campaign Promises with Governance Realities: Challenges and Prospects.”

Masari confirmed his availability for the role during a courtesy visit by a GOCOP delegation led by the Deputy President and Conference Planning Committee Chair, Danlami Nmodu, mni, which included the Vice President (North), Mr. Tom Chiahemen, in Abuja.

During the visit, the team presented Masari with a copy of the newly published GOCOP book, which he graciously promised to read.

In a press statement, GOCOP’s Publicity Secretary, Ogbuefi Remmy Nweke, said that Masari, who is Chairman of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), had a distinguished record of service.

Profile:

Masari was Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport in Katsina State (1991–1993), Speaker of the House of Representatives (2003–2007), and Governor of Katsina State (2015–2023).

Born in Masari village, Kafur Local Government Area of Katsina State, Masari’s career reflects a lifelong commitment to diligence, honesty, and service.

From his early days in the civil service, rising through the Water Board to senior management, to his training at Middlesex Polytechnic in the UK, he has consistently distinguished himself in public life.

His political journey and leadership earned him national and traditional honours such as the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR), Dallatun Katsina, and Matawallen Hausa, alongside honorary doctorates and international recognitions including the U.S. Congressional Commendation Award.

As Governor, Masari focused on infrastructure, education, healthcare, and workers’ welfare, transforming Katsina into one of the few Nigerian states without salary arrears.

His leadership attracted accolades, including The Sun Courage in Leadership Award (2016) and the Zik Leadership Prize for Good Governance (2017).

Past GOCOP conferences had featured eminent speakers such as Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese (2019), who spoke on “Economy, Security and National Development: The Way Forward.”

Professor Mahmood Yakubu, INEC Chairman (2022), who delivered the keynote “2023 Elections: Managing the Process for Credible Outcome.”

Professor Uche Uwaleke, Capital Market scholar (2023), who addressed “Nigeria: Roadmap for Socio-Economic Recovery and Sustainability.”

Founded to uphold the tenets of journalism in the digital age, GOCOP is a professional body of 119 member organisations led by seasoned editors and senior journalists who transitioned from traditional media into online publishing.

According to the statement, “the annual conference provides a unique platform for sponsorship opportunities, offering brand visibility, media recognition, and networking with influential journalists, editors, and policy shapers.”

Partnering with GOCOP, it added, was a strong demonstration of commitment to ethical journalism and responsible media..

News

Burkina Faso releases 11 Nigerian officers after Abuja claims the aircraft was en route to Portugal

Published

4 hours ago

December 9, 2025

Advocate News Nigeria

Spread the love

Burkina Faso has released the 11 Nigerian military officers who were detained after their Nigerian Air Force (NAF) C-130 aircraft made what authorities described as an unauthorised landing in Bobo-Dioulasso on Monday.

According to Business Insider, the officers — two crew members and nine military passengers — were allowed to return to Nigeria after Burkinabè authorities completed preliminary security checks amid suspicions that the team may have been linked to Nigeria’s involvement in the Benin coup response.

The Nigerian government had maintained that the landing was purely a technical emergency while the aircraft was en route to Portugal. However, Burkina Faso countered this explanation, saying the aircraft violated national protocols by entering its airspace without permission.

Territorial Administration Minister Emile Zerbo said the unexpected arrival of the aircraft triggered an immediate and heightened security response.

“The aircraft flew into Burkina Faso without clearance,” Zerbo stated, noting that defence and intelligence units were deployed promptly to assess the situation.

The Alliance of Sahel States (AES) — comprising Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger — issued a joint statement late Monday describing the incident as a confirmed “airspace violation” and an “unfriendly act.” The bloc further announced that its air forces had been placed on maximum alert with orders to neutralise any aircraft that breached AES-controlled airspace.

Despite the strong language, Burkinabè security officials told the BBC that the Nigerian officers were questioned, cleared, and later permitted to leave.

The Nigerian Air Force, in its own account, stressed that a technical fault necessitated the diversion and that the emergency landing followed standard international aviation safety procedures. While the NAF confirmed its personnel were safe and treated respectfully, it did not directly acknowledge their detention.

The episode comes amid worsening relations between Nigeria and the AES governments. Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger — all under military rule — have repeatedly accused Nigeria of overstepping in regional security matters, particularly in Benin, where Nigeria has coordinated responses to coup attempts.

The three Sahel states formally withdrew from ECOWAS earlier this year, alleging political interference and the bloc’s inability to effectively tackle jihadist violence. Since then, they have strengthened military ties within the AES, distanced themselves from Western partners such as France, and expanded security cooperation with Russia.

In a related development, Niger has imposed new restrictions on goods entering from Nigeria, citing growing security concerns and suspicion over Nigerian military activities across the Sahel.

“For security requirements, all goods originating from Nigeria must be unloaded and inspected at the entry offices before any transit formalities,” announced Colonel Mohamed Yacouba Siddo in a Tuesday directive.

SaharaReporters had earlier revealed that Burkina Faso’s junta detained the 11 Nigerian officers and impounded the NAF C-130 after its emergency landing — an incident now adding to the escalating tension between Abuja and the Sahel military regimes.

News

Senate approves Tinubu’s request to deploy troops to Benin for peace mission

Published

7 hours ago

December 9, 2025

Advocate News Nigeria

The Nigerian Senate

Spread the love

The Senate on Tuesday approved President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s request to deploy Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin on a peace mission aimed at restoring democratic order and stability.

The resolution followed the Senate’s consideration of the President’s request in the Committee of the Whole during plenary.

Tinubu had, in a letter read on the floor by Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday, urged the Senate to approve the troop deployment to help restore governance following a recent coup attempt in Benin.

The President had initially deployed members of the Nigerian Armed Forces on Sunday to assist in restoring democracy after a group of soldiers attempted a coup.

In the letter titled, “Deployment of Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin for a peace mission”, Tinubu cited Section 5(5), Part 2 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and stated that, following consultation with the National Defence Council, he sought the Senate’s consent for the deployment.

“This request is made further to a request received from the Government of Benin Republic for the exceptional and immediate provision of air support by the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The Distinguished Senate may wish to note that the Government of the Republic of Benin is currently faced with an attempted unconstitutional seizure of power and disruption and destabilization of democratic institutions.

“The situation as reported by the Government of Benin requires urgent external intervention.

“The Distinguished Senate considers the close ties of brotherhood and friendship which exist between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin, as well as the principles of collective security upheld within ECOWAS.

“It is our duty to provide the support as requested by the Government of the Republic of Benin.”

After reading the letter, Akpabio committed the President’s request for consent to the Committee of the Whole for immediate action.

News

Rivers Governor Fubara finally dumps PDP for APC

Published

8 hours ago

December 9, 2025

Advocate News Nigeria

Fubara suspends Rivers LGA caretaker committee boss

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara

Spread the love

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has officially left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Announcing his defection on Tuesday evening, Fubara said the move was made “in the interest of the people of Rivers State” and in appreciation of the “overwhelming support” the state has received from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

According to him, President Tinubu personally gave his approval for the move, clearing the path for Fubara’s official entry into the ruling party.

His switch to the APC comes on the heels of several closed-door meetings with the President and the recent defection of 17 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, fueling expectations that the governor would eventually align with the APC as part of a broader peace arrangement.