General News
Bayelsa Is Home, Says Air Chief Aneke as Diri Pledges Continued Support for Military
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, on Wednesday described Bayelsa State as home, expressing deep nostalgia during his first official visit to the state since his appointment by President Bola Tinubu in 2025.
Aneke, who previously served as Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Nigerian Air Force Mobility Command, Yenagoa, said the visit felt like a homecoming as he led top officers of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on a courtesy call to Governor Douye Diri at Government House, Yenagoa.
Speaking during the visit, the Air Chief likened his return to that of a son who went out to earn laurels and returned home to celebrate with his people.
“As a son of Bayelsa, I am in the state to pay homage where I got promoted to Chief of the Air Staff,” he said.
Aneke noted that Bayelsa holds strategic national importance and also occupies a special place in his heart, having served there and experienced the hospitality and patriotism of its people firsthand.
“This state has been privileged to produce service chiefs. In the Air Force, three or four former AOCs here have risen to the top position,” he stated.
“Bayelsa is not only a strategic location of national importance, but it also has a special meaning for me. Returning here in my present capacity feels deeply personal — a reunion with a community and family I hold in very high esteem.”
He explained that the visit formed part of his ongoing operational tour of NAF units and operational theatres across the country to assess personnel readiness, evaluate security operations, strengthen civil-military relations, and ensure the protection of lives and critical national assets.
The CAS also disclosed that he was in the state for the inauguration and formal handover of a training facility built by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for the Nigerian Air Force.
Aneke expressed appreciation to Governor Diri for his administration’s continued support and cooperation with the Air Force and other security agencies in the state.
In his response, Governor Diri commended the Air Chief for his integrity and synergy with the state government during his tenure as AOC, expressing confidence that he would continue to serve as a worthy ambassador of Bayelsa.
“You served in partnership with the government and the good people of Bayelsa State. We have no doubt that you are indeed our own and an ambassador of Bayelsa,” Diri said.
“Biologically, you may be from another state, but we see you as a gentleman from Bayelsa. This is a fertile ground for promotion, particularly in the military.”
The governor further assured that his administration would sustain cordial relations with the Air Force and other military formations, noting that their contributions have enhanced peace and security in the state.
He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to supporting all military commands operating within Bayelsa.
Love
President Bola Tinubu has congratulated former president and elder statesman Chief Olusegun Obasanjo as he celebrates his 89th birthday on March 5.
In a statement conveyed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, President Tinubu highlighted Obasanjo’s enduring influence in Nigeria, across Africa, and beyond. He praised the former leader for his courage and sacrifices, noting Obasanjo’s tenure as Nigeria’s military Head of State from 1976 to 1979, when he handed over power to a civilian government, and later as the first civilian president of the Fourth Republic from 1999 to 2007.
President Tinubu also acknowledged Obasanjo’s historic contributions, including leading troops to preserve Nigeria’s unity during wartime, enduring imprisonment for speaking out against tyranny, and championing Africa’s political and economic interests.
“As Chief Obasanjo turns 89, we celebrate the zeal and wisdom he has brought to Nigeria’s development through his writings and interventions, reflecting a deep patriotism and commitment to nation-building,” the statement said.
The President prayed for continued good health, strength, and wisdom for the former president as he continues to serve the nation and humanity.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has dispatched a five-member delegation to represent Nigeria at the funeral of Rev. Jesse Jackson, the renowned American civil rights leader, activist, and former presidential candidate, who passed away on February 17, 2026, in Chicago at the age of 84.
The delegation is led by Senator George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and includes the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, the Special Presidential Envoy for Global and Pan-African Affairs, Brian Browne, and the Senior Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaye.
The team will deliver President Tinubu’s condolences to the Jackson family and honour the late leader’s enduring contributions to global justice and African liberation.
In a prior tribute, President Tinubu hailed Rev. Jackson “a great friend of Nigeria and Africa,” emphasizing his role as a moral voice and a formidable opponent of apartheid in South Africa. “He played a leading role in the campaign for the release of Nelson Mandela and other African National Congress leaders and was instrumental in securing international support for sanctions against the apartheid regime,” the president wrote.
The burial proceedings began on February 26 with a lying-in-state at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition in Chicago. Additional services were held in South Carolina and Washington, D.C., including a lying-in-state at the South Carolina Statehouse from March 1-5.
The events will conclude with a “People’s Celebration” at the House of Hope in Chicago on March 6, followed by a private homegoing ceremony on March 7 at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.
Iran is set to hold a multi-day farewell ceremony for its late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, beginning Wednesday night in the capital, Tehran, according to state media.
Hojjatoleslam Mahmoudi, head of the Islamic Propagation Council, announced that the public memorial will last three days, while details of the funeral procession will be disclosed at a later time.
Citizens will be allowed to pay their respects at the Imam Khomeini Prayer Hall, also known as the Mosalla, starting from 10 p.m. (1830 GMT). Officials encouraged large public participation, describing the ceremony as an opportunity for Iranians to once again demonstrate unity and national presence.
Khamenei, who led Iran for decades and anchored his leadership on strong opposition to the United States and Israel, was reportedly killed on Saturday at the age of 86 in airstrikes carried out by Israeli and U.S. forces, according to Iranian state media.
His death marks a significant turning point in Iran’s political and religious leadership, with authorities yet to formally announce further details regarding succession and burial arrangements.