In a statement made available to  newsmen in Awka and signed by the chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum, Mr Peter Obi of Anambra State, on Thursday, the governors said the change was a welcome development.

According to the governors, the appointment had given the Igbo nation a more sense of belonging in Nigeria.

The Governors Forum, in the statement said: “At times when we consider the contributions of our fathers and what we are getting in return, one feels pained.

“Having said this, let me quickly add that the appointment of the first Igbo Chief of Army Staff, coming a few weeks after the appointment of another Igbo as the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration is a welcome development.

“It is a testimony that, at last, we are being seen as true partners in Nigeria.

“We urge the president to continue in that direction until our neglect and marginalisation over the years is completely addressed.”

However, a rights group, the INTERSOCIETY, in a press statement signed by the chairman of its Board of Trustees, Mr Emeka Umeagbalasi, and made available by e-mail, condemned the manner in which the service chiefs and the Inspector General of Police were sacked.

According to the group, the appointment “is a replica of events of the military’s inglorious era.”

It said “services and conducts of these service chiefs are governed by Nigeria’s Public Service Act and the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria and not the oral rules and guidelines  guiding family affairs.”

It argued that the president was wrong when he said “tenure of the service chiefs expired since August, 2010,” adding “that it is common knowledge that Onovo’s tenure statutorily would end in 2013, which would be when Onovo would clock 60 years and mandatory 35 years of service.”

Briefing newsmen at the end of the state executive council meeting on Thursday, the state's Commissioner for Special Duties, Alhaji Taiwo Sunmonu, said the appointment of Prince Olanipekun was with effect from Thursday(yesterday).

The new Ataoja succeeds the late Oba Iyiola Oyewale, Matanmi III, who died on August 4 this year.

Prince Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun from Laroye Ruling House emerged from a contest involving  32 princes who vied for the throne from four of the five ruling houses in Osogbo.

The contest which began shortly after the completion of  funeral rites performed for the late Ataoja, Oba Iyiola Oyewale saw three of the princes picked by Ifa oracle.

He was born into the family of the late Pa Olanipekun Raimi Oyetunji and late Madan Oyetunji Munirat Abeke Mopeloloa of Opeleba’s compound, Osogbo, on May 4, 1958.

He attended Baptist Day School, Oke-Okanla, Osogbo, between 1966 and 1971, Saint Marks Commercial Modern School, Kola Balogun Area, Osogbo, Ibadan Provincial Grade II Teacher’s College, Osogbo, between 1975 and 1978, Oyo State College of Education, Saint Andrews College Campus, Oyo from 1980 to 1983 and University of Benin between 1991 and 1996.

He worked as a teacher in various primary and secondary schools between 1980 and 2008 and served as Executive Secretary, Osogbo Local Government Education Authority (LGEA) from November 2008 till date.

The UN correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Dambazau, and other senior military officers were on the entourage of the Minister of Defence, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, on a five-day working tour  to the UN.

The visit, which began on Tuesday, was scheduled to end on Saturday.

The team, including Lt.-Gen. Chikadbia Obiakor, outgoing UN military adviser on peacekeeping operations, was on a courtesy call on Ms Susana Malcoraa, the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, when repeated calls hit Dambazau’s mobile phone.

``The calls reportedly came from family members who informed him of the change of baton,''’ a close aide told NAN.

After the meeting on the eighth floor of the DC One building of UN, the former army chief and director of finance Major-General Charles Airhiavbere, hurriedly left.

The team did not attend other assignments scheduled for the day, including a briefing on UN peacekeeping missions at the UN office on Madison Avenue, Manhattan, New York.

Dambazzau, was also absent at a cocktail party organised at the Nigerian Mission later on Wednesday.

Other visiting Nigerian defence officials continued their meetings but at intervals they made frantic calls to Nigeria.

He also called for a review of the nation’s statues which prevented scrutiny of government books and records.

Speaking at a lecture, entitled: “Nigeria at 50: The Realities of the Fight against Corruption,” organised by an Ibadan-based intellectual group, The Forum, Justice Ayoola stated that pledges should also be made by all those aspiring for political offices in the country, insisting that such pledges must be backed by religious leaders as a moral guarantors for the fulfillment of the pledges.

He added that pledges by whoever emerged as leaders in next year’s elections would provide the necessary impetus to demonstrate political will needed for fighting corruption through adequate funding of the existing anti-graft agencies in Nigeria.

According to him, “this is the season in which lofty promises are made to people. It is also (sic) in which the people should know that any candidate for election who promises to tackle the ills of the society or develop our nation without a clear perception of the extent nugatory and without a clear statement of now is going to tackle the vice is either insincere or naive.”

The ICPC boss said Nigeria needed to overcome corruption, saying openness, accountability and transparency were the essential elements that would reduce the perpetration of the menace in the country.

The president said in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Ima Niboro, in Abuja, on Thursday, that as the leader of a nation noted for its religious and ethnic plurality, he had a duty to speak out against  any that could further break the already fragile bonds between the two great religions of the world.

According to the statement, President Jonathan urged the US preacher to rethink his plan, recalling that “the September 11 attacks have been roundly condemned the world over, even by millions of Islamic faithful, and burning the religion’s sacred book can only create more problems than it is meant to solve.”

It said the president also urged the US authorities to look into their relevant laws and find a means of stopping Pastor Jones, since the country is renowned for its tolerance of different religions and points of view.

The Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Femi Mimiko, last week, described the team as a group of erudite scholars and seasoned educational administrators, whose observations, experience and suggestions would be appreciated by the university, just as he expressed his belief and confidence in the ability of the teams to do a good job in the university.

He said: “I am optimistic that the school will benefit from your wealth of experience, mostly at this crucial period when the university is on its journey to become a 21st century university properly called.”

In his reaction, Professor  B.A. Agboola, NUC leader of  education team, commended the institution’s management for the level of work and development in the university.

Speaking at the 2010 Abuja Diocesan Women Conference of the Church, at the Basilica of Grace Church, Gudu, Abuja, Archbishop Okoh said, “nothing will happen to us. We will be alright. God will use the Church to save Nigeria from any trouble that may come from the election.”

He called on Christians to intensify prayers for the nation saying that the elections would come and go without any trouble overwhelming the country.

Speaking on the same general election, wife of the Primate and President of the Communion’s Mothers’ union, Mrs Nkasiobi Okoh, called on Nigerian women to participate actively in next year’s election.

She reminded them that it was important for them to start by ensuring that they were registered during the forthcoming voter registration exercise and that they follow it up with voting during all the elections next year.

The governor also charged Nigerians not to forget that hard work and discipline were important in the quest for a greater nation.

In a message to muslims in the statement he signed and made available to newsmen in Awka, on Thursday, Governor Obi said “as the celebrations go on, let us be reminded about the spiritual message which this solemn feast contains and signifies for the entire human society.”

Also, the governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, has rejoiced with muslims in Nigeria and all over the world on the occasion of this year’s Eid-el-Fitri celebrations, urging them not to deviate from the strict adherence to selflessness, forgiveness, generosity and peaceful co-existence with their neighbours which were the hallmarks of the holy month of Ramadan.

Dr Mimiko, in a release signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Kolawole Olabisi, and made available to press men in Akure, on Thursday, specifically urged muslims and Nigerians in general to use the occasion of the celebration to reflect on their spiritual lives and what could be done to uplift the nation to the heights dreamed for it by its founding fathers.

Mallam Shekarau made  the call, on Thursday, at a lecture  entitled: ”Kuyi wa Kanku Hisabi kafin Ranar Hisabi,” literally meaning; judge yourselves before the day of judgment; which was held at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kofar Mata, Kano.

According to him, Allah, in His infinite mercy, had bestowed human beings with the opportunities to follow the guidelines He sent to them through His noble Prophet, as well as the opportunity for them to always be the first to judge themselves on their daily dealings before the final day of judgment.

He added that the issue of the final judgment was fundamental, hence the need for all Muslims to ensure that they behave according to the Islamic teachings.

In a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the governor, Mr Wale Ojo-Lanre, and circulated to journalists in Ado-Ekiti, on Thursday, Governor Oni said the lesson of the 30-day of self denial ought not to be lost.

“The Ramadan period was that of sacrifice, self-denial and total submission to the Almighty Allah (SAW). It was a period when our brothers in Islam were steadfast in their service to Allah and humanity.

“For us not to be seen as being hypocritical in our service to Allah (SAW) and humanity during the 30-day of fasting, we must continue to show love, serve Allah (SAW) in truth, humility,  sincerity and shun all the vices that we abstained from during the fasting period.

“Most especially, as we move towards 2011 general election, Muslim leaders in the country must assist in the crusade against political thuggery, violence and the use of  youths to perpetrate crimes before, during and after elections.”