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How Obasanjo Missed Opportunity To Be UN Secretary-General – Gambari

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Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, the former Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari has revealed how the former President Olusegun Obasanjo missed out the opportunity to become the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Gambari stated this at the public presentation of the biography of the first African UN Secretary-General, the late Boutros Boutros-Ghal.

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The late Boutros-Ghal assumed office in 1991 but served only one term till 1996.

According to Gambari, Obasanjo’s military background disqualified him from being selected by the countries with veto power.

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Speaking on the event that led to the choice of the late Boutros-Ghali as the US Secretary General in 1991, Gambari said some envoy told him, “Your candidate (Olusegun Obasanjo) has no chance in hell of becoming secretary.”

The former Chief of Staff said, “I asked: ‘What do you mean? He is the most qualified former head of state, handed over power voluntarily to civilians, and was head of the group that led to the process of the end of apartheid.’

“He said ‘No. Listen carefully, when we, the big ones, are looking for a Sec Gen, the emphasis is on the secretary and not on the general.’ A very profound statement.

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“The thing was that the veto ruling power wanted somebody they could dictate to, not a general, who would be giving them orders. Sometimes they think they are getting a secretary but they end up getting a general.

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“Ghali, who they thought would be a secretary turned out to be a general and Koffi Annan, who they thought was a secretary turned out to be a general.

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“When you turn out to be different from what the big powers want, they do something about it. Boutros-Ghali was not given a second term, and Koffi Annan was nearly forced to retire over frivolous charges.”

Gambari noted that apart from being the first UN Secretary-General from the African continent, Boutros-Ghali was also the first Post-Cold War Secretary General but encountered difficulty organising a security council meeting that had all the heads of states as delegates.

He said, “He hardly had a meeting of the security council where the chief delegates were the heads of states of those member states.”

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Gambari described the 1994 Rwanda genocide as the low point of Boutros-Ghali’s career.

He said, “It was under his watch that the UN failed to respond adequately and to prevent genocide and when it was happening, the big powers also did nothing.”

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He added that Boutros-Ghali acted as a peace-making prophet in terms of being the de-facto foreign minister of Egypt during the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel between 1977 and 1981

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NAFDAC Raises The Alarm Over Fake Milk In Circulation

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The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control on Friday raised the alarm over the presence of counterfeit Cowbell “Our Milk” 12g sachet milk circulating in Nigeria.

The alert posted on the agency’s website stated that Promasidor Nigeria Ltd, which is the marketing authorisation jolder and manufacturer of Cowbell “Our Milk” informed the agency about the existence of a product bearing a close resemblance to the genuine Cowbell “Our Milk” 12g sachet Milk.

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“This includes unauthorised use of the brand name, packaging design, NAFDAC registration number, and trademark.

The MAH has confirmed that these products are neither manufactured or distributed by them as the counterfeit packaging design was last used for production by the company in September 2023,” NAFDAC noted.

READ ALSO:NAFDAC Warns Against Use Of Excess Hydroquinone In Cosmetics

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Differentiating, it said the genuine cowbell milk is creamy, the packaging material used is the revised PNG artwork “Our Creamy Goodness”, the printing of the batch details is done with laser printing, the coding is done on the coding area on the sachet, and the sealing and cutting on the vertical sides are automated.

It said the content of the counterfeit Cowbell 12g sachet milk does not seem like milk, the packaging material used is the old PNG artwork “Our Milk”, the printing of the batch details was done with ink instead of laser printing, the coding was not done on the coding area but on a different part of the sachet, and the sealing and cutting on the vertical sides were manually done.

It added, “The use or consumption of counterfeit Cowbell ‘Our Milk’ Milk presents serious health and safety risks.

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READ ALSO:Beware Of Fake Oxycontin In Circulation, NAFDAC Warns Public

Such products may contain harmful substances, including toxic chemicals, unapproved additives, or diluted ingredients that do not meet food safety standards.

“Consumption of counterfeit milk can result in foodborne illnesses, allergic reactions, organ damage, or even death in severe cases. Infants, children, pregnant women, and the elderly are particularly vulnerable.”

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The agency urged all NAFDAC zonal directors and state coordinators to conduct surveillance and mop up the counterfeit Cowbell 12g sachet Milk products within their zones and states.

Distributors, retailers, and consumers are advised to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain to prevent the distribution, sale, and use of the counterfeit milk product.

READ ALSO:NAFDAC Warns Against Chemical Ripening Of Fruits

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All food products must be obtained from authorised/licensed manufacturers/suppliers. The products’ authenticity and physical condition should be carefully checked.

“Healthcare professionals and consumers are advised to report any suspicion of sale of substandard and counterfeit food products to the nearest NAFDAC office, NAFDAC on 0800-162-3322 or via email: sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng

“Similarly, healthcare professionals and patients are also encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of counterfeited food products to the nearest NAFDAC office, or through the use of the E-reporting platforms available on the NAFDAC website www.nafdac.gov.ng or via e-mail on pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng,” it said.

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Orphaned Nigerian TikToker ‘Geh Geh’ Goes Viral, Rakes In $30,000 From One Live Session

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A young Nigerian known as “Geh Geh” has captured the hearts of thousands online after his TikTok live session on Thursday drew an astonishing 177,000 viewers and reportedly earned him gifts worth over $30,000.

The social media personality, who refers to his online platform as the “University of Wisdom and Understanding,” has been making waves with his unconventional approach to advising men on relationships and finances.

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In a video he posted after the live session, Geh Geh said, “More than 177,000 people watch my lectures today.

“Jesus! University of wisdom and understanding, the only university where once you graduate, woman go fear to ask you for money.”

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Describing himself as the “first illiterate to find a university in the history of Nigeria,” Geh Geh reflected on his unlikely rise to fame, saying, “I no be graduate too, but by the grace of God, I don find school. I be orphan, but now Nigerians don show me love.”

According to him, the gifts received during the live were worth approximately $30,000, a feat he described as life-changing.

See gift I made over… more gift when they give me today is worth about $30,000. I no go take this love for granted, because I no really do anything for am,” he said in a follow-up video after the live became a hit.

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The viral moment has been hailed by many as a form of digital empowerment, proof that even those without formal education can leverage social media to build influence, create entertainment, and earn a living.

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While his controversial teachings on money and women have sparked debates online, his story is now being seen as an inspiration to underprivileged youths.

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Reflecting on the overwhelming support, he added, “If Nigeria be country wey value great people, by now them suppose dey compare people like me with Aristotle, Wole Soyinka, Einstein… but I thank God say people dey see my head and my own difference.”

His followers, now calling themselves “students” of the Geh Geh University, continue to grow, raising questions about how social platforms are redefining fame and success in Nigeria.

 

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Daredevil Boko Haram Leader, Bakura Neutralized In Niger

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A notorious leader of the Boko Haram insurgents, Ibrahim Mahamadu, popularly known as Bakura, has been killed in the Lake Chad Basin, the Niger Army said on Thursday.

The Army, in a statement, tagged the terrorist a “feared leader” of the group, stating that he was targeted by a fighter jet early on August 15.

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Very early in the morning of August 15, an Air Force fighter aircraft launched three targeted and successive strikes on the positions Bakura used to occupy in Shilawa,” it added.

READ ALSO:Boko Haram, ISWAP Conflict Intensifies In Lake Chad Region, Leading To Many Casualties

The statement also revealed that the Boko Haram leader, who was said to be about 40 years old, was originally from Nigeria.

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He reportedly joined the terrorist group more than 13 years ago and took over leadership after Abubakar Shekau.

DAILY POST reports that Shekau, a former leader of Boko Haram, died during jihadist infighting in May 2021

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