Shockwaves are reverberating across Yorùbáland and the global Yorùbá diaspora following the sudden death of the Baba Ọba (King’s Father) of the famed Oyotunji African Village in South Carolina, USA. The late Baba Ọba, Lukman Arohunfale, a revered socialite and traditionalist, passed away under circumstances already sparking fierce controversy. His death comes just days after he publicly accused the newly installed Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty Oba Akeem Adéyẹmọ Owoade, of allegedly ordering his courtiers to beat him mercilessly during a recent courtesy visit to the Oyo palace in Nigeria. In a widely circulated voice recording, the deceased recounted how what was meant to be a simple homage turned violent. Although the Baba Ọba had reportedly battled ill health in the past year, growing insinuations suggest that the alleged physical assault may have aggravated his condition, ultimately leading to his untimely death. The palace in Oyo recently denied that s...
A symbolic flypast will be performed by some of the newly acquired A-29 Super Tucano aircrafts.
President Muhammadu Buhari will next week preside over the induction ceremony of the nation's newly-acquired A-29 Super Tucano aircrafts.
The fighter jets were received from the United States by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) last month, a welcome boost to the nation's campaign against escalating insecurity.
The six aircrafts are the first batch of 12 in total that the Nigerian government paid $469.4 million to the Donald Trump-led U.S. government for in 2018.
NAF spokesperson, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, announced in a statement on Tuesday, August 24, 2021, the induction ceremony will take place next Tuesday.
Buhari will preside as Special Guest of Honour at the 011 Presidential Air Fleet Apron, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
"As part of programmes lined up for the induction ceremony, a symbolic flypast will be performed by some of the newly acquired A-29 Super Tucano aircraft within the vicinity of the induction ceremony," he said.
The second batch of the remaining six A-29 Super Tucanos are expected in Nigeria before the end of 2021.
The Buhari-led government hopes the aircrafts will improve national security and help in the country's fight against terrorist group, Boko Haram.
The propeller-driven aircrafts can be used for training, surveillance or attack, and can be armed with two wing-mounted machine guns and can carry up to 1,550 kg (3,417 pounds) of weapons.
The contract was awarded to Sierra Nevada Corporation, and also provides for ground training equipment, mission planning systems, mission debrief systems, spares, ground support equipment and support services for NAF personnel.
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