Politics

Kwara govt orders staff of closed schools to report on Friday amid Hijab controversy

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The Kwara Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) has directed principals, teachers, and staff of the yet to be opened grant-aided mission schools to report at their respective schools on Friday.

Malam Bello Abubakar, the Chairman of the commission, gave the order in a statement issued by TESCOM Press Secretary, Mr Peter Amogbonjaye, on Thursday, March 18, in Ilorin.

It quoted Abubakar as saying that the teachers’ resumption became necessary to prepare the final year students for their external examinations.

Ripples Nigeria had reported that 10 affected grant-aided mission schools had been shut in Ilorin since Feb. 19, over the use of Hijab by Muslim female students.

The State Government had directed resumption on March 8, allowing the use of Hijab by willing female students after meeting with stakeholders, but rescinded the decision for safety reasons.

In furtherance, the government announced the reopening of the schools on March 17 but was met with resistance by some Christian faithful, thus the controversy.

This led to violence in some of the schools on Wednesday, which took the intervention of security personnel to control.

However, two days after the government’s pronouncement on resumption, the schools remained locked with the exception of ECWA Secondary School, Oja Iya.

The statement quoted the TESCOM chairman as saying that any staff that failed to report to duty would face the full wrath of the law as the government will not condone any act of insubordination.

”He also warned all stakeholders against taking laws into their hands, stressing that peace meeting continues between the government and the stakeholders.

”He explained that the government regretted the inconveniences the shutdown might cause the students, saying that the action was taken in the interest of peace.

He also appealed to parents and the members of the public to remain calm as the government is on the top of the situation since its meeting with stakeholders is still ongoing,” the statement read in part.

The 10 affected schools include C&S College Sabo-Oke; St. Anthony’s Secondary school, Offa Road; ECWA School, Oja Iya; Surulere Baptist Secondary School and Bishop Smith Secondary School, Agba Dam.

Others are CAC Secondary School, Asa Dam road; St. Barnabas Secondary School, Sabo-Oke; St. John School Maraba; St. Williams Secondary School Taiwo Isale, and St. James Secondary School, Maraba.

Politics

Sanwo-Olu proposes law to tackle fuel tanker fires

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Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has stressed the need for Nigeria to have a uniform “Combustible Standard Law” guiding tankers and articulated vehicles.

Sanwo-Olu made the remarks at the commissioning of the Aerial Hydraulic Firefighting Truck at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos on Thursday, March 18.

The Governor, represented by his Deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, said that the law was necessary to protect lives and property of the citizens, as well as loss to fire and accidents involving such vehicles.

Sanwo-Olu noted that 45 per cent of petroleum products comes to Lagos with the consequence of trucks catching fire, destroying lives and property.

He said there was a need for the state to work with the Federal Fire Service to ensure that the combustible standards are met before the trucks are loaded.

According to him “life is the most important gift, without which nothing else matters, therefore fire that consumes lives and property is important to every one of us”.

The governor added that his administration takes fire service seriously, noting that the state first bought the aerial hydraulic platform Fire Truck as far back as 2012 and currently has four of them.

The governor disclosed that the state has about 700 firefighters employed and 500 were to be recruited very soon.

He added that there are 18 fire stations across the State.

He said: “I appreciate the State Fire Service for their consistent support.

Whenever there is a need for their service and they are called upon, they work with us well.”

Earlier in his remarks, the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, stated that the Federal Government is committed to safeguarding lives and property.

Aregbsola assured that government would not relent in its efforts towards making policies, resources, and strategies for a safer Nigeria.

The minister noted that under the Buhari administration, Federal Fire Service had spread to nearly all the states of the federation.

Federal Government will keep improving on our infrastructure and bring innovations, in the bid to protect lives and property that will help in putting fire under control.”

The minister explained that the DG54 Aerial Platform Fire Fighting Truck has 54 metres height capacity and will reach the 18th floor of high-rise buildings.

“This has been a challenge in Lagos, especially with a plethora of skyscrapers and a nightmare to fire-fighters and this will be a thing of the past now.

“The Federal Fire Service has since expanded beyond Lagos and Abuja, and now has a presence in almost all the states of the Federation,” he said

According to the Minister, fundamental changes are taking place all over the fire service.

He disclosed that property worth N1.351trillion was saved from fire in the last year, adding that 94 fire service vehicles had been approved for procurement by the Federal Executive Council.

Politics

Nigerian govt seeks synergy at all levels to tackle insecurity, terrorism

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The Federal Government has stressed the need for synergy in tackling current security challenges across the country.

It has also emphasised the need to provide basic amenities for citizens at sub-national levels, declaring that the gesture would play a key role in reducing insecurity.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, in a speech at the third Quarterly Meeting of Secretaries to State Governments (SSGs), in Abuja on Thursday, March 18, also underscored the need for synergy among security agencies.

The theme for the meeting was “The Role of Secretaries to the State Governments in Strengthening Sub-National Level Security Architecture”.

According to Mustapha, the theme underscored the need for the security agencies to share their thoughts with the forum and thereby highlight critical areas in which they can provide the necessary support and facilitation for the strategies.

He said: “Nigeria has been confronted with an inexplicable escalation of violence resulting in insecurity across the nation.

“I will not want to bother you with the details of these forms of criminality, but it is good to add that it not only serves as a drain to our national resources but creates a climate of uncertainty and challenges the ability of the nation to provide a convivial atmosphere for its citizens to go about their everyday normal businesses.

“Governments at all levels have been doing their utmost best to address these challenges. However, its persistence calls for approaches that are more than conventional and normal.

“We need to involve all arms of government, all apparatus of government and most importantly, those that have a relationship directly with the rural communities and the citizenry.

It is, therefore, in line with the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari, with support from all the State Governors, that this forum should bring to bear its coordinating and monitoring role at all levels for a holistic approach to a resolution of these problems,” he explained.

Mustapha said that the Federal Government would continue to strengthen the National parks Service to ensure that all the previous seven National parks and the 10 new ones created remain inviolate for use by criminal elements.

In his remarks, the National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Maj. Gen Babagana Monguno called on the SSGs to see security as everyone’s business and work toward mobilising everyone to participate in the efforts to tackle the challenge.

“The fight to end insurgency is a fight for everyone, no one should be left out.

“We need to complement each other to put an end to security challenges in the country.

“The success rate in the fight against banditry will be higher if everyone takes it serious. It shouldn’t be left for the government alone,” he explained.

Monguno urged them to develop a robust internal framework that would involve all critical stakeholders, most especially the traditional and religious leaders, to complement the work of the security agencies in their states.

The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, said that the Federal Government had developed strategies to deal with issues of insecurity, but regretted that the strategies were yet to get the maximum cooperation from the state governments.

Adamu said that the Federal government had realised that policing should come from the grassroots and there was a need for the SSGs to be coordinators.

Politics

Aisha Buhari reportedly returns from Dubai

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Wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, has reportedly returned to Nigeria from Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, after six months stay in the Middle- East nation.

Presidential sources told journalists that Mrs. Buhari returned to the country on Thursday morning.

The President’s wife quietly relocated abroad after one of her daughters’ wedding in September last year.

Questions have been raised by concerned Nigerians over her whereabouts but the presidency refused to make any comment on the matter.

However, Mrs. Buhari’s media aide, Aliyu Abdullahi, has refused to confirm the report of her return to the country.

Aliyu simply told journalists that he was not aware that the President’s wife has returned to the country from Dubai.

Politics

Why arms flow illegally to Nigeria, others – Buhari

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President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday explained why arms and ammunition continued to flow illegally into Nigeria despite the government’s closure of the country’s borders.

The President, according to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, spoke when he received the outgoing Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and Head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel, Mohammed Ibn Chambas, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He blamed the proliferation of arms in Nigeria on the current situation in Libya, saying once the North African country remains unstable, illegal arms and ammunition will continue to flow in the Sahel region of Africa.

He said: “We closed our land borders here for more than a year, but arms and ammunition continued to flow illegally.

As far as Libya remains unstable, so will the problem remains.

“We have to cope with the problems of development, as we can’t play hop, step and jump. But we will eventually overcome those problems.

President Buhari said the late Muammar Gadaffi who ruled Libya for 42 years recruited armed guards from different countries, who later escaped with their arms when the Libyan leader was killed in 2011.

“They didn’t learn any other skill than to shoot and kill. So, they are a problem all over the Sahel countries today,” the President added.

Politics

Reps want cases of soldiers brutalizing, extorting civilians investigated

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The House of Representatives has urged the Chief of Army Staff to initiate investigation and discipline soldiers involved in shooting and killing of harmless citizens in Baruten/Kaiama Federal Constituency of Kwara.

This followed the adoption of a motion by Rep Mohammed Omar Bio (APC-Kwara) at Wednesday’s plenary, March 17, in Abuja.

Moving the motion, Bio said that the soldiers instead of facing the purpose for which they were deployed to the border area, which was to provide security, had constituted themselves into revenue collectors.

He alleged that the soldiers extort motorists by charging fixed rates depending on the category of the vehicle.

According to the rep, motorcycles are charged N100, small cars N200 while tankers are charged N1,500.

Bio said that these illegal fees were collected from several roadblocks mounted in Baruten/Kaiama constituency and which had begun to affect the economy of the area.

He stated that development had led to a 50 per cent increment in transport fare, foodstuffs, and fuel respectively.

”If the incidence of harassment, extortion by the soldiers manning the checkpoints is not nipped in the bud, more chaos and casualties will be recorded,” he said.

The House of Representatives consequently mandated its committee on Army to investigate the alleged incident of incessant extortion, harassment, and victimisation of the people of Baruten/Kaiama by soldiers deployed to provide security at the border area.

Politics

Police, Emir appeal for peace in Kwara after crisis due to Hijab controversy

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The Police Command in Kwara has restored peace and order after violence erupted on Wednesday, in some of the Mission grant-aided schools over the use of Hijab by Muslim female students.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Mr Ajayi Okasanmi, confirmed this in a statement issued in Ilorin.

According to him, following the announcement by the state government to re-open the schools after they had been closed since Feb. 19, the Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Bagega, deployed personnel to ensure that peace reigns in the schools.

“The situation grew worse as angry Christian and Muslim faithful started throwing various objects such as stones, plastic chairs and empty can drinks at themselves.

The security operatives deployed there called for reinforcement to calm the situation and the situation has been brought under control.

”Peace and order have been restored in the affected schools and everyone is now going about their normal activities,” the PPRO said.

He however noted that no arrest has been made regarding the incident and no case of injury has been reported at the command.

Also, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman Kwara Council of Chiefs, has urged Islam and Christian faithful to embrace peace.

Sulu-Gambari made the appeal in Ilorin on Wednesday in a statement issued by his spokesman, Mr AbdulAzeez Arowona.

The first-class traditional ruler counseled followers of the two religions to continue to live in peace and harmony with
According to the statement, the royal father described the controversy over the use of the Hijab by female students of 10 government grant-aided schools as unwarranted.

“No group or individual should take laws into their hands. Ilorin is known for peaceful co-existence nationwide. Let us remain calm and resolute to the fact that the position of law is clear on the matter.

“There is no fight between Muslims and Christians. Let us avoid religious crises of any kind. Islam and Christianity preach peace and harmony. Let us also avoid division and enmity in our society,” the Emir urged.

Ripples Nigeria had reported that the schools were closed on Feb. 19, over a dispute in the usage of Hijab in Mission schools.

The government set up a committee to resolve the misunderstanding and later announced that the schools would resume on March 8 with willing female students allowed to use Hijab.

The government, however, withdrew the reopening order earlier given over safety concerns as some Christians were not willing to accept the government decision. This led to the continuous closure of the schools.

The affected schools included C&S College, Sabo-Oke; St. Anthony’s Secondary School, Offa Road; ECWA School, Oja Iya; Surulere Baptist Secondary School, and Bishop Smith Secondary School, Agba Dam.

Others are CAC Secondary School, Asa Dam road; St. Barnabas Secondary School, Sabo-Oke; St. John School Maraba; St. Williams Secondary School, Taiwo Isale, and St. James Secondary School, Maraba.

Politics

Reps set up committee to address Nigeria’s insecurity

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The House of Representatives on Wednesday set up a special committee to address the country’s insecurity.

The Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, who announced the committee during Wednesday’s plenary in Abuja, said the committee would comprise all the principal officers of the House and 30 other members.

The membership of the committee was distributed along party lines and state-by-state basis.

Gbajabiamila said the committee was expected to come up with recommendations within three weeks, adding that these would be transmitted to the Executive for implementation.

He said: “The committee will begin work immediately and will take about two to three weeks to turn in their report for onward transmission to the President. Membership includes all the principal officers and 30 other members.”

Members of the committee are James Faleke, Sada Soli, Kingsley Chinda, Ahmed Jaha, Julius Ihonvbare and Joseph Bello, among others.

Politics

Buhari names Abuja expressway after Niger Republic president, in reciprocal action

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President Muhammadu Buhari has named a road in the federal capital territory (FCT) after President Issoufou Mahamadou of Niger Republic.

This is coming hours after President Buhari was awarded the highest national award of Niger Republic, Grand Croix Des Ordre National Du Niger, by his Nigerian counterpart.

At a ceremony in Abuja on Tuesday, Mohammed Bello, FCT minister in Abuja on Tuesday disclosed this.

“Earlier today, the first phase of the on-going Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX) in Abuja was named the ‘Mahamadou Issoufou Expressway’ in honour of the President of the Republic of Niger, Mahamadou Issoufou,” the minister said.

The road was named after the Nigerien President by President @MBuhari as a mark of deep appreciation for the maintenance of brotherly relationship between Nigeria & the Rep. of Niger & in recognition of the Nigerien President’s significant role in the promotion of peace in Africa.”

Reacting to the development, Niger president Mahamadou Issoufou who described Muhammadu Buhari as his brother and friend said he is honored.

“My brother and friend, @MBuhari, did me the honor to call an Abuja expressway ‘Mahamadou Issoufou expressway’,” he tweeted.

“This testifies, beyond our personal relations, to the excellent relations that exist between #Nigeria and #Niger. His caring touches me. I thank him very much.”

Politics

Hijab controversy ruins reopening of Kwara mission schools, as groups clash

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There was violence on Wednesday, as the 10 grant-aided missionary schools earlier closed down by the Kwara State Government, over the disagreement of use of hijab (Islamic female veil), tried to reopen as planned.

Ripples Nigeria reported when the schools were closed on February 19, over the misunderstanding in the usage of hijab in Christian schools.

Kwara State government had set up different committees, the latest being the one headed by the Deputy Governor, Kayode Alabi, to resolve the crisis and later asked the schools to resume on March 8, approving that Muslim female students could use hijab.

The government, however, cancelled its plan to reopen the schools over concerns of safety as some Christians kicked against the decision.

Early Tuesday, March 16, the governor of the state, Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq ordered that the ten schools that were shutdown should be reopened on Wednesday 17.

According to reports, a crisis erupted at Baptist Senior Secondary School Ilorin on Wednesday, when the Christians began to sing gospel songs and the Muslims also joined, chanting Arabic songs.

Despite the presence of the police, the parties started to throw stones at each other as the songs deepened, while the police tried to disperse the crowd with teargas and firing gunshots into the air.

It took the intervention of soldiers to disperse the crowd just as the school gate and signposts were damaged.

The Christians carried placards reading: “Give us back our schools”, “Enough of marginalisation”, while the Muslims also had Arabic inscriptions on their placards reading: “Lahila Ilalahu Muhammadu Rosululah” (There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah).

According to a report by TNG, President, Kwara Baptist Conference, Pastor Victor Dada, who witnessed the incident said, ”What transpired this morning is simply because the government led by Gov. Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq is not respecting the rule of law and if the state government does not respect the rule of law, there will be chaos.

”A case that is in Supreme Court and judgment has not been given, the governor is making a pronouncement. As long as the state government doesn’t respect the rule of law, we will defend our property and our faith.

”We will not allow Hijab in our school because this is a Christian mission school, let Kwara State government respect the rule of law,” Dada said.

At C & S College, Sabo Oke, Christians were seen carrying placards with various inscriptions like “Kwara State is for all, not an Islamic state”, “We say no to Hijab” and “Our school is our heritage”.

Similarly, at St. Anthony’s Secondary School, Offa road, teachers and students were also seen hanging around the school premises as the police, soldiers and Civil Defence personnel tried to calm the situation.

At the Bishop Smith Secondary School, Agba Dam, the school remained shut with few students and security personnel seen around the institution.

However, at ECWA School Oja Iya, academic activities resumed as students were already seated in their classrooms when a NAN correspondent visited.

Politics

We’ll continue to strengthen the existing relationship between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.”— Ahmad Lawan

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President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has appealed to the government of Saudi Arabia to assist Nigeria in bringing back over 10,000 citizens held in detention in the country.

Lawan made the appeal on Wednesday when the Saudi Arabia Ambassador to Nigeria, Faisal Eebraheem Alghamdi, paid a visit to his office at the National Assembly, Abuja.

The Senate President, while underscoring the role of the Ninth Assembly in ensuring compliance to bilateral and multi-lateral agreements entered into by the Nigerian government, disclosed that ongoing efforts were underway to evacuate citizens held back in Saudi Arabia.

He said, “This legislative arm of government is always conscious of ensuring that our government plays its role in bilateral and multilateral dispositions that our government has decided to go into.

“Saudi Arabia and Nigeria established a very solid relationship for a long time, and the relationship has been growing every year.

“I want to assure you that this arm of government will work with you as the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia.

“We are aware that some of our pilgrims in the past had issues in Saudi Arabia, thousands of them are in detention and, therefore, as a country we have taken conscious decision to ensure that we continue to educate and enlighten our citizens, especially those going to Saudi Arabia for Ummrah of Hajj, that when they get there, they perform their religious rites and return to Nigeria.

“This is to minimize and possibly avoid people going there and not coming back. I want to assure you that we will continue to support the National Hajj Commission in educating our pilgrims and, of course, the State Welfare Boards across the country.

“Our country is also making a lot of efforts to ensure we evacuate our citizens who are now in Saudi Arabia and who we believe should be back home. I want to use this medium to seek the support of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government to work with us in this respect to get our citizens back.

“Presently, we have over ten thousand Nigerians who are not registered and who are held in detention. It is our desire to ensure that we get these people out of the country and bring them back home.

“I want to assure you that the relationship between these two great countries – Saudi Arabia and Nigeria – can only go higher and better.”

The Senate President also appealed to Saudi Arabia to use its influence as a major player in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to increase Nigeria’s crude oil production quota.

According to him, doing so would enable Nigeria meet with the country’s infrastructural demands needed to match its growing population.

“As OPEC members, we need the support of Saudi Arabia in so many respects. Even though it is not Saudi Arabia alone that can determine the quota cut for any OPEC country, but Saudi Arabia is the major country in OPEC. Because of your position, you have a lot of influence more than any country.

“Presently, our quota, I think, is about 1.5 million barrels per day. We would request that whenever the opportunity avails itself, we would like to see a higher quota for Nigeria. We have a very huge population – over 200 million – and we have massive challenges in developing our infrastructure.

“At the moment we still earn more than ninety percent of our foreign exchange from the export of crude oil, so we would like to see a situation where we are able to export more of our crude,” he said.

Lawan expressed optimism that the relationship between the Nigeria-Saudi business communities would enhance trade and business relationships to the benefit of both countries.

Speaking earlier, the Saudi Arabia Ambassador to Nigeria, Faisal Eebraheem Alghamdi, said the purpose of the visit was to build on this existing relationship between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, saying, “we need to develop our relationships and this is the goal when I came here.”

Politics

Akeredolu appoints, Princess Odu, first female SSG in Ondo, others

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Ondo Governor Rotimi Akeredolu on Wednesday appointed a former Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) in the state, Princess Oladunni Odu, as the new Secretary of the state government, the first in the history of the state.

A statement by the governor‘s Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olabode Olatunde in Akure revealed.

Olatunde said ” Princess Odu has served in many capacities at both the State and Federal levels. She was Federal Commissioner, Public Complaints Commission and at different times, former Commissioner for Women Affairs and Education respectively.

Her appointment is in recognition of her proven integrity and outstanding record of performance in her previous assignments.

Meanwhile, Governor Akeredolu has approved the appointment of the immediate-past Head of the State Public Service, Mr Dare Aragbaiye as Special Adviser on Union Matters and Special Duties.

Other appointments approved by the Governor include Mrs Olubunmi Adedipe Ademosu – Special Adviser, Public and Intergovernmental Relations, Hon. Babatunde Gabriel Kolawole – Special Adviser, Rural and Community Development, Mr Summy Smart Francis – Special Adviser on Entrepreneurship Development.

Governor Akeredolu congratulated the new appointees and urged them to discharge their duties with utmost responsibilities.

Olatunde in the statement said the ” the appointees will be sworn in by the Governor on Monday, March 22, 2021, at the Cocoa Conference Hall, Governor’s office Alagbaka, Akure

Politics, World News

I believe Putin is a killer, he’ll pay a price – Joe Biden

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US President, Joe Biden has labelled Russian president Vladimir Putin, a ‘killer’ and promised that the Kremlim will “pay a price” for interfering in the 2020 U.S. elections.

Since Biden took over the White House in January 2021, he has pledged to take a hard line against the Kremlin, which has a history of attempting to assassinate and imprison dissidents and political opponents.

The U.S. intelligence community released a report on Tuesday March 16, assessing that Putin authorized election influence operations aimed at denigrating Biden’s candidacy, supporting former President Trump, undermining public confidence in the election and sowing divisions.

The U.S. also sanctioned seven senior Russian officials earlier this month over the poisoning and jailing of opposition leader Alexey Navalny, who is currently serving out a sentence in a remote Russian labor camp.

In a Wednesday, March 17 interview with ABC Wednesday Biden said that he believes Vladimir Putin is a “killer,” while asding that it’s possible to “walk and chew gum at the same time for places where it’s in our mutual interest to to work together” — addressing his decision to extend the New START nuclear arms control pact earlier this year.

When asked how the U.S. should respond to Russia’s election interference, Biden said.

“He will pay a price. We had a long talk, he and I. I know him relatively well and the conversation started off, I said, ‘I know you and you know me. If I establish this occurred then be prepared,’

 

Joe Biden & Vladimir Putin

Referencing President George W. Bush’s famous comments about getting a “sense” of Putin’s “soul,” Biden told ABC: “I said, ‘I looked in your eyes and I don’t think you have a soul.’ He looked back and said we understand each other.”

“Look, the most important thing in dealing with foreign leaders in my experience, and I’ve dealt with an awful lot of them in my career, is just know the other guy.”

Recall in a 2017 interview with Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly, former US leader Trump said that he has “respect” for Putin and asserted that the US was guilty when it comes to killing.

O’Reilly said “Putin is a killer,” to which Trump responded: “There are a lot of killers. We have a lot of killers. Well, you think our country is so innocent?”

Politics, World News

Only Yoruba Obas Can Decide If There Will Be Oduduwa Nation Or Not —Oluwo.

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He said there are factors to consider before the agitation for self-determination of the Yoruba nation can be pursued.

The paramount ruler of Iwo, Osun State, Oba AbdulRasheed Akanbi has said that only the council of traditional rulers in Yorubaland can decide if there will be Oduduwa nation or not. 

He said there are factors to consider before the agitation for self-determination of the Yoruba nation can be pursued.

Akanbi told SaharaReporters in an interview on Wednesday while reacting to a publication that quoted him as saying whoever from Yorubaland that does not vote for Bola Tinubu in 2023 is a bastard.

He said, “About endorsing Tinubu, I’m not a politician, so I don’t endorse people to vie for political seats. All I was trying to say was that Yoruba people should unite to vote for our own people if the opportunity presents itself. If you look at me very well, I have always wanted the unity of the Yoruba people.”

Reacting to the rising agitation for the self-determination of the Oduduwa nation, he argued that Yoruba will think of resources to sustain them among other issues before venturing into the process. He stated that only Lagos State has the capacity to be financially independent.

“Have you thought about the allocation of the civil servants? Have you thought about how to generate revenue to pay them? Have you thought about how to be financially independent? For instance, in Osun State, about N2 billion is needed to pay civil servants, have you considered that?

“Then, you will think of other states. We have six states in the South-West, it seems only Lagos State has the capacity. This agitation for self-determination calls 7for wisdom and consideration.”

About the relentless effort of the socio-cultural organisations at the forefront of the agitation, Oluwo of Iwo accused some of the members of pursuing their own selfish interest.

“The Afenifere has been politicised. It is only a few members among them that have the interest of the Yoruba at heart. Ask them if they have carried the traditional rulers along. In Yorubaland, if they truly know history and culture, they should know that it is the paramount rulers that have the final say.

“In their agitation for Oduduwa nation, have they carried the traditional rulers along? They have to adhere strictly to the decision of the traditional rulers in Yorubaland. I’m talking about the council of Obas in Yorubaland. There is only one council of traditional rulers, and whatever their decision is, is final.

“It is when the paramount rulers have come together to say this is where we are going. Unfortunately, the traditional rulers are not united. You will discover that this one says this, the other says that. We cannot achieve anything tangible with that. It is when the traditional rulers unite and unanimously speak, that is when we know that the Yoruba nation is ready.”

Politics

Protesters Ask Buhari To Sack Petroleum Equalisation Fund Boss Over Lopsided Recruitment.

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The protesters, numbering over 500, vowed to take their peaceful rally to the presidential villa if their demand was not met.

Hundreds of protesters on Wednesday stormed the headquarters of the Petroleum Equalisation Fund (Management) Board in Abuja to demand the sacking of its Executive Director, Ahmed Bobboi, over lopsided recruitment.

The protesters, numbering over 500, vowed to take their peaceful rally to the presidential villa if their demand was not met.

They called on President Muhammadu Buhari to sack Bobboi, saying his tenure has been blighted by nepotism and blatant abuse of office.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Coalition for Good Governance and Rule of Law President, Comrade Ikpa Isaac, faulted the recruitment exercise conducted by the agency in 2020, stating that of the 200 persons hired, only 17 persons were from the oil-rich states.

According to Ikpa, this shows the insensitivity of the Executive Secretary, whom he says is not in tune with the peculiarities of the time that require creating a level playing ground for all Nigerians to actualse their dreams. 

Describing the action as “despicable”, Ikpa noted that such is capable of setting the country on a dangerous path of disintegration. 

While calling on Bobboi to reverse the recruitment or resign from office, Ikpa said any inaction would see the protesters continue their peaceful rally and extend it to the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Presidential Villa. 

The group further vowed to take all necessary legal actions to protect the Nigerian masses and the laws of the land.

Politics

Court fixes April 19 for lawsuit seeking to halt Kano govt from taking N300bn loan

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A Federal High Court sitting in Kano, on Tuesday, March 16, fixed April 19, for hearing in an application filed by the Centre for Awareness on Justice and Accountability(CAJA), seeking for an order stopping the Kano State Government from borrowing N300 billion from China for a light rail project.

Ripples Nigeria gathered that the interim injunction suit was filed by Kabiru Sa’idu-Dakata and CAJA, challenging the state government from obtaining the loan from China.

The respondents in the suit are the Kano State Government, Senate President, Kano State House of Assembly, Central Bank of Nigeria, Ministry of Finance, Debt Management Office, China EXIM Bank and China Embassy.

At the resumed sitting counsel to the plaintiffs, Mr Bashir Yusuf, told the court that the matter was slated for hearing of several applications.

He told the court that party seeking to be joined in the suit served his client in court.

“We need time to study and respond on the application appropriately and sought for an adjournment”

Responding, counsel to the the State government, Chief Marcelliinus Duru, also argued that the issue of jurisdiction was very fundamental once an issue is raised before the court.

Duru had earlier filed a motion and counter affidavit dated and filed Jan. 26, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear and determine the suit.

Also responding Counsel to the Senate President, Prof. Mamman Lawan-Yusufari , SAN, sought for an extension of time, adding that his client was served in January.

”The documents did not reach my table until March.

” We are asking for an extension of time to file our response. We are out of time because of the delay the Senate President getting the documents personally”

Justice Sa’adatu Ibrahim-Mark, adjourned the matter until April 19, for hearing.

The plaintiffs in their prayers, sought the court to interpret whether the state government has the power or authority for their failure to follow due process to obtain N300 billion loan from China Exim Bank for the issue of light rail.

The group alleged that all these procedures of external borrowing have not been complied with by the first respondent.

“The revenue of Kano government as at 2019, it added, stands at not more than N40.6 billion and the eternal loan requested by the first respondent is about N300 billion,” the plaintiffs stated.

The plaintiffs further prayed that the court to interpret the section that says all states in Nigeria must ensure that their total loans do not exceed 250 per cent of their revenue of the preceding year.

Politics

Reps scrutinise bill seeking powers to summon president, governor

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A bill for an Act to alter the 1999 Constitution to grant the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly powers to summon the President and Governors has scaled second reading at the House of Reps.

Rep. Sergius Ogun (PDP–Edo) who sponsored the bill in his argument on Tuesday, March 16, in Abuja said the doctrine of separation of power must be upheld.

He said that the basic doctrine closely related to the exercise of legislative powers in a democracy was the doctrine of separation of powers.

Ogun said that such law would help to invite the President and Governors to answer questions on issues of national security.

He added that it would help them to also answer questions on any matter whatsoever, over which the national assembly and states houses of assembly have powers to make laws.

“You will recall what happened in January when the House summoned President Muhammadu Buhari but he failed to honour the invitation,” he said.

He said that part of the reasons adduced for the President’s non appearance was that the House had no constitutional power to invite him.

He said that such invitations to the president was not expressly stated in Nigerian laws, adding that the lawmakers must give it Constitutional backing to be able to summon the president and state governors.

Speaker of the House Femi Gbajabiamila however, referred the bill to the house ad hoc committee on the review of 1999 Constitution.

Politics

Protesters storm Enugu assembly over ex-governors’ pension bill

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Some protesters demanding the withdrawal of a bill seeking life pension for former governors of the state on Tuesday stormed the Enugu State House of Assembly.

They were seen carrying placards that read, “no to political life pensions”, while chanting ‘solidarity’ songs.

The executive bill tagged, ‘Enugu State Gubernatorial Pensions Bill 2021’, was introduced for first reading last week Thursday.

The bill prescribes 900 percent of a governor’s annual salary as monetary entitlements with a medical allowance not exceeding N12 million per annum to the wives of the governors.

Earlier, a South East sociopolitical group, the Save Enugu Group (SEG) issued a 21-day ultimatum to Enugu State House of Assembly to stop passage of the bill.

Keywords: ex-governors pension bill

Entertainment, Politics

Actor Yul Edochie aims to become the best president in Nigeria’s history

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Nollywood actor, Yul Edochie, the son of veteran thespian, Pete Edochie Tuesday, revealed that he still aims to serve the people.

This time, he declared that he will be the best president to ever emerge in Nigeria’s history.

Taking to his Twitter platform, Yul stated that he wants to see Nigerians reach their optimum potential; both the current generation and the future generation.

Yul Edochie who has since shown interest to run for President in 2023, says he will be the best President Nigeria has ever had.

He shared this on his social media handles this afternoon.
Read what he published on social media;

”I will be the best President Nigeria has ever had. YUL EDOCHIE 2023. #givetheyouthsachance”

Politics

‘Warn bandits in local language not English’, Sen Sani tells Buhari

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Following a warning speech given by President Muhammadu Buhari after bandits abducted scores of students in Kaduna, former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has faulted the president’s “stern warning” to bandits.

Ripples Nigeria had reported that after the attack on the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka, Kaduna, by bandits, Buhari had warned that his administration would not allow the destruction of the country’s school systems.

Reacting to the warning speech via a tweet on his official Twitter handle on Monday, Sani adviced that Buhari should stop issuing warning to bandits in English language.

He tweeted: “All warnings issued to the bandits should be made in the local language they can understand. Warning them in English is so far futile.”

Bandits have so far attacked states like Niger, Zamfara, Katsina and Kaduna State being the latest.

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