Nigeria@60: Osun protesters demand Buhari’s resignation over hardship

October 2, 2020 No Comments

Scores of people under the aegis of #RevolutionNow movement yesterday morning stormed the major streets of Osogbo, Osun State to protest alleged harsh policies of the President Muhammadu Buhari- led administration.

The protesters, who gathered at the Old Garage about 8.30am, were chanting antigovernment songs to condemn the hardship faced by Nigerians. New Telegraph saw officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) at the Old Garage trying to disperse the demonstrators from proceeding with the protest but to no avail. The protesters, including members of the Coalition of Revolution (CORE) movement, decried the brutality they suffered in the hands of operatives of the DSS in Osun State. The DSS operatives were accused of beating and arresting 11 members of the group during the protest.

The arrested members were later released at the entrance of the DSS office. One of the protesters, who is a member of “Take it Back Movement,” Olaoluwa Owoeye, said the regime of President Buhari should resign with immediate effect.

He said: “We are calling for immediate resignation because we cannot continue with this act of indiscipline; we cannot continue with this act of corruption; we cannot continue with this act of fuel hike; we cannot continue with this act of electricity tariff hike. “We are calling for the immediate and unconditional release of the materials that have been taken such as our phones, money. We are also calling for the probe of the battery regime, the DSS head, we are saying he should withdraw his neck from this unruly act that they perpetrate against Nigerians.

“They should do that within 24 hours or else, they are going to see us on the streets again.” Also, Temitope Fagunwa Maberu said Nigeria was the poverty capital of the world. He said: “We have the poorest people living in the whole world domicile in Nigeria, and yet the Nigerian state has the audacity to tell us that we are celebrating independence.

“We are saying that this independence is nothing to write home about; it is nothing to celebrate because the entirety of what we are told as citizens should celebrate in the 21st century, we are not entitled to it. “We are also sending a message that the Nigerian state under its current liberal practice, capitalist practice cannot guarantee us the normal dividends that all citizens should enjoy.

“We are saying that only a socialist government can transform the entirety of whatever we want to demand as citizens of this country. And we are saying that the insecurity in the North is also tied to the failure of the Nigerian government. Any government that cannot guarantee protection and safety as a citizen, that government has failed. “We are saying this because in 1960 when they told us that we gained independence, many of our people did not understand that the kind of independence they gave us was flag independence. “Many people did not understand that the kind of independence they gave us was nothing but political independence.

But we have refused to gain the right independence, which is economic independence. That is why we are here today. That is what has brought us this mess; the mess of failure. The mess of maladministration, and no matter how much you talk about it, Nigeria is a failed country.

“There is no need for us to negotiate this. There is no need for us to discuss this. The government has failed to protect the lives of her citizens, and that government had no reason to stay in power, which is the point about the Buhari government. “The Buhari government should be ashamed of itself, and those that are supporting the Buhari government should be ashamed of themselves because this government has failed both inside and outside.”

Politics, World News

President Trump and first lady test positive for COVID-19.

October 2, 2020 No Comments

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump have tested positive for the coronavirus, the president tweeted.

“Tonight, (at)FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!”

Trump announced late Thursday that he and first lady Melania Trump were beginning a “quarantine process” after Hicks came down with the virus, though it wasn’t clear what that entailed. It can take days for an infection to be detectable by a test. This marks a major blow for a president who has been trying desperately to convince the American public that the worst of the pandemic is behind them even as cases continue to rise with less than four months before Election Day. However, it stands as the most serious known public health scare encountered by any sitting American president in recent history.

Hicks traveled with the president multiple times this week, including aboard Marine One, the presidential helicopter, and on Air Force One to a rally in Minnesota Wednesday, and aboard Air Force One to Tuesday night’s first presidential debate in Cleveland.Trump had consistently played down concerns about being personally vulnerable to contracting COVID-19, even after White House staff and allies were exposed and sickened.

Trump, the vice president and other senior staff have been tested for COVID-19 daily since two people who work at the White House complex tested positive in early May, prompting the White House to step up precautions. Everyone who comes into contact with the president also receives a quick-result test.

The news was sure to rattle an already shaken nation still grappling with how to safely reopen while avoiding further spikes. The White House has access to near-unlimited resources, including a constant supply of quick-result tests, and still failed to keep the president safe, raising questions about how the rest of the country will be able to protect its workers, students and the public as businesses and schools reopen.Yet since the early days of the pandemic, experts have questioned the health and safety protocols at the White House and asked why more wasn’t being done to protect the commander in chief. Trump continued to shake hands with visitors long after public health officials were warning against it and he initially resisted being tested. He has been reluctant to practice his own administration’s social distancing guidelines for fear of looking weak, including refusing under almost all circumstances to wear a mask in public.

Trump is not the only major world leader known to have contracted the virus. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spent a week in the hospital, including three nights in intensive care, where he was given oxygen and watched around the clock by medical workers. German Chancellor Angela Merkel self-isolated after a doctor who gave her a vaccination tested positive for the virus, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau worked from home after his wife fell ill.

The White House got its first COVID-19 scare in early March when at least three people who later tested positive came in close proximity to the president at his private Florida club. That included members of the Brazilian president’s delegation, including the Brazilian charge d’affaires, who sat at Trump’s dinner table.In mid-March, as the virus continued to spread across the country, the White House began taking the temperature of everyone entering the White House complex, and in April, it began administering rapid COVID-19 tests to all those in close proximity to the president, with staffers being tested about once a week.

Politics

Nigeria At 60: Buhari’s Independence Day Speech, A Slap On Nigerians – PDP

October 2, 2020 No Comments

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Thursday, described President Muhammadu Buhari’s independence anniversary speech as a slap on the sensibilities of Nigerians, particularly his justification of his administration’s increment of the pump price of the Premium Motor Spirit, also known as fuel.

President Buhari had in his broadcast pointed out a number of oil producing countries including Saudi Arabia, Ghana, Egypt and Niger Republic where the price of fuel is higher than in Nigeria, and concluded by saying that “sustaining the level of petroleum prices is no longer possible.”

In its reaction, the PDP, in a statement signed by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan called on President Buhari to “wake up to reality and take demonstrable urgent steps that will address the divisive tendencies and poor economic policies of his administration, which are fast decimating our dear nation under his watch.”

According to the party, “President Buhari’s attempt to justify the increase of fuel price in Nigeria by comparing it to the N168 per litre cost in Saudi Arabia is a morbid joke,” adding that “the minimum wage in Saudi Arabia is N305,113 (3000 Saudi Riyals), ten times higher than our paltry N30,000 which is largely unimplemented in Nigeria.”

The statement further read: “Is Mr. President not aware that, on the average, a person working in Saudi Arabia earns around 4,230SAR (N430, 267) to 16,700 SAR (N1, 698,693) per month?

“Our party charges Mr. President to always check his books before making such offensive comparisons including the price in Egypt where monthly average earning is around N222, 841 (9,200 EGP) against our N30,000.

The major opposition party in the country also flayed the togetherness theme of the President’s speech, describing the allusion as a mere rhetoric.

Politics

2023 Presidency: Campaign Poster Of Osinbajo For President, Gov Zulum As VP Emerges

October 2, 2020 No Comments

A campaign poster of the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, running for president has emerged online.

The campaign poster has the Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum as Vice President.

The campaign poster with tag “The Two Eggheads For 2023” is flanked by the logo of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

However, individuals or groups behind the poster was not identified.
Both Osinbajo and Zulum have not reacted to the poster as at the time of filing this report.

Politics

The worst democratic government is better than the best dictatorship.- Governor Seyi Makinde

October 1, 2020 No Comments

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State takes a walk on Independence day. The pictures he shared on his social media platforms revealed that he walked around the streets of the state capital , Ibadan , with his wife Tamunominni Makinde and many other people.

In his words earlier today via his social media platforms, he stated the following;

Independence Day Walk: A Focus on the Future.
We choose to focus on the future because if a person’s past is not filled with happy memories, he has the choice to create happier moments in the future.

He further stated that the worst democratic government is better than the best dictatorship.

As we celebrate #NigeriaAt60, let us continue to give democracy a chance. May we never think of allowing the affliction of military rule to rise again. May we never forget that even the worst democratic government is better than the best dictatorship.

Politics

It makes no sense for oil to be cheaper in Nigeria than in Saudi Arabia. – Buhari

October 1, 2020 No Comments

Fellow Nigerians,

I speak to you today as your President and fellow citizen on this epoch occasion of our country’s 60th independence Anniversary.As President, I wish to renew my appreciation to Nigerians for entrusting me with your hopes and aspirations for a better and greater Nigeria.Today, it is my unique privilege to re-commit myself to the service of this great country of great people with profound diversities and opportunities.

We are bound by destiny to be the largest and greatest black nation on earth.At this stage in our nationhood it is important that we reflect how we got here to enable us work TOGETHER to get to where we aspire to be as a strong indivisible nation, united in hope and equal in opportunity.On October 1st 1960 when Prime Minister Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa received the constitutional instruments symbolizing Nigeria’s independence, he expressed his wish that having acquired our rightful status as an independent sovereign nation, history would record that the building of our nation proceeded at the wisest pace.

This optimism was anchored on the peaceful planning, full and open consultation and harmonious cooperation with the different groups which culminated in Nigeria emerging as a country without bitterness and bloodshed.Our founding fathers understood the imperative of structuring a National identity using the power of the state and worked towards unification of Nigerians in a politically stable and viable entity.That philosophy guided the foundation that was laid for our young nation of 45 million people with an urban population of approximately 7million occupying an area of 910,768 square km. These demographics led to development challenges for which major efforts were made to overcome.

Today, we grapple with multiple challenges with a population exceeding 200million occupying the same land mass but 52% residing in urban areas.Sixty years of nationhood provides an opportunity to ask ourselves questions on the extent to which we have sustained the aspirations of our founding fathers. Where did we do the right things?Are we on course? If not where did we stray and how can we remedy and retrace our steps? Upon attaining independence, Nigeria’s growth trajectory was anchored on policies and programmes that positively impacted on all sectors of the economy.

However, this journey was cut short by the 30-months of civil war.We came out of the civil war with a focus on reconstruction, rehabilitation and reconciliation that enabled the country to put in place world class development structures and a strengthened public service that well served the government.This positive trajectory continued with a return to democratic government which was truncated by another round of military rule.For a cumulative 29 of our 60 years existence as a nation, we have been under military rule.

My summary of our journey so far as a nation is necessary to appropriately chart where we need to go and how to get there TOGETHER.Today, I am aware that our economy along with every single economy in the world is in crisis. We still face security challenges in parts of the country, while our society suffers from a high loss of moral rectitude which is driven by unbridled craving for political control.An underlying cause of most of the problems we have faced as a nation is our consistent harping on artificially contrived fault-lines that we have harboured and allowed unnecessarily to fester.

In addition, institutions such as civil service, police, the judiciary, the military all suffered from a general decline.We need to begin a sincere process of national healing and this anniversary presents a genuine opportunity to eliminate old and outworn perceptions that are always put to test in the lie they always are.The stereotype of thinking of ourselves as coming from one part of the country before seeing ourselves as Nigerians is a key starting point to project us on the road to our deserved nation’s evolution and integration.

To start this healing process, we are already blessed with the most important asset any nation requires for such – OUR PEOPLE – and this has manifested globally in the exploits of Nigerians in many fields.It has been demonstrated time and time again that Nigerians in the diaspora frequently excel in science, technology, medicine, sports, arts and many other fields. Similarly, the creativity, ingenuity and resourcefulness of the Nigerian at home has resulted in globally recognized endeavours.I am convinced that if we pursue our aspirations TOGETHER we would be able to achieve whatever we desire.

That informed our adopting the theme TOGETHER to mark this epochal event. Together we can change our condition for the better and more importantly together we can do much more for ourselves and for our country. I chose the path of self-reflection because this is what I do on a daily basis and I must confess that at most times, I always felt the need for a collective reflection as I know that the foundation for a solid future which this administration is laying can only be sustainable if there is a collective commitment by Nigerians.

Nigeria is not a country for Mr. President, any ruling or opposition party but a country for all of us and we must play our part, irrespective of challenges we face, to make this country what we desire.To achieve this, we must focus our minds, TOGETHER as a people, on ways of resolving the identified critical challenges that underlie our present state.

These include:

a.Evolving and sustaining a democratic culture that leaves power in the hands of the people;b.Supporting the enthronement of the rule of law, demanding accountability of elected representatives and contributing to good governance;

c.Increasing our commitment to peaceful co-existence in a peaceful, secure and united Nigeria;d.Harnessing and Optimizing our tremendous human and natural resources to attain our goal of being in the top twenty economies of the world and in the process;

e.Lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.
f.Strengthening institutions to make them stronger in protecting National Interests; and
g.Imbibing tolerance in diversity.

I am a firm believer in transparent, free, fair and credible elections as has been demonstrated during my period as a democratically elected President.The recent build-up and eventual outcome of the Edo State elections should encourage Nigerians that it is my commitment to bequeath to this country processes and procedures that would guarantee that the people’s votes count.The problems with our electoral process are mainly human induced as desperate desire for power leads to desperate attempts to gain power and office.

Democracy, the world over and as I am pursuing in Nigeria, recognizes the power of the people. However, if some constituencies choose to bargain off their power, they should be prepared for denial of their rights.This call is made more urgent if we realise that even after a transparent, free, fair and credible election, desperation leads to compromising the judiciary to upturn legitimate decisions of the people.It is necessary to, therefore support the enthronement of the rule of law by avoiding actions which compromise the judiciary.Fellow Nigerians, our history has shown that we are a people that have the capacity to live peacefully with one another.

As a government, we remain committed to our constitutional oath of securing the lives and properties of the citizenry. I, however, call on the citizenry to also support government by providing the necessary community level intelligence in addressing these challenges.In moving forward together, it is important to strengthen our economy to provide sustainable means of livelihood for as many Nigerians as possible so as to eradicate absolute poverty from our midst.I want to re-emphasize my dedication and commitment, a dedication and commitment that propelled my public service career and informed my quest to continually seek for an opportunity to improve the lives of Nigerians, set the country on the path of prosperity and lead the country to a better future.

This administration has been focused on rebuilding and laying the foundations for a sustainable Nigeria.Of course, we have met and are still meeting the challenges inherent in any rebuilding initiative – more so that of a nation like Nigeria that has undergone avoidable levels of deprivation – but can be surmounted if we all work together.I wish to re-iterate that our people and our spirit of excellence remains our most important asset.In this wise, the need to return to our age-old ethical and high moral values would be necessary and this informed my launching of the National Ethics and Integrity Policy on Monday 28th September, 2020.

The policy would not implement itself and the first contact of the visibility of its implementation is the Public Service whose on-going reforms would be expected to be sustainable and give a radical re-direction in providing services to all Nigerians. Fellow Nigerians, in addition to public health challenges of working to contain the spread of the Coronavirus, we have suffered a significant drop in our foreign exchange earnings and internal revenues due to 40 per cent drop in oil prices and steep drop in economic activities, leading to a 60 per cent drop in government revenueOur government is grappling with the dual challenge of saving lives and livelihoods in face of drastically reduced resources. In this regard, sustaining the level of petroleum prices is no longer possible.The government, since coming into office has recognized the economic argument for adjusting the price of petroleum. But the social argument about the knock-on effect of any adjustment weighed heavily with the government.

Accordingly, in the last 3 years,we have introduced unprecedented measures in support of the economy and to the weakest members of our society in the shape of;
a. Tradermoni
b. Farmermoni
c. School Feeding Programme
d. Job creation efforts
e. Agricultural intervention programmes
No government in the past did what we are doing with such scarce resources. We have managed to keep things going inspite of the disproportionate spending on security.Those in the previous Governments from 1999 – 2015 who presided over the near destruction of the country have now the impudence to attempt to criticize our efforts.In the circumstances, a responsible government must face realities and take tough decisions.

Petroleum prices in Nigeria are to be adjusted. We sell now at N161 per litre.

A comparison with our neighbours will illustrate the point;
a.Chad which is an oil producing country charges N362 per litre

b.Niger, also an oil producing country sells 1 litre at N346.

c.In Ghana, another oil producing country, petroleum pump price is N326 per litre.
Further afield, Egypt charges N211 per litre. Saudi Arabia charges N168 per litre. It makes no sense for oil to be cheaper in Nigeria than in Saudi Arabia.
Fellow Nigerians, to achieve the great country we desire, we need to solidify our strength, increase our commitment and encourage ourselves to do that which is right and proper even when no one is watching.

Fellow Nigerians, let us collectively resolve to continue our journey beyond the sixty years on the clear understanding that as a nation we are greater together than being smaller units of nationalities.
By the special grace of God we shall come through any transient challenges.It is my sincere hope that by the end of this anniversary on September 30th 2021, we will all be proud of taking this individual and collective self-assessment for the progress of our great Nation.
Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

God Bless us all. Thank you.

Politics

FAYOSE TO LAGOS PDP: To make progress retire Bode George from politics

October 1, 2020 No Comments

The former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose has asked the Lagos State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to send Chief Bode George on political retirement.

He said that George, a former deputy national chairman of the PDP “must be sent to political retirement if the party must make progress in Lagos State.”

His media aide, Lere Olayinka, said in a statement on Wednesday, that Fayose stated this when he spoke at the inauguration of the PDP Campaign Committee for the Lagos East senatorial bye-election on Tuesday.

He called on the party to support the PDP candidate in the senatorial bye-election, Babatunde Olalere Gbadamosi (BOG).

According to Fayose, George should rather be a support stand for the younger ones in the party instead of dragging positions with them.

“Lagos is ripe for PDP to take and we will take the state if we work hard and put our house in order.

“This senate election is for PDP to take if we are ready to take it. You have done it before by producing House of Reps members and you can do it again by producing a senator.”

He however said that “before PDP can win any election in this Lagos, the party must first separate wheat from chaffs.

The former governor, who urged leaders of the party in Lagos State to desist from exposing rancour among the party members, laid emphasis on giving the younger ones in the party opportunity to grow and allow them to be in key positions in the party.

According to Fayose, “it is high time to tell Bode George to go and retire. Let him be a support stand for the younger ones in the party.

“As I am here, I am about 60 years of age, I have grown above fighting for minister that it will get to a point and someone will say he is sacking me. I will never be such minister not to talk of contesting any post with younger ones in the party.

“It is time for young people in the party to tell elderly ones to take the back seat. I’m not against the elders, but I want them to know when to take the back seat. If they don’t, the young ones will force them. All those stories of we formed this party in 1998, eight of us sat in my sitting room to form the party is no longer important because the young too must be allowed to grow.

“At this level, if you see any elder contesting chairman with the younger ones, you must know that such fellow needs to be retired.

“I am Ayodele Fayose, you can quote me anywhere. I said, you must retire Bode George if you want progress in the PDP in Lagos. You must stand firm and fight for your right.

“As an elder, he is supposed to stay at home and be giving blessing to his children aspiring to grow not to be contending positions with them.”

Politics

Nigerians demand restructuring as nation clocks 60

October 1, 2020 No Comments

As President Muhammadu Buhari addresses the nation on Independence Day, Nigerians have re-echoed the need to restructure the country.

An earlier statement by Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, in Abuja yesterday, disclosed that President Buhari would address citizens today from the Eagle Square as part of the activities commemorating the 60th Independence Anniversary of the country.

He said the address would be broadcast live after the anniversary parade, which would commence at 10 am.

According to the statement, the traditional early morning October 1 Presidential Broadcast will no longer feature in view of the broadcast at the Eagle Square.

But feelers, yesterday, however, indicated that what Nigerians looked forward to as an anniversary gift was a declaration of commitment to the restructuring of the country.

The first indication came from Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF). It started by observing that in spite of the challenges of civil war and the very precarious state of the country thereafter, Nigeria had remained one entity 60 years after independence. It, however, lamented that the nation faced doom if it failed to adopt restructuring as a solution to the many threats to its continued corporate existence.

PANDEF’s National Publicity Secretary, Ken Robinson, said it was rather unfortunate that at 60, Nigeria was still grappling with challenges that had continued to hinder her from attaining nationhood. He identified restructuring as a solution.

He said: “It is very unfortunate, we have not attained nationhood. We are still struggling to be a nation. PANDEF believes in the oneness of Nigeria. Nigeria has exploited so much from us. Nigeria has gained so much from us; we have fed Nigeria for close to 60 years. Resources from our land have been used to build Nigeria. So PANDEF is not thinking about secession. What we are saying is there is a need for restructuring. We need fiscal federalism.”

According to him, PANDEF hopes President Buhari and his administration will change the way and manner the affairs of the country are run.

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