Politics

There’ll be more trouble if Nnamdi Kanu dies in custody – Father Mbaka warns FG

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Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry Enugu, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, has warned that there will be more trouble if leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, dies in custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Mbaka stated this in his Church on Sunday, November 14 while urging members to pray for the release of the secessionist.

The cleric, who commended IPOB for calling off its Monday sit-at-home exercise, said the danger of the order was becoming a problem instead of a solution.

He further stated that he was pleased that the intervention of stakeholders has yielded results with the cancelation of the lockdown of the entire South-East region.

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, the hero, Nnamdi Kanu, is expressing his empathy with the people of the Southeast over what they are passing through. He came to know that Igbos are suffering because of him. And he would not wish that suffering to continue. Therefore, nobody should stop anybody from going to his or her business any Monday.

“All of us should keep praying for his (Kanu) release, and work towards his freedom because if he dies inside that place, it will cause more trouble. If he comes out, he will come out as a hero.

”We don’t want him to die, because it is not Nnamdi Kanu’s issue, it is the issue that concerns the people that are suffering. Nnamdi is not asking the government to do anything for him; he is speaking for the Igbo people.

“And we that are affected and he is speaking on their behalf should do everything possible to see that it is well with him.

Many were saying they saw me at Abuja some days ago, yes. My own is if I am with you, I am with you. I will not sit here to tell you why I am in Abuja but whatever will make my people to be emancipated I will do it. There are people working to see that Nnamdi Kanu is released and it’s not by sitting. at home that he will be released.

”Canceling sit-at-home does not mean that it is over, the poor masses are suffering. Most of the rich people don’t have business over here, we are punishing our self. We thank the leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, may God bless him,” Mbaka said.

Politics

I have no idea of what happened to #EndSARS camera retrieved at Lekki toll gate – Fashola

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The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, said on Sunday he has no idea of what happened to the video camera he retrieved at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos after the #EndSARS protests last year.

Fashola stated this in an interview with AriseTV monitored by Ripples Nigeria.

The former Lagos State governor visited the site in October last year to assess the damage caused by hoodlums and spotted a camcorder at the toll plaza which he handed over to a government official.

On the contents in the camera, Fashola said: “You should not be asking me. You have the tapes showing that I handed it over to the government of Lagos so you have all the recordings. I think your people were there. So don’t ask me what happened to the camera. I don’t know.”

He noted that the youths had ruled Nigeria more than the older generation especially during the 1960s and 1980s where public officers were in their 30s and 40s.

Politics

APC chieftain, Joe Igbokwe, appeals for truce between Tinubu and Bode George

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A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called for an end to the rancour between the party’s National Leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George.

Igbokwe made the call in a Facebook post titled: “Let us reconcile Asiwaju and Bode George,” on Sunday.

He urged George to put an end to the incessant attacks on the ex-Lagos State governor.

The APC chieftain also urged prominent personalities in the state to broker peace between the duo.

Igbokwe wrote: “On this day of Sunday, November 14 2021, I want to appeal to well-meaning, eminent and prominent Lagosians to put heads together and work out a solution to address the political divisions between Asiwaju BAT and Lagos big boy, former Military Governor of Ondo State, Chief Bode George since 1999.

“In our own very eyes since 1999 till date, all the PDP political heavyweights in Lagos PDP have crossed over to AD, AC, ACN, and APC except Chief Bode George. To all intents and purposes, Bode George has tried. He has shown that he is a man who can take a stand and hold on to it.

No doubt, Oga Bode George has proved that he is a man but he cannot continue to waste his precious gift of time on acrimony and division. Oga Bode George should weigh all options now and do the needful.

“To continue to attack a man like Asiwaju who has built bridges across Nigeria, East, West, North or South will remain an exercise in futility. We should be bold enough to admit when someone does better us. All fingers are not equal Oga mi. Ka agba fun leader.

“Asiwaju BAT needs everybody including Bode George to forge ahead. Let the real men and women stand out in Lagos out to broker peace between Chief Bode George and Asiwaju BAT. The time to do this is now.”

Politics

Anyone that plots downfall of my govt cannot survive -Wike

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Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has intimated that some cabal within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) schemed unsuccessfully over his downfall.

Wike made this disclosure on Sunday during Thanksgiving at St. Philip’s Anglican Church, Elibrada, Emohua Local Government Area, to mark the appointment of Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi as Chief Judge of Rivers.

He also expressed the divine confidence that anyone determined to pull down his administration would always fail.

According to the Governor, this plot to cause his ruination was a sequel to the series of crises that bedevilled the major opposition party recently.

“Recently, there was some crises in the PDP. Everybody involved, that plotted everything for my downfall, all are out. Everyone, that slept, went to a meeting, planning how to bring me down, not one survived,” he said

Wike also stated that such a scheme was unsuccessfully contrived against the former Chief Judge of the State, Justice Adama Iyayi-Lamikanra during his appointment.

In his statement to the current Chief Judge, Wike said, “When your predecessor, Justice Iyayi-Lamikanra was appointed, you have said people came to you to say she’s not from Rivers. Such people are enemies of the State. That is why this country cannot move forward.

“Somebody has put his or her life serving the State all through her career, making sure the State moves forward, and at the time of benefits, you say the person is not from your State. But all the services rendered was for the interest of your State.

“When your predecessor was appointed, people started to conspire, started to plot against my government.

“Your colleagues, some of them started conspiring. I said, well, what will be will be. I know the God that made me governor. Nobody will survive plotting downfall of my government. Nobody will survive it.”

Politics

Saraki declares support for direct primaries

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Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has thrown his weight behind the National Assembly’s adoption of direct primary election, saying it was the best for political parties in the country.

Saraki, who addressed journalists during the ninth memorial prayer organised in honour of his late father, Dr. Olusola Saraki, on Sunday in Ilorin, Kwara State, said politicians should not allow the debate generated by the approval of direct primary by the National Assembly to affect the euphoria of having a new electoral law for the country.

Saraki also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the bill in the interest of Nigerians.

He said: “Direct primary is best for political parties if properly done. But I am sure Nigerians are not prepared for it because there is still a lot of work to be done.

“But now that the National Assembly has passed it, we should make the best out of the situation rather than allowing the controversy, which is one item, to throw away the other good parts of the bill.

“What is important is for the President to sign it and allow Nigerians to benefit from the other parts.”

Politics

Oyo’s improved IGR, a result of hard work – Makinde

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The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has attributed the improved Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in the state to hard work and the government’s pragmatic approach.

Makinde, who stated this in a statement issued on Sunday by his Chief Press Secretary, Taiwo Adisa, was reacting to the IGR Index released by the National Bureau of Statistics for the first two quarters of 2021.

He said the leap in the IGR was the manifestation of his “administration’s pragmatic approach to governance since May 2019.”

The governor noted that going by the NBS’s half-year report on states’ IGR, Oyo State with N25.19billion was placed in the seventh position.

Lagos State topped the chart with N267.23billion followed by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) (N69.07billion) and Rivers State (N57.32billion).

Makinde said: “The government will continue to be bullish in its approach to expanding the state’s economy as that this was in line with the administration’s commitment in the Roadmap for Accelerated Development of Oyo State, 2019-2023.”

Politics

Anambra APC sacks publicity secretary for congratulating Soludo

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State on Sunday sacked its Publicity Secretary, Okelo Madukaife, for congratulating the state governor-elect, Prof. Charles Soludo.

Soludo was declared winner of last week’s governorship election in Anambra by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The APC Chairman in the state, Basil Ejidike, who disclosed this at a media briefing in Awka, said Okelo had no right to speak for the party as he had earlier been suspended for anti-party activities.

He said the publicity secretary was suspended in June for allegedly dragging the APC into disrepute, adding that he has no reason to parade himself as an official of the party in the state.

Ejidike said: “Okelo was suspended in June this year. Someone who was suspended from the party went on air claiming to be making statements on behalf of the party and we feel disturbed. We feel that such a situation should not be allowed.

“If you are not with the party, you are not with it. You cannot be out of the party and still be speaking for the party.

“Since June 2021, Okelo has been raining abuses on APC and its leadership and to put the records straight, he has not been attending meetings and activities of the party.

“His suspension followed his indictment for involvement in anti-party activities.

“He has since then been replaced by the State Assistant Publicity Secretary, Mr. Nonso Chinwuba, in line with the constitution of the party.

“The party, therefore, enjoins the general public and the media in particular to desist from dealing with him as agent of APC. As it stands, Okelo Madukaife does not belong to APC.

“We wish to state categorically that as far as the Anambra governorship poll is concerned, we have not congratulated anybody as the party is still studying the situation with a view to approaching the court to challenge the poll.”

Politics

‘Your allegation on terrorism sponsorship a needless distraction,’ Nigerian govt replies US-based group, GATE

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The Federal Government on Sunday described the allegation by a United States-based non-profit organisation, Global Advocates for Terrorism Eradication (GATE) that its officials were behind terrorism in the country as a needless and disgusting distraction.

GATE had in a petition to the US Secretary of State, Antony J. Blinke, asked Washington to designate some Nigerian government officials as sponsors of terrorism.

The group described the killings, abductions, and other violent crimes in Nigeria as “state-sponsored terrorism.”

However, in a statement issued by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, the government said the GATE allegation was orchestrated by those seeking to weaken the ongoing massive onslaught against terrorists and bandits in the country.

He also branded the organisation “as a pesky irritant that should be ignored because it is confused and irresponsible.”

The minister said: “This organisation called GATE is not even worth the ink with which its name is written.

“How can a serious organisation accuse a government that is tackling the twin evil of terrorism and banditry with an uncommon determination of sponsoring terrorism?

”Is it not curious that this organisation has chosen this particular time, when terrorists are either surrendering in droves or running helter-skelter, as a result of a renewed offensive against them by the military, to orchestrate a distraction?

“What could be GATE’s motive if not to weaken the fight against terror and banditry?

”GATE and its sponsors should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves and should quit trying to distract our gallant troops who are doing everything possible, including making the supreme sacrifice, to keep our country safe.”

Mohammed said the fact that GATE relied on the words of a former Nigerian Navy intelligence officer to make the allegation has shown the hollowness of its claim.

He added: “In the fight against terrorism, Nigeria has availed itself creditably by tackling home-grown terrorists with links to global terrorist organizations.

“We make bold to say that no administration in Nigeria has risen to the challenge of terrorism like the Buhari administration has done.

The acquisition of a myriad of platforms, the boost to the morale of our fighting forces, and the leadership provided by President Muhammadu Buhari have combined to put our gallant troops in good stead.

“These have also helped the troops to frontally confront and put on the run the terrorists. Fittingly, Nigeria’s efforts at tackling terrorism have been hailed globally.

“What our gallant men and women need at this time is the support, encouragement, and prayers of all, not the distracting antics of a relevance-seeking, feckless organisation masquerading as a terrorism eradication advocate.”

Politics

Group urges US to designate Buhari, Tinubu, El-Rufai terrorism sponsors

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A United States-based non-profit organisation, Global Advocates for Terrorism Eradication (GATE), on Friday urged President Joe Biden to designate President Muhammadu Buhari, former Lagos State Governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai and some officials of the Nigerian government as sponsors of terrorism in the country.

Also listed in the petition are former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, the Director-General of Department of State Services, Yusuf Magaji Bichi, former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, his Information and Culture counterpart, Lai Mohammed and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.

In a 26-page petition signed by GATE’s Principal Advocate, Robert Berry, and addressed to the US Secretary of State, Anthony J. Blinken, the group described the killings in several parts of the country as state-sponsored terrorism.”

It also alleged that the Nigerian government officials were “sponsoring terrorism by carrying out terrorist activities including training, funding, financing, and recruitment of terrorists using their offices as a safe haven, transit and operational base for terrorists.”

The petition read: “The Nigerian government officials have deployed the instrumentality of power and are using the veil of sovereignty in knowingly consenting and with malicious intent allowing and promoting the use of Nigeria as a breeding ground and recruitment nursery for international terrorism activities contrary to foreign relations authorizations act fiscal years 1988 and 1989 (P.L.100 to 204:22 U.S.C 2656f), as amended.

“The current Nigerian Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari is executing a global Jihadist agenda that is comparable, if not more insidious, than that of the Taliban’s of Afghanistan.

“It is even more dangerous because it is mixed with genocidal tendencies. It is in the best interest of the United States and all the democratic countries of the world to identify this threat early and address it now.

“This is to prevent the further spread of the global jihadist agenda of the Buhari government and to arrest an imminent ethnic and religious genocide.”

The group also gave Washington a two-month notice to act on its petition, saying it would be forced to head to the US Federal Court to apply for a Writ of Mandamus to compel Biden and Blinken to issue the designation in line with the provisions of law.”

Politics

Ortom decries police handling of Vanguard reporter’s death, demands probe of incident

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Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Saturday knocked the Nigeria Police over the handling of the death of Vanguard Newspaper reporter, Henry Tordue Salem, whose body was discovered last Thursday, three weeks after he was declared missing.

The police had in a statement issued on Friday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, said Salem was killed by a hit-and-run driver in the Mabushi area of the Federal Capital Territory.

The reporter’s body, according to the police, was discovered at the Wuse General Hospital mortuary after a painstaking investigation.

But in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Nat Ikyur, the governor slammed the police for parading the suspected killer of the Benue-born Salem.

He said the discovery of the reporter’s remains was “suspicious” and demanded a thorough investigation of the incident by a competent body.

Ortom also appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba Alkali, the Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS) and other sister agencies to do everything possible to unravel the mystery surrounding the gruesome murder of the journalist.

He expressed regret that a Benue son would suddenly disappear only to be found dead by unidentified persons in an undisclosed location in Abuja.

The statement read: “He (Ortom) says such a mysterious recovery of the body of the deceased reporter was suspicious and deserves to be thoroughly investigated.

“The governor appeals to the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS) and other sister agencies to do everything possible to unravel the mystery surrounding the gruesome murder of the Benue-born journalist.

Governor Ortom reiterates that the Benue State Government is always committed to the safety of all her citizens both at home and in the diaspora and will not rest on its oars until the perpetrators of this heinous act do not go unpunished.”

Politics

Nigeria will fulfill its climate change commitments –Osinbajo

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Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said on Friday the Federal Government would fulfill its climate change commitments in the interest of Nigerians.

Osinbajo, according to a statement issued by its Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, made the pledge when he received the World Bank delegation at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The delegation was led by its Managing Director of Development Policy and Partnerships, Dr. Mari Pangestu, and its Country Director in Nigeria, Shubham Chaudhuri.

The Vice President also interacted with officials of the International Monetary Fund on the IMF Article IV bilateral consultations.

Osinbajo has been pushing for a just transition to global net-zero emissions.

He had particularly called on multilateral agencies, and Western countries to stop the planned defunding of fossil fuels/gas projects in developing countries as part of the energy transition plan towards the global net-zero target by 2050.

At both meetings with the World Bank managing director and IMF officials, Osinbajo said Nigeria remained committed to a reduction in global greenhouse emissions.

He said: “I think it is very important, at least this is what we are trying to do, to keep our sights on what would work for the majority of our people.

“The truth, of course, is that we have fossil fuel resources, we have all of that, but we have energy issues, distribution, and quality of access to energy, as well as clean energy.

“So, those are the issues, access to energy and education, then renewable energy, and how to be able to move quickly enough in terms of putting renewable energy in place.”

Politics

Akpabio denies abandoning task of constituting NDDC board

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The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, said on Friday that he did not leave the responsibility for the constitution of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) board for someone else.

Akpabio, who made the denial in a statement, noted that reports that he left the constitution of the NDDC board was a mere fabrication of sponsored writers in the media.

The statement reads: “My attention has been drawn to sponsored write ups in the media, claiming that I passed the buck on my responsibility for the constitution of the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

“The write ups, deliberately published while I was outside the country on national duty, reportedly quoted my media aide, Jackson Udom, claiming that I have denied responsibility for the constitution of the board of the commission. I have checked with Mr Udom and he has clearly said he was misquoted.

While I am not shocked by the mischief inherent in the publication, I am alarmed at the extent of falsehood the writers went in pushing their anti-Niger Delta agenda to scuttle the due consideration of the report of the Forensic Audit by stampeding the government. More alarming is the attempt to drag the hallowed name of our president into this plot.

“For the avoidance of doubt, President Muhammadu Buhari has set out to reposition the NDDC after 19 years of rot, saw to the undermining of the dreams of the fathers of the region, to fast track its development through the setting up of an interventionist agency.

Part of the strategy was a forensic audit to understand what went wrong, despite the resources committed to the commission over the years.

“The report of that audit has just been submitted to the President, who is studying it to come up with a formula for a commission fit for purpose. That formula is what the board being put together will work with.

“It is not in the interest of the region to stampede the government into aborting the reform process. The President has demonstrated immense love for the Niger Delta and its people. This is reflected in the support he has given to the NDDC to complete some of the projects abandoned over the years, like the headquarters complex in Port Harcourt, the Students’ Hostel at Uyo and the electrification project in Ondo State.

“The President wants to give to the region an interventionist agency that will realize the dreams of our fathers for our people and generations yet unborn. The greatest disservice we can do to the region is to attempt to stampede him, through ingeniously crafted media campaigns.

“I am irrevocably committed to assisting the president to leave behind a legacy for the Niger Delta people, particularly, saving the NDDC from dying like past developmental agencies put together for the region since 1958.”

Politics

Nigerians are competitive abroad due to good education they get in Nigeria before leaving – Buhari

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President Muhammadu Buhari has said the competitiveness which Nigerians display abroad is a result of the good education they acquired in the country before travelling out.

According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the president made the comment when he met with the Minister of State Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, Shaikh Shakboot Alnahyan, at the sidelines of the Paris Peace Forum on Friday.

Buhari was quoted as saying; “Nigerians are all over the place, very competitive. And the competitiveness starts from home, where they have acquired good education, gone into businesses, and then take all that abroad.”

He also encouraged Nigerians in Diaspora to “subject themselves to the rules and standards of the country in which they live either as working class, or doing businesses.”

The presideny welcomed the offer by UAE to partner with Nigeria in the areas of renewable energy, agriculture, infrastructure logistics, and provision of vaccines to further control the COVID-19 pandemic.

Alnahyan, on his part, said his country thinks very highly of President Buhari’s leadership, noting that he was striving to “build a better future for generations to come.”

He said there were lots of Nigerians in his country who add much value.

On proposed investments in Nigeria, Alnahyan said it would be a win-win situation, “which would bring hope and opportunities for people in both countries. We want to come and add quality and value.”

Politics

French citizens seeking greener pastures are welcome to Nigeria – Buhari

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President Muhammadu Buhari says French citizens who wish to leave France and seek greener pastures in Nigeria would be welcomed with open arms.

Buhari stated this in an published in Paris Daily L’Opinion on Friday, Peoples Gazette reports.

The president who is attending the Paris Peace Forum in France, said Nigeria’s growing population is a huge market for France to take advantage of.

He said; “Those who come from France seeking opportunities in Nigeria are today welcomed with open arms.

“This expansion only augurs more, given Nigeria’s population is projected to grow by 2050 to the same size as the European Union, and further to become the second-largest in the world by the close of the century. This great market is France’s opportunity.”

Politics

Buhari govt to borrow N25.5bn for solar power at NASS complex

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Despite criticism by stakeholders over the country’s huge debt profile, the Federal Government is set to borrow N25.5bn ($62.1m) for the construction and installation of a 17MW hybrid solar power infrastructure for the National Assembly.

This was disclosed on Thursday by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, Senator Clifford Ordia.

According to Ordia, the loan was part of President Muhammadu Buhari’s N7.6 trillion external borrowing request approved by the Senate on Wednesday.

The lawmaker also noted that his panel found that of the $22.8 billion approved by the National Assembly under the 2016-2018 External Borrowing Plan, only $2.8 billion, representing 10 percent, had been disbursed to Nigeria.

The committee, in its report, listed various proposed projects to be financed by the loans.

The $62.1m loan earmarked for construction of solar power plant in the National Assembly would be sourced from SINOCURE/Standard Chartered Bank.

The contract, according to the report, was awarded at a total value of $60.1 million.

However, the report was silent on what the balance of $2 million would be used for.

Politics

Nigeria heading for final implosion, extinction —Dogara

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Former Speaker of the House of Reps, Yakubu Dogara has declared that it was obvious that unless Nigerians rise at different levels of leadership to halt the present trajectory, Nigeria will no doubt head for final implosion and eventual extinction.

Yakubu Dogara who delivered a keynote address with the theme: ‘Peace And Development In Nigeria: The Pragmatic Approach’, at a two-day Peace And Development Submit organized by Sultan Maccido Institute For Peace And Development Studies Of The University Of Abuja recently, said that, “As is it, we don’t have to do anything for this to happen. All we need is not to do anything at all” .

The former Speaker who is presently representing Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa Federal Constituency at the House of Reps added that, “Our hope must be rooted in the story of China, Rwanda, UAE, Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia, etc, which all prove the point that we can turn our ashes into glory and that nothing is impossible. If we don’t give in or give up, something must give in” .

He stressed that, “The stories of those countries are a validation of the saying that every problem comes with its own solution, but it takes only those looking for the solution to find it” .

According to him, “No doubt, it will take leadership for us to replicate those stories and I am happy that so many of us here are stepping up to provide that leadership. The hosting of this submit is a positive indicator that we are prepared, in line with our civic duties, to be up in arms against problems stultifying our development and advancement as a nation”.

Yakubu Dogara stressed that, “It will take the kind of leadership that recognizes that compassion is not tossing a coin at a beggar, it is pulling down the system that produces beggars; leadership that knows that the real problem is what we demand and what we do not demand; Leadership that believes history does not just happen to us, we make history happen; Leadership that knows that not everything that is faced can be changed but nothing can be changed until it is faced”.

He further said that, “I had warned before that in tackling unbridled violence, we must realize that guns do not kill and killing the violent does not necessarily bring peace except the peace of the graveyard.

“We kill with our minds and peace settles first in the mind before it is expressed. So the battle to build a peaceful Nigeria must be a battle for the minds of our people”, he declared.

Yakubu Dogara then advised that, “We must start doing something and speaking up. They may not listen to us but just because they won’t listen to us is no enough reason to quit. We cannot continue to remain mum and aloof and hope that somehow, someday, these radical events and voices will miraculously quieten and not grow louder. Our silence is no longer golden”.

He emphasized that, “Every generation in history have had its moment to fight. This is our own moment. This is our Pharaoh and our Red Sea. The odds are stacked against us but we are born and raised for such a time as this. It is our time. Let us stop crying and go to work. We may lose some privileges but we will win history: for fortune itself favours only the brave”.

According to him, “Today, Nigeria is faced with unprecedented crisis so much so that nothing in our history prepares us for such a time as this. We seem to have accepted killings and mass murder as our new normal and so many cold blooded murder of our brothers and sisters do no longer make the headlines in the media.

“As students, lecturers and political leaders, some of us are complicit while the few who have dared to speak up are already outrage – fatigued and have surrendered to fatalism- a feeling that nothing matters anymore. It is like Nigeria seems to be suffering from some kind of God ordained ineluctable fate”, he retorted.

He enthused that, “What we have done before doesn’t matter, all that matters is our present station. As long as we are not actively engaged in seeking for solutions to these intractable issues we are actually, wittingly or unwittingly, actively promoting it”.

Politics

Wike slams Nigerian govt for alleged intimidation of judiciary in wake of raid on Justice Odili’s home

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Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has criticised the Federal Government over the events which culminated in the invasion of the Abuja residence of Justice Mary Odili of the Supreme Court by men believed to be security operatives.

According to Wike, these are subtle moves by the Federal government to browbeat the judiciary to its bidding ahead of the 2023 elections.

The Governor made this assertion on Thursday during a special court session to mark the opening of the 2021/2022 Legal Year of the Rivers State Judiciary in Port Harcourt.

According to him, the Federal Government wants to continue to ride roughshod unchecked over the rule of law and the sanctity of the country’s electoral system, hence, the renewed attack on judicial officers.

Wike said, “Although it is still early morning in our democratic match towards 2023, the attack on Justice Mary Odili is a prelude to many more and even worse political maneuverings we should be prepared to experience from the APC-led Federal Government, which having lost relevance and popular support is becoming more and more desperate over its dwindling political fortunes by the day.

“While cases with political undertones, including the constitutional validity of certain sections of the recent amendments to the 2010 Electoral Act, if assented to by Mr President, would necessarily come before our courts; what is important is the duty and capacity of our judiciary to save our democracy and the country.”

He also noted that the current administration has been quick to ridicule the entire institution and subject judges to trauma for its own self-interest.

“We all witnessed the infamous midnight raids on judicial residences and the subjection of some judges, to illegal raids, arrests, and detentions by agents of the Federal Government purportedly carrying out a baseless sting operation back in 2016.

Since then the intimidation of judges whose judgments, intellectual or moral disposition they are not comfortable with has continued unrelenting with the latest attack on a peaceful mother, wife of a former Governor and Justice of the Supreme Court, our own highly revered Hon. Justice Mary Odili

“It is important to emphasize that we allow these intimidations to become acceptable standards of behaviour and even become complicit in their unholy design to undermine the administration of justice when we all opt to keep quite in the face of these assaults,” Governor Wike added.

He challenged the Federal Government to come clean with the names, identities, and affiliations of those allegedly arrested for their roles in the attack.

Politics

Nigerians can look after themselves when infrastructure is in place – President Buhari

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President Muhammadu Buhari, has said that Nigerians would be able to cater for themselves when infrastructure is in place.

A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina said Buhari made the statement on Thursday while meeting with the President of Islamic Development Bank, Mohammed Al-Jasser, on the sidelines of the Paris Peace Forum in France.

According to the statement titled, ‘When Infrastructure is in Place, Our People can Look after Themselves, President Buhari Tells IDB President,’ the Nigerian leader stated that his administration was committed to an infrastructure renaissance for Nigeria due to sustainability.

“We are struggling very hard on infrastructure because there can’t be sustainable development without it,” the President was quoted as saying.

“Considering the vastness of our country, we need roads, rail, power, airports, housing, and that is what we have engaged ourselves with in the past six years. And our people are seeing the new developments. Relative to the resources available to us, we have not done badly. When infrastructure is in place, our people can look after themselves,” he added.

Thanking the IDB president, Buhari said; “What we are so dependent on (crude oil) has lost a lot of energy. It is coming back gradually, and we are breathing a bit more with some confidence. But we expect greater cooperation from you.”

In response, Al-Jasser told Buhari; “I am impressed by your policies on infrastructure, which will give opportunities to youths, and encourage the private sector. Nigeria is a pivotal country to us, and it deserves all the help it can get.”

The IDB president then assured that the bank will continue to support Nigeria, as its main role was to promote development among its stakeholders.

Politics

Under Buhari, bandits, terrorists now on the run – Femi Adesina

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The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Femi Adesina, on Thursday gave his principal a pass mark in the ongoing efforts to rid the country of its security challenges.

In an article titled: “They said nothing was happening…How about these?” the presidential aide said the Boko Haram insurgents and bandits pillaging communities in the Northern part of the country have been put on the back foot by troops through relentless assaults on their hideouts in the region.

He stressed that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration was on the right path to achieving multi-sectoral progress.

The government, according to him, has re-assessed and updated the national security strategy, which has contributed to success in fighting insurgents and terrorists and also countering violent extremism.

Adesina said: “Has security not been jigged up in a way that bandits, terrorists, insurgents have been put on the back foot? Are evildoers not being daily sent to God to answer for their crimes? Is the country not being cleaned up, and it is just a matter of time before the sanitation is completed?”

Politics

Gbajabiamila advocates common passport, currency for Africa

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The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, on Thursday called for full African integration through common passport, market, and monetary union.

The speaker, according to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, made the call in his opening address at the opening Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), Africa Region Conference in Abuja.

He stressed that the CPA would not relent in its efforts at developing democracy in Africa.

According to him, the forum had offered an opportunity for parliamentarians across Africa to learn about their common challenges and ways to overcome them.

The speaker said there was the need for Africa to agree on the instruments of trade and common markets that would set it on the path of progress.

Gbajabiamila said: Let us commit ourselves to use the tools of parliamentary diplomacy and authority to enable the achievement of a common Passport, a common market, and a single customs and monetary union that will make full African integration possible.

“Let us agree to use the instruments of trade and common markets to set us irreversibly on the path to a future of honourable peace, abiding prosperity, and brotherhood amongst the nations of Africa.”

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