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Tension As Nigerian Military Conducts Air Strikes In Orlu In Search Of ESN (Eastern Security Network).
SaharaReporters learnt that the airstrikes started on Thursday noon, and are connected with the military’s resolve to dislodge the Eastern Security Network operatives said to have strongholds in the forests.
Military fighter jets believed to be deployed by the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Air Force are conducting aerial strikes in Orlu communities in Imo State, which has worsened the already built-up tension in the areas.
SaharaReporters learnt that the airstrikes started on Thursday noon, and are connected with the military’s resolve to dislodge the Eastern Security Network operatives said to have strongholds in the forests.
The ESN operatives in January had a bloody clash with the Nigerian Army from Obinze barracks, where four soldiers were reportedly killed.
A video of the aerial bombardments on Thursday surfaced with fresh tension and anxiety building in the communities.
“Nigerian soldiers are currently conducting aerial strikes in our areas. Many innocent lives may be lost. They are probably looking for ESN operatives who are checking the activities of killer Fulani herdsmen,” a community head told SaharaReporters.
“People’s homes and market places may be affected. We don’t need aircraft in Orlu. They should go and find the stolen school pupils in Niger State,” another angry resident said.
“I have the video. There was an aircraft firing shots possibly in a nearby bush. Very reckless of the airforce; civilians are all over the place,” another person said.
SaharaReporters last December reported that the Nigerian Army deployed combat helicopters, gun trucks, and soldiers to search some suspected forests in the South-East states where the ESN, launched by Nnamdi Kanu, was said to be camping.
SaharaReporters also reported that the military search had been going on for days, and had no time frame, as the army was acting on “orders from above.”
A video, from the drones and hidden cameras believed to be installed by the ESN, had captured the Nigerian Army helicopters and their vehicles and soldiers searching for the camp of the ESN for possible arrests.
Kanu, leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, on December 12, launched the ESN, saying the regional security outfit, just like Amotekun in the South-West, would help to tackle crimes and criminalities.
“The Nigerian Army that is supposed to fight Boko Haram was seen everywhere searching for the camp of Eastern Security Network team. But they forgot they are dealing with sophisticated men. There are cameras and drones everywhere watching them,” an official had said.
Updates on Pablo Hasél: Violence in Spanish cities over Pablo’s arrest.
Protests in support of a jailed Catalan rapper have descended into violence, with police and demonstrators clashing in Spain’s main cities.
The protests erupted a day after Pablo Hasél was jailed for tweets insulting police and the Spanish monarchy.
Thousands of protesters in Madrid and Barcelona were met by riot police carrying batons and shields.
Dozens have been arrested, including at least 14 in Madrid and 29 in Barcelona, police said.
The rapper faces nine months in prison on a charge of glorifying terrorism and slandering the crown in tweets and song lyrics. The case of Hasél – known for his radical leftist views – has reignited a debate about free speech in Spain.
More than 200 artists, including film director Pedro Almodóvar and Hollywood star Javier Bardem, have signed a petition against his jail term and the government said last week it intended to relax penalties for “excesses” in freedom of expression.
In the Spanish capital, a demonstration started peacefully on Wednesday night, with protesters clapping their hands and chanting “No more police violence” and “Freedom for Pablo Hasél”.
But after bottles and stones were thrown at riot police, they used tear gas and rubber bullets.
The city’s conservative mayor, José Luis Martinez-Almeida, condemned the violence, tweeting: “The violent and those who do not accept the rules have no place in our society.”
Similar scenes were seen in Barcelona, where protesters set up barricades and set fire to furniture in the streets.
Stones, bottles and blunt objects were thrown, prompting officers to respond by using foam bullets and charging the protesters, police say.
Violent protests were reported in Lleida – the 32-year-old rapper’s hometown, and where he was arrested – as well as in the towns of Gerona and Tarragona, police said.
Hasél, whose real name is Pablo Rivadulla Duro, was taken to prison on Tuesday. He had missed a deadline last Friday to give himself up to police and begin serving a jail term handed down in 2018.
Police had stormed a university building where Hasél had barricaded himself and arrested him, triggering rallies and riots in Barcelona and other Catalan cities.
On Wednesday, Hasél said his arrest had unleashed a wave of outrage against what he described as fascist Spanish institutions.
Don’t Create Artificial Petrol Scarcity, NNPC Warns Marketers
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has warned petrol marketers against hoarding Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) in order not to create hardship for Nigerians.
In a press release on Thursday, Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of NNPC, Dr. Kennie Obateru, said there is no plan to increase pump price of petrol in February.
While giving assurance that it has enough stock of petrol to keep the nation well supplied for about 40 days, NNPC called on relevant regulatory authorities to monitoring of the activities of marketers with a view to sanctioning those involved in products hoarding or arbitrary increase of pump price.
It would be recalled that the nation’s downstream sector was deregulated in March 2020 with the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, stating that the prices of petroleum products would be determined my prevailing market forces.
Tokyo 2020: Japan Olympics minister Hashimoto appointed head of Games
Japan’s Seiko Hashimoto has been appointed the next Tokyo 2020 president, after her predecessor quit due to sexist comments.
The former Olympics Minister is a seven time Olympian herself, having competed as a cyclist and a speed skater.
Former chief Yoshiro Mori resigned following a backlash, after he was quoted as saying women talk too much.
Another octogenarian male leader was initially billed to replace him, but this was also met with protests.
The Japanese Olympic Committee board currently has 24 members, five of whom are women.
Mr Mori had earlier commented that should the number of female board members increase, they would have to “make sure their speaking time is restricted somewhat, they have difficulty finishing, which is annoying”.
He later apologised for his “inappropriate statement” and added that the priority was to make sure the Olympics were held in July.
Ms Hashimoto said on Thursday that she had resigned from her role as Olympic minister to take on her new position as chief of the Tokyo Games.
The Summer Olympics will begin on 23 July, after already being postponed by a year due to the pandemic.
Who is Seiko Hashimoto?
- The 56-year-old has served as Japan’s Olympics minister, doubling as minister for women’s empowerment, since 2019
- The former athlete has taken part in seven Olympics – competing in speed skating at four Winter Games, and track cycling at three Summer Games. In 1992, she won a bronze medal in the women’s 1,500m speed skating event in Albertville, France
- Her parents reportedly named her after “Seika”, which translates to “Olympic torch” in Japanese
- With her daughter’s birth in 2000, Ms Hashimoto was the first politician in Japan to take maternity leave while in office – something she campaigned for when she was pregnant. She also became the first upper house lawmaker to give birth while holding office
- She is married to a policeman, and is a mother of six including three stepchildren
NICKI MINAJ’S FATHER KILLED IN HIT-AND-RUN ACCIDENT ; SUSPECT HAS TURNED HIMSELF IN.
A rep for the Nassau County Police Department confirmed to XXL on Wednesday (Feb. 17) that the man accused of killing Nicki Minaj’s father, Robert Maraj, in a hit-and-run accident has been arrested.
According to a report from TMZ earlier today, police arrested 70-year-old Charles Polevich, who has been arraigned and charged with two felonies: leaving scene of incident involving death of a person and tampering with or suppressing physical evidence.
Polevich has reportedly received a bail set for $250,000, had to surrender his passport and has been restricted from traveling outside of New York.
ORIGINAL STORY:
Nicki Minaj’s father, Robert Maraj, was reportedly killed in a hit-and-run accident in New York.
The incident reportedly occurred in the Mineola neighborhood of Nassau County, N.Y., and was initially reported by local outlet Newsday on Feb. 12 and then updated by the Associated Press earlier today (Feb. 14). The Nassau County Police say a man, who was unidentified at the time, was walking on the street between Roslyn Road and Raff Avenue on the evening of Feb. 12 when he was struck by a motorist around 6 p.m. EST.
A rep for the Nassau County Police Department confirmed to XXL on Wednesday (Feb. 17) that the man accused of killing Nicki Minaj’s father, Robert Maraj, in a hit-and-run accident has been arrested.
The news of Nicki’s father’s passing comes just four months after she gave birth to her first child with husband, Kenneth Petty. Nicki has been noticeably absent from the rap scene in recent months, appearing sparingly as a feature artist, as she raises her infant son. In January, Nicki shared the first photos of her baby boy, whom she has affectionately nicknamed Papa Bear.
BREAKING: Residents Killed As Gunmen Carry Out Fresh Attacks In Niger
Some communities in Gurmana Ward of Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State have been attacked by gunmen.
It was discovered that Sarkin Zama, Bakin Kogi (Lagbe), Siyiko and other adjoining villages were invaded by armed gangs who operated unchallenged for hours.
According to Co-convener, Concerned Shiroro Youths, Sani Abubakar Yusuf Kokki, some residents were killed in the attack which happened hours after students and staff were abducted at Government Science College, Kagara, Rafi Local Government Area of the state.
“Countless deadly attacks have become daily occurrences thereby compelling the affected victims to live at the mercy of hydraheaded monsters. Defenceless, unarmed and peaceful locals have been abandoned to their fate,” Kokki said.
Details later…
Serena Williams leaves news conference in tears
Serena Williams left her Australian Open news conference in tears after her semi-final defeat by Naomi Osaka.
The American great saw her latest bid for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title ended by Japan’s three-time major champion Osaka, who won 6-3 6-4.
She gave the crowd inside Rod Laver Arena a long wave goodbye with her hand over her heart, leading to questions over the 39-year-old’s future.
She responded: “I don’t know. If I ever say farewell, I wouldn’t tell anyone.”
Williams became tearful when asked a further question about her unforced errors against Osaka.
“I don’t know. I’m done,” she said, before leaving the room.
Williams thanked her fans in a post on Instagram shortly after the match.
“Today was not ideal outcome or performance but it happens. I am so honoured to be able to play in front of you all,” she wrote.
“Your support, your cheers, I only wish I could have done better for you today.
She wrote on her IG
“I am forever in debt and grateful to each and every single one of you.”
Williams has been aiming to equal Margaret Court’s major record since her return from maternity leave in 2018.
Her 23 Grand Slam titles is the most by any player in the Open Era, with 13 of Court’s titles coming before the tour became fully professional.
Since her return, Williams has reached four Grand Slam finals but lost them all, including to Osaka at the 2018 US Open.
It is the first time in 18 years that Williams has lost an Australian Open semi-final.
It is also her first loss against a top five opponent at a hard court Grand Slam since she was beaten by Jelena Jankovic in the Australian Open last 16 in 2008.
Australian Open: Naomi Osaka to face Jennifer Brady in final after beating Serena Williams
Naomi Osaka claimed an impressive victory over Serena Williams to reach the Australian Open final and end the American’s latest quest for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title.
https://ausopen.com/match/2021-naomi-osaka-vs-serena-williams-ws602#!media?g=video-6233184698001
Three-time Slam champion Osaka withstood early pressure from Williams to win 6-3 6-4.
Osaka is on a 20-match unbeaten streak and has never lost a Slam final.
The Japanese will face Jennifer Brady in Saturday’s final after the American beat Karolina Muchova.
Brady came past the Czech 6-4 3-6 6-4 to seal a spot in her first Grand Slam final.
It will be a rematch of the 2020 US Open semi-final, which Osaka came through in three sets.
“I was really nervous and scared in the beginning and then I sort of eased my way into it,” Osaka said of her match with Williams.
“It’s just always an honour to play her and I just didn’t want to go out really dud. I just wanted to try my best.”
It is the first time Williams has lost a semi-final at the Australian Open in eight appearances in the last four.
Williams will be left to rue the opportunities she let slip and once again wonder whether she will equal Margaret Court’s major record.
Osaka holds her own
Osaka and Williams’ last meeting at a Grand Slam came at the US Open final in 2018 – a match remembered for Williams’ outburst at the umpire and Osaka’s tears at the presentation ceremony.
Since then, Osaka has won a further two major titles and risen to third in the world rankings, as well as finding more confidence and calmness on court.
It was Williams, with all her experience, who made the better start, breaking a nervous Osaka in the first game of the match before holding her own serve to take a 2-0 lead.
Although Osaka’s serve was not at its best, her power and increasingly comfortable movement allowed her to hit back, taking advantage of a dip in Williams’ game to win six of the final seven games and take the first set.
Williams’ own serve, such a big weapon in her game, did not fire, and she grew more frustrated as her big shots missed the mark and Osaka’s found the line.
The 10th seed yelled to herself to “make a shot” as she mixed easy errors with powerful winners to go an early break down, but it looked as though the match would shift when she broke back.
A tentative Osaka, serving for a 5-3 lead, was broken to 30, with the crowd cheering Williams on, but the Japanese showed tremendous grit to instantly fire back.
She broke Williams to love and then produced four huge first serves, including one ace, to wrap up the match in 75 minutes.
Influential #EndSARS campaigners ‘FK’ Abudu, Odufuwa, Eweniyi make TIME list.
Three frontline #EndSARS campaigners Damilola Odufuwa, Odunayo Eweniyi, and Feyikemi ‘FK’ Abudu have been included in Time Magazine’s Time 100 Next list for 2021.The trio’s partnership raised nearly N150 million for protesters during 2020’s #EndSARS demonstrations.
The American news magazine started publishing the Next list in 2019 to spotlight rising stars shaping the future of business, entertainment, sports, politics, science, health and more.
In explaining the inclusion of the Nigerians in the section of advocates, Suyin Haynes, a Senior Reporter covering gender and culture for TIME, said the trio played pivotal roles in last year’s historic #EndSARS protest.
10-Year-Old Armed Robber Arrested By Security Operatives In Edo State.
A 10-year-old boy, Monday Omoruye, who lives at Ring Road in Edo State has been arrested by security operatives for his involvement in crime activities.
In a video that has now gone viral, Omoruye confessed that he was introduced to robbery by his brother and that he had carried out four robbery operations so far.
When asked where he got his weapons from, he said during the 2020 #EndSARS protests, he alongside his brother and some of their friends broke into Oba market police station and stole arms from the station.
Speaking further, Omoruye said his brother taught him how to shoot a pistol and so far he had killed two people during the course of robbery.
He said, “My name is Monday Omoruye. My father, Odiom, stays at Aro Junction. My mummy stays elsewhere while I stay at Ringroad.
“I am here because of the phone matter. One of my friends, someone came to buy a chain from him, N10, 000, he gave him N8, 000. We said we should go and get the N2, 000, we held him that he won’t go unless he pays the complete money.
“There’s one guy, I don’t know if he was drunk, he gave us a phone, we returned it. He told the other guy he wants to sleep, we told him not to allow him sleep because that one will steal everything, money and phone, the guy didn’t listen.
When it was daybreak, I said don’t give him your phone but he didn’t listen, the other guy told him he wanted to download lots of music but ran away so we were looking for him, the owner of the phone said if he doesn’t see him, he will hold me, that was why he held me, called vigilante for me.
“My brother has two police guns that he collected from the police station at Urban market during #EndSARS protest.
“I can operate a small pistol, my brother taught me and he keeps them all. I have followed them to four robbery operations in Sapele, Siluko Road, Sakpoba. We have killed 2 people, one at Siluko Road, the other at Igan Market. I don’t know the names of those people we killed. When we finish robbing, we go to the cartel.
“If you want to see my brother, go in the morning and around 8pm, you will see him.”
Murtala Muhammed Lagos Airport Shut Down As Crippled Plane Blocks Runway.
Authorities have this evening shut down the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja-Lagos following the obstructing of one of the runways by an AZMAN aircraft flying from Abuja to Lagos.
THE WILL gathered that the aircraft overshot the runway at the domestic terminal while trying to touch down at the airport, after being crippled by a burst tyre. Passengers successfully disembarked from the aircraft and no casualty was recorded.
Although the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is yet to issue a statement, an airport source hinted that agency officials were busy making efforts to tow the aircraft away from the tarmac.
As at the time of filing this report, flights into the MMA Lagos airport had been temporarily suspended.
Student shot dead during invasion of school in Niger state.
Benjamin Doma has been identified as the student of Government Science Secondary School, Kagara, Niger State, who was shot dead when gunmen invaded the school on Wednesday morning.
Daily Trust had reported how gunmen broke into the school abducting students and staff.
Doma was gunned down while trying to escape , while some students and staff were whisked away after the gunmen held them hostage within the school premises for a while.
A source told Daily Trust that while the number of abducted students had not been accounted for, two teaching staff, one clerk and 12 family members are among those abducted.
The kidnappers are yet to make contact with family members or school authorities as of the time of filing this report.
The incident happened barely 48 hours after some persons were abducted while heading to Minna, the state capital.
List of Nigerians representing on the international scene!!!
1) With the appointment of Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, the rank of Nigerians on the international scene has swelled. DR Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s tenure as the first African and female to head the WTO will begin March, 2021.
2) Akinwumi Adesina: He is currently serving his second term as president of Africa Development Bank.
3)Amina Mohammed: She is the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and Chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group.
4)Chile Ebeo-Osuji: He is the President of the International Criminal Court.
5)Tijjani Muhammad-Bande is the President of the 74th United Nations General Assembly. UNGA is the main deliberative, policy-making, and representative organ of the UN.
6) Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo: He is the Secretary-General of Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.
Pilots’ union demands action from Boris Johnson.
The government’s travel restrictions have effectively shut down UK aviation and “permanently damaged” the careers and livelihoods of thousands of travel industry employees: that is the claim from the leading pilots’ union in a letter to the prime minister.
The British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa) has written to Boris Johnson saying that coronavirus lockdown decisions “have huge knock-on effects, and in the case of the air transport industry, extremely serious ones”.
Brian Strutton, the general secretary of Balpa, wrote: “Government policy has effectively shut down UK aviation. We understand the reasoning behind those decisions, but the effects have already been disastrous.
“Covid has seen permanent closure of Flybe and Norwegian Air UK. Thousands of pilots in airlines across the country have lost their careers or are furloughed, along with tens of thousands of other front-line staff members
“These are the same people who, in the face of this terrible virus, repatriated British citizens and ensured important cargo made it to the UK to protect the NHS and save lives. Now their careers and livelihoods have been permanently damaged.”
Mr Strutton described calls by ministers not to book summer holidays as “damaging”.
On 10 February, the transport secretary, Grant Shapps, told the BBC’sToday programme: “Please don’t go ahead and book holidays for something which at this stage it is illegal to actually go and do – whether it’s here or abroad.”
There has also been dismay in the aviation industry about the hotel quarantine scheme that took effect on 15 February, requiring arrivals from 33 “red list” countries to stay in “managed isolation” for 11 nights.
But speaking in the Commons about hotel quarantine plans, the health minister Jo Churchill said: “As we take the necessary steps at the border, we recognise the challenges they present to industry.
“We continue to support our air transport sector, including airlines, airports and related services, and by the end of April the sector will have received some £3 billion of support through the Covid corporate finance scheme and the job retention scheme.”
Meanwhile the Kremlin has announced that the ban on flights from the UK to Russia will continue to mid-March at the earliest.
In a tweet, the government in Moscow said: “Russia has extended suspension of air traffic with the UK until 16 March.”
Normally Aeroflot and British Airways operate daily services between London Heathrow and airports in Moscow.
PDP leaders visit Jonathan
The National Reconciliation Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by former Senate President Bukola Saraki is currently meeting with ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.
Details of the meeting are sketchy but it was gathrre gathered that it may not be unconnected to the party’s plan for the 2023 election.
Alongside key PDP leaders, Saraki stormed President Jonathan’s residence at Maitama, Abuja, around 1:00pm.
Former governors of Katsina, Gombe and Cross Rivers states; Ibrahim Shema, Ibrahim Dankwambo and Liyel Imoke, are among those in attendance.
Others at the closed-door meeting include former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; and erstwhile House of Representatives leader, Hon. Mulikat Adeola-Akande.
Saraki’s committee was inaugurated months after the PDP lost the presidential election to the All Progressive Congress (APC) in 2019.
Among its objectives is reconciling aggrieved members who have left the party and as well wooing new members to the party ahead of the next general election.
It had been reported how some kinsmen and political allies of Jonathan intensified their move to woo the Nigerian leader into 2023 presidential race.
Although the All Progressives Congress (APC) has refuted the claim that it is planning to make the former president its candidate in 2023, reports on such move have been flying around.
Some of Jonathan’s allies, especially in Bayelsa, where he hails from, have been pushing him for the 2023 election.
Jonathan’s kinsman from Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State and pro-democracy advocate, Comrade Wisdom Ikuli, revealed that the former president is very eligible to contest the 2023 presidential election and that most Nigerians are yearning for his return.
Know the following about the new EFCC chairman
Abdulrasheed Bawa, the new helmsman of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has about 16 years of experience on job.
At 40, he is the youngest person to chair the Commission. The founding chairman, Nuhu Ribadu, was appointed at the age of 43 in 2003.
Before his new appointment, the Kebbi-born lawyer worked as the Zonal Head of the EFCC in Lagos and Oyo States.
Below are 10 things to note about the anti-graft czar.
- He was born in Jega, Kebbi State, 40 years ago. This makes him the first person to be appointed to the EFCC job from anywhere in Nigeria other than the North-East zone.
- Bawa is the first career operative to head the EFCC. His appointment puts to rest agitation by “core EFCC staff” to have one of their own to head the commission.
- Bawa served under all EFCC past chairpersons, starting with Nuhu Ribadu, who recruited the first set of civilians into EFCC (including Bawa) in 2005.
- The operative started work with EFCC from its Lagos office, after his recruitment in 2005. He went on to work at the headquarters in Abuja, and for a year in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
- He was educated at the Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Economics in 2001 and master’s in International Relations and Diplomacy in 2011.
- He is a Deputy Chief Detective Superintendent, a position he was promoted to in 2016.
- Bawa has led a number of key corruption and financial crimes investigations including the infamous case of former Petroleum Minister, Mrs Diezani Allison-Madueke, the case of former Niger State governor, Muazu Babangida Aliyu and that of the Controversial crude oil swap. He was also involved in the investigation of petroleum subsidy fraud (2012-2015).
- Bawa has headed EFCC zonal offices in Ibadan and Port Harcourt between June 2018 and December 2019.
- From Port Harcourt, Bawa was posted to Abuja as head of Capacity Development Division of the EFCC Academy, Karu.
- Bawa was trained by the FBI, KPMG and many other institutions in the UK, United States and Nigeria
Dozens dead as bus plunges into canal in India
At least 40 people have been killed after a bus plunged into a canal in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.
Some 60 people were on board when the packed bus veered off a bridge and fell into the canal on Tuesday in Sidhi district.
Officials say that seven passengers, including the driver, managed to swim to the shore. Rescue teams are looking for the remaining passengers.
The state government has ordered an inquiry into the accident.
Eyewitnesses say that the driver lost control and the bus hit the boundary of the bridge before falling into the Sharda canal.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that two ministers were heading to the site of the accident to monitor rescue efforts.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has tweeted, expressing his condolences for the families of the victims.
He also announced compensation for the victims’ families as well as those who have been injured in the accident. The bus was on its way from Sidhi to Satna district.
Buses are a common mode of transport between smaller towns and districts in India. But operators often flout safety rules and pack them beyond their capacity.
Massive protests in Mauritius to force govt to resign
There was a mass protest in Mauritius on Saturday as thousands of citizens stormed the capital Port-Louis, calling for the government to resign over alleged corruption and fraud.
The demonstrators who heeded the calls of opposition parties to call into question the responsibility of those who hold political power, reportedly marched up to the office of Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth, carrying different placards to register their displeasure with the government.
Crimes, drugs that wreak havoc, there is no transparency. We cannot say that we live in a democracy,” one of the leaders of the protest was heard saying.
“I’m here because I want there to be a change. If I stay at home there will be no change,” another echoed.
All these parties that have governed us have ruined our lives, If we are in this current situation, it is because of these political parties which have governed us for the last 50 years. So my presence here is to be in solidarity with the whole Mauritian Nation, to say “NO” to these mafia systems,” another protester said.
The government is also facing criticism over its lack of transparency, and mismanagement of a massive oil spill involving a Panamanian-flagged MV Wakashio ship which ran aground in July, spilling 1,000 tonnes of fuel near two environmentally protected marine ecosystems and the Blue Bay Marine Park reserve.
The protesters, according to reports, numbered about 25,000, the largest major rally that the small island African nation had seen in over 40 years.
Mauritius is currently on the European Union’s blacklist of third world countries that pose a risk to the bloc due to its anti-money laundering deficiencies.
The island nation is also under pressure with the coronavirus pandemic and its effect on tourism.
Man Crush Monday
Our Man Crush Monday(MCM) is Richard Eyimofe Evans Mofe-Damijo popularly known as RMD. He is a stylish Nigerian actor, writer, producer, and lawyer.
RMD was born on July 6th in Aladja, Delta State. He studied Theatre Arts at University of Benin and later returned to the prestigious University of Lagos to study law.
Richard initially worked as a reporter with Concord Newspapers and Metro Magazines before taking part in a television soap opera in the late 80’s called ‘Ripples’. In 2005, at the maiden edition of the African Movie Academy Awards, he won the award for Best Actor in a Leading Role and he also received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 12th edition of the same awards in 2016. He was formerly a Special Adviser of Culture and Tourism and Commissioner for Culture and Tourism to the Governor of Delta State between 2008 and 2015.
Following the death of his first wife in 1996, Richard Mofe-Damijo married Jumobi Adegbesan and they are blessed with lovely children.