Politics

Cross River magistrates resume protest over 26 months’ unpaid salaries

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Magistrates in Cross River State have resumed a protest over their unpaid 26 months salaries and allowances.

The aggrieved magistrates, who occupied Governor Ben Ayade’s office on Monday, carried several placards highlighting their plights and begged the governor to come to their aid as they were going through serious hardship.

The inscriptions on some of the placards read: “29 esquires are in penury; pay us our 26 months salaries,” and “Ayade stop oppressing Cross River Judiciary, pay us our salaries.”

The magistrates had on January 8 occupied the Government House in Calabar to protest their unpaid salaries but were persuaded to call off the protest after a dialogue with the state government.

The leaders of the protesting magistrates, Solomon Abuo, a Chief Magistrate with the Cross River Judiciary, said they suspended the first protest in January to give room for the government to start work immediately on the demand.

He said the governor called them to a meeting and formed a committee headed by the Deputy Governor to look into the issues and make recommendations.

The magistrate said: “That meeting took place on January 19. We waited till the end of January and nothing happened, so, we went to the Deputy Governor and he told us that they couldn’t conclude their work within one week.

“He told us that it won’t be possible for us to receive January salaries but that we will start receiving our salaries from February because by then, they would be done with their report.

“Even when Olumide Apata, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association came down to Calabar and had a meeting with the state government and proffered suggestions on how the issue could be resolved, nothing was done.

Recently, we learnt that the committee had completed its work and sent its recommendations to the governor and he has refused to act on it.

“We have given the governor enough time and made some concessions which are four possible options on how to add us to the payroll system and pay us but nothing is being done.”

World News

Large Protest hits Senegal

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Large protests have hit Senegal for a third day as demonstrators burnt cars and clashed with police after the arrest of an opposition leader on Wednesday.

Ousmane Sonko appeared in court on Friday accused of disrupting public order. He also faces a rape allegation.

He denies the allegations and his supporters say the accusations are politically motivated.

At least one person has died in the rare nationwide unrest.

Senegal is one of West Africa’s most stable countries.

On Friday police fired tear gas at Mr Sonko’s supporters in the capital Dakar where some shops and schools closed during the protests.

Police also blocked motorbikes and mopeds, which are popular among Mr Sonko’s young supporters, from the city’s streets.

image captionCars were burnt near the headquarters of a radio station thought to be close to Senegal’s government

Demonstrators have gathered in the city’s surrounding areas and in the southern city of Bignona, a stronghold of Mr Sonko.

Two private TV channels that covered the protests have been suspended for 72 hours by the government.

On Thursday Internet monitor NetBlocks said access to social media and messaging apps was restricted.

Senegal’s government has condemned the protests as a “flagrant violation” of the state of emergency put in place to tackle coronavirus.

image captionThe unrest is rare in the West African country

The United Nations’ special envoy for West Africa Mohamed Ibn Chambas has appealed for calm.

Mr Sonko, 46, was accused of rape in February by a woman who worked in a beauty salon.

image captionPolice have used tear gas against protesters in the capital Dakar

Following an investigation he was arrested on Wednesday and taken to court accompanied by a group of supporters.

Police said they then arrested him for disrupting public order when he refused to change his route to the court.

Mr Sonko says the allegations of rape are fabricated. He accuses Senegal’s President Macky Sall of trying to remove potential opponents ahead of the 2024 election. Two other opposition leaders were excluded from the 2019 election after being convicted on charges which they say were politically motivated.

There are reports that Mr Sall may seek to change the constitution to allow him to run for a third term.

image captionOusmane Sonko, 46, is popular among Senegal’s youth

Mr Sonko is the president’s only remaining serious challenger, BBC Afrique’s Ndèye Khady Lo in Dakar says.

She explains that the opposition politician is particularly popular with young Senegalese for his promise of radical opposition to what he calls “the system”.

In 2014 he founded his own political party, Nastef, and came third in the 2019 presidential election with 15% of the vote.

In a video recorded and shared on social media in 2018, Mr Sonko told activists: “There is enormous potential in this country. It is unacceptable to see suffering of our people” adding “our politicians are criminals. Those who have ruled Senegal from the beginning deserve to be shot.”

Lifestyle

LASU students protest fees hike, demand immediate reversal to old fees

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Two days to exit of Professor Olanrewaju Fagbohun as the Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, having completed his five-year-single tenure, the students of the university have expressed their displeasure over the recent increment in school fees, demanding a reversal to the old fees within two weeks from today, Friday.

The students said they had been gravely disturbed since the fees were increased and consequently all along been engaging all relevant authorities in and outside the university to actualise a reversal of the fees with the efforts yielded no positive results till today.

They named those they had engaged to include the management team led by the outgoing vice-chancellor, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Education, Mr Wahab Tokunbo and the Chairman, Lagos House Committee on Education, Mr Olayinka Ogundimu among others.

The university was on Friday, December 11, announced the increment of its tuition fees from N25, 000 to N67, 048.50 (representing 168 per cent increment) and to be applicable only to fresh students and those to be admitted subsequently.

However, the students under the aegis of Students’ Union Government and in a statement signed by their President AbdulBasit Ashade and Public Relations Officer, Zeenab Adams, said the union is primarily concerned about the welfare of members and would continue to project same for actualisation in a peaceful manner.

The students said they quite understood the economic pressure the fees hike would have on the parents, guardians as well as the students themselves, especially as regards the already harsh economic effects of COVID-19 that people are still grappling with.

They vowed that the union would stop at nothing in ensuring the increment is properly reviewed as this is a very challenging time in the country and that “we must be sensitive not to compound this burden on indigenes and residents of Lagos State.”

The students said the primary purpose of establishing LASU is to impact and impart value in indigenes and residents of the state for a better Lagos and therefore the authorities should reverse the fees within 14 days from today, January 8, 2020, to an old fee.

The students said pending expiration of 14 days, it is expected that the management team, members of the governing council, state government officials and other relevant stakeholders would have met to proffer solution to the increment.

The union, therefore, said “Payment of school fees by newly admitted students should be suspended and portal for payment closed until a resolution is jointly reached by all parties and also directive is given by the Students’ Union body to continue the payment of their school fees.

Reacting to the matter, the school management said the university had no option than to increase the fees as it had done because of what it called the increasing huge financial responsibilities before it.

The Coordinator of Centre for Information Press and Public Relations of the university, Mr Ademola Adekoya, who reacted on behalf of the university via a statement made available to newsmen, insisted that the increment was a decision jointly taken by all the stakeholders in the university including the students and various staff unions and that the increment is applicable only to newly admitted students for the 2020\2021 and those that would come after them.

He said the increment became necessary for the university to be able to meet the increasing financial obligations that would further lead to its progress.

LASU is currently the second-best university in Nigeria queuing behind the University of Ibadan as rated by the Times Higher Education in its latest world universities ranking and the university is also one of the universities in the country that have highest numbers of candidates seeking university admission.

Adekoya said the state government as the proprietor could not all alone raise enough funds to sustain let alone improve the quality of services being delivered by the university and that has earned it second-best university status in the country.

He said the university had maintained the old fees for many years and would not be able to cope again on its mandates satisfactorily should it retain the old fees.

He said every student of LASU irrespective of course of study is now being engaged in rigorous training on one entrepreneurial skill or the other that would equip them to stand on their own economically even before graduation.
“So, the increment is inevitable and therefore should be seen as a necessary step to further consolidate the quality of education being offered by the university,” he stressed

Politics, World News

Trump supporters turn out in DC to back president, protest election results.

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A throng of Trump supporters gathered in Washington, D.C., on Saturday to voice support for President Trump and protest the results of the election after the push to overturn them suffered a major court defeat.

Organizers planned demonstrations in front of the Supreme Court, Capitol and Department of Justice as part of the events Saturday, the second time a major march has been organized to back Trump since Election Day.

Trump’s first national security adviser, Michael Flynn, whom the president pardoned after Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russia’s ambassador, key-noted an event outside the Supreme Court.

“We’re in a spiritual battle for the heart and soul of this country,” Flynn told those gathered. “We will win.”

Trump touted the demonstrations in a tweet, saying “thousands” were gathering in D.C. to march in support of his efforts to overturn President-elect Joe Biden’s victory. He also indicated he planned to see supporters.

“Wow! Thousands of people forming in Washington (D.C.) for Stop the Steal. Didn’t know about this, but I’ll be seeing them! #MAGA,” the president tweeted.

Trump’s presidential helicopter, Marine One, flew over the National Mall as Trump departed the White House en route to the Army-Navy football game on Saturday afternoon at West Point.

Supporters gathered a day after the Supreme Court delivered a devastating blow for the president’s ongoing efforts to overturn election results.

The court rejected a lawsuit filed by Texas seeking to overturn election results in four key battleground states – Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Georgia – with justices ruling that the Lone Star State did not have the legal right to litigate over how other states carry out their elections.

Trump has ripped the decision, saying the court “let us down.”

Demonstrators began gathering early Saturday morning in D.C., with vendors setting up stands selling Trump merchandise and flags as supporters filed into Freedom Plaza.

Organizers with Jericho March and Let the Church Roar prayer rallies plan to convene at a stage near the National Mall until 4 p.m. Saturday, local Nexstar affiliate WDVM reported.

According to the group’s webpage, the Jericho March is gathering in support of Trump and “election integrity, transparency, and reform to preserve free and fair elections in America for this generation and generations to come.”

Last month, Trump supporters gathered for the “Million MAGA March” on Freedom Plaza, where the president drove by in his motorcade to greet the thousands who turned out.

That evening, some supporters of the president and counterprotesters clashed in the streets amid the president’s continued refusal to concede the 2020 election.

The Washington Post reported that permits for Saturday estimate crowds up to 15,000 in size, though noted experts think the gathering will be significantly smaller than last month’s pro-Trump rally.

Since major news outlets called the 2020 election in favor of Biden last month, Trump and his allies have promoted unsupported claims of fraudulent activity and filed various lawsuits ultimately rejected in court.

The Electoral College will vote Monday to make Biden’s win official, paving the way for him to take office Jan 20.

Politics, World News

Peru’s President Resigns After Outrage Following Death Of Two Protesters.

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The deaths, which happened while people were protesting the sudden impeachment of his predecessor, Martin Vizcarra, sparked outrage in the country with calls for his resignation.  

Manuel Merino, President of Peru, has resigned following the death of two protesters.

The deaths, which happened while people were protesting the sudden impeachment of his predecessor, Martin Vizcarra, sparked outrage in the country with calls for his resignation.

Merino took power on Tuesday after legislators shocked the nation by voting to remove the popular former President, Vizcarra and then swore in Merino, who was the head of congress.

On Sunday, in a video message to the country, Merino said, “I present my irrevocable resignation. I call for peace and unity of all Peruvians.”

He added that he would now focus on ensuring a smooth transition to a new leader to avoid a power vacuum. A new interim President is expected to be announced later today.

Politics

It will be dangerous ignoring protesting youths – Senate President, Lawan

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The Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, has warned that Nigerian leaders will face a huge challenge should they continue to ignore genuine protest by the youths.

Lawan who made this known during a Senate meeting on Monday said the interest of the youth should be given due attention.

He added that what may come next after the End SARS protest might be inevitable.

“Recently, we had some of our youths protesting genuinely. They were seeking the attention of leaders, and they got the attention of leaders.

“So, our budget, especially for 2021 should be centered on what to do to provide employment opportunities for these youths.

“They demonstrated and protested because they could do so; there are so many other people who may not be youthful but are also in the same need, and they didn’t protest.

“Let’s meet them where they are. We don’t have to wait until they also start to grumble or protest.

“We should be proactive, we should reach out to them and give them what we can and what they need.

“That is the only way that we can make a difference in the lives of the people.

“And for us, elected people, we are going to be accountable. If we escape this one (#EndSARS protests), the other one is inescapable, and I am sure people will know what I am saying,” he said.

World News

CHILE VOTES TO REWRITE CONSTITUTION

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Jubilation as Chile votes to rewrite constitution

Chileans have voted overwhelmingly in support of rewriting their constitution, which dates to the dictatorship of Gen Augusto Pinochet.

With nearly 90% of the vote counted, 78% of people had voted “yes” in a referendum that was called after mass protests against inequality.

President Sebastian Piñera acknowledged the result and praised the peaceful vote. According to him, the exercise was “the beginning of a path that we must all walk together”.

A mass anti-government protest movement began in Chile a year ago. From the beginning one of the demonstrators’ key demands was that the country needed a new constitution to be able to fix deep inequalities in society.

“Until now, the constitution has divided us,” Mr Piñera said as people took to the streets in celebration. “From today we must all work together so that the new constitution is the great framework of unity, stability and the future.”

The referendum was delayed by seven months due to the coronavirus pandemic

The referendum asked Chileans two questions – firstly, if they wanted a new constitution, and secondly, what kind of body they would want to draw it up.

A large majority have voted for the new constitution to be drafted by a convention made up entirely of elected citizens, as opposed to one that would also include lawmakers.

Politics

Northern Group Suspends Protests over Insecurity

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The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has suspended its #EndInsecurityNow protest across northern states.

In a statement issued yesterday, the spokesman of the group, Abdulhazeez Suleiman, said the CNG was disturbed.

By the happenings across the country, especially the “raiding of Benin Central Prison, Edo State, leading to the escape of inmates all in the name of #EndSARS protest.”

The statement said while the coalition has no quarrel with people expressing their grievances by holding peaceful protest, “we, however, find it disturbing that protests want to degenerate into lawlessness and brigandage.

“Consequent upon this, the CNG categorically states that it will neither associate with, or identify with, nor recognise any movement by any persons, groups or from whichever section or class in the country that portends greater danger to the country or tends to tilt towards anarchy.”

It stated further that: “In this light, we condemn with all our might, the actions of those who perpetrate criminal acts in the guise of protests anywhere in Nigeria, and strongly denounce those who instigate others to commit acts of violence and lawlessness under whatever pretext.

“We thus emphatically repudiate the reported raid of the Benin prison facility, and deem any further act of brigandage on the public and public assets not only immoral and illegal but also condemnable and abhorrent to the country’s sensibilities and ordinary decency.”

Suleiman said: “The CNG hereby impresses on all its formations on the #EndInsecurityNow protests across the 19 northern states to desist from identifying with the protests, and shun any act that may further cause additional instability in the region and potentially affects the general peace of the country.

“We urge them to remain decent, orderly and civilized as they peacefully press for action to end the bleeding in the North without molesting or oppressing fellow citizens and provoking public disorder.

“The #EndInsecurityNow protests in the northern states must not be seen to cause public fear through traffic disruptions, rampage on private and public assets or involved with provocative utterances, altercations and other forms of indecent conduct.

“With this development, the CNG hereby directs all its state chapters to immediately stay further action and suspend all protests forthwith effectively from October 20, 2020.”

Lifestyle

Important Lessons From #EndSARS Protests By Adewale Adeoye

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The protest has been wrongly defined as a youth protest. No, it is a protest by Nigerians irrespective of age. Youths are more because they form the bulk of Nigerian population.

There was no date announced for the protests. It took off like a single match, then it became a box of matches, and then became a huge fire.

Many Nigerians live under the illusion that revolution is not possible. They think Nigerians are docile. That is a lack of a deep sense of history. How wrong. These protests have proved that nothing is permanent but change, including change in human thought processes.

The protest has been wrongly defined as a youth protest. No, it is a protest by Nigerians irrespective of age. Youths are more because they form the bulk of Nigerian population.

Though we all call it #END SARs protest, the demands are far more than that. #ENDSARs is just a slogan for the demand for the transformation of Nigeria from a ghetto society to an egalitarian society. They imposed electricity tariffs, nobody spoke, they increased fuel, nobody spoke. People in power feel they can do anything and get away with it. This is a stupid way to think.

The protests are not concentrated in one place, making it more difficult for the security operatives to isolate and destroy.

In a decent society, the Inspector-General of Police should have resigned.

The protest is not a vote against democracy. Let no mad soldiers think they can be funny. The protest is a vote for the deepening of democracy, the rule of law, against corruption, insensitivity and reckless leadership at all levels including corporate and financial institutions all out to exploit and kill all of us with their anti-people policies.

Just getting out of COVID 19, millions now earn half salary. Millions have been sacked; the government solution was to come up with a fuel electricity hike in the midst of the pains and pangs. Haba!!! Many Nigerians are seeing death lurking around them. This can lead to anything.

The protest is largely by decent people. Let us hope the next protests won’t be by the ‘baddest’ men and women. The choice will be made by the government, either to address the grievances or gloss over it.

If there had been an NLC/TUC rally against fuel and electricity hike last week, these ongoing mass protests would not have taken place. It would have been a case of a massive protest led by labour because this same crowd was gearing up to be part of the Nation-wide protest. Labour did not gauge the desperate mood of the long suffering people of Nigeria. Labour lost this great honour. If any labour leaders try to address the rally, I tell you, they will be mobbed. The beauty would

have been labour leading this protest backed with fundamental demands that could have enhanced greater transformation of Nigeria. That is lost.

These rallies have proved once again that the people are the custodians of power, the power to protest, the power of liberation is in their pockets, not in the hands of any leadership. In our quest for a better society, Nigerians are not the problem, the leadership is, either in government or within the liberation movements including labour. Nigerians can be effectively mobilized with the right people leading them on the route for a better society.

The power of social media in effective mobilisation has been enormous. Some 126 million Nigerians have access to the Internet. Civil society, the media, state and federal government should learn this truth. Those who think Nigerian people are disorganised are mistaken. Every Nigerian is organised in one platform or the other. This rally has further confirmed this reality.

I was in VI and Alausa on Tuesday and at Gbagada today. I see organised groups. We should study these protests and take notes. Knowledge is often learnt every day. The protesters are teaching us new lessons. All over history, the wo(man) on the street has always been a great teacher. Great politicians learn from the actions of the people, their fears and aspirations, to be able to articulate their pangs in a development plan.

Without the traditional progressive movements, listen, Revolution can come in Nigeria. The nature, I don’t know. But it is sheer arrogance to assume that only a revolution led by already known people will be qualitative.

I’m not sure what will be the gains of the protests. I’m only sure the gains will be minimal for many reasons: No organised platform of leadership to negotiate with, no strategic leadership coordination for sustainability, no political platform to transform the energy into the quest for real, democratic society.

However, history has been made. I see more coordinated rallies in the future. I see more trouble. Let the operators of the system think. Let them act. Let them address hunger, poverty, cruelty of police and political leadership and the guzzling of public funds while millions of people live in misery. But will they ever learn?

Lifestyle

Your voices have been heard, says NiDCOM to youths protesting police brutality

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The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), on Friday said that the voices of Nigerian youths protesting Police Brutality have been heard by government and results will be achieved soon.

Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, told the press during a courtesy visit by some members of Diaspora Youths Group to her office in Abuja. She told the group to give government the opportunity and chance to serve Nigerians. “I commend the Nigerian youths for demonstrating that we are a united nation, and that what binds us together is deeper than what separate us, the government is proud of you for standing with one voice to speak against what you call police brutality. “I think your call for the reformation of the police is a low hanging fruit but it can be a catalyst to institutional reform in Nigeria. “Also, a catalyst to demanding the best of ourselves, a catalyst to be on the part way of building the true Nigeria of our dreams and I believe so.

We have heard your cry and government will still continue to listen to you, this problem did not start with Muhammandu Buhari’s administration but I am very optimistic that it will be solved in this administration,’’ she said. Dabiri-Erewa also appealed to all Nigerian youths to remain non-violent while protesting by looking to the future to be better, “even the Inspector-General of Police said that nobody should be harassed or killed because you are protesting, but let your protest be violence free’’. She also urged the group to use the same zeal to fight corruption by saying we want great things to happen in our great country Nigeria. Speaking earlier, Ibrahim Magaji, the CEO of Digital Green Intercontinental UK, who led the group, said that their mission is to express concerns with respect to the ongoing police brutality protest in country. Magaji said that Nigeria is the giant of Africa not only to citizens but to neighbouring countries which in turn looks up to Nigeria as a support pillar. “We owe the rest of Africa this responsibility by protecting our global image and proving to the world that our diversity is not a challenge but our strength.

This is a clear indication of how the youths feel about the constant harassment by SARS. Not all youths are bad, some of us are entrepreneurs and we run our businesses. “So we are raising our voices to the right authority to address the issue,’’ he said However, he said that though government has made a move by changing the name from SARS to SWAT, they forget that it would not change their attitude. The police need to be reformed. “This is trending in the social media and the world is watching which will in turn affect us in the diaspora. Rukayya Ibrahim, Senior Assistant Registrar for Baze University, Abuja, applauded the commission for giving the group the platform for the conversation to take place. She said “the general feeling of Nigerians is that of frustration. We cannot deny that, all we are asking the government is to show us the same support we gave this government during the 2015 election.

Politics

I have been receiving curses- Femi Adesina

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The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, says he has been receiving curses and messages from hell due to false reports that he was against the #EndSARS protests.

Adesina, who is the President’s most senior spokesman, said this in an article titled, ‘An Enemy of the People’ published on Thursday evening.

He said an online medium had falsely accused him of telling the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to ignore the protests and not give in to the demands of ‘Twitter warriors’.

The President’s spokesman said someone went ahead to post his telephone numbers on social media which led to him receiving calls and hate messages.

Adesina stated that he received a second round of attacks when an old interview he had granted Channels Television on the ‘Revolution Now’ protests was twisted to make it appear as if he was referring to the #EndSARS protests.
The President’s spokesman thanked Channels TV for clarifying the interview but said despite the move by the television station, the attacks did not stop.

He wrote, “Those who wanted to, believed the television station. A large number chose not to , bombarded my phone lines with curses, expletives and messages from the pit of hell. Well, if anybody chooses to belong to that nether region, it’s a matter of choice.

“Talking about the bombardment of my phone lines, it had begun on Sunday. A hateful mind had published my two numbers on Twitter, urging people to troll me. They called till the phone batteries went dead. Mum was the word from me.”

Adesina said he never advised the President to ignore the #EndSARS protests rocking the nation.

He stated that the online medium that published the report did not give him a chance to respond to the allegations thereby opening him to attacks.

Adesina claimed many people hated him because they were envious of his position as the President’s spokesman.

Politics, World News

We will defend Nigeria at all cost – Army

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Following the heightening protests against police brutality across the country, the Nigerian Army has warned it is prepared to protect the country’s democracy at all cost.

Apparently referring to the #EndSARS protesters, the Nigerian Army in a statement by the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Sagir Musa, assured it is committed to the “sustenance of peace, security and defence of democracy in Nigeria”

Lieutenant General TY Buratai (Chief of Army Staff)

According to the statement: “The Nigerian Army (NA) wishes to reassure law abiding citizens that it is highly committed to the sustenance of peace, security and defence of democracy in  Nigeria.

“As a responsible and law abiding organisation,  the NA reaffirms its unalloyed loyalty and commitment to the President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari and the Constitution of the Country.

 “The NA hereby warns all subversive elements and trouble makers to desist from such  acts as it remains highly committed to defend the country and her democracy at all cost.

“The NA is ready to fully support the civil authority in whatever capacity to maintain law and order and deal with any situation decisively.

“All officers  and men are directed never to be distracted by anti democratic forces and agents of disunity”.

Apparently referring to the #EndSARS protesters, the Nigerian Army in a statement by the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Sagir Musa, assured it is committed to the “sustenance of peace, security and defence of democracy in Nigeria”

According to the statement: “The Nigerian Army (NA) wishes to reassure law abiding citizens that it is highly committed to the sustenance of peace, security and defence of democracy in Nigeria.

“As a responsible and law abiding organisation, the NA reaffirms its unalloyed loyalty and commitment to the President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari and the Constitution of the Country.

“The NA hereby warns all subversive elements and trouble makers to desist from such acts as it remains highly committed to defend the country and her democracy at all cost.

“The NA is ready to fully support the civil authority in whatever capacity to maintain law and order and deal with any situation decisively.

“All officers and men are directed never to be distracted by anti democratic forces and agents of disunity”.

Lifestyle

End SARS protests may consume Nigeria – Gani Adams condemns killings

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The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has warned that the ongoing End SARS protests may consume Nigeria.

Adams said “there are signals” of a national crisis, and advised authorities to properly manage the situation.

He condemned the use of live bullets against demonstrators by policemen.

No fewer than 6 people have lost their lives since the protests began.

In a statement on Tuesday, Adams told the Police that it is the right of Nigerian youths to express anger over extra-judicial activities of law enforcement agencies.

The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has warned that the ongoing End SARS protests may consume Nigeria.

Adams said “there are signals” of a national crisis, and advised authorities to properly manage the situation.

He condemned the use of live bullets against demonstrators by policemen.

No fewer than 6 people have lost their lives since the protests began.

In a statement on Tuesday, Adams told the Police that it is the right of Nigerian youths to express anger over extra-judicial activities of law enforcement agencies.

“It is most disturbing seeing the number of casualties in the protests growing by the day. It is unfortunate that some bad eggs in the police have become utterly lawless, killing Nigerians raising their voices against SARS brutality.

“Those youths protesting are of the digital age, they are the leaders of the future and they are entitled to express their voices and concerns against the state of the nation.”

“In the history of our nation, it has never got to this level where the entire system is in comatose. It behoves on the Federal Government to listen to the cries of Nigerians over the spate of insecurity, hike in electricity tariff, increase in the prices of food commodities, and high cost of living.

“Many of the youths protesting are students that left the universities years ago and are still unemployed. With their hopes bleak, they are frustrated with the government; they have lost confidence.

“More importantly, I think we must restructure this country to regionalism, based on federating units or we exit through referendum peacefully without shedding of blood. Liberia, Rwanda, Congo and Somalia started like this before they were engulfed in war”, Adams warned.

World News

“STOP VIOLENCE AND RAPE” ALGERIANS CRY OUT.

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Protests have been held in several cities in Algeria to demand action to stop violence against women following the rape and murder of a teenager.

The charred body of Chaïma, 19, was found in a deserted petrol station in Thenia, 80 km (50 miles) east of the capital Algiers, this month.

Her killer confessed to the crime and is under arrest, local media say.

There are also reports that the charred body of another woman was found in a forest overnight.

Women held sit-in protests in Algiers and Oran, chanting Chaïma’s first name and calling for an end to gender-based violence. Activists also took to social media with the hashtag #JeSuisChaima (I am Chaïma).

Activists say there was a heavy police presence despite the small protests.

Chaïma’s body was found burnt

“This government offers no shelters or mechanisms to protect the victims from their torturers, this government says it has laws, but in reality women are asked to forgive their aggressor, be it their brother or their father or whatever,” one woman at the rally in Algiers said.

“Women file a complaint and wait three or four years for it to be resolved and for a judgement to be rendered. These are unacceptable conditions. Algeria is for Algerian men and women.”

Chaïma’s mother said the suspect had attempted to rape her daughter in 2016, when she was 15, but the case was dropped.

Femicides Algeria group, which tracks such killings, says 38 women have been killed on account of their gender in the country since the start of the year. They recorded 60 in 2019, but believe the actual number is far higher as many such killings go unreported.

More to come…

Lifestyle

OCTOBER 1 BRUTALITY!!! POLICE ATTACKED A PHOTO JOURNALIST IN LAGOS

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 Some officers of the Lagos State Police Command on Thursday attacked a photojournalist with The PUNCH, Olukayode Jaiyeola.

Jaiyeola, who was part of journalists covering an October 1 protest in the state, was brutalised at the Maryland area of Lagos.

The incident happened around 12 noon when a policeman, Innocent Adadu, hit Jaiyeola’s head with a baton. Jaiyeola’s colleague and PUNCH reporter, Deji Lambo, who was at the scene, said Adadu hit Jaiyeola with such force that the photojournalist collapsed immediately, with blood gushing out of his injured skull.

Nawa ooo

He said Adadu tried to flee into a police vehicle after attacking Jaiyeola but “I grabbed his shirt, insisting that he had injured a journalist.”

Lambo said, “Adadu’s colleagues also tried to shield their own and whisked him into a police vehicle. They also pushed Jaiye into the same vehicle.”

He said Jaiyeola was taken to the Police Clinic in Ikeja, the state capital, where his injured head was stitched.
Jaiyeola’s camera was also seized by police officers during the encounter.

The PUNCH had earlier reported that hundreds of protesters stormed the streets of Lagos on Thursday to express their displeasure over bad governance in Nigeria.

The protesters, mostly youths, lamented that 60 years after the country gained independence from Britain and over 20 years of uninterrupted democratic rule, Nigeria’s socio-economic development has been mired by bad leadership which has denied the masses from enjoying the gains of a sovereign state.

The demonstration, which started around 9.30 am, saw the protesters gathering around Ojota, from where they marched to the Maryland area of the state.

The protesters, who are members of the Coalition for Revolution codenamed #RevolutionNow, were seen chanting songs of solidarity.

They later dispersed when security operatives arrested over 30 of them

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