The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has called on the Federal Government to prioritise the common good of Nigerians by ending insecurity and economic hardship.
CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, made the call in a statement on Wednesday.
Okoh emphasised the importance of integrity, transparency and accountability in governance, adding that political leaders should be held accountable for their actions.
He asked President Bola Tinubu to ensure that Nigeria’s democracy serves the people, not just the interest of a few citizens.
He also stressed the need for unity and inclusivity, urging Nigerians to work together to build a stronger country where everyone has a voice and equal opportunities.
He said, “As we celebrate 25 years of uninterrupted democracy in Nigeria and the 31st anniversary of the widely acclaimed ‘freest and fairest’ presidential election of June 12, 1993, the national leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, congratulates the government and people of our great nation.
“Our democracy has been tested by the fires of adversity, from the struggles of its early years to the present-day trials of insecurity, economic hardship, and social injustice. Nevertheless, we remain steadfast in our belief that democracy is our nation’s best form of government.
“However, we must acknowledge that our democracy still faces significant challenges. Insecurity, economic hardship, and social injustice continue to afflict our citizens. We emphasise the importance of integrity, transparency, and accountability in governance.
“Our leaders must recognise that power is a sacred trust, and they will be held accountable for their actions. We also stress the need for unity and inclusivity, recognising the value of our diverse ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds.
“Let us work together to build a stronger, more just Nigeria, where everyone has a voice and equal opportunities. Let us work together to build a brighter future for ourselves, our children, and generations yet unborn.”
End insecurity, economic hardship – CAN tells Nigerian Govt
End insecurity, economic hardship – CAN tells Nigerian Govt
Tinubu taking right decisions, support him – Al-Mustapha to Nigerians
The younger brother of Major Hamza Al Mustapha, the former Chief Security Officer to late Gen. Sani Abacha, Hadi Al Mustapha, on Thursday urged Nigerians to support President Bola Tinubu because he’s making the right decisions.
Al-Mustapha said Tinubu’s reforms would reposition the socio-economic outlook of Nigeria and restore global confidence in the country’s economy.
In a statement he issued to commemorate Nigeria’s Democracy Day, Al-Mustapha urged Nigerians to support Tinubu’s moves to restore local government autonomy and address the current multi-faceted challenges
He said: “The President is taking the right decisions and everyone must support the administration. We have finished elections and the time for politics is over, it is time to rebuild Nigeria and everyone must play their part.
“The administration is fighting for local government autonomy and it is commendable. It’s a tough and courageous decision. If it succeeds, it will be a new dawn for democracy in Nigeria and for the rural dwellers in the country who will feel the positive impact of democracy.
“That is not all, the president is also tackling the economic challenges boldly and steadily, and i am sure that very soon we will start seeing results. People should be patient with this administration so that Nigeria can get out of the woods. Everybody, no matter your political party, should support the government because this is not time for the usual politics politicians like to play. This is the time to rebuild Nigeria.”
Tinubu taking right decisions, support him – Al-Mustapha to Nigerians
Malaysian footballer attacked with acid vows to play again
A Malaysian international badly hurt in an acid attack in May broke down in tears on Thursday as he pledged to return to football in “one to two months”.
Selangor FC winger Faisal Halim suffered fourth-degree burns on his neck, shoulder, hands and chest in the attack at a shopping centre outside Kuala Lumpur on May 5.
Nicknamed “Mickey”, the popular 26-year-old spent three weeks in hospital and had multiple surgeries for the burns to his skin.
Speaking to journalists for the first time since the ordeal, a tearful Faisal said: “My hope is to return to the pitch in the next one to two months, even though the doctor says it could take up to six months.”
He added: “I am willing to return to training when doctors give me the green light.”
Scars were visible on the left side of his head and face. He also appeared underweight and his physical movements seemed slower.
A dozen burly bodyguards wearing black escorted the player into the press conference.
Faisal did not explain why, but said that “right now I am kept in a secret hideout” with his family, expressing hope “I can soon be free and no need to hide”.
Two people were arrested after the attack but both were released without any charge. It is unclear what was behind the assault.
Faisal’s case was the most serious and high-profile of a string of crimes against four top-flight Malaysian footballers in May.
The incidents are not believed to be linked.
Faisal is an established Malaysian international whose equaliser against South Korea at the start of the year was voted best goal at the Asian Cup.
“I miss football,” added Faisal.
Malaysia’s domestic football season was scheduled to begin on May 10 with a curtain-raiser between Faisal’s Selangor and Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT).
Selangor pulled out citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats”, but the league got under way the following day under heavy security.
AFP
120 million people displaced by war, violence globally, UN Says
“The world is facing a terrible indictment with a staggering 120 million people living in forced displacement due to war, violence, and persecution,” the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) announced on Thursday.
UN refugee chief Filippo Grandi emphasized that conflict remains a significant driver of mass displacement, with crises in Gaza, Sudan, and Myanmar forcing more people to flee their homes. The global displaced population is now equivalent to that of Japan.
Grandi expressed his shock at the high displacement figure, which has more than doubled since he took office eight years ago. He attributed the increase to a combination of new and mutating crises, climate change, and a failure to resolve long-standing conflicts.
“The way conflicts are conducted, in complete disregard of international law, and often with the specific purpose of terrorizing people, is a powerful contributor to more displacement,” Grandi said.
Read also: ‘Traitors like you should keep quiet,’ Nigerians roast Okupe over ‘Tinubu fall’ comment
The UNHCR report revealed that 68.3 million people were internally displaced within their own country, while 43.4 million refugees and others needed international protection. Grandi noted that 75% of refugees are hosted in low- and middle-income countries, contrary to the perception that they all go to wealthy countries.
Sudan’s civil war has significantly contributed to the rising numbers, displacing over nine million people, with nearly 11 million Sudanese uprooted by the end of 2023. Grandi highlighted the devastating situation in Chad, which has received 600,000 Sudanese refugees in the past 14 months.
Other countries with significant displacement crises include the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, Gaza, and Ukraine. Syria remains the world’s largest displacement crisis, with 13.8 million people forcibly displaced inside and outside the country.
Grandi acknowledged that the trend is unlikely to change without a shift in international geopolitics, and the figure may continue to rise. The UNHCR report emphasizes the need for international action to address the root causes of displacement and support those affected by conflicts and persecution.
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Blackout in Borno as vandals bomb TCN transmission towers
The Transmission Company of Nigeria has stated that two of its towers, T193 and T194, along the Damaturu -Maiduguri 330 Kilo Volt (KV Single Circuit) transmission lines have again been destroyed by vandals.
The General Manager of Public Affairs, TCN, Ndidi Mbah, said this in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to Mbah, the incident happened at about 10:15 p.m. on Tuesday, when the 150 Mega Volt Ampere power transformer at Molai Substation tripped.
She said the tripping happened at the same time as the 330kV transmission line supplying bulk power to Maiduguri from Damaturu Transmission Substation.
“After the line tripping, efforts were made by TCN engineers to close the Mulai – Damaturu line to enable bulk transmission of electricity, which failed repeatedly.
“Early today, TCN lines engineers along with security operatives patrolled the line and discovered that towers 193 and 194 along the 330kV transmission line were brought down using an explosive device, whose fragments are scattered at the site of the incident.
“The area affected by this incident is Maiduguri and its environs, ” she said.
Mbah recalled that on December 28, 2023, towers T193, T194 and T195, were destroyed using similar improvised explosives.
She said that two out of the towers in question were the towers affected by Tuesday’s vandalism attack, which were rebuilt after that incident.
According to her, TCN is currently assessing the situation to decide the best approach to ensuring temporary restoration of the power supply while a contractor is mobilised to rebuild the two transmission towers.
“We will continue to do everything possible with the assistance of security operatives to protect our transmission towers.
“We are also calling upon the government and well-meaning Nigerians to join in the fight against the destruction of our collective national assets, ”she said.
NAN
EFCC bungles arraignment of Yahaya Bello, court picks June 27 as new date
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday abandoned its earlier request for a change in the date for arraignment of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, from June 13 to June 27, without informing the defendant’s lawyers.
A new date, June 27, had been reportedly fixed for hearing in the alleged money laundering case instituted by EFCC against Bello, at the instance of the anti-graft agency’s lawyers.
At the resumed hearing on Thursday, counsel to Bello, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, told the court that the EFCC lawyers approached Aliyu AbdulWahab, SAN, who is the counsel for the defendant, that the June 13 date would not be convenient for them to proceed and that Wahab had to agree by way of convenience for another date to be set.
He said he was surprised when he heard that EFCC lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo was in court.
“They (EFCC) agreed that junior counsel would be sent to court today to formally pick a date. And the registry can confirm this,” Adedipe said.
“Kemi Pinhero, SAN, has been calling us to say today is not convenient,” he added. Kemi Pinhero is the lead counsel.
But for the decision of the EFCC to seek an adjournment to a future date for his arraignment, Bello was said to be ready to appear in court on Thursday.
“Under 266 ACJA there are instances when defendants don’t need to come and this is one of them.
“We came here to pick a date. Of what use will the defendant coming here be? It is the prosecuting counsel that approached us, we did not approach them. We have nothing to hide,” Adedipe noted.
Meanwhile, the court has fixed June 27 as new date for the arraignment.
EFCC bungles arraignment of Yahaya Bello, court picks June 27 as new date
‘Traitors like you should keep quiet,’ Nigerians roast Okupe over ‘Tinubu fall’ comment
Social media users have told former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Doyin Okupe, that he has no moral authority to chastise Nigerians for mocking President Bola Tinubu over his misstep at the Eagles Square during the Democracy Day celebration on Wednesday.
In the past few weeks, Okupe who was the Director-General of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council in the 2023 presidential election, has suddenly become an advocate for Tinubu to the extent of describing the President as Jesus Christ sent to rescue Nigeria.
In another recent interview, Okupe was quoted as saying that Tinubu was the best candidate for the presidential election, even ahead of Peter Obi whom he was projecting for the election.
After a video of Tinubu missing a step while climbing the parade vehicle had gone viral with many Nigerians making a joke out of it, Okupe took to his X account to castigate those who found the fall funny, describing Nigeria as a theater of the absurd in the post.
“Nigeria has become a theater of d absurd. D President “trips” at a function & all discussions go pedestrian. Everyone on social media including people of high networth disgracefuly joined d fray. D import of d President’s speech was lost in d show of shame. Its Politics taken too far.”
Nigeria has become a theater of d absurd.D President "trips" at a function & all discussions go pedestrian.Everyone on social media including people of high networth disgracefuly joined d fray.D import of d President's speech was lost in d show of shame.Its Politics taken too far
— Doyin (@doyinokupe) June 12, 2024
Okupe’s post and admonition however incurred the wrath of Netizens who accused him of being a traitor and modern day Judas Iscariot who is trying to gain favour from Tinubu.
READ ALSO:For Peter Obi, others Labour Party was ’a means to an end’ —Okupe
Read some of the comments below:
@KelvinAlaneme: “You are the absurdity! A walking, talking cynosure of shame. And yes, no one gives a hoot about what you have to say because you’ve shown yourself bereft of common sense and a slave to your stomach. People are out here dying of hunger and you are interested in a fall? Ridiculous!”
You are the absurdity! A walking, talking cynosure of shame. And yes, no one gives a hoot about what you have to say because you’ve shown yourself bereft of common sense and a slave to your stomach. People are out here dying of hunger and you are interested in a fall? Ridiculous!
— Dr. Kelvin Alaneme (@kelvin_alaneme) June 12, 2024
@Adel_Cares: “It has become that way because men like you who are supposed to be a role model to the younger generations now lie to us on a daily basis.
So what do we get when there are no people left to uphold our moral standards as people. You can’t plant corn and harvest yam.”
It has become that way because men like you who are supposed to be a role model to the younger generations now lie to us on a daily basis.
So what do we get when there are no people left to uphold our moral standards as people.
You can't plant corn and harvest yam.
— A little kindness (@addel_cares) June 12, 2024
@CharlesFemi9: “You don’t Even have the right to talk about morals Mr Holy Pass. Anywhere belle face na road, person wey fit chop inside gutter dey talk about neatness. Judas Iscariot Is far better than you snitch. Make Tinubu summersault tomorrow we go still laugh, make thunder fire emotion.”
You don't Even have the right to talk about morals Mr Holy Pass Any where Belle face na road, person wey fit chop inside gutter dey talk about Neatness, Judas Iscariot Is far Better than you Snitch, Make Tinubu Summersault tomorrow we go still Laugh, make Thunder fire Emotion
— Oladokun C. OluwaFemi ……. BIG MhyKhy JharGhar (@charlesfemi9) June 12, 2024
@MercyEgbai: “Posterity will always remember as a man a betrayal and sell out, you are not in anyway better than anyone who made fun of fall of the president.
Have you bothered about how Nigerians are surviving in this harsh economy? That SA you so desire may not even reach you.
Posterity will always remember as a man a betrayal and sell out, you are not in anyway better than anyone who made fun of fall of the president.
Have you bothered about how Nigerians are surviving in this harsh economy?
That SA you so desire may not even reach you.
— Optician-M (@MercyEgbai) June 12, 2024
@DasIjaiye: “Sir, have you so much lost it that you now post using so many absurdly abbreviated words?
I thought it was a parody account until I took a second look. Well, maybe you are so desperate to defend your new boss. Many things have changed about you.”
Sir, have you so much lost it that you now post using so many absurdly abbreviated words?
I thought it was a parody account until I took a second look. Well, maybe you are so desperate to defend your new boss.
Many things have changed about you.
— Dapsie (@Dapsijaiye) June 12, 2024
@AbdulOzzy01: “With due respect Ogbeni keep quiet nobody takes a backstabber serious, you betrayed well meaning Nigerians so shut up.”
With due respect Ogbeni keep quiet nobody takes a backstabber serious, you betrayed well meaning Nigerians so shut up
— Abdulozzy (@abdulozzy01) June 12, 2024
@Udoh_D: “Chief, you for overlook this one…
Even Judas took a step back & reasoned what he did and saw it wasn’t good…so he hanged himself in shame.”
Chief, you for overlook this one…Even Judas took a step back & reasoned what he did and saw it wasn't good…so he hanged himself in shame
— Dr. D. Udoh (@Udoh_D) June 12, 2024
@Classact: “Doyin, unless you are just looking for a way to add to the show of shame by this tweet, can you please give us a rundown of the president’s speech that really made sense.”
Doyin, unless you are just looking for a way to add to the show of shame by this tweet , can you please give us a rundown of the president's speech that really made sense.
— el (@ClassAct_) June 12, 2024
@NDrAgwoTurumbe: “Daniel and Reno twerked and got nothing. You started twerking this late. What moral ground do you stand on to tell Nigerians what they should talk about on social media?”
Daniel and Reno twerked and got nothing.
You started twerking this late.
What moral ground do you stand on to tell Nigerians what they should talk about on social media?
— Dr. A. TuruMbe (@NDrAgwoTurumbe) June 12, 2024
@Lord_OboteAyo: “Jokes on you, no one was interested in the speech, we just wanted some comic relief for the hard times.”
jokes on you, no one was interested in the speech, we just wanted some comic relief for the hard times.
— TheWatcher (@lord_OboteAyo) June 12, 2024
@Innomside: “Hunger no be anybody mate at all. Before going into politics, make sure you have a sound career so that you can stand for something and not stand for everything.”
Hunger no be anybody mate at all. Before going into politics, make sure you have a sound career so that you can stand for something and not stand for everything
— Voices (@innomside) June 12, 2024
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Banditry: I don’t have control of security in Zamfara – Gov Lawal
Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has lamented over his inability to control the security architecture in the state.
Lawal said he has no control over heads of security agencies in the state, stressing that they take directives from their superiors.
Speaking during a town hall meeting to mark Nigeria’s 25th Democracy Day in Abuja on Wednesday, the governor decried the activities of bandits in the state.
According to Lawal: “By name, I am the chief security officer of my state but when it comes to command and control, I don’t have control over any of the security outfit whether the military, the police or civil defence.
“They take their instructions from their superiors not from the governors. We don’t have that control, I wish we do have, it would have been a different story.”
He said the security situation in the state has not improved owing to what he described as political interference.
According to the governor, the security agencies have all it takes to crush criminal elements across the country, if they have the political will.
Banditry: I don’t have control of security in Zamfara – Gov Lawal
Nigeria records 1,141 cholera cases, 30 deaths in six months — NCDC
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday warned the public of the increasing trend of cholera cases across the country as the rainy season intensifies.
The NCDC, in a statement signed by its Director General, Dr Jide Idris, said from January 1st to June 11th, 2024, a total of 1,141 suspected and 65 confirmed cases of cholera with 30 deaths have been reported from 96 LGAs in 30 states.
The centre noted that the 10 states that contributed 90 to the burden of cholera include Bayelsa, Zamfara, Abia, Cross River, Bauchi, Delta, Katsina, Imo, Nasarawa, and Lagos states.
It, however, stated that a multi-sectoral National Cholera Technical Working Group, led by the centre and comprising the Federal Ministries of Environment and Water Resources, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, the World Health Organisation, the United Nations Children’s Fund, and other partners, has been providing support to the affected states.
“This support includes risk communication, active case search, laboratory diagnosis, case management, provision of response commodities, water sanitation and hygiene interventions, and dissemination of Cholera awareness jingles in English and local languages,” it said.
Cholera is a food and water-borne disease, caused by the ingestion of the organism Vibrio cholerae in contaminated water and food. Water is usually contaminated by the faeces of infected individuals.
Contamination of drinking water can occur at the source, during transportation, or storage at home. Food may be contaminated by soiled hands, either during preparation or while eating.
“Beverages prepared with contaminated water and sold by street vendors, ice, and even commercial bottled water have been implicated as vehicles of transmission, as have cooked vegetables and fruits freshened with untreated wastewater.
“The time between infection and the appearance of symptoms is two hours to five days. It has a higher risk of transmission in areas that lack adequate sanitation facilities and a regular supply of clean water. Unsafe practices such as improper disposal of refuse and open defecation endanger the safety of water used for drinking and personal use,” NCDC highlighted.
Symptoms of cholera include acute profuse, painless watery diarrhoea (rice water stools) of sudden onset, with or without vomiting. It may be associated with nausea, profuse vomiting, and fever. Severe cases can lead to death within hours due to dehydration (massive body fluid loss). However, most infected people (about 80 per cent) may only show mild symptoms or have no symptoms at all.
The agency noted that people most at risk of cholera are people of all ages living in places with limited access to clean water, people living in areas with poor sanitation and poor hygiene, people living in slum areas where basic water or sanitation infrastructure is missing, people living in rural areas who depend on surface water or unsafe piped or borehole well water sources for drinking, and people who consume potentially contaminated food or fruits without washing and cooking properly.
Others are people who do not perform hand hygiene at appropriate times, man-made or natural disasters like floods resulting in population movements and overcrowded refugee camps, relatives who care for sick people with cholera at home, healthcare workers including doctors, nurses, and other health workers who provide direct patient care in the absence of standard precautions.
It also said the disease is easily treatable if detected early as most infected people can be treated successfully through prompt administration of oral rehydration solution, to replace lost fluids and electrolytes, and appropriate antibiotics.
NCDC informed that cholera can be prevented by ensuring access to safe, potable drinking water; proper sanitation and waste disposal; and appropriate hygiene including handwashing.
To reduce the risk of cholera, the NCDC advised the public to ensure that water is boiled and stored in a clean and covered container before drinking, and to practice good personal hand hygiene by washing your hands frequently with soap under clean running water, using alcohol-based hand sanitiser if soap and clean water are not available.
It also advised ensuring that food is well cooked before consumption, protecting food and water against contamination by flies and unsanitary handling; reheating leftover foods before ingestion, avoiding open defecation, indiscriminate refuse dumping, and proper disposal of waste and frequent clearing of sewage.
It advised healthcare workers to practice standard safety precautions and intensify surveillance efforts to report suspected cholera cases.
NCDC also urged the state governments to prioritise action for solutions that ensure access to and use of safe water, basic sanitation, and proper hygiene practices in communities.
“As the NCDC continues to work with partners to lead the health-sector response to cholera outbreaks, we call for an urgent improvement in access to clean water, proper sanitation, and hygiene,” it added.
Amid liquidation fears, CIBN assures of Nigerian banks safety, resilience
Following the revocation of the operating license of Heritage Bank Plc and the lingering worries on the health of other four banks in the country, the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), on Wednesday, reassured Nigerians that the banking system remained “safe, sound and resilient”.
President of the institute, Prof. Pius Olanrewaju, gave the reassurance in a statement in Lagos to allay misinformation and “fake news” that the licences of more banks will be revoked by the Apex bank.
He emphasised the importance of clarifying rumours that additional bank licenses would be revoked following the regulatory action taken by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) against Heritage Bank Plc on June 3.
“We would like to allay the fears of bank customers and the general public that the assertion is false and misleading.
READ ALSO:CBN pegs capital base for Nigerian banks at N500bn
“The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) have debunked the claim,” he stated.
He added that the ongoing recapitalisation process announced by the CBN aims to further strengthen the resilience of banks and their capacity to support the growth of the Nigerian economy.
“Consequently, we urge the public to continue conducting their banking services without hesitation or apprehension,” Mr Olanrewaju said.
According to him, CIBN is committed to promoting best practices and ensuring that the sector remains safe and sound in collaboration with other stakeholders in the ecosystem.
By: Babajide Okeowo
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