Democratic Republic of Congo’s health minister on Wednesday announced the end of an Ebola outbreak in the west of the country that infected 130 people and killed 55 since the first cases emerged in June.
‘My friend Umahi wants to be president’ — Wike
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has said the defection of his Ebonyi State counterpart, David Umahi did not come to him as a surprise adding that the governor had been fraternizing with members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for some time before he eventually jumped ship.
The Rivers State governor, however, faulted Umahi’s claim of injustice meted out to the people from the South-East zone for leaving the Peoples Democratic Party noting that the Ebonyi governor defected to the APC to pursue a presidential bid.
Wike said this in a statement by his Special Assistant (Media), Kelvin Ebiri, on Monday
Umahi had, at a media briefing in Abakaliki on Tuesday, said his decision to dump the Peoples Democratic Party, was premised on his conviction that the All Progressives Congress was more amenable to working in the interest of the South East zone.
Umahi, explained that he was leaving the PDP because of the injustice meted out to the people of the zone despite several years of loyalty.
Wike said, “My friend, Umahi wants to be president. There is no problem about that. You have a right to be president. Nobody can stop you. You are educated. You have been a governor for two terms, so you are qualified to say I want to be president of Nigeria.
“My reaction to Governor Umahi’s defection is not that he has no right to defect, but to say he is defecting because of injustice meted to the South-East that is insulting to the South-East.”
While demanding that Umahi should retract his alleged false claims against the PDP, Wike argued that under the PDP, the South-East had over the years produced Senate Presidents; National Vice Chairman of the PDP and Secretary to the Federal Government.
He urged the PDP National Working Committee and the National Executive Committee to take decisive steps to ensure that PDP does not die in Ebonyi State.
But Umahi had equally dismissed speculations that he was dumping the PDP to pursue a presidential ambition.
Umahi said, “I have been a successful governor for two terms and a successful business man in business, where I also have a calling.
“I am not driven by selfish interests but because we need to protest against marginalisation. We have benefited more from the APC government. I didn’t start this protest today. I have no regrets. In life, you have to be courageous.
“The South-East has remained faithful to PDP, voted for its candidates yet had not been considered fairly in Nigerian polity. The APC is amenable working for the South-East zone than the PDP.”
The governor also faulted claims made by the Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Senator Walid Jubrin, that the South-East never requested for the party’s presidential ticket.
Umahi saud contrary to Jibrin’s claims, over 50 organisations, the Ebonyi Assembly, as well as the PDP State Working Committee had demanded that the position should be zoned to the South-East.
According to him, the quest for the emergence of a President of Igbo extraction come 2023, was in the interest of Nigeria’s peace and progress.
We’re verifying alleged abduction of 12 officers — NPF
The Nigeria Police Force on Tuesday said that the reported abduction of 12 police officers on an official assignment by gunmen, is being verified.
The officers, who are of the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), were said to be on their way to Zamfara from Borno to conduct a special operation when the kidnappers waylaid them.
The kidnappers were said to have demanded a N10 million ransom.
But the Force Headquarters said that it is making efforts to verify the kidnap claim while the Borno State Police Command denied that any officer was missing from the command.
A BBC report said the abduction took place 12 days ago but came to light yesterday.
A wife of one of the kidnapped officers said she did not hear from her husband for three days and decided to seek further information from a police barracks in Borno where she learnt about the abduction.
She was quoted as saying that her husband later called and asked her to raise ransom money by selling their home.
“He called me on Wednesday and told me that he was in the hands of the kidnappers,” she said.
She stated that her husband told her that if she failed to raise at least N1 million, “there will be trouble.”
She added that a police officer subsequently called her to request that she should raise N800, 000 for his release.
“I can’t tell you that I have any other information. We are in a state of frustration,” she said.
But the Force Headquarters said it is verifying the kidnap claim.
“We are aware but we are trying to verify that the kidnap took place,” Deputy Force Public Relations Officer and Chief Superintendent of Police, Mr Aremu Adeniran, said.
PDP wishes Umahi well, dissolves Ebonyi Exco
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has wished Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, well following his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The party, in a statement by National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, on Tuesday, also dissolved the state’s executive committees as well as the South-East Zonal Caretaker Committee.
Ologbondiyan said: “The PDP says that the Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. Dave Umahi, left our party for personal reasons, which Nigerians will come to know at the fullness of time.
“Our party thanks Governor Umahi for services rendered to the people of Ebonyi State, as the State Chairman of Ebonyi PDP (2003 to 2007); deputy governor of Ebonyi State (2007 to 2015) and two-term governor of Ebonyi (2015 till date), all elected on the platform of the PDP.
“As we wish Governor Umahi all the best in his adventure, we call on the members of our party to remain calm and committed to the ideals of our party as no individual is bigger than the PDP.”
He added, “The National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP rose from a crucial meeting today (November 17, 2020) and announced the dissolution of the ward, local government and state executive committees of the Ebonyi state chapter of the party forthwith.
“The NWC has also dissolved the Southeast Zonal Caretaker Committee of the party.
“These decisions are pursuant to the powers conferred on the NWC by the PDP Constitution.”
No hope of ending strike — ASUU
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has said that there is no hope in sight to suspend its lingering strike due to alleged lack of sincerity by the Federal Government
ASUU, Abuja zonal coordinator Prof. Theophilus Lagi disclosed this at a news conference on Tuesday in Gwagwalada.
The zone comprises the Federal University of Technology, Minna; Nasarawa State University, Keffi; Ibrahim Babangida University, Lapai; Federal University of Lafia, and the University of Abuja.
Lagi said the strike had lingered for several months as the government had yet to show any serious commitment or willingness towards addressing the union’s core demands for students to resume studies.
According to him, members of the union have been advised to seek other legitimate means of survival as the government has not released salaries withheld since February 2020.
“Today, we wish to let Nigerians especially our students and parents know that there is no hope in sight to ending or suspending the ASUU strike that lingered for long.
“Government is yet to show serious commitment towards addressing our core demands.
“One needs not to be a psychologist to understand the behavior and recent utterances of the minister of labour and employment Dr Chris Ngige by showing his disdain for Nigerian academics and has failed to play the role of an unbiased umpire in moderating the imbroglio.
“He has now become the spokesperson to the accountant general of the federation and ministry of finance, instead of finding solution for lecturers to get back to work.
“He is turning the wheel of progress backward by setting ASUU on collision with other pressure groups in the university.
“In the past few weeks for instance, Ngige has said one thing when he met with the Union and a different thing on the same subject in an interview with the media.
“This double character of a minister and a purported negotiator in the face-off should be a source of worry to not only Nigerian students but parents who patronise public universities.
“On this, we will like to educate the honorable minister that public universities in Nigeria are creatures of law as each University is established by an Act enacted by the National Assembly,” he said.
Lagi maintained that in spite of agitations with comprehensive and indefinite strike to compel the federal government to address its core demands, government had not shown any commitment.
He, however, called on the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, payment and mainstreaming of earned academic allowances into salaries, release of funds for revitalisation of the Nigerian university system among others.
The coordinator condemned the event at Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) where the authority allegedly invited the military to assist in the conduct of the 2019/2020 first semester examinations.
“Another bizarre turn of events is unfolding at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) where a letter written by the Ag. Registrar, Barr. TM Ikpenwa on 12th November 2020 inviting the 103 Battalion of the Nigerian Army to assist in the organisation and conduct of the 2019/2020 First semester Examinations.
“Such involvement of the military crack team in a normal University function is primitive and height of insult and lack of regard to the Academia in Nigeria.
“The union wishes to call on the authorities at ESUT to refrain from the ugly trend because we do not want a repeat of 1976 in Nigerian universities,” he said.
He described the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) as better suited in the University system, as it recognised all agreements entered into between government and university-based trade unions.
Ladi noted that the UTAS platform ensured simultaneous payments of employees’ salaries and third-party deductions like tax, pension, Union dues, cooperatives and bank loans.
Buhari is my ‘friend and father’ — Umahi
Following his defection to the All Progressive Congress (APC), Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has described President Muhammadu Buhari as his friend and father.
Mr Umahi made the declaration on Tuesday in Abakaliki while confirming his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.
He added that he was ready to be a martyr who will be sacrificed to achieve the much-sought Igbo presidency.
“I have to lead the protest against the marginalisation of the Igbo by the PDP and I don’t have to consult anybody to lead such a protest.
“I don’t want the PDP to collapse in the southeast but it can collapse itself in the zone if it does not heed to the peoples’ advice to entrench justice, fairness and equity.
“The PDP should be bold to declare its stand on zoning of the presidency to the southeast and if it cannot, should tell us why we are not capable of holding such a position but will come for our votes during elections,” he said.
Umahi said that the decision to leave PDP was not about leadership but about patriotism, justice, fairness and the overall interest of the people.
“I am not vying for any position in the APC so anybody who does not like me over the defection will be fighting the air.
“I will instead play the fatherly role of guiding anyone who wants to vie for any position because it is a waste of time for any governor to seek to replace himself.
“When you are looking for everybody to be loyal to you in politics, you might not get to your destination because destinations are not straight but full of obstacles,” he said.
Umahi said that he will not be disturbed if the APC fails to zone the presidency to the southeast but will depend on God to determine the matter.
“The APC, however, appears to be amenable towards working with the southeast even though the southeast never supported it the way it supported the PDP since 1999.
“We would be 24 years with the PDP by 2023 and Ebonyi, under my administration, will testify the numerous feats we have attained with the support of my friend and father President Muhammadu Buhari,” he said.
He said that his defection has created a political gathering and mass movement, unprecedented in Ebonyi history with both PDP and APC faithful coming together to pursue a common cause.
“I will have no regrets if our agitations are not met in APC as it will be on record that a governor was sacrificed for the betterment of his people on what is rightfully their due.
“We will still protest if we are still unfairly treated in the APC because protest is the beauty of democracy and if it doesn’t work now, it can work in the future,” he said.
Trump fires security official who disputed election fraud claims
Chris Krebs, one of the most senior cybersecurity officials in the U.S. government, has been fired.
Krebs served as the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) since its founding in November 2018 until he was removed from his position on Tuesday. It’s not immediately clear who is currently heading the agency. A spokesperson for CISA did not immediately comment.
President Trump fired Krebs in a tweet late on Tuesday, citing a statement published by CISA last week, which found there was “no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes, changed votes, or was in any way compromised.” Trump, who has repeatedly made claims of voter fraud without providing evidence, alleged that CISA’s statement was “highly inaccurate.”
Shortly after, Twitter labelled Trump’s tweet for making a “disputed” claim about election fraud.
Reuters first reported the news of Krebs’ potential firing last week.
Krebs was appointed by President Trump to head the newly created cybersecurity agency in November 2018, just days after the conclusion of the midterm elections. He previously served as an undersecretary for CISA’s predecessor, the National Protection and Programs Directorate, and also held cybersecurity policy roles at Microsoft.
During his time in government, Krebs became one of the most vocal voices in election security, taking the lead during 2018 and in 2020, which largely escaped from disruptive cyberattacks, thanks to efforts to prepare for cyberattacks and misinformation that plagued the 2016 presidential election.
He was “one of the few people in this administration respected by everyone on both sides of the aisle,” said Sen. Mark Warner, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, in a tweet.
Krebs is the latest official to leave CISA in the past year. Brian Harrell, who oversaw infrastructure protection at the agency, resigned in August after less than a year on the job, and Jeanette Manfra left for a role at Google at the end of last year. Cyberscoop reported Thursday that Bryan Ware, CISA’s assistant director for cybersecurity, resigned for a position in the private sector.
Trump fires US election security official who rejected fraud claims
Outgoing US President Donald Trump on Tuesday fired the director of the federal agency that vouched for the reliability of the 2020 election.
Trump fired Christopher Krebs in a tweet, saying his recent statement defending the security of the election was “highly inaccurate.”
The firing of Krebs, a Trump appointee and director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, comes as Trump is refusing to recognize the victory of Democratic President-elect Joe Biden and removing high-level officials seen as insufficiently loyal. He fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper on November 9, part of a broader shakeup that put Trump loyalists in senior Pentagon positions.
Krebs, a former Microsoft executive, ran the agency, known as CISA, from its creation in the wake of Russian interference with the 2016 election through the November election. He won bipartisan praise as CISA coordinated federal state and local efforts to defend electoral systems from foreign or domestic interference.
In recent days, Krebs has repeatedly pushed back against false claims that the election was tainted. Earlier Tuesday, he tweeted out a report citing 59 election security experts saying there is no credible evidence of computer fraud in the 2020 election outcome.
I will not allow EndSARS protests again — Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari says he will do whatever it takes to ensure that there is no repeat of EndSARS protests in Nigeria again.
The Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammad Dingyadi, quoted the president to have said this during the meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) at the State House, Abuja, on Tuesday.
He said the president reassured that the Federal Government would continue to dialogue with relevant “stakeholders” in ensuring peaceful and harmonious socio-economic environment across the country.
“What we are saying is that government will continue to dialogue, it will continue to listen and will continue to carry all stakeholders along in ensuring that there is no repeat of what happened that destroyed a lot of property, public and private, individuals in this country,’’ the minister quoted the president to have said.
The #EndSARS protests started in October with the demand for the disbandment of SARS, a police unit accused of extrajudicial killings and other abuses.
The protests continued after the government announced the dissolution of the unit, with campaigners insisting the measure be implemented. The protests subsided after soldiers shot at demonstrators at the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos.
Mr Dingyadi said the NSC meeting on Tuesday was convened to brief the president about the security situation in the country.
He said the meeting stressed the need to pay greater attention to the police in the discharge of their functions to maintain peace in the country, in the areas of equipment and modern technology.
According to the minister, the president thanked members of the Council for their efforts in maintaining peace and assured them that he will do whatever it takes to support security agencies in providing peace in the country.
He added: “The meeting noted with concern the increasing cases of armed banditry particularly in the North-West and North Eastern parts of the country.
“The meeting agreed to be more proactive in dealing with the situation in a more decisive manner.
“The meeting thanked the president for the concern which he has shown in repositioning the police to perform more effectively.
“President reassured that all stakeholders will be involved in the process of maintaining peace in the country, particularly the youth, community leaders, traditional rulers, politicians, public servants, religious leaders etc.’’
The minister said the federal government would continue to maintain its “bureaucratic, humane and just postures” in handling security matters in the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that those in attendance at the meeting included the Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha; Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.
Others in attendance were; Ministers of Defence, Bashir Salihi Mahashi; Interior, Rauf Aregbesola; Foreign Affairs, Geoffery Onyeama and Police Affairs, Muhammad Dingyadi.
Service chiefs in attendance included the Chief of Defence Staff, Gabriel Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok Ekwe Ibas and the Chief of Air Staff, Sadique Abubakar.
Other members of the security community who attended the meeting were; Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu; Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufa’i and the Director-General of the Directorate of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Bichi.
(NAN)
Presidency boycotts meeting with Wike, Obaseki, others in Port Harcourt
The Presidency on Tuesday boycotted a stakeholders’ meeting scheduled in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
It was gathered that the meeting was convened at the instance of the Chief of Staff to the President Ibrahim Gambari to discuss the emerging threats to peace in the Niger Delta region.
The six governors from the south-south geopolitical zone including Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki have expressed dissatisfaction with the Presidency for failing to attend the meeting.
An aide to one of the governors said all the governors from the zone were already at the Government House, Port Harcourt when they got news the conveners of the meeting could no longer be in attendance.
“This meeting was called off few hours to the time. They gave the excuse that President Muhammadu Buhari was holding a security meeting and the Inspector-General of Police would not be coming. They said Gambari and other presidential officials were encumbered by the security meeting,” the aide told The Nation.
The aide also said the people of the region demanded a public apology from the Presidency over the incident.
QED