The ongoing protest against widespread hunger and scarcity of essential commodities across the country resumed on Wednesday in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.
This is coming a few days after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu addressed Nigerians in a national broadcast.
Tinubu, on Sunday during the national broadcast said that he had heard the messages of the protesters loud and clear.
Our correspondent however reports that a group of protesters assembled at the front of the University of Ibadan to continue with the protest on Wednesday.
The protesters who are mainly human rights activists and youths were seen around the main gate of the university Wednesday morning.
The protesters carried different placards to communicate their demands to the public.
A spokesman for the protesters, Solomon Emiola who spoke with TVN notes that the protesters resumed the protests because the national broadcast failed to address the yearnings of Nigerians.
Emiola said, “We are protesting because the President failed to address the needs of the Nigerian masses. He has failed to address the needs of the people.
“He said all the demands of the people, the solution to it is rice palliative. And we are tired of eating rice. A bag of rice now is ninety thousand naira.
“I as a person, don’t have a piece of rice in my house now, not to talk of having a congo or rice. That means we Nigerians, we are suffering.
“And with the high cost of living, we cannot go to school because the tuition fees have increased. The tuition fees are above minimum wage, where do they want us to see it?
“No employment, insecurity is there, all the problems keep ravaging and our president said he is not ready to address it”.
EndBadGovernance: Protest resumes in Ibadan despite Tinubu’s broadcast
EndBadGovernance: Protest resumes in Ibadan despite Tinubu’s broadcast
Delta gov seeks prayers amidst challenges
The Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has assured that his administration is committed to improving the security of lives and property in the state.
This is as he called Deltans to continue to pray for the government while they continue to serve the people.
Oborevwori noted that the security of lives and property remained the primary purpose of government, as he called for more prayers to enable the administration to resolve some of the challenges bedevilling the state.
The governor disclosed this when he received the State Executive of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, led by the state Chairman, Kingsley Enakhireri at the Government House, Asaba, the state capital, on Wednesday.
Oborevwori said, “On the issue of security, we are doing our best. Section 14 (2b) of the 1999 Constitution states that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government, and we are doing that. We want to assure Deltans that this is just a phase and it will come and go. Continue to pray for us while we will continue to serve the people.
“I want to thank the PFN for the role it played during these trying times of a national protest. We can see that the state is peaceful. People were expecting violence like the way it was during the #EndSARS.
“But our fathers of faith prayed and all of us also resolved that we do not need crisis in Delta State. We are all working together. Today is the seventh day of the protest and you can see the state is peaceful. People are going about their normal businesses.”
The governor stated further that, “Civil Society Organisations and other groups understand and said this time, they are not going to protest. They know that if they go into it, people will hijack it. So, people should not come to take glory. We return the glory to God Almighty.
“Some of these people talking do not even stay in the state, they don’t know what is happening.”
Earlier, Enakhireri said the visit was necessary to pledge their unalloyed and unflinching support to Oborevwori’s administration and appreciate him for his wisdom in managing the affairs of the state
Egypt’s Assar leapfrogs Nigeria’s Aruna in rankings after Olympics feat
In a remarkable turn of events, Egypt’s Omar Assar’s performance at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games has catapulted him up the world table tennis rankings.
The Egyptian star moved up five places to secure the 17th spot in the ITTF Ranking, as announced on Tuesday, August 6, during Week 32 of 2024.
This shift has placed Assar at the pinnacle of African table tennis, surpassing Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna, who now occupies the 20th place.
Despite a disappointing 4-1 loss to Sweden’s Truls Moregard in the Men’s Singles quarterfinal, Assar has set a new African record by reaching consecutive quarterfinals in the Olympics, matching Nigeria’s Aruna’s feat from Rio 2016 at Tokyo 2020.
Read Also: Aruna rises to 16th best table tennis player in world
Senegal’s Ibrahima Diaw, despite an early exit, climbed six places to 83rd. Olajide Omotayo, the 2019 African Games champion, leaped 12 places to 92nd, becoming the second-best mover in Africa.
Nigeria-born Saheed Idowu, representing Congo Brazzaville, lost a thrilling 4-3 match to Sweden’s Anton Kallberg but won the hearts of many, moving up 16 places to the 100th spot.
Egypt’s Dina Meshref continues to dominate the African rankings, ascending two places to 24th, while Hana Goda also made gains, moving up to 31st. Nigeria’s Offiong Edem re-entered the top 100, climbing 14 places to 97th.
The retired Cameroonian star Sarah Hanffou concluded her career ranked 109th, and Nigeria’s Fatimo Bello made a significant jump of 26 places to 118th in the latest rankings.
These movements reflect the dynamic and competitive nature of African table tennis, showcasing the talent and resilience of its players on the global stage.
The post Egypt’s Assar leapfrogs Nigeria’s Aruna in rankings after Olympics feat appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.
Aisha Yesufu mocks Tinubu over insinuations North is plotting against him for being a Southern President
Political activist, Aisha Yesufu, has derided assertions from the presidency that the North is plotting against President Bola Tinubu because he is a Southern president.
Following violence that erupted in some parts of the North during the EndBadGovernance protest, the Presidency had insinuated that Northerners are angry that Tinubu is not from their region and are plotting with the help of foreign influence to overthrow Tinubu’s government.
But in a post on X on Wednesday, the co-convener of the BringBackOurGirls advocacy group, said the assertions were far from the reality on ground.
She noted that during the run up to the 2023 election, the North did everything possible to promote Tinubu despite the fact that he and his then running mate, Kashim Shettima were running on a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
“The North carried Tinubu on their head with Muslim Muslim ticket and even Mallams from the North said some of us are not Muslims for not supporting Tinubu,” she said.
“One even said it is Islam that would have fallen not Tinubu if Tinubu doesn’t win.
“That is the same North you are saying is plotting against Tinubu because he is a Southern President.
I laugh in Etsako
#Ovevekuve
The North Carried Tinubu on their head with Muslim Muslim ticket and even Mallams from the North said some of us are not Muslims for not supporting Tinubu. One even said it is Islam that would have fallen not Tinubu if Tinubu doesn't win.
That is the same North you are saying is…
— Aisha Yesufu (@AishaYesufu) August 7, 2024
In another post captured on video, Yesufu said:
“Tinubu That Fought Southern Presidents Viciously Now Using Propaganda Of North Only Stand Up To Southern Presidents.
I laugh in Etsako!”
Tinubu That Fought Southern Presidents Viciously Now Using Propaganda Of North Only Stand Up To Southern Presidents. I laugh in Etsako! pic.twitter.com/VTCUohVOXW
— Aisha Yesufu (@AishaYesufu) August 7, 2024
The post Aisha Yesufu mocks Tinubu over insinuations North is plotting against him for being a Southern President appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.
24-hour curfew still in place in Kaduna, Zaria cities – Commissioner
The 24-hour curfew imposed on Kaduna and Zaria cities is still in place, the Kaduna Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan has said.
A statement issued by the commissioner on Wednesday still advised to abide strictly by the order.
According to Aruwan, “the Kaduna State Security Council has not reviewed the 24-hour curfew imposed on Kaduna and Zaria towns and their environs.”
The statement explained that the 24-hour curfew remains in place and is being actively enforced by security agencies, contrary to insinuations that it has been reviewed.
The statement added that citizens are enjoined to observe the curfew strictly and to shun rumours or unverified reports.
The Commissioner explained that reliable and accurate updates would be duly communicated to the public through official channels.
24-hour curfew still in place in Kaduna, Zaria cities – Commissioner
Police break kidnapping ring, arrest suspect in Kaduna
A notorious kidnapper, identified as Abdulrahman, has been arrested by the Kaduna State Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit.
The suspect, who hails from Karshi, Abuja, was apprehended with an AK-47 rifle and 27 live ammunition in Karshi.
The state Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, who made this disclosure in a statement on Wednesday, said the suspect confessed to being involved in several kidnappings in Ikara Local Government Area of the state during interrogation.
The police PPRO quoted the Commissioner of Police, Audu Dabigi, to have praised the officers involved in the arrest, saying it demonstrated the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property in the state.
He added that the arrest was a significant breakthrough in the fight against kidnapping in the state which has been plagued by the menace in recent times.
Hassan also said the investigations were ongoing, and the suspect would be prosecuted after preliminary investigations were completed.
The police chief said, “The Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Kaduna State Police Command has successfully apprehended a notorious kidnapper. The suspect, identified as Abdulrahman “M” of Karshi, Abuja, was arrested in possession of an AK-47 rifle along with twenty-seven (27) rounds of live ammunition in Karshi.
“Upon interrogation, Abdulrahman confessed to being involved in several kidnappings in Ikara Local Government Area (LGA), Kaduna State.
“Further investigations are ongoing, and the suspect will be prosecuted upon the completion of preliminary investigations.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Audu Ali Dabigi psc, commended the officers involved for their exemplary work and assured the public of the command’s unwavering commitment to the protection of life and property throughout the state.”
Tinubu’s reforms aim to address past mistakes — Minister
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said that the Tinubu administration’s primary goal is to rectify historical missteps and not impose hardship on Nigerians.
Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday during a briefing for the Diplomatic Community on recent nationwide protests, Idris stressed that the President is committed to implementing reforms aimed at driving sustainable growth and improving citizens’ quality of life.
“It is important to kick off on this note: President Tinubu did not come to office to cause hardship or make life difficult for Nigerians. He has come to office with bold solutions to historical problems, with the determination to correct many of the poor policies and dysfunctional choices that have held us back as a nation for decades,” Idris stated.
Nigerians have been protesting the rising cost of living as a result of the government’s economic policies, which protesters say have inflicted pain on the citizens.
Though Tinubu, in a nationwide broadcast on Sunday to address the protesters’ demands, called the protesters to the dialogue table, they dismissed it.
The minister, acknowledging the current hardships, noted that the administration’s decisive actions, including the painful abolition of the fuel subsidy, were aimed at redirecting funds towards critical sectors like healthcare, education, infrastructure, and security.
“The costly, wasteful, and unsustainable fuel subsidy regime had denied Nigeria the opportunity to invest in critical infrastructure, social services, and the welfare of its citizens,” Idris said.
Acknowledging the transitional pains from these reforms, Idris highlighted comprehensive intervention programmes designed by the Federal Government to alleviate the impact on Nigerians.
Addressing the nationwide protests, Idris affirmed the government’s respect for peaceful assembly and freedom of expression but noted that the protests were hijacked by violent elements, leading to arson, vandalism, and loss of lives and property.
He assured that the Federal Government acted swiftly to restore peace and is investigating the violence to bring perpetrators to justice.
“We are committed to preventing the recurrence of such unfortunate incidents in the future,” Idris concluded.
Two okada riders killed in Ondo
Two commercial motorcyclists were at different locations killed in the Akoko North-West Local Government Area of Ondo State.
One of the victims known as Dada Jatto from Iyani Akoko in the council area was said to have been missing for the past three days before his lifeless body was found beside the road on Tuesday.
A source in the town said the deceased’s lifeless body was found with various machete cuts all over his body.
The source said, ” He is a popular okada rider in the town and he had been missing three days ago. Upon the search efforts, his mutilated body and the damaged mobile phone were discovered without his motorbike at a spot very close to Arigidi along Oke Agbe road.”
It was gathered that the second incident involved another okada rider whose assailant allegedly lured them to a place between Ikare and Arigidi Akoko.
A resident of the area who simply identified himself as Mustafa said the assailants used a sledgehammer to smash the deceased’s head.
But he was rescued and taken to hospital where he later gave up the ghost.
“Before he died in a hospital, he managed to describe his assailant and the snatcher of his motorbike. Vigilant security agents in the area arrested one of the attackers with the motorcycle at Akunu Akoko,” he narrated
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami, confirmed one of the incidents and said the investigation was ongoing into the matter.
“I can only confirm the one that happened in Iyani Akoko and efforts are on to arrest the perpetrators while the investigation had commenced,” the PPRO stated.
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Protest: Abacha’s ex-CSO, AI-Mustapha condemns agitations for military intervention
Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, former Chief Security Officer to late military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, has kicked against the agitations by some protesters in the North for a military takeover in the country.
Al-Mustapha explained that the call was a product of misplaced priority.
He noted that military rule no longer have a place in Nigeria’s political affairs, while stressing that democracy has come stay in the country.
Speaking to some journalists in Abuja, the former presidential candidate of the Action Alliance (AA), advised the agitators to channel their energies into investing in military subordination to democracy as military rule does not have a place in the politics of today.
Mustapha said: “My advice to them (coup agitators) is that military professionalism is what they should canvass for. Military subordination to democracy is what they should invest in and put all their energies there for.
“I am by definition today, a politician. I am looking at this country today from a democratic sense. We have invested in it and we are investing in it. Our researches are all towards the investment of democratic excellence in Nigeria.
“Military subordination to democracy is a clear direction as the world is today. But when you have democracy, the type that we are operating -presidential system….
“In a debate, in our presentation in the past, I said I am against the presidential system in Nigeria and the examples I gave is the fact that two close countries, the closest to us, the United Kingdom and the United States, one is operating parliamentary system and the other is operating presidential system, all has to do with their historical backgrounds, with conveniences of the people and Nigeria is simply a copy card.
“We copied the parliamentary system, we changed it to the presidential system! All the two are strange to our culture, to our history, to our background, to our understanding as a people. How can you bring the same system and adopt it as yours? It would not work, it would be repulsive.
“Some politicians came to me and said ‘You need not say that in the open, allow us to continue to operate the way we are’, but I cannot form part of cheating. What did I say? I said the United States is a country where immigrants who became citizens, have laws protecting them and the question I asked was, in Nigeria, who is an immigrant and who is an indigene? How can you have more laws and a system of governance that is protective of immigrants?
READ ALSO: Protesters waving Russian flags will face treason charges, says CDS Musa
“Who is an immigrant in Nigeria? We are all citizens. So, we need to chart our course, we have to have the domestic type of democracy that will suit us and suit our future. That is what I am calling for but the issue of military, no.
“My advice to them is that military professionalism is what they should canvas for. Military subordination to democracy is what they should invest in and put all their energies there for.”
“Remember, before the protest, Nigeria was enveloped, the military was overstretched, trying to provide solutions or to contend Boko Haram, contend banditry, contend other numerous abuses, kidnapping and the rest of it and all the other social vices that have bedevilled Nigeria.
“The problems are more than the police and today, the military is overstretched and these things have continued to linger.
“If you care to investigate to see the scale of crime rate in Nigeria, you would realize that there is a buildup rather than a decline and that is most disturbing.
“That is to say the capacity of our military has been overstretched. So what is expected of Nigeria and Nigerians is to first help the military to either increase in strength and then give them tasks that are scientifically proven in numerous other countries that have contended insecurity.
“Remember, Nigeria with her resources, is an enemy in the eyes of many, in international politics and if we we are not conscious of that, then it is certain that we are blinded and we will continue to go into this unfortunate merry-go-round that is pushing us into the rock.
“We must adjust, we have to do it and it doesn’t matter who it pains, those who are investing in it and feeding fat should understand that is the role of the enemy of the state. So such enemies of the state should be fished out without doubt and then tell them to stay away and then professionalism in our military and subordinating the military to democracy, that is the direction,” he added.
The post Protest: Abacha’s ex-CSO, AI-Mustapha condemns agitations for military intervention appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.
Health experts urge Olympics to cut ties with Coca-Cola
Two health experts, Trish Cotter and Sandra Mullin, on Wednesday, urged Olympics organisers to cut ties with Coca-Cola, saying the big money sponsorship deal allows the United States company to “sportswash” unhealthy sugary drinks.
The International Olympic Committee, however, said it was “incredibly proud” of its partnership with Coca-Cola while the company said it also offers sugar-free drinks.
The plea from the health experts comes on top of criticism from environmental activists over the amount of plastic bottles used to serve fans at the Paris Games.
Events in the French capital have been lined with advertising for the ubiquitous fizzy drinks of Coca-Cola, which has been sponsoring the Olympics since 1928.
But these sugary drinks “offer little or no nutritional value” and promoting such unhealthy products has no place in sport, according to Cotter and Mullin of global health group, Vital Strategies.
Sugary drinks are a “key driver” of a range of serious health problems affecting people across the world, including obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease — the pair wrote in a commentary in the journal BMJ Global Health.
Coca-Cola’s products also contribute to global plastic pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and use up a huge amount of water, they added.
“By continuing its association with Coca-Cola, the Olympics movement risks being complicit in intensifying a global epidemic of poor nutrition, environmental degradation and climate change.
“It’s time for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to cut ties with Coca-Cola in the interest of athletes, spectators and the planet,” the authors wrote.
– A ‘responsible approach’ –
The IOC defended its partnership with the soft drink company.
“We’re incredibly proud of almost 100 years of partnership with the Coca-Cola company,” the IOC’s television and marketing services managing director, Anne-Sophie Voumard, said at a daily press conference.
“From an IOC perspective, Coke is taking a responsible approach to supporting athletes’ families, fans and is taking an integral part in the delivery of the Games,” she said.
In a statement, Coca-Cola noted that it also offers water, tea, coffee and juice at the Paris Games.
“As a total beverage company, we support recommendations to limit added sugar to 10 per cent of daily calories and continuously adapt our product range by reducing added sugar and introducing innovative products to meet evolving consumer tastes,” it said.
In 2020, the US food and drink giant signed a joint deal worth a reported $3 billion to extend its sponsorship of the Olympics until at least 2032.
Cotter and Mullin noted that last year, Coca-Cola had more sports sponsorships than any other brand, including sportswear companies such as Nike.
“This strategy culminates in a gold medal opportunity to ‘sportswash’ an unhealthy product,” they wrote.
The World Health Organisation has called for countries to tax sugar-sweetened beverages.
A petition launched ahead of the Games called “Kick Big Soda Out of Sport” has more than 109,000 signatures, and has been backed by a range of public health organisations including the World Obesity Federation.
– Plastic bottles –
Environmental Non-Governmental Organisations have also criticised the amount of plastic used to serve drinks at the Paris Games.
The Coca-Cola Company in May said nearly 10 out of 18 million refreshments served at the Olympics would be “without single-use plastic.”
Fanta, Sprite and Coca-Cola bottles have been served into reusable cups at Olympic venues, a practice some say runs counter to the Games’ pledge to be the greenest in history.
Some 700 drink fountains have been deployed to limit plastic use.
Where fountains are not possible, beverages are served from glass or recycled plastic bottles into reusable and returnable cups provided by the organising committee, Coca-Cola said Wednesday.
“The scale and complexity” of the Games “provide a unique opportunity to test and learn about packaging distribution, and we look forward to collecting learnings from Paris 2024,” the company said.
This year’s Paris Games should still achieve the goal of cutting single-use plastic by 50 per cent compared to the 2012 London Games, organisers said.
AFP
