The lead counsel of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Aloy Ejimakor, has said it’s becoming tougher being Igbo in Nigeria.
Ejimakor was reacting to the IgboMustGo threat against the people of the South-East.
TVN reported that there are calls on social media trending under the hashtag #IgboMustGo on X, demanding the forced relocation of Igbo people from Lagos and other Southwest states.
An X handle, which is known for its anti-Igbo comments and posts, urged Igbos residing in Lagos State to vacate their land.
Commenting, former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar declared that it was not only divisive but also endangered peace and security.
Reacting to the trend, Ejimakor said Kanu’s continued detention was evidence that being Igbo is becoming tough in Nigeria.
Posting on X, Ejimakor wrote: “It’s getting tougher being #Igbo in Nigeria. The best evidence is the continued detention of MAZI NNAMDI KANU.”
Being Igbo becoming tough in Nigeria – Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer, Ejimakor
Being Igbo becoming tough in Nigeria – Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer, Ejimakor
Police confirm kidnap of LG boss in Kogi
The Nigerian Police force has confirmed the abduction of the Chairman, Transition Committee of Kabba/Bunu Local Government, Hon. Zacheous Dare Michael in Kogi State.
TVN had earlier reported that Michael and other members of his entourage were kidnapped on Friday evening by unknown gunmen along Kabba-Okene expressway in Kogi State.
The Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, SP William Ovye Aya, who confirmed this to TVN on Saturday morning, said the Commissioner of Police had deployed officers to rescue the kidnapped victims.
“It was yesterday in the night I received the information that the Chairman, Transition Committee Kabba/Bunu Local Government, Hon. Zacheous Dare Michael has been kidnapped along the road.
“The Commissioner of Police in Kogi State, Bethrand Onuoha has made a deployment already.
“Other security agencies, such as the military, Department of State Services, (DSS), Local Vigilantes and hunters are collaborating with the Police to ensure that he is rescued unhurt,” Aya noted.
TVN reports that Michael is contesting for the chairmanship position under the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC) in the forthcoming Local Government election slated for October 19, 2024.
Police confirm kidnap of LG boss in Kogi
Obey court order on venue restriction, Kwara police tell protesters
The Kwara State Police Command has warned those wishing to join the ongoing #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest to comply with the recent court order restricting the protest to the Metropolitan Square, Asa Dam Road, Ilorin, the state capital.
In a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Ejire-Adeyemi Toun, on behalf of the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Victor Olaiya, on Friday, the Command said the warning was necessary to prevent the protest from being hijacked by miscreants, as has happened in some other states.
“It is evident that the protests in states like Niger, Borno, Kano, and Yobe have been hijacked, resulting in the loss of lives and properties.
“Citizens wishing to exercise their franchise must comply with the recent court ruling in the state,” the police said.
The statement added that the General Post Office and other venues, apart from the one designated by the Court, were not appropriate places to hold any rally or protest.
“We urge all groups to follow the court ruling, which stipulates that protests must take place at the Metropolitan Square along Asa Dam Road. The Post Office is not an approved location for such gatherings,” it said.
It also urged the protest leaders to meet with the state Commissioner of Police to discuss security measures for the safety of participants in the protest.
“We also request that protest leaders meet with the Commissioner of Police to strategise on security measures and ensure the safety of all participants.
“Your cooperation is essential towards maintaining public order and safety in the state,” the police said in the statement.
According Online reports that a Kwara State Magistrates Court ordered the restriction of organisers of the August 1-10 hunger protest in the state to the Metropolitan Square in Ilorin, the state capital.
Granting an ex parte order on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, the Chief Magistrate, Jibril Salihu, who presided over the court, agreed with the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ibrahim Sulyman, that such a protest could degenerate into violence if protesters are allowed to do as they wish.
Kogi partners police trust fund to develop barracks
Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, has announced that the state government will partner with the Nigeria Police Trust Fund to address the challenges of accommodation and logistics faced by officers and men of the state police command.
Ododo stated this when he received the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund, Mohammad Sheidu, on a courtesy visit to the governor at the Government House in Lokoja on Friday.
“The state government is committed to deepening its relationship with the Nigeria Police and other security agencies in an effort to guarantee the security of lives and property in the state.
“The provision of accommodation through the development of barracks and stations, as well as logistics such as vehicles and other facilities, are necessary to enhance the welfare and operational capabilities of the police in the state.”
While commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for identifying resourceful young Nigerians for strategic appointments like the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund, Ododo assured continued support from young Nigerians for the administration of the president.
He advised the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund to make the best use of the opportunity given to him by repositioning the Nigeria Police Trust Fund, promising to continue availing him of the support of his office as a brother and the Governor of his home state in the collective efforts to make Kogi State and Nigeria proud.
In his remarks, Sheidu commended the governor for his administration’s impactful policies and programmes, which he noted are making life more meaningful for the people of Kogi State.
He assured his willingness to ensure collaboration between the Kogi State government and the Nigeria Police Trust Fund towards enhancing the welfare and effectiveness of police officers and men to guarantee peace and security in the state and other parts of the country.
In July, the state government commissioned an office complex for the Police Quick Response Unit in Lokoja to enhance the operational efficiency of the state police command.
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Pyrates Confraternity not secret cult, says Soyinka
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, on Friday, described corruption as a deadly cankerworm that lays great nations in ruins and puts the people at a great disadvantage.
Soyinka stated that without attitudinal change and the readiness of everyone to begin to do the right thing, winning the war against the mounting corruption challenge in the country would remain an impossible task.
The world-renowned scholar disclosed this at the 26th Annual Wole Soyinka Lecture organised by the National Association of Seadogs, otherwise known as Pyrates Confraternity, to mark the 90th birthday of Soyinka, who, alongside six other undergraduates of the University of Ibadan, founded the group in 1952.
The lecture, held at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, had as its theme, “The Baby or the bathwater: Navigating the dark tunnels of systemic corruption to nationhood”.
Soyinka, while commenting on the lecture delivered by former governor of Lagos State, Mr Babatunde Fashola, said that the challenge of corruption was such that it ran from the top to the bottom in Nigeria, adding that only a collective decision would halt its deadly march in the country.
He said, “The particular aspect of this lecture that struck me is corruption. Corruption is not just when you exchange money; it is a cankerworm that eats deep into the fabric of society from the top to the bottom and corrupts our very nature, our very existence.
“And one aspect of the lecture emphasised that the cure for corruption begins from the inside. Yes, we can talk about institutions, government, and the exercise of power unfairly and inordinately to the disadvantage of the rest of the community as part of corruption, but ultimately, the solution, both short-term and long-term, must begin from the inside, and this is one of the motives for establishing the Pyrates Confraternity 62 years ago.”
Soyinka also used the medium to disabuse the minds of the people regarding misconceptions about the Pyrates Confraternity, saying that the registered association is not a blood-thirsty secret cult but an association founded to push for justice and advance the betterment of the country.
Soyinka, alongside the former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, later unveiled a book “Ship Ahoy,” written to document the 60-year history of the confraternity.
Giving his lecture earlier, Mr Babatunde Fashola, the former two-term Minister of Works and Housing, described Soyinka as not only a gift to the country and the continent but to the entire civilisation.
Speaking on the theme of the lecture, Fashola maintained that while corruption in terms of pecuniary gains is undoubtedly condemned, the worst form of corruption is that which has displaced our highly cherished moral values and has therefore corrupted the people’s ways of life.
He said, “When I was in office as a minister, the Federal Road Safety Corps usually made copies of the monthly reports on road crashes available to me. The report is actually for the office of the Secretary-General of the Federation, but I used to get a copy.
“In October 2022, a total of 1,111 road crashes were reported across the country, out of which 449 people died, representing six per cent of 6458 people involved in the accidents, with 2780 injured.
“The analysis showed a three per cent decrease when compared with the previous month but a 10 per cent increase when compared with the figure for October 2021.
“This goes to show that an average of 400 people are lost monthly to road crashes in the country, but I doubt if the insecurity which is always an issue during campaigns is responsible for such a huge loss of lives every month in the country.”
Gunmen kidnap Kogi LG chairman
The caretaker chairman of the Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Zacchaeus Michael, has been kidnapped by gunmen.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, William Aya, confirmed this on Saturday.
Aya told our correspondent that the caretaker chairman was kidnapped on Friday night along Kabba-Okene Road in the Kabba area of the state.
“Yes, I got the information. The state Commissioner of Police, Bethrand Onuoha, has already deployed officers for a search-and-rescue mission. We are on top of the situation,” he said.
Sources who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter said that Michael was abducted alongside some of his aides.
One of the sources said, “Reports indicate that CTC Kabba/Bunu Chairman, Zacchaeus Dare Michael, and some of his aides have been kidnapped by gunmen on the Kabba-Okene Expressway in Kabba.
“Authorities are seeking any credible information that may aid their safe rescue.
“I urge everyone to pray for their immediate and safe release, asking for divine intervention and protection during this critical time.”
Details later…
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EndBadGovernance: Amnesty International condemns arrest of 13
Amnesty International has condemned in strong terms the alleged killing of 13 protesters by security personnel across Nigeria.
It described the development as “unjustified and unacceptable”.
In a statement on Friday, issued by its Country Director, Isa Sanusi, the organisation urged the Nigerian authorities to investigate the incidents impartially and effectively and ensure that security personnel suspected of responsibility for the alleged deadly use of force were held to account through fair trial.
The organisation noted the situations in Suleja, Niger State, where six persons were killed and dozens wounded, Maiduguri, where four persons were killed and Kaduna, where three other persons were killed.
It, therefore, expressed concern over the Nigerian authorities’ growing hostility to dissent and the relentless repression of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly.
The statement explained, “Our findings, so far, show that security personnel at the locations where lives were lost deliberately used tactics designed to kill while dealing with gatherings of people protesting hunger and deep poverty.”
It called on the Nigerian government to take concrete steps to address the impact of recent reforms on economic, social and cultural rights, including people’s rights to health and education, saying that all those arrested for taking part in the protest must be released immediately and unconditionally.
It added that authorities should also end the rampant violations of the people’s rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.
EndBadGovernance: Amnesty International condemns arrest of 13
African Central Bank governors decry high borrowing costs
Central Bank Governors in Africa have expressed their concern over the rising cost of borrowing by African nations, stressing that the efficient development of the continent cannot be achieved at the current rates.
The governors, advocating a drastic cut in the cost of borrowing, said this position will be submitted at the forthcoming International Monetary Funds and World Bank’s annual meetings while canvassing for the adoption of a common position by the African continent.
The Governor, Bank of South Sudan, and Chair of the Monetary Affairs Committee for the East African Community, Dr James Garang, stated this in an interview with journalists at the sidelines of the 2024 African Caucus Meeting held on Friday in Abuja.
The African Caucus, established in 1963, aims to strengthen the voice of African Governors in the Bretton Woods Institutions on development issues pertinent to Africa.
Representing all 54 African countries, the Caucus meets twice yearly to consolidate views and convey them to the heads of the IMF and World Bank through a Memorandum.
In the first five months of this year, Nigeria’s debt servicing gulped about N2.2bn, data from the Central Bank of Nigeria revealed last month.
This is almost half of the $4.8bn projected for the entire year by Fitch Ratings in a report that predicted Nigeria’s external debt servicing would rise by $400m to $5.2bn next year.
According to the CBN International Payments Data, the FG spent the highest on debt financing in May at $854.36m, which is also the highest paid in a single month in the past year.
Addressing the issue of equitable financing, a stance supported by the governors of Central Banks from African nations, Garang emphasised that the forum needed to discuss equitable financing solutions considering the continent’s potential.
He said, “Equitable Financing is one of the issues that will be tackled in the memorandum and also in the declaration. There is a need to reform global financial architecture.
“It revolves around many things but I will just highlight three things. One is there is a need to reduce the cost of borrowing and enhance access to finance and also harmonise policies among ourselves and ensure that the voices of Africa are heard on the table.
“This is the point that we heard earlier, where Ambassador Amina Mohammed was talking about the G20. And also Ambassador Albert Muchanga of the EU Commission. They were talking about what can be done to ensure that Africa sits at the table where decisions around global financial architecture are met. So these are some of the things that are going to be coming up in the memorandum.”
He added that the forum will also focus on access to energy while seeking support from international lenders.
He also noted that the Central Bank governors from the African continent were concerned about the growing youth population and emphasized that an actionable plan would be developed to address this issue.
“The governors are very conscious about the level of unemployment today in the region and the continent. There is going to be a section in the memorandum that focuses on improving youth employment and opportunities across the board because we have not seen this not just for one country. The governors are very conscious and they will ensure that policies that focus on youth employment will be addressed.
“The other two things will of course be around issues that have to do with access to energy. And this is the area where the African Development Bank and the World Bank are taking the lead role to support the continent,” the governor added.
Kwara: Police invite protest leaders
Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Victor Olaiya, has invited leaders of the August 1-10, 2024, nationwide hunger protests in the state.
A statement by the spokesperson of the state police command, DSP Ejire Adeyemi Toun, in Ilorin, also cautioned against holding protests outside the court-restricted Metropolitan square in Ilorin.
The statement read, “The Kwara State Police Command wishes to inform the public about the ongoing protest.
“It is evident that the protests in states like Niger, Borno, Kano, and Yobe have been hijacked, resulting in loss of lives and properties. Citizens wishing to exercise their franchise must comply with the recent court ruling in the state.
“We urge all groups to follow the court ruling, which stipulates that protests must take place at the Metropolitan Square along Asa-Dam Road. The Post Office is not an approved location for such gatherings.
“We also request that protest leaders meet with the Commissioner of Police to strategize on security measures and ensure the safety of all participants.”
Kwara: Police invite protest leaders
Venezuela authorities ratify Maduro’s victory as more nations recognise rival
Venezuelan authorities on Friday ratified Nicolas Maduro’s election victory as a growing number of nations recognized his opposition rival as the true winner.
Gripped by anxiety after Sunday’s disputed presidential vote, the oil-rich nation braced for fresh protests as both Maduro and the opposition called for their supporters to demonstrate this weekend.
Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama and Uruguay on Friday recognized opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia as the president-elect of Venezuela, joining the United States and Peru in rejecting the official results.
Venezuela’s election authority meanwhile ratified Maduro’s win with 52 percent of the vote and said Gonzalez Urrutia had garnered 43 percent of ballots.
Maduro, 61, has reacted fiercely to criticism of his victory and threatened opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and her presidential candidate Gonzalez Urrutia, saying they “should be behind bars.”
Gonzalez Urrutia did not show up to a hearing at the Supreme Court after Maduro requested the tribunal investigate and certify the election result.
However, other opposition candidates summoned to the hearing called for a detailed vote count to be made public.
Voting records “are fundamental for transparency, they are fundamental for peace,” said Enrique Marquez, who also ran against Maduro, as part of a smaller opposition group.
– ‘Fearing for my life’ –
Machado, who had been barred from running herself, wrote in the Wall Street Journal that she was in hiding and “fearing for my life,” along with other opposition leaders.
She called on supporters to gather on Saturday in cities across the country to “assert the truth” about the opposition’s victory.
“We have the evidence and the world already recognizes it,” Machado wrote on social media platform X.
Maduro, for his part, has called for daily mobilization, with “the mother of all marches to celebrate the victory of peace” to be held Saturday.
He accused the opposition of plotting “an attack” and ordered police to protect Caracas “and these areas that are under threat.”
In a news conference from the presidential palace, Maduro denounced “a coup led by the United States, the international far right and unbridled capitalism.”
The NGO Foro Penal reported 11 dead in protests Monday and Tuesday as Venezuelans took to the street in anger, saying their votes had been stolen. Machado said at least 20 people had been killed.
The crackdown on protests has sparked fear among opposition supporters.
“We have dead, wounded, detainees, missing people… People know it. They are afraid. They know they are going to find themselves facing armed people … ferocious wolves,” said Katiusca Camargo, an activist in the Petare slum in eastern Caracas.
The opposition this week launched a website with copies of 84 percent of ballots cast, showing an easy win for Gonzalez Urrutia. The government claims these are forged.
– ‘Overwhelming evidence’ –
Top US diplomat Antony Blinken said Thursday there was “overwhelming evidence” that Gonzalez Urrutia had won the election.
On Friday, Argentine Foreign Minister Diana Mondino said that Gonzalez Urrutia was the “legitimate winner and president-elect.” Peru has also recognized the 74-year-old retired diplomat as the rightful winner.
Uruguay said it was “clear” Gonzalez Urrutia had obtained the majority of votes. Ecuador called him the “legitimate winner” and Costa Rica said his victory was “indisputable.”
In a joint statement, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico urged an “impartial verification” of the result, also calling for Caracas to publish voting data broken down by polling stations.
Sunday’s elections were held in the shadow of Maduro’s warnings of a “bloodbath” if he were to lose, and amid widespread fear the vote would be rigged.
Authorities said more than 1,000 people were arrested in post-election protests.
Maduro has led the oil-rich country since 2013, presiding over a GDP drop of 80 percent that pushed more than seven million of once-wealthy Venezuela’s 30 million citizens to emigrate. Experts blame economic mismanagement and US sanctions for the collapse.
He is accused of locking up critics and harassing opponents in a climate of rising authoritarianism.
On Friday, prominent opposition figure Roland Carreno — a journalist who was previously accused of “terrorism” and imprisoned from 2020-2023 — was arrested in Caracas, his party Popular Will said.
Maduro’s previous reelection, in 2018, was rejected by dozens of Latin American as well as the United States and EU members.
Years of damaging US sanctions have failed to dislodge the president, who enjoys loyalty from the military leadership, electoral bodies, courts and other state institutions, as well as the backing of Russia, China and Cuba.
AFP