A wave of anger swept through Government House, Port Harcourt, on Thursday after state Governor Siminalayi Fubara promised a monetary gift to protesting youths.
Addressing the protesters on Thursday, Governor Fubara acknowledged their frustrations and stated, “You are here because you want a better Nigeria. I am one of you. I see your pains. I will convey your message to the President.”
Read also: Teenager charged with murdering three girls at UK dance party amid violent protests
Despite his assurances, many protesters were offended by the Governor’s offer of money. Some youths responded by chanting, “How much can you give us? We want good governance and not money. Keep your money,” expressing their dissatisfaction with the gesture.
The post ‘Keep your money’, Outrage in Rivers Govt House as Fubara offers monetary gift to protesters appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.
‘Keep your money’, Outrage in Rivers Govt House as Fubara offers monetary gift to protesters
ALGON cautions council chairmen against supporting protesters
The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria has cautioned the 774 council chairmen across the country against supporting the Hunger Protests currently being held simultaneously nationwide.
Several youth groups have set aside August 1 to 10 for protests against the hardship affecting citizens.
Speaking on the situation during a press conference in Lafia on Thursday, the President of ALGON, Aminu Mu’azu-Maifata, said the association decided not to support the protests because they believe that the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu has great plans for Nigerians.
He said, “As the true representatives of the various 774 LGAs across the country, ALGON calls on the entire population of our dear country who reside in these areas to shun any form of protest and embrace dialogue and peace.
“To all the council chairmen, we are aware of the numerous policies and programmes rolled out by the administration of His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, with a view to charting a new course and attracting economic prosperity to our people.
“Some of these programmes include the provision of free farming inputs, investment loans at single-digit interest rates, student loans, and the recent Local Government autonomy, which would restore the capacity, dignity, and ability of Local Government Councils to carry out their constitutional responsibilities by providing basic and necessary services to the people at the grassroots.”
He appealed to members of ALGON to exercise patience with the Federal Government regarding the implementation of the Local Government autonomy recently approved by the Supreme Court, adding that the President is keen on ensuring that the 774 LGAs in the country function properly.
Mu’azu-Maifata further explained that the association is aware of the sufferings and challenges faced by the masses but noted that calling for protests would not yield the needed positive outcomes; instead, it could endanger citizens’ lives.
“Let us work together towards a more prosperous and equitable Nigeria, where Local Government Councils are truly empowered to serve their communities. We know that only peace can help us achieve the development needed for our communities.
“Let us not return to the dark days of violence and destruction. Let us continue to embrace dialogue for the betterment of our beloved country,” the ALGON President added.
Jide Oyekunle was removed for his safety – FCT Police denies arrest of journalist
The Federal Capital Territory, FCT Police command has debunked reports making the rounds that photojournalist, Jide Oyekunle was arrested during the protest.
There are reports that Jide was picked up by operatives of the command while covering the ongoing protest in the nation’s capital.
However, SP Josephine Adeh, Public Relations Officer of the FCT Command told TVN that the report was false.
According to her “Jide Oyekunle was rather taken away from the perceived unsafe environment for his own safety after being advised to leave where he was standing in a safer location and he declined, as some of the protesters had suddenly become violent.
“While the protest is ongoing, it remains the duty of the police to protect lives and property”.
Jide Oyekunle was removed for his safety – FCT Police denies arrest of journalist
Fubara’s pure water money offer ignites Rivers protesters’ fury
Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State faced intense backlash from EndBadGovernance protesters at the Port Harcourt Government House on Thursday following his offering of pure water money to them.
His offer of money for pure water and a plea for the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria demonstrators to return home fueled their anger.
While addressing the protesters in front of Government House, Fubara said, “I thank you for being peaceful. I thank you for coming. I feel your pain. I want to assure you that I will deliver your message to the President.
“Here in Rivers State, we will do everything to make life better. But all we need from you is to support the Federal Government. We know there is hunger but just be patient with the government.
“I will give you a small thing for you to drink pure water.”
At this point the youths who were listening busted with a chorused, ‘No no, saying “We don’t need your, ‘ keep your money, we want good governance in Nigeria’, Tinubu must go.”
Efforts by the governor to pacify them and to explain what he meant fell on deaf ears, as they continued to talk back with annoyance.
Fubara however continued to wave his hands towards them and came down from where he stood in front of the government house and left.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from According.
Contact: [email protected]
Teenager charged with murdering three girls at UK dance party amid violent protests
A teenager appeared in court on Thursday, facing charges for the alleged murder of three girls in a stabbing incident at a Taylor Swift-themed dance party, as violent protests erupted in several English cities.
The 17-year-old, who cannot be named due to his age, is charged with three counts of murder and ten counts of attempted murder following the attack on Monday in Southport, northwest England.
The incident has stunned the nation, and misinformation circulating online about the suspect has incited violent clashes led by far-right groups. These groups targeted a mosque and clashed with police in Southport, while protests also erupted in London, Hartlepool, and Manchester on Wednesday night. Over 100 people were arrested outside Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s residence at Downing Street.
In response, Starmer was scheduled to hold an emergency meeting with police chiefs on Thursday to address the unrest.
The suspect appeared briefly at Liverpool magistrate’s court and was remanded in custody. He is set to appear at Liverpool Crown Court later in the day. Dressed in a grey tracksuit and black slippers, the teenager smiled before being seated, according to courtroom observers.
The Crown Court is expected to provide further details on his detention.
Read also: Protesters shout down youth minister at Eagles Square
The teenager is accused of killing Bebe King, six; Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven; and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine. He is also alleged to have injured eight other children and two adults in the attack, which has prompted widespread grief in the usually quiet seaside town of Southport.
Misinformation about the suspect on social media fueled violent clashes on Tuesday night, including an incident where bricks were thrown at a mosque and 53 police officers were injured. The far-right English Defence League, known for its Islamophobic views and ties to football hooliganism, has been implicated.
The unrest continued into Wednesday, with protests reaching Downing Street. Demonstrators threw bottles at police and chanted slogans such as “We want our country back” and “Stop the boats,” a reference to irregular migrants arriving by small boats.
In Hartlepool, northeast England, protesters set fire to police cars and threw objects at officers, resulting in eight arrests. The police reported that officers were pelted with “missiles, glass bottles, and eggs,” with several sustaining minor injuries.
At the emergency meeting, Starmer is expected to commend the bravery of emergency service workers and underscore the need to protect the right to protest while ensuring that those who use it to incite violence are prosecuted. The Labour government has pledged to enhance community policing and address crime and antisocial behavior, with Interior Minister Yvette Cooper promising increased police presence nationwide.
Starmer will urge police leaders to use their powers decisively to halt violence and ensure justice, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s office.
The post Teenager charged with murdering three girls at UK dance party amid violent protests appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.
Minister reacts as protesters set govt building on fire, loot items in Kano
The Minister of Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani has lamented the turn of events at the ongoing nationwide protests in Kano.
TVN reports that the nationwide hunger protests tagged #EndBadGovernance started today August 1 to August 10 2024
A group of protesters participating in the ongoing protest have destroyed and looted a building in Kano state.
However, reacting to the development in a post on his official X on Thursday, the Minister of Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani stated that it would be a setback to the government’s efforts at encouraging youth employment through technology.
He wrote, ” Sad to learn that our Digital Innovation Park in Kano State slated for launch next week to support our technical talent accelerator (3MTT) has been set ablaze and looted by protesters.
” Alongside #3MTT, this building is set to host our buildathon holiday maker programme for secondary school kids starting next week. A slight setback for our journey to deepen our workforce for technology while creating job opportunities for the youth. Millions of Naira down the drain.”
Minister reacts as protesters set govt building on fire, loot items in Kano
I joined #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria to guard against lawlessness
The Vice Chairman, Alimosho Local Government Area, Mr. Akinpelu Johnson,
on Thursday, said his decision to monitor the “End Hunger Protest” within the Egbeda area, was to guard against lawlessness.
Johnson, who made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said his decision was necessary to guard against a repeat of the tragic incidence of the #ENDSARS protest of Oct. 8, 2020.
NAN reports that the council boss was seen with some of his officials at the popular Egbeda Bus-stop.
NAN also reports that the Egbeda and Idimu areas of Lagos State were peaceful as few individuals were seen going about their normal businesses.
However, heavy security presence was observed while few commercial vehicles and commercial motorcycle operators were seen working seamlessly.
“By virtue of my position and as an indigene of this place, I am here to protect my people.
“We don’t want a repeat of what happened during the #ENDSARS protest years ago, when hoodlums took laws into their hands to loot properties of innocent citizens.
”If the protest must be held, it should be a peaceful one. I am a street boy, I relate with my people every time and if there is a protest, I should stay with them to ensure calm.
“We all know that things are not easy, but we also need to be calm about the protest. As a responsible government, the president is already taking steps to ensure things get better, so we should all yield to a peaceful protest,” Johnson said.
Also, the Branch Chairman, Alimosho B zone, Rasheed Owonikoko, said, ”We are not for the protest, but to ensure security is in order.
”We are here to protect the environment. We don’t want the entire process to be hijacked.
”During the #ENDSARS protest, we witnessed hoodlums and street urchins looting people’s shops, people were also raped and all that, we don’t want that here,” he said.
(NAN)
EndBadGovernance: Abeokuta youths throng MKO stadium to protest
A handful of youth on Thursday thronged the Moshood Abiola stadium, Abeokuta, the state capital to express their grievances and concerns on the economic hardship facing the country.
The #EndBadGovernance nationwide protest is scheduled to occur in all 36 states as well as the Federal Capital Territory between August 1 and August 10.
TVN observed that youth who came in few numbers arrived at the stadium at at past 11 am carrying placards with various inscriptions such as “ Hunger is in the land” “ We are after peace and progress “ “ What is right INEC” “ I just want to live, stop suffocating” among others.
The Ogun State High Court on Wednesday had restricted the movement of the protesters to four different locations across the state.
The court also restricted the time frame of the protests to between 8 am and 5 pm.
The four locations chosen for the protest are the MKO Stadium, Abeokuta; Ansar-ud-Deen Comprehensive High School, Ota; Remo Divisional High School, Sagamu; and Dipo Dina Stadium, Ijebu-Ode.
At the venue of the protest, security operatives were deployed to heavily guard the location to forestall a breakdown of law and order.
The State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu while addressing newsmen said the officers were on the ground to protect the protesters and help maintain peace and order.
“ Late yesterday evening a court order was received restricting protesters to certain locations for Abeokuta metropolis, the MKO Abiola stadium Kuto and that’s why you are seeing massive deployments here.
“We have to respect citizens’ rights, our reservation is that we don’t want miscreants to hijack this protest but good enough most of the organizers have seen reasons and voluntarily backed off from being part of the protest. But we are here to provide cover for them and allow them to exercise their constitutional right.
Also speaking, the state commander of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, David Ojelabi, disclosed that the Ibadan garage at Ijebu Ode has about 20 youths who have also begun the peaceful protest.
One of the protesters, Jacob Ochigbo attributed the low turnout of protesters to the alleged threat from the government.
“I came here to protest because today is a day we agreed to lend our voices out against the unending and wrong policies because we are tired of the sufferings.
“The threat from the government prior to today is one of the factors why people are not here today, they kept making references to the ENDSARs protest forgetting that we’ve had other peaceful protests.
“You can’t continue to try to shut the people up by bringing wrong policies,” he added.
He appealed to Nigeria youths to fight for their rights saying that “nothing good comes easily if there are sacrifices to be paid definitely we have to be on the front line to make sure that we make these sacrifices for our children”
EndBadGovernance: Abeokuta youths throng MKO stadium to protest
Actor Ben Affleck seeks divorce from singer Jennifer Lopez after months of split rumours
The pair of Hollywood actor Ben Affleck and singer cum actress Jennifer Lopez are reportedly set to file for divorce thus confirming many months of rumours that they had split.
A report published by the Daily Mail informexd that the couple who both obtained a marriage license in Clark County, NV, in July 2022, are seeking to part ways after moves to reconcile their mounting differences hit a brick wall.
Multiple sources have claimed that the divorce documents of the couple who tied the knot in a surprise Las Vegas wedding at midnight on July 17 ‘are finalized, but not yet turned in’.
READ ALSO: Grammy Award 2022: Full list of winners
‘They finalized the divorce papers with her a month ago, but are waiting for the right time to drop them,’ one source close to the duo claimed.
’’At that time, they will release a joint statement that will say how they have much love for each other and how they fought to make it work, but couldn’t.
‘’Honestly, in the end, they could not come to a compromise. What they had before is gone and they have both accepted it,” another source claimed.
ReplyForward
Add reaction
The post Actor Ben Affleck seeks divorce from singer Jennifer Lopez after months of split rumours appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.
Thugs beat lone #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protester in Ondo
There was a mild drama at the popular NEPA Roundabout Akure, the Ondo State capital on Thursday when an unidentified man on protest was attacked by some youths suspected to be thugs.
According to an eyewitness who identified himself as Paul, the man parked his Toyota car by the roadside and put placards at the front and back of the vehicle, before some thugs in the area attacked and flogged him ruthlessly.
Paul said, “The man was sitting in his car, he didn’t move about, he parked the car by the roadside, he placed placards on his Toyota car and sat on the car playing music.
“Suddenly, some boys appeared and asked him the reason for being in the place with placards. I think he didn’t respond to their satisfaction, this led to an argument.
“As the argument was ongoing, the boys brought out canes and started flogging him. He quickly rushed into his car and moved away immediately.”
Nigerians are protesting stifling economic conditions under #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria.
In Abuja, the nations capital, some protesters who converged at the MKO Abiola Stadium said the protests would continue unless President Bola Tinubu meets their demands.
They called on the president to do the needful and the protests would be immediately called off.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, the Director of Mobilisation, Take It Back Movement, Damilare Adenola, lamented that the oppression under the president’s leadership had lasted too long.
He said, “The various court orders restricting protesters to particular locations are an aberration.
”Our presence here today is an announcement that we have been oppressed for too long.
“Today, we have risen. We saying to the president that unless President Bola Tinubu accede to our demands we will remain on the streets. We want to see the president on the street. During the protest, he was on the street.”
One of the leaders of the Take It Back Movement, Ayoola Babalola, said the show of force around the premises of the Moshood Abiola is an embarrassment to the nation.
He vowed that protesters would not be intimidated.