A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Dr Babachir Lawal has challenged President Bola Tinubu to address the nation immediately with persuasive arguments to placate the angry and hungry citizens instead of issuing threats against the planned hunger protests.
The renowned technocrat warned that under the current climate, Nigerians can no longer be intimidated by the government ‘or scared by macho tough talk’.
In the suggested address to the nation, Babachir Lawal asked the President to enumerate concrete and believable policies of government intended to address current.challenges on an immediate, medium and long term basis.
In a press statement released on Tuesday in Abuja, the ex-SGF suggested that the immediate term plans must be believable and actionable and designed to solve the immediate hunger needs of the people, while the medium and long term plans should be ones that address the challenges of the economy and security across all sections of the nation.
Apparently reacting to the build-up to the nationwide protests, he said that immediate plans must be achievable and believable so they can engender trust and secure the cooperation of the people in the implementation.
He wrote: “If I had the ears of Alhaji Bola Tinubu and I know he used to have listening ears, I would advise him thus: President must reshuffle the cabinet, replace dead woods and include more politicians in the cabinet. Cabinet in times like this requires a mix of technocrats and politicians.
“Politicians are more adept at communicating with the people and have more stake in the successes or failures of a government.
“The Lagos technocrats that now fill the MDAs lack knowledge of the workings of Nigeria.
“Majority of them are rude, inaccessible, clannish, and mostly kleptocratic and kleptomaniac (apologies to Ndume).
“Purposefully address the excessive nepotism in this government. The South West dominates this government excessively and obnoxiously.
“More than eighty percent of the revenue generation and spending MDAs are held by indigenes of the South West. The same occurs in the National Assembly where the most important committees are chaired by indigenes of the South West.
“These people behave like conquerors and are treating the rest of us Nigerians as prisoners of war.
“The Senate leadership operates a dictatorship in which no dissent is tolerated. This is insidiously building an imperceptible revolt that might soon explode.
“For example, Senator Ndume was sincerely speaking truth to power when he said the President is unreachable. Ndume is a very brilliant senior politician and legislator who has been in the National Assembly since 2003.
“Aside being Chair of many critical committees in both Houses of the National Assembly, he has been a Minority Leader, a Chief Whip and a Majority Leader.
“He has much more experience in legislative and political leadership than the charlatans that you have installed in leadership positions just so they can do your bidding slavishly as they are now wont to do.
“A slavish legislature is neither good for your long term interests nor that of the country at large.
“People are taking exceptions to these ways of handling contrary opinions in the polity. In the north we have taken great exception to the manner in which you or people acting on your behalf maltreated, Nasiru, Ningi, Ndume and lately Dangote.
“Your very close associates are also busy meddling in the affairs of Senior traditional institutions in the North West which we believe has the intended purpose of dismembering northern political and social harmony and hegemony.
“In the South East, your fixation on Peter Obi and the unfair treatment of Igbo businesses in Lagos is unsettling. There is also no denying the fact that political crises in Rivers State would have been long settled had the President shown inclination to resolve it.
“It is instructive that no individual or institution in the South West has suffered such unjust treatments.
“These kinds of situations are some of the triggers of the current discontent across the nation because they generate dispersed pockets of frustration and malcontents that eventually aggregate into a large whole resulting in bad blood against the person of the President and the government.
“Per adventure these actions are carried out by the President’s surrogates, probably without his knowledge or consent, it is very necessary that he avails himself to people who could bring such matters to his notice.
“But as it were, it appears like the hand is that of Esau but the voice is that of Jacob.
“I wish all Nigerians a very joyous and peaceful hunger protest. It will make my day if I were to see the President and his immediate predecessor among the Abuja segment of the protesters as they used to do during the Goodluck Jonathan era.”
Placate Nigerians with persuasions not threat, inducement – Ex-SGF, Lawal tells Tinubu
Placate Nigerians with persuasions not threat, inducement – Ex-SGF, Lawal tells Tinubu
William Calley, Vietnam-era US war criminal, dies at 80
William Calley, a former US Army lieutenant convicted of war crimes in a Vietnam-era tragedy called the My Lai massacre, has died at age 80, a US newspaper reported Monday.
The Washington Post said Calley died on April 28 in Gainesville, Florida, but his death had not been publicized until a recent public records search.
In 1971, Calley became the only member of the US Army found guilty of war crimes over the My Lai massacre, one of the darkest chapters in US military history.
It occurred on March 16, 1968, when Calley’s brigade entered the village of My Lai based on faulty intelligence that enemy Viet Cong soldiers were disguised among the civilians there.
Calley, age 24 at the time, ordered soldiers to kill villagers even though they had found no evidence of enemy combatants.
The massacre involved the torture, rape and slaughter of hundreds of innocent Vietnamese.
The US Army covered up the events at My Lai for more than a year afterward.
The death toll of the massacre remains disputed, but US estimates place the number of dead between 347 and 504 unarmed civilians, most of whom were women, children or elderly men.
Pham Thanh Cong, a survivor of the massacre, expressed regret that Calley never returned to Vietnam before his death.
“Many other Americans returned to Son My,” the 67-year-old told AFP, using the Vietnamese term for the village.
“They came to pray, to ask for forgiveness from the souls of the dead, but Calley… he never came back.”
Cong was just 11 when his family was killed in front of him by American troops.
He was huddled with his mother, brother and sister in a bunker in his home when soldiers lobbed grenades at the family and shot at them with M-16s.
“He caused the death of many civilians, including my family,” said Cong, who ran a war memorial for the dead until his retirement.
“I regret that he did not return to Son My, witness its revival and the development of its people.”
– Convicted of murder –
Calley was later the subject of a high-profile court martial, during which he said he had been following the orders of his superiors.
Although 12 other military officers were charged with crimes related to the massacre — including the subsequent cover-up — all were eventually acquitted of criminal charges.
Calley was ultimately convicted of murdering 22 noncombatants and was sentenced to hard labour for life. But his sentence was commuted days later by then-President Richard Nixon and he was eventually released after serving three years of house arrest.
After his release, Calley settled in Columbus, Georgia, where he remained in obscurity for most of his life.
In 2009, a local newspaper reported on a speech Calley gave at the Kiwanis Club of Greater Columbus, during which he apologised for his role in the massacre.
“There is not a day that goes by that I do not feel remorse for what happened that day in My Lai,” Calley said.
“I feel remorse for the Vietnamese who were killed, for their families, for the American soldiers involved and their families. I am very sorry.”
AFP
Protest: Poverty, hard times have always been with Nigerians – MURIC
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has said that poverty and hard times have always been major concern of Nigerians from time immemorial.
MURIC noted that inflation was global and that hunger was common around the world.
The group described the proposed nationwide hunger protest as an invitation to the mother of all hunger.
It said the organisers should rather toe the path of patience and dialogue.
MURIC made this known in a statement signed on Tuesday, by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
“We warn clearly, categorically and emphatically that what the organisers call hunger protest is an invitation to the mother of all hunger.
“Instead of unleashing anger on the government and its paraphernalia, the organisers should engage the government in dialogue bearing in mind the consequences of violent protests around the world.
“Two other things that should be considered are the fact that inflation is global and hunger is common around the world.
“Nigeria is affected because we are not an island. The second consideration is the antiquity of hardship in Nigeria.
“Poverty and hard times have always been major concern of Nigerians from time immemorial. It is therefore too hasty and unfair to hang it all on a regime that is barely one year old,” part of the statement read.
Protest: Poverty, hard times have always been with Nigerians – MURIC
You’ve no right to destabilize Nigeria – Akpabio to protesters
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has warned those planning to stage protests across Nigeria that while they have the right to do so, they do not have the right to destabilize the country.
Akpabio also accused politicians who lost out during the last general elections of being the brains behind the protest to take over the government through the backdoor.
The Senate President stated this during the signing of the new Minimum Wage by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on Monday.
He said that he was excited about the Nigerian worker and the National Minimum Wage amendment.
“It is a great day for the workers in the country. We are not only doubling the minimum wage, we have added something on top. Initially, it was N30,000, now it is N70,000.
“I want to use this opportunity to call on those who are attempting to foment trouble; that you have a right to protest. It is your fundamental right. It is there in the constitution.
“But you don’t have a right to destabilize the country. The right to protest should not be turned into the right to unleash violence. It’s very clear that people who are behind this are very amorphous, very faceless.
“So what it means is people are preparing to loot and go round and do all sorts of things. Where we are today was not caused by one year’s administration,” he said.
You’ve no right to destabilize Nigeria – Akpabio to protesters
Top 10 stories from across Nigerian Newspapers, Tuesday, July 30, 2024
Here are the top 10 stories making headlines across the country.
1. IG orders police to safeguard #EndBadGovernance protesters nationwide
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has instructed senior police officers to ensure the protection of participants in the #EndBadGovernance protests set for August 1-10, 2024.Read more
2. Tinubu signs minimum wage bill
President Bola Tinubu on Monday signed the minimum wage bill into law.Read more
3. #EndBadGovernance protests possibly on agenda as National Assembly holds emergency plenary on Wednesday
The National Assembly will hold an emergency plenary session on Wednesday to deliberate on issues of national importance.Read more
4. Niger youths begin hunger protest on Abuja-Kaduna Road
In anticipation of the nationwide hunger protest scheduled for August 1 to 10 under the hashtag #EndBadGovernment, some youths in Niger State, on Monday, took to the streets to voice their discontent with the current economic hardships facing Nigerians.Read more
5. Nigerian govt claims no more need for planned hunger protests
The Federal Government has announced that the planned nationwide hunger protests scheduled for August 1 to 10, 2024, are now unnecessary.Read more
READ ALSO:Top 10 stories from across Nigerian Newspapers, Monday, July 29, 2024
6. Police denounce vandalism of MTN office in Lagos
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, has strongly condemned the vandalism of the MTN office in the FESTAC area on Monday.Read more
7. FEC orders NNPC to sell crude to Dangote, other refineries in naira
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has ordered the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to sell crude oil to Dangote Refinery and other local refineries in naira.Read more
8. Keyamo overrules NAMA’s 800% levy increase, cites economic hardship
The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has announced the suspension of its previously proposed 800% increase in navigational charges, following an intervention by Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development.Read more
9. CSOs to Nigerian Govt: Nationwide protests against hunger unstoppable despite threats
On Monday, the United Action Front of Civil Society, a coalition of organized Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), issued a stern warning to all levels of government, cautioning against any attempts to intimidate protesters during the nationwide demonstrations planned from August 1 to 10.Read more
10. FG praises D’Tigress after incredible victory over Australia at Paris Olympics
Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh has showered praises on D’Tigress after the team defeated Australia 75-62 in a thrilling Olympics encounter on Monday morning.Read more
The post Top 10 stories from across Nigerian Newspapers, Tuesday, July 30, 2024 appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.
Viral video: Imo Police debunks rumoured attack on Avu Market
The Imo State Police Command has described as fake, a recent viral video on social media showing that Avu Market has been set on fire by angry protesters.
The Command, in a press release by its spokesperson, ASP Henry Okoye stated that the said video was fake.
He enjoined members of the public to disregard it, noting that it was a deliberate and calculated attempt by mischief makers to mislead the general public.
He stated that the video was an old incident that took place in 2023 where there was a fire outbreak at the market.
He reassured residents of that area of adequate security and asked them to go about their lawful businesses, as the police in synergy with other security were on guard to ensure that Imo remained safe.
Following the development, Okoye stated that the State Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, has tasked the State Intelligence Department to quicken action to unravel the originator and peddlers of the misleading information.
He also stated that the CP has urged residents of the State to exercise caution when reading or watching news content as all forms of misinformation were harmful to public safety.
Viral video: Imo Police debunks rumoured attack on Avu Market
US election: Iran trying to sabotage Trump’s campaign – American Intelligence
A United States intelligence official has claimed that Iran is trying to sabotage the Republican candidate, Donald Trump’s presidential campaign.
The US intelligence official with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, ODNI, said Iran planned carrying out the action through online influence operations, Fox News reports.
Addressing journalists at a press briefing on Monday, the official whose name was not disclosed, said US spy agencies “observed Tehran working to influence the presidential election,” likely because Iranian leaders want to avoid increased tensions with the US.
The official noted that American spies “haven’t observed a shift in Iran’s preferences” since 2020, meaning that Iran was still targeting Trump.
The official also said Iran is utilizing “vast webs of online personas and propaganda mills to spread disinformation,” in addition to different online campaigns.
US election: Iran trying to sabotage Trump’s campaign – American Intelligence
How 300-level Bauchi varsity student slumped, died in bathroom
A female student of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Naja’atu Salisu, has been confirmed dead after slumping in the bathroom.
The 300-level student of computer science died after she was found unconscious by her sister in the bathroom on Friday.
Her roommate, who pleaded for anonymity, explained to Arewa According that “she had done every routine preparation for the morning class before going into the bathroom.
“Naja’atu has selected clothes to wear to the class and kept them by the side of her bed.”
Our correspondent gathered from the university’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Zailani Bappa that “Naja’atu, after bringing out her study materials in the morning entered the bathroom to shower while her sister waited for her so that they could both attend lecture together.’’
“Her sister was the one who discovered her body after she observed her undue long stay in the bathroom and followed up to check on her only to find her lying unconscious on the floor of the bathroom in the female hostel at the Gubi campus of the university.”
Zailani stated that after her sister raised the alarm, she was rushed to the university’s clinic for transfusion, but medical personnel were unable to find a vein in her body.
“This is when the personnel at the clinic noticed that the situation was serious and rushed her to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital where she was certified dead by medical doctors,” he added.
Bappa maintained that “having been notified of the situation, Naja’atu’s parents who reside in Abuja accepted the development and directed that a funeral prayer and burial be accorded her according to Islamic rites.”
He further stated that Naja’atu has been buried according to Islamic rites.
Also, the leadership of the Students Union Government, SUG ATBU Bauchi, as well as other student unions, clubs, and society groups have issued various condolence messages to the parents of the deceased and the school authorities, describing the development as “unfortunate.”
IGP Egbetokun to meet Adegboruwa over August 1 protest
The Inspector General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun has invited a human rights lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa to a meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.
Recall that last week, Adegboruwa had written to the police boss to provide police protection for protesters, under the Take It Back Movement.
The IGP, in his response letter dated July 29, 2024, directed senior police officers to attend to the request of the senior lawyer.
The police boss’s response was conveyed in a letter signed by his Principal Staff Officer, CP Johnson Adenola.
The IGP also requested to have a meeting with Adegboruwa in Abuja on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, “to deliberate further” on his request.
“…I am to also inform you that the Inspector General of Police wishes to have a meeting with you at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, on Tuesday, 30th July 2024 to deliberate further on your request,” CP Adenola said.
Recall that Nigerian security operatives have warned against violent protests in the country as was done in Kenya.
Nigeria’s secret police had raised alarm over plans by plotters to cause violence during planned hardship protests.
Organizers of the planned protest had expressed dissatisfaction over the rising cost of living and economic misery in Nigeria.
This comes as core and food inflation have hit the rooftop at 34.19 percent and 40.87 percent, respectively.
IGP Egbetokun to meet Adegboruwa over August 1 protest
Nigeria’s Oscars committee seeks entries for 97th Academy Awards
The Nigerian Official Selection Committee for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has called on filmmakers in the country to submit their feature films for consideration in the International Feature Film category of the 97th annual Academy Awards, fondly called the Oscars.
The NOSC, accredited by AMPAS, is responsible for choosing Nigeria’s official entry for the IFF award.
In a statement sent to According Online on Monday, the IFF stated that the submission portal will go live on August 1, 2024, and will remain open until August 30, 2024.
The IFF award is a dedicated category for feature-length motion pictures produced outside the United States, and which contains 50 per cent or more of dialogue in a language or languages other than English.
The academy stipulates that submitted films must meet specific criteria, including providing accurate, legible English subtitles, adherence to particular shooting formats, and evidence of theatrical release.
Meanwhile, the NOSC also announced the addition of new members into its fold, including the Managing Director of the Nigerian Film Corporation, Ali Nuhu; producer and Director, Blessing Egbe; an actress, Ijeoma Agu; co-founder and Group Chief Executive Officer of Filmhouse Cinemas, Kene Okwuosa; and a journalist, author, and film critic, Victor Akande.
The returning members of the committee include actress and filmmaker Stephanie Linus, who leads the team; President of the Directors’ Guild of Nigeria, Victor Okhai; actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde; former DGN President, Andy Amenechi; theatre practitioner, Yibo Koko; writer and director, Izu Ojukwu; filmmaker, Emem Isong; director, Dimeji Ajibola; writer/director, Jude Idada; filmmaker, John Njamah; and actress, Meg Otanwa.
Linus stated that the new members were from diverse creative backgrounds, and would invariably enhance the process of selecting the best film from Nigeria.
The NOSC was constituted in 2012 by filmmaker, Chineze Anyaene-Abonyi, and she served as the chairperson until 2023 when she handed over to Linus.
The committee submitted the first film for the global awards in 2019. Titled ‘Lionheart’, the film, which was directed by popular actress and filmmaker, Genevieve Nnaji, was eventually disqualified on account of not meeting the requirement of 50 per cent non-English dialogue.
In 2021, the movie titled, ‘Milkmaid’ became the first Nigerian film to be in the reckoning for the IFF category. However, it did not make the final cut for that year’s edition.
In 2023, the committee submitted the film, ‘Mami Wata’, which was directed by CJ Obasi, for the IFF category, but it did not make the eventual list of nominees.
The 97th Oscars ceremony is set for March 2, 2025, broadcasting live from the Dolby Theatre in Ovation Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States of America.