The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyawu has been reported dead.
More to come.
BREAKING: Ohanaeze President General, Iwuanyanwu is dead
BREAKING: Ohanaeze President General, Iwuanyanwu is dead
Hardship: We’ll rather protest for Kanu’s release – Southeast group
A pro-Biafra group under the aegis of the South East Renewed Hope Ambassadors, SERHA, disassociated itself from the planned #EndBadGovernance# nationwide protest slated for August 1, 2024, saying the people of the Southeast have nothing to benefit from it.
The group claimed that the only valid reason to gather was to protest the continuous detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu and demand his release.
SERHA claimed that Kanu is the only true Nigerian still held in detention and called on the people of the region not to participate in any form of protest that could worsen the security situation in the region and bring unrest to the country at large.
In a statement jointly signed by its President, Arinzechukwu Awogu, Anambra, Ugochukwu Ugwu, Vice President, Enugu, Nwogba Morgan and Secretary General, Ebonyi, Joseph Odumuko, Youths President, Abia, Mrs Lovett Emere, Imo, SERHA, urged the people of Southeast, to reflect on the past experiences where crisis and violence arising from the Western Region, saw the people of Southeast being the bearers of the brunt as it culminated in the Nigerian civil war that singled out the Igbos for annihilation.
It said the Civil War which started in 1967 and ended in the year 1970, left the entire Igbos in a state of ruins which they are yet to recover from and cannot afford to be sweet-tongued and cajoled into joining any such gang-up against the government of the day.
“Recall that during the same agitation in the West that all together led to the January 15, 1966 coup and the pogroms and eventually led to the brutal Nigerian Civil War, which particularly left a legacy of destruction against Ndigbo, death toll of over 3,000,000 people of Igbo origin, marginalization, economic setbacks/deprivations, criminal neglect/denials towards the people of the Eastern Region and in all of these; we suffered alone without the rest of the country coming together to protest against the travails of the South-East,” the group said.
Hardship: We’ll rather protest for Kanu’s release – Southeast group
Everton’s Branthwaite demands pay rise amid Man Utd interest
Everton defender, Jarrad Branthwaite, is reportedly seeking a significant pay increase amid interest from Manchester United, according to the Daily Mail.
Mirror UK on Thursday via its website reported that the 22-year-old centre-back, who has become a key player for Sean Dyche’s side, is said to be demanding that Everton match the £160,000-a-week salary offered by Manchester United.
Everton have already rejected two bids from United this summer, with the Merseyside club valuing Branthwaite at £70 million. United’s latest offer of £50 million fell short of this valuation.
Despite having three years remaining on his current contract, which is reportedly worth around £70,000-a-week, Everton are keen to offer Branthwaite improved terms. However, negotiations are likely to be postponed until the end of the transfer window.
The Daily Mail reports stated, “Branthwaite is ready to refuse any new terms if Everton do not come close to matching United’s proposal.”
This potential standoff comes at a crucial time for Everton, who have recently seen takeover talks with Friedkin Group collapse, prolonging owner Farhad Moshiri’s two-year effort to sell the club.
Manchester United, under new minority ownership, have reportedly taken a step back in their pursuit of Branthwaite after Everton reaffirmed their commitment to their £70 million valuation.
United’s sporting director Dan Ashworth’s last conversation with Everton’s Kevin Thelwell appears to have cooled negotiations.
United have already spent £52 million on defender Leny Yoro but are still in the market for defensive reinforcements.
Branthwaite is seen as an ideal candidate for United’s needs, but the club is adhering to a transfer policy that avoids “splashing needless cash on players.”
Despite the ongoing speculation, Branthwaite has returned to pre-season training with Everton.
The club remains hopeful of retaining their star defender while also pursuing other targets, including a potential loan deal for Napoli winger Jesper Lindstrom.
Nigeria has no future with thieves as leaders – Sam Amadi
The Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts, Sam Amadi, has said that Nigerians have no future with thieves as their leaders.
According to him, Nigeria buys one drone for $150m while the real cost is $5m, adding that it is the reason why the country cannot defeat insecurity.
Amadi, a former Executive Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, noted that those who deceived Nigerians that they could vote for corrupt politicians as President and Governors lied to them.
“Nigeria buys one drone for $150m while the real cost is $5m. Now you know why we cannot defeat insecurity.
“Whoever told you in 2023 that we could afford to vote normal corrupt politicians as president and Governors lied to you.
“We have no future with thieves as leaders,” Amadi posted on X.
His statement comes amid planned nationwide protests against bad governance in the country.
TVN reports that some Nigerians are mobilising for a nationwide protest slated for August 1 to August 10, 2024.
Tagged #EndBadGovernace, organisers of the protest have lamented the widespread hunger and inflation in the country.
Nigeria has no future with thieves as leaders – Sam Amadi
Buhari’s ex-aide, Ahmad opts out of #EndBadGovernance protest over Nnamdi Kanu
Former media aide to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, Bashir Ahmad, says he would never be a part of any protest seeking the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu from detention.
According to him, the Biafran agitator is a terrorist.
Ahmad made his feelings known following the release of demands from Omoleye Sowore, one of the organisers of the EndBadGovernance protests scheduled to commence on August 1st.
READ ALSO:IPOB hints it may resort to violence over continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu
Sowore had unveiled 14 key demands to be tabled to President Bola Tinubu’s government as reasons for the planned protests and part of the demands included the unconstitutional release of Kanu who has been in detention since his arrest in Kenya in 2021 despite courts granting him bail.
Ahmad, in a post on his X account on Thursday, faulted the decision of organizers of the protest to add the release of the leader of Kanu to their demands and vowed never to join the protest as a result of that.
“You should not expect me to join a protest where the unconditional release of terrorist Nnamdi Kanu is listed as one of the non-negotiable demands. Never!” Ahmad wrote.
You should not expect me to join a protest where the unconditional release of terrorist Nnamdi Kanu is listed as one of the non-negotiable demands. Never!
— Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) July 25, 2024
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Protest: Tinubu meets traditional rulers in Aso Rock
President Bola Tinubu is currently holding a private meeting with Traditional Rulers at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The President’s meeting with the monarchs is said to be the second closed-door meeting he is holding on Thursday amid calls for planned protest on August 1.
The only government officials reported to be at the meeting include the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, Members of the President’s cabinet, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator George Akume, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mele Kyar, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, Minister of Justice and the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, among others.
The traditional rulers in attendance are the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Abubakar III, Ooni Of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Dein Of Agbor, His Rohal Majesty Benjamin Ikenchukwu Keagborokuzi I.
The ongoing meeting is coming after an earlier meeting of the President with the members of the Progressive Governors Forum held earlier in the day.
The meeting also follows a Wednesday evening encounter with the Nigerian Governors Forum after the cancellation of the National Economic Council meeting earlier scheduled for Thursday afternoon.
It was gathered that the meeting might not be unconnected with moves to appease those planning to protest against the present administration over the prevailing economic situation in the country.
Protest: Tinubu meets traditional rulers in Aso Rock
New Barcelona coach Flick hails ‘unbelievable’ Yamal
New Barcelona coach Hansi Flick on Thursday hailed the performance of the Spanish club’s teenage winger Lamine Yamal at Euro 2024, calling it “unbelievable”.
Yamal made history in his country’s opening game against Croatia by becoming the youngest player ever to appear in a European Championship game at the age of 16 years and 338 days.
He then claimed another piece of history by becoming the youngest player ever to score a goal at the Euros in Spain’s 2-1 semi-final win against France, at the age of 16 years and 362 days.
Spain went on to beat England 2-1 in the final to win their fourth Euros on July 14, just a day after Yamal turned 17.
“He has done a really great job in the last year, he has improved a lot. What he did in the Euro is unbelievable,” Flick told a news conference as he was officially unveiled as Barcelona’s new coach.
“But great players maintain their performance and now it is necessary for him to keep his feet on the ground,” he added.
“I think he is a great guy. I spoke with him before, when I arrived, and he is now in this team and of course, he gives us great moments but he can improve and make things better. He is on a really fantastic path.”
Barca appointed the former Germany and Bayern Munich manager as head coach on a two-year contract in May after sacking Xavi Hernandez, tasking him with turning around the club’s fortunes following their trophy-less run last season.
“What I want to see is that we are playing really good football, attacking football, and that everyone can see that this team really gives a lot for this club. I think this is crucial,” Flick said.
“You can only win with the biggest clubs, which is why I am here. I am not saying that I will win every title like that but if we work hard we can achieve this,” the 59-year-old added.
Flick, who led German giants Bayern to a historic sextuple of trophies in 2020, became the first coach ever to be sacked by the German national team in September 2023 after a string of bad results.
AFP
Tinubu govt borrowing to enrich political class – CUPP Secretary, Ameh
The National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP, High Chief Peter Ahmeh has said the Nigerian economy is burdened by public debt, as reflected in the consistent deficit budget and constant borrowing.
He claimed that things were bad under Buhari but are now worse under the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Ameh, a former National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, noted that despite promises by the Tinubu government, the Nigerian economy continues to suffer under the weight of debt.
Chief Ameh highlighted that dwindling revenue and increasing government expenditures have led to frequent borrowing.
“These continuous borrowing and the justifications provided by the current administration for it is nothing but sophistry,” he said in a statement on Thursday.
”The government may need to borrow money to stimulate economic growth when a country has low domestic savings and a high current account payment deficit, requiring funds from external sources.
He said there are two main reasons for external borrowing which include to boost consumption or to finance the temporary balance of payment deficits and structural reasons.
“However, the current administration, like past administrations under President Buhari’s leadership, has significantly misused the idea of borrowing, going against universal principles.
“In Nigeria, our continuous borrowing seems to be for the political and financial benefits of the political class. Consequently, the country remains in a stagnant state.
Under the pretext of borrowing for infrastructural development, the current administration has enriched themselves and a select few through questionable projects and procurements.
Former President Buhari left Nigeria with a debt burden of about N77 trillion, which has now increased significantly under the current administration in a year to about N121.67 trillion.
He said this has led to an economic crisis, with food inflation rising to 40.87 percent in May from 25.28 percent in June as reported by the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS.
Tinubu govt borrowing to enrich political class – CUPP Secretary, Ameh
FG delays direct payment to LGs as AGF awaits S’Court ruling details
The Federal Government has not yet commenced direct payment of monthly allocations to Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, explained that the Supreme Court’s proceedings had not yet been communicated to the Attorney General of the Federation for proper study and implementation.
Recall that on July 11, 2024, a seven-man panel of the Supreme Court granted financial autonomy to the local governments, a decision opposed by some state governors.
The apex court emphasised the division of government power into three tiers: federal, state, and local governments.
The Federation Account Allocation Committee held its monthly meeting last week, which was supposed to mark the start of the direct disbursement of funds to the LGAs.
According to Leadership, the FG said it has yet to commence direct payment to the respective LGs due to some “practical impediments.”
Edun highlighted that the process is still in its early stages, and further steps will be taken once the full details are available.
He stated that a committee has been set up by the FG to look at the practicability of the judgement.
“The actual proceeding has not been handed down to the AGF,” Edun stated on Thursday at a quarterly media briefing on recent economic activities in the country.
Saturday According gathered that allocations from the Federation Account to the 774 LGs have increased by N900bn in the last 12 months.
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SGF, Akume, reveals Nigerian govt spent $1.5bn to combat crude oil theft, protect installations
The Federal Government has disclosed that it has spent a staggering $1.5 billion since 2020 to safeguard the nation’s oil installations and combat crude oil theft.
This revelation was made by the Secretary of the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, represented by Permanent Secretary, General Services, Maurice Nandi, at a public hearing of the House of Representatives on crude oil theft, on Thursday.
Akume cited the alarming report from the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), which estimated that over $46 billion worth of crude oil was stolen between 2009 and 2020.
In response, he said, the House of Representatives established a special committee, chaired by Ado Doguwa, to investigate the losses in the oil and gas sector.
READ ALSO:Akume begs Nigerians to remain calm amidst economic hardship
“The Federal Government was concerned about the report from the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), which pointed to over $46 billion worth of stolen crude between 2009 and 2020.
“The House had set up a special committee, headed by the Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Upstream, Ado Doguwa, to investigate the losses in the oil and gas sector,” Akume said.
The government’s significant expenditure underscores its commitment to addressing the scourge of crude oil theft and protecting the country’s vital oil installations.
The post SGF, Akume, reveals Nigerian govt spent $1.5bn to combat crude oil theft, protect installations appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.