The 2023 Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has charged those attacking him to focus on alleviating the sufferings of Nigerians.
Obi’s comment is coming when President Bola Tinubu’s spokesman, Bayo Onanuga accused Obi of planning mayhem in Nigeria.
Onanuga also painted Obi as a failed presidential candidate, stressing that he should be held responsible for whatever crisis that would emanate from the action.
However, Obi said his attackers should use the energy against him to focus on making Nigeria a great place.
Posting on X, the former Anambra State governor wrote: “I urge you to channel your energy and resources towards helping everyday Nigerians who are struggling to find their next meal, secure education for their children, gain employment, and access adequate healthcare.
“Rather than fabricating lies, you and your paymasters should listen to the cries of the poor, who cannot afford medicine and who are uncertain about their next meal. Pay attention to the voices of reason from individuals and institutions that emphasize the plight of our citizens. Let us unite in building a nation where everyone can thrive-PO”
Onanuga: Stop attacking me, end hardship in Nigeria – Peter Obi to critics
Onanuga: Stop attacking me, end hardship in Nigeria – Peter Obi to critics
‘You’re playing with fire’ – Uganda’s President warns protest organisers
Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has issued a stern warning to protesters that they will be playing with fire if they proceed with plans to stage an anti-corruption march to parliament.
Uganda’s youths have been organizing the march on social media to demand an end to corruption in government.
Recall Kenya’s youths had also organized mass demonstrations that forced President William Ruto to drop plans to increase taxes, morphing into calls for his resignation.
Museveni, in a televised address, warned the Ugandan organizers that their planned protest would not be tolerated.
“We are busy producing wealth and you want to disturb us. You are playing with fire because we cannot allow you to disturb us,” he said.
Museveni is accused by his critics of ruling Uganda with an iron hand since taking power in 1986, but his supporters praise him for maintaining stability in the East African state.
The president also accused some of the protest organizers of always working with foreigners to cause chaos in Uganda.
Uganda police had earlier announced that they had refused to give permission for the march to take place when parliament opens on Tuesday.
‘You’re playing with fire’ – Uganda’s President warns protest organisers
500 arrested in Bangladesh over violent protest
Dhaka Metropolitan Police Spokesman, Faruk Hossain, on Monday revealed that over 500 people, including some opposition leaders have been detained over a series of violent protests in Bangladesh.
Hossain said that the third-most senior leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, BNP, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, and the spokesperson, Rahul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed were among the detainees.
He added that a former national football captain turned senior BNP figure, Aminul Huq and Mia Golam Parwar, the General Secretary of the country’s largest Islamist party, Jamaat-e-Islami, were also arrested.
The Police spokesperson confirmed that at least three policemen had been killed during the unrest in the capital and about 1,000 injured.
500 arrested in Bangladesh over violent protest
Equitable distribution of resources will douse growing tension across Nigeria – Don tells Tinubu, others
A lecturer in the department of Politics and International Relations at Lead City University, Ibadan, Emma Jimo, has declared that an equitable distribution of resources will go a long way to douse the growing tension across the country.
Jimo, who specialised in foreign policy analysis and political communication, made this declaration while speaking during an interview with TVN in Ibadan at the weekend.
He added that there is tension in most parts of the country.
He also suggested that the improvement of social infrastructure will also help to put Nigeria in the right shape.
Jimo said, “Improvement of socioeconomic conditions and standards of living will do a lot to help.
“Improvement of social infrastructure is similarly germane.
“Redressing perceived or real injustice in the Nigerian polity and equitable distribution of resources will no doubt help douse the swirling tension and consequent insecurity.”
Equitable distribution of resources will douse growing tension across Nigeria – Don tells Tinubu, others
‘We bought teenage daughter SUV because we can afford it’ – Plateau lawmaker’s wife blasts critics
Layla Ali Othman, the wife of Plateau State House of Representatives member, Yusuf Gagdi, has blasted Nigerians for criticising her husband for buying a new Sport Utility Vehicle, SUV, for their daughter, Aisha, as a secondary school graduation’s gift.
TVN reports that Gagdi gifted his teenage daughter the luxurious car, to celebrate her secondary school graduation from the Lead British International School Abuja.
The lawmaker faced backlash for gifting the teenager such an expensive car amid Nigeria’s current economic challenges.
However, reacting to the criticism in a trending Facebook post on Sunday, Layla stated that they bought the car because they could afford it.
“If you want to give information, you should get your facts right. It is a 2021 model. And yes, it is equally expensive, we are proud of our child, as she did very well in school.
“And yes, we bought her the car because we could afford it. But the car wasn’t bought with constituency money or government allocated funds for the people. If you do not believe, kindly argue with your ancestors.”
‘We bought teenage daughter SUV because we can afford it’ – Plateau lawmaker’s wife blasts critics
119 passengers, 6 crew members escape death as Max Air aircraft loses tyres during take-off
A Max Airline aircraft lost six tyres while trying to depart Yola Airport in Adamawa state to Abuja on Sunday evening.
This was contained in a statement by the Director of Public and Consumer Protection of the airline, Bimbo Oladeji.
Oladeji said that the aircraft was carrying 119 passengers and six crew members.
“This evening, Max Air’s flight NGL1649, a Boeing 737 with registration 5N-ADB, carrying 119 passengers and six crew members, was cleared for takeoff from Yola Airport en route to Abuja,” she said in a statement late Sunday.
She explained that during the takeoff roll, a loud bang was heard, identified as the bursting of the rear gear tyres, adding that initially, two tyres burst.
According to her, while the plane was trying to taxi off the runway, the remaining two tyres also burst, rendering the aircraft completely disabled.
Oladeji said that fortunately no one was injured in the incident.
“Fortunately, no injuries were reported. A go-team, led by NSIB Director General Captain Alex Badeh Jr., will visit the incident site tomorrow morning to conduct an investigation,” Oladeji said.
119 passengers, 6 crew members escape death as Max Air aircraft loses tyres during take-off
Hardship: Group warns youths on planned protests, says Nigeria yet to recover from EndSARS scars
A group, Self Reliance for Physically Challenged Traders of Nigeria, has warned against plunging the country into chaos through violent protest.
A statement issued on Monday by Comrade Munnir Shehu and Alhaji Yakubu Ibrahim, Chairman and Secretary of the group, while reacting to the planned protests by youths against president Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s led administration on alledged hardship posed on the country through his new policies and reforms in an open letter on “the negative impacts of youth protest against president Bola Ahmed Tinubu”.
In the letter, the group noted that Nigeria is yet to recover from the scars posed on the nation by the 2021 EndSARS protest, stressing that such the government must put up appropriate measures to stop any protest that would lead to the breakdown of laws and order.
The group further disclosed that the disability group would try everything possible to mobilize it’s members both for self defence and for the integrity of Nigeria, adding that embracing constructive dialogue remains panacea to solve Nigeria’s problem and not protest.
“We, the self-reliance for Physically Challenged Traders of Nigeria, are compelled to urgently address the recent calls for youth protests against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We firmly believe that such actions pose a significant and imminent threat to our nation’s stability, unity, and progress, and could potentially plunge our country into chaos, comparable to the destabilization seen in other nations experiencing similar unrest.
“Let it be known that if these protests proceed, we will mobilize massively across the country to defend our rights and the integrity of Nigeria. Protests of this nature are not only unproductive but also dangerously destabilizing, ” the statement explained.
The group stated that the risk of plunging the nation into chaos, undermining the very fabric of the society, and inflicting harm on all citizens, especially the physically challenged community who are often the most vulnerable during times of unrest, said that they do not want to experience the turmoil and violence that occurred during the EndSARS protests, which left deep scars on the nation.
The statement called on the youth and all concerned citizens to consider the potential consequences of their actions, saying that the government has taken significant steps to address the pressing issues facing the nation with the introduction of student loans, designed to make education more accessible and attainable for all, and the proposed ₦70,000 minimum wage, aimed at improving the standard of living for workers and their families.
It added that the Npower program, which has provided valuable employment and training opportunities for countless Nigerians, will continue to be a cornerstone of the government’s efforts to combat unemployment and enhance skills development, stressing that all outstanding issues related to the program will be resolved, and the stipends will be increased from ₦30,000 to a higher, more sustainable amount, ensuring that participants receive fair compensation for their contributions.
The group appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to fill the existing ministerial vacancies promptly by appointing qualified individuals to the crucial positions to enhance the efficiency of the government’s operations and ensure that all sectors are functioning optimally.
Hardship: Group warns youths on planned protests, says Nigeria yet to recover from EndSARS scars
Nigerians in pain, frustrated – Anglican Bishop to Tinubu
The Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Owo in Ondo State, Reverend Stephen Fagbemi, says the economic difficulties in Nigeria have left her citizens in great pain and frustration.
Reverend Fagbemi stated this during the third session of the 14th Synod of the Church held at St Stephen’s Church, Ipele in Owo local government area of the state.
The cleric urged President Bola Tinubu to as a matter of urgency, redouble efforts to tackle the security challenge and economic hardship facing Nigerians.
He noted that the effects of the current economic hardship are real and painful.
“Unless urgent and effective steps are taken to curtail the effects of the current economic situation in the country, Nigeria may witness an uncontrollable rise in crime.
“Nigeria has become a harder place to live in as evident in the fact that many people are leaving the country for greener pastures while many are finding themselves in difficult situations where they fled to.
“Nigeria and its people have encountered acute economic hardship within the past year owing to the sudden removal of petroleum subsidy and due to devaluation and instability of the foreign exchange.
“The resultant effects of these actions are the harsh economic reality that Nigerians are facing daily. Inflation is almost out of control and prices of goods and commodities have risen astronomically.
“It has become hard for people to feed their families. Perhaps only a very few wealthy individuals can claim to be comfortable at the moment.
“We urge our government to work harder at diversifying our economy. Already, it is evident that unemployment is very high, as so many graduates are walking about without any job or means of livelihood. This makes the future look bleak and hopeless for many,” Fagbemi said.
He noted that despite the economic quagmire, Nigeria has continued to borrow while “the political class is not undergoing any serious economic adjustment as their monthly take-home which is humongous is a shameless inconsideration of the plight of their electorate.”
Nigerians in pain, frustrated – Anglican Bishop to Tinubu
GEJ gave Dangote, others too much waivers, destroyed small businesses – Aisha Yesufu
A social critic, Aisha Yesufu has said that former President Goodluck Jonathan gave Aliko Dangote and other rich so much waivers during his tenure.
Yesufu said the action consequently destroyed small businesses in the process.
Her statement comes amid an alleged soured relationship between Dangote and the regulators of the nation’s oil industry.
TVN recalls that the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority recently said that the Dangote refinery has not been licensed to begin operations in the country.
However, in a post on her X handle on Monday, Yesufu said there was also a lot of money laundering through predatory pricing that took a lot of businesses down.
She said: “We are eager to forget and romanticize the past. GEJ gave Dangote and co so much waivers and destroyed small businesses in the process. There was also a lot of money laundering through predatory pricing that took a lot of businesses down.”
GEJ gave Dangote, others too much waivers, destroyed small businesses – Aisha Yesufu
Nigerian govt sets July 31 deadline for civil servants’ verification
The Federal Government has set a deadline of July 31 for all civil servants to complete a mandatory verification process through the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) portal.
This move aims to eliminate ghost workers and ensure accurate payroll records.
Concerns Addressed, Time Pressure Mounts:
The announcement followed reports of a planned suspension of salaries for unverified civil servants.
The verification process requires individuals to provide their IPPIS number, salary account number, and Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN).
A surge in applications for TIN at Federal Inland Revenue Services offices nationwide suggests some civil servants may be facing challenges meeting the deadline.
READ ALSO:Lagos govt extends flexible work regime for civil servants by three months
Previous Efforts and Expected Outcome:
This is not the first time the government has undertaken a civil service verification exercise. Previous efforts have yielded some success in identifying and removing ghost workers from the payroll. The current deadline, however, creates a sense of urgency for many civil servants who may have previously delayed the verification process.
Impact on Efficiency and Transparency:
A successful verification exercise could have significant positive impacts. By eliminating ghost workers, the government can ensure that public funds are directed towards legitimate salaries and benefits. Additionally, a more accurate payroll system could improve budgeting and resource allocation within the civil service.
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