IYANDA'SBLOG

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Tense times in Europe's biggest city. Trump eyes up 2020. And Africa's festival of sport begins.

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Ginger Spice says she regrets leaving the band at the height of their fame, as their reunion tour ends.

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The wife of the former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn wants pressure put on Japan over his legal battle.

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Joshua Wong, who became the face of the 2014 Umbrella Movement, has been released from prison.

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Police arrest two Italians in Thailand who posed as George Clooney to promote a fashion business.

Saudi Energy Minister, Khalid al-Falih Reuters

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries is likely to meet in the first week in July in Vienna to review oil production cut.

Saudi Arabia's Energy Minister, Khalid al-Falih said OPEC would probably meet in the first week in July in Vienna and that he hoped it would reach consensus on extending its agreement to cut oil output.

Falih had said earlier this month that OPEC was close to agreeing to extend the agreement beyond June, although more talks were still needed with non-OPEC countries that were part of the production deal.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries plus Russia and other producers, an alliance known as OPEC+, have a deal to cut output by 1.2 million barrels per day (bpd) from Jan. 1. The pact ends this month and the group meets in coming weeks to decide their next move.

“We are hoping that we will reach consensus to extend our agreement when we meet in two-weeks-time in Vienna,” Falih told reporters on the sideline of a G20 energy and environment ministerial meeting in Karuizawa, northwest of Tokyo.

Asked when the meeting will be held, he said: “Probably the first week of July”.

It was not completely clear whether the agreement would also include OPEC, Voice of Nigeria reports.

OPEC was set to meet on June 25, followed by talks with its allies led by Russia on June 26. But Russia suggested a date change to July 3 to 4, according to sources within the group.

Falih said that oil demand usually picks up in the second half the year, with refineries coming back from maintenance and with seasonal demand boost, and that the new agreement would help rebalance the market.

“I’m fairly confident that fundamentals are going in a right direction,” he said.

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Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi says he is ‘flattered’ by the transfer speculation linking him with a summer move to top English Premiership club Manchester United.

Ndidi’s consistent performances have seen him linked with a number of high profile moves this summer, with the likes of Man-U, Arsenal, and Liverpool all reportedly interested in his services.

The 22-year-old’s has been linked with a move away from Leicester in the coming weeks following a sensational season at the King Power Stadium.

The Nigerian star was an ever-present for Leicester in the Premier League during the previous campaign with his combative midfield performances drawing plenty of praise from supporters and pundits alike.

“I am flattered when hearing such a thing,” Ndidi told Goal.com.

“I am focusing on AFCON with Nigeria now, and then pre-season with Leicester City. We have a great manager with the ambition to compete with big clubs in the Premier League.”

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Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi says he is ‘flattered’ by the transfer speculation linking him with a summer move to top English Premiership club Manchester United.

Ndidi’s consistent performances have seen him linked with a number of high profile moves this summer, with the likes of Man-U, Arsenal, and Liverpool all reportedly interested in his services.

The 22-year-old’s has been linked with a move away from Leicester in the coming weeks following a sensational season at the King Power Stadium.

The Nigerian star was an ever-present for Leicester in the Premier League during the previous campaign with his combative midfield performances drawing plenty of praise from supporters and pundits alike.

“I am flattered when hearing such a thing,” Ndidi told Goal.com.

“I am focusing on AFCON with Nigeria now, and then pre-season with Leicester City. We have a great manager with the ambition to compete with big clubs in the Premier League.”

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Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, says there is the need to teach men to honour women not just their wives, reminding them that women are not subordinate to men.

Osinbajo stated this while speaking to State House correspondents after celebrating this year’s Fathers’ Day at the Aso Villa Chapel, Abuja.

The vice president was joined at the service by his mother, Mrs. Olubisi Osinbajo, Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha and others.

He said, “I think the responsibility of the father is incredible indeed and I think what is most important is to teach our men, young men growing up, that they must honour women, not just their wives.

“Of course, you must honour and love your wives, but I think that it is very important that we honour women. We don’t treat them as subordinate to us; they are created equal to men.

“But most important, we must honour them and recognize their role as partners, not just in families, but in society as well.”

Prof. Osinbajo said men have important roles to play in society, pointing out that it is not the ability to have a child that makes a man father, reports Voice of Nigeria.

“It is not the ability to father a child, the ability to have a child that makes you a father; it is the courage to bring up one, ability to raise one.

“That’s what really makes you a father and I think the responsibilities of fatherhood are so many, whether one is a biological father or whether you are one who wants to take care of other children.

“I think that all of us, as men, have a role to play in the life of so many, not just our biological children but so many of them who have no fathers, even to some who have fathers to who we have responsibility to set example to lead exemplary life, to bring them up as scripture says in the way of the Lord.”

Also speaking, Omo-Agege, who earlier took the first Reading of the service taken from Malachi 1:3-6, said: "It is not what we tell our children, but the lives we lead and they see us lead” that is important in the life of fathers.”

He said this would help a lot in the formative years of children and make them responsible members of society.

Mustapha said the Fathers’ Day was not about the celebration but a reminder of the role men have to play in their families as the physical and spiritual head.

“It’s not about the celebration; I think it’s a constant reminder about our responsibilities as fathers.

“We are reminded of the fact that, first, we are the priests of our homes; so we ought to pray for our families.

“And when you have children that are aware that as a father, you are praying for them, the chances of their drifting will not be there because they know that the eyes of their father are constantly on them.

“Constantly, you are reminding God that he has entrusted you with this responsibility and you ought to live up to the responsibility.

“The second thing is that, as fathers, we are supposed to exemplify the life of Christ in the lives of our children because we are just like letters that our children read on a daily basis.

“It is not about how much we say, or what (we) say; it is about our lifestyle.

“The other reminder is that we are breadwinners in our families and we ought to provide for our families.”

Mr. Mustapha had earlier taken the second reading of the service taken from Exodus 17:8-16

Delivering the sermon, the Chaplain of the Aso Villa Chapel, Reverend Seyi Malomo, advised fathers to be sensitive to discern any aggression that could harm their families.

Malomo also said fathers should lead their children in spiritual exercises like fasting and prayer, reminding them that their actions have direct implications for their children.

The highlight of the service was the presentation of gifts to President Buhari, Vice-President Osinbajo, president of the senate, speaker of the house of representatives and others.

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Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, says there is the need to teach men to honour women not just their wives, reminding them that women are not subordinate to men.

Osinbajo stated this while speaking to State House correspondents after celebrating this year’s Fathers’ Day at the Aso Villa Chapel, Abuja.

The vice president was joined at the service by his mother, Mrs. Olubisi Osinbajo, Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha and others.

He said, “I think the responsibility of the father is incredible indeed and I think what is most important is to teach our men, young men growing up, that they must honour women, not just their wives.

“Of course, you must honour and love your wives, but I think that it is very important that we honour women. We don’t treat them as subordinate to us; they are created equal to men.

“But most important, we must honour them and recognize their role as partners, not just in families, but in society as well.”

Prof. Osinbajo said men have important roles to play in society, pointing out that it is not the ability to have a child that makes a man father, reports Voice of Nigeria.

“It is not the ability to father a child, the ability to have a child that makes you a father; it is the courage to bring up one, ability to raise one.

“That’s what really makes you a father and I think the responsibilities of fatherhood are so many, whether one is a biological father or whether you are one who wants to take care of other children.

“I think that all of us, as men, have a role to play in the life of so many, not just our biological children but so many of them who have no fathers, even to some who have fathers to who we have responsibility to set example to lead exemplary life, to bring them up as scripture says in the way of the Lord.”

Also speaking, Omo-Agege, who earlier took the first Reading of the service taken from Malachi 1:3-6, said: "It is not what we tell our children, but the lives we lead and they see us lead” that is important in the life of fathers.”

He said this would help a lot in the formative years of children and make them responsible members of society.

Mustapha said the Fathers’ Day was not about the celebration but a reminder of the role men have to play in their families as the physical and spiritual head.

“It’s not about the celebration; I think it’s a constant reminder about our responsibilities as fathers.

“We are reminded of the fact that, first, we are the priests of our homes; so we ought to pray for our families.

“And when you have children that are aware that as a father, you are praying for them, the chances of their drifting will not be there because they know that the eyes of their father are constantly on them.

“Constantly, you are reminding God that he has entrusted you with this responsibility and you ought to live up to the responsibility.

“The second thing is that, as fathers, we are supposed to exemplify the life of Christ in the lives of our children because we are just like letters that our children read on a daily basis.

“It is not about how much we say, or what (we) say; it is about our lifestyle.

“The other reminder is that we are breadwinners in our families and we ought to provide for our families.”

Mr. Mustapha had earlier taken the second reading of the service taken from Exodus 17:8-16

Delivering the sermon, the Chaplain of the Aso Villa Chapel, Reverend Seyi Malomo, advised fathers to be sensitive to discern any aggression that could harm their families.

Malomo also said fathers should lead their children in spiritual exercises like fasting and prayer, reminding them that their actions have direct implications for their children.

The highlight of the service was the presentation of gifts to President Buhari, Vice-President Osinbajo, president of the senate, speaker of the house of representatives and others.

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Many are feared killed in Jauro-Sabai, a suburb of Jalingo, the Taraba state capital, as rampaging herdsmen are reported to have invaded the area shooting.

Residents of Nukai, ATC, Kasuwan Bera, and Jauro-Sabai have reportedly fled the area, as rattling gunshots continue to rend the air.

Barnabas Francis, a resident of Kasuwan Bera, said to SaharaReporters on the telephone: "Jalingo is on fire. Fulani herdsmen are on the rampage firing gunshots randomly here. We're on the run.

"Some of our relations who escaped from Jauro-Sabai reported that many houses in the area have been razed, and from here we can see thick smoke billowing."

Ishaku Danzumi, who also spoke with SaharaReporters, said, "Fulani herdsmen in droves have invaded ATC and Jauro-Sabai. They are firing shots everywhere. Only God can save us tonight.

However, Police in Taraba could not categorically state the situation, as David Misal, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), said the command has responded to a distress call from Yelwan-Tau, a community around ATC.

"I can't confirm anything to you now, what I know for now is that we got a distress call from Yelwan-Tau and our men have been dispatched to tackle whatever security challenge in the area.

"So as it is, I can't tell you anything about the impact or casualty issues, for now, please," Misal said.

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Power shift to the South-west in 2023 is the best honour that can be bestowed on the late Chief MKO Abiola, Ahmed Lawan has said.

Lawan stated this on Saturday in Yola, Adamawa State, in an interview with journalists.

He, therefore, advised President Muhammadu Buhari and his party, the APC, to take a step further by handing over the 2023 presidential ticket to the South-west.

"The president and indeed our party must beware of divisive elements who are now proponents of retaining power in the north beyond 2023," Lawan said.

He added, "I have said it before and I believe that 2023 presidential ticket of the APC must go to the South-west. Since I made this comment last time, some members of my party have been hatching a plot to suspend me from the party but I am not moved and I will still hold my ground that power must go to the west. 

"June 12 Democracy Day is a milestone in Nigeria's history and anyone who embraces democracy in Nigeria should be proud of what Buhari has done and it takes so much courage to do.

"So many Nigerian leaders have shied away from talking or acting about it because of the controversy arising from the date and fear of being scandalized but this is what Nigerians want, respect, rule of law and honour for those who fought and bled for democracy and that is what Nigerians should remember as significant for this date. 

"It was not marked to spite or contradict anyone but to celebrate the common value we share in the belief in democracy as the best form of government that would serve this country and its people. And Buhari must be praised for this day."

On whether the day is widely acceptable, he said, "I don't think Nigerians rejected it in any way, on the contrary, it has been welcomed with huge applause across party and regional divides."
 

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Power shift to the South-west in 2023 is the best honour that can be bestowed on the late Chief MKO Abiola, Ahmed Lawan has said.

Lawan stated this on Saturday in Yola, Adamawa State, in an interview with journalists.

He, therefore, advised President Muhammadu Buhari and his party, the APC, to take a step further by handing over the 2023 presidential ticket to the South-west.

"The president and indeed our party must beware of divisive elements who are now proponents of retaining power in the north beyond 2023," Lawan said.

He added, "I have said it before and I believe that 2023 presidential ticket of the APC must go to the South-west. Since I made this comment last time, some members of my party have been hatching a plot to suspend me from the party but I am not moved and I will still hold my ground that power must go to the west. 

"June 12 Democracy Day is a milestone in Nigeria's history and anyone who embraces democracy in Nigeria should be proud of what Buhari has done and it takes so much courage to do.

"So many Nigerian leaders have shied away from talking or acting about it because of the controversy arising from the date and fear of being scandalized but this is what Nigerians want, respect, rule of law and honour for those who fought and bled for democracy and that is what Nigerians should remember as significant for this date. 

"It was not marked to spite or contradict anyone but to celebrate the common value we share in the belief in democracy as the best form of government that would serve this country and its people. And Buhari must be praised for this day."

On whether the day is widely acceptable, he said, "I don't think Nigerians rejected it in any way, on the contrary, it has been welcomed with huge applause across party and regional divides."
 

Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Power shift to the South-west in 2023 is the best honour that can be bestowed on the late Chief MKO Abiola, Ahmed Lawan has said.

Lawan stated this on Saturday in Yola, Adamawa State, in an interview with journalists.

He, therefore, advised President Muhammadu Buhari and his party, the APC, to take a step further by handing over the 2023 presidential ticket to the South-west.

"The president and indeed our party must beware of divisive elements who are now proponents of retaining power in the north beyond 2023," Lawan said.

He added, "I have said it before and I believe that 2023 presidential ticket of the APC must go to the South-west. Since I made this comment last time, some members of my party have been hatching a plot to suspend me from the party but I am not moved and I will still hold my ground that power must go to the west. 

"June 12 Democracy Day is a milestone in Nigeria's history and anyone who embraces democracy in Nigeria should be proud of what Buhari has done and it takes so much courage to do.

"So many Nigerian leaders have shied away from talking or acting about it because of the controversy arising from the date and fear of being scandalized but this is what Nigerians want, respect, rule of law and honour for those who fought and bled for democracy and that is what Nigerians should remember as significant for this date. 

"It was not marked to spite or contradict anyone but to celebrate the common value we share in the belief in democracy as the best form of government that would serve this country and its people. And Buhari must be praised for this day."

On whether the day is widely acceptable, he said, "I don't think Nigerians rejected it in any way, on the contrary, it has been welcomed with huge applause across party and regional divides."
 

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Omoyele Sowore, human rights activist has called on the Nigerian government to deliver justice for people from the South-east region Nigeria popularly called Biafrans.

Nigeria engaged in a civil war with the region from 1967 to 1970 killing many civilians in the process.

He made the call while responding to a question on the Biafran agitation while speaking to Nigerians at a town hall meeting organised by the Take It Back Movement in Greece. 

Sowore said, "People are agitating for Biafra because they are looking for justice, the kind of justice that eluded them before the war, during the war and after the war.

"If they are guaranteed the justice that they are looking for, Nigeria is too small for Igbo's. Igbo's have conquered the world in terms of sports, business and professionalism. There is nowhere you go to in America that you don't find them in health care and sports, the same with the Yoruba and the Hausa but in their situation, the Igbo's were unjustly oppressed, killed, destroyed and emasculated within the Nigerian nation."

He, however, condemned the tolerance of leaders in the region for political leaders who participated first hand in the war and who have continued to oppress the people of the region.

"The biggest error, however, is that Biafran leaders are very quick to vote for people who participated in the war.

"Didn't Buhari participate in the war? Why was he allowed to even campaign in the East? Didn't Obasanjo participate in the war? 

"Every time there is an opportunity to have a new President that comes from the South-east, the first people they will bring to reject it are South-easterners. When Babangida wanted to leave, it was Nzeribe who said he must stay forever. When Abacha wanted to remain in power, they brought strong men for the East to endorse his continued stay. When Obasanjo wanted to elongate his tenure for three terms, it was one Odumegwu who used to be in Nigerian Breweries that was leading the agenda.

"But my question is, why can't we find someone from the South-east who can do a better job? Why are they ahead of everybody saying this Yoruba person must not leave power, when is power going to reach the South East if each time there is an opening, you say the person who is there must continue?

"We must review the position of these leaders.

"The conversation about Biafra must be about how we can save our general humanity," he concluded.

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Omoyele Sowore, human rights activist has called on the Nigerian government to deliver justice for people from the South-east region Nigeria popularly called Biafrans.

Nigeria engaged in a civil war with the region from 1967 to 1970 killing many civilians in the process.

He made the call while responding to a question on the Biafran agitation while speaking to Nigerians at a town hall meeting organised by the Take It Back Movement in Greece. 

Sowore said, "People are agitating for Biafra because they are looking for justice, the kind of justice that eluded them before the war, during the war and after the war.

"If they are guaranteed the justice that they are looking for, Nigeria is too small for Igbo's. Igbo's have conquered the world in terms of sports, business and professionalism. There is nowhere you go to in America that you don't find them in health care and sports, the same with the Yoruba and the Hausa but in their situation, the Igbo's were unjustly oppressed, killed, destroyed and emasculated within the Nigerian nation."

He, however, condemned the tolerance of leaders in the region for political leaders who participated first hand in the war and who have continued to oppress the people of the region.

"The biggest error, however, is that Biafran leaders are very quick to vote for people who participated in the war.

"Didn't Buhari participate in the war? Why was he allowed to even campaign in the East? Didn't Obasanjo participate in the war? 

"Every time there is an opportunity to have a new President that comes from the South-east, the first people they will bring to reject it are South-easterners. When Babangida wanted to leave, it was Nzeribe who said he must stay forever. When Abacha wanted to remain in power, they brought strong men for the East to endorse his continued stay. When Obasanjo wanted to elongate his tenure for three terms, it was one Odumegwu who used to be in Nigerian Breweries that was leading the agenda.

"But my question is, why can't we find someone from the South-east who can do a better job? Why are they ahead of everybody saying this Yoruba person must not leave power, when is power going to reach the South East if each time there is an opening, you say the person who is there must continue?

"We must review the position of these leaders.

"The conversation about Biafra must be about how we can save our general humanity," he concluded.

Human Rights Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Omoyele Sowore, human rights activist has called on the Nigerian government to deliver justice for people from the South-east region Nigeria popularly called Biafrans.

Nigeria engaged in a civil war with the region from 1967 to 1970 killing many civilians in the process.

He made the call while responding to a question on the Biafran agitation while speaking to Nigerians at a town hall meeting organised by the Take It Back Movement in Greece. 

Sowore said, "People are agitating for Biafra because they are looking for justice, the kind of justice that eluded them before the war, during the war and after the war.

"If they are guaranteed the justice that they are looking for, Nigeria is too small for Igbo's. Igbo's have conquered the world in terms of sports, business and professionalism. There is nowhere you go to in America that you don't find them in health care and sports, the same with the Yoruba and the Hausa but in their situation, the Igbo's were unjustly oppressed, killed, destroyed and emasculated within the Nigerian nation."

He, however, condemned the tolerance of leaders in the region for political leaders who participated first hand in the war and who have continued to oppress the people of the region.

"The biggest error, however, is that Biafran leaders are very quick to vote for people who participated in the war.

"Didn't Buhari participate in the war? Why was he allowed to even campaign in the East? Didn't Obasanjo participate in the war? 

"Every time there is an opportunity to have a new President that comes from the South-east, the first people they will bring to reject it are South-easterners. When Babangida wanted to leave, it was Nzeribe who said he must stay forever. When Abacha wanted to remain in power, they brought strong men for the East to endorse his continued stay. When Obasanjo wanted to elongate his tenure for three terms, it was one Odumegwu who used to be in Nigerian Breweries that was leading the agenda.

"But my question is, why can't we find someone from the South-east who can do a better job? Why are they ahead of everybody saying this Yoruba person must not leave power, when is power going to reach the South East if each time there is an opening, you say the person who is there must continue?

"We must review the position of these leaders.

"The conversation about Biafra must be about how we can save our general humanity," he concluded.

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The BBC finds evidence that prescription drugs have been sold illegally by Ugandan health workers.

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The vote in Görlitz was viewed as a test for the anti-immigration party ahead of regional elections.

The OPC led by Aare Gani Adams has said it was ready to flush out armed herdsmen kidnapping and perpetrating criminal activities in the region.

The Ondo State Coordinator of the group, Mr. Victor Olayemi, said this during a summit organized by South-west governors to discuss the rising spate of violence and crimes in the region.

Olayemi, however, added that the group was waiting for a directive from the governors in the region, saying it needed their backing before it could launch any successful operation.

The OPC leader said the group would have struck against the criminals terrorizing the region but they were being checked by some leaders in the region.

He said, “We would have struck and stopped the herdsmen terrorizing the South-West but we are waiting to be given a go-ahead.  We will be happy if the government is ready to partner us to tackle the bandits.

“On the summit, we have not heard anything from the governors about it, but if they want our inputs, we will be happy to join them. Herdsmen cannot be holding us to ransom in the South-West; we have what it takes to stop them.”

The Coordinating Supervisor of the OPC in Osun State,  Adedeji Aladesawe, said the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland who is also the National Leader of the OPC wrote letters to governors in the region about eight months ago on the infiltration of the region by herdsmen.

He said, “Aare (Gani Adams) wrote to the governors and prominent traditional rulers in the region eight months ago, informing them of the infiltration of the region by the bandits.

“When he did not get any response from them, he wrote a reminder. Yet no action was taken. He (Adams) requested a security summit that would involve all stakeholders on the matter, but nothing was done, despite the warning.”

Meanwhile, governors of states in the South-west have reached out to the army, police and other security agencies on the need to redouble their efforts to stop atrocities being perpetrated by armed herdsmen and other criminals in the region.

The Commissioner for Information in Ekiti State, Mr. Muyiwa Olumilua, told one of our correspondents on Saturday that Governor Kayode Fayemi had reached out to the police and other security agencies in the state on the issue.

The Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, has also told the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Yusuf Buratai, on the need to assist in flushing out kidnappers from the state.

The Ondo State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, said governors in the region in conjunction with all stakeholders would hold a security meeting on the rampaging armed herdsmen in the region.

Olumilua told SUNDAY PUNCH that Fayemi was determined to end the crisis.

He said, “Only on Thursday, the Nigerian Army, 323 Brigade in Akure said they were going all out to stamp out insecurity in Ondo and Ekiti states.

“Less than three weeks ago, the governor summoned all the traditional rulers in the state to warn subjects in their domains to become security conscious, report unusual activities that can help police foil crime and possible arrest of criminals.”

The Chief Press Secretary to Osun State Governor, Mr. Adeniyi Adesina, told one of our correspondents that the state would use an all-encompassing approach to end insecurity in the state.

Meanwhile, the Afenifere led by Senator Ayo Fasanmi has said it will hold a mini-security summit on insecurity in the South-West on June 19.

The spokesperson for the group, Mr. Abiodun Akin-Fasae, who said this in an interview with one of our correspondents, said the group was worried by the insecurity in the region.

Also, the Publicity Secretary of the Afenifere, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, told SUNDAY PUNCH that the group was concerned about the rising insecurity in the region.  He said leaders of the group would attend the security summit being proposed by the South West governors if they were invited.

He said, “The issue of security is a concern of everybody. Though we have not heard anything about the summit other than what we are hearing from the governors. If they invite us to participate, we will but the summit should be organised with all sincerity. It should not be politicized. “

The Ondo State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Yemi Olowolabi, said the summit would involve all stakeholders in the South-West, maintaining that the summit would not have anything to do with politics.

He said, “The venue and time of the summit would be decided by the governors but I want to assure you that the summit would not be based on politics. Lagos, Oyo, and Ondo had organised security summits before and they were all successful, I believe based on this, the proposed security summit will be successful.

“When it is time, all the stakeholders in the South-West would be involved in the security summit, none will be left out.”

In a related development, the President of a faction of OPC, Prince Osibote, has called on the Federal Government to check the criminal activities of armed Fulani herdsmen in Yoruba land before the situation degenerates.

The group also warned armed herdsmen and all criminals in the region to relocate or be ready to meet their Waterloo.

Osibote, who succeeded the late Dr. Fredrick Fasehun, gave the warning in a statement on Saturday.

He said, “We are watching the unfolding ugly developments with keen interest. Yoruba and other residents in the South-West should not panic. We are however calling on the Federal Government to quickly address this insecurity problem before it further degenerates. OPC leaders will not watch helplessly or fold their hands while some criminals are making life difficult for people and behaving as if they are above the law.

“Enough is enough. Yoruba are peace-loving and hospitable. We welcome everybody with open arms, but the OPC will not allow any individual or group to make the South-West unsafe or turn Yorubaland into a den of criminals. Time is up for these criminals abducting people. This is the final warning to them; they should stop now or relocate elsewhere outside the South-West. If they fail to do so, they will soon meet their Waterloo.”

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Bola Tinubu

A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Bode George, has commended Kola Abiola, the son of the late MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the Jun 12, 1993, election, for exposing former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and other “June 12 opportunists.”

George said this to PUNCH while reacting to Kola’s allegations that after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election, Tinubu approached the late military dictator, Gen. Sani Abacha, and begged him for a commissioner appointment in Lagos State.

According to Kola, it was after Tinubu had lost out that he decided to join hands with the National Democratic Coalition to fight for the actualization of the June 12 mandate.

George, who is also a former military administrator, hailed Kola for stating the facts even as he lamented that many opportunists were seeking to twist history.

He said, “It is true that Tinubu went to beg for a commissioner position. He was in the Villa and Gen. Oladipo Diya is a witness. He (Tinubu) said he wanted to be a deputy to a military administrator and when all that didn’t work, he went into his activism.”

The PDP chieftain hailed Kola for deciding to make a documentary of the June 12 saga.

George said Kola must not be victimized for saying the truth since, as the first son of MKO, he was an insider.

He said, “Most of what Kola said is true. He spoke from the heart and he was trying to set the records straight in the face of the many narratives. He had been looking for who would help to recognize the June 12 saga so that his father wouldn’t have died in vain.

“In the course of this, he had bottled up so much. He went through a lot, having lost his mother and family businesses during the struggle. So, he was setting the records straight so that people would not rewrite history.”

The PDP chieftain, however, said Nigeria had yet to learn from the June 12 saga.

George said, “Now, June 12 has been adopted as a national holiday but have we learnt any serious lesson from it? Have we done anything to ensure that the mistakes of the past are not repeated? “Yes, people are pontificating and trying to use it as a political tool but believe we have not learnt anything.”

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The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) in Nigeria has said Nigeria's presidential, governorship, federal and state parliamentary elections were characterized by systemic failures. 

It also said the EU observers knew nothing about the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)'s server that was allegedly used to transmit results of the 2019 general elections.

Briefing journalists in Abuja on the EU EOM’s report, the Deputy Chief Observer for the EU, Hannah Roberts, said the Mission relied on results that were released by INEC.

Roberts, while fielding questions,  noted that the EU Mission in Nigeria was unaware of an INEC server by which results were transmitted during the election.

“The EU had to rely on INEC’s explanation in result transmission,” she said. 

The main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had claimed that an INEC server was used to transmit results of the election.

Maria Arena, the EU Chief Observer, had earlier presented a final report with recommendations for electoral reforms.

She said the EU EOM had 91 observers on the ground for the presidential and federal parliamentary elections across Nigeria.

Arena added that 73 observers were deployed for the governorship and state parliamentary elections while only 20 observers were used for the supplementary elections.

Following its observation mission, she said the EU EOM had 30 recommendations on how to improve future electoral processes in Nigeria.

“The mission concluded that the systemic failings seen in the elections, and the relatively low levels of voter participation, show the need for fundamental electoral reform.

”The EU report prioritized seven recommendations of the 30, one of which was that Nigeria to Strengthen INEC procedures for the collation of results to improve integrity and confidence in electoral outcomes.

Another recommendation was that electoral tribunals cover pre-election cases in order to improve access to remedy and to avoid petitions being taken to different courts at the same time.

However, Festus Keyamo,  spokesman for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, who addressed journalists afterward, faulted the EU EOM for not coming to a conclusion in its report.

He said: “The result reflects the overall wishes of Nigerians, that was the report by so many observers, if you are an observer you should come to a definitive conclusion; don’t be dodgy about it; don’t run away from that fact because we have 120,000 polling units across the country and in all their reports I don’t think they discussed at most 500 polling units.

“If you observed certain anomalies, it could not have been more than 500 or 1,000 polling units and if you do observe anomalies in those polling units, how does that substantially affect results coming from 120,000 polling unit?

“So it is not enough for you to discuss the anomalies, they must discuss the overall results coming from the entire country and whether it did reflect the wishes of the people. This is what we want to know because they have problems in the US elections, there are problems in the EU and even UK elections.

“For Christ sake, we need a detailed analysis to come to a definitive conclusion about the overall result of the election.”

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The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) in Nigeria has said Nigeria's presidential, governorship, federal and state parliamentary elections were characterized by systemic failures. 

It also said the EU observers knew nothing about the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)'s server that was allegedly used to transmit results of the 2019 general elections.

Briefing journalists in Abuja on the EU EOM’s report, the Deputy Chief Observer for the EU, Hannah Roberts, said the Mission relied on results that were released by INEC.

Roberts, while fielding questions,  noted that the EU Mission in Nigeria was unaware of an INEC server by which results were transmitted during the election.

“The EU had to rely on INEC’s explanation in result transmission,” she said. 

The main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had claimed that an INEC server was used to transmit results of the election.

Maria Arena, the EU Chief Observer, had earlier presented a final report with recommendations for electoral reforms.

She said the EU EOM had 91 observers on the ground for the presidential and federal parliamentary elections across Nigeria.

Arena added that 73 observers were deployed for the governorship and state parliamentary elections while only 20 observers were used for the supplementary elections.

Following its observation mission, she said the EU EOM had 30 recommendations on how to improve future electoral processes in Nigeria.

“The mission concluded that the systemic failings seen in the elections, and the relatively low levels of voter participation, show the need for fundamental electoral reform.

”The EU report prioritized seven recommendations of the 30, one of which was that Nigeria to Strengthen INEC procedures for the collation of results to improve integrity and confidence in electoral outcomes.

Another recommendation was that electoral tribunals cover pre-election cases in order to improve access to remedy and to avoid petitions being taken to different courts at the same time.

However, Festus Keyamo,  spokesman for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, who addressed journalists afterward, faulted the EU EOM for not coming to a conclusion in its report.

He said: “The result reflects the overall wishes of Nigerians, that was the report by so many observers, if you are an observer you should come to a definitive conclusion; don’t be dodgy about it; don’t run away from that fact because we have 120,000 polling units across the country and in all their reports I don’t think they discussed at most 500 polling units.

“If you observed certain anomalies, it could not have been more than 500 or 1,000 polling units and if you do observe anomalies in those polling units, how does that substantially affect results coming from 120,000 polling unit?

“So it is not enough for you to discuss the anomalies, they must discuss the overall results coming from the entire country and whether it did reflect the wishes of the people. This is what we want to know because they have problems in the US elections, there are problems in the EU and even UK elections.

“For Christ sake, we need a detailed analysis to come to a definitive conclusion about the overall result of the election.”

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The Gombe State Assets Recovery Committee has urged the immediate past governor of the state, Mr. Ibrahim Dankwambo, and his aides to appear before it.

The committee said the invitation was for the past administration to account for properties it disposed of illegally.

The chairman of the committee retired Group Capt. Peter Bilal, made the call while briefing journalists on Saturday in Gombe.

He said if they failed to appear, the committee would resort to legal actions to recover the state assets that were disposed of without due process.

Governor Inuwa Yahaya had set up the committee following his inauguration to recover alleged government property improperly disposed of by his predecessor, Dankwambo.

He alleged that a lot of government property worth billions of naira were improperly disposed of during Dankwambo’s tenure.

“We call on  Dankwambo, his former commissioner of finance and appointees, including his aide-de-camp, principal permanent secretary chief of staff, to respond to the directive.

“Also, the former security adviser is to appear before the committee and surrender government property in their possession with immediate effect,” he stated.

Bilal also called on any persons in possession of government property to return them as soon as possible.

He alleged that all efforts to get Dankwambo and his aides to account for how the state government's property was disposed of and some cash withdrawn from government coffers at the twilight of his administration had failed.

According to him, the committee has recovered some and some beneficiaries voluntarily surrendered theirs.

“So far the committee recovered some property including lands, vehicles among other things,” he said.

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The Gombe State Assets Recovery Committee has urged the immediate past governor of the state, Mr. Ibrahim Dankwambo, and his aides to appear before it.

The committee said the invitation was for the past administration to account for properties it disposed of illegally.

The chairman of the committee retired Group Capt. Peter Bilal, made the call while briefing journalists on Saturday in Gombe.

He said if they failed to appear, the committee would resort to legal actions to recover the state assets that were disposed of without due process.

Governor Inuwa Yahaya had set up the committee following his inauguration to recover alleged government property improperly disposed of by his predecessor, Dankwambo.

He alleged that a lot of government property worth billions of naira were improperly disposed of during Dankwambo’s tenure.

“We call on  Dankwambo, his former commissioner of finance and appointees, including his aide-de-camp, principal permanent secretary chief of staff, to respond to the directive.

“Also, the former security adviser is to appear before the committee and surrender government property in their possession with immediate effect,” he stated.

Bilal also called on any persons in possession of government property to return them as soon as possible.

He alleged that all efforts to get Dankwambo and his aides to account for how the state government's property was disposed of and some cash withdrawn from government coffers at the twilight of his administration had failed.

According to him, the committee has recovered some and some beneficiaries voluntarily surrendered theirs.

“So far the committee recovered some property including lands, vehicles among other things,” he said.

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Nigeria is one of the least peaceful places on earth, says 2019 Global Peace Index (GPI) report, despite claims by the All Progressives Congress-led government of President Muhammadu Buhari that the country is better than they met in 2015.

The country, battling with banditry, economic stagnation, insurgency, kidnapping and an increasing rate of suicides, is ranked 148 out of 163 countries in the world.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria sits among the top five least peaceful countries in the region alongside, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, Somalia, and South Sudan.

The GPI measures peacefulness across three domains: safety and security, ongoing conflict, and militarization. It pointed out that while the world has become less peaceful over the last decade, there have been some notable improvements in peace.

The GPI also analyzed the potential long-term impact of climate change on levels of peacefulness. An estimated 971 million people live in areas with high or very high exposure to climate hazards.

Of this number, 400 million or 41 percent, reside in countries with already low levels of peacefulness. Climate change can indirectly increase the likelihood of violent conflict through its impacts on resource availability, livelihood security, and migration.

Eight of the 25 least peaceful countries have ten percent or more of their population in high climate hazard areas, amounting to 103.7 million people at risk. These countries are South Sudan, Iraq, Libya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, North Korea, Nigeria, and Mexico.

Yet, the report recorded some cheering news for the so-called African giant, saying: “Nigeria’s improvement was based on a reduction in deaths from internal conflict.

According to it, safety and security was sub-Saharan Africa’s least peaceful domain and recorded the largest deterioration last year. While 18 countries improved, 24 deteriorated. The likelihood of violent demonstrations deteriorated most significantly, followed by the impact of terrorism. The incarceration rate rose on average last year, as did the homicide rate and perceptions of criminality.

However, the report stated that in a place like Nigeria, “experiences of sadness, stress, and worry are on the rise regardless of peace levels”.

It added: “In the past decade, 77 countries experienced increased sadness whilst only 20 decreased in experiences of sadness. Of those that increased in sadness, 44 had a corresponding deterioration in peace level.

“Of those that decreased in sadness, 60 percent recorded a corresponding increase in peacefulness. Less than half of the countries that improved in stress and worry levels had corresponding improvements in their GPI scores.” 

The report noted that the world is considerably less peaceful now than it was in 2008, with the average level of country peacefulness deteriorating by 3.78 percent over the last decade.

It added that peacefulness had declined year-on-year for seven of the last 10 years.

“Since 2008, 81 countries have become less peaceful, compared to 81 that have improved.

It admitted that most of the deterioration in peacefulness over the last decade occurred in the MENA region. If this region was excluded from the analysis, the average level of peace in the world would only have deteriorated by 0.95 percent.

“Even within the MENA region, the deterioration in the last decade was concentrated in a handful of countries, most notably Syria, Libya, Yemen, Egypt, and Bahrain,” the GPI pointed out.

Results in sub-Saharan Africa were mixed last year across both indicators and countries. Twenty-seven of the region’s 44 countries deteriorated in peacefulness, leading to a weakening of all three domains of the GPI, while 12 of the region’s 23 indicators improved and eight deteriorated.

The region’s five largest country improvements were in Rwanda, The Gambia, Djibouti, Eswatini, and Somalia. Improvement in internal conflicts fought boosted Somalia by one place in the 2019 GPI to rank 158, lifting it out of the five least peaceful countries in the world. The five worst deteriorations occurred in Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Togo, Sierra Leone, and Namibia.

Militarisation was the region’s most peaceful domain and the only one in which it outperforms the global average, although it deteriorated slightly last year because of reductions in UN peacekeeping funding and increases in nuclear and heavy weapons and the armed services personnel rate.

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The Department of State Services (DSS) has denied the report that the service is recruiting through an advertorial been circulate in the social media.

The service disclosed this on Sunday in Abuja in a press statement signed by the Public Relations Officer, Peter Afunanya and made availed to journalists.

The statement said that the  information is not correct and should be treated as a scam by fraudsters to swindle unsuspecting members of the public, particularly job applicants.

The statement said: "The attention of the Department of State Services (DSS) has been drawn to a false advertisement being circulated on social media platforms that it is recruiting. The Service wishes to state that the information is not correct and should be treated as a scam by fraudsters to swindle unsuspecting members of the public, particularly job applicants.

"This statement, therefore, serves as an advice to potential victims to be wary of the misleading advertorial so as not to fall into the hands of unscrupulous persons that may defraud them. Those seeking information on recruitment into the Service are advised to verify such from its State commands and other formations."

Afunanya warned those behind the advertorial to desist from the inglorious act noting that the service will not hesitate to bring the full weight of the law to bear on perpetrators.

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Boko Haram terrorists have attacked Nigerian troops in Damasak town of Mobbar Local Government Area of Borno State.

SaharaReporters had authoritatively detailed plans of the attack on soldiers by the insurgents, calling on the government to act fast.

A top military source who confirmed the incident said the attack was carried out on a military base at about 7 pm on Saturday.  See Also Exclusive EXCLUSIVE: Nigerian Soldiers Face Impending Attacks In Damasak, Mallam Fatori, Magumeri, Gubio And Fuchimiram In Borno State 0 Comments 1 Day Ago

The insurgents launched the attack on the Special Forces Base from the Southern part of Damasak while exchanging fire with troops for about an hour.

SaharaReporters on June 14 detailed plans of an impending attack Nigerian soldiers in Damasak, Mallam Fatori, Magumeri, Gubio and Fuchimiram areas of Borno State.

The exclusive report revealed that the Boko Haram terrorists who are planning the attacks are currently taking refuge in Fuchimiram village, 6 kilometres West of Kareto Village where they carried out a deadly attack on June 12, 2019.

Military intelligence seen by SaharaReporters shows that the leadership of the Nigerian army and President Muhammadu Buhari were notified in advance of the democracy day attacks.

Intelligence of the possible attacks in the affected area's was dispatched on the 6th and 7th of June, 2019.

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