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Paulinho Paiakan was best known for the fight against the Belo Monte hydroelectric project in Brazil.

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In another sign of growing tension, a high-speed internet cable looks set to be blocked by the US.

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Many people brought pets into their lives during lockdown. A pet behaviourist explains how animals will react to their owners' return to work.

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The Australian airline said it will still fly to New Zealand and ramp up its domestic services.

A private hospital in Plateau State, Rayfield Medical Services LTD, has been closed down after 17 of its staff tested positive for Coronavirus.

Dr Nimkong Lar, Commissioner for Health in the state, who disclosed this to journalists on Wednesday, said that two patients, who were being managed in the hospital had developed COVID-19 virus.

He said, “Screening of primary and secondary contacts revealed that 17 staff of the hospital have tested positive for the virus and are also being attended to by the state ministry of health officials.  Google

“Out of the patients one died, the hospital has been closed down for safety of the public health. As of today, 198 cases of covid-19 confirmed in Plateau state while 113 discharged. The state has so far recorded 5 death while 29 healthy workers infected by Coronavirus.”

The commissioner however, said as of Wednesday, 29 health workers have tested positive to the virus in the state.

He further called on residents of the state not to panic as government was on top of the situation.

 

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The Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Jamaatu Nasril Islam, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar lll, has condemned the incessant killings by Boko Haram insurgents and bandits across the country.

Abubakar, who is the leader of Nigerian Muslims, said the issue of insecurity in the country especially in the North should give the government sleepless nights.

The Sultan, who spoke through the JNI’s Secretary General, Dr Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, in a statement urged the military to do more to bring an end to the menace of insecurity in the country.

The statement reads, “The repeated massacre of people, as well as the senseless burning of houses and livestock in Borno, Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, Niger states and indeed other states such as Adamawa, Kaduna and Taraba, should give governments and its functionaries at both federal and state levels sleepless nights.  Sultan of Sokoto

“By now, an instantaneous pronouncement followed by robust actions should have been made by the government of the day, not verbal warnings and condemnations dished out to the perpetrators of the murderous acts.

“As stakeholders, we strongly believe that the repeated killings are blame worthy, and no one found culpable in this gross act of negligence should be spared.

“In all honesty, all erring personnel would have been dealt with decisively by now or they themselves should have honourably resigned, as oftentimes seen in other climes.

“The most pathetic of all these incidences were that even the normal administrative panels of inquiries are not considered, not to talk of a thorough investigative panel, where at least citizens would appear and ventilate their feelings.

“Isn’t the government of the day a popular government? Is it not a participatory government?

“Why doesn’t public opinion(s) matter to it? Or isn’t public opinion(s) considered an ingredient to the government of the day?”

The JNI also queried the sincerity of the armed forces' fight against insecurity just at it alluded to the rumours making the rounds that security operatives do not want the war on Boko Haram to end, ‘because of the lucrative benefits they allethegedly derive therefrom.’

“Make no mistake,  insecurity bedevilling North Western states and some of the North Central states are more or less an extension of Boko Haram.

“Take, for instance, the person (one of the gang leaders) responsible for terrorizing neighbouring communities in the forests of Katsina and Zamfara axis is called Kachalla (a Kanuri usual name), which is, of course, one tragedy too many for Nigeria!

“We will, therefore, continue to ask questions: how have the perpetrators been able to gain access to such  to successfully perpetrate such heinous crimes unabated“How have the perpetrators been able to  access to weapons, despite the Nigerian borders’ closure?

“Some will argue that it isn’t lethal, such as bombings! Then if so, where is the humanity in us? As you cannot claim to be a man of faith, without having the feeling of humanity in you!

“We ask again, aren’t the security operatives conversant with Sun Tzu’s Five Types of Spies in his The Art of War: local, inside, double, doomed and surviving?”

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Two yet to be identified children lost their lives on Wednesday after being trapped beneath the rubble of a storey building, which collapsed in the Gafari Balogun area of Ogudu, Lagos State.

Director-General, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, who confirmed this to journalists, said the building collapsed due to mudslide resulting from a downpour. 

He stated that the victims were children, adding that their corpses had been recovered.  City News

He said, “On arrival at the scene by agency responders, it was observed that a building collapsed as a result of a mudslide at the rear of the building caused by heavy rainfall.

“The agents were informed that two children, one male and one female, were trapped and immediately commenced a search and rescue operation.

“Unfortunately, they were found dead and their remains transported to the mortuary.”

Other occupants of the house were reportedly injured as a result of the collapse.
 

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The House of Representatives complex in Abuja has been shut down by management of the National Assembly for two days for fumigation exercise to prevent the spread COVID-19.

In a circular referenced NASS/HR/MSD/ClR/003/IV138 dated 17th June, Titus Jatau, a deputy director, said the leadership of the House of Representatives directed all management staff to remain at home for two days until after the exercise.

It could also not be ascertained whether the exercise had anything to do with any confirmed COVID-19 case within the complex. 

The document reads, “Approval has been granted for the 2nd quarter fumigation exercise to be carried out tomorrow Thursday, 18th and Friday,19th June, 2020.

“In the light of the above, all staff are requested to stay away during this period of the exercise and to resume work on Monday, 22nd June, 2020.”
 

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The Concerned Nigerians group has asked the Nigeria Police Force to immediately release Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Coalition of Northern Groups, Mr Nastura Sharif, who is currently being detained for leading a protest against insecurity in Northern Nigeria. 

Recall that on Tuesday some members of the group protested in Katsina, calling on Aminu Masari, the state governor, and President Muhammadu Buhari to resign over their inability to safeguard lives and properties of Nigerians in the North. 

Reacting to the development, the Concerned Nigerians group in a statement by its Convener, Deji Adeyanju, berated the Nigerian Government and police of being intolerant of dissents. 

The statement reads, “We are greatly worried that the President is arresting critics of his sheer incompetence in the handling of security situations in the North instead of the bandits killing Nigerians. The President should arrest the bandits and not patriotic citizens speaking up against the gross incompetence of the government. A government that negotiates and begs bandits cannot be arresting critics. 

“The President needs to show leadership and stop arresting those criticizing him. We are in democracy and this system of government gives the citizens the right and freedom to hold elected public officials accountable. 

"If the President can’t tolerate dissents, he should be courageous enough to resign. Freedom of assembly is one of the most fundamental rights of the citizens in a democracy.”

Adeyanju further stated that the primary responsibility of any government was security of lives and property of citizens and President Buhari and Governor Masari have greatly failed.  See Also Politics Nigerians Ask Katsina Governor, Aminu Masari, To Resign After Admitting Failure In Tackling Insecurity 0 Comments 1 Day Ago

The statement added, “All the energy being expended by the police in arresting Mr Sharif and other concerned Nigerians who protested on Tuesday in Katsina should be channelled into taming the monstrous bandits terrorising the people of Katsina and other parts of North. 

“We are solidly behind Nastura Sharif and we call on the Nigerian Government to release him immediately from detention.”

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A petition seen by SaharaReporters has fingered Grace Gepke, Permanent Secretary of Nigeria’s Ministry of Information and Culture, in a multi-million naira fraud.

According to the document, the minister in charge of the ministry, Lai Mohammed, was instrumental to the release of millions of naira for different unexecuted projects.

The petitioner, Clifford Ume, in the document addressed to the Special Presidential Investigation Panel to look into the activities Gepke, alleged flagrant abuse of office and massive corrupt practices by the official.

The petition reads partly, “The alleged budget appropriation for programmes and projects excluding centres abroad and Abuja Carnival of the culture and tourism arm of the ministry is N450m for both the 2017 and 2018 respectively.  Grace Gepke Federal Ministry of Information and Culture

“That the fake appropriation for Nigerian Cultural Centres abroad for 2013, 2017 and 2018 which became defunct since 2014 amounted to N113.6m.

“That the successive embezzlement of funds meant for the operations and maintenance of the purported fake cultural centres abroad dates back to 2013.

“That the Abuja Carnival budget appropriated for 2017 and 2018 amounted to N198.4m and till date the huge sum appropriated remains unaccounted for.”

The petitioner also alleged that Gepke had over the years been involved in private business operations through the use of Fehi Group of company belonging to her brother, Mr Christain Gekpe, who acts as a front to execute official events meant for the department in the ministry.

The document added, “She has been using her brother for the production of all the Abuja Carnival publicity materials since she assumed office as an assistant director in the said ministry and parastatals to launder the ministry’s fund through Itigidi Raw Talent Hunt 2019 Easter Entertainment Fiesta held on April 20- 21, 2019 which was appropriated in the ministry’s budget.”

In its report to President Muhammadu Buhari seen by SaharaReporters, the SPIP listed individuals and corporate organisations, who made suspicious payments into the Permanent Secretary’s account.

The panel also said it was analyzing the involvement of Mohammed in the fraudulent acts.

It said, “That Grace Gekpe is the present Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture.

“That the total inflow into her UBA savings from inception since 2006 to 2010 amounted to N89,831,916.00.

“That the total inflow into the Permanent Secretary Account of Eco Bank account is N299,385,428.92.

“That the total inflow into the Permanent Secretary’s Account in Heritage bank amounts to N6,071,285.00. That the total inflow in her domiciliary account in UBA from 2008 to 2009 amounts to $107,655.75.

“That most of the suspicious inflows in Grace Gekpe Isu were made by herself in millions of naira.”

DOCUMENT: Permanent Secretary of Nigeria's Information and Culture Ministry, Grace Gepke, Fingered in Multi... by Sahara Reporters on Scribd

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There was uproar on Wednesday within the Bayelsa State Police Command following the killing of seven policemen in Ughelli, Delta State, over their alleged involvement in armed robbery operations in the area. 

A police sergeant attached to the state police command armoury was also arrested and transfered to the headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja over his alleged involvement in the illegal hiring of guns to criminal elements in the state. 

It was gathered that the seven policemen were shot dead during a gun battle with men of the Delta State Anti-Robbery Squad. 

Though the Bayelsa State Command had refused to make any announcement on the development, sources confirmed that the incident occurred on Wednesday night. 

Already, the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Nkereuwem Akpan, is reported to have led a team of officers to the Delta State Command to retrieve the corpses of the accused policemen. 

A source said, "They were reported to have been engaging in armed robbery activities when they faced the Delta Special Anti-robbery squad in a shootout. They were all killed."

Spokesperson for the police in Bayelsa, Asinim Butswat, was unavailable for comments when contacted by SaharaReporters.
 

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Members of National Human Rights Commission on Wednesday in Abuja staged a protest against rape and other violent crimes against women in the country.

The protesters led by the Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu, marched to the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development to call for laws and policies capable of eliminating all forms of abuses against women and children.

The protesters said the public outrage and horror on account of rape and other violent crimes against women and girls had led to the deaths of many victims.

Ojukwu while addressing the protesters, said rape and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence had devastating consequences not only on victims or survivors but on the society. 

He said, "Rape and SGBV affects different categories of people, especially the most vulnerable like children, women, the elderly, persons with disabilities and men. 
 
"It is not only an abuse by the perpetrator, but also a violation when the responsible authority fails to take action to ensure redress and accountability to victims and survivors. 

"Strengthen institutions such as the police and judiciary tasked with the provision of these services and provide accessible essential services to survivors as well as ensure an accelerated disposal of cases on rape and SGBV. 

"Government at all levels to put in place laws, policies, programmes directed at addressing and eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls, children, persons with disabilities and men." 

On her own, Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Pauline Tallen, said rape pandemic was more than COVID-19 and must be given utmost priority. 

She called on all stakeholders to join the fight against the scourge of violence against women and children.
 

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All Progressives Congress is on the cusp of an implosion. The crisis in the party has reached a frightening crescendo. It has been a gradual but steady plummet for the party since its 2015 unanticipated triumph. I believe, the APC is in the thrall of a curse – the success curse. 

In March, I wrote ‘Are we having the funeral of APC so soon,’ putting the tumbling fortunes of the party through a dialectical quarry. I said, and I still think working together in a struggle is a much easier enterprise than banding in victory. In 2013, the PDP galloped from one crisis to another until it imploded and lost power at the centre in 2015. The APC is to be toeing the same path. As I said, since the party cruised to power, it has been embroiled in tremulous wrangling.

To say the obvious, the APC was never a party – in the real sense of the word – but a special purpose vehicle to grab power. To put it lucidly, it is just a club of disparate people desperate for power.  Fredrick Nwabufo

The parties and personalities – Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), and the new PDP – that dissolved into the APC had nothing in common. The only common ground or to put it sternly, unifying enemy, was former President Goodluck Jonathan.

While Bola Tinubu’s ACN was somewhat liberal and attuned to restructuring with less emphasis on the centre, President Muhammadu Buhari’s CPC had a conservative outlook. Strange bed-fellows.

Soon after the APC breasted victory in 2015, the two ‘’organic’’ political parties in the union – the ACN and CPC – sparred, though they become united when sharing the spoils of war and in dealing a discriminatory hand to the disgruntled immigrants from the PDP. A caste quickly developed in the party. While the ACN (bride) and CPC (groom) became aborigines, other groups, which worked themselves into the merger became outcasts and expendable baggage. This largely effectuated the leadership crisis in the party at the national assembly in 2016.

Again, when political parties do not run on ideologies, but on interest, there is bound to be head-on collisions. Obviously, the merger which resulted in the carnation of the APC was oxygenated by one interest – to grab power. But the brokers of the deal did not ask: “After we take over power what next? How do we manage it? How do we manage the pool of interests? And how do we deliver good governance to Nigerians.”

And as the cauldron boils over, where is President Muhammadu Buhari, the leader of the APC? The vacuous argument that the president should not concern himself with internal party matters is what it is – obtuse. He is the most senior member of the party on which platform he ran for election twice and won. He cannot be apathetic to what is happening in the party now. 

There are murmurs within the APC that the president unhitched himself from issues in the party because he has fulfilled his political ambition. But really, if he cannot keep his own party, where he should naturally command winsome influence, together, how can he keep the country together?

As a matter of fact, it is the same tepid disposition that Buhari takes to the leadership of the country that he takes to the affairs of the APC. His failures come closer home with the crisis in the APC – a party ragged by leadership crisis since 2015. 

The seal holding the tatters of the APC at the moment is Buhari. I know the APC crisis can only get worse because the party was never meant to be. And this is good development for Nigeria. All desperate structures propping the status quo need to give way for the country to burgeon. 

Like the Third Reich collapsed for Germany to thrive, some political parties holding the fortunes of Nigeria need to run out of oxygen for the country to breathe. 

With the raging crisis in the APC, Nigerians can see clearly the failures of the ruling party in handling its own matters and can relate them to the approach the party takes to the governance of the country. 

It is failure all around.

Our political system needs reborning. The more non-ideological and predatory political behemoths collapse, the more room for people-interest based political parties to mushroom and grow. 

Fredrick Nwabufo is a writer and journalist.
Twitter: @FredrickNwabufo

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