IYANDA'SBLOG

Yiaga Africa has raised the alarm on the activities of political thugs in the build-up to the Ondo State governorship election.

Yiaga Africa in its pre-election observation report berated security operatives for not moving against thugs, who are in the act of brandishing small arms to terrorise members of opposition parties and voters.

The group predicted that the act could lead to low turnout of voters in the October 10 poll.

“Yiaga Africa LTOs reported cases of political thugs brandishing arms and weapons during political campaigns without restraint from security agencies.

“Based on Yiaga Africa findings, Akoko South West LGA has a high case of arms build-up. In addition, armed political thugs were reported to be terrorising communities in Ilaje and Ileoluji/Okeigbo LGAs.

“These unrestrained acts of lawlessness and impunity creates apprehension which could lead to low turnout of voters during the election.

“Given the background of pre-election violence and gangster politics, the state may witness a further decline in voter turnout during election. This is exacerbated by the failure of security agencies to curb acts of lawlessness and impunity perpetrated by armed political thugs and political actors.

“Low voter turnout may further enhance chances for electoral manipulation in the strongholds of the major political parties particularly in the rural areas where election rigging usually takes place,” the report reads.

Yiaga Africa also noted that only about 31.6 per cent of the Ondo State population was eligible to participate in the electoral process.

The group also said political parties are failing to comply with social distancing guidelines in all political party campaigns.

It, however, noted that parties are complying with the wearing of face masks and use of hand sanitiser.

The group urged the federal and state governments to desist from partisan use of the police and security forces to manipulate the electoral process.

It also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to collaborate with other stakeholders in promoting peace and also continue the use of results viewing portal deployed during Edo State election.

“INEC should collaborate with other stakeholders like the National Peace Committee, traditional/religious institutions, security agencies, media, and CSOs to de-escalate the rising political tension and violence by signing peace accord or pact between the candidates in the election.

“INEC should sustain the use of the election results viewing portal and ensure timely post of the Form EC 8 A at the polling units. Also, INEC should post information on polling units where elections were cancelled or PUs where elections didn’t hold on the results viewing portal.

“INEC should take concrete steps to address the perceptions of its lack of independence, impartiality, and professionalism.

“This will include proactive disclosure of election-related information, consistency in the application of electoral guidelines, and transparency in the results collation process,” Yiaga Africa advised.

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Yiaga Africa has raised the alarm on the activities of political thugs in the build-up to the Ondo State governorship election.

Yiaga Africa in its pre-election observation report berated security operatives for not moving against thugs, who are in the act of brandishing small arms to terrorise members of opposition parties and voters.

The group predicted that the act could lead to low turnout of voters in the October 10 poll.

“Yiaga Africa LTOs reported cases of political thugs brandishing arms and weapons during political campaigns without restraint from security agencies.

“Based on Yiaga Africa findings, Akoko South West LGA has a high case of arms build-up. In addition, armed political thugs were reported to be terrorising communities in Ilaje and Ileoluji/Okeigbo LGAs.

“These unrestrained acts of lawlessness and impunity creates apprehension which could lead to low turnout of voters during the election.

“Given the background of pre-election violence and gangster politics, the state may witness a further decline in voter turnout during election. This is exacerbated by the failure of security agencies to curb acts of lawlessness and impunity perpetrated by armed political thugs and political actors.

“Low voter turnout may further enhance chances for electoral manipulation in the strongholds of the major political parties particularly in the rural areas where election rigging usually takes place,” the report reads.

Yiaga Africa also noted that only about 31.6 per cent of the Ondo State population was eligible to participate in the electoral process.

The group also said political parties are failing to comply with social distancing guidelines in all political party campaigns.

It, however, noted that parties are complying with the wearing of face masks and use of hand sanitiser.

The group urged the federal and state governments to desist from partisan use of the police and security forces to manipulate the electoral process.

It also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to collaborate with other stakeholders in promoting peace and also continue the use of results viewing portal deployed during Edo State election.

“INEC should collaborate with other stakeholders like the National Peace Committee, traditional/religious institutions, security agencies, media, and CSOs to de-escalate the rising political tension and violence by signing peace accord or pact between the candidates in the election.

“INEC should sustain the use of the election results viewing portal and ensure timely post of the Form EC 8 A at the polling units. Also, INEC should post information on polling units where elections were cancelled or PUs where elections didn’t hold on the results viewing portal.

“INEC should take concrete steps to address the perceptions of its lack of independence, impartiality, and professionalism.

“This will include proactive disclosure of election-related information, consistency in the application of electoral guidelines, and transparency in the results collation process,” Yiaga Africa advised.

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The Yoruba World Congress has called on Yorubas across the country, who will be joining the protest on October 1, 2020, to avoid a clash with security operatives.

The group fixed a rally for that date, which is Nigeria’s 60th independence anniversary, to draw global attention to the need to “liberate Yoruba race.”

Prof Banji Akintoye

Speaking ahead of the scheduled rally, Prof Banji Akintoye, President-General of YWC, urged protesters not to engage in confrontation with police as violence will cause distractions to its agitation.

He said, "For Yoruba people at home in Nigeria, my message is to repeat my earlier messages: please keep our rallies thoroughly peaceful. Never display any rowdy or disruptive behaviour. Never get into any argument or confrontation with law enforcement personnel. If the police anywhere ask you not to rally or to dispense, disperse peacefully.

"Always remember that your message is too important to allow confrontations or distractions. Your Yoruba nation is powerful. It commands the intellectual, human and other resources to achieve its self-determination in a peaceful and law abiding manner.

"It is good to hold rallies. Rallies help to spread the message. But we must not allow our rallies to create outcomes that can disrupt, obstruct or distract from our central message.”

See Also Politics We’ll Get Yoruba Nation Without Violence –Prof Akintoye 0 Comments 5 Days Ago

Prof Akintoye commended Yoruba outside Nigeria for joining the call for Oduduwa republic, saying “Yoruba people at home are grateful that you are showing the world the horrific conditions in which Yoruba people live in Nigeria.

"As Yoruba people in Diaspora hold mass rallies in many countries of the world on October one, I very warmly congratulate and thank them all.

"All Yoruba people back home in Nigeria are watching them with joy, gratitude and pride.

"The barbarous invasion of our land by a people, the Fulani, who are part of Nigeria, the fiendish killings of our people and the destruction of our homes and means of livelihood. And the massive importations of armed men to our towns and cities.”

See Also Politics Yoruba Diaspora Group To Stage Oodua Republic Rally On October 1 In Six Continents 0 Comments 6 Days Ago

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The Yoruba World Congress has called on Yorubas across the country, who will be joining the protest on October 1, 2020, to avoid a clash with security operatives.

The group fixed a rally for that date, which is Nigeria’s 60th independence anniversary, to draw global attention to the need to “liberate Yoruba race.”

Prof Banji Akintoye

Speaking ahead of the scheduled rally, Prof Banji Akintoye, President-General of YWC, urged protesters not to engage in confrontation with police as violence will cause distractions to its agitation.

He said, "For Yoruba people at home in Nigeria, my message is to repeat my earlier messages: please keep our rallies thoroughly peaceful. Never display any rowdy or disruptive behaviour. Never get into any argument or confrontation with law enforcement personnel. If the police anywhere ask you not to rally or to dispense, disperse peacefully.

"Always remember that your message is too important to allow confrontations or distractions. Your Yoruba nation is powerful. It commands the intellectual, human and other resources to achieve its self-determination in a peaceful and law abiding manner.

"It is good to hold rallies. Rallies help to spread the message. But we must not allow our rallies to create outcomes that can disrupt, obstruct or distract from our central message.”

See Also Sahara Reporters We’ll Get Yoruba Nation Without Violence –Prof Akintoye 0 Comments 5 Days Ago

Prof Akintoye commended Yoruba outside Nigeria for joining the call for Oduduwa republic, saying “Yoruba people at home are grateful that you are showing the world the horrific conditions in which Yoruba people live in Nigeria.

"As Yoruba people in Diaspora hold mass rallies in many countries of the world on October one, I very warmly congratulate and thank them all.

"All Yoruba people back home in Nigeria are watching them with joy, gratitude and pride.

"The barbarous invasion of our land by a people, the Fulani, who are part of Nigeria, the fiendish killings of our people and the destruction of our homes and means of livelihood. And the massive importations of armed men to our towns and cities.”

See Also Sahara Reporters Yoruba Diaspora Group To Stage Oodua Republic Rally On October 1 In Six Continents 0 Comments 6 Days Ago

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The Coalition of United Political Parties has berated the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress for suspending its agitation for the reversal of the increase in the price of petrol and electricity tariff.

Noting that the increment was ill-timed, CUPP stated that the people had lost confidence in the NLC and TUC for suspending its planned strike.

High Chief Peter Ameh, National Secretary of CUPP, in a statement said the NLC and TUC no longer had the capacity to represent the interest of the Nigerian people.

See Also LABOR/WORKERS' RIGHTS How Nigeria Labour Congress Leaders Betrayed Workers To Strike Deal With Government Over Planned Industrial Action 0 Comments 1 Day Ago

Ameh posited that the union should have embarked on its planned protest for people to use the medium to voice their anger.

He said, “NLC and TUC should know that the ordinary man on the street has lost confidence, trust, and faith in their ability to actually speak or act for them.

“CUPP believes that NLC and TUC do not have the capacity to represent the interest of the Nigerian people and as such have no answer to these questions.

“The masses must develop the will to speak for themselves on these matters meant to enslave and imprison their conscience and destinies. We all know that all is not well in Nigeria, politically, economically and socially and this administration is still rolling out policies that will finally destroy the little fragment of life left with the masses while NLC and TUC refuse to act to protect the interest of the people.

“If the NLC/TUC meant well for the people, they would have insisted on using the two weeks as an opportunity for people to protest and voice out their grievances for the rulers to hear and know how to mend their ways rather than to use the two weeks to silence the people and devise ways to deceive us as usual.”

CUPP charged the NLC and TU to reinvent themselves and start to act in the interest of Nigerians.

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Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, has said that the country’s whistleblower policy must be expanded to protect those, who expose corruption, gross mismanagement as well as acts inimical to public health and safety from backlash and reprisals.

Osinbajo made the call while delivering a virtual keynote address at the National Conference on Whistleblower Policy on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said, “It is clear that under the current whistle-blower policy, it is only with respect to acts of corruption that whistle-blowing is considered lawful.

“However, there is a whole range of issues that may not endanger public finance directly but may constitute public safety or security risks. Reporting such may save lives and or property.

“The scope may then cover such matters as a violation of law, gross mismanagement of the rights of people and waste of public resources, or acts inimical to public health or safety.

“Exposing corruption is for the good of our nation; our goal in this regard is to harness the huge potential of the people to deliver on their moral obligation to report cases of corruption within their immediate environments.

See Also Politics Present Cracks May Lead To Nigeria’s Break-up, Osinbajo Warns 0 Comments 1 Day Ago

“As we deliberate on the finer details of the implementation of this policy, we must consistently remind ourselves of the importance of the task at hand notwithstanding the difficulties.

“These may include witness protection type provisions and this will give the whistle-blower some protection where they may have to appear in court.

“Certainty and clarity of the reporting processes and adequate protection of the whistle-blowers would improve confidence in the initiative.

“Similarly, enhanced transparency and accountability in the implementation of the policy will result in more discoveries and recoveries.”

Corruption Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, has said that the country’s whistleblower policy must be expanded to protect those, who expose corruption, gross mismanagement as well as acts inimical to public health and safety from backlash and reprisals.

Osinbajo made the call while delivering a virtual keynote address at the National Conference on Whistleblower Policy on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said, “It is clear that under the current whistle-blower policy, it is only with respect to acts of corruption that whistle-blowing is considered lawful.

“However, there is a whole range of issues that may not endanger public finance directly but may constitute public safety or security risks. Reporting such may save lives and or property.

“The scope may then cover such matters as a violation of law, gross mismanagement of the rights of people and waste of public resources, or acts inimical to public health or safety.

“Exposing corruption is for the good of our nation; our goal in this regard is to harness the huge potential of the people to deliver on their moral obligation to report cases of corruption within their immediate environments.

See Also Politics Present Cracks May Lead To Nigeria’s Break-up, Osinbajo Warns 0 Comments 1 Day Ago

“As we deliberate on the finer details of the implementation of this policy, we must consistently remind ourselves of the importance of the task at hand notwithstanding the difficulties.

“These may include witness protection type provisions and this will give the whistle-blower some protection where they may have to appear in court.

“Certainty and clarity of the reporting processes and adequate protection of the whistle-blowers would improve confidence in the initiative.

“Similarly, enhanced transparency and accountability in the implementation of the policy will result in more discoveries and recoveries.”

Corruption Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/3icHb8L

A former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, has denied expressing regrets for accepting the appointment to chair the panel investigating Ibrahim Magu, suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Magu is being investigated over allegations of abuse of office and mismanagement of recovered assets from May 2015 to May 2020. 

In a memo on Tuesday, Salami accused the lawyers of planting reports in the media that he regrets chairing the panel. 

He said, “The reports were a figment of the wild imagination of the reporter, the two lawyers quoted as his sources and the medium that published the story.

“There was no time anything near the unthinkable scenario painted in the false story occurred in any meeting between myself and the lawyers to Magu or any other person, for that matter, since the Judicial Commission of Inquiry began its sittings.

“l have no cause to express any regret over my chairmanship of the commission, not to talk of betraying any form of emotion before anyone about it.

“I see my appointment to serve as the chairman of the commission of Inquiry as an honour and call to service, thus my decision to accept diligently and patriotically discharge this responsibility.

“I have never appointed any of the two lawyers or any other person(s) to speak on my behalf as I can express myself without recourse to the lawyers of the persons we are probing.

“As an eminent jurist, who retired as the President of the Court of Appeal, I have handled much more complex cases than the current one before the commission.”

See Also Exclusive REVEALED: Justice Salami Sitting Allowances, Emoluments And Luxurious Lifestyle That Made Him Ask For Extension 0 Comments 2 Weeks Ago

Salami said the panel, which he chairs, will continue its investigation of the allegations against Magu with a view to unearthing the truth and ensuring that justice was done.

“The false reports were aimed at causing mischief and tarnishing my hard-earned reputation and integrity.

“I remain resolute and committed to the service of the nation and ready to champion the ideals of justice and fairness,” Salami added.

See Also Sahara Reporters Justice Salami Ordered DSS To Throw Us Out, Put Our Colleague In Cell Inside Presidential Villa, Magu’s Lawyer Reveals 0 Comments 2 Weeks Ago

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A former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, has denied expressing regrets for accepting the appointment to chair the panel investigating Ibrahim Magu, suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Magu is being investigated over allegations of abuse of office and mismanagement of recovered assets from May 2015 to May 2020. 

In a memo on Tuesday, Salami accused the lawyers of planting reports in the media that he regrets chairing the panel. 

He said, “The reports were a figment of the wild imagination of the reporter, the two lawyers quoted as his sources and the medium that published the story.

“There was no time anything near the unthinkable scenario painted in the false story occurred in any meeting between myself and the lawyers to Magu or any other person, for that matter, since the Judicial Commission of Inquiry began its sittings.

“l have no cause to express any regret over my chairmanship of the commission, not to talk of betraying any form of emotion before anyone about it.

“I see my appointment to serve as the chairman of the commission of Inquiry as an honour and call to service, thus my decision to accept diligently and patriotically discharge this responsibility.

“I have never appointed any of the two lawyers or any other person(s) to speak on my behalf as I can express myself without recourse to the lawyers of the persons we are probing.

“As an eminent jurist, who retired as the President of the Court of Appeal, I have handled much more complex cases than the current one before the commission.”

See Also Exclusive REVEALED: Justice Salami Sitting Allowances, Emoluments And Luxurious Lifestyle That Made Him Ask For Extension 0 Comments 2 Weeks Ago

Salami said the panel, which he chairs, will continue its investigation of the allegations against Magu with a view to unearthing the truth and ensuring that justice was done.

“The false reports were aimed at causing mischief and tarnishing my hard-earned reputation and integrity.

“I remain resolute and committed to the service of the nation and ready to champion the ideals of justice and fairness,” Salami added.

See Also Corruption Justice Salami Ordered DSS To Throw Us Out, Put Our Colleague In Cell Inside Presidential Villa, Magu’s Lawyer Reveals 0 Comments 2 Weeks Ago

Legal Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/36ewHDL

A former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, has denied expressing regrets for accepting the appointment to chair the panel investigating Ibrahim Magu, suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Magu is being investigated over allegations of abuse of office and mismanagement of recovered assets from May 2015 to May 2020. 

In a memo on Tuesday, Salami accused the lawyers of planting reports in the media that he regrets chairing the panel. 

He said, “The reports were a figment of the wild imagination of the reporter, the two lawyers quoted as his sources and the medium that published the story.

“There was no time anything near the unthinkable scenario painted in the false story occurred in any meeting between myself and the lawyers to Magu or any other person, for that matter, since the Judicial Commission of Inquiry began its sittings.

“l have no cause to express any regret over my chairmanship of the commission, not to talk of betraying any form of emotion before anyone about it.

“I see my appointment to serve as the chairman of the commission of Inquiry as an honour and call to service, thus my decision to accept diligently and patriotically discharge this responsibility.

“I have never appointed any of the two lawyers or any other person(s) to speak on my behalf as I can express myself without recourse to the lawyers of the persons we are probing.

“As an eminent jurist, who retired as the President of the Court of Appeal, I have handled much more complex cases than the current one before the commission.”

See Also Exclusive REVEALED: Justice Salami Sitting Allowances, Emoluments And Luxurious Lifestyle That Made Him Ask For Extension 0 Comments 2 Weeks Ago

Salami said the panel, which he chairs, will continue its investigation of the allegations against Magu with a view to unearthing the truth and ensuring that justice was done.

“The false reports were aimed at causing mischief and tarnishing my hard-earned reputation and integrity.

“I remain resolute and committed to the service of the nation and ready to champion the ideals of justice and fairness,” Salami added.

See Also Corruption Justice Salami Ordered DSS To Throw Us Out, Put Our Colleague In Cell Inside Presidential Villa, Magu’s Lawyer Reveals 0 Comments 2 Weeks Ago

Legal Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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The Take It Back Movement, Sweden chapter, has announced plans to hold a mass action against poor governance in Nigeria on October .

The group in a letter signed by its President, Prince Ewemade Konkons, to Nigeria’s Ambassador to Sweden, called on all Nigerians in the country to participate in the planned protest.

TIB said it can no longer pretend that all was well with Nigeria as a nation.

The letter reads, “That the country is becoming a failed state is a given. As reflected in our political, economic and security institutions. We can no longer pretend that all is well with us as a nation. It is our strong conviction that the quest for good governance, economic empowerment and great security will not happen with the present crop of polticians, who take delight in dividing us on the premise of relgion in order to fan their amber of greed.

“That corruption is worse than we have ever known it, under the current governmnet is not a conjecture but a statement of fact. These malfeasnces have real life economic and social consequences on the lives of our people. Little wonder we are the poverty-capital-of-the-world-in-waiting. 2050 soon come! As we continue to fund the outrageous lifestyles of polticians, we still top the charts of the number children that are out school, kiddnaping is now more lucrative than banking as a career, religious intolerance and ethnic faultlines are now causing social tremors across all the political zones.

“All these, while we live in denial and those who benefit from this rigged arrangement see people like Sowore as an enemy of the state.
Rather than make life better the goverment chooses to make it unbearable for the people. How logical is it that tarriffs of electricity and petrol prices got increased at the height of the pandemic.

“For a government that initially said subsidies are a scam, to turn around and use the same reason to justify corruption, incompetence and greed is hard to swallow. As we mark October 1, we want to say a big no to corruption, insecurity, nepotism, rigged electoral system, godfatherism. We are tired of being ruled by misfits for the last 60 years.”

ACTIVISM Human Rights News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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The Take It Back Movement, Sweden chapter, has announced plans to hold a mass action against poor governance in Nigeria on October .

The group in a letter signed by its President, Prince Ewemade Konkons, to Nigeria’s Ambassador to Sweden, called on all Nigerians in the country to participate in the planned protest.

TIB said it can no longer pretend that all was well with Nigeria as a nation.

The letter reads, “That the country is becoming a failed state is a given. As reflected in our political, economic and security institutions. We can no longer pretend that all is well with us as a nation. It is our strong conviction that the quest for good governance, economic empowerment and great security will not happen with the present crop of polticians, who take delight in dividing us on the premise of relgion in order to fan their amber of greed.

“That corruption is worse than we have ever known it, under the current governmnet is not a conjecture but a statement of fact. These malfeasnces have real life economic and social consequences on the lives of our people. Little wonder we are the poverty-capital-of-the-world-in-waiting. 2050 soon come! As we continue to fund the outrageous lifestyles of polticians, we still top the charts of the number children that are out school, kiddnaping is now more lucrative than banking as a career, religious intolerance and ethnic faultlines are now causing social tremors across all the political zones.

“All these, while we live in denial and those who benefit from this rigged arrangement see people like Sowore as an enemy of the state.
Rather than make life better the goverment chooses to make it unbearable for the people. How logical is it that tarriffs of electricity and petrol prices got increased at the height of the pandemic.

“For a government that initially said subsidies are a scam, to turn around and use the same reason to justify corruption, incompetence and greed is hard to swallow. As we mark October 1, we want to say a big no to corruption, insecurity, nepotism, rigged electoral system, godfatherism. We are tired of being ruled by misfits for the last 60 years.”

ACTIVISM Human Rights News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/3cHT719

Obafemi Hamzat, deputy governor of Lagos State, has said that 'Agberos' cannot be banned in the state because they were “our brothers and cousins”.

'Agberos' in Lagos are notorious for charging taxes that are not remitted to the government, terrorising neighbourhoods, robbing passengers and rigging elections for corrupt politicians.

Obafemi Hamzat

Hamzat, while speaking with journalists to commemorate his 56th birthday in Lagos, said the National Union of Road Transport Workers to which the touts belong, had the same legitimacy and backing of the law as the Nigeria Medical Association. 

He said, “We have all agreed that we live by the constitution and laws. The National Union of Road Transport Workers is actually a union recognised by law. I know some people say ban them, but the government must also be careful. When you just say arbitrarily ban them, what stops you from saying I want to ban the Nigerian Medical Association? Do you understand? There are times government and NMA have issues; does that mean they should be banned? They are expressing their opinion. 

“They might be wrong or right but they have the right to express those opinions. And then remember these people (NURTW) are Nigerians; they are our brothers and cousins. So, one of the things we have been telling them is that if you are the chairman in Ajeromi and we see that there are all sorts of contraventions in Ajeromi, we will remove you as a chairman. We are not banning your union but it means you are incompetent. 

“So, that is the outcome of one of the meetings we had with them, that if there’s an infraction in any of the areas due to the executive in that area, then it should be dissolved. And then you know we complain about our society, why people fight on the road; we have all gone around the world and it is only here we see people fighting on the road and tearing clothes off themselves, why? That has to change, but changing that does not mean banning them. 

“It is to make sure we find the time and interact with them, and say, ‘look this is how it works’. Remember during former (Governor Bola Ahmed) Tinubu’s administration when we started BRT; it was a tug of war, but we took the union to Colombia to see how the union there metamorphosed into owning the BRT and so a lot of those blue buses at that time were owned by the union. 

“We said, ‘See you can send your children to school by this; this is a job you can say you are proud of.’ Surprisingly they paid back the loans for the buses quickly. The same thing is happening in the abattoir (business); people say they don’t want the machines, some of our brothers said it is un-Islamic that they want to kill the cow themselves. So, we went to Kenya and Tanzania and we saw Muslims killing in an automated way, and so they agreed. So, it is a matter of engaging people and letting them see the reason they need to change their attitude. That is our way of doing things, not just say put them away.”

Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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Obafemi Hamzat, deputy governor of Lagos State, has said that 'Agberos' cannot be banned in the state because they were “our brothers and cousins”.

'Agberos' in Lagos are notorious for charging taxes that are not remitted to the government, terrorising neighbourhoods, robbing passengers and rigging elections for corrupt politicians.

Obafemi Hamzat

Hamzat, while speaking with journalists to commemorate his 56th birthday in Lagos, said the National Union of Road Transport Workers to which the touts belong, had the same legitimacy and backing of the law as the Nigeria Medical Association. 

He said, “We have all agreed that we live by the constitution and laws. The National Union of Road Transport Workers is actually a union recognised by law. I know some people say ban them, but the government must also be careful. When you just say arbitrarily ban them, what stops you from saying I want to ban the Nigerian Medical Association? Do you understand? There are times government and NMA have issues; does that mean they should be banned? They are expressing their opinion. 

“They might be wrong or right but they have the right to express those opinions. And then remember these people (NURTW) are Nigerians; they are our brothers and cousins. So, one of the things we have been telling them is that if you are the chairman in Ajeromi and we see that there are all sorts of contraventions in Ajeromi, we will remove you as a chairman. We are not banning your union but it means you are incompetent. 

“So, that is the outcome of one of the meetings we had with them, that if there’s an infraction in any of the areas due to the executive in that area, then it should be dissolved. And then you know we complain about our society, why people fight on the road; we have all gone around the world and it is only here we see people fighting on the road and tearing clothes off themselves, why? That has to change, but changing that does not mean banning them. 

“It is to make sure we find the time and interact with them, and say, ‘look this is how it works’. Remember during former (Governor Bola Ahmed) Tinubu’s administration when we started BRT; it was a tug of war, but we took the union to Colombia to see how the union there metamorphosed into owning the BRT and so a lot of those blue buses at that time were owned by the union. 

“We said, ‘See you can send your children to school by this; this is a job you can say you are proud of.’ Surprisingly they paid back the loans for the buses quickly. The same thing is happening in the abattoir (business); people say they don’t want the machines, some of our brothers said it is un-Islamic that they want to kill the cow themselves. So, we went to Kenya and Tanzania and we saw Muslims killing in an automated way, and so they agreed. So, it is a matter of engaging people and letting them see the reason they need to change their attitude. That is our way of doing things, not just say put them away.”

Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/3jaqImW

Obafemi Hamzat, deputy governor of Lagos State, has said that 'Agberos' cannot be banned in the state because they were “our brothers and cousins”.

'Agberos' in Lagos are notorious for charging taxes that are not remitted to the government, terrorising neighbourhoods, robbing passengers and rigging elections for corrupt politicians.

Obafemi Hamzat

Hamzat, while speaking with journalists to commemorate his 56th birthday in Lagos, said the National Union of Road Transport Workers to which the touts belong, had the same legitimacy and backing of the law as the Nigeria Medical Association. 

He said, “We have all agreed that we live by the constitution and laws. The National Union of Road Transport Workers is actually a union recognised by law. I know some people say ban them, but the government must also be careful. When you just say arbitrarily ban them, what stops you from saying I want to ban the Nigerian Medical Association? Do you understand? There are times government and NMA have issues; does that mean they should be banned? They are expressing their opinion. 

“They might be wrong or right but they have the right to express those opinions. And then remember these people (NURTW) are Nigerians; they are our brothers and cousins. So, one of the things we have been telling them is that if you are the chairman in Ajeromi and we see that there are all sorts of contraventions in Ajeromi, we will remove you as a chairman. We are not banning your union but it means you are incompetent. 

“So, that is the outcome of one of the meetings we had with them, that if there’s an infraction in any of the areas due to the executive in that area, then it should be dissolved. And then you know we complain about our society, why people fight on the road; we have all gone around the world and it is only here we see people fighting on the road and tearing clothes off themselves, why? That has to change, but changing that does not mean banning them. 

“It is to make sure we find the time and interact with them, and say, ‘look this is how it works’. Remember during former (Governor Bola Ahmed) Tinubu’s administration when we started BRT; it was a tug of war, but we took the union to Colombia to see how the union there metamorphosed into owning the BRT and so a lot of those blue buses at that time were owned by the union. 

“We said, ‘See you can send your children to school by this; this is a job you can say you are proud of.’ Surprisingly they paid back the loans for the buses quickly. The same thing is happening in the abattoir (business); people say they don’t want the machines, some of our brothers said it is un-Islamic that they want to kill the cow themselves. So, we went to Kenya and Tanzania and we saw Muslims killing in an automated way, and so they agreed. So, it is a matter of engaging people and letting them see the reason they need to change their attitude. That is our way of doing things, not just say put them away.”

Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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A Kaduna State High Court has thrown out a no-case submission filed by Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, and his wife, Zeenat.

El-Zakzaky whose health had been rapidly deteriorating since his detention in December 2015 after he was arrested by the Nigeria Army, is seeking to quash the government’s charges against him.

The IMN leader and his wife are being prosecuted by the Kaduna State Government on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged culpable homicide, unlawful assembly and disruption of the public peace.

Marshall Abubakar holding brief for foremost rights lawyer, Femi Falana, had on August 7 asked the court to dismiss the charges against El-Zakzaky and Zeenat.

He said the government had failed to “disclose an offence known to law contrary to Section 36 (8) and (12) of the 1999 constitution as amended” against his clients.

See Also Human Rights Shiites Raise Alarm Over El-Zakzaky's Health Amid Fears Of Stroke, Blindness 0 Comments 2 Months Ago

Delivering a ruling on the submission on Tuesday, Justice Gideon Kudara held that the application was premature and contravenes the Kaduna State administration of criminal justice.

He said a no-case application should be submitted after the accessed parties had taken their pleas and after the hearing of the matter had ended.

El-Zakzaky and his wife pleaded not guilty when the eight-count charge was read to them.

Justice Kudara adjoured the matter until November 18 and 19, 2020 for continuation of trial and to enable the prosecution counsel to present witnesses before the court.

Human Rights Legal Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/2kboV7O

A Kaduna State High Court has thrown out a no-case submission filed by Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, and his wife, Zeenat.

El-Zakzaky whose health had been rapidly deteriorating since his detention in December 2015 after he was arrested by the Nigeria Army, is seeking to quash the government’s charges against him.

The IMN leader and his wife are being prosecuted by the Kaduna State Government on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged culpable homicide, unlawful assembly and disruption of the public peace.

Marshall Abubakar holding brief for foremost rights lawyer, Femi Falana, had on August 7 asked the court to dismiss the charges against El-Zakzaky and Zeenat.

He said the government had failed to “disclose an offence known to law contrary to Section 36 (8) and (12) of the 1999 constitution as amended” against his clients.

See Also Human Rights Shiites Raise Alarm Over El-Zakzaky's Health Amid Fears Of Stroke, Blindness 0 Comments 2 Months Ago

Delivering a ruling on the submission on Tuesday, Justice Gideon Kudara held that the application was premature and contravenes the Kaduna State administration of criminal justice.

He said a no-case application should be submitted after the accessed parties had taken their pleas and after the hearing of the matter had ended.

El-Zakzaky and his wife pleaded not guilty when the eight-count charge was read to them.

Justice Kudara adjoured the matter until November 18 and 19, 2020 for continuation of trial and to enable the prosecution counsel to present witnesses before the court.

Human Rights Legal Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/2kboV7O

A Kaduna State High Court has thrown out a no-case submission filed by Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, and his wife, Zeenat.

El-Zakzaky whose health had been rapidly deteriorating since his detention in December 2015 after he was arrested by the Nigeria Army, is seeking to quash the government’s charges against him.

The IMN leader and his wife are being prosecuted by the Kaduna State Government on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged culpable homicide, unlawful assembly and disruption of the public peace.

Marshall Abubakar holding brief for foremost rights lawyer, Femi Falana, had on August 7 asked the court to dismiss the charges against El-Zakzaky and Zeenat.

He said the government had failed to “disclose an offence known to law contrary to Section 36 (8) and (12) of the 1999 constitution as amended” against his clients.

See Also Human Rights Shiites Raise Alarm Over El-Zakzaky's Health Amid Fears Of Stroke, Blindness 0 Comments 2 Months Ago

Delivering a ruling on the submission on Tuesday, Justice Gideon Kudara held that the application was premature and contravenes the Kaduna State administration of criminal justice.

He said a no-case application should be submitted after the accessed parties had taken their pleas and after the hearing of the matter had ended.

El-Zakzaky and his wife pleaded not guilty when the eight-count charge was read to them.

Justice Kudara adjoured the matter until November 18 and 19, 2020 for continuation of trial and to enable the prosecution counsel to present witnesses before the court.

Human Rights Legal Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/2kboV7O