Local News, Sport Updates, Politics, Educational News, Religious etc.
International News
[International News][fbig2]
01/13/21
Rap against Dictatorship: The rappers taking on Thailand's leaders
https://ift.tt/eA8V8J
Thai group Rap Against Dictatorship is known for its outspoken comments against the military and monarchy,
Thai group Rap Against Dictatorship is known for its outspoken comments against the military and monarchy,
Has coronavirus made us more ethical consumers?
https://ift.tt/eA8V8J
Studies show shoppers on both sides of the Atlantic are more ethically and environmentally minded.
Studies show shoppers on both sides of the Atlantic are more ethically and environmentally minded.
How much can Joe Biden get done on the US economy?
https://ift.tt/eA8V8J
The new US president may have more scope to make change than initially thought.
The new US president may have more scope to make change than initially thought.
UNICEF Warns Against Shutting Down Of Schools
The United Nations Children’s Fund has said the closure of schools as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic will adversely affect the development, safety and well-being of children globally, noting that schools are not drivers of the viral disease.
UNICEF also cautioned that the effects of closing school for another year will have a negative impact on the coming generations.
The agency in a statement on Tuesday reiterated that despite a devastating proof that schools were not diffusers of the pandemic, steps have been taken to ensure that they remained shut.
“In the case of lockdowns, schools must be among the first to reopen once authorities start lifting restrictions.
“Catch-up classes should be prioritised to ensure that children who have been unable to learn remotely are not left behind.
“If children are faced with another year of school closures, the effects will be felt for generations to come,” UNICEF warned.
The UN agency noted that the number of out-of-school children is set to rise by 24 million to a level not yet seen in years and to a level it has fought so hard to overcome.
Education PUBLIC HEALTH News AddThis : Original Author : SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements :https://ift.tt/2LlVHRy
UNICEF Warns Against Shutting Down Of Schools
The United Nations Children’s Fund has said the closure of schools as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic will adversely affect the development, safety and well-being of children globally, noting that schools are not drivers of the viral disease.
UNICEF also cautioned that the effects of closing school for another year will have a negative impact on the coming generations.
The agency in a statement on Tuesday reiterated that despite a devastating proof that schools were not diffusers of the pandemic, steps have been taken to ensure that they remained shut.
“In the case of lockdowns, schools must be among the first to reopen once authorities start lifting restrictions.
“Catch-up classes should be prioritised to ensure that children who have been unable to learn remotely are not left behind.
“If children are faced with another year of school closures, the effects will be felt for generations to come,” UNICEF warned.
The UN agency noted that the number of out-of-school children is set to rise by 24 million to a level not yet seen in years and to a level it has fought so hard to overcome.
Education PUBLIC HEALTH News AddThis : Original Author : SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements :https://ift.tt/2LlVHRy
#EndSARS: Abuja Court Orders Magistrate To Stop Case Against Pastor Adeyemi, Adeyanju, Davido, Others
A High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered a magistrates’ court in the capital city to stop proceedings and stay action in a criminal suit filed by a lawyer against 50 persons, including human rights activist, Deji Adeyanju and David Adeleke, better known as Davido, for “promoting” the #EndSARS protests.
The court also restrained the Nigeria Police Force from arresting or taking any action against the #EndSARS activists.
Kenechukwu Okeke had filed the criminal suit against the activists for their roles in the protests at Wuse Zone 6 Magistrates’ Court, Abuja before a Chief Magistrate II, Omolola Tolulope Akindele.
The lawyer alleged that during the protest, his belongings were destroyed and that the defendants who promoted the #EndSARS protests must be brought to justice.
Those listed as defendants include Sam Adeyemi, senior pastor of Daystar Christian Centre; Kanu Nwankwo, former Nigerian international footballer; Innocent Idibia, Nigerian singer and songwriter popularly known as 2face; Adeleke, Nigerian Afropop singer, better known as Davido.
Others listed in the suit include Aisha Yesufu, Kiki Mordi, Peter Okoye, Paul Okoye, Deji Adeyanju, Tiwa Savage, Folarin Falana (Falz), Feyikemi Abudu, and Debo Adebayo.
The court order followed a suit by Samuel Ihensekhien Junior on behalf of Adeyanju and 49 others. See Also 
The order reads, “An order of this Honourable court granting leave to the application to issue and serve on the defendant an application for judicial review against the proceedings/direct criminal complaint of Hon. Omolola Tolulope O. Akindele sitting at Chief Magistrate Court II, Wuse Zone 6 in the suit of Kenechukwu Okeke Vs Deji Adeyanju and 49 others in suit no. CR/49/2020.
“An order of this Honourable court granting leave to the application to issue and serve on the defendant an application for an order of transfer of the entire proceedings, case file and the direct criminal complaint of Hon. Omolola Tolulope O. Akindele sitting at Chief Magistrate Court II, Wuse Zone 6 in the suit of Kenechukwu Okeke Vs Deji Adeyanju and 49 others in suit no. CR/49/2020.
“An order of this Honourable court, that on the grant of the above orders herein, serve as stay of all proceedings on the direct criminal compliant Omolola Tolulope O. Akindele sitting at Chief Magistrate Court II, Wuse Zone 6 in the suit of Kenechukwu Okeke Vs Deji Adeyanju and 49 others in suit no. CR/49/2020.
“An order of this honourable court, that on the grant of the above orders herein, same order as granted by the honourable court shall restrain the Nigeria Police Force, 2nd and 3rd defendants from taking any further steps, arresting and or taking any unconstitutional/illegal steps in the form of any guise as it concerns the subject matters whatsoever before this court herein as it concerns all parties in the proceedings as referred to as direct criminal complaint Omolola Tolulope O. Akindele sitting at Chief Magistrate Court II, Wuse Zone 6 in the suit of Kenechukwu Okeke Vs Deji Adeyanju and 49 others in suit no. CR/49/2020.”
Thousands of Nigerians under the #EndSARS campaign had in October 2020, taken to the streets to protest police brutality.
Several public figures and celebrities lent their voices to the protests which gained national and international attention.
Okeke, however, said the defendants used Twitter, a microblogging social media platform, to instigate “some riotous and tumultuous persons” who caused mayhem in the country.
He added that the actions of the defendants contravened Section 97 (2) of the Penal Code Act, C53 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2001.
“Having initiated criminal proceedings against the #EndSARS riots promoters at exactly 1052hrs WAT, 09/11/2020, we shall ensure that same is diligently prosecuted in the interest of defence, public safety and public order. The Federal Republic of Nigeria is country of laws,” he wrote on Twitter days after filing the suit.
Some of the #EndSARS promoters and participants have been hounded by law enforcement agencies.
The Nigerian government has also frozen the bank accounts of some #EndSARS promoters.
More recently, the government arrested human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, on December 31 for leading a crossover protest in Abuja.
News AddThis : Original Author : SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements :https://ift.tt/2WLIDWF
#EndSARS: Abuja Court Orders Magistrate To Stop Case Against Pastor Adeyemi, Adeyanju, Davido, Others
A High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered a magistrates’ court in the capital city to stop proceedings and stay action in a criminal suit filed by a lawyer against 50 persons, including human rights activist, Deji Adeyanju and David Adeleke, better known as Davido, for “promoting” the #EndSARS protests.
The court also restrained the Nigeria Police Force from arresting or taking any action against the #EndSARS activists.
Kenechukwu Okeke had filed the criminal suit against the activists for their roles in the protests at Wuse Zone 6 Magistrates’ Court, Abuja before a Chief Magistrate II, Omolola Tolulope Akindele.
The lawyer alleged that during the protest, his belongings were destroyed and that the defendants who promoted the #EndSARS protests must be brought to justice.
Those listed as defendants include Sam Adeyemi, senior pastor of Daystar Christian Centre; Kanu Nwankwo, former Nigerian international footballer; Innocent Idibia, Nigerian singer and songwriter popularly known as 2face; Adeleke, Nigerian Afropop singer, better known as Davido.
Others listed in the suit include Aisha Yesufu, Kiki Mordi, Peter Okoye, Paul Okoye, Deji Adeyanju, Tiwa Savage, Folarin Falana (Falz), Feyikemi Abudu, and Debo Adebayo.
The court order followed a suit by Samuel Ihensekhien Junior on behalf of Adeyanju and 49 others. See Also
The order reads, “An order of this Honourable court granting leave to the application to issue and serve on the defendant an application for judicial review against the proceedings/direct criminal complaint of Hon. Omolola Tolulope O. Akindele sitting at Chief Magistrate Court II, Wuse Zone 6 in the suit of Kenechukwu Okeke Vs Deji Adeyanju and 49 others in suit no. CR/49/2020.
“An order of this Honourable court granting leave to the application to issue and serve on the defendant an application for an order of transfer of the entire proceedings, case file and the direct criminal complaint of Hon. Omolola Tolulope O. Akindele sitting at Chief Magistrate Court II, Wuse Zone 6 in the suit of Kenechukwu Okeke Vs Deji Adeyanju and 49 others in suit no. CR/49/2020.
“An order of this Honourable court, that on the grant of the above orders herein, serve as stay of all proceedings on the direct criminal compliant Omolola Tolulope O. Akindele sitting at Chief Magistrate Court II, Wuse Zone 6 in the suit of Kenechukwu Okeke Vs Deji Adeyanju and 49 others in suit no. CR/49/2020.
“An order of this honourable court, that on the grant of the above orders herein, same order as granted by the honourable court shall restrain the Nigeria Police Force, 2nd and 3rd defendants from taking any further steps, arresting and or taking any unconstitutional/illegal steps in the form of any guise as it concerns the subject matters whatsoever before this court herein as it concerns all parties in the proceedings as referred to as direct criminal complaint Omolola Tolulope O. Akindele sitting at Chief Magistrate Court II, Wuse Zone 6 in the suit of Kenechukwu Okeke Vs Deji Adeyanju and 49 others in suit no. CR/49/2020.”
Thousands of Nigerians under the #EndSARS campaign had in October 2020, taken to the streets to protest police brutality.
Several public figures and celebrities lent their voices to the protests which gained national and international attention.
Okeke, however, said the defendants used Twitter, a microblogging social media platform, to instigate “some riotous and tumultuous persons” who caused mayhem in the country.
He added that the actions of the defendants contravened Section 97 (2) of the Penal Code Act, C53 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2001.
“Having initiated criminal proceedings against the #EndSARS riots promoters at exactly 1052hrs WAT, 09/11/2020, we shall ensure that same is diligently prosecuted in the interest of defence, public safety and public order. The Federal Republic of Nigeria is country of laws,” he wrote on Twitter days after filing the suit.
Some of the #EndSARS promoters and participants have been hounded by law enforcement agencies.
The Nigerian government has also frozen the bank accounts of some #EndSARS promoters.
More recently, the government arrested human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, on December 31 for leading a crossover protest in Abuja.
News AddThis : Original Author : SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements :https://ift.tt/2WLIDWF
British New COVID-19 Strain Now In 50 Countries, South African Strain In 20 – WHO
The coronavirus mutation first found in Britain has now spread to 50 territories, according to the World Health Organization, while a similar South African-identified strain has now been found in 20.
The UN body also noted a third new coronavirus “variant of concern” found in Japan may impact upon immune response and needs further investigation.
“The more the SARS-CoV-2 virus spreads, the more opportunities it has to change. High levels of transmission mean that we should expect more variants to emerge,” said the WHO.
SARS-CoV-2 is the virus which causes COVID-19 disease.
Since first being reported to the WHO on December 14, the British-identified variant VOC 202012/01 has been found in 50 countries, territories and areas, the agency said.
Test results showed the age and sex distribution was similar to that of other circulating variants, while contact tracing data revealed “higher transmissibility (secondary attack rates) where the index case has the variant strain”.
The South African-identified variant 501Y.V2, first reported on December 18, has now been detected in 20 countries, territories and areas.
“From preliminary and ongoing investigations in South Africa, it is possible that the 501Y.V2 variant is more transmissible than variants circulating in South Africa previously,” the WHO weekly report said.
“Moreover, while this new variant does not appear to cause more severe illness, the observed rapid increases in case numbers have placed health systems under pressure.”
The geographical spread of both variants is likely underestimated, said the WHO, given a bias towards detection in countries with virus sequencing capacity.
Meanwhile, the agency said it had been notified by Japan on January 9 of a new variant detected in four travellers arriving from Brazil. The variant was found in two adults and two children.
PUBLIC HEALTH News AddThis : Original Author : SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements :https://ift.tt/2N2zcS0
British New COVID-19 Strain Now In 50 Countries, South African Strain In 20 – WHO
The coronavirus mutation first found in Britain has now spread to 50 territories, according to the World Health Organization, while a similar South African-identified strain has now been found in 20.
The UN body also noted a third new coronavirus “variant of concern” found in Japan may impact upon immune response and needs further investigation.
“The more the SARS-CoV-2 virus spreads, the more opportunities it has to change. High levels of transmission mean that we should expect more variants to emerge,” said the WHO.
SARS-CoV-2 is the virus which causes COVID-19 disease.
Since first being reported to the WHO on December 14, the British-identified variant VOC 202012/01 has been found in 50 countries, territories and areas, the agency said.
Test results showed the age and sex distribution was similar to that of other circulating variants, while contact tracing data revealed “higher transmissibility (secondary attack rates) where the index case has the variant strain”.
The South African-identified variant 501Y.V2, first reported on December 18, has now been detected in 20 countries, territories and areas.
“From preliminary and ongoing investigations in South Africa, it is possible that the 501Y.V2 variant is more transmissible than variants circulating in South Africa previously,” the WHO weekly report said.
“Moreover, while this new variant does not appear to cause more severe illness, the observed rapid increases in case numbers have placed health systems under pressure.”
The geographical spread of both variants is likely underestimated, said the WHO, given a bias towards detection in countries with virus sequencing capacity.
Meanwhile, the agency said it had been notified by Japan on January 9 of a new variant detected in four travellers arriving from Brazil. The variant was found in two adults and two children.
PUBLIC HEALTH News AddThis : Original Author : SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements :https://ift.tt/2N2zcS0
Southern Kaduna Youths Vow To Avenge Any Attack On Kukah, Seeks Arrest Of Maishanu
The youth wing of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) has vowed to reciprocate any form of attack targeted at the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah.
Kukah's controversial Christmas message had earned him criticisms and backlash from major Islamic and northern groups in the country.
On Tuesday, the Muslim Solidarity Forum asked Kukah to tender an unreserved apology to the entire Muslim Ummah or leave Sokoto.
But, on Wednesday, in a statement issued by SOKAPU, the group accused the Muslim Solidarity Forum of trying to incite the peace-loving people of Sokoto and some northerners against the bishop over his Christmas message, which they described as 'the obvious truth'.
The statement partly read, "The attention of the Youth Wing of Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) has again been drawn to an eleven (11) point press statement issued and signed by one Professor Isa Mohammed Maishanu on behalf of Muslim Solidarity Forum Sokoto on Tuesday, the 12th day of January, 2021.
"The statement is asking Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah to leave the Seat of Caliphate (Sokoto), and is also trying to incite the peace-loving people of Sokoto and the North against the bishop over his Christmas message where the bishop out of passionate patriotism voiced out the obvious truth when he said: ‘Every honest Nigerian knows that there is no way any non-Northern Muslim President could have done a fraction of what President Muhammadu Buhari has done with his nepotism and got away with it’.
"We are however dismayed and pained that a professor could condescend this low, throwing caution to the wind and toeing the path of religious rascality and bigotry by deliberately attempting to window dress the bishop's message with religious colourations and further inciting the general Muslim Ummah against the bishop.
"The demeaning call by the so-called professor for Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah to ‘apologise to the Muslim Ummah or quickly and quietly leave the Seat of the Caliphate’ is not just ridiculous and unacceptable but an affront to the rights of all Nigerians who live and reside freely in all parts of the country.
"We believe that the reckless statement credited to the professor does not in any way reflect the position of a responsible group such as the Muslim Solidarity Forum.”
The SOKAPU youth wing also urged the Department of State Services to arrest Maishanu, who signed the statement on behalf of the group. They said his arrest would serve as a deterrent to those already brainwashed and misled by Maishanu's unguided statements and prevent a religious war.
SOKAPU youth wing added, "While we call on the Department of State Services to as a matter of urgency arrest Prof. Isa Mohammed Maishanu to serve as a deterrent to those already brainwashed and misled by his unguided statements and prevent a religious war, we're equally urging the professor to as a matter of public interest and safety submit himself to the nearest psychiatric home for an immediate psychological examination for shamelessly trying to establish a nexus between Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah's message and Muslims vis-a-vis Islam.”
The group also stressed that it would not tolerate any attack on Kukah by anyone as he has committed no offence.
"The youth and people of Southern Kaduna hereby unequivocally warn that we will not accept further attacks on the person and character of Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah under any pretence. Neither Prof. Maishanu nor any person or group of persons can mourn more than the bereaved.
"The bishop’s message was directed to the powers that be and could not in any way be said to have been directed to Muslims and Islam, a religion well known to profess peace.
"The youth of Southern Kaduna therefore vow to reciprocate any form of attack directed or aimed at putting the bishop in harm's way by any group of ethnic loyalists, religious extremists and enthusiasts."
Christianity News AddThis : Original Author : SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements :https://ift.tt/2N7sJT8
Southern Kaduna Youths Vow To Avenge Any Attack On Kukah, Seeks Arrest Of Maishanu
The youth wing of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) has vowed to reciprocate any form of attack targeted at the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah.
Kukah's controversial Christmas message had earned him criticisms and backlash from major Islamic and northern groups in the country.
On Tuesday, the Muslim Solidarity Forum asked Kukah to tender an unreserved apology to the entire Muslim Ummah or leave Sokoto.
But, on Wednesday, in a statement issued by SOKAPU, the group accused the Muslim Solidarity Forum of trying to incite the peace-loving people of Sokoto and some northerners against the bishop over his Christmas message, which they described as 'the obvious truth'.
The statement partly read, "The attention of the Youth Wing of Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) has again been drawn to an eleven (11) point press statement issued and signed by one Professor Isa Mohammed Maishanu on behalf of Muslim Solidarity Forum Sokoto on Tuesday, the 12th day of January, 2021.
"The statement is asking Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah to leave the Seat of Caliphate (Sokoto), and is also trying to incite the peace-loving people of Sokoto and the North against the bishop over his Christmas message where the bishop out of passionate patriotism voiced out the obvious truth when he said: ‘Every honest Nigerian knows that there is no way any non-Northern Muslim President could have done a fraction of what President Muhammadu Buhari has done with his nepotism and got away with it’.
"We are however dismayed and pained that a professor could condescend this low, throwing caution to the wind and toeing the path of religious rascality and bigotry by deliberately attempting to window dress the bishop's message with religious colourations and further inciting the general Muslim Ummah against the bishop.
"The demeaning call by the so-called professor for Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah to ‘apologise to the Muslim Ummah or quickly and quietly leave the Seat of the Caliphate’ is not just ridiculous and unacceptable but an affront to the rights of all Nigerians who live and reside freely in all parts of the country.
"We believe that the reckless statement credited to the professor does not in any way reflect the position of a responsible group such as the Muslim Solidarity Forum.”
The SOKAPU youth wing also urged the Department of State Services to arrest Maishanu, who signed the statement on behalf of the group. They said his arrest would serve as a deterrent to those already brainwashed and misled by Maishanu's unguided statements and prevent a religious war.
SOKAPU youth wing added, "While we call on the Department of State Services to as a matter of urgency arrest Prof. Isa Mohammed Maishanu to serve as a deterrent to those already brainwashed and misled by his unguided statements and prevent a religious war, we're equally urging the professor to as a matter of public interest and safety submit himself to the nearest psychiatric home for an immediate psychological examination for shamelessly trying to establish a nexus between Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah's message and Muslims vis-a-vis Islam.”
The group also stressed that it would not tolerate any attack on Kukah by anyone as he has committed no offence.
"The youth and people of Southern Kaduna hereby unequivocally warn that we will not accept further attacks on the person and character of Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah under any pretence. Neither Prof. Maishanu nor any person or group of persons can mourn more than the bereaved.
"The bishop’s message was directed to the powers that be and could not in any way be said to have been directed to Muslims and Islam, a religion well known to profess peace.
"The youth of Southern Kaduna therefore vow to reciprocate any form of attack directed or aimed at putting the bishop in harm's way by any group of ethnic loyalists, religious extremists and enthusiasts."
Christianity News AddThis : Original Author : SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements :https://ift.tt/2N7sJT8
Kidnappers Kill Ibadan Farmer Despite Collecting N1.65m Ransom From Family
A farmer in Ibadan, Oluwole Agboola, who was abducted on December 28, 2020, was found dead Tuesday after his abductors had collected a ransom of N1.65 million.
Agboola was abducted on his farm at Abaodo area in Olukitibi village in the Akinyele Local Government Area of the state by six gunmen dressed in camouflage.
According to Daily Trust, the kidnappers collected N1.65 million ransom from the family of the victim and still went ahead to kill him.
A brother of the deceased, Olakunle Agboola, confirmed the killing of the farmer to journalists on Tuesday.
He said his brother was killed by the gunmen 10 days after they collected the ransom.
Insecurity News AddThis : Original Author : SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements :https://ift.tt/39xDt7k
Kidnappers Kill Ibadan Farmer Despite Collecting N1.65m Ransom From Family
A farmer in Ibadan, Oluwole Agboola, who was abducted on December 28, 2020, was found dead Tuesday after his abductors had collected a ransom of N1.65 million.
Agboola was abducted on his farm at Abaodo area in Olukitibi village in the Akinyele Local Government Area of the state by six gunmen dressed in camouflage.
According to Daily Trust, the kidnappers collected N1.65 million ransom from the family of the victim and still went ahead to kill him.
A brother of the deceased, Olakunle Agboola, confirmed the killing of the farmer to journalists on Tuesday.
He said his brother was killed by the gunmen 10 days after they collected the ransom.
Insecurity News AddThis : Original Author : SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements :https://ift.tt/39xDt7k
Kukah Did Not Attack Islam, He has Nothing To Apologise For, Fani-Kayode Replies Northern Group
Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation, has faulted the call by a group that the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, should leave the state, following the latter’s Christmas message.
An Islamic group, Muslim Solidarity Forum, Sokoto, had advised Kukah to quietly leave Sokoto or stop what it termed “his malicious vituperations against Islam and Muslims”.
The group’s acting chairman, Professor Isa Maishanu, in a statement, noted that the bishop with his statement, was trying to break the age-long peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Christians.
The group was reacting to the Catholic bishop’s Christmas message in which he accused President Muhammadu Buhari of institutionalising northern hegemony while reducing other parts of the country to second-class status.
The statement became controversial as it was condemned by the Nigerian government, and some northern and Islamic group.
He, however, received support from the Catholic church, pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, among others.
Maishanu, in a statement, directed Muslim leaders, who out of magnanimity had been showing goodwill to Kukah to realise that he is taking their kindness for granted. See Also 
According to him, the bishop doesn’t appreciate the gesture but fiercely attacks them at any given opportunity.
The statement said, “In February 2020, he (Kukah) shamelessly staged a demonstration in the heart of Sokoto over the killing of a single Christian priest, presumably, by the Boko Haram insurgents, but did not consider hundreds of Muslims, Fulani herders that were mercilessly killed by the Christian militia in Taraba state in 2018.”
Reacting, Fani-Kayode insisted that Kukah did not attack Muslims in his Christmas message, while promising to give out N1 million to anyone who can provide him with a video of the Catholic bishop calling for violence against Muslims or inciting people against Islam.
In a series of tweets, Fani-Kayode wrote, “Bishop Hassan Kukah did not attack Islam and has nothing to apologise about. He has always sought religious tolerance and peaceful co-existence between Christians and Muslims. Those that demand that he ‘must apologise’ or ‘leave Sokoto’ must mind their utterances and keep the peace.
“If anyone can provide me with a video of Kukah calling for violence against Muslims or inciting people against Islam, I will give him one million naira.”
Kukah had said there would have been a coup or war in the country if a non-Northern Muslim President had practised a fraction of President Muhammadu Buhari’s ‘nepotism’.
The bishop warned that although Christians would not fight back, “God does not sleep”.
He had said, “This government owes the nation an explanation as to where it is headed as we seem to journey into darkness.
“The spilling of this blood must be related to a more sinister plot that is beyond our comprehension. Are we going to remain hogtied by these evil men or are they gradually becoming part of a larger plot to seal the fate of our country? See Also
“President Buhari deliberately sacrificed the dreams of those who voted for him to what seemed like a programme to stratify and institutionalise northern hegemony. He has pursued this self-defeating and alienating policy at the expense of greater national cohesion.
“Every honest Nigerian knows that there is no way any non-Northern Muslim President could have done a fraction of what President Buhari has done by his nepotism and gotten away with it.
“There would have been a military coup a long time ago or we would have been at war. The President may have concluded that Christians will do nothing and will live with these actions.
“He may be right and we Christians cannot feel sorry that we have no pool of violence to draw from or threaten our country. However, God does not sleep. We can see from the inexplicable dilemma of his North.”
Islam Politics News AddThis : Original Author : SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements :https://ift.tt/2WRdqSG
Kukah Did Not Attack Islam, He has Nothing To Apologise For, Fani-Kayode Replies Northern Group
Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation, has faulted the call by a group that the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, should leave the state, following the latter’s Christmas message.
An Islamic group, Muslim Solidarity Forum, Sokoto, had advised Kukah to quietly leave Sokoto or stop what it termed “his malicious vituperations against Islam and Muslims”.
The group’s acting chairman, Professor Isa Maishanu, in a statement, noted that the bishop with his statement, was trying to break the age-long peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Christians.
The group was reacting to the Catholic bishop’s Christmas message in which he accused President Muhammadu Buhari of institutionalising northern hegemony while reducing other parts of the country to second-class status.
The statement became controversial as it was condemned by the Nigerian government, and some northern and Islamic group.
He, however, received support from the Catholic church, pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, among others.
Maishanu, in a statement, directed Muslim leaders, who out of magnanimity had been showing goodwill to Kukah to realise that he is taking their kindness for granted. See Also
According to him, the bishop doesn’t appreciate the gesture but fiercely attacks them at any given opportunity.
The statement said, “In February 2020, he (Kukah) shamelessly staged a demonstration in the heart of Sokoto over the killing of a single Christian priest, presumably, by the Boko Haram insurgents, but did not consider hundreds of Muslims, Fulani herders that were mercilessly killed by the Christian militia in Taraba state in 2018.”
Reacting, Fani-Kayode insisted that Kukah did not attack Muslims in his Christmas message, while promising to give out N1 million to anyone who can provide him with a video of the Catholic bishop calling for violence against Muslims or inciting people against Islam.
In a series of tweets, Fani-Kayode wrote, “Bishop Hassan Kukah did not attack Islam and has nothing to apologise about. He has always sought religious tolerance and peaceful co-existence between Christians and Muslims. Those that demand that he ‘must apologise’ or ‘leave Sokoto’ must mind their utterances and keep the peace.
“If anyone can provide me with a video of Kukah calling for violence against Muslims or inciting people against Islam, I will give him one million naira.”
Kukah had said there would have been a coup or war in the country if a non-Northern Muslim President had practised a fraction of President Muhammadu Buhari’s ‘nepotism’.
The bishop warned that although Christians would not fight back, “God does not sleep”.
He had said, “This government owes the nation an explanation as to where it is headed as we seem to journey into darkness.
“The spilling of this blood must be related to a more sinister plot that is beyond our comprehension. Are we going to remain hogtied by these evil men or are they gradually becoming part of a larger plot to seal the fate of our country? See Also
“President Buhari deliberately sacrificed the dreams of those who voted for him to what seemed like a programme to stratify and institutionalise northern hegemony. He has pursued this self-defeating and alienating policy at the expense of greater national cohesion.
“Every honest Nigerian knows that there is no way any non-Northern Muslim President could have done a fraction of what President Buhari has done by his nepotism and gotten away with it.
“There would have been a military coup a long time ago or we would have been at war. The President may have concluded that Christians will do nothing and will live with these actions.
“He may be right and we Christians cannot feel sorry that we have no pool of violence to draw from or threaten our country. However, God does not sleep. We can see from the inexplicable dilemma of his North.”
Islam Politics News AddThis : Original Author : SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements :https://ift.tt/2WRdqSG
Kukah Did Not Attack Islam, He has Nothing To Apologise For, Fani-Kayode Replies Northern Group
Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation, has faulted the call by a group that the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, should leave the state, following the latter’s Christmas message.
An Islamic group, Muslim Solidarity Forum, Sokoto, had advised Kukah to quietly leave Sokoto or stop what it termed “his malicious vituperations against Islam and Muslims”.
The group’s acting chairman, Professor Isa Maishanu, in a statement, noted that the bishop with his statement, was trying to break the age-long peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Christians.
The group was reacting to the Catholic bishop’s Christmas message in which he accused President Muhammadu Buhari of institutionalising northern hegemony while reducing other parts of the country to second-class status.
The statement became controversial as it was condemned by the Nigerian government, and some northern and Islamic group.
He, however, received support from the Catholic church, pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, among others.
Maishanu, in a statement, directed Muslim leaders, who out of magnanimity had been showing goodwill to Kukah to realise that he is taking their kindness for granted. See Also
According to him, the bishop doesn’t appreciate the gesture but fiercely attacks them at any given opportunity.
The statement said, “In February 2020, he (Kukah) shamelessly staged a demonstration in the heart of Sokoto over the killing of a single Christian priest, presumably, by the Boko Haram insurgents, but did not consider hundreds of Muslims, Fulani herders that were mercilessly killed by the Christian militia in Taraba state in 2018.”
Reacting, Fani-Kayode insisted that Kukah did not attack Muslims in his Christmas message, while promising to give out N1 million to anyone who can provide him with a video of the Catholic bishop calling for violence against Muslims or inciting people against Islam.
In a series of tweets, Fani-Kayode wrote, “Bishop Hassan Kukah did not attack Islam and has nothing to apologise about. He has always sought religious tolerance and peaceful co-existence between Christians and Muslims. Those that demand that he ‘must apologise’ or ‘leave Sokoto’ must mind their utterances and keep the peace.
“If anyone can provide me with a video of Kukah calling for violence against Muslims or inciting people against Islam, I will give him one million naira.”
Kukah had said there would have been a coup or war in the country if a non-Northern Muslim President had practised a fraction of President Muhammadu Buhari’s ‘nepotism’.
The bishop warned that although Christians would not fight back, “God does not sleep”.
He had said, “This government owes the nation an explanation as to where it is headed as we seem to journey into darkness.
“The spilling of this blood must be related to a more sinister plot that is beyond our comprehension. Are we going to remain hogtied by these evil men or are they gradually becoming part of a larger plot to seal the fate of our country? See Also
“President Buhari deliberately sacrificed the dreams of those who voted for him to what seemed like a programme to stratify and institutionalise northern hegemony. He has pursued this self-defeating and alienating policy at the expense of greater national cohesion.
“Every honest Nigerian knows that there is no way any non-Northern Muslim President could have done a fraction of what President Buhari has done by his nepotism and gotten away with it.
“There would have been a military coup a long time ago or we would have been at war. The President may have concluded that Christians will do nothing and will live with these actions.
“He may be right and we Christians cannot feel sorry that we have no pool of violence to draw from or threaten our country. However, God does not sleep. We can see from the inexplicable dilemma of his North.”
Islam Politics News AddThis : Original Author : SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements :https://ift.tt/2WRdqSG
BREAKING: Ex-military Gov, Ndubuisi Kanu, Dies At 77
A former Military Governor of Lagos and Imo States, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (retd.), has died at 77.
Kanu’s associate and ally, Mrs Joe Okei-Odumakin, confirmed this to The PUNCH on Wednesday.
“I can confirm that he has passed on. This is very sad news. A statement will be issued soon,” she said.
The cause of his death could not be immediately confirmed.
Kanu, who was appointed into the Supreme Military Council headed by the late Head of State, Gen. Murtala Muhammed in 1975, later became a human rights activist after leaving the military.
He joined the pro-democracy movement, NADECO, and played a leading role in the agitation for the actualisation of the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election.
https://ift.tt/2XC4cu7
BREAKING: Ex-military Gov, Ndubuisi Kanu, Dies At 77
A former Military Governor of Lagos and Imo States, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (retd.), has died at 77.
Kanu’s associate and ally, Mrs Joe Okei-Odumakin, confirmed this to The PUNCH on Wednesday.
“I can confirm that he has passed on. This is very sad news. A statement will be issued soon,” she said.
The cause of his death could not be immediately confirmed.
Kanu, who was appointed into the Supreme Military Council headed by the late Head of State, Gen. Murtala Muhammed in 1975, later became a human rights activist after leaving the military.
He joined the pro-democracy movement, NADECO, and played a leading role in the agitation for the actualisation of the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election.
https://ift.tt/2XC4cu7
How New Child Protection Law In Katsina Leaves Room For Underage Marriage
The Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, has assented to the Child Protection Bill several years after its proposal in the state House of Assembly.
The Assembly first introduced it as Child Rights Act in 2003, but later renamed it Katsina State Child Protection Bill 2020.
The bill, which was finally assented to by the governor on December 29, 2020, was passed by the House of Assembly in November 2020 to protect children from abuse.
A leading child rights organisation, Save the Children International Nigeria, alongside other civil societies had been pushing for the passage of the bill into law.
However, in a report by Premium Times, the legislation will not regulate the age of marriage for Muslim children.
This means, although, the Child Protection Bill defines a child as a person below the age of 18 and seeks to protect them from abuse, it will still not protect certain underage persons from being married off.
The Chairman of the House Committee on the Child Protection Bill, Musa Nuhu, was quoted as saying the passage of the bill would end the prevalence of child rape, child labour, "forced and underage marriage in the state”.
However, the first article of the law gives the Sharia law supremacy over the Child Protection Law.
It says the Sharia will take precedence if any matter in the new law concerning a Muslim child goes against the religious law.
It also argues that a child’s maturity goes beyond the idea of puberty.
The bill states, “There should be counselling by parents to evaluate the development of their children before marrying them off.”
Politics News AddThis : Original Author : SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements :https://ift.tt/2S9VKPW
How New Child Protection Law In Katsina Leaves Room For Underage Marriage
The Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, has assented to the Child Protection Bill several years after its proposal in the state House of Assembly.
The Assembly first introduced it as Child Rights Act in 2003, but later renamed it Katsina State Child Protection Bill 2020.
The bill, which was finally assented to by the governor on December 29, 2020, was passed by the House of Assembly in November 2020 to protect children from abuse.
A leading child rights organisation, Save the Children International Nigeria, alongside other civil societies had been pushing for the passage of the bill into law.
However, in a report by Premium Times, the legislation will not regulate the age of marriage for Muslim children.
This means, although, the Child Protection Bill defines a child as a person below the age of 18 and seeks to protect them from abuse, it will still not protect certain underage persons from being married off.
The Chairman of the House Committee on the Child Protection Bill, Musa Nuhu, was quoted as saying the passage of the bill would end the prevalence of child rape, child labour, "forced and underage marriage in the state”.
However, the first article of the law gives the Sharia law supremacy over the Child Protection Law.
It says the Sharia will take precedence if any matter in the new law concerning a Muslim child goes against the religious law.
It also argues that a child’s maturity goes beyond the idea of puberty.
The bill states, “There should be counselling by parents to evaluate the development of their children before marrying them off.”
Politics News AddThis : Original Author : SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements :https://ift.tt/2S9VKPW
How New Child Protection Law In Katsina Leaves Room For Underage Marriage
The Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, has assented to the Child Protection Bill several years after its proposal in the state House of Assembly.
The Assembly first introduced it as Child Rights Act in 2003, but later renamed it Katsina State Child Protection Bill 2020.
File photo of a girl forced into marriage
The bill, which was finally assented to by the governor on December 29, 2020, was passed by the House of Assembly in November 2020 to protect children from abuse.
A leading child rights organisation, Save the Children International Nigeria, alongside other civil societies had been pushing for the passage of the bill into law.
However, in a report by Premium Times, the legislation will not regulate the age of marriage for Muslim children.
This means, although, the Child Protection Bill defines a child as a person below the age of 18 and seeks to protect them from abuse, it will still not protect certain underage persons from being married off.
The Chairman of the House Committee on the Child Protection Bill, Musa Nuhu, was quoted as saying the passage of the bill would end the prevalence of child rape, child labour, "forced and underage marriage in the state”.
However, the first article of the law gives the Sharia law supremacy over the Child Protection Law.
It says the Sharia will take precedence if any matter in the new law concerning a Muslim child goes against the religious law.
It also argues that a child’s maturity goes beyond the idea of puberty.
The bill states, “There should be counselling by parents to evaluate the development of their children before marrying them off.”
Politics News AddThis : Original Author : SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements :https://ift.tt/2S9VKPW
No Political Party Should Cede 2023 Presidency To South-East, By Fredrick Nwabufo
If the 2023 presidency is relieved of competition and minimised to an ethnic contest, then we are consciously backtracking to the mistakes of 2015. Ethnic considerations brought President Muhammadu Buhari to power. And I am sure most Nigerians have witnessed the calamity that this current administration is. When leadership is robbed of progressive competition, competence is impaired. We will keep chasing the will-o-the-wisp of progress as a country for as long as the tribe of a citizen matters more than his antecedents, competence level and abilities.
‘’Turn-by-turn’’ presidency will only yield ‘’turn-by-turn’’ misery. Nepotism here thrives largely because a leader selected on the basis of where he represents generally seeks to protect the interest of that base he feels solidified his claim to power. It is the reason Buhari shows exceptional consideration for his ‘’political base’’. In fact, one of the murmurs among members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) – the president’s party – is that Buhari and his camp commonised the contributions of the south-west to his electoral victory in 2015 and 2019. The president feels strongly that his victory came by the hands of his fanatical followers in the north.
So, we are only reinventing a broken wheel by putting more premium on where the next president should come from rather than on ‘’what he had done, what he is doing; his leadership qualities, academic background, mental state and health condition’’. And with the entitled perception that ‘’it is our turn; the president is our brother’’, nepotism is systematised.
Really, why should a leadership position that defines and determines the future of the country be ethnicised? Why is there no campaign for the basics of leadership? Why is there no clamour for the qualities, the credentials and competence level the next president of Nigeria should possess? Why is it always about ethnicity? Really, we are doomed to have a reprise of the indomitably failed Buhari administration, if we persist in the pursuit of ethnic-based leadership.
It is revolting that presidency in Nigeria is designed in such a way that every ethnic group, particularly the predatory political class, sees it as an entitled offering that must be acquired for the sake of promoting individual and sectional interest. The base mindset of -- ‘’it is our turn to take a crunch at the cake, so pass it!’’ If ethnic-based presidency is so important to us, why can we not fragment the centre and return power to the federating units? So, every group can decide how to bake and eat their own cake.
On January 6, 2021, some Igbo political leaders emerged from a meeting and asked all political parties to zone the 2023 presidency to the south-east. Among these Igbo political leaders were a former governor who took a hiatus from prison and a former senate president facing corruption charges. I was startled. Who among these ones is fit to be president?
Here is their statement in brief: “Hence as power is expected to rotate to the south in 2023, the meeting noted that the south-east is the only zone in the south that is yet to produce a president of Nigeria in the current democratic dispensation.
“Consequently implore all the political parties to cede their presidential tickets in the 2023 general election to the south-east in the interest of justice, equity and national unity. To make good our demand and reciprocate such good faith, we have decided, as a geopolitical zone with a substantial presence in every part of the country to give a block vote and throw our full weight behind any major political party, particularly the APC (All Progressives Congress) and PDP (Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), that zones its presidential ticket to the south-east in 2023 general election.”
To make it clear, the ‘’struggle’’ for 2023 presidency by some south-east leaders is not in the pursuit of the Igbo interest. Rather it is in the pursuit of the interest of the ruling elite of the region. The overarching interest of the Igbo is a restructured Nigeria where every region can grow at its own pace. I argued in a previous article titled, ‘Ndi Igbo forget 2023 presidency; it’s a trap’, that restructuring is not achievable with a president of Igbo extraction and I gave my reasons.
Please permit me to iterate my point here: ‘’conversely, we could forge alliances with progressive groups with the primary aim of achieving restructuring or devolution of power to states ahead of 2023. That is, we support any candidate from any section of the country who has indemnifiable commitment to restructuring. We extract that commitment. The reason for my argument is a president of Igbo extraction pushing for restructuring will be resisted by the north. In fact, it is a campaign fail if any candidate from the south-east preaches restructuring. The nagging fear and suspicion that the Igbo will secede from the country if they get to power is intense. So, what do we hope to benefit from Igbo presidency if we cannot have restructuring?’’
No political party should cede 2023 presidential tickets to the south-east on the basis of nothing but ‘’ethnicity’’. The process should be competitive to allow the best minds to take charge of the country – even if candidates from the south-east are specially considered. There should be less emphasis on ethnicity and more stress on competence, credentials, antecedents, and ability for leadership.
And even if the south-east gets a go at the presidency, the next president should not be from the pool of the perpetuators of the region’s underdevelopment.
Fredrick Nwabufo is a writer and journalist
Twitter @FredrickNwabufo
Opinion AddThis : Original Author : Fredrick Nwabufo Disable advertisements :https://ift.tt/37TEfw9
MKRdezign
Powered by Blogger.