IYANDA'SBLOG

Our democracy is practiced on political party basis, our constitution has no recognition for individual candidacy, had it, Muhammadu Buhari would have successfully become the President without much ado. He is no doubt a political phenomenon, his cult like followership in the North is an undeniable proof of this. The constancy of his 11 million votes in 2003, 2007, 2011 established one thing; those 11 million people were not voting for his political parties, but for Muhammadu Buhari.

Democracy is a game played in numbers, it  therefore made a lot of political sense to sought alliance with a candidate having such political capital that was delivering 11 million worth of votes at every election in a nation where just 15 million votes was needed to cruse home to victory. But such should never have been considered without counting the cost of the cross of his cult fellowships and its attendant consequences.

In 2014, APC presented a 24 page document as its manifestos; titled: "Building A New Nigeria, what Nigerians however didn't factor in was the process they will adopt as we all are witnessing. Their determination to demolish or "tarched house Nigeria" before the "mansion Nigeria" will be built. The roof over our heads have been removed while APC is still pegging the land and drawing the lines, it is only left to imagination how many Nigerians will make it to the dedication of their mansion if it's ever built. How do you juxtapose a nation which today has become a source of humanitarian concern for not just self but her sub region, with 3.2 million Internally Displaced Persons, 2.9 million are domiciled in Nigeria, with, Cameroon, Chad and Niger taken a chunk of 778,000, and 304,000 "warehoused" like expired goods without the hope of reaching the market in the other 4 countries. Our situation is compounded with 10.1 million out of school children, a figure grown by 3 million between 2019 and 2020 alone and 32.5% % unemployment rate, with these we "ingloriously" attainment the status of poverty capital of the world under a party and its presidential candidate who in 2014 promised to build a new Nigeria? This embarrassing confrontation should be the centre of the promise makers political engagements with us, but their concern is the next election. The contention today is not whether APC is a failure or not, but how to manage a post Buhari Presidency and reverse the ugly trends in the country to redeem the eroded honour of our dear fatherland.

APC was birthed by deft political moves inspired by Pastor Tunde Bakare (PTB) and others, the closeness of Nasir El-Rufai to PTB puts him in the picture of this dramatic move led by Tinubu and other political players to initiate a merger of all previous political platforms with those sharing the Buhari for President ideology. Unknown to them, there were others behind the scene who were lurking in the dark to realise their bigotry ideology through Buhari Presidency, it is to this class that Shitu, former Minister of Communications from Oyo State belongs. The revelation of Pantami, the current minister of Communications and Digital Economy has a Jihadists brought to light the unknown architects of the APC political exploits and their interests in the future via control of Communications ministry and Digitalisation of the country. 

The "mantra"; change, did the work, an ambiguous political communication; saying nothing collectively, but so much to Individuals. Everyone basked in the euphoria of a change not defined. The job was made easy for those like Sheikh Pantami whose mission was to preach Buhari as the prophet who will implement the bigotry ideology of the 1999 constitution. He and many like him were brazen about it, PDP was declared as the party of the infidels and was cursed in the name of "Allah" in prayers offered in Mosques across the country, campaign during Jumat prayer were intense. Jihadists of intellectual persuasions were busy on discourse platforms; dispose Emir of Kano, as CBN Governor nailed PDP coffin that burys the nation. El-Rufai was at his best elements winning debates across all fronts in favour of APC, talk indeed is cheap as we can see today.

APC today comes to many Nigerians as an Islamic party, advanced by Tinubu and used by the Fulani to implement their Fulanization Agenda, 90% of Muslims in Nigeria are liberals, a chunk of this are fair weather "faithfuls" who swings between religions depending on which one is paying per time, who like Gbajabiamila will prefer to host a party in the Emirates where "moderatism" drive state affairs to a Saudi driven by extremism. 

Change! What a word of deception symbolizing nothing. Our intellectuals were fooled and the fools were made "fooler". Every supporter migrated to the dreamland of imaginary "change", till the evil of their promised change manifested for us all to see.

Buhari's cult fellowships in the North was driven by "Jihadism" ideology to which he is perceived to be committed to; which today the world can testify to. If Buhari has failed it is to those whose expected change weren't informed by bigotry and nepotism that has seen Nigeria through the process of a fully "fulanized" nation under Muhammadu Buhari.

Buhari today remains a political phenomenon, with 11 million votes within the grip of his fists, no other Nigerian can bring such to the table, while his failure in government is a burdensome cross that may crucify all political associates, before intelligentsia; but what is their numbers? The person to whom his clenched fists will be opened in 2023 is sure of nothing less than 11 million votes. This of course is the sentiments that has held Tinubu, Osinbajo, Fayemi and other hostages. Truth be told, that political capital is easier to invest on the side of a Muslim, this of course should have been of tremendous advantage to Tinubu being a Muslim, but unfortunately Northern Muslims hardly reckons with Southern Muslims as being pure enough for leadership reasons. A northern Muslim will not find it convenient to pray in a Jamah being led by a southern Muslim. The only choice left for Buhari will be a Northern Muslim for his cult followers to be convinced that his decision is made in their collective interests and that the on going Jihad will be sustained.

Tinubu is already coming to terms with the reality of an utopia that APC has become to his ambition as he his prepared to create a new political platform if APC denies him the Presidential ticket. A candid advice to him and all lovers of this country is the need to shelve their ambitions and join hands with well meaning Nigerians whose desire to see a greater nation is devoid of political interests.

We must face the staggering reality; if a Presidential election is conducted today Buhari will decide who that President will be, except we will have a demographic shift in our voting strength to accommodate more liberals who will be driven to vote for freedom this is the task to which we all must give our strength. How do we mobilise all registered votes for election in 2023? How do we get every eligible Citizens on INEC data as valid voters between now and 2023. Finally we must be PRAYERFUL that God will change the heart of stone in President Muhammadu Buhari to that of flesh, so that he will be magnanimous enough to listen to the cry; to let the people truly decide their leaders and assent to the electoral reform bill, in the alternative a Legislative Revolution should conclude our desire for electoral reform, without these the faith of Nigeria is sealed to Boko Haram, banditry, kidnapping and foreign herdsmen invasion of our indigenous farming communities.

Dr Bolaji O. Akinyemi is the Convener of Apostolic Round Table.
Email: convener@artintl.org
Facebook: Bolaji Akinyemi 
Twitter: @BolajiAkinyemi
WhatApp: @+2348033041236

Opinion AddThis :  Original Author :  Bolaji O. Akinyemi Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/3hBXr6G

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J
For the first time ever, a Samoa election was tightly contested - and it's a woman who came out top.

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J
The famous rock formation has collapsed due to natural erosion, Ecuador's environment ministry says.

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J
The US president spoke with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu as violence continues.

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J
The European Medicines Agency ruling could help the EU's Covid vaccine rollout.

The immediate past governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed, has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Sources at the anti-graft agency told Channels Television that a crack team of operatives is questioning the former governor at the EFCC headquarters in the Jabi area of Abuja, the nation’s capital.

He was said to have arrived at the EFCC headquarters at about 10 am on Monday in response to the invitation extended to him by the agency.

Following his arrival at the anti-graft agency’s office, Ahmed was in the interrogation room for about seven hours, writing statements.

While details of the case were still sketchy as of press time, sources revealed that his arrest was in connection with how funds to the tune of about N9 billion were allegedly diverted from the coffers of the Kwara State government.

The money was alleged to have been diverted during Mr Ahmed’s tenure as governor of the state and when he served as the Commissioner for Finance in the administration of former Governor Bukola Saraki.

A spokesman for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed that the former governor responded to the commission’s invitation.

He, however, declined further comments.

Ahmed was appointed as the Commissioner for Finance in Kwara after Saraki assumed office as governor in 2003.

He also served as the treasurer of the Forum of Commissioners of Finance in Nigeria and the Chairman of the Budget Formulation Committee and Economic Team of Kwara State.

In the build-up to the 2011 general elections, Ahmed contested and won the primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He won the Kwara governorship seat and re-election after succeeding Saraki, who also won the election to represent Kwara Central senatorial district in the National Assembly after completing two terms as governor.

Ahmed left office in 2019 and was succeeded by the incumbent governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, who won on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
 

Corruption CRIME News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/2Al0I35

Nollywood actor, Olarenwaju Omiyinka, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, accused of molesting a minor has been granted bail by the police.

The actor was released on Monday afternoon on health grounds.

His lawyer, Adesina Ogunlana, confirmed it to SaharaReporters. 

The police had in April arrested Baba Ijesha for sexually harassing a 14-year-old girl.

Announcing his arrest in a statement, Lagos police spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi alleged that the actor had been sexually assaulting the teenager since she was seven.

The statement reads, “The Lagos State Police Command has arrested one Olarenwaju James ‘male’ 48, aka Baba Ijesha, popular Nollywood actor for defiling a minor.

“The case of defilement was reported on 19th April, 2021 by one Princess Adekola Adekanya ‘female’ at Sabo Police Station and transferred to the Gender Unit of the State CID, Panti, Yaba Lagos for proper investigation.

“Based on preliminary findings, the suspect started sexually assaulting the victim, 14 years, since she was seven years old. The suspect confessed to the crime and was also captured by a CCTV camera in the house of the complainant.”

The Lagos State Government in a statement on May 4 subsequently stated the actor would be charged under the Criminal Law of Lagos State.

One of the charges against him includes Indecent Treatment of a child, which is punishable by seven years imprisonment.

Another is defilement of a child, which is punishable by life imprisonment, sexual assault by penetration is also punishable by life imprisonment.

Baba Ijesha was also being charged for Attempted Sexual Assault by Penetration, punishable by 14 years imprisonment, and sexual assault, which is punishable by three years imprisonment.

His release however came as a result of magistrates going around police stations across Lagos state, listening to cases and giving hearing to those arrested.

His bail conditions include getting N500,000 bail bond, a level 10 officer and one of his family members as sureties. 

Scandal News AddThis :  Featured Image :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/3beusCb

An umbrella body of nomadic herdsmen in Nigeria, the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, has described the ban on open grazing in Southern Nigeria by the respective state governors as a declaration of war on herders.

The group also described the ban as an empty policy. 

File Photo

Seventeen Southern Governors had met in Asaba, Delta State last Tuesday, where they resolved to ban open grazing of cattle in the region, among other resolutions, blaming it for causing insecurity. 

Spokesman for the group, Saleh Alhassan, however, told Punch on Monday, “We condemn it, it is totally unacceptable to us. You can’t ban our business without providing ranches. Let them create ranches for us, we don’t have the land, we are ready to ranch, we are ready to pay, let them create the enabling environment for us.

"The ban is an empty policy because it has no basis. You can’t ban our business, we are not criminals, let them go after the bandits and the criminals.

“We can’t comply with an empty policy. If they create ranches and ask us to go there, we will go there but they can’t wake up one day and say they are banning our business.

“If the governors are stopping us from grazing, they are preparing for confrontation. Their action is a declaration of war on the herders."

When asked whether Miyetti Allah would dialogue with the Southern governors on the issue, Alhassan said, “Their colleagues in the North will engage them since it is politics.”

Alhassan further said the group would take legal actions against the Southern governors if they stopped the business of the nomadic herders.

“If you stop our legitimate business, we will challenge you in the court of law. We also have cultural ways of addressing injustice,” he said.

Agriculture News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/2LcB4UX

A former Minister of Education, Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, has called on Nigerians to ignore a "malicious quote" attributed to her regarding the #BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) campaign.

A report quoting Ezekwesili as saying that "Chibok girls' kidnap was planned to tarnish Jonathan's image for Buhari to win" had gone viral on social media.

But a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by Ezekwesili's spokesperson, Mr. Ozioma Ubabukoh, described the report as false. 

It further stated that the former minister could never have made such a statement about the campaign she led to secure the freedom of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls. 

She said it was a “desperate attempt” to malign the BBOG campaign as well as her advocacy for the abducted Chibok girls.

The statement read, “Ezekwesili never said and can never make such egregiously false statement about the empathetic campaign she led for the rescue of the abducted Chibok girls. 

“Ezekwesili has commenced legal actions for libel against media outlets and individuals who published and disseminated this disgusting fake news that was fabricated by those who wickedly continue to deny the failure of the Federal Government in 2014 to swiftly respond and rescue Chibok girls."

She also said she had already notified Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp and other social media platforms about the" fake news".

“The dubious authors of the fake quote had, in their desperate efforts to mislead the public, deviously ascribed a false quote to Ezekwesili. Propagating falsehood, they fictionally quoted Ezekwesili as saying that the global #BringBackOurGirls campaign for the rescue of 219 abducted Chibok schoolgirls was a 'project with Fulani to tarnish' one administration for the benefit of another in the 2015 elections.

“The original author and other peddlers of the fake news have already been identified and reported to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp and other social media platforms, which are taking appropriate actions," she said. 

The statement added, “We urge members of the public to, please, ignore the patently false, fictional and fake news being peddled by those who have steadfastly refused to acknowledge the injustice done to the Chibok secondary schoolgirls, even seven years after the tragedy occurred.”

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

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors' Forum has thrown its weight behind the recent decision made by Southern Governors to ban open grazing. 

The governors met in Ibadan, Oyo State capital on Monday, where they discussed the growing insecurity in the country. 

The position of the governors was contained in a statement made available to journalists on Monday.

The statement said in attendance were: Governors Nyesom Wike, (Rivers); Udom Emmanuel, (Akwa Ibom); Douye Diri, (Bayelsa); Samuel Ortom, (Benue); Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, (Enugu); Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, (Delta); Ahmadu Umaru Fintini, (Adamawa); Godwin Obaseki, (Edo);. Bala Mohammed (Bauchi) and the Deputy Governor Mahdi Mohd, who represented the Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle.

Chairman of the PDP Governors' Forum, Aminu Tambuwal, who read the six point communique at the end of the meeting, called for the amendment of the country’s constitution to give room for state police and others. 

The statement reads, "In the interim, Mr President should summon an immediate meeting of the Nigerian Police Council, which comprises Mr President and all State Governors and other critical stakeholders to evolve and implement strategies to combat the present threats to our union, especially with respect to policing.

"The meeting agreed that the Police Force still remains the appropriate institution to secure our democracy and should not be subjected to personal attacks. The welfare, training, equipment, funding of all security agencies should be given priority."

Describing the ruling All Progressives Congress party as clueless, the communique also read, "The meeting supports the earlier position taken by the Nigeria Governors Forum, Northern Governors Forum and recently by the Southern Governors Forum to adopt ranching as the most viable solution to the herders/farmers clashes in Nigeria; the restructuring of the Nigerian federation to devolve more powers and functions to the States, and reform of various civil institutions to achieve efficiency and equity for all sections of Nigeria.

"The meeting enjoins all Nigerians to work together to achieve peace and harmony with one another, devoid of discrimination based on ethnicity, religion and other cleavages. To this end, the meeting called on the incompetent and rudderless APC Government to take bold and deliberate steps to de-escalate and lower tensions in our country, and concentrate on projects and policies that will enhance and promote national unity and cohesion.

“The meeting reiterated our earlier call for the National Assembly to expedite action on the passage of the Electoral Act that will ensure a free and fair election, including provisions for electronic accreditation and electronic transmission of votes.”

Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/3fu5pMJ

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors' Forum has thrown its weight behind the recent decision made by Southern Governors to ban open grazing. 

The governors met in Ibadan, Oyo State capital on Monday, where they discussed the growing insecurity in the country. 

The position of the governors was contained in a statement made available to journalists on Monday.

The statement said in attendance were: Governors Nyesom Wike, (Rivers); Udom Emmanuel, (Akwa Ibom); Douye Diri, (Bayelsa); Samuel Ortom, (Benue); Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, (Enugu); Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, (Delta); Ahmadu Umaru Fintini, (Adamawa); Godwin Obaseki, (Edo);. Bala Mohammed (Bauchi) and the Deputy Governor Mahdi Mohd, who represented the Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle.

Chairman of the PDP Governors' Forum, Aminu Tambuwal, who read the six point communique at the end of the meeting, called for the amendment of the country’s constitution to give room for state police and others. 

The statement reads, "In the interim, Mr President should summon an immediate meeting of the Nigerian Police Council, which comprises Mr President and all State Governors and other critical stakeholders to evolve and implement strategies to combat the present threats to our union, especially with respect to policing.

"The meeting agreed that the Police Force still remains the appropriate institution to secure our democracy and should not be subjected to personal attacks. The welfare, training, equipment, funding of all security agencies should be given priority."

Describing the ruling All Progressives Congress party as clueless, the communique also read, "The meeting supports the earlier position taken by the Nigeria Governors Forum, Northern Governors Forum and recently by the Southern Governors Forum to adopt ranching as the most viable solution to the herders/farmers clashes in Nigeria; the restructuring of the Nigerian federation to devolve more powers and functions to the States, and reform of various civil institutions to achieve efficiency and equity for all sections of Nigeria.

"The meeting enjoins all Nigerians to work together to achieve peace and harmony with one another, devoid of discrimination based on ethnicity, religion and other cleavages. To this end, the meeting called on the incompetent and rudderless APC Government to take bold and deliberate steps to de-escalate and lower tensions in our country, and concentrate on projects and policies that will enhance and promote national unity and cohesion.

“The meeting reiterated our earlier call for the National Assembly to expedite action on the passage of the Electoral Act that will ensure a free and fair election, including provisions for electronic accreditation and electronic transmission of votes.”

Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/3fu5pMJ

A United States District Court in California has struck out a case entered by the General Overseer of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, Dr Daniel Olukoya, against a Nigerian blogger, Maureen Badejo, over alleged defamation.

The US Court in the case Number 20-cv-08001-HSG gave an order “denying motion for default judgment” and it dismissed the case for lack of personal jurisdiction.

General Overseer of the Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministry, MFM, Pastor Daniel Olukoya.

According to the court documents, the Olukoya’s case is a state law defamation case against Defendant Maureen Badejo, a foreign national “who appears to be a Nigerian citizen and resides in the United Kingdom.”  

“The plaintiffs (Olukoya) filed a motion for entry of default on February 3, 2021, and entry of default was noticed by the Clerk on February 4, 2021. At the initial case management conference on February 16, 2021, the Court expressed to Plaintiffs’ counsel concern that the Court lacked subject matter and personal jurisdiction over this matter.

“The Counsel responded that he would consult with his clients to either file a notice of dismissal or a motion for default judgment that set out the basis for the Court to exercise jurisdiction.

“On March 9, 2021, a letter from Ms. Badejo was entered into the docket in which she stated that she is a permanent resident of the United Kingdom and that she disputes the Court’s jurisdiction over her. Plaintiffs filed the currently pending motion for default judgment,” the court document reads.  

In the judgment delivered on May 6, the US District judge, Haywood Gilliam, stated that the plaintiffs’ (Olukoya and MFM) motion for default judgment is denied and the case is dismissed.

The judge said, “In determining whether the exercise of personal jurisdiction over a nonresident defendant is proper, a district court must apply the law of the state in which it sits when there is no applicable federal statute governing personal jurisdiction. District courts in California may exercise personal jurisdiction over a nonresident defendant to the extent permitted by the Due Process Clause of the Constitution.

“The party seeking to invoke jurisdiction has the burden of establishing that jurisdiction exists. Here, Plaintiffs offer no argument that the Court has general personal jurisdiction over Defendants and allege no facts to establish that Defendants’ contacts with California are 'substantial' or 'continuous and systematic.' Plaintiffs allege only that Ms. Badejo is a Nigerian-born blogger who resides in the United Kingdom; that she operates an online news site, Defendant Gio TV, with an emphasis on Nigeria; and that this online news site is accessible on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.

“Their allegations are insufficient to establish general personal jurisdiction over Defendants. Plaintiffs thus fail to show that Defendants directly targeted California with their conduct and therefore cannot satisfy the express-aiming element of the Calder effects test, which is required to establish the first element of the Ninth Circuit’s test for the exercise of personal jurisdiction.

“Accordingly, the Court finds that it lacks personal jurisdiction over Defendants. Conclusion - Because the Court lacks personal jurisdiction over Defendants, Plaintiffs’ motion for default judgment is denied, and the case is dismissed. The Clerk is directed to terminate the case. It is so ordered.”

SaharaReporters had on April 14, 2021, reported that a UK court had granted a perpetual injunction restraining Badejo, a Nigerian blogger who made allegations against the church, from publishing further defamatory words against or concerning the General Overseer, Olukoya, his family and the church at large.

Last year, Badejo was accused of using her social media channels to blackmail Olukoya and his church on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.
 
She claimed that Olukoya and his church, the claimants, duped the United States Government by selling his books in the US without paying due tax.

She also alleged that a pastor from MFM in the UK paid £150,000 into the personal account of Mr Olukoya and then went to Nigeria to meet the cleric so he could help him cover up his fraud.

In February 2021, an Ogun State High Court ordered Badejo to pay ₦500 million to the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) and its General Overseer, Olukoya, for defamation.

Abiodun Akinyemi, while delivering the judgment, also ordered Badejo, the proprietor of Gio TV, to pull down and erase the offending online publications concerning the claimants from the internet.

The judge further ordered the blogger to tender a written apology and retraction of the offending publications prominently on social media and at least three national dailies.

CRIME News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/3dW2n2I

Gunmen have reportedly shot four persons dead in Kono Boue community in the Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The gunmen were said to have invaded the community on Saturday and shot indiscriminately, killing the four victims in the process. 

They were said to have shot at any young man in sight with AK-47s.

It was learnt that the assailants went away with the mobile phones of some residents. 

The deceased include one Lekara Bira, 32 and Torka, 40. 

Spokesperson for the community development committee in the area, Golden Nwibakpo, said the deceased persons were law-abiding.

Insecurity News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/2xcNiFj

The federal government on Monday issued a stern warning to people calling for secession, saying such a call was unacceptable.

Speaking when he received a delegation from the National Institute of Public Relation (NIPR) in Abuja, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said while it is right for people to express their views and show their concerns on burning national issues in the country and even suggest restructuring, but not acceptable to call for secession.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

He also decried the rising rate of fake news and careless statements by some Nigerians, Leadership reports. 

The minister said the latest incident of fake news was a situation where about 600 people were sent letters that they were enlisted to the Nigerian Army.

According to him, some people “collected N10,000 from each of the applicants and told them to report to the Army battalion at Okitipupa, and at the same time alerted the Commandant that Boko Haram members were coming to invade the barracks same day.’’

Alhaji Mohammed recalled that the consensus of the Town Hall Meeting in Kaduna was simple, saying ‘’it is okay and right for people to express their view and show their concern on burning national issues and even suggest restructuring but what is not acceptable is the call for secession.

‘’When you go to social media today you will see all sorts of inflammatory statements being made daily you will begin to appreciate that it is not just politicians that should be blamed for the nation’s predicament.

“Each of us has a role to play to tone down the rhetoric, that is why I am glad NIPR is lending its platform to work with government to ensure that we have a country that is peaceful and secured because without security there can be no development and that is why this administration is ensuring peace and security.’’
 

Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/3ovr4HJ

The federal government on Monday issued a stern warning to people calling for secession, saying such a call was unacceptable.

Speaking when he received a delegation from the National Institute of Public Relation (NIPR) in Abuja, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said while it is right for people to express their views and show their concerns on burning national issues in the country and even suggest restructuring, but not acceptable to call for secession.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

He also decried the rising rate of fake news and careless statements by some Nigerians, Leadership reports. 

The minister said the latest incident of fake news was a situation where about 600 people were sent letters that they were enlisted to the Nigerian Army.

According to him, some people “collected N10,000 from each of the applicants and told them to report to the Army battalion at Okitipupa, and at the same time alerted the Commandant that Boko Haram members were coming to invade the barracks same day.’’

Alhaji Mohammed recalled that the consensus of the Town Hall Meeting in Kaduna was simple, saying ‘’it is okay and right for people to express their view and show their concern on burning national issues and even suggest restructuring but what is not acceptable is the call for secession.

‘’When you go to social media today you will see all sorts of inflammatory statements being made daily you will begin to appreciate that it is not just politicians that should be blamed for the nation’s predicament.

“Each of us has a role to play to tone down the rhetoric, that is why I am glad NIPR is lending its platform to work with government to ensure that we have a country that is peaceful and secured because without security there can be no development and that is why this administration is ensuring peace and security.’’
 

Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/3ovr4HJ

Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-Rufai, says protests and strike action embarked upon by workers in the state will not alter plans to sack some of them.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state had embarked on strike to protest against mass disengagement of workers and other alleged anti-labour moves by the government.

Kaduna State Governor Nasiru Ahmed El-Rufai

NLC National President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said at the flag-off of the action on Monday that it would run its full course unless the state government attended to the workers grievances.

El-Rufai on his verified Facebook page however insisted that the government would not be intimidated by the strike to shelve its plan to rightsize its workforce.

He said, “Kaduna State Government affirms that the conditions that compel it to rightsize are not altered by the NLC’s campaign of economic and social sabotage. See Also LABOR/WORKERS' RIGHTS Nigeria Labour Congress Begins Strike In Kaduna, Shut Banks, Schools, Airport, Train Station, Others 0 Comments 8 Hours Ago

“The NLC showed in 2017 that it has no interest in public welfare, going violent over 21,780 failed teachers who KDSG replaced with 25,000.”

Meanwhile, as a result of the warning strike, Kaduna has been thrown into darkness by the electricity workers union, supply of petroleum product cut by NUPENG (Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers) has called on African leaders, policy, and aviation and railway workers also shut the Kaduna International Airport and the Kaduna-Abuja train service.
 

ACTIVISM Human Rights LABOR/WORKERS' RIGHTS Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/38AHFno

Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-Rufai, says protests and strike action embarked upon by workers in the state will not alter plans to sack some of them.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state had embarked on strike to protest against mass disengagement of workers and other alleged anti-labour moves by the government.

Kaduna State Governor Nasiru Ahmed El-Rufai

NLC National President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said at the flag-off of the action on Monday that it would run its full course unless the state government attended to the workers grievances.

El-Rufai on his verified Facebook page however insisted that the government would not be intimidated by the strike to shelve its plan to rightsize its workforce.

He said, “Kaduna State Government affirms that the conditions that compel it to rightsize are not altered by the NLC’s campaign of economic and social sabotage. See Also LABOR/WORKERS' RIGHTS Nigeria Labour Congress Begins Strike In Kaduna, Shut Banks, Schools, Airport, Train Station, Others 0 Comments 9 Hours Ago

“The NLC showed in 2017 that it has no interest in public welfare, going violent over 21,780 failed teachers who KDSG replaced with 25,000.”

Meanwhile, as a result of the warning strike, Kaduna has been thrown into darkness by the electricity workers union, supply of petroleum product cut by NUPENG (Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers) has called on African leaders, policy, and aviation and railway workers also shut the Kaduna International Airport and the Kaduna-Abuja train service.
 

ACTIVISM Human Rights LABOR/WORKERS' RIGHTS Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/38AHFno

The United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund has said the only solution to the Israel/Palestine conflict is a diplomatic solution.

In a tweet on Monday, UNICEF stated that over 58 children have died over the conflict between the two countries in a period of one week.

UNICEF

The tweet read, "Over the past week, 58 children have been reportedly killed in Gaza. Two children in Israel.

“The only solution is a diplomatic solution – for the sake of all children and their future.”

The Executive Director, UNICEF, Henrietta Fore said, "Violence, killing and hatred must stop. International human rights and humanitarian law must be upheld."

The decades-long Israel-Palestine crisis resurrected in the past weeks with the deadly escalation of violence across Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, in which at least 40 people have been killed and hundreds injured.

The crisis has demonstrated how the core areas of disagreement between Israelis and Palestinians still run deep. See Also International Israel Strike In Gaza Destroys Building Housing Al Jazeera, Associated Press, Other Media Organizations 0 Comments 2 Days Ago

But added to the violence is also internal political unrest in the two countries which centre on leadership on both sides.

For Israelis, this has manifested itself in four elections in two years that have so far failed to end in the formation of a stable government. The most recent election, held on March 23, is still mired in wrangling between various parties and factions.

Coalition talks were frozen last Monday after violence exploded in Jerusalem and Gaza.

For Palestinians, meanwhile, the ongoing crisis of leadership has been encapsulated in Hamas commandeering the resistance, further sidelining Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah party and the Palestinian Authority, of which he is president.

Tensions between Fatah and Hamas have dominated Palestinian politics since 2006, when Hamas was victorious in the Palestinian Authority’s last parliamentary elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council, ending the era of Fatah’s dominance.

After the armed conflict between the two factions and the failure of an attempted unity government, the Palestinian leadership has been divided since 2007, with the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority governing the West Bank, and Hamas governing the Gaza Strip.

News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
https://ift.tt/34QeV5G

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J
Cyber-security experts, tech firms and lawyers weigh in on the end-to-end encryption debate.

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J
A ferocious bombardment aims to hobble Hamas's capabilities, but civilians are also in harm's way.

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J
Covid has overrun India's hospitals, leaving many fighting to find treatment for sick relatives.

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J
Job Maseko blew up a German ship but his bravery was not properly recognised because he was black, campaigners say.

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J
Amid calls to improve training in the US, we examine how it compares with other developed countries.

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J
The wife of Belgium's ambassador to South Korea is seen slapping a shop worker in CCTV footage.

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J
An eight-million-year-old skull found in 2009 is now believed part of an undiscovered reptile.

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J
The country last week admitted there were growing virus clusters in two jails outside Bangkok.