…Junta warns against foreign intervention
…Talks between ECOWAS, Niger’s junta yield little result —Official
..Says deep divisions exist within the presidential guard
…Notes majority of soldiers at presidential complex’ll flee if ECOWAS attacks
…Pope calls for peace in coup-hit Niger

The Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, has rejected the three-year transition plan proposed by Niger Republic’s military junta.

It will be recalled that the coup leader, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, had at a meeting with ECOWAS delegation, led by General Abadulsalami Abubakar, retd, in Niamey on Saturday, promised the military government would return Niger Republic to democracy in three years.

Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, told BBC in an interview, yesterday, that the proposal was unacceptable to ECOWAS, setting the ground for a military operation.

Meanwhile, thousands of Nigeriens flooded the streets yesterday declaring support for the military junta.

Their demonstration came against the backdrop of ECOWAS’ insistence on invading the country to rout out coupists should diplomacy fail to restore ousted President Mohamed Bazoum to power.

The rally came on a day an official of the government in Niger said talks between the ECOWAS delegation, led by former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, retd and the junta achieved very little result.

The official also noted that already, there are deep divisions within the presidential guard, which ousted President Bazoum, saying should ECOWAS launch an attack on Niger Republic, the majority of soldiers in the presidential complex would flee.

This is even as Pope Francis yesterday canvassed a diplomatic solution to the political crisis.

The demonstrators chanted slogans hostile to former colonial power, France and especially ECOWAS, which is considering a potential military operation to reinstate elected President Mohamed Bazoum if ongoing negotiations with coup leaders fail.

The Sahel state’s new military leaders have officially banned demonstrations but in practice, those in support of the coup are allowed to go ahead.

The demonstrators waved placards, saying “stop the military intervention” and “No, to sanctions”, in reference to the financial and trade restrictions imposed by ECOWAS, four days after the coup on July 26.

Yesterday’s pro-coup rally was accompanied by musicians praising the new military regime, according to AFP.

The latest in a string of pro-coup rallies came a day after the new military ruler in Niamey warned that an attack on Niger would not be a “walk in the park.”

‘No wish to confiscate power’

General Abdourahamane Tchiani also said in a televised address at the weekend that he did not wish to “confiscate” power and that a transition of power back to civilian rule will not go beyond three years.

Niger’s new leaders have accused France, a close Bazoum ally, of being behind the anti-coup stance taken by ECOWAS, which again at the weekend made a fresh push for a diplomatic solution.

According to AFP, after ECOWAS chiefs of staff met in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, on Friday, the 17-nation bloc said it had agreed on a date for a potential intervention but nonetheless sent a diplomatic delegation to Niamey at the weekend, led by General Abdulsalami Abubakar.

Niger television showed delegation members shaking hands with Bazoum, who remains in detention.
It also broadcast footage of Abubakar speaking to Tchiani but the content of the exchange had not been made public.

In his televised address on Saturday, Tchiani alleged that ECOWAS was “getting ready to attack Niger by setting up an occupying army in collaboration with a foreign army”, without saying which country he meant.

The coup leader, Tchiani, however, warned that the military and people of Niger would defend the country should ECOWAS go ahead with its invasion plan.

Talks between ECOWAS, Niger’s junta yield little, official tells Associated Press

However, an official in Niamey, Niger Republic’s capital, said on condition of anonymity yesterday that weekend’s two-hour meeting between Niger’s new military regime and a delegation from the West African regional bloc, ECOWAS, yielded very little result.

It was the first time head of the junta, Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, met with ECOWAS delegation after rebuffing previous attempts.

Saturday’s meeting was a last-ditch diplomacy scramble by ECOWAS to resolve the crisis peacefully and followed last week’s announcement that 11 of its 15 member states had agreed to intervene militarily if democratically-elected President Bazoum was not released from house arrest and reinstated.

The bloc’s three other countries under military rule following coups, Guinea, Mali and Burkina Faso, were not included.

The latter two had previously warned they would consider intervention in Niger an act of war.
The official noted that during the weekend talks, Tchiani pushed for the lifting of economic and travel sanctions imposed by ECOWAS after the coup, saying Niger’s population was suffering because of them.

‘’The junta said they were under pressure, at times striking a conciliatory tone and apologizing for past disrespect towards the bloc, while also defiantly standing by its decision to overthrow Bazoum and unequivocal about him not returning to power.

“Tchiani also repeatedly expressed concerns that its former colonial ruler France, which has some 1,500 troops in the country and had been providing training and conducting joint operations with Niger’s military, was actively planning an attack,” said the official.

According to the official, Niger was seen by many Western countries as the last democratic partner in the region they could work with to beat back a growing jihadi insurgency by militant groups linked with al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.

He noted that France, the United States and other European nations had poured hundreds of millions of dollars into shoring up Niger’s army, adding that the coup had been seen as a major setback.

He quoted Sahel experts as saying it was not surprising that nothing came from Saturday’s meeting as each party was trying to show they were open to discussions when chances of an agreement were slim.

“ECOWAS and the rest of the international community want to restore President Bazoum and the junta is not on this agenda.

“The next step will be military confrontation … What we don’t know is when this confrontation will take place, how it will go, and what the consequences will be,” the official quoted Seidik Abba, a Nigerien researcher and Sahel specialist and president of the International Centre for Reflection for Studies On the Sahel, a think tank based in Paris, as saying.

Shortly after the meetings Saturday, Tchiani went on state television and laid out a roadmap for the country, saying it would return to civilian rule within three years and that details for the plan would be decided within 30 days through a national dialogue set for immediate launch.

“I am convinced that we will find solutions to all the challenges we face and that we will work together to find a way out of the crisis, in the interests of all,” the official said.

However, Aneliese Bernard, former U.S. State Department official who specializes in African affairs and is now director of Strategic Stabilization Advisors, a risk advisory group, said the transitions for Niger’s multiple previous coups were shorter, stressing that a three-year timeline was unprecedented said .

“What we’re seeing in the region is the emergence of trends just to military rule,” she said.

But some Nigerien soldiers don’t think Tchiani will last three months, let alone several years.

A soldier, who worked directly with Bazoum before the coup, and did not want to be named for fear of his safety, told the AP on Saturday that there were deep divisions within the presidential guard, the unit that overthrew Bazoum.

The soldier noted that of the nearly 1,000 soldiers at the base on the presidential complex, majority of them would flee if ECOWAS attacked, adding that Tchiani would be overthrown in a few months.

According to Andrew Lebovich, a research fellow with the Clingendael Institute, Tchiani is widely unpopular in security circles within Niger and is seen as having reached his current post because of former President Mahamadou Issoufou’s patronage, rather than through his own connections and battlefield achievements,

“While the (junta) has presented a unified public face, it is a partnership of branches of the armed forces that have competed for status and resources in the recent past,” he said.

Pope calls for peace in coup-hit Niger

Meanwhile, Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis 11, yesterday made case for a diplomatic solution to the political crisis in Niger Republic.

“I am following with concern what is happening in Niger, and join the bishops’ call in favour of peace in the country and stability in the Sahel.

“I join with prayer the efforts of the international community to find a peaceful solution as soon as possible for the good of everyone,” said said Pope Francis while addressing the faithful in St Peter’s Square after his Angelus prayer.

Recall that the coup leader in Niger Republic, General Tchiani, had said on Saturday in a televised address any attack on his country would not be a walk in the park, promising that any transition of power to democratic rule would not go beyond three years.

This is against the demand of ECOWAS which wants immediate restoration of democratic rule in the country, coupled with the reinstatement of ousted President Mohamed Bazoum to power.

[Vanguard]

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana SAN at the weekend demanded for the release of former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Abdulrasheed Bawa, having spent 67 days in the detention of DSS without any charges and trial.

According to Falana, Bawa’s remand order has since expired.

He said Bawa’s detention is against the provisions of section 493 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act(ACJA) 2015, or section 35 of the Constitution of Nigeria to authorise the detention of a criminal suspect for 67 days without trial. Under the Act, the cumulative lifespan of a remand order is 56 days.

He said, ” Sometime last month, I had cause to demand the immediate release of Mr Godwin Emefiele, the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa, the suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission from the custody of the State Security Service.

In the alternative, I requested the Federal Government to charge the two detained suspects before a court of competent jurisdiction, if there was evidence that they had committed criminal offences.”

[DailyPost]

Following the success of a 2022 U.S. Consulate Public Diplomacy grant, a first-year student of Marine Sciences at the University of Lagos, Ms. Oluwadamilola Sansadeen, travelled to the United States this summer for a training program on permaculture and sustainable food systems.

Sansadeen, a volunteer project manager at an agriculture nonprofit –– ProtectOzone Sustainable Livelihood Initiative –– received two months of mentorship from Dr. Jeremy Cowan, an assistant professor of sustainable food production systems at Kansas State University.

In addition to gaining practical skills and knowledge on creating sustainable and resilient agricultural systems, she completed the Permaculture Design Certificate Course at the College of Agriculture, Kansas State University and interned at the Willow Lake Student Farm of the university.

Sansadeen described her experience at the university as valuable, as it provided her with the unique opportunity to collaborate with multiple agricultural stakeholders in Kansas’ thriving permaculture community.

“Embracing sustainable agriculture paves the path ahead on creating a food secure Nigeria,” Sansadeen said. “During my time at Kansas State University, I learned how to operate farm implements. I do not even know how to drive a car yet, but I can operate a tractor.”

U.S. Consulate Public Affairs Officer Joe Kruzich noted that the collaboration between the U.S. university professor and the Nigerian undergraduate underscores the U.S. government’s enduring commitment to fostering academic exchange.

“By connecting a bright young mind from Nigeria with a prestigious U.S. university, we are not only fostering academic and cultural exchange but also promoting innovative solutions to shared global challenges,” Kruzich added.

Dr. Cowan, Sansadeen’s mentor and assistant professor of sustainable food production systems at Kansas State University, said he was proud to support her aspirations to make a difference in the field of permaculture.

“Sansadeen was an asset and a joy to have in our permaculture design certificate course and in her volunteer efforts at Kansas State University’s Willow Lake Student Farm. She brought a completely new perspective to both programs, introducing Kansans to her Nigerian culture. Her presence and impact here are already missed,” Dr. Cowan added.

[Guardian]

Immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-rufai on Sunday shared lyrics from one of Bob Marley’s songs in a cryptic message on his official X (Twitter) account.

El-Rufai stated that the late musician Bob Marley is one of the most talented musicians of all time and inspired his love for reggae music.

The lyrics partly reads: “Man to man is so unjust, children/ Ya don’t know who to trust/ Your worst enemy could be your best friend/ And your best friend, your worse enemy/ Some will eat and drink with you,” the former governor wrote on X.

“Thank God, we’re past the worse/ Hypocrites and parasites (hypocrites and parasites)/ Will come up and take a bite (will come up and take a bite)/ And if your night should turn to day/ A lot of people would run away/ And who the cap fit let them wear it!/ Who the cap fits let them wear it!”

The now-viral tweet has continued to generate reactions on social media.

In a veiled response to El-rufai’s tweet, a former senator representing Kaduna Central Shehu Sani posted, “I have turned him into a Rastafarian and Reggae artist…yeah man.”

Recall that El-rufai was among the 48 ministerial nominees forwarded by President Bola Tinubu to the Senate. 

However, the former Kaduna state governor and two other nominees were not confirmed by the senate; the senate stated there were “adverse” security reports against el-Rufai, and he must wait for clearance.

[Vanguard]

• According to new estimates, Nigeria is expected to nearly double its population in the next 27 years.
• Nigeria's stunning growth is also indicative of the growth of the African continent.
• The rise is in contrast to a growing number of countries that will experience population declines.

An outline of Texas overlaying a map of Nigeria.Google Maps

 

Nigeria's stunning growth is also indicative of the African continent. According to the UN estimates, five of the eight countries expected to make up half of the world's population growth over the next 27 years are in Africa. In an interview with Africa News, Tighisti Amare, the Deputy Director of the Africa Programme Chatham House in London, pointed out that Africa is the fastest-growing continent and the youngest, noting that 70% of the population is under 30.

President Bola Tinubu has approved the redeployment of Engr. Abubakar Momoh from the Federal Ministry of Youth to the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Development.

The Federal Ministry of Youth is to be re-assigned to a Minister-Designate soon.

The Ministers-Designate allocated to the Federal Ministries of Transportation, Interior, and Marine & Blue Economy have been reshuffled as follows:

(A) H.E. Adegboyega Oyetola is redeployed as the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy

(B) Hon. Bunmi Tunji-Ojo is redeployed as the Honourable Minister of Interior

(C) Hon. Sa’idu Alkali is redeployed as the Honourable Minister of Transportation

Furthermore, both Ministers of State in the Oil & Gas sector are now domiciled in the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources with the following designations:

(i) Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri is the Hon. Minister of State (Oil), Petroleum Resources

(ii) Hon. Ekperipe Ekpo is the Hon. Minister of State (Gas), Petroleum Resources

The President approves the renaming of the Federal Ministry of Environment and Ecological Management as the Federal Ministry of Environment.

All aforementioned changes take immediate effect by these directives of the President.

[thenewsnigeria]

Ondo State governorship aspirant of Labour Party, Prince Eniola Joseph Ojajuni has slammed the Federal Government over the recently approved palliative saying poverty should not become a weapon to fight the poor.

This was contained in a statement signed by Abiodun Aderonmu, Secretary of Gubernetorial Campaign Council (PEJO GCC), on Saturday.

The council said the government needs to ‘stop the idea of robbing Peter to pay Paul or condemn the life of the common man to Palliative’.

The statement read, “We love our dear country, and that is why we would consciously speak about her many trials and the need to find a permanent and lasting solution to what has become a negative narrative with our country.

“Poverty should not become a weapon to fight the poor. Palliative is not a response kit for party members. Nigerians can not be convinced less of the tactics of the political class.

“You beg for their votes with a pack of Noodles, grinded pepper, and garri and leave them to rot away in penury, and if those who are the conscience of the society fights for them, you would release “peanuts” and call it Palliatives but the big question is, is that what you also get.

“We should stop this idea of robbing Peter to pay Paul or condemn the life of the common man to Palliative.

“The lockdown has told us that our government is nothing else but wicked for the want of a better word. Why would such an enormous amount be shared as palliative while we would still spend the money paying for the hardship brought by the hike in fuel price. What would it cost to fix our refinery?

“If we do which to share palliatives, why not use our NIN and BVN or of what use is the pain Nigerians went through to ensure that they were captured by the same.

“To set the record straight, governors in the past have hijacked federal government palliatives like governor Akeredolu of Ondo State did where he took hold of a palliative meant for 300 persons in Ondo State to cut it down for just 100 persons.

“For us at PEJO Gubernetorial Campaign Council (PEJO GCC), getting the refinery fix should be a priority because billions were spent by the Buhari administration where students who were at home observing the lockdown were said to be feed and school and nobody interrogated this.

“Palliatives will remain another government abracadabra where funds are leased without any commensurate results for the same.

“Our refinery must work. Buhari and Silva should be asked what is happening with the Port Harcourt refinery they deeped us into in debt for promising to fix.

“Nigerians are survivors and would sort things out for themselves if the government does the needful.”

The only surviving member of the old People’s Democratic Party PDP in Sokoto state and former Minister of water resources, Barrister Mukhtar Shehu Shagari has formerly dumped the party for All progressives Congress APC.

Shagari who was a former Minister of water resources in the administration of former president Olusegun Obasanjo formerly received APC membership card from the hands of the party secretary Abubakar Yabo in company other state APC executives.

Shagari the longest serving Minister of water resources in the cabinet of former president Obasanjo was a founding member of the People’s Democratic Party PDP and has been in the party for over 25 years not until August this year when he decided to adjust his seat to APC.

Those who care to speak on the former Minister’s recent detection to APC blamed the national body the party for not being fair and just to Shagari couple with his utmost respect and loyalty to the party leadership.

They argue that, all contemporaries of the former Minister in the PDP have since dumped the party including the former vice president Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and PDP 2023 Presidential candidate who was in ACN and APC before he later make u-turn back to his former Party to seek Presidential ticket.

The state APC secretary Alhaji Abubakar Yabo confirmed that the former Minister and former Deputy Governor of the state has received his Party membership card which qualify him as dully registered member of his new party.

The defection of the former Deputy Governor has put a lots of insinuations going round the state that, Shagari who is well known for his conservative political ideology will remain in the PDP even if he will be the last man standing.

Shagari’s membership of the APC reads ” All progressives Congress APC Justice, peace and Unity. Registration form, “Mukhtar Shehu Shagari (CFR) SOKO/SGR/014/26001 dated 27th May 2023.

The Sokoto state leadership of the PDP while reacting to the defection of the former Minister described the action of the former Deputy Governor as an act of betrayal to the pay made a minister for 6 years and that, the former Minister left the party alone without his followers.

According to the publicity secretary of the party Alhaji Hassan Sahabi Sanyinnawal, the defection of the former Minister would not in anyway weekend the perty or change anything in the state party structures, as PDP remained the only and most formidable opposition in the state, adding that the Ambassadors of the Party at both state and national Assemblies are the most vibrant and credible representatives of the people of Sokoto state.

Spain beat European champions England 1-0 to become the Women’s World Cup champions in the final at Stadium Australia in Sydney on Sunday.

Captain Olga Carmona fired Spain ahead in the 29th minute, coolly finishing in the right-hand corner after a rapid counter-attack.

England’s best chance came from Lauren Hemp, who rattled the crossbar with a powerful strike as both teams bid to win the World Cup for the first time.

The game was briefly interrupted by a fan running on the pitch wearing a ‘Free Ukraine’ T-shirt before being tackled by security.

He also warned that it is not in the best interest of Nigeria at this point to fight Niger because it is like declaring war on ourselves.

Abdurrahman Ahmah, the National Missioner, Ansar-ud-Deen Society, has warned that if ECOWAS embark on a military intervention in Niger Republic to restore democracy, bandits will have free reign and intensify their cross-border attacks.

Recall that he recently led a delegation of Islamic scholars to meet with Niger’s coup leader, General Abdourahamane Tchiani.

The meeting aimed to pave a peaceful path to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum, who was overthrown on July 26, 2023.

Under the leadership of Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, the Economic of West African States (ECOWAS) has warned of potential military intervention if diplomatic negotiations falter.

In pursuit of diplomacy, Tinubu appointed a team, headed by ex-Nigerian leader Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar, to engage with the junta in Niamey.

However, the coup leaders declined the meeting upon the team’s arrival.

In a recent TV interview, Ahmad shared insights from his Niger visit.

He stated that the junta felt betrayed, primarily because Nigeria cut off Niger’s electricity supply without hearing their side.

Ahmad said, “He (Tchiani) said it was under the heat of the anger that they reacted the way they did and asked for forgiveness repeatedly.”

He also warned that it is not in the best interest of Nigeria at this point to fight Niger because it is like declaring war on ourselves.

Speaking on what is at stake if ECOWAS goes to war, Ahmad said, “Nigeria has perhaps the longest border with the Niger Republic. About seven northern states share a border with the Niger Republic.

“These are the same people who speak the same language, share the same culture and have historical and cultural ties that date back to 100 years. It is not in the best interest of Nigeria at this point to fight Niger because it is like declaring war on ourselves. That is number one.

“Two, northern borders are very porous and it is sometimes very difficult to patrol and monitor. It will be an opportunity to strengthen insurgency, for bandits to have free reign and intensify their cross-border attacks.

“Three, the President is not yet 100 days in office and we think that it is not going to be in the best interest of this administration to start a war that may be fought differently; so, as religious leaders and patriots, we thought that we should make this contribution to national cohesion.”