Manufacturers Association of Nigeria has said due to a harsh economic environment, the value of manufacturing production decreased from N7.39tn in 2021 to N6.67tn in 2022, indicating a decline of N720bn.

Chairman, MAN, Apapa branch, Frank Onyebu, made the revelation on Tuesday during the annual general meeting of the branch.

Onyebu said 2022 was mostly characterised by a harsh operating environment, themed by record-high inflationary pressure, high interest rates, multiple taxation, high energy costs, forex illiquidity, shortage of raw materials, among others.

He added that supply shortages, surging material prices and difficulty in hiring qualified staff stalled the growth of the manufacturing sector.

He said, “The value of the manufacturing sector’s factory output declined to N2.68tn in the second half of 2022 from N3.73tn recorded in the corresponding half of 2021.

“This represented N1.05tn or 28 per cent decline over the period under review. There was also a decline of N1.31tn or 32 per cent when compared with N3.99tn recorded in the preceding half.

“The value of manufacturing production totalled N6.67tn in 2022 as against N7.39tn recorded in 2021. Manufacturing production was severely affected in the second half of 2022 by the absence of implementation of new capital projects by the government as they focused on the election.”

Speaking further, Onyebu noted that many manufacturers exited Nigeria to neighbouring countries in 2022 due to the harsh operating environment.

He added that more were planning to leave, while others were hanging on by a thread, hoping for the new administration to turn things around.

He added, “Manufacturing sector local raw materials sourcing averaged 52.8 per cent in 2022 as against 51.5 per cent recorded in 2021.

“The increase in the local raw materials utilisation in the sector during the period is due to increased difficulty in sourcing forex, which compelled manufacturers to look more inward for raw materials notwithstanding the associated huge cost.”

Nigerians have taken to social media to pay their respects to the founding pastor of the Fountain of Life Church Family, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, who passed away in the United States at the age of 67 on Tuesday.

THE WHISTLER had reported when news of Odukoya’s death came to light after the church formally made the announcement. The church did not reveal the cause of his death.

Since the announcement, Nigerians have been expressing their shock and sadness on social media, with the phrase ‘Rest In Peace’ now trending on X (formerly known as Twitter).

One X user, @asemota, spoke about how one of Odukoya’s sermons impacted his Christian journey in the Catholic church, calling his death a sad loss.

“Sad loss! The first communion service I ever attended outside the Catholic church was at his service at Anthony. He preached about covenants and he made me understand the blessed sacrament on a new level and I went back to becoming a full Catholic. May he rest in peace,” he tweeted.

Another user @ulxma lamented the tragedies that have plagued the pastor’s family, seemingly referring to the death of Odukoya’s two wives, Bimbo, his first wife who died in a plane crash, and Nomthi, his second wife who died from cancer.

“The Odukoya family has really been through it. How much more ill luck can they bear? May his soul rest in peace,” she tweeted.

Another user, @Jaypearse, recalled how Odukoya and his late wife helped her secure a job.

“At 26, I was given an Executive Director’s job because a great man and his wife believed in the vision I had for their NGO. A job I left on great terms. His wife died a few months after I left and he encouraged us! Today, I’m sad to say Rest in peace to him too. God bless you Pastor Taiwo Odukoya,” she tweeted.

A different user, @tee_show_ recalled the scandal-free life Odukoya led tweeting, “I particularly loved how Pastor Taiwo Odukoya ran a quiet life and was scandal-free despite all the challenges he faced while with us. Good man! May his soul rest in peace.”

Another user, @man_of_royalty paid his respects to the late pastor tweeting, “You taught us to love God, it was a privilege to have worked with you, sir. Rest in Peace Pastor Taiwo Odukoya.”

President Bola Tinubu has ordered fresh sanctions through the Central Bank of Nigeria on entities, and individuals related to and involved with the military junta in Niger Republic.

The Special Adviser to the President, Media, and Public Affairs, Ajuri Ngelale who disclosed this during a press conference on Tuesday, said these sanctions are based on the position of financial sanctions meted out on the military junta in the Niger Republic by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) heads of states.

According to him, while no option has been taken off the table, it is expected that the far-reaching decisions will be taken by the bloc at the upcoming extraordinary meeting on Thursday in Abuja.

“No options have been taken off of the table,” Tinubu’s spokesman Ajuri said — but Tinubu and other West African leaders favour diplomacy.

…As Court Fixes Judgement For August 30

The former governor of Zamfara state, Bello Matawalle, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria Police Force and Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) of continuing with a plan to arrest him and portray him unworthy of political leadership in the country through their purported investigation into his tenure.

Bello, who is among the ministerial nominees approved by President Bola Tinubu, made this known in a suit he instituted before Justice A.R. Mohammed seeking among other things, declaratory reliefs barring the EFCC, NPF, ICPC, EFCC, NIS and Attorney-General of the federation (1st to sixth defendant) from arresting or prospecting him after a previous court judgement had restrained them from contemplating such action.

Part of the reliefs he sought are as follows, ” A DECLARATION THAT having regard to the Judgment of this Honourable
Court, Gusau Judicial Divis ion, Coram: Hon. Justice Aminu B. Aliyu delivered
on 31 day of May, 2023 in Suit No: FHC/GS/CS/30/2021 between THE
GOVERNMENT OF ZAMFARA STATE & anor v. THE ECONOMIC
AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION and anor., and the provisions
of Sections 4, 6 and 7 of the Zamfara State Anti-Corruption Law No. l2, 2021,
the Defendants, any other authority, person, body or organization other than the
Zamfara State Anti-Corruption Commission have no authority or power to arrest, arraign and/or prosecute the Plaintiff on the basis of any investigation, report or
allegation bordering on any alleged corrupt practices/financial crimes against the
Plaintiff or his administration as Governor of Zamfara State.

“A DECLARATION THAT having regard to the Judgment of this Honourable
Court, Gusau Judicial Division, Coram: Hon. Justice Aminu B. Aliyu delivered
on 31 day of May, 2023 in Suit No: FHCIGS/CS/30/2021 between THE
GOVERNMENT OF ZAMFARA STATE & anor v. THE ECONOMIC
AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION and anor., and the provisions
of Section 36(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999
amended), the Defendants, any other authority, person, body or organization
have no power or authority to threaten to arrest, arrest or detain the Plaintiff with
respect to his administration as Governor of Zamfara State, on the basis of any
purported report of any committee/panel or a purported report of any
investigation, when the Plaintiff was neither heard nor afforded an opportunity
to be heard during such investigation or deliberation of such commitee/panel.”

In his affidavit seen by THE WHISTLER filed by his lawyer, Kehinde Akinlolu SAN, the former governor contended that despite a Zamfara Court judgment restraining the EFCC from inviting or arresting his client, the plans were still ongoing.

“The totality of the purported findings and conclusions of the defendants, particularly the 4th defendant (EFCC) by which they alleged corrupt practices and diversion of public funds of Zamfara state against him are utterly false and contrived to render him unworthy of leadership and public trust,” he stated.

He argued that all contracts awarded by Matawalle’s administration as Zamfara governor were awarded following due process.

At the resume hearing on Tuesday, Kehinde adopted all his processes before the court and urged Justice Mohammed to enter judgement for the plaintiff as prayed in the amended originating summons.

O.A. Aderonmu, who stood in for the Department of States, countered the submissions of Matawalle’s counsel, and urged the court to strike out the name of the secret service in the suit.

Counsel for the EFCC, M.K Hussein opposed the suit of the plaintiff and urged the court to dismiss it for lacking in merit, for being unconstitutional and amounting to an abuse of judicial process.

N.B. Kannap, who held the brief of Yakubu Yoriyo, the NIS lawyer at the proceedings, said though the Immigration Service have not filed any process in the matter but the reliefs being sought against the NIS is for the service not to arrest, detain or seize or deal in any manner with Matawalle’s travel documents and his right to travel out of Nigeria.

He urged the court to be guided by Section 31 of the Immigration Act, 2015 which gives the service power to refuse the departure of any person from Nigeria if the NIS is aware of any court order, warrant of arrest or an order from the Minister of Interior in respect of that particular person.

He urged the court to strike out the case.

“This suit is reserved for judgment on the August 30,” Justice Mohammed said after hearing from the lawyers representing the parties present in court.

Recall that the EFCC led by its suspended Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa had said the anti-graft agency was tracking Matawalle over allegations of diverting public funds to the tune of N70 billion.

But the ex-governor had replied the EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, accusing Bawa of asking him to pay a 2 million dollars bribe for his investigation to be stepped down.

THE WHISTLER reports that that a Federal High Court sitting in Gusau, Zamfara State, subsequently restrained the EFCC from further inviting, arresting or detaining present or past officials of the Zamfara State government including the outgone governor Bello Matawalle with respect to how funds meant for security votes, estacodes, traveling allowances or any similar facts were expended by the administration.

Justice A. B. Aliyu had agreed with Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, in the matter between Government of Zamfara State against the EFCC and the Attorney-General of the Federation, that the power to interrogate the disbursement and utilization of state funds appropriated is constitutionally vested in the State House of Assembly and the Auditor-General of the State, not the EFCC.

Anthony Joshua will fight Robert Helenius in London on Saturday after the Finnish boxer was parachuted in as a late replacement for Dillian Whyte.

The scheduled all-British heavyweight bout was cancelled last weekend when “adverse analytical findings” were detected in a doping test conducted by Whyte, who has vowed to clear his name.

Helenius, 39, fought in his homeland on Saturday but has answered the call to take on the former two-time world heavyweight champion.

“This wasn’t in the script,” said Joshua. “I respect Helenius and, may I say, I respect any male or female who steps into the ring.

“I am laser-focused on the win. I can make steps forward to bigger and better things but the road map has a check point — Saturday night. May the best man win.”

Helenius, who has 32 wins and four defeats from his 36 professional bouts, was knocked out in the first round by Deontay Wilder in October.

“I am a true Viking that is willing to face any challenge at a moment’s notice,” said Helenius.

“This is not an opportunity I was going to let slip away. I plan to make the most of it!”

[AFP/CHANNELSTV]

The naira has extended its loss as the currency depreciated to N902 per dollar on the black market.

Figures from various Bureau de Change traders on Tuesday showed that the currency was priced between N900 and N902.

The buying price was N898 to N900 depending on the operator, THE WHISTLER reports.

In the first eight days of the month, the naira depreciated by N30 after closing at N870 against the dollar.

BDC operators attributed the drop to the shortage of the dollar in the market.

“With the way the dollar is scarce, the naira may trade close to N1,000 by the end of this month (August),” Dare, a BDC dealer in Abuja said.

At the Investors’ and Exporters’ Window, the naira sold as high as N799 before closing at N774.78.

“Demand for the dollar is very high and some of us are not able to meet up,” he added.

The Central Bank of Nigeria introduced a managed float on June 14, 2023 and since then it has been on a free fall.

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) said the Central Bank of Nigeria is inexperienced in managing a floated naira.

President Bola Tinubu during his August 1 address to the nation, disclosed that his government may intervene by defending the currency “if need be”.

He said, “Our commitment is to promote the greatest good for the greatest number of our people. On this principle, we shall never falter.

“We are also monitoring the effects of the exchange rate and inflation on gasoline prices. If and when necessary, we will intervene.”

About 750 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) teachers, 20 Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs), and 80 Education Officers in Ogun State, have been trained on the New Method of Teaching, to further promote efficiency and sustain an enviable education legacy that the State is known for.

Speaking during the opening ceremony of a three-week training, organised by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology in conjunction with Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP), the Special Adviser to the Governor in the Ministry, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, said the training which was the second phase of the exercise held in December, 2022 was also to improve teaching and learning activities, develop teachers’ capacity and encourage world standards educational systems.

Prof. Arigbabu, in statement signed by Mr. Ayoola Obadimu, Press Officer, MOES&T, noted that the training was part of the efforts of the present administration’s strides, to sustain the legacies of the founding fathers of the education sector in the State, saying the huge investment of the government in the sector is yielding faster results to the extent that other States and some institutes are making contacts with the Ministry to learn from success stories.

The Special Adviser stated that the new innovations introduced into science teaching, have provoked the interest of learners in science subjects such as Chemistry, Physics, Biology, and Mathematics, Agricultural Science, Computer, among others, thereby becoming the best, citing the example of a student, Gbolahan Azeem, of African Church Grammar School, Abeokuta who was the best JAMB candidate in Ogun State and 4th best across the Federation.

He said, "we are working tirelessly to introduce more innovations that will bring desired changes into the education sector in Ogun State".

In his opening remarks, the Project Manager, OGSTEP, Mr. Fatai Osunsanya said there is a need to intimate the class teachers and other education stakeholders in the State, on new ways of imparting knowledge through technology, so as to make the learners relevant and compete favourably with their colleagues in other countries of the world.

Underscoring the importance of the programme, the training Coordinator, Dr. Olushola Odusanya lauded the government for the initiative aimed at upgrading the skills and techniques of the teachers to the newly acceptable learning standards, noting that Ogun State is the only place in the world, where science teachers are trained continuously and consistently on their specifications.

Appreciating the government for the capacity-building event, Mr.Oladipo Oladapo and Mrs. Adijat Tijani said since the introduction of the programme last December, their teaching skills, knowledge, and experience have improved, promising to cascade the training to others in their schools and zones.

An International Civil Group, Egalitarian Mission for Africa (EMA) has dragged President Bola Tínubu of Nigeria before the Economic Community of West African (ECOWAS) Court of Justice, invoking the Protocols of the Court to stop the planned military action against the Republic of Niger over coup plot.

The group in the suit instituted on its behalf by a Nigerian lawyer, Dr Oluwakayode Ajulo, is praying the Regional Court to invoke relevant ECOWAS treaties and international laws to stop the military invasion of Niger Republic being spearhead by the Nigerian Government.

The grouse of the Civil Group, among others, is that the planned military action or invasion will run foul of the obligations in the ECOWAS treaties and therefore amounting to illegality.

The suit marked ECW/CCJ/APP/3/23 emphasized categorically that ECOWAS treaties prohibit aggression among member States.

Apart from the Egalitarian Mission for Africa (EMA), other plaintiffs in the matter are a former Director General of the Nigerian Institute of the Internal Affairs (NIIA), Professor Bola Akinterinwa and a Nigerian Northern Region lawyer, Hamza Nuhu Dantani.

Defendants are ECOWAS, Authority of Heads of State & Government of ECOWAS, President of ECOWAS Mission, Federal Republic of Nigeria and Republic of Niger.

A military group led by General Abdourhamane Tchiani had on July 26 toppled the civilian and democratic government of President Mohammed Bazoun who has since been clamped into unlawful military detention.

Although the three plaintiffs in the regional suit described the coup detat as most unfortunate, they however warned that Nigeria should not travel the dangerous road of military hostilities that may further escalate the crisis in the Niger Republic.

According to them, over 300,000 refugees, mainly Nigeria citizens, have already fled the Niger Republic adding that military action against Niger Republic would lead to breach of fundermrntal rights to life, right to dignity of human persons and liberty to life.

The plaintiffs therefore prayed the ECOWAS Court of Justice for a restraining order against any form of military action in Niger Republic that may undermine the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Niger Republic.

Besides the Court action, the plaintiffs’ Counsel, Dr Ajulo wrote a strongly worded letter to President Tinubu, notifying him of pendency of the suit and invoking the Protocol of the ECOWAS Court on the need to respect and obey the rule of law as well as to refrain from doing that will militate against the subject matter.

The letter is entitled "NOTIFICATION OF PENDENCY OF CASE BEFORE THE ECOWAS COMMUNITY COURT OF JUSTICE
CALL FOR STRICT ADHERENCE TO THE PROTOCOL OF THE HONOURABLE COURT THE ECOWAS COMMUNITY COURT OF JUSTICE".

It read in part "We are Counsel to the Plaintiffs/Applicants in the above case before the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice and it is on their firm and unequivocal instructions that we write.

"Sequel to the Resolution and several sanctions imposed by the ECOWAS in the aftermath of the unfortunate and unconstitutional takeover of the democratically elected Government of the Republic of Niger, we have lodged a Case before the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice in an application for reliefs as the proposed military intervention in the Republic of Niger would be tantamount to aggression between ECOWAS Member States.

" The intervention will specifically violate Articles 1, 5, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22 & 24 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights; Articles 1 (2), 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13 & 14 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; Articles 1, 3, 22, 23 (3), 25 (1) & 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948; Articles 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10 of the Declaration on the Right to Development 1986; Articles 6, 15, 31, 63 & 64 of the Revised Treaty of the Economic Community of West African States; Article 10 of the Supplementary Protocol (A/SP.1/01/05) amending the Protocol (A/P.I/7/91) relating to the Community Court of Justice and Articles 10 (c), 22, 26, 27, 28, 56 of the ECOWAS Protocol Relating to the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peace– Keeping and Security 1999.

"The Case, an official copy of which has been duly served on your Excellency through the ECOWAS Secretariat, 101, Yakubu Gowon Crescent, Asokoro, Abuja, has invoked the jurisdiction of the International Court to consider conventions, treaties, Protocols and regulations to which your Excellency and the Federal Republic of Nigeria are signatories and which override the resolutions, sanctions, domestic law and practices and which the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice has been called upon to declare illegal. Another copy of the Case is attached for your informed action.

"We wish to further draw your attention to Article 22(2) of the Protocol on the Community Court of Justice which mandates that “When a dispute is brought before the Court, Member states or institutions of the Community shall refrain from any action likely to aggravate or militate against its settlement”

"In the Case before the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Authority of Heads of State and Government (of which your Excellency is the Chairman), President, ECOWAS Commission, The Federal Republic of Nigeria (of which your Excellency is the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces) have been sued as sovereign legal representatives of respective institutions including the Republic of Niger.

"It is your Excellency’s sacred duty as the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS and the President and Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces of Federal Republic of Nigeria under your hand to bring the institution of the Case before ECOWAS Community Court of Justice to the attention of the other Defendants/Respondents and to insist, particularly in your Excellences’ subsequent meetings, that the Defendants/Respondents, refrain from taking any action in respect of the subject matter pending the determination of the case, in view of your Excellency and Nigeria’s protocol obligation under the Article above quoted.

"Your Excellency, it is our firm confidence that by your enviable knowledge of high international standard of due adherence to the rule of law and respect for the supranational judicial process obtainable in a Case of this nature, we need not further stress the need to ensure that all the Defendants/Respondents concerned maintain the status quo presently obtaining, and restrain themselves from taking any step susceptible to being regarded by the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice and international Community as prejudicial to the interest of our client or any of the parties in court.

"Your Excellency would agree with us that as the law stands presently, the Resolution on proposed military actions be discontinued pending the determination of the Case by the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice.

"The Federal Government of Nigeria and other Defendants/Respondents have never been known to confront the international judicial system nor subject themselves to international ridicule and is beyond mischievously foisting a fait accompli on an International Court to which charter or protocol she is a High Contracting party.

"It is without any reservation that we proceed on the common ground that your Excellency would use your good offices as the Chairman, Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS and President & Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to adhere and advise compliance on the part of the afore-listed defendants.
.
"While thanking you for your adherence to the rule of law, please accept the assurance of our warmest professional regards", the letter stated.

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday appointed a 400-level student in the Economics Department of the University of Ibadan, Miss Orire Agbaje, as one of the members of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

President Tinubu had on Tuesday, inaugurated the Committee, with about 70 members, one of whom is Miss Agbaje, who is the President of the Nigerian Universities Tax Club.

Highlighting the selection of the unique Committee member, Special Assistant to the President on Social Media and Digital Communications, Mr Olusegun Dada, on his verified X account, posted a picture of President Tinubu with Agbaje.

“Beautiful moment when President Tinubu met Miss Orire Agbaje, a 400 level Economics student of the University of Ibadan who is the President of the Nigerian Universities Tax Club and a member of the just inaugurated Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms”, the message read.

The committee is chaired by former Fiscal Policy Partner and Africa Tax Leader at PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Mr Taiwo Oyedele.

I am on record as saying that if Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali or ANY OTHER country, attacks Nigeria, violates our territorial integrity or attempts to take one inch of our nation we must and will fight them to the last man.

I have also said that Nigeria's defence budget is FAR higher than all the other 14 countries in West Africa PUT TOGETHER and that there is no nation in our sub-region that can defeat us in a military conflict despite our many challenges.

I stand by these words.

I am however constrained to add the following as a word of caution to those who seek to "cry havoc and unleash the dogs of war" and as a piece of unsolicited advice to the advocates of military invasion.

It would be imprudent and unwise for Nigeria to attempt to clean up France's mess in Niger Republic.

The French are the most rappacious, greedy, vicious, pervasive, destructive and unrelenting neo-colonial foreign power on the African continent.

They have done nothing for Africa other than pillage, rape, undermine, plunder and take advantage of her.

To deploy our military, go to war and allow Nigerian blood to be spilled just to help her to continue to gang rape the Nigeriens and subject them to slavery would be unjust, wicked, short-sighted, stupid and counter-productive.

Worse still it would have implications for the stability of our nation, our entire sub-region and our increasingly fruitful relationship with President Putin and the Russian Federation who are slowly emerging as Africa's best friend and, together with the Chinese, appear to be the only foreign power that truly seeks to assist and support the growth and development of African countries.

To those who believe that Nigeria ought to continue to be the poodle, local enforcer and hatchet man of the French, the Europeans, the British and the Americans in our sub-region, I ask the following: who do they think is behind Boko Haram and ISWAP and why did these so-called Western allies refuse to sell us arms to fight those two terrorist organisations until Trump came along? And of course since Trump left we have been given nothing.

Not one of them truly cares for Nigeria in the way the Chinese or Russians do and to them we are nothing but a source of mineral resources and a local sheriff.

They want us to go and fight a war against our African brothers just to further and protect their own economic and regional interests and they want us to throw the West African sub region into a theater for a horrific, brutal and never-ending proxy war between them and Russia which would result in turning the whole of the West and North African sub region into a cauldron of fire.

Worst still they want Northern Nigeria particularly and the entire African Sahel region and all the countries in it to be burnt to ashes and go the way of Ukraine, Iraq, Syria, Libya and Afghanistan whilst they sell their arms, test their weapons, pillage our resources, turn our people into homeless destitutes and penniless refugees, destroy our collective future and serve our flesh and blood, on a dark satanic alter to the sinister forces and the blood-lustng vultures and demons that they work for and serve.

We must never allow this to happen and if the truth be told the biggest mistake that ECOWAS made in the first place was to threaten Niger with military action if the coupists refused to step down and restore President Bazoum to power.

I say this because once a threat is issued and it is not followed up with action you look weak, ineffectual and pathetic.

That is the quandry we are now in and the wisest thing to do at this point is to step back from the brink and rhetoric of war and engage in diplomacy.

Deploying our troops into our neigbours country in an attempt to effect regime-change on behalf of a bunch of power-obsessed feral psychopaths like the French whose primary dream and fantasy has always been the dismemberment, destabilisation and destruction of Nigeria is asinine and unacceptable.

To do the dirty work for a nation that stood on the wrong side during our civil war and that almost pushed us into a war with the Cameroons over the Bakassi Peninsular is deeply insultng to our sensibilities.

I do not support military Governments and I cannot abide or stomach the way in which Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso have threatened, insulted and made mockery of our nation and people over the last few days but one thing is clear: the military regimes in all of those three countries are wildly popular and the hatred for France in each of them is palpable and irreversible.

Why should we get involved in all this? This is not our fight and if we choose to stand on the side of the French imperialists, neo-colonialists and oppressors against the will of the people of these three sovereign nations it may well result in chaos, mutiny, rebellion and a revolution in our own country. This must be avoided at all costs. 

It is time to get sense and sheath our swords. This whole thing is obviously a western conspiracy and trap and we must ensure that our newly-elected President does not fall into it.

This is the time for restraint and wise counsel to prevail. This is the time for us to put our national interest before that of any other.

This is the time for us to indulge in some sober reflection and reject any gung-ho and bellicose action that would ultimately result in a reversal of the great strides that we have made as a nation over the last 24 years and the destruction of our great country.

A word is enough for the wise.