Emmanuel Udende, the Senator representing Benue Northeast, has commended the zealous Davido fan, Emmanuel Myam, aka Emmiwuks.

The senator commended Emmiwuks, who embarked on a road trip from Benue State to Lagos on his bicycle to meet the singer.

Recall that Davido had ordered the fan to “turn around” that he wasn’t presently in the country but when the fan insisted on continuing his journey, he asked him to send his account number for a token and also pledged to meet him when he returns.

Reacting via his official Facebook page, Senator Udende commended the young fan for his resilience.

He promised to support Emmiwuks’ music career and also host him at his office in the National Assembly when lawmakers are back from recess.

He said, “In the past few days, I have seen a lot of updates on social media platforms concerning the passion and desire of a young man who wishes to meet and present a gift to his music Idol and Afrobeat star David Adeleke (Davido).

“I wish to applaud the resilience of Master Emmanuel Myam with the stage name Emmiwuks, who is my constituent from Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State, for embarking on this journey from Benue to Lagos on a bicycle to meet Davido, the Afrobeat superstar.

“As it has been my policy to encourage young people to pursue their dreams, I wish to encourage Master Emmanuel in his chosen career which I have been told is Music.

“I will also host him in my office at the National Assembly when he returns from Lagos and we are also back from recess so that we can look at the areas I can intervene to make him excel in his chosen career.

“Ensure you are a proud ambassador of Our constituency and Benue state at large when you meet the Music icon.”

Godwin Obaseki, the Governor of Edo state has spoken up about how he found out that his deputy, Philip Shaibu, was “working against him”.

According to Obaseki, Shaibu has become so desperate to succeed him, ahead of the Edo governorship election in 2024.

He spoke at a gathering with stakeholders in the state.

The governor said: “He (Shaibu) went to Abuja and was boasting that he has connections in Abuja, that he has people in the national assembly, that they are all with the president now, that they will take care of him. That if he cannot get the ticket in PDP, he knows what to do.

“I kept quiet and said I thought we were together. But what struck me, and I have never said this to anybody, is that after I proclaimed the house of assembly, we were now going to elect officers.

“He was in Abuja, he came back that day. I am the chief security officer of this state. I get any information I need. But I have that responsibility to keep quiet and use the information properly.

“My deputy called the leader in APC, telling that leader that during the elections on the next day, particularly speaker of the house of assembly, that he has five members who are loyal to him and that he would like the seven members of APC to work with his five members of PDP to produce the next speaker.

“As far as I am concerned, that was not working in our common interest. Why would the deputy governor seek to have another speakership candidate outside of what the governor wants? Are we working together?

“That was when I knew we had a problem. That the deputy governor has become so desperate to take over that he would do anything, including carrying out a coup, against his governor. How can you say you are loyal and you will do such a thing?”

Meanwhile, Shaibu has dismissed speculations of joining the All Progressives Congress (APC), following his rift with Obaseki.

The deputy governor said this in response to speculations that he would be received in Abuja next week by the APC National Working Committee (NWC).

Shaibu, in a statement by his chief press secretary, Musa Ebomhiana, described the rumour as the handwork of mischief makers who are bent on destabilizing Edo state.

“Mischief makers bent on destabilizing our dear Edo State are still at work. They will stop at nothing to widen the gulf between Mr Governor, His Excellency, Governor Godwin Obaseki and his Deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu.

“They have generated more lies from the pit of hell, saying that Shaibu has perfected plans to rejoin the APC next week. There is no iota of truth in this. The mischief makers claim that the APC NWC is set to receive me in Abuja. Is it the NWC of a party that receives a decampee into the party?.

“In view of this, I plead with these characters bent on driving a wedge between Comrade Shaibu and his boss, to put the Edo project and the people far above their own selfish interest,” the statement read in part.

The Military High Command says there are plots from different quarters to instigate members of Armed Forces of Nigeria to overthrow the present democratic administration being led by President Bola Tinubu.

It, however, said the attempt will fail, insisting that the military is happy and better under democracy, and as such it will not get involved in any act to sabotage the hard-earned democracy of Nigeria.

The Director, Defence Information, Tukur Gusau, a Brigadier-General, who stated this in an early message sent to Daily Trust on Saturday morning, described the development as “unpatriotic and wicked”.

According to him, the military would continue to perform its constitutional duties rather than plotting any coup against the present democratic administration, saying the armed forces of Nigeria would not be distracted.

Gusau’s reaction came on the heels of calls by some Nigerians that the military should step into the country’s leadership position owing to the perceived failure of democratic governments.

But in his message, the senior military officer said the armed forces of Nigeria under the leadership of Gen. Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff, would not for any reason involve in any form of insubordination.

“The reports calling on the military to interfere in our democracy is highly unpatriotic, wicked, and an attempt to distract the Armed Forces of Nigeria from performing its constitutional responsibilities,” the senior military said.

He also dismissed insinuations in some quarters that the troops of the Nigerian military were not well taken care of, noting that it would not allow any individual or group of individuals to instigate military officers against the present government.

Gusau added, “The Defence headquarters frowns at a report being circulated online about welfare issues in the Armed Forces of Nigeria. We wish to state unequivocally that the military is happy and better under democracy and will not get involved in any act to sabotage the hard-earned democracy in our country.

“While the leadership of the AFN gives priority to welfare of its personnel however, we detest any attempt by any individual or group to instigate the law-abiding Armed Forces of Nigeria to embark on any unconstitutional change of government in our country.

“The AFN under the leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff, General CG Musa is determined to ensure complete subordination of the Armed Forces to constitutional authority under His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and will not be distracted from its roles that are well defined in the 1999 constitution (as amended).”

It was a dramatic day for the co-hosts of the 2023 Women’s World Cup, Australia, as they escaped France’s battle in the quarter-finals to qualify for their first semi-final in the history of the tournament.

After a goalless 120 minutes of action, France and Australia who the Super Falcons of Nigeria beat 3-2 in the tournament’s group stage, settled for a thrilling penalty shootout.

The quarter-final clash at the Brisbane Stadium recorded a massive 12 goals from the two teams via the penalty shootout.

Australia won 7-6 in the shootout that exceeded expectations with its dramatic turns. Cortnee Vine scored the game-winning penalty kick after Vicki Becho had hit the post for France.

Mackenzie Arnold of Australia made a total of four saves in the shootout, including two against Kenza Dali after the latter moved off the line for the first stop and necessitated a retake.

After Eve Perisset’s save, Arnold herself had an opportunity to give Australia the victory with a penalty kick as the fifth shooter, but she missed the post as the roughly 50,000 Australians in attendance felt every emotion imaginable.

Eventually, the hosts managed to push themselves through to their first-ever semifinal of a Women’s World Cup after the thrilling penalty shootout.

In the semi-finals on August 16, at 11:00, the co-hosts will take on either England or Colombia at Sydney’s Stadium Australia.

Indications have emerged that Nigerian Senators reportedly shared N218 million as a “holiday” allowance.

Naija News understands that each of the 109 senators was paid N2 million before the red chamber went on its seven weeks recess.

Recall that the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, had on Tuesday during plenary when he mistakenly revealed that tokens had been sent to senators to ‘enjoy’ their recess.

A video clip showing Akpabio making the blunder had gone viral on social media.

The incident reportedly happened on Monday after the senators concluded the screening and confirmation of President Bola Tinubu’s ministerial nominees.

“In order to enable all of us to enjoy our holidays, a token has been sent to our various accounts by the Clerk of the National Assembly,” Akpabio said.

He later withdrew his earlier comment saying, “I withdraw that statement. In order to allow you to enjoy your holiday, the senate president has sent prayers to your mailboxes to assist you to go on a safe journey and return.”

A source who pleaded anonymity told Premium Times that bank alerts were received by the senators on 8 August, just before Akpabio announced it.

The source, however, did not clarify if presiding officers also got N2 million each but confirmed that all 109 senators were paid the allowance for the holidays, which commenced on Monday and will end on 26 September.

Attesting to this fact, Naija News reported earlier that a lawmaker representing Bauchi Central senatorial district, Abdul Ningi revealed how much lawmakers got as a recess ‘token.’

According to Ningi, some lawmakers have gotten N2 million as recess allowance. However, he claimed not to have received his own.

Senator Ningi speaking on the development days after Akpabio’s statement confirmed that some lawmakers had gotten an allowance as earlier hinted.

Speaking with Channels TV, he said, “Nothing has come to my account yet. I heard that some people got N2m but for me, nothing yet. Hopefully [I would get] when they tidy up things.

“Some of these things, if they happen, you don’t broadcast it the way he (Akoabio) did.

“I think it is a huge embarrassment to the Senate President as a person and to the institution of the National Assembly. The Senate President should have gone further to say what the allowances are for. How did he come about the allowances? Who gave the allowances? Is it part of the remuneration?

“I don’t know what N2m would do for a holiday. I find it very difficult to understand what this money is for.”

This platform, however, gathered that the N2 million allowance given to the senators is illegal as no such provision is made in the remuneration package approved by Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), a body authorised by law to prepare salaries and allowances for public servants.

According to the commission, what lawmakers are entitled to as a “recess” allowance is 10 per cent of the annual basic salary of each legislator, which is paid once a year.

The commission states that in a package prepared by RMAFC, a senator earns N2,026,400 and therefore gets N202,240 as a recess allowance per annum.

The basic salary of the senate president per annum is N2,483,242, and therefore receives N248,424 as recess allowance, while that of his deputy is N2,309,166, and his recess allowance is N230,916.

Deji Adeyanju, a public affairs analyst, made fun of Nasir El-Rufai after it was announced that he had withdrawn his name from consideration for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ministerial nomination.

According to Anaedoonline.ng, the Senate deferred El-Rufai’s and two other nominees’ confirmations after receiving security concerns from the Department of State Services.

El-Rufai allegedly told President Tinubu of his decision to resign from his ministerial position as a result, along with a suggestion for a replacement.

Adeyanju Reveals Where Tinubu Should Be Instead of Running For Presidency

Adeyanju responded by stating that it would make sense for El-Rufai to run for office in 2027 by joining Peter Obi’s Labour Party.

He suggested that the former FCT Minister run alongside Obi, claiming that their combined ticket would be like a match made in heaven.

According to him, he would meet fellow religious bigots the moment he defects to the Labour Party.

“But it will make a lot of sense if elRufai joins Labour Party. He will meet his fellow religious bigot there, and they can both run as presidential and VP candidates in 2027. They will fight their religious war together.

“Peter/El-Rufai 2027 ticket will be a strong one. A union made in Heaven. They both have bigotry and betrayal running in their DNA,” he tweeted on Friday.

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dele Momodu, has faulted President Bola Tinubu’s ministerial team.

Momodu said Tinubu’s ministerial list was worst than his predecessor, ex-President Muhammadu Buhari’s team.

This was as he disclosed that some of Tinubu’s ministers are unknown unlike what was obtainable in the past.

He disclosed this while featuring on the latest edition of a Podcast, Mic On.

Momodu noted that former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai was an original version of himself when he was a minister under PDP.

According to Momodu: “Every leader has what it takes to be a good resident if he has good advisers and listens to them. It’s just like a journalist without corrections, he will always carry fake news.

“For any leader to succeed, he must look at his team and what I’m seeing now is worst than Buhari’s team.

“What I expected was a star-studded cabinet, I like to recall myself with sweet memories of Ibrahim Babangida’s cabinet in those days.

“We remember them till today, most of the people appointed now, I don’t know them. Under Babangida, I remember Akinyele, Bolaji Akinyemi, Bolasodun Ajibola, Tai Solarin, Wole Soyinka.

“You can’t say that today, somebody is on her way to screen you remove her, that’s disgraceful, it means you didn’t do your due diligence before appointing people.

“In the days of Okonjo-Iweala, Ezekwesili, Nubu Ribadu, original El-Rufai when he was a minister under PDP was original El-Rufai.”

[DailyPost]

One cannot be envious of the presidential election petition court (PEPC), as the 180 days that the current laws give the tribunal to render a verdict are about to expire. The concern, however, is that the high hopes are progressively giving way to perceived uncertainties that the country would be forced to deal with a compromised judiciary and a desperate incumbent president whose election is being contested. These issues are gradually replacing high hopes, which is a cause for anxiety.

Perhaps the only place in the world where a president-elect gets sworn in before the legitimacy of his election is decided is Nigeria. Although it is a highly irregular practice, Nigeria has been operating it ever since the current democratic system was restored in 1999. It is such a peculiar mess.

The Nigerian judiciary has endured several terrifying and emasculating experiences over the past ten years, many of which are self-inflicted, especially under the presidency of Muhammadu Buhari. Recently, the United States issued a travel block on seven of the twelve supreme court justices due to strange rulings. Other examples include the arrest of various supreme court judges, notably Walter Nkanu Onnoghen, then a sitting chief justice of Nigeria, and raids on their houses. The majority of people were shocked by the prominent jurists’ forced fall from grace and desecration of the temple of justice by the presidency.

The National Judicial Council (NJC) and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), two judicial authorities that could assist or mediate during Onnoghen’s struggles, remained at a safe distance. Their cowardly silence over what ordinary Nigerians perceived as an assault on the judicial branch of government raised more concerns about the much-touted independence of that branch of government and its ability to uphold its reverence as the last hope of the common man.

Yes, both the NJC and NBA remained docile and virtually mute while the incursions lasted, and their stirring remained wimpy and ineffectual throughout. Thus Onnoghen and the likes of Justice Ngwuta, who died shortly after possibly from the trauma, were so easily isolated, humiliated, and spurned, while their professional colleagues watched perhaps helplessly or they were just playing the ostrich.

The result was such that while the body of lawyers was busy fighting a credibility battle, the head of the judiciary was, by that token, blocked from receiving any form of solidarity or protection from his foot soldiers. Onnoghen was lost in the swirl in this manner, thus becoming history.

Onnoghen and Justice Ngwuta’s disgrace expectedly shook the judiciary to its foundations. It was not that Onnoghen was above the law. But the particular way in which his culpability was handled reeked more of politics than of justice. It correctly raised questions about the independence of the court and the ability of the Tribunals to render impartial decisions free from the influence or emasculation.

However, numerous decisions have already been made by various tribunals across the nation, and little has shown that the judiciary has been tied to anyone’s apron. The election petition court, which is poised to issue its historic ruling, should thus be given the same amount of hope. Men at that level should be more concerned with the future than with everyday issues.

The tribunal should view this as a wonderful chance to reinforce the judiciary’s independence by enforcing the rule of law in a fashion that perfectly exemplifies the idea of the separation of powers in a presidential democracy. Nigerians rightfully want to know the results of the 2023 presidential election so that the situation may be resolved.

Yes, history and posterity call to the esteemed jurists. At their Olympian levels on the Nigerian appellate court, it shouldn’t be a problem for them to administer justice without fear or favour because there has never been any indication that any of them at the PEPC has integrity issues.

The fear of Nigerians in the presidential petition tribunal, however, is not entirely unwarranted in light of the Onnoghen and Ngwuta treatments, and the preeminent jurists need to be aware that much hinges on the credibility of the judgement they issue in the coming days. The general guidance is still there: There can’t be judgement without justice. Or it could be a repetition of legalese or political rulings that Nigerians won’t comprehend or accept as just. Because of how ambiguous they are, the nation’s judiciary’s already teetering credibility can only be strengthened if the presidential election tribunal does a fair job. Vague judgments can only reinforce the suffering credibility of the nation’s judiciary and can throw the name into chaos.

The justice Nigerians demand should not mirror the 12 2/3rd ruling in the presidential election suit between Alhaji Shehu Shagari and Obafemi Awolowo in 1979, aside from the sins of technicalities as shown in the case of Senator Ademola Adeleke in 2019. That ruling was so absurd and for illustrating a flaw in Nigerian law and judicial decisions, it is rarely cited as case law in our country.

The lacklustre and severely critical assessments from the international observers regarding the general election in 2023 are yet as concerning. They affirm that despite investing a staggering amount of nearly N400 billion in it, the 2023 general election still ended as the worst the country has held since returning to democratic rule in 1999.

Despite all the obstacles, the five distinguished jurists should be able to inform Nigerians whether the exercise substantially followed the established laws and regulations. If it did, who won?

Fortunately, the history of the Nigerian courts gives reason for optimism that the Tribunal would uphold the highest standards of impartiality and rigor in its decision-making. Despite the terrifying experiences and declining trust of the arm of government, the Nigerian judiciary has generated and presented many remarkable fearless and incorruptible justices over time.

Despite the recent struggles of the judicial branch of government, Nigerians should reasonably expect that the successors are continuing this rich history. Therefore, even while concerns about the nation’s judiciary’s independence and dependability are mounting, they nevertheless merit the benefit of the doubt because only time will tell whether or not this optimism is incorrect.

No one needs to be a lawyer to recognise when justice has been done. No matter whose ox is gored, justice ensures that laws are administered rationally and proportionately when it is properly served to citizens’ expectations.

The Nigerian judiciary must constantly keep in mind that people expect justice to bring some predictability to situations that are out of their control so they may organise their lives and live with a measure of security, certainty, and peace of mind. Justice is crucial because it creates a civilised community and allows for a fair living in a complex world. On the other hand, unfair judgements leave room for dispute, self-help, and conflict.

For credit, it should also be noted that the Nigerian judiciary has so far kept the country’s democracy strong. Nigeria arguably has the biggest number of election-related lawsuits worldwide. That the outcomes of elections in our country are determined by judges rather than by the people is rather humiliating and unusual. The good news is that Nigerians continue to have faith in the legal system. To save and progress the country’s democracy and maintain Nigeria as a nation of laws and not a nation ruled according to the whims of individuals, the judges themselves must protect the immense faith reposed in the nation’s judiciary.

City FM is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Programme: CITY TALKS WITH REUBEN ABATI

Time: 12:00pm

Guest: Ambassador Joe Keshi (OON)

Topic: ECOWAS and the Niger Coup Crisis

Date: 12th August, 2023
                         
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Meeting ID: 928 7714 1732
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This is even as the African Union has declared its support for the ECOWAS push to restore constitutional authority in the French-speaking West African country.

It was gathered that ECOWAS army chiefs will be meeting in the coming days to prepare plans for a possible military intervention in Niger. The meeting is expected to hold in Accra, Ghana next week Saturday.

“One meeting is being planned for next week,” Reuters quoted the ECOWAS spokesperson to have said.

While Benin, Senegal and Nigeria have committed to the intervention in principles without providing details of its deployment, the president of Ivory Coast, Alassane Ouattara, revealed that his country would commit a battalion of 850 to 1,100 men to ECOWAS’ move to restore democratic rule to Niger following lack of success in its diplomatic efforts.

The Nigerian military did not respond to our request for comment on the actual number the country is contributing to the ECOWAS standby force. The country has, however, played leading roles in previous interventions in Liberia, Sierra Leone and The Gambia.

Recall that the West African regional bloc after its emergency meeting in Abuja on Thursday ordered its Committee of the Chiefs of Defence Staff to immediately activate its standby force with all its elements.

While the decision of ECOWAS to activate its standby force has been trailed by criticism both in Nigeria and Niger, Army chiefs from member-states like Benin and Senegal corroborated Ouattara’s revelation of commitment from the member-states to the military intervention.

Ouattara had said after the Abuja meeting that aside his country’s deployment, soldiers from Nigeria and Benin would also be deployed.

He said ECOWAS had intervened in African countries in order to restore constitutional order before.

Benin’s army spokesman was quoted to have said on Friday that  they would contribute troops without revealing the number while Senegal had earlier revealed it would contribute troops if there were an intervention.

On their parts, Gambia’s defence minister, Sering Modou Njie and Liberia’s minister of information, Ledgerhood Rennie, said that they had not yet taken a decision to send troops.

Military governments in neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso, both ECOWAS members, have said they would defend the junta in Niger.

On Friday, Burkina Faso’s junta-led government suspended one of the country’s most popular radio stations after it broadcast an interview deemed “insulting” to Niger’s new military leaders.

Radio Omega was immediately suspended on Thursday “until further notice,” Communications Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo informed in a statement.

Support from AU pours in

Meanwhile, the African Union has expressed strong support for ECOWAS’s decisions on Niger.

“The president of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat expresses his strong support for ECOWAS decisions on anti-constitutional change in Niger,” AU noted in a press statement.

The statement noted that Mahamat condemned the detention of President Mohamed Bazoum and his family, describing it as “illegal kidnapping” and “unacceptable.”

“The president of the commission challenges the military authorities on the urgency of stopping the escalation with the regional organisation, mistrust of it and the continuation of the kidnapping of the president in worryingly deteriorating conditions,” the statement noted.

He called for the immediate release of Mr Bazoum and all members of his family and government.

The union also called on the international community to rally to save the moral and physical integrity of Bazoum and end what it called the “worryingly poor conditions” of his detention.

Similarly, the European Union and the United States have joined the AU in expressing “increasing worry” about Bazoum’s detention conditions.

You’ll be punished if any harm befalls Bazoum, ECOWAS envoy warns Niger

Consequently, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, has said the Niger junta will be punished if any harm befalls Bazoum.

The junta had threatened to kill Bazoum in the event of a military intervention against Niger.

But speaking on Channels Television on Friday, Musah said Bazoum and his son were being held by the military rulers who have denied them access to food and medicine.

He said they were living under appalling condition; hence, the reason for the regional bloc’s decision to prepare a standby force.

He said the West African region bloc could not fold its arms and depend on the goodwill of the coupists after interrupting democratic order.

Musah said, “We are going there, if need be, to rescue President Bazoum, who is living in very terrible conditions today. He is being denied medical attention. He is being denied access to his usual food.

“His son, who is also in detention, has lost so many kilos already. They are being held in these inhumane conditions and we cannot just sit back idle and depend on the goodwill of these people who are disrupting the democratic process in the country.

“Yesterday’s (Thursday) communique also made it very clear that this junta will pay dearly if anything happens to the safety, security or physical integrity of Bazoum, his family or members of his government. That was clearly done.

“We are not going to hold back because they are holding the president hostage. If they dare, if they harm in any way, then they are going to pay very dearly for that. So, this is a tactic.”

Russia warns against military action

Meanwhile, Russia has warned that military action against coup leaders in Niger would lead to a “protracted confrontation.”

According to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), while the United States has backed efforts to restore Niger’s deposed leader, Moscow has not formally backed the coup, but coup supporters, some waving Russian flags, protested at a French military base near the capital.

In a statement issued on Friday, Russia’s foreign ministry warned other West African countries not to send troops into Niger.

It stated, “We believe that a military solution to the crisis in Niger could lead to a protracted confrontation in that African country, and to a sharp destabilisation of the situation in the Sahara-Sahel region as a whole.”

More knocks trail planned military intervention as Emir of Kano calls for prayers

 Daily Trust on Saturday reports that more dissenting voices have continued to trail the planned military intervention in Niger by ECOWAS, even as pressure groups in the country has resolved to march on military camp of France in Niamey, the country’s capital city, following up on several protest marches to the French Embassy since the military seized power.

The groups told the BBC that they would continue to protest in front of the camp from Friday afternoon and would not leave until France evacuates its military from the country.

France said it fully backed all the conclusions of the ECOWAS emergency summit held on Thursday. But it has not stated any clear plan it would be giving the regional bloc if it eventually deploy military.

United States, French, German and Italian troops are stationed in Niger as part of the fight against local affiliates of Al Qaeda and Islamic State.

There were reports that that Niamey was calm on Friday morning, but residents were angered by the threat of military intervention.

“Deep down inside, I am not afraid; I am going about my business. I think this is just blackmail,” Balla Souleymane said of ECOWAS’ decisions.

Since the coup, many Nigeriens have turned up at junta-organised rallies to show support for the generals, criticising Western powers and lauding Russia, mirroring reactions following recent coups in Mali and Burkina Faso, whose military juntas kicked out French forces after taking power.

The BBC also quoted former Nigerian military leader, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who led a delegation to Niger over a week ago but did not get to see the coup leader, to have said, “Nobody wants to go to war. We want peace. All options are on the table.”

Meanwhile, imams of various Juma’at mosques in Kano, Abuja and several other northern Nigeria cities led special prayers (Al-qunut) against the planned military intervention, praying to Allah to proffer diplomatic solution to the impasse.

It was also gathered that many of the imams talked about the Niger crisis during their Friday sermon, calling on the Muslim faithful to continuously pray for peaceful resolution of the crisis.

The Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, had urged Islamic clerics and imams of Juma’ah mosques in Kano and beyond to devote special prayers during their Friday congregations for the return of peace and tranquillity in the Republic of Niger.

According to a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Kano Emirate Council, Abubakar Balarabe Kofar Naisa, the emir urged the imams to beseech the Almighty Allah to restore harmony, guide brothers in Niger Republic and end the suffering of the innocent citizens.

“To the warring factions in Niger Republic, I extend a humble appeal in the spirit of Islam, good neighbourliness and our common humanity.

“Quran, the sacred scripture of our religion teaches us that, “If two parties among the believers fall into a quarrel, make ye peace between them” (Surah Al-Hujurat, 49:9). In the same spirit, I call upon you to reflect on the teachings of peace, mutual respect and brotherhood that our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) command us to adhere to,” the statement added.

He noted that conflict brings only sorrow and destruction while peace nurtures prosperity and development.

“I humbly entreat all parties involved in the current conflict to embrace peace, engage in dialogue and work towards a peaceful and equitable resolution.,” he stated.

The monarch further prayed, “May Allah (SWT) imbue everyone involved with the wisdom and patience needed to navigate this crisis.

“May he bring peace and prosperity back to Niger Republic and may he continue to guide and protect all of us and may peace and blessings be upon us all.”

Don’t obey US, others this time around – Kalu tells Tinubu

Similarly, Senator Orji Uzo Kalu has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to refrain from invading the Republic of Niger to restore democratic government.

In a short video on the social media, the senator, while responding to a question on the Niger crisis, expressed his reservations for Nigeria to join ECOWAS military intervention. He added that if the United States of America and France wanted war, they should use their own troops stationed in Niger.

According to him, the US alone has almost 4,000 troops in Niger; hence it shouldn’t resort to Nigeria to fight its proxy war by supplying arms and funds to Nigeria, insisting that it’s dangerous for Nigeria to fight in its backyard.

“You don’t know when this fight will end. Nobody knows who is sponsoring this fight. The advisers of President Tinubu, which I am also one of, would continue pleading with him not to join that fight.

“Since the Nigerian Senate already said you can’t go to war and he needs their authorisation, I don’t think it is a good idea to go to war.

“What they should go and do to the juntas now is to put the democratic process plan. They should give us either a six-month or one-year plan to return to the civil democratic process.

“I want him (Tinubu) not to listen to the US. I am a friend of the US, Israel and UK. This is the first time I will like President Tinubu to disobey the US. It is not the right thing to do. We are not going to war. Let the US, Nigeria and France have transitional programmes with soldiers.

“The juntas are also Nigerien people, not outsiders, so let’s plan a transition in peaceful and diplomatic ways. They should reach a concrete agreement to return to civil rule.

“I am not thinking of going to war with Niger; they are our blood brothers. Secondly, it is very dangerous; you don’t know who is going to join the war. They may invade Nigeria. We already have a lot of problems with our minerals along those shores. Nobody should attempt taking us into war. We can’t go to war with Niger at all,” he said.

The former governor warned that no Nigerian soldier’s head is worth sacrificing for another country as its entirely internal issue of the Republic of Niger.

He added that Nigeria should even withdraw her membership in the ECOWAS as long as the regional bloc remains adamant in military action. “We are a sovereign country, nobody can toy with 250million Nigerians,” Kalu said.

CNG warns against military intervention

Also, the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has rejected the planned military action against Niger by any regional or international community/institution.

The coalition, in a statement by its spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, appealed to political, religious, traditional and cultural leaders across the West African sub-region to urgently intervene by impressing the need for a window for serious negotiations to be provided.

“These leaders should identify a neutral location within Africa at which to hold such honest discussions to finally bring a bloodless enduring end to this impasse,” he stated.

The coalition noted, “The rigid positions assumed by both ECOWAS and the military leaders in Niger, which left very little space for honest discussions towards peaceful resolution of what is ordinarily an African affair that can be solved the African way.”

It called on both the military authorities in Niger and the ECOWAS to open and allow all doors for discussions devoid of any hidden agenda or unnecessary preconditions for genuine dialogue.

It also called “on the leaders of the coup in Niger Republic to discard their rigid stance and unhelpful show of bravado and embrace all diplomatic overtures in order to reach a peaceful and bloodless resolution of the matter, keeping in mind that threats and conflicts have very little or no utility  value.

The coalition also stated that it condemned “with all our might, the burning in Niger of Nigerian national flag, which is our symbol of nationhood, and demand the military junta to order it to stop forthwith,” while also saying that the “discrediting of our president and leaders is not only immoral and illegal but also abhorrent to Nigeria’s collective sensibilities and ordinary decency, and therefore, unacceptable.”

[DailyTrust]