…Denies Declaring War On Northerners, Leading Hunger Protests

Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately arrest and prosecute those behind the divisive genocidal threat against the Igbo in the South-West immediately.

Obi made the call on Friday following a trending call by certain elements from the South-West for Nigerians from the South-East geopolitical zone to be driven away from the South-West geopolitical zone.

They blamed the Igbo for the ongoing hunger protests which have degenerated to Tinubu Must Go.

Tinubu is of the Yoruba ethnic stock from the South-West geopolitical zone. They alleged the Igbo are behind the protest to remove “our brother (Tinubu)” from office.

An individual who runs an account called Lagospedia on X/Twitter made the post urging “Lagosians and every South-West stakeholders to prepare for the massive protest of IgboMustGo on the 20th to 30th of August,” on July 27.

The post which was latched into by other Lagospedia apologists further said “they have one month from now to leave and relocate their business from all South-West states.

“We urged all Yoruba living in the South-East states to return home,” the post said.

The threat has not been condemned by the police or any security agency and the individual has not been arrested as of the time of filing this report.

Obi condemned the incendiary rhetoric and likened it to genocide.

Stating that it’s really “deeply disturbing,” he said he has “read genocidal threats on X against the Igbo tribe, calling for their relocation.

“Let me pointedly warn that such rhetoric threatens our unity and is fundamentally opposed to our Constitution, which guarantees every Nigerian the right to live and work freely anywhere in the country.

“Those in authority must show leadership and urgently speak out against such divisive rhetoric,” he said.

Obi added that immediate action should be taken to “investigate, arrest, and prosecute those behind this heinous agenda, serving as a deterrent to others who might consider pursuing similar paths that threaten our national security and unity.”

He urged “all Nigerians to stand united against this divisive rhetoric and to champion unity, tolerance, and understanding” adding that “our future depends on our ability to live and work together harmoniously.

“The government and security agencies must act swiftly to protect this fundamental principle and ensure that every Nigerian can live free from fear of discrimination or persecution. We must not allow our present challenges to drive wedges among us.

“We can only overcome our national challenges if we act together as one people United under God,” he added.

I Never Declared War On Northerners Or Led Hunger Protests

The former Anambra State governor also raised an alarm that people have been paid to blackmail him to conform to their nefarious agenda denying ever declaring war on Nigerians from the north.

He said, “I have noticed some deliberate and well-orchestrated efforts by some persons to blackmail me into conforming to some of their nefarious agendas.

“Their dubious moves have led to the false circulation of a video from my recent keynote speech at the installation of Rotarian Professor A. U. Nnonyelu in Anambra State.

“They have twisted the video to suit their motive to suggest that I declared war on Northerners when, in fact, I spoke about declaring war on economic stagnation, insecurity, and corruption.”

Similarly he said “another video circulating online, supposedly showing me leading a protest in Abuja, is also false.

“The video was actually taken during my visit to the Labour Party HQ, where I mediated a clash between the Labour Party and the NLC.”

He stated that the video was “conveniently edited to create a false narrative, and those responsible have been paid to spread this misinformation.”

This “kind of misinformation” he said “has no place in our democracy, where truth and honesty should prevail.”

He said it’s a “misrepresentation,” which “is part of a larger narrative of blackmail, aimed at fitting me into their malicious agenda.”

He emphasised that he remains “committed to a new Nigeria where justice, equity, and caring for the citizens will prevail over the greed of a few.”

Amid reports that WhatsApp may exit Nigeria because of a $220 million fine, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has said Nigeria’s case will not be different.

FCCPC said WhatsApp and Meta infringed and violated the privacy rights of Nigerians and were fined in line with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA).

It said the company has been found to have violated the privacy of users in other countries, including the United States, adding that the company paid fines approved by the US data protection agency without the threat of exiting.

FCCPC said Meta and WhatsApp denied Nigerians their rights to control their personal data and shared Nigeria users’ data without the authorization and consent of citizens.

The regulatory agency also said WhatsApp discriminated against Nigerian users in its business policy when compared with users of other jurisdictions.

In a statement on Thursday, FCCPC advised WhatsApp to take legal steps to address its displeasure with its order.

The statement read: “WhatsApp’s claim that it may be forced to exit Nigeria due to FCCPC’s recent order appears to be a strategic move aimed at influencing public opinion and potentially pressuring the FCCPC to reconsider its decision.

“The FCCPC investigated Meta Platforms and WhatsApp (jointly referred to as “Meta Parties”) for allegedly violating the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR).

“The Commission found that Meta Parties engaged in multiple and repeated infringements of the FCCPA and the NDPR. These infringements included denying Nigerians the right to control their personal data, transferring and sharing Nigerian user data without authorization, discriminating against Nigerian users compared to users in other jurisdictions and abusing their dominant market position by forcing unfair privacy policies.”

The statement added that WhatsApp and Meta are required to comply with Nigeria’s data policy. It stated that the fine of $220 million was to deter WhatsApp from future violations and ensure accountability.

“The final order requires Meta Parties to take steps to comply with Nigerian law, stop exploiting Nigerian consumers, change their practices to meet Nigerian standards and respect consumer rights.

“To deter future violations and ensure accountability for the alleged infringements the FCCPC also imposed a monetary penalty of $220 million.

“The FCCPC’s actions are based on legitimate concerns about consumer protection and data privacy and the order is a positive step towards a fairer digital market in Nigeria. Similar measures are taken in other jurisdictions without forcing companies to leave the market. The case of Nigeria will not be different,” FCCPC said.

In the wake of nationwide protests against economic hardship, Daniel Bwala, a former spokesperson for the 2023 Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign organisation and now a supporter of President Bola Tinubu, has accused All Progressives Congress (APC) governors, ministers, and other appointees of failing to support the president during this critical time.

The protests, which began on Thursday under the hashtag #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria, seek to draw the Federal Government’s attention to the economic hardship affecting citizens.

The demonstrations, scheduled to continue until August 10, have seen varying levels of participation and impact across different states.

Bwala, in a tweet on Thursday, expressed disappointment at the ruling party’s governors and Tinubu’s cabinet members.

“I was actually expecting all the APC governors who share the vision of Mr President for the reform to engage with the protesters in their respective states and calm them down,” he tweeted.

The lawyer also criticised the lack of visible support from government officials, saying, “I also expected all the ministers and cabinet members of the @officialABAT administration to go to their respective states and engage in dialogue and address the protesters who are peaceful.

“I also expected that all appointees of Mr president to flood the airwaves TV, Radio, zoom, and social media engaging with the protesters and or millions of Nigerians who are not protesting but share views one way or the other

“Adversity defines loyalty, not longevity or proximity. But alas, majority took cover and are silent. This is disingenuous and unfair to the man who appointed you. Sad”

While some states experienced peaceful demonstrations, others faced violence and vandalism on day one of the protests.

In Lagos and Ogun, protests were largely peaceful, with security operatives providing protection. However, states like Borno, Kano, and Niger reported incidents of violence, looting, and loss of life, leading to the imposition of curfews in some areas.

According to the human rights body, Nigeria police and Nigeria Army personnel shot 13 unarmed peaceful protesters on the first day of hunger protest by citizens tagged ‘EndBadGovernanceinNigeria‘ on Thursday.

Amnesty International report on Friday showed that Nigeria Police personnel killed 6 protesters in Suleja, Niger State and 3 other peaceful protesters in Kaduna State; while personnel of Nigeria Army shot dead four protesters in Maiduguri, Borno State.

“Amnesty International condemns the killing of peaceful protesters by security personnel across the country: Suleja Niger state 6 people killed, Maiduguri 4 people killed and Kaduna 3 people killed.

“Our findings, so far, show that security personnel at the locations where lives were lost deliberately used tactics designed to kill while dealing with gatherings of people protesting hunger and deep poverty,” the statement read.

The human rights group called on the federal government to investigate and ensure the security personnel involved in the killing of peaceful protesters are made to face the law.

The statement regretted that Nigeria security agency personnel applied force and used firearms in the management of peaceful protests.

“The Nigerian authorities must investigate these incidents and ensure that security personnel suspected of responsibility for deadly use of force are held to account through fair trial. Violent crackdown on peaceful protesters is unjustified and unacceptable.

“Nigerian security agencies’ unlawful attitude of using firearms as tactical tool for the management of protests must end,” Amnesty International said.

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s failure to arrest and prosecute promoters of Igbo must leave the South-West five days after that declaration was made.

Atiku made the condemnation on Thursday as anger rages over certain elements from the South-West who had called for Nigerians from the South-East geopolitical zone to be driven away from the South-West geopolitical zone.

The call for the Igbo, one of the major ethnic nationalities in Nigeria to leave has dominated the social media following a post by an individual who runs an account called Lagospedia on X/Twitter calling on “Lagosians and every South-West stakeholders to prepare for the massive protest of IgboMustGo on the 20th to 30th of August.”

The post which was made on July 27 further said “they have one month from now to leave and relocate their business from all South-West states.

“We urged all Yoruba living in the South-East states to return home,” the post said.

The threat has not been condemned by the police or any security agency and the individual has not been arrested as of the time of filing this report.

Atiku condemned the incendiary rhetoric saying it’s a recipe for a repeat of what happened in Rwanda, which led to genocide.

Taking to his social media page, Atiku said “the recent call on X (formerly Twitter) for a protest under the hashtag #IgboMustGo, demanding the forced relocation of Igbo people from Lagos and other Southwest states, is deeply troubling and fundamentally opposed to the principles of unity and coexistence that define our nation.

“Such rhetoric is not only divisive but also endangers our peace and security, as our Constitution guarantees every Nigerian the right to live and work freely anywhere in the country.

“History has shown us the consequences of allowing hatred and bigotry to fester, as seen in Rwanda.

“What began with inflammatory rhetoric led to devastating outcomes. We must learn from these lessons and act decisively,” he said.

He called “on the Nigerian government and relevant authorities to take immediate and strong action against those inciting such hatred and division.”

The former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party emphasised that it is imperative to “investigate, arrest, and prosecute individuals promoting ethnic discrimination and violence.”

Atiku stressed that the rule of law must prevail,” positing that “those found guilty of incitement should face the full extent of legal consequences.”

He stated that Nigeria’s strength lies in its diversity, and “we must resist any efforts to sow discord among our people.”

According to him, Lagos and the Southwest have long been melting pots of cultures where individuals from various backgrounds contribute to “our collective growth and development.”

That said, he pointed out that the Igbo community, along with all other ethnic groups, is an integral part of this vibrant mosaic.

He therefore urged “all Nigerians to stand united against this divisive rhetoric and to champion unity, tolerance, and understanding.”

He added that “our future depends on our ability to live and work together harmoniously,” charging the government and security agencies to “act swiftly to protect this fundamental principle and ensure that every Nigerian can live free from fear of discrimination or persecution.”

The PDP top brass lamented, “It is alarming that, five days after this threat emerged, there has been a troubling silence.”

He called for “Immediate action to arrest, investigate, and prosecute those behind this heinous agenda is crucial.”

He said their arrests “will serve as a deterrent to others who might consider pursuing similar paths that threaten our national security.”

The leadership of the Labour Party (LP), on Thursday, noted that the party is not moved by the decision of some of its members to dump the party.

The party also alleged that some of its members dumping the party were working for the opposition parties to create crisis in the LP.

The National Legal Adviser of the party, Kehinde Edun, in an interview with Punch, said the exit of some bigwigs had rather opened the way for more notable and committed personalities to come into the party.

He said, “There is no need to lose sleep over it. Things like this happen a lot in politics, especially in Africa. As they (chieftains) are leaving, more people are coming in. In fact, we have more people coming into the party without making noise about it.

“The truth is that some of these people leaving LP are working for opposition parties. What they are trying to do is create a semblance of crisis in our party. That is the situation they want to create so they can have an excuse for leaving the party.

“But as I told you, more people are coming in as some left. When five persons leave, 50 people come in. Our membership strength is getting bigger by the day. All this noise about people leaving us is sponsored to distract us. It is better to lose fats and gain muscle.”

The National Publicity Secretary of LP, Obiora Ifoh, also shared his sentiment when he said they had no doubt the internal strife in the party was being sponsored by external forces.

Ifoh, however, insisted that the party’s national leader was also not giving up on his plan to reconcile all aggrieved members and stakeholders of the party, to have a united front in preparation for the 2027 general election.

He said, “I think some external forces are propelling this distraction and the NLC agitation. That is exactly what Peter Obi is trying to resolve. But I can tell you that Obi’s reconciliatory effort has not collapsed. It is having an effect. You know reconciliation does not happen in a day. It takes time, depending on the people on both sides.

“This in-fighting is happening because LP has already confirmed Obi as our candidate for 2027. It is the handiwork of the APC and PDP. All these fights are against Obi, not the party. They (parties) easily buy some members over to cause a crisis in the Labour Party because they don’t want Peter Obi to emerge as the president.

“That is why we are having all these issues you are seeing. But we are working seriously to hold on to our members and party chieftains.”

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has denounced a social media campaign calling for Igbo people to leave Lagos and the Southwest region of Nigeria.

The governor, through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, condemned a post by the social media handle ‘@LagosPedia’ on X (formerly Twitter) threatening to launch an ‘#IgboMustGo’ protest from August 20th to 30th, 2024.

The account, which had about 42,000 followers on the microblogging platform, suddenly disappeared on Thursday.

Akosile distanced Governor Sanwo-Olu and the Lagos State Government from what he termed “reckless, divisive and dangerous rhetoric” shared via the account.

He said Lagos remains home to all Nigerian citizens regardless of their ethnic background.

“Governor Sanwo-Olu views the post as not only reckless and divisive but an attempt to sow a seed of discord between the Yoruba in the Southwest and other tribes, especially those who have made Lagos their permanent place of abode.

“The Governor appeals to Lagosians not to allow any person or group of individuals to create tensions in the State, calling on the security agencies to promptly investigate those behind the handle and bring them to justice.

“Mr. Governor enjoins Lagosians to ignore the post and any post of that nature, promising to double his efforts towards ensuring lasting peace in the State,” Akosile stated.

In a recent address to Lagosians, Governor Sanwo-Olu spoke about the challenges facing the nation and the potential negative impact of the nationwide protests against “bad government” and economic hardship on the country.

He cautioned against actions that could undo progress and called for patience as economic reforms take effect under the Bola Tinubu administration.

Reflecting on the tragic events of the 2020 EndSARS protests, Sanwo-Olu reminded citizens of the destruction caused when peaceful demonstrations were hijacked by violent elements.

“We will NOT allow history repeat itself. During the protests, we saw the destruction of valuable properties and institutions: Lagos High Court, 45 police stations, 12 Local Government offices, 7 Fire Stations, and the Forensic Centre, among others,” he stated.

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery is going to need about N1.7tn worth of crude oil monthly following the directive of President Bola Tinubu mandating the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to sell crude to the plant and other domestic refineries in naira.

On Monday, Tinubu directed NNPC to sell crude to the Dangote refinery and other upcoming refineries in naira.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Publicity, Bayo Onanuga, had made this known in a post via his official X handle.

Onanuga said the Federal Executive Council adopted the move on Monday to ensure the stability of the pump price of refined fuel and the dollar-naira exchange rate.

How We Spent 24 Years In Prison For A Murder We Didn’t Commit - Ex-inmates0.00 / 0.00

An analysis of figures from various industry reports showed that the $20bn Dangote refinery located in Lekki, Lagos, would gulp about N1.7tn of crude oil monthly should NNPC meet the mandate of the President.

The average cost of crude in 2024 is about $83/barrel, based on data from Statistica, a global statistical firm.

The President, Dangote Industries, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, recently stated that his refinery would hit 500,000 barrels per day capacity in August, and 550,000bpd in December 2024.

This means that between August and November this year the refinery targets to refine 500,000bpd of crude oil, before proceeding to hit the 550,000bpd mark in December.

Going by 500,000bpd refining capacity and the $83/barrel average price of Brent, the global benchmark for crude, it implies that the plant would require about $41.5m worth of crude oil daily, which represents N56.55bn, using the average exchange rate of N1,362.6/$ in 2024.

This, therefore, implies that the refinery would gulp about N1.7tn worth of crude oil monthly based on the recent directive of the President mandating NNPC to supply crude to Dangote and other domestic refineries in naira.

Operators speak

The National Public Relations Officer of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chief Ukadike Chinedu, said though Nigeria has been battling to ramp up crude oil production, NNPC should endeavour to meet the President’s order.

“It is an order by the President that crude be sold to domestic refineries in naira, and that includes the Dangote refinery. We know that the refinery is massive and requires over 500,000 barrels of crude oil daily, so NNPC and its partners should work harder to meet this demand.

“We just have to try. The government has been talking about ramping up crude oil production. This is the time to deliver on that. The President has given an order and it is up to NNPC and the ministry to meet that order,” he stated.

On his part, the Publicity Secretary of the Crude Oil Refiners Association of Nigeria, Eche Idoko, said the supply of crude to local refineries in naira would bring down the cost of petrol and strengthen the naira against the dollar.

“The sheer fact that the crude will be sold in naira will give the naira a lot of leverage against the dollar, and by implication, the naira will appreciate against the dollar. Automatically when there are fewer naira chasing the dollar, it will affect the price.

“It means the cost of refining will drop and this will affect the pump price. We will see a rebound in the pricing of fuel once the President’s order is implemented,” he stated.

During a tour of the refinery with journalists recently, Dangote said the refinery was fully online, with over $26bn being expected annually.

“Successful completion of trial run in January 2024. Refined and intermediate products include polypropylene, naphtha, RCO, gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. Steady state production phase commenced in March 2024.

“Ramping up production to reach 500kbpd (15 crude cargoes a month) by next August, 550kbpd by the end of the year, and 650kbpd by the first quarter of 2025. Gasoline production is to commence in July with sales from August. Annual revenue is projected to exceed $26bn,” Dangote stated.

He added that the refinery has dedicated loading gantries with 86 loading bays; dedicated marine facilities for offtake of crude and loading of petroleum products; 900-kilo tonnes per annum polypropylene plant, 36ktpa sulphur, and 585ktpa carbon black production.

The total storage capacity of the refinery is put at 4.5 billion litres, which can cover 20 days of crude requirement product storage for 15 days of Nigeria’s petrol consumption.

He averred that the refinery would produce 53 million litres of petrol per day and 1.1 million tonnes per day.

“The Dangote refinery can meet Nigeria’s requirements and have a surplus for exports,” he stated.

On Tuesday, NNPC announced its goal to increase crude oil production to two million barrels per day by the end of the year, as it strives to meet domestic crude oil demand as well as export.

The country’s daily production rose from 1.27 million barrels in June to 1.6 million in July, according to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.

Speaking during a meeting with Maritime Stakeholders at the Nigerian Navy Headquarters, the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mele Kyari, expressed optimism that the target would be met, emphasising that NNPC was fully committed to achieving it.

As Nigerians stage protests across the nation to voice their concerns about economic hardship and difficulties, an unnamed man chose to go naked to protest in Lagos State on Thursday.

In a viral video circulating on social media, the man could be seen naked and walking the street of Ojota, among other protesters, and singing “Solidarity forever.“

PUNCH Metro reports that a nationwide protest has erupted across Nigeria, as citizens express their frustration over the country’s prevailing economic hardship.

Nigerians began the #EndbadgovernanceinNigeria protest on August 1, 2024, to draw the attention of the government to the plight being faced by the masses.

Our correspondent who monitored the protest in parts of Lagos, gathered that protesters defied an order obtained from a court, confining them to some areas and took to the streets, roads, and Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, in Lagos, to express their grievances.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin in a statement posted on X.com assured the protesters and citizens of Lagos that the police were on the ground to ensure the safety and security of both protesters and non-protesters.

He wrote, “Area is calm!

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Adegoke Fayoade, mni, has visited the protest ground at Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, Ojota, Lagos and met the protesters being peaceful.

“He equally checked Alausa, Lekki toll gate and other parts of the state and found them peaceful too. Non-protesting Lagosians have also been going about their lawful duties without harassment or intimidation.

“Monitoring is ongoing. Your safety and security remain our priority.

The area is indeed calm!”

Anxiety was in the air when residents of Urora in Benin, Edo State, on Thursday, looted a truckload of rice parked in the vicinity on the opening day of the protest against bad governance and hunger, which took place across the nation.

In a 40-second viral video, watched by our correspondent, residents were seen running to a section of a street in Urora and emerged with mini bags of rice.

The person who shot the video was heard shouting, “This is our rice that (the) government gave us, this is where they hid it. We have located it. This is Urora. Look at rice everywhere, come and collect your rice. Look at the rice that (the) Edo State Government gave us, this where they hid it.”

In another video, a resident said the truck was packed behind Bethel Faith Secondary School, Urora, describing the Edo State Government’s action as wicked.

However, the All Progressives Congress stated it was not surprised by this discovery as the Godwin Obaseki government in the state had succeeded in converting everything received from the Federal Government on behalf of the Edo people to donations made by his administration.

The state chairman of the APC, Jarrett Tenebe, who stated this in an interview with PUNCH Metro, said it was clear that the Edo State Government did not care about the people of the state.

He said, “Last month, the Federal Government confirmed that the 36 states, including Edo, had received 20 trucks of rice, yet Obaseki has failed to account for them.

“In his usual deceptive style of governance, Obaseki has converted everything he received from the APC Federal Government on behalf of the Edo people, to donations made by his administration.

“He has achieved this by repackaging the rice and other grains in branded mini bags with Edo State insignia. He has announced also that his PDP government spends N1bn each month for the purchase of rice.

“If the Edo people were ever in doubt, the video that emerged on social media today, where an abandoned truckload of repackaged Federal Government rice with the Edo State Government inscription was discovered by Urora residents, has exposed Obaseki’s deliberate plan to deprive the people of accessing the different palliative measures.

However, the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, said the state government did not have a warehouse in Urora and only distributed relief materials through a religious body.

He said, “The Edo State Government has received information about the looting of bags of rice from an unidentified truck and private residences in parts of Benin City in the wake of the #EndBadGovernance protests.

“The videos making the rounds are said to have emanated from the Urora area of Ikpoba Hill, Benin City, and the government does not have a warehouse in that location.

“The government supports the vulnerable with relief materials through religious organisations particularly the Christian Association of Nigeria, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and the Edo State Muslims Pilgrim Welfare Board.

“The state government does not keep any relief material by itself but reaches out to the people through these channels.

“We will not put this tactic past the All Progressives Congress, which is spreading malicious content to score cheap political points. This condemnable action is intended to cause chaos in the state and the APC is discouraged from such ignoble practice.”