About 50 members of the House of Representatives across the six geo-political zones of the country, under the aegis of the  Concerned Federal Lawmakers for Peace and Security in the South-East, have written to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to release the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

They appealed to Tinubu to invoke Section 174 of the Constitution of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Section 107(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

The lawmakers elected on the platform of different political parties in a letter addressed to President Tinubu, dated June 19, 2024, urged the first citizen to commence a peace move to address the insecurity challenges in the South-East.

Some of the signatories of the three-page letter include Obi Aguocha (Abia), Ikenga Ugochinyere (Imo), Afam Ogene (Anambra), Muhammed Jajere (Yobe), Aliyu Mustapha (Kaduna), Midala Balami (Borno), and Abiante Awaji-Inombek (Rivers).

Others are Dominic Okafor (Anambra), Etanabene Benedict (Delta), Abdulmaleek Danga (Kogi), Shehu Dalhatu (Katsina), Chinedu Martins (Imo), Matthew Nwogu (Imo), Peter Aniekwe (Anambra), Koki Sagir (Kano) and Amobi Oga (Abia) among others.

The IPOB leader had last week expressed his desire to have the treason charges filed against him by the Federal Government settled out of court.

He also denounced the killings in the South-East resulting from IPOB agitation for the separation of Igbo from Nigeria.

The lawmakers, in their letter, urged President Tinubu to mandate the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi to invoke his powers of nolle prosequi under the provisions of Section 174(1) of the Constitution and Section 107(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, and cause the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from detention and discontinue his trial.

They recalled that the President extended this gesture through the office of the Attorney General to activist Omoyele Sowore, who was charged with treasonable felony.

“Your Excellency, we are concerned members of the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with a strong belief and trust that the Renewed Hope Agenda and the various positive reforms would be seen and felt by all. It is against this backdrop that we, the undersigned, hereby beseech Your Excellency to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN, to invoke his powers of nolle prosequi under the provisions of Section 174(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Section 107(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, and cause the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from detention and discontinue his trial.

“We collectively believe this is long overdue and would be instrumental in opening the door for much-needed conversations surrounding peace reformation and inclusivity, as well as addressing the issues that led to the agitations, especially at this time when Nigeria is going through several constitutional reforms.

“Your Excellency, we resolutely believe that this singular act can serve as a pivotal gesture towards national unity, as it would address some of the political, security, and economic concerns in the region. It would encourage stakeholders from the South-East to engage more actively in the national discussions on the renewed hope agenda, thereby promoting inclusivity and addressing long-standing grievances.

“This, we believe, will also help dismantle the apparatus of violence and restiveness that has plagued the region, allowing for a focus on economic growth and development. This comes at a time when the nation-state is under enormous pressure, including but not limited to unemployment, insecurity, hunger, and poverty, thereby de-escalating tension from all sides.”

The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi said the exodus of multinational companies from Nigeria has cost our nation a staggering N95 trillion in the past five years.

Obi stated this in a statement via his X handle on Monday.

He expressed concern over the departure of over ten major companies in the last year alone, including GlaxoSmithKline, Equinor, Sanofi-Aventis, Bolt Food, Procter & Gamble, Jumia Food, PZ Cussons, Kimberly-Clark, and Diageo.

Obi stated, “I am compelled to address the alarming exodus of multinational companies from Nigeria, which has cost our nation a staggering N95 trillion in the past five years.

“According to The New Telegraph, in the last year alone, over ten multinational giants such as GlaxoSmithKline, Equinor, Sanofi-Aventis, Bolt Food, Procter & Gamble, Jumia Food, PZ Cussons, and Kimberly-Clark, Diageo and others, have exited Nigeria, citing eerily consistent reasons.”

Speaking on the nature of the issue, Obi said, “It is clear these issues are not coincidental but symptomatic of a larger governance problem.”

Meanwhile, Obi has called for action from the authorities, saying Nigerian leaders must address the trend of multinational companies leaving Nigeria.

He said, “The responsibility lies with our leadership, those we put in charge to urgently address these challenges.”

The former Anambra governor outlined areas for improvement, including creating a business-friendly environment, prioritising security, stabilising policies, and reducing energy costs.

He also stressed the importance of “cultivating a culture of transparency, accountability, and good governance.”

Obi further called for unity and transformation, saying, “Let us unite to transform Nigeria into a nation conducive to business, attractive to investment, safe and prosperous for all citizens.

Together, we can make Nigeria a beacon of hope and progress in Africa and the world.”

Recall that GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria Plc had announced plans to shut down its operations in the country. 

The announcement was disclosed in a press statement and filed with the Nigerian Exchange Limited. It was signed by the Company Secretary, Frederick Ichekwai.

Similarly, Jumia Food, the food delivery service of the e-commerce company, Jumia Technologies, announced plans to shut down operations in Nigeria in December 2023.

Jumia said it will close its food delivery business in Nigeria and six other countries in which it operates by the end of the year to focus on growing its core online retail business.

Vice President Kashim Shettima has lost his mother-in-law, Hajiya Maryam Abubakar Albishir.

She passed away in Kano on Sunday evening after a prolonged illness. 

She was aged 69. 

A statement issued on Monday by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, stated that Hajiya Maryam, the mother of the Vice President’s wife, Hajiya Nana Shettima, will be laid to rest today afternoon in Kano, in accordance with Islamic traditions.

According to the statement, “The late Hajiya Maryam was known as an exemplary and kind-hearted mother in her community and also a devoted Muslim. She was respected for her wisdom, compassion, and dedication to charitable causes. Many remember her as a source of guidance and support, both within her family and in the wider community in Kano.

“The nation extends its condolences to Vice President Kashim Shettima, Hajiya Nana Shettima, and their family during this difficult time, while appreciating the life and legacy of the late Hajiya Maryam Albishir.”

Labour Party has reiterated its support for Peter Obi as its presidential candidate in the 2027 election, dismissing rumours of a potential replacement.

In a statement jointly signed yesterday by the Director-General of the Directorate on Mobilization and Integration, Marcel Ngogbehei; the Deputy Director of Media and Communications, Ambassador Aju Elumelu; and the Deputy Director of Strategic Engagement, Sheikh Rufai Al-Saddiq, the party denied reports of a rift and affirmed its commitment to Obi’s candidacy.

The directorate acknowledged efforts to reconcile aggrieved groups within the party but emphasized that no agreement had been reached to replace Obi.

It emphasized the party’s unity and cohesion behind Obi, who has been ratified as the presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

The directorate said: “The leadership and members of our great party recognize the importance of peaceful coexistence among brothers and acknowledge the fact that there’s a bigger target—liberating Nigeria from the shackles of greedy politicians and building a nation that protects the interests of its citizens.

“The party has decided to follow a peaceful approach to resolving internal misunderstandings. This effort within the Labour Party and its successes have elicited different reactions; we have also seen an attempt by the opposition to make a false spin for their own selfish interests, misinforming the general public with the aim of causing more crises in our party.

“For the record, this directorate was set up to facilitate reconciliation and help mobilize and integrate Labour Party stakeholders toward electoral victory for our presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in 2027.

“The party leadership recognizes the need for unity and cohesion within the party as a requirement for internal stability and improving the winning chances of H.E. Peter Obi in the upcoming 2027 elections.
“We have reached out through various channels to different stakeholders, and discussions are still ongoing on various fronts; we are also making great progress in this endeavor. To misconstrue this effort as being against our presidential candidate is unfortunate. 

“To set the record straight, Peter Obi remains our presidential candidate for 2027 as ratified, and all the party leadership are behind him and committed to his message of a new Nigeria.”

With this clarification, the Labour Party has put to rest speculations about Obi’s candidacy, reaffirming its faith in his leadership and vision for Nigeria.

Tinubu deserves commendation for emulating me — Obi

Meanwhile, Mr. Peter Obi, has said President Bola Tinubu deserved commendation for heeding his call on wealthy Nigerians to join him in sinking boreholes to provide access to water for the downtrodden.
Obi said this via a statement issued by the Peter Obi Media Reach, in Abuja, yesterday.

This was in response to the Presidential directive that 400 boreholes be constructed nationwide as part of a charity initiative to honour the memory of his late mother, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji.

Dr. Tanko Yunusa, who signed the statement, said: “The office of the Peter Obi Media Reach, POMR wishes to thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for harkening to the call of our principal, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, to wealthy Nigerians to join him in ensuring the provision of boreholes across the country for the oppressed in our midst.

“Obi embarked on the project after witnessing what many Nigerians go through trying to get basic needs such as drinking water.

“He had already installed some boreholes as a short time solution in some Northern states, including Nasarawa, Bauchi, Kano, Zaria, Kebbi, Suleja in Niger State and Sokoto, where the situation is acute.

“At the special anniversary of the death of his mother, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji in Abuja at the weekend, the President announced a nationwide project to construct 400 boreholes as a continuation of charity in the late mother’s memory.

“The POMR commends this spirit of charity from the President as it aligns with our principal’s desire to attend to the poor in our midst.

“POMR would like to advise that this new line of thinking from the President should be reflected in government projects which at the moment are not addressing the yearnings of the poor in our midst.

“It remains shameful that in a nation where millions have no access to clean drinking water, millions of children are out of school and have no access to decent healthcare with millions of youths out of jobs, yet the government is placing priority on bogus projects such as coastal highway, mansions, flyovers and buying of jets etc as a priority.

“The President’s new spirit of charity, if it continues, will help in pulling many Nigerians out of poverty if it’s diversified.”

Labour Party has reiterated its support for Peter Obi as its presidential candidate in the 2027 election, dismissing rumours of a potential replacement.

In a statement jointly signed yesterday by the Director-General of the Directorate on Mobilization and Integration, Marcel Ngogbehei; the Deputy Director of Media and Communications, Ambassador Aju Elumelu; and the Deputy Director of Strategic Engagement, Sheikh Rufai Al-Saddiq, the party denied reports of a rift and affirmed its commitment to Obi’s candidacy.

The directorate acknowledged efforts to reconcile aggrieved groups within the party but emphasized that no agreement had been reached to replace Obi.

It emphasized the party’s unity and cohesion behind Obi, who has been ratified as the presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

The directorate said: “The leadership and members of our great party recognize the importance of peaceful coexistence among brothers and acknowledge the fact that there’s a bigger target—liberating Nigeria from the shackles of greedy politicians and building a nation that protects the interests of its citizens.

“The party has decided to follow a peaceful approach to resolving internal misunderstandings. This effort within the Labour Party and its successes have elicited different reactions; we have also seen an attempt by the opposition to make a false spin for their own selfish interests, misinforming the general public with the aim of causing more crises in our party.

“For the record, this directorate was set up to facilitate reconciliation and help mobilize and integrate Labour Party stakeholders toward electoral victory for our presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in 2027.

“The party leadership recognizes the need for unity and cohesion within the party as a requirement for internal stability and improving the winning chances of H.E. Peter Obi in the upcoming 2027 elections.
“We have reached out through various channels to different stakeholders, and discussions are still ongoing on various fronts; we are also making great progress in this endeavor. To misconstrue this effort as being against our presidential candidate is unfortunate.

“To set the record straight, Peter Obi remains our presidential candidate for 2027 as ratified, and all the party leadership are behind him and committed to his message of a new Nigeria.”

With this clarification, the Labour Party has put to rest speculations about Obi’s candidacy, reaffirming its faith in his leadership and vision for Nigeria.

Tinubu deserves commendation for emulating me — Obi

Meanwhile, Mr. Peter Obi, has said President Bola Tinubu deserved commendation for heeding his call on wealthy Nigerians to join him in sinking boreholes to provide access to water for the downtrodden.
Obi said this via a statement issued by the Peter Obi Media Reach, in Abuja, yesterday.

This was in response to the Presidential directive that 400 boreholes be constructed nationwide as part of a charity initiative to honour the memory of his late mother, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji.

Dr. Tanko Yunusa, who signed the statement, said: “The office of the Peter Obi Media Reach, POMR wishes to thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for harkening to the call of our principal, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, to wealthy Nigerians to join him in ensuring the provision of boreholes across the country for the oppressed in our midst.

“Obi embarked on the project after witnessing what many Nigerians go through trying to get basic needs such as drinking water.

“He had already installed some boreholes as a short time solution in some Northern states, including Nasarawa, Bauchi, Kano, Zaria, Kebbi, Suleja in Niger State and Sokoto, where the situation is acute.

“At the special anniversary of the death of his mother, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji in Abuja at the weekend, the President announced a nationwide project to construct 400 boreholes as a continuation of charity in the late mother’s memory.

“The POMR commends this spirit of charity from the President as it aligns with our principal’s desire to attend to the poor in our midst.

“POMR would like to advise that this new line of thinking from the President should be reflected in government projects which at the moment are not addressing the yearnings of the poor in our midst.

“It remains shameful that in a nation where millions have no access to clean drinking water, millions of children are out of school and have no access to decent healthcare with millions of youths out of jobs, yet the government is placing priority on bogus projects such as coastal highway, mansions, flyovers and buying of jets etc as a priority.

“The President’s new spirit of charity, if it continues, will help in pulling many Nigerians out of poverty if it’s diversified.”

Saudi Arabia has announced that 1,301 pilgrims died during this year’s hajj.

In an interview on Sunday, Fahd Al-Jalajel, the country’s minister of health, said 83 per cent of the 1,301 fatalities were unauthorised pilgrims who walked long distances in high temperatures to perform the hajj rituals.

The minister said 95 pilgrims were being treated in hospitals, some of whom were airlifted for treatment in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.

“1,301 people died during the #Hajj1445 season. May Allah have mercy on them all, 83% of them are not authorised for Hajj, who walked long distances under the sun, without shelter or rest, including a number of elderly people and people with chronic diseases,” he said.

On May 26, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) said Tawakaltu Alako, a Nigerian pilgrim, slumped and died in her hotel at Makkah.

Following this incident, NAHCON has reported many more deaths in this year’s hajj.

Abubakar Adamu, head of Nigeria’s medical team for 2024 Hajj, had told journalists on July 17, that one of the Nigerian pilgrims died due to heatstroke while on his way to Jamrate to perform the ritual of throwing stones.

Temperatures in Mecca this year climbed as high as 51.8 degrees Celsius (125 degrees Fahrenheit).

Mohammed Al-Abdulaali, a spokesperson for the Saudi health ministry, had said that more than 2,760 pilgrims suffered from sunstroke and heat stress on July 16 alone.

An armed man has allegedly raped an 18-year-old girl in Adewumi village, Ife South Local Government Area of Osun State, on Wednesday evening.

The suspect, identified as Jelili Ogunbunmi, reportedly ambushed the victim and her boyfriend at gunpoint before committing the assault.

According to sources in the community, the victim, identified only as Blessing, was accompanied by her boyfriend, Daniel, when they were accosted by the gunman while on an errand to purchase soft drinks.

A security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that the suspect, armed with a dane gun, ambushed the couple along a bush path.

“They pleaded with Ogunbunmi to have mercy, but their pleas fell on deaf ears,” the source stated.

“He threatened to kill them both. Daniel fled the scene, leaving Blessing with the assailant.”

The source added that Ogunbunmi then allegedly dragged Blessing into the bush and sexually assaulted her after which he threatened to kill her if she called for help.

Following the incident, Daniel reported the matter to the police, leading to Ogunbunmi’s arrest.

Yemisi Opalola, spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, confirmed the incident to THE WHISTLER on Sunday evening.

Opalola said, “Ogunbunmi has been arrested and we recovered a dane gun he used to perpetrate the crime. The matter has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department.”

Says first commercial transaction added $5m foreign reserves

President commends ministry’s major milestone in administration’s drive to diversify economy

Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has presented to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu the latest gold bars sourced from artisanal and small gold miners and refined by an agency of the Ministry,  Solid Minerals Development Fund, to meet the London Bullion Market Association Good Delivery Standard.

At the presentation at the State House Abuja, Alake praised President Tinubu for supporting reforms in the solid minerals sector, assuring that the National Gold Purchase programme will increase the country’s reserve and boost the naira’s value.

Alake said the refined gold would be sold to the Central Bank of Nigeria to bolster foreign reserves.

He said the presentation marked the first commercial transaction under the National Gold Purchase Program (NGPP), the centralised offtake scheme supported by a decentralised aggregation and production network of artisanal and small-scale miners and cooperatives.

“The successful completion of the first commercial transaction clearly demonstrates the  National Gold Purchase Program’s effectiveness. It has increased the nation’s foreign  reserves assets and shown that using the Nigerian Naira to purchase a liquid asset traded  in United States Dollars, such as gold, is a viable strategy. This transaction has also  underscored the potential of the National Gold Purchase Program to enhance fiscal and  monetary stability,” the minister said.

Alake said the first commercial transaction had delivered +US$5 million increase in Nigerian’s foreign reserves assets, 70+ kilograms of gold refined to the London Bullion Market Good Delivery Standard and successful aggregation of locally mined gold thereby injecting about NGN6 billion into the rural economy.

Receiving and displaying a symbolic bar, President Tinubu commended the Ministry for achieving a major milestone in the administration’s drive to diversify the economy.

“This is another concrete step towards the diversification process under the Renewed Hope Agenda” the President said.

Executive Secretary of the Solid Minerals Development Fund, Fatimah Shinkafi, in her presentation said the London Bullion Market Good Delivery Standard was the globally recognised stringent and trusted standard that enables the global trade in gold and silver bars.

“Only gold and silver bars that meet our Good Delivery standards are acceptable in the settlement of a Loco London contract – where the bullion traded is physically held in London,” she said.

Shinkafi said through the efforts of the National Gold Purchase Program under the Ministry of Solid  Minerals Development, Nigeria had joined a select group of countries bolstering their gold  reserves by purchasing gold in local currency to foster economic confidence, enhance  currency stability, and create a more attractive environment for foreign investment.

 dislodge local guards protecting Sanusi

The police have reportedly stormed the emir’s palace in Kano state and displaced the local guards protecting Muhammadu Sanusi, the recently reinstated emir.

According to Premium Times, the hunters who served as local guards left the palace as soon as the police officers took over the security of the building.

This was said to be a move aimed at securing the main palace for the relocation of Aminu Bayero, the deposed 15th Emir of Kano, following a court order that faulted his dethronement.

On Thursday, a federal high court in Kano nullified all actions of the state government repealing the Emirates Council Law of 2019.

In his ruling, Muhammad Liman, the presiding judge, said the defendants were aware of an interim order previously granted by the court but ignored it and implemented the law.

BACKGROUND

On May 23, the Kano house of assembly passed the amended bill, which Abba Yusuf, the governor, signed into law.

The law repealed the 2019 version, which divided the Kano emirate into five jurisdictions and was relied upon to dethrone Muhammadu Sanusi as emir in 2020. 

On the same day the law was repealed, Sanusi was reinstated as Emir of Kano by kingmakers and the governor.

Aggrieved, Aminu Babba Dan Agundi and Sarkin Dawaki Babba of the Kano emirate approached the court to restrain the respondents from enforcing, implementing, and operationalising the law that reinstated Sanusi.

On May 23, Liman ordered the defendants to “suspend” and “not give effect to the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law, 2024, as they affect all offices and institutions of the Emirate Council created according to the provisions of the Kano State Emirate Council Law, 2019”.

The Kano police command had also said it would not comply with the directive of the state government on the eviction of Bayero from the Nassarawa palace which he moved into after he was replaced by Sanusi, the new emir, who moved into the main palace in Kano.

Since then, Bayero, who is said to have the backing of some federal government officials, has been under the protection of a retinue of soldiers and police officers at the Nassarawa palace.

Ese Brume produced a sensational performance to win the gold medal in the long jump event of the 2024 African Athletics Championship in Cameroon on Sunday.

She has now won the gold medal in the event four times while maintaining her unbeaten run in Africa for eight years.

It was not a smooth sailing run from Brume, who recovered from a slow start to overtake Burkina Faso’s Marthe Koala, who led with 6.72m after five attempts.

Brume showed her tenacity and immense quality to finish first in the race with 6.73m to win the gold medal.

Another Nigerian long jumper, Prestina Ochonogor finished fourth with 6.28m.

Temitope Adeshina won the silver medal in the high jump final event after losing to Rose Yeboah of Ghana.

Team Nigeria has now won a total of seven medals in the African Athletics Championship with three gold medal two silver and one bronze.