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Hoodlums have invaded a Living Faith Church in Daura local government area of Katsina State, looting about 205 chairs, musical instruments, and other valuable items worth millions of naira.
The attacks took place in the wake of #EndBadGovernance nationwide protests on Thursday with attendant violent clashes between hoodlums and security operatives.
The pastor in charge of the church, David Jato, disclosed this to LEADERSHIP, lamenting that they couldn’t hold Sunday service in the auditorium of the church because the hoodlums went away with everything inside the church building during the protests.
Pastor Jato explained, “We have two security men working in the church, one was on duty while the other was off. When the protest began around 10:00am, the hoodlums just diverted to the church, many of them in Keke NAPEP (Tricycle), and broke the doors and classes and penetrated the church auditorium.
“They packed everything inside the church auditorium, including the wall digital clock, musical instruments, pupit, pastor’s chairs, plastic chairs, and a desktop computer at the reception, as well as a scoreboard where the accountant usually kept church documents. They scattered everything.”
He added that three churches were targeted but the hoodlums only succeeded in invading the Living Faith Church and Deeper Life Church, but couldn’t force themselves into the Anglican Church because of the strong iron protector at the gate.
“We’ve informed the police and the Army about it, and the police told us yesterday that they have made some arrests.
“I’m surprised by this attack; when we are thinking about ending bad governance, which now escalated to the invasion of churches, it is something that everyone should seriously condemn. It is not food that we store in the House of God. It is a place of worship. Why is it only church? The government should come to the reality they are serving humanity, and God will judge us all, whether political or religious leaders.
“My prayer to the perpetrators is that they should repent from what they are doing because for you to enter church, a place of worship, is wrong and you know you are not fighting man, they should seek for repentance. I know God is forgiving and He will forgive them,” he added.
Similarly, the former state chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria ( CAN), Very Rev. Nelson Onyekachuku, whose church is named ‘Power of Resurrection’, was also affected in Katsina town, where the hoodlums vandalised the church windows, but they couldn’t enter because of the iron protectors of the church.
He, however, condemned the action in total, adding that the hoodlums should not add pain to the church, even as he called on the government to change its policy and address the grievances of the people and always ensure to protect the church whenever such an incident happens.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Sadiq Abubakar, was yet to repond to the message sent to him at the time of filing this report. However, LEADERSHIP observed heavy deployment of security personnel around churches across the state on Sunday to ensure hitch-free Sunday worship.
Ethnic tensions are high in Lagos after the campaign started on social media under the hashtag #IgboMustGo.
Here are 10 things to know about the group behind the campaign.
1.The group operates on X, formerly Twitter, under the name Lagospedia.
2.It claims to be proclaiming the virtues of Lagos.
3.It has no fewer than 41,700 followers.
4.The handlers have consistently propagated hate tweets against the Igbo.
5.On July 27, the page tweeted a picture of bodies it claimed were Igbo.
6.On July 27, the group urged Yoruba to prepare for #IgboMustGo protest to commence on August 20 and end August 30.
7.On July 29, it warned all Igbo resident in Lagos to leave.
9.It also claims the Igbo are spearheading the #EndBadGovernance protest.
Prior to the #EndBadGovernance protest, the group announced that Oro (traditional rites) would be observed in various communities across Lagos from August 1 to August 15,making critics to call the exercise ‘Political Oro’.
[OpinionNigeria]
Two alleged fraudsters who are believed to be involved in high-value fraud schemes have been apprehended in Okwu Olokoro, Umuahia South LGA of Abia, while attempting to defraud another victim.
The suspects, who claimed to be indigenes of Ntigha, Isiala Ngwa North LGA of Abia State, were apprehended by Okwu community youths in Olokoro and their operational motorcycle was also seized.
The two men, Uche Harrison, 42, and Lucky Nwohu, who refused to disclose his age, were apprehended by youths of Okwu who were carrying out an environmental sanitation exercise at the village’s market square on Saturday when the suspects rode into the community on their bike.
An indigene of Okwu who spoke to DAILY POST about the incident said: “On sighting the strange faces moving around the village, some villagers indicated interest in knowing who they were, but they took to their heels, making the youths raise an alarm that evil men have entered the community.
”But they later ran out of luck when their motorcycle suddenly went off at the market square, where the youths were doing sanitation work and they were eventually apprehended.”
He added that the two suspects initially claimed that they came from Ntigha, Isiala Ngwa North, to Okwu Olokoro to look for a canteen to eat but after being interrogated by the youths, the suspects confessed that their occupation was to use tricks to collect money from people.
Upon further interrogation, the suspected fraudsters revealed how they duped one of their victims, Mrs Okwuchi Ihezie, from Ihete Uboma, Imo State.
Meanwhile, the female victim, Mrs Okwuchi Ohezie, who was duped of N350,000 two months ago, stormed Okwu Olokoro on hearing that the suspects had been apprehended by the youths.
The Imo woman told the youths how the suspects sold a fake business idea to her before duping her of her hard-earned money.
The suspects were later handed over to the Zone 9 Command of the Nigerian Police, Umuahia, by the Chairman of Okwu community, Mr Bartholomew Nwaeze, who warned criminals to stay away from Okwu Olokoro.
In Imo State, a dark cloud grief, despair and panic has enveloped residents of Umucheke Okwe autonomous community following the brutal murder of leaders of the enclave by gunmen.
A clutch of armed men invaded the community in Onuimo Local Government Area of the south-east State on Saturday and killed the seven community leaders.
Those killed are President General of the community and six village leaders.
It’s gathered that the gunmen brutally murdered the victims after they stormed the venue of their weekly meeting and opened fire on them.
“Gunmen have just shot dead the President General of Umucheke Okwe and six village heads,” a community leader who pleaded anonymity told newsmen.
It’s gathered that the attack took place at the President General’s shop in the community market, where the meeting was being held.
The source said the gunmen also set ablaze the shop after killing the community leaders, adding that the incident has forced many villagers to flee their homes to escape the terror.
The source further revealed, “Upon their arrival, the gunmen unleashed gunfire, killing all the community leaders before setting the place ablaze. All the community chiefs perished in the assault.”
The motive behind the attack remains unclear, as the source noted, “Nobody understands the reason for the assault. No one knows the purpose of the meeting.”
The community now stands deserted, with villagers fleeing their homes in terror.
The Imo State Police Command, through the Public Relations officer, ASP Henry Okoye, is yet to issue a statement on the incident.
Jamiu Abiola, son of the late Nigerian business mogul Chief MKO Abiola, claims that the forces that annulled the June 12, 1993, election are now targeting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Abiola’s son, currently serving as Special Assistant to the President on Special Duties, believes those protesting against hardship and demanding better living conditions are reacting emotionally without considering Tinubu’s achievements.
In an interview with Channels Television, Jamiu addressed the ongoing protests, which began on August 1 and are expected to continue until August 10. Protesters have vowed to persist until their demands are met.
Jamiu argued that some Nigerians have not accepted that they were not destined to win the 2023 general election, leading them to create difficulties for the current government.
“There are some people with sinister motives. The forces that worked against my dad and annulled his election now target Tinubu. They wouldn’t want someone who supported my dad to become president and succeed,” Jamiu stated.
“Sometimes, things have to get tough before they get better. It’s a test from God. People need to realize that God’s hand is in everything, not just Nigeria.
“Many Nigerians view this president like previous ones because they have experienced broken promises. So, they see any difficulty as another broken promise.
“But the president we have now is different. He believes in democracy and loves the common man. He needs time. Those protesting are emotional and haven’t reflected on his achievements since taking office.”
President Bola Tinubu has asked protesters not to allow enemies of democracy use them to topple his government.
In his nationwide broadcast on Sunday, Tinubu said democracy has been enjoyed in Nigeria for 25 years, highlighting its dividends.
On Saturday, photos and videos of protesters in Kano waving the Russian flag went viral as the demonstrators chanted in Hausa, “We don’t want bad government.”
Hundreds of mostly underaged youths urged President Vladimir Putin of Russia to intervene in Nigeria.
“We are raising the Russian flag because we believe Tinubu is playing his imperial masters’ scripts—the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the United States of America,” a protester reportedly told TheCable.
A lawyer and social commentator, Bulama Bukarti, said the images indicated the growing support for Russia in Northern Nigeria.
Russia, an Eastern power which is currently having a cold war with the West, Nigeria’s colonial power, has been fingered in the coup d’etats in West African countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, among others.
Although he did not make any reference to Russia in his speech, Tinubu appealed that enemies of democracy should not be allowed to promote unconstitutional agenda.
“Let us work together to build a brighter future for ourselves and for generations to come. Let us choose hope over fear, unity over division, and progress over stagnation. The economy is recovering; Please, don’t shut out its oxygen. Now that we have been enjoying democratic governance for 25 years, do not let the enemies of democracy use you to promote an unconstitutional agenda that will set us back on our democratic journey. FORWARD EVER, BACKWARD NEVER!
[DailyTrust]
A financial analyst and educator, Kalu Aja has said President Bola Tinubu’s error was not saying early that he inherited a dead economy with an empty treasury.
In a post on his X handle on Friday, Aja said former President Muhammadu Buhari left nothing behind, not even a kobo.
The financial expert said Tinubu knew things were wrong but chose to stay silent so as not to rock the boat.
Aja said: “Tinubu error was not saying early that he inherited a dead economy with an empty treasury. Buhari left nothing behind, not a kobo.
“BAT knew things were wrong, but he stayed silent so as not to rock the boat.
“Buhari printed N22t then told BAT to repay with oil production at lows.
“BAT, instead of calling him out, started to believe his own PowerPoint slides.”
[DailyPost]
Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has said that the protest by youths is not the solution to mounting challenges of governance.
He noted that well-meaning leaders had cautioned against the action, warning that it could be hijacked by hoodlums to cause mayhem.
The governor recalled that, before the commencement of the protest; he had engaged major stakeholders across the state on the need to shun it.
He said he had warned that it could degenerate into another #EndSars protest which led to loss of lives, businesses, property of citizens and public infrastructures.
However, as the protest entered the third day, Oborevwori, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Festus Avon, commended Delta youths for embracing peace across the state.
He said: “My dear youths of Delta, I thank you for the way and manner you organised yourselves.
“We are aware that Section 14(2) (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 provides that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. We shall continue to protect the lives and property of our people.
“As a state government, we remain committed to the ideals of good governance anchored in our MORE Agenda.”
Also, the governor appealed to those behind the protest to end it, saying that it would aggravate the nation’s challenges.
Oborevwori renewed the appeal when he hosted the National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh, and his delegation at Government House, Asaba.
He said: “We know it is a very hard time but we believe that any time our people go to the streets to protest, the outcome is always different.
“We know all the demands and requests of the protesters. We are doing our best to make sure that our people are being taken care of. So, protest is not the solution at this time.
“You have reason to protest, but can you manage the protest? We have seen it in the past, we know what happened and how it ended. People were robbed and attacked.
“We have listened to your cry and we are doing our best. The solution is that we have to be more united and peaceful to see how we can move the state from the level it is today to a higher level. I believe we will achieve it.”
The governor urged Christian leaders to appeal to the youths for calm during services.
Also, while inaugurating newly appointed Commissioners and Special Advisers, Oborevwori, said the nation was experiencing hard times which require innovative and creative thinking by governments at all levels to provide good governance for the people.
He charged the appointees to “be innovative and think outside the box,” adding, “The times we live in call for creativity and innovation on the part of those of us who have been entrusted with leadership.”
He stressed: “Staying afloat in a turbulent economy demands mental rigour, strategic planning, and creative execution of policies and programmes.
“I urge you all to think outside the box. As leaders, you must be resourceful, encourage and welcome new ideas, and be ready to churn out innovative policies and programmes targeted at meeting the real needs and aspirations of our people. You must therefore guard against nonchalant attitudes and hit the ground running.”
[TheNation]
Hardship protest: Ex-envoys, former military officers worry as demonstrators wave Russian flag
Admin
Some Nigerians, including a former general and ex-diplomats, have expressed worry after some protesters in the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protest waved what appeared like the Russian flag.
They said the scene did not portend well for the country and warned Nigerians and the Federal Government to guard against foreign incursion.
The nationwide protest, which commenced on Thursday, August 1, was in response to the hardship experienced by citizens in the country.
No fewer than 17 people were reportedly killed by security agents, who also arrested many protesters across the country.
On Saturday, photos and videos of protesters in Kano waving the Russian flag went viral as the demonstrators chanted in Hausa, “We don’t want bad government.”
Some prominent Nigerians raised concerns about the security implications for the country.
A lawyer, Bulama Bukarti, said the images indicated the growing support for Russia in Northern Nigeria.
He wrote, “Two aspects of the ongoing hunger protest in Nigeria particularly intrigue me. Firstly, there is a small but growing support for Russia and a corresponding rise in anti-West sentiment, especially in Northern Nigeria. Some protesters in Kano carried the Nigerian flag alongside the Russian flag, and there have been calls from some participants for demonstrators to bring Russian flags and photos of Vladimir Putin to seek Russia’s assistance.
“More concerning is that these protesters do not seem to be affiliated with any pro-Russian group; they simply made amateur flags as observed by @Aliyussufiy who took the first photo, suggesting that this sentiment is developing organically. This trend is likely to expand, especially as malign actors may observe and exploit it.”
A former presidential aide, Bashir Ahmad, asked the authorities to monitor the situation and take precautions.
“This may indicate various underlying sentiments or influences that need to be carefully assessed and addressed by the government,” he added.
An award-winning journalist, Philip Obaji Jr. said, “President Vladimir Putin and Russia must be excited to learn that Russian flags were displayed by a number of protesters in Kano in northwestern Nigeria during today’s Enough Is Enough protest to #EndBadGovernace.”
Russia, an Eastern power, has been fingered in the coup d’etats in some West African countries, notably Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.
The military governments of the three countries have also pulled out of the Economic Community of West African States being chaired by President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria.
A social media user, Kawu Garba, called on the Department of State Services to investigate the incident.
He said, “Why are the protesters in Kano raising Russian flags? Is Russia sponsoring protests in Nigeria to cause anarchy? @OfficialDSSNG needs to investigate this.”
Also, a political commentator, Kayode Ogundamisi, said the protesters might be ignorant.
He said, “Whichever of the divide that may be responsible for distributing those Russian flags, either pro or anti-protest, that person dey mad. You lot have ABSOLUTELY, no idea! Beware of what you wish for.”
The Force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, said he was not aware of the images but promised to get back to our correspondent. He had yet to do so as of press time.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, and the DSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, did not pick their calls and had yet to respond to the messages sent to them as of the time of filing this report.
Security experts raise the alarm
Analysing the presence of the Russian flag, a retired Brig.-Gen., Bashir Adewinbi, cautioned Nigerians against conspiring with external forces to undermine the country’s democracy and security.
Adewinbi, while speaking with Sunday PUNCH, described the situation as unfortunate.
He said, “It is unfortunate that some Nigerians are waving foreign flags in a national protest. Our people should be careful; they should not create room for anybody to destroy our country.
“I must say that a coup can never happen in Nigeria. There can be no coup attempt against President Bola Tinubu. The security chiefs are with him and he has educated them. I don’t think any senior officer will come out and announce anything like a coup in Nigeria. We are all united, we are for the unity of the people, and we will maintain it. We will protect our democracy.”
A former Nigerian ambassador to the Philippines, Yemi Farounbi, called on the organisers of the protest to avoid any external influence.
Farounbi said, “It is an unfortunate incident to fly the flag of a foreign country during your protest. When you recall that there is Russian presence in Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Congo, one begins to wonder that you may be having an externalisation or an external indication of an internal domestic protest against certain circumstances.
“It is tragic, and I do not think that is what the organisers wanted. Certainly, that is not what Nigerians want. They do not want Nigeria to become impacted by ideological warfare between the West and the East. They do not want to see a replacement of Russia-backed military action in Nigeria.
“It is unfortunate. Perhaps, it is a reason for the patriotic organisers of the protest to stop the demonstration before it becomes something that some people will take over from them or turn Nigeria to a pawn.
“Those who are supported by this Russian regime have broken away from ECOWAS to form a separate body. It is something that other West African countries should be wary of.”
A retired Director at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Adesola Abolurin, called for the intervention of the Economic Community of West Africa States.
He attributed the call for Russian intervention in Northern Nigeria to the closeness of Niger Republic to the region.
Abolurin said, “This should not be unexpected given the volatile situation of that region, particularly since they are nearer to Niger Republic, so that is expected and, the organisers of the protest should have known that the protest will be hijacked by foreign agencies; where do they get the Russian flags from? They must have gotten them from across the border and one will expect that people will infiltrate our border from Niger and Somali and that is exactly what has happened now.
“The Russian flags must have come directly from the border. And the earlier the ECOWAS intervene in the crisis in the region, particularly in Niger Republic and Mali, the earlier they approach them, appeal to them to come back to the fold, the better.
“Already in Kano they have the issue of Emirship and this should have put into consideration by security agencies, but unfortunately, that was never done. They have a lot of problems already in the North, every little destruction in the North will escalate from the other side”.
A former Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Professor Bola Akinterinwa, suggested that those waving the Russian flag and dancing during the protests might not be Nigerians.
“The people flying Russian flags and dancing during the protest may not be Nigerians but Nigeriens,” Akinterinwa said.
He emphasised that the protest, initially planned for August 1 to 10, could shift towards a more aggressive demand for President Tinubu’s resignation due to accusations of bad governance.
The former NIIA DG warned, “The situation we have now could prompt a coup d’état.”
On his part, a former Director of DSS, Mike Ejiofor, said the government and security agencies must not handle the issue with kid gloves.
“In the security circle, you don’t dismiss such negative display. You will recall that the DSS had an intelligence report that there was a foreign influence in what is going on and that what the protesters are trying to achieve is a regime change. Russia has no business in interfering in Nigeria’s internal affairs.
“We have to intensify our intelligence gathering efforts both the national intelligence agency and the state security service must look at these threats even though they had highlighted them earlier. Citizens must also be security conscious of whatever that is happening around them”, Ejiofor said.
Col. Abdulwahab Ademola Lawal, the Head of Research Savannah Centre for Development and Training said, “The main issue is about regime security and the Russians do not mind having military coup detat and military government in this State, but the US and the Western power are concerned about democracy. The Russians are trying to create regime security for authority in those places where they are threatened.
“This is a new trend that we should watch out for. It means that there are promoters of this new trend and the influence is pressing down from Niger and Mali to continue to distabilise Nigeria. Nigeria should be worried by this, we should be worried because it means that there is an extension of Russian influence in Nigeria now. If you look at what is currently going on in the Sahel, there is a lot of Russian influence in the Sahel, they are already in Sudan, they are in Mali, they are in Niger, they are in Bukina Faso, they are in Central African Republic, so Russian influence in Africa is expanding, I won’t be surprised if there are elements in Kano who want to gnashed into this question of Russian influence in Africa.
“The sentiment of most African countries now is anti-America, they are anti-France and they are looking for alternative security architecture, therefore it is becoming a trend across Africa. You are aware of the Wagner African corps, it is an influence that really pressing down on Africa, they are pressing down on Sudan, Chad and the Central African Republic, it is a new trend of security challenges, the sovereignty of Africa is under challenge by Russia and so we are returning to the cold war era with the challenge between the West and Russia”.
Russia denies involvement
But the Press Secretary of the Russian Embassy, Yury Paramonov, denied Russia’s involvement in the ongoing protest in the country.
He said, “The Russian Embassy in Nigeria does not have any information about any groups of protesters using the Russian flag or other state symbols of our country. We have not seen such photo or video materials and would appreciate it if The Punch could provide us with such materials if they exist. Even if such incidents did occur, it would be the decision of individuals. We do not know why they might have used Russian flags.
“The Russian Federation is in no way involved in the current events in Nigeria. Moreover, Russia does not provide any material or financial support to the protesters.”
[Punch]
“When I Was Leading Workers, When They Tear-gassed Us, We Threw The Tear Gas Back” – Oshiomhole
AFOLABI
Former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Adams Oshiomhole, has disclosed some details on how he led protests during his leadership of workers in the country and reacted to Police resistance.
According to him, during his time, they (as protesters) sometimes had antidotes to the teargas fired at them, and threw them back at the Police.
The Edo North Senator said protest is never a tea party, and sometimes, the Police might also have to take some uncomfortable decisions in the discharge of their responsibilities.
“Is there anywhere in the world where you haven’t seen protests being resisted by the police? It is an uncomfortable responsibility they have to take,” he said on Channels Television’s The August Protests show on Saturday.
“When I was leading workers when they tear-gassed us, we sometimes had the antidote; we threw the tear gas back.”
Oshiomhole stated further that Police may not deliberately want to tear gas protesters, but they and other security forces might, of a necessity, have to use different methods to resist protesters.
“If police believe that you might have to destroy or kill someone, they might have to use those methods. Any protest is a struggle; it is not a tea party.
“So, I, of course, did not celebrate that but I saw a commissioner of police in one state procuring not tear gas but water to give to those who were protesting peacefully,” he said.
The ex-president of the NLC commended the “civil” conduct of the police as the #EndBadGovernance protests entered the third day, saying police gave sachet water to peaceful protesters in states like Lagos.
“It is not about how the police respond now but in totality, the police under this IG has been quite civil,” he said.
On protesters calling for a ‘take back’ of Nigeria because they lost the 2023 election, the former Edo State Governor said election is the only constitutionally-allowed method for a change of government.
He added that Nigeria is not under foreign occupation, so therefore, the protesters can’t talk about reclaiming Nigeria.
“Some people want regime change. You cannot peacefully demand that because the Constitution forbids you to make demands that are unlawful within the position of the Constitution.
“The only legitimate for those who lost the election is that they must, as of necessity, under the constitution, wait for the next round of elections. Till then, there is nothing they can do. If they seek to short-circuit the system, there will be a problem,” he said.
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CSOs score security forces low: Hungry Nigerians, protesting peacefully, brutalised, some killed
Admin
Four days into the nationwide demonstration that would last for 10-day, the protesters have told the Federal Government that if it fails to accede to their demands, they will continue to display their displeasure.
They vowed not to be intimidated by the hostile gestures expressed towards them by security agents, saying their demands were legitimate.
On Thursday, demonstrators, with placards and banners with different inscriptions hit the streets of Abuja, including the Eagle Square, Federal Secretariat, National Stadium, and suburbs of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, as well as other cities across the country chanting: ‘We dey hungry, end bad governance,’ kick-starting the mass action.
In a show of force, security forces clashed with the peaceful protesters, leading to the loss of several lives; similarly, properties worth millions of Naira were destroyed in some states, including Borno, Kano, Kaduna and Kebbi.
Worried by the development, Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, and activists expressed dismay over how the protesters were attacked and some killed by security forces.
In separate conversations with Sunday Vanguard, security operatives were scored low for unprofessionalism.
Policy brutalising peaceful protesters – Adeyanju
An activist, Deji Adeyanju, who accused the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, of giving order to the police to brutalise the demonstrators, said it was disappointing to hear that Nigerians were killed.
Adeyanju said until a highly placed individual was held responsible for unleashing violence on peaceful protesters, there would be no end to the killing of non-violent demonstrators.
His words: “The President, in clear terms, warned the police against using force. The Nigerian Army who are there with protesters did not attack them, but the police are the aggressors.
Look at what happened at Eagle Square, Borno State and many other parts of the country. Protesters are protesting peacefully and the police cannot exercise restraint. The IGP should be held responsible for all the violence unleashed on peaceful protesters across the country.
“He gave the order and must be held accountable for the violence unleashed. Not until somebody is held accountable for acts like this, it will persist, continue and fester. There must be consequences for the bad behaviour of the police across the length and breadth of the country. Very high-ranking police officers have told us that the order to crack down on protesters came from the IGP. The President should act accordingly. Protesters will continue to improvise and try to beat police brutality.
Citizens have shown that despite the attacks, they are still willing to come out. Thursday attacks will not deter citizens from coming out and whether anybody likes it or not, protest is a fundamental human right given by the constitution, not the President, IGP, Service Chiefs but the constitution, and nobody can circumvent that right.”
Govt may provoke conflicts by promoting counter protests –HOMEF
Sharing his thoughts with Sunday Vanguard, Executive Director of Health of Mother Earth Foundation, HOMEF, Nnimmo Bassey said the first day was impressive.
According to him, he believed that Nigerians succeeded in sending a clear message to the government.
He said: “The people have shown remarkable respect to the rule of law. They have also largely conducted themselves peacefully. We will likely see a repeat of the protest in the days ahead.
I’m concerned that government may provoke conflicts by the promotion of counter protests. Truth is that counter protests are okay, but protesters have to maintain their lanes, present their case and not provoke clashes. Any government that doesn’t take this protest serious must be on another planet. The points made by protesters are solid and direct. Willful blindness to the demands of the people could precipitate a variant of protestations that may be calamitous to current power structures.
“Some public officers think we are in a military government. The colonial mentality is simply annoying. Nigerians and Kenyans are struggling in the same neocolonial and neoliberal situation where the drivers of governance are taking instructions from forces that push outdated economic ideas that are basically anti people.
Similar objective conditions produce similar outcomes, terrors and pains. The use of live bullets on peaceful protesters is criminal. The shooters, the commanders and government must be held accountable for the carnage.”
Coming days of protest will be pivotal —ActionAid
Expressing optimism that the coming days of the nationwide protest will be pivotal in determining the trajectory of the nation, Country Director of ActionAid, Nigeria, AAN, Andrew Mamedu, urged the President and state governors to take the protesters seriously.
Mamedu, who spoke to Sunday Vanguard, said: “The protest dynamics are evolving differently across various locations.
In the FCT, the number of protesters at the MKO Abiola Stadium decreased today compared to yesterday, whereas Lagos saw an increase in turnout. Sokoto State, which had no protests yesterday, witnessed protesters taking to the streets today. The coming day will indeed be pivotal in determining the immediate trajectory of our nation.
“AAN’s situation room also reported the use of excessive force and live ammunition against protesters, leading to deaths, which is unacceptable, especially in locations like Niger, Borno, Kaduna, and Abuja.
“The continued infiltration of peaceful protests by hoodlums in Lagos, Abuja, Niger, Maiduguri and Yobe is also troubling, as it has even led to the imposition of curfews in four states. These developments pose a significant threat to peace and stability.
“It appears that Tinubu government and other state governments are not taking the protests seriously, despite the gravity of the situation. If they were, they would have addressed the nation and protesting citizens directly by now. Instead, they have invested resources in trying to suppress the protests, which suggests a lack of willingness to engage with the protesters’ concerns.
“Furthermore, the insensitive comments from cabinet members, including serving senators, ministers and even past government officials reinforces this perception, indicating disconnect between government and the people.
Rather than dismissing the protests or using force to suppress them, government should engage with the protesters, listen to their grievances, and provide a detailed plan with clear, time-bound actions to address bad governance and adopt pro-poor policies that can alleviate the severe economic hardships currently being faced. This is the only way to ensure that the situation does not escalate further and that the country can move forward in a positive direction.”
On the accountability of those security agents who killed protesters, he added that government must investigate and hold security agents responsible for the killings and injuries during the protests accountable.
“This includes the use of an independent panel to investigate these issues, identify and prosecute those responsible and provide compensation and support to victims’ families.
Government should also take steps to prevent future abuses; including reforming the security sector and ensuring that security agents are trained to respect human rights.
“To change the narrative, we advise government to adopt a transformative approach by implementing policies that increase accountability to citizens, undertaking constitution reforms that amplify citizens’ perspectives, introducing policies that reduce the cost of governance, enforcing anti-corruption measures within government, and embracing a bottom-up approach to governance that enables the government to listen to the voices of the majority of citizens and promotes healthy dialogue, ultimately addressing the root causes of the protests and minimizing the likelihood of future unrest,” he said.
Tinubu needs to immediately address Nigeria –Global Rights
Lamenting the President’s refusal to calm frayed nerves, Executive Director of Global Rights Nigeria, Abiodun Baiyewu, said: “Let us be honest, when people are extremely hungry, the propensity to violence is much higher, and what they are protesting is bad governance. Bad governance is what has led people to this state.
We have high level of violence in places like Kano, Jigawa and Katsina. Like we mentioned in our press statement, the government had sufficient time to prevent this. They had been notified long enough to prepare for the protests; for example, crowd control. How that has panned out in some places was very careless of government.
You would expect that they would use things like water repellant and rubber bullets, but police officers are firing live bullets at people. Rather than control the crowd, they are aggravating the crowd by instilling violence in those places.
“There are places where things got out of hand, like Kano. For places where people were killed, there must be investigations.
“Nigerians did not want to protest. Meet their demands – crash the prices of food, ensure that we can have a decent living they will not be on the streets. One of the reasons why there is hunger in the land is also because the entire country has become insecure. The food baskets of the country are under siege: places like Benue, Plateau, Taraba, and Kaduna states where a lot of the food comes from are under siege. We must face realities and ask ourselves questions.
People can no longer afford medications, or transportation. Industries are closing down, and the Tinubu administration cannot say they are not aware of all these things.”
Tinubu’s failure to address protesters disappointing — RDI
Executive Director, Renevlyn Development Initiative, Philip Jakpor, on hisn part, also expressed disappointment over the silence of the President, saying he has displayed disregard for Nigerians.
His words: ”The federal government has shown complete disregard for Nigerians in the way the legitimate protests have been handled. The President who described himself as a man of the people during the general elections in 2023 has failed to address the people and assuage their grievances at the time it is most needed. The security agencies that are supposed to protect the peaceful protesters and maintain law and order are accused of actions that have triggered violent reactions including use of live bullets, tear gassing and forceful dispersal.
“This is not what Nigerians bargained for. The protests are well-intentioned to draw attention to the plight of Nigerians as a result of confusing economic policies and flip-flops that have pauperised the citizenry. It is very unfortunate, but Nigerians are undefeated in their demands for good governance.
“RDI’s recommendation is for the government to address corruption and prune spending along the lines of the call on Nigerians to tighten their belts. The wastage, especially at the level of the executive and the National Assembly must be curbed. Pro-people policies must be put in place, not the demeaning distribution of palliatives.”
If govt believes protest will simmer down, they are mistaken —ANEEJ
Also speaking to Sunday Vanguard, the Executive Director of Africa Network for Environmental and Economic Justice, ANEEJ, David Eholor, said: “As we can all observe, the protest is going on in many parts of the country. In some locations, we have seen peaceful protests while in some other locations, there have been some bits of violence. The future with the protest hinges largely on how government responds to citizens’ demands.
“People have been patient, but concrete and lasting solutions are not forthcoming.
Government officials appear unprepared, while citizens are increasingly frustrated. If the government believes they can wait until this unprecedented protest simmers down, they are mistaken. While protests are not new in Nigeria, this one is uniquely driven by hunger and bad governance exacerbated by reckless government policies and unabated looting and mismanagement of public funds. People are desperate for immediate intervention, and I anticipate the protest gaining momentum beyond its initial 10-day plan.
“Instances of police brutality against peaceful protesters have been reported in some locations, this could further worsen the situation. Additionally, each day government delays addressing these issues raise the risk of opportunistic individuals hijacking the protest for criminal activities like looting and violence.
“I am not sure of the number of deaths but certainly when protests of this nature start, it could get out of hand and that’s what we are witnessing. We do not pray for the Kenya experience to happen in Nigeria, that’s why ANEEJ issued a statement at the beginning urging Nigerians to avoid violence and focus on the issues.
“I am using this medium again to speak to Nigerians to avoid violence so that we don’t end up worse off at the end of the protest. The security agents should allow peaceful protesters to exercise their rights and not use tear gas to harass and disperse them.”
Days ahead look unsettling – Plan International
Sharing insights into the nationwide demonstration, Country Director of Plan International, Charles Usie, said: “The days ahead look unsettling. The reports trickling in suggest there had been violence in some places with some protesters shot dead by security personnel. This is condemnable. As an organisation, we implore the protesters to be peaceful and should not allow miscreants to take over their legitimate demands of good governance.
“We also call on law enforcement agencies to exercise restraint in managing the protesters. Non-violent protests by citizens are a legitimate part and parcel of a democracy. Our concern is the safety of the protesters, especially young people, including girls. There appears to be insensitivity on the part of some highly placed public officials who have been indiscreet in their use of language.
“We are also concerned about the safety of public infrastructure as we do not have another country of our own. Overall, we are particularly worried about the safety of young people who are the future of the country. News reports suggest that more than 10 protesters have died already. That is not a good omen.
“Government at the national and sub-national levels have in some ways responded to the protest, the issue is how seriously, and to what extent that response indicates that the government takes this protest seriously?
“Government needs to do more to stem the rising tide. When the citizens do not feel safe or secure, it forebodes anarchy. Government should cut down the cost of governance. The workers should be paid a living wage and the economy should be diversified. For instance, the cost of fuel should go down. Indigenous refineries should be supported to do well.
Support for modular refineries as a measure to address our fuel crises should be taken more seriously by the government providing support for the licensed modular refineries and targeting having more.
“Every country considered developed today supported their local industries to become functional and standing. Provided it is for the generality of the people, the industries should be supported.
“The humongous budgets for lawmakers and other government functionaries will not take us anywhere. The people are not stupid.
“We can take a cue from Kenya. The government has cut down on so many things to assuage the people.”
On security agents accused of killing protesters, he said: “They should be prosecuted and made to face the law. It is not a crime to protest. There is nowhere in the world where law enforcement officers are not asked to account or held to account for their actions in handling or treatment of citizens. Nigeria cannot be an exception if we are to be counted among civilized countries.
“People must be made to account for their actions. The risk also is that where peaceful protesters are murdered in the cause of exercising their fundamental rights to freedom of expression, association and gathering, it tends to push otherwise non-violent persons into a state of anarchy. We need to guard against that.”
The 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, is set to lead a delegation from Kano State to meet with President Bola Tinubu, to deliver a message from the people of Kano State, amidst the nationwide protest.
According to Bayero, the delegation is expected to relay the concerns of the people of the state as expressed during their visit to his palace during the protest.
Bayero in a statement released through his Press Secretary, Abubakar Balarabe Kofar Naisa, on Saturday, sympathized with those affected by the incident negatively by the protest in the state.
He said, “As always, in times of hardship, people should draw closer to God and pray, as only He can bring comfort.”
Bayero called on the people of the state to maintain peace and avoid violence or damaging government and private property.
He urged parents to take care of their children’s upbringing. He quoted the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), who said that each person is a shepherd and will be questioned about what they were entrusted with on the Day of Judgment.
Bayero prayed for the souls of those who lost their lives, for the recovery of the injured as well as the restoration of the losses incurred during the protest.
Adele, the Grammy-winning British singer, has opened up about her battles with her gender and sexuality.
The ‘Set Fire To The Rain’ hitmaker singer shared her thoughts on her sexuality while addressing fans who attended her sold-out concert in Munich, Germany.
While on stage after her performance, Adele who is known to be straight and was formerly married to Simon Konecki, said she often feels like a “gay man trapped in a straight woman’s body”.
“I often think I am a gay man trapped in a straight woman’s body,” she said.
Her comment sparked a wave of mixed reactions on social media with many fans questioning if she was trying to openly admit to being gay.
Others argued that they were not shocked because the singer is known to be an avid supporter of the LGBTQ community.
Adele is considered one of the greatest British singers of all time. She is the best-selling female artiste of the 21st century in the UK.
She has earned a plethora of nominations and awards for her craft which include 16 Grammys, 12 Brit Awards, an Oscars, a Primetime Emmy, and even a Gold Globe.
The 36-year-old has also put four studio albums ’19′(2008), ’21′(2011), ’25′(2015) and ’30′(2021).
[TheCable]
Controversial singer, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has lamented that he didn’t receive any monetary reward despite supporting President Bola Tinubu.
According to him, he was “used” but he decided to be calm.
Speaking during a recent Instagram live session with fans, the ‘Zazu’ crooner claimed that “fighting” the government was a vain job, stressing that the government has nothing to lose.
He said: “I supported Tinubu but I didn’t get any money. I was used but I am calm. You’re k!lling yourselves in the name of fighting the government. The government has nothing to lose.”