A man has been killed by bandits in Kwalfada village in the Tsafe Local Government Area in Zamfara State for not allowing his daughter to marry a bandit.
An indigene of the village, Mallam Rabo, informed The PUNCH that one of the bandits proposed marriage to one of the girls in the village but her father refused.
The father, according to Rabo, decided to give his daughter to one of the men in the village instead of the bandit.
Rabo said, “After the marriage was contracted, the bandits invaded the community and killed the father of the girl.
“They also asked the husband of the girl to divorce her so that their colleague could marry her.
“They threatened to kill the husband if he did not comply with the directive.
“The husband immediately divorced the wife and she was remarried to the bandit who took her to the forest.”
Rabo lamented that the bandits had been terrorising the community for a long time and no action was taken by the authorities to provide security for the inhabitants.
He said that the bandits imposed N4m levy on the village a few weeks ago.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the peace deal brokered by President Bola Tinubu over the crisis between the Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and his estranged godfather and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike.
Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, the Acting National Chairman of the party, Umar Damagum, asked the “former lawmakers” not to be deceived by those in Abuja, insisting that they had willingly vacated their seats.
Damagum noted that the right thing for the 25 lawmakers, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), to do was to prepare for a fresh election under any political party they want as the PDP had already written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to prepare for fresh polls in the affected constituencies.
Damagum, flanked by other members of the National Working Committee (NWC), “demands that INEC should, in line with Section 109 (1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 84 (15) of the Electoral Act, 2022 fix a date for the conduct of fresh election into the 25 state constituencies in Rivers State where vacancies have occurred by reason of the defection of the now former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, pending the determination of any suit in any court.
“Our party insists that having now vacated and lost their seats, the only option available to the former lawmakers, if they wish to return to the House of Assembly, is to seek fresh nomination and re-election on the platform of any political party of their choice in line with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), and the Electoral Act, 2022.
“The 25 former Rivers lawmakers freely and without any cause vacated their seats, being fully aware of the consequences of defection from the party upon which they were elected into the Rivers State House of Assembly without the conditions stipulated by the 1999 Constitution.”
The party insisted that it had no crisis, adding that the claims by the lawmakers should be ignored.
The party chair noted, “For the avoidance of doubt, there is no division in the PDP at the national or any other level for that matter to justify the defection of the 25 former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly from the party.
“They therefore vacated their seats for reasons best known to them and cannot return to the House of Assembly without passing through a fresh electoral process in accordance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2022.
“Moreover, the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ehie Edison, officially declared the seat of the defected, now former, members vacant in line with Section 109 (1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The Rivers State House of Assembly, having become functus officio on the matter cannot re-admit the former lawmakers unless through the channel of a fresh election.
“Our party therefore counsels the former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly not to be deceived by anybody giving them the false hope and impracticable assurances in Abuja that they can return to the Rivers State House of Assembly without a fresh election or that the Independent National Electoral Commission can be stopped from conducting fresh election into the 25 Rivers State constituencies where vacancies have occurred by reason of their defection.”
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has vowed to sanction its members that indulge in anti-party activities during the last general elections, including the former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, when the time is right.
Answering questions from journalists after addressing a press conference on Tuesday, the acting National Chairman of the party, Ambassador Umar Damagum disclosed that apart from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, there are other members of the party that worked against the party during the last election.
He noted that the leadership of the party had approved a review committee to look into what transpired and how the party lost the 2023 elections, adding that the party would take the necessary measures when the report is presented to the National Working Committee (NWC).
Damagum also insisted that nobody is above the party, saying that “If Wike believes he is above this party, we will be able to show him that he is not above this party.”
He said: “I have always said this thing that as long as you are a member of the PDP, there is time for everything. My duty is to stabilise this party and not to cause a crisis. And I will continue to do that within the confines of reason.
“Meanwhile, we still see it within the ambit of the law. Mind you, we have other litigation going on at this party that we won’t want to plunge our party into another crisis.
“And let me tell you something, it is not only Wike, there are other people who worked against this party. When we get to that level we will sanction everybody.
“Meanwhile, recently we have approved and are about to inaugurate the 2023 review committee. They are to review what happened in 2023 and come out with a report not only about one person, but every person who has one way or another engaged in anti-party activity. Then after that, we will see what kind of measures to take,” he said.
Recall that the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba last week said the party hierarchy wants to concentrate on reconciling its members instead of slamming them with sanctions.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Tuesday asked the Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to find immediate solutions to the current scarcity of naira being experienced by Nigerians.
The NLC said the CBN and Federal Government’s disregard for warnings meant they were deliberately inciting Nigerians against the system and constituted authority. It described the scarcity as shameful, saying excuses would no longer suffice.
President of the NLC, Mr Joe Ajaero, who handed down this warning in Abuja at a press briefing said the patience of Nigerians was being stretched, adding that no government inflicts this level of pain on its citizenry and expects them to keep quiet for a long time.
The labour leader said, “The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is deeply concerned about the recent cash crunch that has gripped the Nigerian economy, particularly as the nation approaches the festive season. This economic challenge has far-reaching implications for the citizens of our great nation, and urgent steps must be taken to address this issue to prevent further hardship for the already suffering Nigerian populace.
“Fresh in the minds of every Nigerian is the excruciating conditions that we were all subjected to as a result of the last cash crunch earlier this year, orchestrated by the ill-conceived and ill-implemented currency redesign policy of the immediate past government.
“The sorrow that the botched exercise foisted on us is not what Nigerians wish to witness again in one year. This time, there is no discernible reason by the CBN neither any explanation from the Government for why Nigerians should be subjected to this level of suffering once again in 2023.”
According to Ajaero, if the CBN claimed that those with ill-gotten wealth were stashing cash in their houses to avoid detection, it would be a heavy indictment on the government’s anti-corruption agenda.
Describing the development as “shameful”, the labour leader noted, “this is because what the CBN is saying is that since the assumption of office of this government, the level of graft has increased, resulting in the creation of hideouts for the slush funds.
“The question then is; should the ordinary citizens be made to suffer the apparent incompetence of government in prosecuting the anti-corruption war or is it that there is actually no anti-corruption war going on?”
He said Nigerians spend more time in the banks trying to source for cash, insisting that this undermines confidence of the public in the banks and may discourage the citizenry from patronising the banks.
The NLC President added, “Though we have heard reasons like; the increase in fake notes in circulation and the hoarding of the naira. These reasons are clearly unacceptable as we cannot see anything that will make any Nigerian hoard the naira. In any case, it is not the ordinary Nigerian that hoards money in their houses.
“It is shameful that Nigerians would have to spend a lot of money to gain access to their hard-earned income. We are creating another avenue for economic rentiers such as the PoS operators and their collaborators in the banks to fleece Nigerians.
“Subjecting us again to spend our meagre salaries buying our money automatically devalues our income. PoS operators currently charge around N400 to access N10,000. This is about four per cent reduction in the value of the income of poor Nigerians who hardly make use of electronic platforms to perform their transactions.”
The NLC President noted that for many citizens who were already impoverished by government policies, foisting on them another era of cash scarcity would amount to gross insensitivity and double jeopardy.
He added, “We are worried that by this action and others, the government may be inciting the people and mobilising them to seek alternative routes for protecting themselves from these perverse policies.
“We believe that the elastic limit of the patience of Nigerians is being breached and no government inflicts this level of pains on its citizenry and expects them to keep quiet for a long time. Forcing Nigerians into revolt by continuously taking actions that deny them basic access to survival will not augur well for our nation. This cash crunch is indeed another test of the already worn out patience of Nigerian masses and workers.
“During this Yuletide, which is traditionally a time of joy, celebration and familiar gatherings, the current cash shortage threatens to cast a shadow over the festivities for many Nigerians.”
Ajaero noted that the unavailability of cash had led to increased difficulties in meeting daily needs, exacerbating the economic challenges faced by ordinary citizens.
He said the NLC recognised the importance of a vibrant economy and believed that it was in the interest of the country to ensure that citizens enjoy the festive season without undue financial strain.
He stated further, “We call on the government to take immediate and decisive action to alleviate the cash crunch and mitigate its impact on the people. Government should therefore explore measures to inject liquidity into the economy, ensuring that there is sufficient cash flow to meet the demands of businesses and individuals.
“It is fairly tale to continue brandishing cash hoarding as an excuse. Nigerians want their money and it should be made available to them. Excuses are not what Nigerians want to hear but access to their money. We urge the government to collaborate with other financial institutions to improve banking services, such as ensuring the availability of cash at ATMs and bank branches to facilitate easy access for the public.”
He called on the CBN to provide clear communication to the public regarding the steps being taken to address the cash crunch and reassure citizens of the stability of the financial system.
“The Nigeria Labour Congress is not unmindful of the complexities of managing an economy, especially during challenging times. However, it is crucial for the government to prioritise the well-being of its citizens and take immediate action to alleviate their suffering.”
Unknown gunmen have kidnapped an Akwa Ibom State High Court Judge, Justice Joy Uwanna and her driver, killing her police escort in the process.
It was gathered that the gunmen posed as vigilantes on the Uyo-Okobo road on Monday night, and blocked the road to prevent Justice Uwanna who was returning from a court sitting in Oron.
The gunmen were said to have opened fire and shot the policeman attached to the judge on the head and body. They were said to have whisked the judge and her driver away, and abandoned the slain policeman in the pool of blood.
The Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Oron branch, Torosco Eyene esq, who confirmed the incident on Tuesday in Uyo, said the judge was kidnapped along Okobo axis on her away back to Uyo after a court sitting.
Eyene said members of the NBA have scheduled a meeting with the Commissioner of Police and State Security Service tomorrow (Wednesday).
“Yes, the sitting judge in Oron was kidnapped yesterday (Monday) on her way back to Uyo after court sitting. By tomorrow, Wednesday, we are moving down to Uyo to meet with the Commissioner of Police, Olatoye Durusinmi and the DSS on the issue,” he said.
When the Police Public Relations Officer, Akwa Ibom State Police Command, SP Odiko Macdon was contacted, he described the incident as unfortunate, adding that the CP had ordered a discreet investigation into the matter.
“It’s very unfortunate that a judge who presides over high court has been kidnapped. The command under the CP, Olatoye Durosinmi has ordered a discreet investigation. As we speak, no stone will be left unturned, resources will be harness to ensure that her lordship is reunited to her family any moment from now.
“I have spoken with the family of the deceased officer who, until his death was an orderly to the judge. Justice will be served and the perpetrators will be brought to book,” he stated.
Former governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has asked the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to relate to President Bola Tinubu the true state of affairs and the feedback from various communities, not just the official communication he (president) gets in the villa.
Fayemi, a former chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), made the appeal during the public launch of a book titled, ‘APC and Transition Politics’ authored by a former National Vice Chairman (North West) of the APC, Salihu Mohammed Lukman, on Tuesday in Abuja.
The event attracted prominent leaders of the APC including the National Chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, former APC national chairmen – Adams Oshiomhole and Chief Bisi Akande – representatives of former Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo and that of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, National Working Committee (NWC) members and many others.
Daily Trust reports that many Nigerians have lamented some of the policies introduced by the Tinubu administration including the removal of fuel subsidy, which has caused more hardship, hunger and pains in the land.
Fayemi said, “This party should be the one to tell Mr. President that this is the feedback from the communities and constituencies out there, not what he is hearing in the villa where he is locked up.
“All of us have occupied public office and we know how it can be. I am happy our chairman has confirmed he has read the book. It should be a compulsory read for all members of the NWC and executives at the state and ward levels so that we can begin the rebuilding process of our organic party to which I believe Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje is committed.”
In his marks, Ganduje said the APC needs to be well-structured and repositioned to serve the interest of the masses.
He said, “It (APC) is an institution that must answer to the demands of the people in order to be transmitted to the ruling government for implementation. At the same time, it is an institution that will explain and enlighten members of the public about the achievements of the ruling government.”
In his opening remarks, chairman of the occasion and former interim chairman of the APC, Chief Bisi Akande, said, “We are APC and we will continue to be APC, and to be truly APC, we have the audacity of discussing the affairs of politics either within or outside the APC.”
Speaking on ‘Party building: Systems, structures, and mechanics’, a former interim women leader of the APC, Sharon Ikeazor, expressed worry over the mass defection of opposition members into the APC after the general elections, saying, “Some of these people said all manner of things against our presidential candidate prior to the elections.”
Recall that key members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Young Progressive Party (YPP) and others have defected to the APC since Ganduje assumed office at the party’s headquarters in Abuja.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has revealed that he and other soldiers are paid N1,200 per day on operations.
Speaking on the welfare of soldiers in an interview on Channels TV on Tuesday, CDS said that all military personnel received the same operation allowance, regardless of ranks.
He said that over the past few years, the army had recruited an average of 15,000 personnel, but that there has not been a corresponding increase in the number of barracks.
He also called for improved salaries for soldiers, saying that they deserve to be paid more for the work they do.
He said, “If you look at the constitution, our primary responsibility is territorial integrity but if you look at the territorial integrity, it implies that charity begins at home. We can not be protecting territory and the home front is on fire and then sit back and watch.
“Over the past few years, on average the armed forces recruited over 15,000 personnel into the system, but we are not building new barracks. We know budget has captured some of it, we need to do more, we need to renovate the old ones because they have been there for ages.
“My dream is for every officer and soldier to have an accommodation that he can look up and say this is my own, this is my barracks.
“Because of the operations we are conducting, a lot of the officers and soldiers are out there in the field. If to say these operations are over and we to are to go back to the barracks, there wouldn’t be enough barracks for us.
“The issue of cash allowance where we feed, any time we are on operations, I as a General, I am being paid N1,200 per day with my soldiers. From the first general to the last soldier, it is the same amount, that is what we manage.
“My soldiers collect less than N50,000 as salary in a month. We all know the situation on the ground, my appeal is for them to have salary that is worthy for the work they are doing, we deserve to have that so that it can encourage them to want to do more.”
All-Africa Students Union Honours Distinguished Africans, Including Mele Kyari, Reuben Abati, and Gilpin, among others
AdminThe All-Africa Students Union (AASU) recently bestowed honours on notable individuals from the African continent, recognising their outstanding achievements and significant influence on the youth. Among the distinguished awardees were Malam Mele Kolo Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), and Dr. Waltone Gilpin, the Managing Director (MD) of Rokel Commercial Bank Sierra Leone Limited. These individuals were commended for their remarkable contributions and positive effects on the younger generation throughout Africa.
At a ceremony held in Abuja over the weekend, the international president of AASU, Osisiogu Enyinnaya, were presented with the insignia of commendation.
Enyinnaya lauds Kyari's recognition by African students, attributing it to his exceptional leadership as the head of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited. The students commended Kyari for his remarkable achievement in capitalising the company, which has not only brought pride to Africa but also positioned it as a role model on the continent.
The event saw the recognition of several notable individuals for their outstanding contributions. Among those honoured was Dr. Daysman Oyakhilome, the president of the United Youth of Africa Nation (UYAN) and a prominent figure in the Loveworld Global Fellowship. Dr. Oyakhilome's tireless efforts in promoting youth empowerment and fostering unity across the African continent have earned him this well-deserved accolade. Another distinguished honoree was Dr. Gloria Kudi Ahmed, the national coordinator, Open Government Partnership (OGP) Nigeria and director of Special Duties, Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, for her contribution; and Chief Charles Okechukwu Anyanwu, the group of chairman of DCL Group for his contributions to the laboratory development space.
In attendance were notable individuals such as Comrade Ademola Babatunde, a former presidential candidate in the 2019 elections. Also present was Barrister Paul Edeh, the founder of Naija Ratels Football Club, who has made significant contributions to the development of young individuals in sports, not only within Nigeria but across the African continent. Additionally, Alhaji Abba Musa, the Director of Corporate Services at the North East Development Commission, graced the occasion with his presence and Dr Reuben Abati of Arise Television, among others.
The president of the African Association of Scholars and Universities (AASU) shed light on the recognition bestowed upon the awardees, emphasising their significant contributions to Africa's pursuit of development across diverse domains. In a bid to foster increased productivity and progress across the continent, an initiative has been launched to motivate individuals to strive for greater achievements. The aim is to inspire Africans to push their limits and contribute towards a brighter future for the region.
In an effort to foster increased productivity and progress across the African continent, a concerted push is underway to motivate individuals to take action and make a positive impact. The overarching goal is to cultivate a stronger Africa, driven by the collective efforts of its people.
In a passionate statement, the speaker expressed their aspirations, drawing inspiration from the words of the renowned civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr. "I f you’re called upon to sweep the streets, sweep the streets the same way Shakespeare composed poems,” he said.
The Nigerian Communications Commission has given a directive to all network providers.
NCC directed MTN Nigeria, Airtel and other telecommunications firms to fully bar phone lines without National Identity Numbers and those whose NINs have not been verified.
This was disclosed in a corporate notice that MTN Nigeria filed with the Nigerian Exchange Limited revealing the directive from NCC and the attached deadlines for the barring.
In the statement signed by its Company Secretary, Uto Ukpanah, MTN Nigeria said, “This is part of an industry-wide directive that requires phone lines for which the subscribers have not submitted their NINs to be barred on or before 28 February 2024. With regard to NINs that have been submitted but not verified, such lines are to be barred on or before 29 March 2024, where five or more lines are linked to an unverified NIN.
“Similarly, where less than five lines are linked to an unverified NIN, such lines are to be barred on or before 15 April 2024. All affected subscribers must be verified (biometrics and biodata) before their lines are unbarred.”
The current directive is a follow-up to the NCC’s directive of April 2022 requiring operators to restrict outgoing calls (one-way barring) for subscribers whose lines are not associated with NINs.
MTN encouraged affected subscribers to submit their NINs for verification.
“As part of these efforts, we are enhancing the capacity of our various service outlets to make the process smoother and more efficient. We are committed to ensuring that our subscribers comply with the NCC directive and will continue to work with the National Identity Management Commission to accelerate the NIN verification process,” MTN added.
The company also expressed a willingness to work with the Federal Government in ensuring compliance with the industry-wide directive from NCC.
“As a law-abiding corporate citizen and in line with our operating licence requirements, we are committed to complying with the industry-wide directive from the NCC and will provide further updates to investors on progress and potential impact with the release of FY 2023 results,” the firm said.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officer, Shem Obafiaye, who became famous for the viral ‘Oga At The Top’ remark, has opened up about the interview, saying the development affected him psychologically.
In 2013, Obafiaye, then the Lagos Commandant of the NSCDC, gained widespread attention during an appearance on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily.
When asked to provide the NSCDC’s website, Obafaiye replied, “The website is… excuse me… wait… it can only be made known by my Oga at the top,” pointing skywards and smiling broadly.
About ten years after the development, Obafiaye opened up about the remark which led to humorous memes, danceable tunes, and ‘Oga At The Top’ emblazoned on T-shirts.
When asked if the interview that resulted in his deployment affected him psychologically, he said: “Definitely, it has to because I had never gone through such in my life, but with the words of my cousin, ‘I know you have a future; if you are ready for national recognition, be ready for national embarrassment, harassment, and insults’.”
Obiafiaye noted that “Immediately after the interview—and I was changed—my principal, who is my commandant general, just asked me to rest. I was at home for one month rest before they moved me to Oyo State Command,” he said on Tuesday’s edition of the breakfast show.
Addressing the impact on his family, Obafiaye said his son often came home, mentioning being called ‘Oga at the Top’ by classmates.
Despite this, he emphasised that it was part of the experience, not a crime, and that he had not faced any negative consequences.
Reflecting on the reactions of colleagues and superiors, Obafiaye noted that they did not respond negatively.
Laughing over the replay of the video during the interview, he expressed forgiveness to those who made caricatures and acknowledged the influence of social media in the “new age.”
After ten years, Shem Obafiaye was last week promoted to the rank of Deputy Commandant-General and also revealed on the show that he has retired from service.
More...
The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has raised an alarm over rising cases of kidnapping, armed robbery and other crimes in the south-west region of the country.
The Afenifere’s national publicity secretary, Jare Ajayi, raised the alarm in a statement on Sunday while reacting the armed robbery attacks at two commercial banks in Ikere, Ekiti State, last Wednesday, resulting in the death of three Amotekun security personnel.
Mr Ajayi noted that the Ekiti incident came barely weeks after Mr Taiwo Oyekanmi, a Director of Finance, Ogun State, was murdered on November 29, 2023, in Abeokuta by armed robbers who went away with millions of naira meant for government workers.
He said: “Reports have it that seven people were kidnapped while one person was killed last Monday at Fidiwo on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
“This came in the wake of the kidnap of Miracle Adereti Kolawole, a 13-year-old student, by an unknown gang while returning home from school on Friday, December 1, 2023, in the Ikotun area of Lagos, as confirmed by the Afonka Police Station in Egbeda, Alimosho, Lagos, which immediately assigned Inspector Ogidiolu Olajimi to lead the investigation and rescue efforts.
“Towards the end of October, sundry abductions took place in Ikotun, Okota, Ejigbo, Alimosho, Egbeda, Agege, Amuwo Odofin areas of Lagos, according to published reports.
“The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, according to reports, said that the police were aware of the situation and were taking decisive actions to round up the criminals. Eight workers of MRS Oil were abducted in July this year from a boat on Tin Can Waterways of Lagos State.
“News media reports indicated that ransoms in millions of naira are being demanded before kidnapped victims could be released. Some victims were killed even when ransoms were paid.”
Mr Ajayi lamented that a few weeks into the Yuletide period, commuters on the highway have to travel with trepidation for fear of being attacked.
He, therefore, called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently address the issues responsible for the recurrent incidence of kidnappings and banditry in the region.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed the detention of a former Minister of State for Power Olu Agunloye days after he was declared wanted.
A source in the anti-graft agency told Channels Television on Tuesday that Agunloye has been detained since 13 December 2023.
“He has been with the EFCC since December 13th,” the source said. “But it was not made public.”
The EFCC had about a week ago declared Agulonye wanted over an alleged $6 billion fraud related to the controversial Mambilla hydropower project.
“The public is hereby notified that Olu Agunloye, whose photograph appears above, is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an alleged case of corruption and forgery,” the agency wrote on its social media platforms.
It urged anyone “with useful information as to his whereabouts” to contact the agency. The EFCC had in September questioned the former minister over the same issue.
Agunloye was a minister under President Olusegun Obasanjo’s government (1999-2003). He has been at the centre of the controversy about the Mambilla project.
Obasanjo had accused him of fraudulently awarding the contract for the project without the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approval. But Agunloye denied the accusations and claimed the former president was distorting facts.
Agunloye’s most recent travails have continued to generate reactions from Nigerians. Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka is the latest to comment on the matter.
In a Monday statement, he captioned “In pursuit of justice, productivity, under the rule of law,” Soyinka questioned the agency’s action.
“The immediate provocation for these reflections is the ongoing predicament of a former Minister of Power, Dr. Olu Agunloye, currently detained by the EFCC, in total contempt of sense and justice, or indeed, basic humane considerations. We shall not go into the merit or demerits of the charges raised against him over a 16-year-old project that bears the name Mambilla. –that is the business of the law courts,” Soyinka wrote.
“Our concern at this moment is however only partially on the basis of individual fundamental human rights. Most fortuitously, the detention of any former public servant under circumstances such as Agunloye also provokes the question: how is public interest – such as the pursuit of justice – served by such an arbitrary exercise of power?’’
The Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has tasked the Federal Government to allow married women to bear their fathers’ names.
Prof. Ishaq Akintola, Executive Director, MURIC, stated in a statement in Abuja on Monday.
“Our attention has been drawn to the plight of married Muslim women who are being disallowed by employers from bearing their fathers’ names.
“This amounts to forceful enslavement, denial of Allah-given fundamental human right to parental identity and wrongful dismissal of loco parentis.
“We condemn the current practice for three major reasons, namely, for generating confusion in the society, for creating a monumental identity crisis among married women and for depriving women of their Allah-given fundamental human right to personal as well as parental identity in marriage.
““Instead of this, we advocate the adoption of the women-friendly Islamic practice which allows married women to bear their fathers’ surnames after marriage.
““No woman dropped suddenly from the sky and even if some appear out of nowhere, they must have been born, bred, nurtured, buttered and marmaladed by certain parents before they grew up and matured into womanhood.
“Their education was also sponsored by their parents at a time that the future husband probably knew nothing about them and spent no kobo on their upbringing and their education,’’ he said.
He added: “It therefore beats logic, fairness and natural justice that a husband appears out of nowhere to commandeer a woman’s parental identity simply by marrying her. Such identity robbery also has its advantages.
“For instance, women who are educated are forced to advertise change of names to their husbands’ surnames after marriage in order to retain the validity of their documents and properties. It often becomes very difficult and sometimes impossible for married women to be located or to retain old friends due to such change of name.
“Those who want to be sincere among married women today will confirm the stress they have gone through from this experience. Islam sets women free from such stress by permitting married women to retain their original family names.
“Contrary to the general claim that Islam discriminates against women, Islamic liberation theology actually teaches respect for the dignity of women in all circumstances. One of such circumstances is the period when women are in wedlock.
“Whereas Western civilization robs married women of their original family identity by insisting that they should bear their husbands’ surnames, the Shari’ah allows women to bear their own fathers’ names even after marriage.’’
“We therefore invite the Federal Government and other relevant authorities to set the machinery in motion towards allowing married women to bear their fathers’ names.
“In particular, we charge both houses in the National Assembly, Senate and the House of Representatives, to introduce the necessary bills that will set Nigerian women free from undue masculine domination.
“This advocacy is not for Muslim women alone. We are certain that Muslim women are not the only ones who feel the pinch. MURIC will love to see every married woman who desires to be identified by her father’s name enabled to do so.
“Our lawmakers should frame the clauses in such a way that all women can enjoy the freedom to choose between bearing their fathers’ names or their husbands’. It is time to set Nigerian women free. They are the mothers of our society.
“We contend that the whole gamut of women liberation struggle boils down to a sham and a mirage until this goal is achieved. A married woman is not a slave. She is not just a dot in social statistics. She has a soul and that soul yearns for love.
“She covets to love and be loved, not only by her husband but also by her family and vice versa. Nigeria must not fail her. Parental identity is sacrosanct. Husbands can never replace fathers in matters of parental identity and that is what the current system compels women to go through. Enough is enough”.
NAN
Buhari at 81: Amnesty Int’l reminds ex-President of 4,200 Nigerians ‘unjustly’ killed during his administration
AdminA global human rights group, Amnesty International, has alleged that over 4,200 Nigerians were unjustly killed between May 2015 and May 2023 of President Muhammadu Buhari administration.
This allegation is coming a few days after Mr Buhari marked his 81st birthday.
In a statement titled “Gross human rights violations under Buhari administration,” the group alleged that the killings and human rights violations were perpetrated by security forces and individuals under the former president.
The statement added that at least 19 journalists and media practitioners were attacked, arrested, tortured, harassed, and threatened, while three journalists had to go into hiding.
“The Nigerian security forces carried out a chilling campaign of extrajudicial executions and violence, resulting in the deaths of at least 150 peaceful pro-Biafra protesters between August 2015 and August 2016.
“The Buhari administration’s failure to bring perpetrators to justice fuelled a bloody escalation in the conflict between farmers and herders across the country, resulting in at least 3,641 deaths in three years. Over 57% of the 3,641 recorded deaths occurred in 2018.
“At least 19 journalists and media practitioners were attacked, arrested, tortured, harassed and threatened between January and September 2019.
“At least, three journalists had to go into hiding. Daily Trust and Premium Times were raided by security forces:
“Peaceful #EndSARS protests seeking an end to the atrocities of SARS—a callous unit of the Nigeria Police, was met with violent crackdown, while 56 people were killed nationwide. At least 12 protesters were killed at #LekkiTollGate and Alausa on 20 Oct. 2020.
“Thousands of women and girls who survived the brutal rule of the Boko Haram armed group were further abused by the Nigerian security forces and CJTF who claim to be rescuing them.
“The women and girls were raped, sometimes in exchange for food,” the statement reads.