Former Minister of Sports and Youth, Solomon Dalung, has accused President Bola Tinubu of falling prey to fuel subsidy criminals.
Dalung said this in a recent interview with Trust Radio, while giving a review of the current administration.
“He goofed full-time by playing into the hands of subsidy racketeers, by making the statement that subsidy was gone. And Nigerians have not recovered from that trauma,” Dalung said.
He, however, said Tinubu should reintroduce 50 percent if it is necessary to remove subsidies.
The ex-minister also said that Tinubu must defend Naira, “because allowing the Naira to float, is just like sending a soldier to go to war naked”.
The former minister urged the president to save the lives of Nigerians and redeem his name as they can no longer sacrifice for the future, due to his economic policies that “doesn’t have a human face”.
Dalung argued that people are in hardship and dying of hunger due to current hardship facing the nation that needs to be addressed.
He said, “The promise that Nigerians can sacrifice for the future is unattainable, and it makes him look like a wicked leader, he must redeem his name because people are dying of hunger and you are asking them to sacrifice. So if they sacrifice and all die, who will see the future?”.
“He needs to save lives first, before he talks about economic policies, His economic policies should have a human face. Otherwise he will end up like Buhari,” he said.
The Federal Government has approved the appointment of retired doctors, nurses, and other clinical healthcare workers as contract staff.
However, the government stated that the appointed contract staff would be on the same salary scale level that they retired on if they desire and deserve it.
A circular reported by Punch and dated October 5, 2023, by the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) directed the Chief Executive Agencies, Chief Medical Directors, Medical Directors, and Heads of Regulatory Bodies and Schools to ensure compliance with the circular earlier issued by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) to all staff in their institutions.
OHCSF had in a circular dated August 30, 2023, rejected the upward review of the current retirement age of Medical/Dental Consultants and other health professionals from 60 to 70 and 75 respectively.
The circular titled ‘Re: Review of retirement age to 65 and 70 years for health professionals and medical/dental consultants,’ with reference number HCSF/SPSO/ODD/CND/100/S./145, was addressed to the Permanent Secretary FMOH.
The circular signed by the Permanent Secretary, Service Policies and Strategies Office, Olufemi Oloruntoba, for the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation read partly, “I am directed to refer to the above-mentioned memorandum presented at the 44th National Council on Establishment held from 5th-9th December 2022, in Yola, Adamawa State requesting a review of the current retirement age of Medical/Dental Consultants and other health professionals from 60 to 70 and 75 respectively
“After careful consideration of the memorandum, the council rejected the request based on the following: Professionals in the health sector were leaving the country because of pecuniary consideration and unfavourable conditions of service and not as a result of retirement age.
“Some state government had already increased the retirement age of medical doctors and other health workers and this has not addressed the spate of brain drain.
“Council, however, approved that clinical health workers who have attained the compulsory retirement age/years may be given contract appointment on the same salary scale level that they retired on if desired and deserved.
“Government should engage the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, and the Nigerian Medical Association to extract some level of commitment from medical doctors.
“To address the observed dissatisfaction with the attitude of health workers to work, there is a need to institutionalise an effective performance management system in the public service in order to improve the work ethics of the medical officers and consultant, and medical doctors should show more patriotism in the discharge of their duties and avoid holding the system to ransom.”
Consequently, the FMOH in its circular urged all executives of agencies, Chief Medical Directors, Medical Directors, and Heads of Regulatory Bodies and Schools to ensure strict compliance with the directive from the OHCSF.
[NaijaNews]
The raging conflict between Israel and Palestine has been linked to the attacks by the former on al-Aqsa mosque and Gaza refugee camp in the past years.
The escalated crisis has since Saturday recorded more than 1,000 casualties on both sides. Palestine was said to have had 421 deaths; and Israel, over 700. The numbers of those injured were put at 2, 220 and 2, 156 respectively.
Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, the Palestinian group that governs the Gaza strip, had explained that it launched its large-scale operation on Saturday in response to the “continued brutality” by Israel and its occupation administration against Palestinians.
This includes standing by as Israeli settlers launched attacks on Palestinian villages and neighbourhoods; attacking worshippers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque and killing an alarming number of Palestinians this year.
Why Hamas launched Operation al-Aqsa Storm
The leader of Hamas’s military wing, Mohammed Deif, said the assault was in response to the 16-year blockade of Gaza, Israeli raids inside West Bank cities over the past year, violence at al-Aqsa and increasing attacks by settlers on Palestinians and the growth of settlements.
The attack code-named ‘Operation Al-Aqsa Flood’, is said to be the most serious escalation since Israel and Hamas fought an 11-day war in 2021.
Hamas said it had fired 5,000 rockets; while Israel confirmed that the group’s fighters had entered its territory.
The rockets were fired as far north as Tel Aviv. Hamas also sent fighters into southern Israel. The Israeli army has since launched “Operation Iron Swords” against the Hamas group in the Gaza Strip.
Israel has declared a “state of war” as its army continues to face off against Palestinian fighters in several areas across southern Israel.
Reports had it that in May 2021, after weeks of tension during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, hundreds of Palestinians were wounded in clashes with Israeli security forces at the al-Aqsa compound in Jerusalem.
The disputed al-Aqsa Mosque compound, located at the heart of Jerusalem’s Old City, is the third holiest site in Islam and sacred to Jews as the Temple Mount.
The compound has been a flashpoint of clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians over the past years.
After demanding Israel withdraw security forces from the compound, Hamas unleashed a barrage of rockets from Gaza into Israel.
Israel hit back with air strikes on Gaza. Fighting went on for 11 days, killing at least 250 people in Gaza and 13 in Israel.
Again in August 2022, at least 44 people, including 15 children, were killed in three days of violence that began when Israeli air strikes hit a senior Islamic Jihad commander.
Israel said the strikes were a pre-emptive operation against an imminent attack by the Iranian-backed militant movement, targeting commanders and arms depots.
In January 2023, the Islamic Jihad in Gaza fired two rockets towards Israel after Israeli troops raided a refugee camp and killed seven Palestinian gunmen and two civilians. The rockets set off alarms in Israeli communities near the border, but caused no casualties. Israel responded with air strikes on Gaza.
In a recorded message, Deif said:”Enough is enough.”
He said the Saturday morning attack was only the start of what he called Operation al-Aqsa Storm and called on Palestinians from East Jerusalem to northern Israel to join the fight.
“Today the people are regaining their revolution.”
Experts flay Israeli occupying power
Prof. Abubakar Jika Jiddare of the Department of Political Science, Bayero University Kano, said Hamas attacks took the international community off guard because of the Israel’s policy of containment of the Palestinians over the decades.
He said containment would rather embolden Palestinians into devising solutions to free themselves from the “bondage” of Israel.
He said only an agreement on the existence of the two states of Palestine and Israel could end the decades-long standoff “because it has shown that containment would not work.
“So, Israel must understand this problem and sit with the Palestinians and come to terms on the two steps solution to this unending conflict in the region.’’
An ex-diplomat, Ambassador Suleiman Dahiru, told Daily Trust that the escalation of conflict between Hamas and Israel should be expected, “because Israel has been a ruthless occupying power acting in the most unacceptable manner.
“I’m happy that Hamas responded in good measure in the way Israel never thought. No matter what happens, Hamas has disgraced invincible Israel. I’ve never and will never tolerate Israel’s criminality against Palestine with the active connivance of lapdog America,” he added.
Israel should be forced to obey int’l laws-Palestinian envoy
Speaking on Trust Tv last night, Palestinian Ambassador Extraordinary Plenipotentiary to Nigeria, Abdullah Abu Shawesh, asked the international community to force Israel to accept all international resolutions made by the United Nations and other organisations to end the resurgence of the conflict.
Shawesh said Palestinians had continued to suffer from the illegal occupation of Palestine without recourse to international laws.
He stated: “The international community needs to be serious on the implementation of all the resolutions they have adopted in the UN, in the Security Council and other places.
“If the international community wants to be serious to end the Israel occupation, countries like the US, European countries and their allies should put an end to the brutality and force Israel to be bound to international laws. So, when international laws are followed, we’ll put an end to this escalation.”
He said the conflict had been going on for the past 75 years, thus, the public should not be gas-lighted to make decisions on the recent events but should consider inhumane ways Palestinians had lived in refugee camps scattered across the world and those who had to remain on the strict rule of Israel.
“Since the Palestinian An-Nakba, Israel has wiped out the majority of Palestine people. They became refugees in the diaspora, the root cause is Israel in 1967 that has continued to occupy the remaining part of Palestine; we live under Israel rule.”
He urged the public not to rely on Israel media for information on the war as the historical sufferings Palestinians had been enduring under the rule of Israel led to the death of over 250 Palestinians since the start of the year with more than 50 children murdered.
Israeli ambassador fingers Iran
Michael Freeman, the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, has fingered Iran in the attack on Israel by Hamas.
While speaking with Trust TV on Saturday, he alleged that Iran was trying to stop the peace initiative in the Middle East by pushing Hamas into the attack.
“Make no mistake, Iran is behind all of these. Iran is sponsoring Hamas, Iran is pushing Hamas and we will make sure that Hamas paid a severe price for these unprovoked attacks.
“Hamas is determined to stop the peace in the Middle East,” he said.
On the narrative that the attack was a response to the occupation of Gaza by Israel, Freeman said Israel left Gaza in 2005 and that there were no Israelis in Gaza currently.
“Hamas death squad walked through the streets and shot women and children and may have kidnapped thousands of other civilians and taken them back to Gaza where they are being held. We’ll do everything to bring them back,” he said.
He said there would never be any justification for walking down the street and murdering women and children, assuring that Hamas would be made to pay for their actions.
He said the Hamas militants killed over 150 unarmed men, women and children just because they were Israelis.
Hezbollah enters the fray
The Lebanese resistance group, Hezbollah, has joined the fight against the Israeli occupation.
The group declared that it had targeted three Israeli military positions in the occupied Lebanese Shebaa Farms, in the early hours of Sunday.
In a statement on its website, the group said it entered the fight to liberate the remaining part of occupied Lebanese land and in solidarity with the Palestinian resistance.
AU, Nigeria, China, S/Arabia, Egypt, others urge ceasefire
Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, in a statement, said the cycle of violence and retaliation that the current escalation had assumed only served to perpetuate an unending cycle of pain and suffering for the civilian population that bears the brunt of every conflict.
He said Nigeria called on both sides to exercise restraint, prioritize the safety of civilians and give room for humanitarian considerations.
“We’re, therefore, calling for a peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue,” he said. The chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, urged both parties “to return, without preconditions, to the negotiating table to implement the principle of two states living side by side”.
China said it was “deeply concerned” by the dramatic escalation of the crisis and asked all sides to show “calm”.
Egypt, according to its foreign affairs ministry, is in talks with Saudi Arabia and Jordan to defuse Palestinian-Israeli tensions.
Saudi Arabia urged “immediate cessation of violence”; while American President Joe Biden described Saturday’s Hamas attacks in Israel as “unconscionable” and pledged to ensure Israel has “what it needs to defend itself”.
Pope Francis yesterday called for peace, saying “terrorism and war do not lead to a solution”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned of “a long and difficult war” vowing to flatten Gaza Strip. Israel has intensified air attacks and cut off power to the coastal enclave in the Gaza Strip. The 2.3 million Palestinians who live in the besieged Gaza Strip spent the night in terror and darkness.
The Israeli attacks flattened residential buildings in giant explosions, including a 14-storey tower that held dozens of apartments as well as Hamas offices in central Gaza City.
US to help Israel with military ships, aircraft
Reuters quoted American Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin as saying yesterday that the US would send multiple military ships and aircraft closer to Israel as a show of support.
[DailyTrust]
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has expressed concern over the rising cases of insecurity ahead of the November 11 governorship elections billed to take place in Imo, Bayelsa, and Kogi states.
In a statement by INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, he appealed to political parties and their candidates to avoid actions and utterances capable of heating up the polity.
“The commission is concerned about the spate of insecurity and violence, including clashes among supporters of political parties and candidates in the forthcoming elections,” he said.
The commission appealed to all political parties and candidates to avoid utterances and acts that may heat up the polity, adding that it will continue to closely monitor the situation and sustain its engagement with security agencies and stakeholders to ensure peaceful conduct of elections in the three states.
[DailyPost]
The Federal Government, on Sunday, provided more reasons why it decided to suspend the N-Power programme, stating that the scheme had ghost beneficiaries, while some of its consultants were currently withholding participants’ funds.
Sunday PUNCH reported that over one million Nigerians had lost their jobs under the N-Power programme following the indefinite suspension of the scheme by the government as announced on Saturday by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu.
The N-Power programme was established by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari to address youth unemployment as beneficiaries were paid N30,000 monthly stipend.
Providing additional reasons why the scheme was suspended, the National Programme Manager N-Power, Akindele Egbuwalo, stated on Sunday that the scheme had ghost workers that should be eliminated.
On concerns about consultants of the scheme, he said, “Preliminary findings of our audit have shown that some consultants are holding on to beneficiaries’ funds disbursed to them long ago even when their contract ended in March 2023 without any renewal.
“We condemn this practice and will not tolerate it going forward. Work is ongoing to identify those involved, understand why the payments didn’t get to the final beneficiaries, and recall the funds to pay those owed.
“We appeal to Nigerians to understand the rationale behind the temporary suspension and investigation of the programme as we work to restore the nation’s confidence in the programme and for the new N-Power to serve Nigerians better. Things have to be properly done for us to move forward.”
Egbuwalo said the ongoing restructuring and transformation would also birth an expanded programme to reach beneficiaries aged 18-40 (the previous age limit was 35).
Foremost rights groups, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) and Amnesty International (AI), yesterday, condemned attempts by the federal government through the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to gag the media, especially Nigeria’s number television station, the Arise News Television.
HURIWA specifically cautioned the NBC to avoid acting like an agency of fascism, and not to continuously act as though it was being teleguided, manipulated and mechanically remote-controlled by haters of democracy, free speech and constitutionalism, to scuttle Nigeria’s democracy.
HURIWA also called on National Broadcasting Commission to take cognisance of the ‘indubitably, incontrovertible and irrevocable’ fact that the grundnorm or the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was more supreme and bigger than any public office holders.
It said the NBC that was set up by an inferior legislative template couldn’t be seen to be attempting crudely to revoke the constitutional freedoms enshrined copiously in chapter 4 of the constitution, including freedom of information.
The civil right group said claimed the Constitution in section 22 has empowered the media of mass communication to do the duty of a vanguard and conscience of the nation and monitor the behaviours of public institutions and public office holders.
It said this was to ensure rule of law, respect for constitutionalism and fundamental freedoms recognised internationally under the Universal Declarations of Human Rights (UDHR), the African Charter on people’s and human rights, the international covenant on civil and political rights and a plethora of international human rights treaties.
HURIWA said the persistent attempt by NBC to muzzle the exercise of the fundamental human rights of Nigerians including attempting to force broadcasting stations to start operating as if they were in the era of Musolini’s fascism of Italy of far years gone by or as if Nigeria was under the North Korean type of absolute tyranny by not featuring critics or Nigerians of divergent views different from those of the persons in government of the day, must be actively resisted by all and sundry so that democracy was not imperilled.
The Rights group, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, accused the NBC of working with reactionary elements to scuttle democracy and institute absolute monarchical type of governance in this 21st century Nigeria.
Nigerians, it said, should and must actively resist this negative forces, who were bent on scuttling the enjoyment of fundamental freedoms by the Nigerian citizens.
On its party, Amnesty International, condemned NBC for issuing a ‘final warning’ to owners of Arise Television over the use of derogatory and incendiary remarks on the station.
In its reaction shared on its X account in the early hours of Saturday, October 7, 2023, Amnesty International Nigeria said the NBC action has proven that the Nigerian authorities were not prepared to be held accountable.
It urged the government to desist from what it called an attempt to silence media organisations whose roles are crucial in ensuring independent and diverse media space in the country.
The statement read: “Amnesty International condemns the ‘final warning’ issued to @ARISEtv by the FG through National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Targeting Arise TV simply for doing their work sends the wrong message that; Nigerian authorities are not prepared to be held accountable.
“Nigerian authorities must stop the unrelenting quest to silence media organizations like @ARISEtv which are crucial to ensuring independent and diverse media space in the country and fulfilling people’s right to information.
“Using regulations as a way to silence independent journalism is completely unacceptable. The media in Nigeria should be free to exercise their right to freedom of expression as protected by international law.”
The Federal Government has approved the appointment of doctors, nurses, and other clinical healthcare workers as contract staff after attaining their compulsory retirement age or years.
The government, however, said the appointed contract staff would be on the same salary scale level that they retired on if they desire and deserve it.
A circular obtained by our correspondent, dated October 5, 2023, by the Federal Ministry of Health, directed the Chief Executive Agencies, Chief Medical Directors, Medical Directors, and Heads of Regulatory Bodies and Schools to ensure compliance with the circular earlier issued by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to all staff in their institutions.
The office of the OHCSF had in a circular dated August 30, 2023, rejected the upward review of the current retirement age of Medical/Dental Consultants and other health professionals from 60 to 70 and 75 respectively.
The circular titled ‘Re: Review of retirement age to 65 and 70 years for health professionals and medical/dental consultants,’ with reference number HCSF/SPSO/ODD/CND/100/S./145, was addressed to the Permanent Secretary of the FMoH.
The circular signed by the Permanent Secretary, Service Policies and Strategies Office, Olufemi Oloruntoba, for the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation read partly, “I am directed to refer to the above-mentioned memorandum presented at the 44th National Council on Establishment held from 5th-9th December 2022, in Yola, Adamawa State requesting a review of the current retirement age of Medical/Dental Consultants and other health professionals from 60 to 70 and 75 respectively.
“After careful consideration of the memorandum, the council rejected the request based on the following: Professionals in the health sector were leaving the country because of pecuniary consideration and unfavourable conditions of service and not as a result of retirement age.
“Some state government had already increased the retirement age of medical doctors and other health workers and this has not addressed the spate of brain drain.”
It also said it was dissatisfied with health workers’ attitude to work, noting that in spite of efforts by the government to encourage health workers, the exodus of health workers had not abated.
“Council, however, approved that clinical health workers who have attained the compulsory retirement age/years may be given contract appointment on the same salary scale level that they retired on if desired and deserved.
“Government should engage the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, and the Nigerian Medical Association to extract some level of commitment from medical doctors.
“To address the observed dissatisfaction with the attitude of health workers to work, there is a need to institutionalise an effective performance management system in the public service in order to improve the work ethics of the medical officers and consultant, and medical doctors should show more patriotism in the discharge of their duties and avoid holding the system to ransom,” it added.
Consequently, the FMoH in its circular urged all executives of agencies, Chief Medical Directors, Medical Directors, and Heads of Regulatory Bodies and Schools to ensure strict compliance with the directive from the OHCSF.
The circular signed by the Deputy of Appointment, Promotion and Discipline, Daloba Paul Edward for the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, was referenced C.4007/T.2/37.
President Bola Tinubu has rejected a request by Niger’s military leader General Abdourahamane Tchiani for direct one-on-one talks to help resolve the crisis in the West African country.
According to diplomatic sources, Tinubu dismissed the overture as disrespectful to detained President Mohamed Bazoum and an endorsement of the illegal junta government.
The request was conveyed to Tinubu by a delegation of Muslim clerics who met him in Abuja last month. But the Nigerian leader outrightly ruled out interacting directly with the head of a coup government not recognized by ECOWAS.
Government sources confirmed Tinubu insisted that engaging Tchiani would improperly legitimize the junta and disappoint other ECOWAS leaders. The president stated that the coupists must be held accountable.
Tinubu had also received emissaries like ex-Nigerian leader Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar and Sultan of Sokoto, who visited Niger to discuss resolution. But the impasse persists amid doubts on sending envoys who benefited from past military rule.
The ECOWAS chairman however told the Ulamas delegation that the bloc remains committed to a peaceful and diplomatic solution. Tinubu pledged to continue restraining calls for swifter intervention in the crisis.
Analysts say Tinubu’s rejection of direct discussion with Tchiani sends an important signal, but a united ECOWAS front is needed to resolve the coup crisis. The junta continues to hold President Bazoum in detention.
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, at the weekend, disclosed that the Federal Government was planning to resume the dredging of Rivers Niger and Benue.
Utsev added that his ministry had put committees in motion to work on the modalities for the dredging of the two rivers.
Fielding questions from journalists in Ilorin, Kwara State, on the sidelines of the graduation ceremony from a youth empowerment scheme and distribution of items organized by the Lower Niger River Basin Authority, he said: “Dredging of Rivers Niger and Benue is what we are working on. We have put some committees in place.”
His words were,
- “The committees will assess the feasibility of the dredging. After that, we will discuss it with President Bola Tinubu. At that point, we will then tell all Nigerians where we are on the dredging of the two rivers.”
- He added that his ministry was working to ensure the provision of potable water, sanitation, and irrigation for Nigerians.
Importance of dredging the Rivers
On the benefits of dredging both Rivers, the Minister said,
- “Water for irrigation will be used to provide food for the enhancement of food security and ultimately generate income and empowerment.
- As you can see, some youths are being empowered today. Water is not only important; it is very necessary for the existence of living organisms.”
- “Without water, there will be no life.”
- “President Tinubu in his Renewed Hope agenda promises Nigerians to work on food security and revive Nigeria’s economy in addition to healthcare and security.”
- “We at the ministry are working assiduously to see how we can provide potable water for drinking, sanitation, and irrigation,” he stressed.
Backstory
Calls for the dredging of the River Niger and Benue are not new, and the federal government had made efforts towards dredging these two rivers to combat flooding, provide water for irrigation and encourage marine transport and other economic activities.
In 2017, the then Minister of Transport, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi announced the awarding of contracts for the dredging of critical parts of the river Benue. He also said dredging of Lower River Niger from Warri to Baro has begun.
[NairaMetrics]
President Bola Tinubu, on Sunday, declared that with the hitherto abandoned Ajaokuta Steel Complex now nearing completion, the project will have the capacity to employ 500,000 Nigerians once designated as a free trade zone.
The president further promised to fully harness the potential of the complex once it is completed, as it would boost Nigeria’s foreign direct investment and provide an avenue for the creation of the much-needed conducive business environment for all sectors to thrive.
President Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, made this known at the flag-off of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship campaign in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.
The governorship poll in the state is slated for 11 November.
Addressing a mammoth crowd in Lokoja, Mr Shettima also noted that Mr Tinubu remained committed to completing the constructions of the River Niger, the Kabba-Lokoja and the Abuja-Lokoja roads.
He said Mr Tinubu is a man of plenty of ideas who is determined to reposition the nation in its rightful place, especially as it borders on restructuring and stimulating the Nigerian economy.
“Given Mr President’s commitment to the development of Kogi State and indeed the entirety of Nigeria, Kogi in particular being a confluence state, cannot afford to have a governor who is hostile to the centre. We must be partners in progress and work hand in hand to develop this great nation,” the vice president said.
He further hinted about plans by the Tinubu administration to make the Itakpe crop processing project a dream come true, just as he promised jobs and affordable education under the present government.
Reemphasising that the welfare of the citizenry would never be willfully compromised, Mr Shettima called on Kogi citizens to come out en masse on 11 November to vote for the candidate of the APC, Ahmed Ododo, to consolidate the achievements of the APC government in the state.
He added that the natural endowments of Kogi State would be harnessed for the development of the state and the nation at large, adding that President Tinubu had further given his nod for the rehabilitation of Obajana-Okene road in Kogi State.
Speaking earlier, Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, thanked President Tinubu for accepting to flag off the governorship campaign in his state, disclosing that his administration has achieved a lot, and it is time for consolidation to move the state forward.
“We have done a lot in the area of security, education and health, among others. We want to consolidate on that. I am, therefore, calling on the people of our dear state to vote for our candidate to move Kogi State forward,” he said.
The APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, said because Mr Bello has provided good governance to the people of Kogi, the state cannot afford to be left behind by giving power to another party different from the one at the centre.
Also, the Chairman of the APC Campaign Council for Kogi State, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, enjoined the people of Kogi State to clean up their voter cards and turn out in numbers to vote for the candidate of the APC in the November governorship election.
On his part, Kogi State APC governorship candidate, Ahmed Ododo, pledged to carry the people of the state along if elected, saying he remained committed to the development agenda of Kogi State.
“We will build on the legacies of my mentor, Governor Yahaya Bello. We will give attention to security, education, agriculture and health. Our women will also be empowered,” he said.
Other dignitaries at the campaign rally were the Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq; Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Audu, and members of the National Working Committee of the APC, among others.
The vice president’s engagements in Kogi had started with an audience with traditional rulers and other stakeholders of the state ahead of the governorship election.
At the audience with the stakeholders, Mr Shettima also solicited support for the APC candidate in the forthcoming election.
Responding on behalf of his colleagues, the President, Kogi State Traditional Council and the Attah of Igala, Mathew Opaluwa, pledged their support for President Tinubu.
The royal father commended the state governor for working hard in addressing security challenges in the state.
Stanley Nkwocha
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications
(Office of the Vice President)
8th October, 2023
More...
Ahead of the forthcoming off-cycle gubernatorial elections in Imo, Bayelsa, and Kogi states, the Director of the Abuja School of Political Thoughts, Dr Sam Amadi, has tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to correct the inadequacies and lack of due diligence witnessed during the 2023 general election to avoid more crises in the states.
Amadi stated this in Abuja at the weekend during a policy roundtable at the Centre for Public Policy and Research.
Expressing his concerns over the integrity of the past elections in these states, he said: “Today, we have seen various tribunals come down with judgement. What’s common about most of these judgements, in spite of their decision in terms of either upholding or nullifying the election, is the evidence-based clarity about how INEC makes mistakes in some places.
“So now we are about to face another election, the governorship election in Imo, Bayelsa, and Kogi states. INEC had earlier promised to do transmission of this election, which is what they promised at the presidential election and just about a few days ago, we got news circulated that the Bayelsa election would be manually collated. So, back to the same false assurances and false confidence. We know that most of these states, like Imo, are under a serious security threat in terms of the recent sad incident of the killing of Nigerian soldiers.
“We know that if elections are manipulated as they have been, it could spike into a new level of insecurities, particularly in Imo State, where, out of the three, is now the most traumatised with insecurity.”
Similarly, speaking at the event, Prof Abiodun Adeniji stated that there ought to be measures to ensure that the country experiences free and fair elections in the November off-cycle gubernatorial elections.
[DailyPost]
Former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, has said that diversity and multiculturalism have divine purpose, explaining that God designed them for mankind to make the world exciting and not monotonous or stale for mankind.
Obasanjo said diversity and multiculturalism should be embraced, cherished, jealously guarded and sustained by humanity.
The elder statesman gave this explanation in his keynote address at the 2023 World Culture Festival organised by the Art of Living Foundation at the National mall, Washington DC, USA at the weekend.
In a release by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, the former President submitted that God has given us life with a world of diversity and multiculturalism.
He explained that these traits should be sustained “because of human imperfection, greed, selfishness and dishonesty, war, violence, insecurity, poverty, criminality and evil in one form or the other pervade the world.
“Some would want to blame these on diversity or multiculturalism. And using these to point at the failure of multiculturalism. That, if I may say, is wrong. In spite of human development in science and technology from the stone age to artificial intelligence age, human basic instinct for power, position, popularity, prestige, prosperity at all costs have not changed much if at all.”
Obasanjo emphasised that to have gathered with about 180 countries “is to acknowledge and celebrate diversity which is of God. God is God of diversity and not of sameness.
“If God has created sameness in the world, it would have been a world of monotony, staleness, unexcitement, dullness and boredom. God created a world of diversity and wonder for us to enjoy and live happily in.
“In the process, we sacrifice love, kindness, goodwill, brotherhood and sisterhood, mercy, forgiveness, consideration for others and love and fear with respect for our Creator.
“Gurudev, my leader, brothers and sisters all over the world, God has given us life with a world of diversity and multiculturalism.”
Obasanjo stressed that as human beings, “We have an unrelenting task of working to add love, kindness, brotherhood, humanity and humanness to the world of diversity God has given us.”
He pointed further that it was only when these tasks were achieved, “then, we will have one world of peace, common security, stability, wholesomeness, growth, shared prosperity, inclusive society and God’s kingdom on earth. That is our goal to achieve.”
[Nation]
The Christian Association of Nigeria has warned the Federal Government against negotiating with bandits and terrorists and granting them amnesty, saying it should stop playing politics.
CAN said if the Nigerian state was so helpless and could not fight terrorism, it should look for help elsewhere.
While describing them as enemies of the state, the Christian body said banditry and kidnapping had become big business while the government had allowed it to continue for a long time.
CAN Secretary, North-West Zone, Sunday Oibe, issued the warning in an interview with The PUNCH on Sunday.
According to him, the FG should be careful with the so-called negotiators who have seen an opportunity to “make more money.”
He was reacting to recent reports that some officials of the FG were negotiating with bandits in Zamfara State, although the state government has kicked against it.
Oibe was also asked if CAN would support such discussions or amnesty for bandits and if such measures would stop banditry.
He said, “It’s shameful and disgusting for the Nigerian state to keep doing this to us as a people. We have been hearing the expression, ‘unknown gunmen’ did this and that over and over again. Suddenly, the unknown gunmen are now known to the point that the federal might is even allowing some of its officials to enter into negotiation with the bandits.
“As long as we keep living in denial, this problem shall remain unsolved. There’s nothing like bandits or unknown gunmen. This is an organised crime against the rest of us that are helpless. The successive governments know them, hire them, empower them and are using them against the rest of us.
“Are we saying that the Nigerian state is so helpless to win the war against these enemies of the state? If we as a nation have become so helpless, let us stomach our pride by seeking help elsewhere. This war must stop and the time is now. Personally, I don’t subscribe to the idea of negotiating with criminals and the enemies of the state. The government knows what to do and should stop playing games.
“There was a governor of APC extraction who told the entire world how they had paid this same group of people under the last administration of Muhammadu Buhari. The question is, why didn’t they stop harassing innocent citizens? After collecting money as alleged by the said governor at a time and they refused to stop causing pain to innocent citizens, why didn’t the Nigerian state go after them?
“Lastly, we want to know who are these alleged government officials that know these bandits and are willing to enter into negotiation with them. Banditry and kidnapping have become a big business and the government has allowed this nonsense for long. Do you know how many families have been plundered into emotional and financial penury because of these evil non-state actors?”
The secretary added, “Negotiation is not the answer but rather, demonstration of political will to root out these criminals from the very root is the solution. The DSS, NIA, Police, etc know the source (s) and are willing to work if given the free hand to do so. Nigerian soldiers who were used to dancing the piton dance elsewhere are capable of rooting out those evil people if given the right motivation and go ahead.
“How do you justify going into negotiation with those that killed your country’s security personnel with impunity leaving their wives as widows and children as orphans? The Federal Government should be careful with the so-called negotiators who have seen the opportunity to make more money.”
[Punch]
Israel, reeling from the deadliest attack in half a century, formally declared war on Hamas Sunday as the conflict’s death toll surged above 1,000 after the Palestinian militant group launched a massive surprise assault from Gaza.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu steeled the shocked and grieving nation for a “long and difficult” war after Hamas fired a barrage of rockets at Israel on Saturday and sent a wave of fighters who gunned down civilians and took at least 100 hostages.
The bloody escalation sharply heightened Middle East tensions and killed more than 600 people on the Israeli side, the country’s worst losses since the 1973 Arab-Israeli war when it came under attack from a coalition led by Egypt and Syria.
“Israel was caught flat-footed by the unprecedented attack,” said Jonathan Panikoff, director of the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative. “I’ve heard multiple comparisons to 9/11, and many Israelis are struggling to understand how this could have happened.”
In Gaza — which was hammered by Israeli air strikes on 800 targets ahead of what many feared may be a looming ground invasion — officials reported at least 413 deaths, with thousands more wounded across the war zone.
US President Joe Biden ordered “additional support for Israel in the face of this unprecedented terrorist assault by Hamas,” the White House said.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Washington “will be rapidly providing the Israel Defense Forces with additional equipment and resources, including munitions”.
Austin also said he had directed the USS Gerald R. Ford, an aircraft carrier, and its accompanying warships to the eastern Mediterranean, and that Washington was augmenting fighter aircraft squadrons in the region.
Several foreign countries have reported nationals killed, abducted or missing in the fighting, among them Brazil, Britain, France, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, Nepal, Thailand, Ukraine and the United States.
Tens of thousands of Israeli forces were deployed to battle holdout Hamas fighters in the south, where the bodies of civilians had been found strewn on roads and in town centres.
“The enemy is still on the ground,” said military spokesman Daniel Hagari as a second night fell after the attack, adding that Israel was reinforcing its military strength near the Gaza Strip.
Gun battles raged as the Israeli army sought to secure desert regions near the coastal enclave, rescue Israeli hostages and evacuate all areas near Gaza.
“We’ll reach each and every community until we kill every terrorist in Israel,” vowed Hagari, a day after Hamas fighters launched their shock offensive and surged into Israel using vehicles, boats and motorised paragliders.
Countries around the world have condemned a wave of Palestinian attacks by land, sea and air that Israel’s army says left more than 600 dead.
Israeli jets carried out “intense” airstrikes on targets in Gaza Sunday afternoon, shortly after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced that the security cabinet had voted Saturday evening to put the country officially at war, meaning it can carry out “significant military activities.”
Some countries also called for a de-escalation of the conflict, after Israel launched air strikes and other military operations targeting Gaza that Palestinian .
“We are at war,” Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said when he vowed severe retaliation after Hamas’s surprise assault.
Here is a roundup of the reactions:
United States
President Joe Biden said US support for Israel was “rock solid and unwavering”.
“The United States stands with Israel,” Biden said in a televised statement at the White House, flanked by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
“We will not ever fail to have their back.”
A White House official said talks with Israel on military aid were “very much under way”.
Iran
A senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei expressed support for the attack, calling it a “proud operation”.
“We support this operation,” Yahya Rahim Safavi said, quoted by ISNA news agency.
Safavi expressed backing for the Palestinian militants “until the liberation of Palestine and Jerusalem”.
At a parliament session on Saturday, Iranian lawmakers chanted “Down with Israel”, “Down with America” and “Welcome Palestine”, according to a video published by the Tasnim news agency.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry said: “The Kingdom calls for an immediate halt to the escalation between the two sides, protection of civilians, and self-control”.
“The Kingdom is reminded of its repeated warnings of the dangers of an explosive situation as a result of the continued occupation and deprivation of the Palestinian people of their legitimate rights,” it added.
UN
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged diplomatic efforts in the Middle East in order to prevent wider conflict, saying Saturday that “only through negotiation leading to a two-state solution can peace be achieved.”
The UN’s human rights chief Volker Turk said: “I call for an immediate stop to the violence, and appeal to all sides and key countries in the region to de-escalate to avoid further bloodshed.”
He said he was “deeply concerned at reports that Israeli civilians have been taken hostage”.
EU
European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen said: “I unequivocally condemn the attack carried out by Hamas terrorists against Israel.”
“It is terrorism in its most despicable form. Israel has the right to defend itself against such heinous attacks,” she said.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said “This horrific violence must stop immediately. Terrorism and violence solve nothing. The EU expresses its solidarity with Israel in these difficult moments.”
He added: “News of civilians taken as hostages in their homes or to Gaza are appalling. This is against international law. Hostages must be released immediately”.
Brazil
Brazil, which holds the UN Security Council presidency, condemned the attacks on Israel.
A statement from its foreign ministry urged “all parties to exercise maximum restraint in order to avoid escalating the situation”.
Shortly after, it said it would call an emergency UN Security Council meeting on the crisis. The Council announced they would meet Sunday.
China
China said it was “deeply concerned” by the weekend’s dramatic escalation of violence between Israel and the Palestinians, urging all sides to show “calm”.
“China is deeply concerned about the current escalation of tension and violence between Palestine and Israel,” Beijing’s foreign ministry said, adding it “calls on all parties concerned to remain calm and exercise restraint, cease fire immediately, protect civilians and prevent further deterioration of the situation”.
Russia
Russia’s foreign ministry called for an “immediate ceasefire”.
“We call on the Palestinian and Israeli sides to immediately cease fire, renounce violence, show the necessary restraint and — with the help of the international community — establish a negotiation process aimed at establishing a comprehensive, lasting and long-awaited peace,” ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.
Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose country is fending off a Russian invasion, said Israel had an “indisputable” right to defend itself.
“Terror is always a crime, not just against one country or specific victims, but against humanity as a whole,” he said.
Turkey
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged Israel and Palestinians to avoid further escalation.
“We invite all parties to act reasonably and to stay away from impulsive steps that raise tensions,” said Erdogan, who strongly supports the Palestinian cause.
France
France expressed “full solidarity with Israel and the victims” and underscored “its absolute rejection of terrorism and its commitment to Israel’s security”.
President Emmanuel Macron said he “firmly condemns” the attacks.
Germany
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Israel “has our full solidarity” and “the right, guaranteed by international law, to defend itself against terrorism”.
Britain
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he was “shocked” by the attacks.
“Israel has an absolute right to defend itself,” he said.
He went further in a post later on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“As the barbarity of today’s atrocities becomes clearer, we stand unequivocally with Israel,” he wrote.
“This attack by Hamas is cowardly and depraved.”
Italy
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni spoke by telephone on Sunday with Netanyahu, to whom she “reaffirmed Rome’s full solidarity” following the offensive launched by Hamas.
“The Italian government will work with international partners to coordinate support” for Israel, Rome said in a statement.
“Italy stands by the Israeli people at this difficult time”.
Japan
Japan “strongly condemns” the cross-border attacks, foreign minister Yoko Kamikawa said.
Tokyo also criticised the kidnapping of a number of Israelis, including several civilians, she said in a statement.
“Meanwhile, we are seriously concerned about the large number of casualties in the Gaza Strip as a result of attacks by the Israel Defence Forces,” her statement continued.
“Japan once again calls on all parties to exercise the utmost restraint to prevent further damage.”
South Africa
South Africa’s foreign ministry expressed its “grave concern over the recent devastating escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict”.
“The region is in desperate need of a credible peace process that delivers on the calls of a plethora of previous UN resolutions for a two-state solution and a just and comprehensive peace between Israel and Palestine,” it added.
India
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his country stood “in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour”.
“Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel,” Modi said.
Venezuela
Venezuela’s government expressed its “deep concern” over the clashes.
In a statement on X, formerly Twitter, it said the fighting was “the result of the impossibility of the Palestinian people to find in multilateral international legality a space to assert their historic rights”.
Yemen
In Yemen, Huthi rebels who control the capital Sanaa expressed their support for “the heroic jihadist operation”.
In a statement published on the website of the Huthi-controlled SABA news agency, the Iran-aligned militant group said the attack “revealed the weakness, fragility and impotence” of Israel.
It added that this operation “is a battle of dignity, pride, and defence”.
AFP