...advise Tinubu to address issues

The Sultan of Sokoto and President of Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’adu Abubakar III, and the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh, Friday called on the Nigerian youths to put an end to the ongoing nationwide protest.

The two religious leaders made the call in a statement they jointly signed with the Executive Secretary of NIREC, Prof. Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua.

Yesterday, the Sultan appealed to protesters and the conveners of the protests to sheath their swords and come to the dialogue table.

“With the ongoing protests in Nigeria and the information reaching His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, JNI, he once again appeals to the protest conveners, their covert and overt benefactors, as well as  other critical stakeholders to sheath their swords and urgently come to the table for dialogue.

“We genuinely feared escalation to an uncontrollable scenario and the reports are tilting towards that.

“Therefore, we in the name of Allah, the Most High call for an end to the snowballing rampaging, in the name of protest.

“We should all understand that there must be a stable country called Nigeria, before we can proudly call ourselves Nigerians.

“With tomorrow being Friday, Jumu’ah mosque Imams and Muslim leaders are implored to calm nerves and call on the Ummah to appreciate peace than chaotic state of affairs, which may even deny us congregational prayers…..

“Nevertheless, the Sultan of Sokoto, implores the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria to address the nation, by assuring all Nigerians that peace, security, stability, relief to hardship and food security would be achieved under his stewardship, in-sha’Allah.

“Likewise, State Governors should also calm nerves, as silence is no longer golden at this moment of anxiety.

“In this time of challenge, we pray for guidance, protection, good health, and peace for all leaders, and for tranquility to prevail in Nigeria.

“May Allah, the Highest, also provide the quickest relief to all problems bedeviling the Nigerian state. Aamin.”

Fast forward to today, Sultan and Archbishop Daniel Okoh, opined: “The NIREC observes with heavy heart the happenings in the country at the moment. The protest that commenced in a peaceful manner on Thursday, August 1, 2024 despite pleas from all quarters, took a turn for the worse and became violent later in the day.

“In just a few hours lives and property were lost due to this unfortunate scenario,” the statement read. “NIREC hereby calls on fellow citizens of Nigeria to please call off this protest and give the government a chance to redeem itself.

“In just one day lives and enormous amount of property have been destroyed. Imagine if this continues for a prolonged period of time, only God knows the extent of damage that would be incurred,” the council said.

It also urged the security agencies to be more professional in the discharge of their duties.

NIREC urged the government to expedite action towards meeting the yearnings and needs of the citizens.

“We need a peaceful and tranquil nation we can be proud to call our own,” NIREC said.

Protesters have blocked major roads in Jos, the Plateau capital, urging President Bola Tinubu to address Nigerians over the hardships in the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the number of protesters for the #EndBadGovernance# protest, has increased significantly, compared to Thursday, the first day of the protest.

The protesters blocked the Old Airport Roundabout, compelling motorists to seek alternative routes within the metropolis.

Former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Solomon Dalung, urged Tinubu to save Nigerians the stress by addressing the nation.

“I thought the president would have saved Nigeria from the stress that the people are going through and the demonstration.

“But maybe due to ill advice, he thought the demonstration was not going to be possible, but it recorded 70 per cent success.

“Nigerians that came out yesterday and today indicate that the president should listen to Nigerians. Nigerians are talking.

“They are saying, restore the oil subsidy because you withdrew it and we are suffering; bring it back.

”Nigerians are saying that you increased the electricity tariff, and it is making us poorer.

“Nigerians are saying we want to go to the farm and do our businesses, but there is no security. Provide security.

“Are these demands too big for the government of Nigeria? I don’t think so,” Dalung said.

The convener of the protest in Jos, Prophet Isah Elbuba, said that the protest was going on peacefully and that the people were having a feeling of a festival, while at the same time, sharing their pain.

Elbuba urged the President to rise up to the occasion at this time in the history of Nigeria.

The convener urged the President to reverse the fuel price and re institute the subsidy.

According to him, the government needs to take proactive action to end hunger in the land.

Mr Sam Odeh, Programme Manager, International Organisation for Peace and Social Justice (PSJ), said in spite of their hungry state, the youths still remained peaceful, dancing and placing their demands before the government.

Odeh therefore, said the government needed to urgently address the issues that led to the protest. (NAN)

Muslim faithful participating in the ongoing nationwide protest on Friday in Lagos paused their ongoing demonstrations to observe the Jumaat prayers.

In photos on social media, Christians could be seen standing guard while Muslim faithful observe the prayer.

Juma’at is a prayer required of Muslim faithfuls every Friday.

Recall the nationwide protest against bad governance began on Thursday, August 1, and it’s ongoing in most parts of the country.

The Kaduna Electric Company ( KAEDCO) has cut off electricity supply to the Kaduna State Government House and other state government accounts due to unpaid bills. 

Kaduna Electric Head, Corporation Communication, Abdulazeez Abdullahi,announced the disconnection after extensive efforts to resolve the issue through consultations and reconciliations.

“The outstanding balance for electricity consumed from January 2024 to July 2024 alone amounts to a staggering One Billion, One Hundred and Sixty-Six Million, Eight Hundred and Fifty-Six Thousand, Nine Hundred and Ninety-One Naira, Eighty-Seven Kobo (N1,166,856,991.87).”

“This figure, including the historical debt has left the State Government with a huge debt that currently stands at a total of Two Billion Nine Hundred and Fourty-Three Million Sixty Thousand One Hundred and Sixteen Naira Seventy-Seven Kobo (N2,943,060,116.77).

Despite a recent payment of N256,920,963.88 made on May 9, 2024, for electricity consumed between September 2023 and December 2023, the Kaduna State Government’s debt remains significantly high. This payment, though substantial, has not been enough to clear the accumulated arrears.”

“Kaduna Electric’s decision to disconnect power came after repeated attempts to address the payment issues, including several consultations with state officials. In contrast, other states under the Kaduna Electric franchise, namely Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara, have maintained their accounts in good standing, regularly meeting their electricity payment obligations and other repayment obligations with Kaduna Electric.”]

“A disconnection notice was formally issued on July 21, 2024, and was received by the Office of the Governor on July 22, 2024. The move reflects the company’s need to meet its own financial obligations amidst the broader challenges facing the electricity sector. Kaduna Electric has emphasized that the disconnection was a last resort after all other avenues for resolving the payment issue had been exhausted. The company is now focusing on fulfilling its commitments to the electricity market and ensuring stability in its operations and sustainability as a Company.”

“The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) had previously intervened in the Disco by installing an Administrator and Special Board to oversee the Company during a transitional period prior to an official takeover by the current investors.”

“The Administrator of Kaduna Electric had committed to an agreement with the Kaduna Inland Revenue Service to pay N20 million monthly, this includes statutory monthly tax payments as required, this agreement has been honored since takeover by the current Management.

The situation has highlighted the urgent need for improved financial management and timely payments by government entities to avoid disruptions in essential services.”

 “The public and stakeholders await further developments on how the Kaduna State Government will address the arrears and restore power to the affected government offices.”

A devastating incident has occurred in Abubor Nnewichi community, Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State, where a mother and her four children have died from suspected food poisoning.

The victims, identified as Onyinye (mother) and her children, Miracle, Dominion, Amanda, and Kosi, reportedly died after consuming their dinner on Monday.

According to eyewitnesses and family sources, the family had finished eating the meal before the incident occurred, and the remnants suggested it might have been a cassava meal.

However, the exact cause of the poisoning is still unknown. The father, who was not present at the time of the incident, was rushed to the hospital after suffering a shock upon returning home to find his family members lifeless.

Two other siblings, a boy and a girl, escaped the tragedy as they were not living with their parents in Nnewi.

The police have confirmed the incident and are investigating the cause of the deaths. The bodies of the victims have been deposited at the morgue for autopsy.

Also, Anambra State Police spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, stated: “It is a case of sudden and unnatural death reported to the command.”

Nigerians on social media have raised N1.8 million for Ogwu Benjamin Chijioke, who during Thursday’s nationwide protest, highlighted his struggle to provide for his 13-year-old son, a programmer, due to the country’s economic difficulties.

Chijioke, who was interviewed by Channels TV at the protest, shared his challenge in supporting his 13-year-old son, Goodluck Benjamin, a budding game programmer hindered by economic hardships.

Chijioke, expressing deep personal sacrifice, stated, “I’d rather die on the streets than let my son’s future go to waste. I know I may not have security in Nigeria, but my son’s future will not waste.”

His poignant story resonated with many, prompting a surge of support on social media.

Prominent Figure Morris Monye, known on X, remarked, “You can feel the passion in his soul. He’s lost hope for himself but not for his son. This is why he is protesting.”

Monye later called for action, seeking to locate Chijioke to facilitate the fundraising effort.

The campaign to support Goodluck’s game programming education quickly gained momentum, achieving its ₦1.8 million goal within hours.

Chijioke has since expressed deep gratitude for the generous response from fellow Nigerians in supporting his child’s future.

The #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protesters have reconvened at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

This is coming a few minutes after the protesters and journalists were teargassed at the popular Berger roundabout.

Immediately after arriving at the stadium, the protesters chanted that they would not back down until the Federal Government met their demands.

Speaking to journalists, a protester identified as Tari, lamented the actions of the police officers.

She stated that they (the protesters) remain resolute and wouldn’t be intimidated by the actions of the police.

Tari said, “The police must explain to us why they are harassing us. There is hunger in the land. We remain resolute, we will remain on the streets unless the President listens to us. “

Another protester, Michael Zayi, said, “It is very bad. When a child cries and the parent doesn’t listen, the results are always not palatable. We are peaceful protesters. The issue behind the issue is that if the president had listened to us, we would not have been in this situation.

“Hope is alive when persistence is in motion. The worst thing in life is not death but hunger. People are hungry. No amount of teargas will stop us from demanding better lives for ourselves.”

The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has described some Nigerians involved in the protest against economic hardship in the country as sore losers.

The Governor said those behind the protest want to oust President Bola Tinubu from power, but are only hiding under the guise of protests to express their dissatisfaction with the President. 

He added that such persons should wait till 2027 rather than sponsor faceless protests against the government.

According to him, those who voted for Tinubu and want him as their President are more than those who voted against him.

The Ogun State Governor made the submission on Thursday during an appearance on Channels Television where he spoke about the #EndBadGovernance protest.

“The majority of Nigerians voted for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He majorly won the election, and that says one this; those who wanted him to be president were far more than those who didn’t. The problem we have today is that Nigerians are sore losers. Rather than accept the fact that you want a regime change and wait till 2027, don’t begin to sponsor faceless, leaderless protests under the guise that you’re dissatisfied,” he said.

Abiodun added that the current economic challenges are not peculiar to Nigeria and instead of protests, Nigerians should join hands with President Tinubu to build the country.

“The economic realities is not is not peculiar to Nigeria alone. There were protests in Ghana yesterday, there were protests in London today. So what are we talking about? The medicine for a headache is not to cut off the head. We must all work and join hands together and speak to each other. Let us have a dialogue that is constructive,” the Governor said.

The senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, Ireti Kingibe has slammed the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, for alleging that he saw a senator giving food to hunger protesters in the FCT on Thursday.

Wike had declared, “That is sponsorship. A senator providing food for protesters.

“At the appropriate time, security agencies will invite the senator and find out how you will be sponsoring this kind of thing against the government of the day,” he stated during a press conference following the outbreak of protests in the FCT and across the country on Thursday.

Although he did not mention names, the video he referenced also linked former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter, as one of those providing food to protesters.

However, the video showed Obi addressing protesters which both the two Labour Party top shots have said was recorded when they alongside other top members of the party including other elected officials of the party in the FCT went to the party’s office in Abuja to mediate against the party leadership crisis.

THE WHISTLER did not see anyone providing food to protesters when viewing and analysing the video which was shared on Tiktok.

Obi however could be heard advising the protesters who had staged the protest against the party’s National Chairman, Mr Julius Abure, that “nobody here is more important than the others including me, we want the country (Nigeria) to work,” while senator Kingibe was seen standing by with other top brass of the party.

Obi on Friday denied the video and said he was not part of the protests in the FCT or the country and warned against orchestrated moves against his person.

On her part, Senator Kingibe said “I am shocked and outraged by the blatant lies and misinformation being spread by mischief-makers! The video being circulated is from over six weeks ago, during a Labour Party NWC meeting, when the NLC was protesting outside the Labour Party office.

“As stakeholders, including Senators, House of Reps members, and Mr. Peter Obi, we went out to engage with the protesters and address their concerns.

“Now, these deceitful individuals are trying to pass off this old footage as current, claiming that Mr PeterObi and I were leading protests in Abuja yesterday.”

She described it as “a malicious and desperate attempt to discredit us,” adding, “Let me set the record straight: Mr. Peter Obi is not in Abuja, and I haven’t left my house since Wednesday due to illness, much less distributed food and water at the protest grounds, though that would be noble for whoever did.

“I condemn this orchestrated attempt to spread falsehoods and cause confusion, using it as the basis to claim I sponsored the Abuja protest.

“It is a shameless and irresponsible act that will not be tolerated.

“We will not stand idly by while our names and reputations are dragged through the mud by these unscrupulous individuals,” she stated.

Senator Kingibe and Wike have been having a running battle over who controls the FCT. The senator has accused Wike of dominance and neglecting her in the affairs of the FCT.

The minister a few weeks ago vowed to ensure Senator Kingibe is defeated during the next senatorial election after declaring that he will not work with her.

…Denies Declaring War On Northerners, Leading Hunger Protests

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Obi condemned the incendiary rhetoric and likened it to genocide.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I Never Declared War On Northerners Or Led Hunger Protests

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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