The Nigerian Labour Congress has resolved to shift the 2022 Workers Day Rally till May 2 should the Eid-El- Fitr, otherwise known as Ramadan Sallah, be announced for May 1 by the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs of Nigeria.
NLC said it resolved to toe the path because of the peculiar nature of Sallah festival to avoid a clash with the event.

The position of the NLC was contained in a circular sent to all chairpersons of the organisation across the country.
The circular was signed by its General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja.
It read, “At the meeting of the Central Working Committee of Congress held April 27, 2022, members of the CWC considered and deliberated on the high possibility of the Eid-El-Fitr Sallah falling on May 1, 2022.
“Taking into consideration the possibility of the situation, CWC arrived at the decision to closely monitor the announcement of Sallah on Saturday evening/night.
“If it is announced that Sallah will be on Sunday, the May Day celebration will be moved to Monday 2nd May 2022 but if otherwise and Sallah does not fall on Sunday, the May Day celebration will take place on Sunday, May 1, 2022.
“We, therefore, urge all state councils to abide by the decision of the CWC and pay close attention to the various NLC platforms and WhatsApp groups.
“Please also note that the secretariat will be on duty on Saturday, April 30, 2022 till midnight and can be contacted for further information.”

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Illustration

Terrorists, who attacked an Abuja-Kaduna train on March 28, 2022 have released one of their victims, Sadiq Ango Abdullahi, son of former Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and now chairman of the Northern Elders Forum, Prof Ango Abdullahi.
Sadiq had been confirmed as one of the Abuja-Kaduna train passengers abducted by bandits.

Illustration
SaharaReporters learnt that Sadiq was released on Friday after alleged payment of ransom to the terrorists after spending over a month in captivity. 
Other victims remain with the terrorists.
SaharaReporters had on March 29 reported that the terrorists bombed the Abuja-Kaduna rail tracks and attacked a train filled with passengers.
Subsequently, the Nigerian Railway Corporation had announced the suspension of train operations along the Abuja-Kaduna route indefinitely following the attack.
Sources had said Sadiq, a Peoples Democratic Party chieftain, was among those in the Business Class coach of the train, who were abducted by the gunmen.
Sadiq had on February 5, 2022 dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress for the PDP.
Earlier, SaharaReporters reported that a former deputy governor of Zamfara State, Malam Ibrahim Wakkala, was among the Abuja-Kaduna train passengers, who was shot by terrorists on Monday evening.
SaharaReporters learnt that Wakkala was shot in the leg and was afterwards hospitalised.
SaharaReporters had reported that out of 15 patients taken to St. Gerald's Catholic Hospital in Kaduna, two had been confirmed dead, including a lady medical doctor with the hospital, Chinelo Megafu. 
“A former deputy governor of Zamfara, Malam Ibrahim Wakkala, was equally shot in the leg. Out of 15 patients brought to St. Gerald's Catholic Hospital, two are dead including a lady medical Doctor with St Gerald's. 
“Two females moved to 44 Reference Hospital because of bullet wounds; they could not be treated at St Gerald's,” the source had said.  
There were at least 300 passengers on board the train.

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The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, is set to embark on a Ramadan solidarity visit to three West African nations.
The visit to Nigeria, Senegal and Niger will begin on Saturday with Guterres expected to be in Nigeria on Tuesday.

Deputy spokesperson, Farhan Haq, told reporters on Friday in New York, United States, that the UN chief’s visit was in respect of his annual Ramadan visit.
Guterres began the courtesy calls when he was High Commissioner for Refugees but was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
He will highlight the insecurity in Nigeria and express solidarity with victims of terrorism in the country and the region, Haq told the News Agency of Nigeria. 
“On Saturday evening, he expects to be in Senegal. Then from there, we expect him to travel onwards on Monday to Niger and then on Tuesday to Nigeria,” Haq disclosed.
“He will take part in Eid celebrations with President Mohamed Bazoum of Niger and he is scheduled to meet President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria,” he added.
Haq said Guterres would meet and share an Iftar dinner with President Macky Sall of Senegal, who assumed the presidency of the African Union earlier in 2022.
Guterres will have meetings with senior government officials as well as civil society representatives, including women, youth groups and religious leaders.
“He will meet families deeply affected by violence and instability in the Sahel, including people internally displaced and refugees,” the spokesperson said.
The visit of Guterres to West Africa followed his trip to Russia and Ukraine, the highest level trip of a world leader to the two countries at war.

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The so-called anti-corruption fight of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has further been dragged to the mud after Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Muhammed Bello, offered 15000 square meters of land to the President to build his Trust Foundation.
The parcel of land located in the highbrow Maitama area of Abuja was offered to Buhari at the cost of N5million in a lease term agreement for 99 years, The Street Journal reports.

The N5million, which the FCT considers to be the value of the land, is subject to a revision of the said value every five years.
Ironically, a plot of land in such high-brow area in Abuja,.which includes Asokoro, does not go for anything less than N500million.
In a letter exclusively seen by The Street Journal and addressed to the Muhammadu Buhari Trust Foundation, which is currently located at 8B, Winnipeg Close off Panama Street, Maitama, Abuja, and signed by the Director, Land Administration, on behalf of the FCT Minister, it states among other things the conditions required of the foundation to comply with to avoid a revocation of the right of occupancy.
The letter which is dated April 24, 2022 states that, “Within three years from the date of the commencement of the right of occupancy, to erect and complete work on the building and other works that conform with the purpose for which the plot is granted and that is approved by the Federal Capital Development Authority or any other agency, department empowered to do so.
“Not to erect or build or permit to be erected or build on the said plot, any building other than those permitted to be erected by virtue of the land use or permit to be made, additions or alterations to the said buildings to be erected or buildings already erected on the plot except in accordance with plans and specifications approved by the Federal Capital Development Authority or any other agency, department empowered to do so.
“Not to alternate the right of occupancy hereby granted or any part thereof by sale, assignment, mortgage, transfer of possession, sublease or bequest or otherwise however without the prior consent of the minister obtained.
“Not to alternate the right of occupancy hereby granted or any part thereof by sale, assignment, mortgage, transfer of possession, sublease or bequest or otherwise however without the full payment of the fees hereby prescribed.
“The minister or any public officer duly authorised by the minister on the behalf shall have power to either upon and inspect of the land component in this right of occupancy or any improvements affected therein at any reasonable hours during the day and the occupier shall permit and give free access to the minister or any such officer to inspect.”
Although it is an open secret that the President is entitled to some waivers as long as it is within the ambit of the law, this particular waiver is not only ridiculous, it is a fraudulent allocation that reeks of nepotism, the publication said.
By accepting this ridiculous offer, Buhari has not only openly shown arbitrary abuse of power by circumventing the law guiding land allocation and valuation in the FCT, he has shown that all along, he has only been paying lip service to his supposed anti-corruption war.

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At least 49 spouses reportedly died between January 2021 and March 2022, data compiled by Daily Trust has shown.
The data showed that 35 women were killed by their husbands while wives killed their husbands on 14 different occasions. 

From the cases compiled, 39 deaths were related to domestic violence while six killed their spouses over allegations of infidelity. 
Other causes of homicide according to experts are mental disorders, ritual killing and forced marriages.
The latest incident that was greeted by uproar was the death of an Abuja-based gospel artiste, Osinachi Nwachukwu.
Her death reportedly followed marital ordeals as there were allegations of domestic violence being orchestrated by her husband.
Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, had on live television painted disturbing situations within the family when she visited the children Osinachi left behind.
Mr Ovye Yakubu allegedly killed his wife, Esther Aya, in the Sabonpegi-Shabu community of Lafia, Nasarawa State.
When he was arrested by operatives of the Nasarawa State Police Command, a witness alleged that Yakubu killed his wife when an argument ensued over hiring a carpenter to fix one of the windows in their residence.
He said, “The deceased (Esther) had engaged the service of a carpenter to fix net in their windows to prevent mosquitoes from entering the house, but her husband stopped the carpenter.”
She reportedly resisted and her husband started beating her in the process.
She was said to have died from the injuries sustained when he descended on her.
Also, in January 2022, a 57-year-old man, Muhammed Alpha, was arrested for allegedly stabbing his wife of over 20 years with a knife over the ownership of a door made from zinc, while Motunrayo Alaba also allegedly applied a hot-pressing iron on the chest of her husband, having recently returned on vacation overseas. 
The man also died from the injury.
Ramota Soliu also allegedly poured hot water on her husband in a case of domestic violence. 
Wisdom Joseph allegedly strangled his wife, Evelyn Alifiya, to death while Emmanuel Chigozie killed his pregnant wife over a minor disagreement.
At the centre of these killings are the children, who are left without both parents because while one rots in police custody, the other will be buried.
Osinachi left four children behind while the husband is still in custody pending when the court will make a final decision.
When Muhammed Alpha killed his wife, eight children became motherless. 
Three children were without a father when Mr Alaba was killed by his wife in Lagos.
More than 20 children were left behind by their parents who were victims of spousal killings in 15 months in Nigeria.
“Some children trained in abusive marriages grew up with psychological scars and trauma that shape their marriage view,” Said Abdullahi Usman, a psychologist.
“It affects their perception about life and life will never be the same for some of them,” he said.
Although there are no laws in Nigeria specifically enacted against domestic violence to be applicable throughout the Federation, the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP), passed in 2015 protects a wide range of violence against women, including domestic violence.
It prescribes a sentence of not more than five years in jail or an option of N100,000 fine for persons convicted of the offence of violence.
The Act defines ‘violence’ as “any act or attempted act, which causes or may cause any person physical, sexual, psychological, verbal, emotional and or economic harm, whether this occurs in peacetime or conflict situations.”
Also, Section 113 of the Criminal Code provides that, “A person is guilty of this offence if they unlawfully offer or attempt, with force or violence, to strike, beat, wound, or do bodily harm to, another.”
Nigeria is also a signatory to several international conventions on the violence against women such as the United Nations Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), 1979 and ratified in 1985; the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (domesticated); the African Protocol on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol); International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; the Convention on the Rights of the Child (domesticated as the Child Rights Act); and the Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power, among others.


At least 49 spouses reportedly died between January 2021 and March 2022, data compiled by Daily Trust has shown.
The data showed that 35 women were killed by their husbands while wives killed their husbands on 14 different occasions. 
From the cases compiled, 39 deaths were related to domestic violence while six killed their spouses over allegations of infidelity. 
Other causes of homicide according to experts are mental disorders, ritual killing and forced marriages.
The latest incident that was greeted by uproar was the death of an Abuja-based gospel artiste, Osinachi Nwachukwu.
Her death reportedly followed marital ordeals as there were allegations of domestic violence being orchestrated by her husband.
Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, had on live television painted disturbing situations within the family when she visited the children Osinachi left behind.
Mr Ovye Yakubu allegedly killed his wife, Esther Aya, in the Sabonpegi-Shabu community of Lafia, Nasarawa State.
When he was arrested by operatives of the Nasarawa State Police Command, a witness alleged that Yakubu killed his wife when an argument ensued over hiring a carpenter to fix one of the windows in their residence.
He said, “The deceased (Esther) had engaged the service of a carpenter to fix net in their windows to prevent mosquitoes from entering the house, but her husband stopped the carpenter.”
She reportedly resisted and her husband started beating her in the process.
She was said to have died from the injuries sustained when he descended on her.
Also, in January 2022, a 57-year-old man, Muhammed Alpha, was arrested for allegedly stabbing his wife of over 20 years with a knife over the ownership of a door made from zinc, while Motunrayo Alaba also allegedly applied a hot-pressing iron on the chest of her husband, having recently returned on vacation overseas. 
The man also died from the injury.
Ramota Soliu also allegedly poured hot water on her husband in a case of domestic violence. 
Wisdom Joseph allegedly strangled his wife, Evelyn Alifiya, to death while Emmanuel Chigozie killed his pregnant wife over a minor disagreement.
At the centre of these killings are the children, who are left without both parents because while one rots in police custody, the other will be buried.
Osinachi left four children behind while the husband is still in custody pending when the court will make a final decision.
When Muhammed Alpha killed his wife, eight children became motherless. 
Three children were without a father when Mr Alaba was killed by his wife in Lagos.
More than 20 children were left behind by their parents who were victims of spousal killings in 15 months in Nigeria.
“Some children trained in abusive marriages grew up with psychological scars and trauma that shape their marriage view,” Said Abdullahi Usman, a psychologist.
“It affects their perception about life and life will never be the same for some of them,” he said.
Although there are no laws in Nigeria specifically enacted against domestic violence to be applicable throughout the Federation, the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP), passed in 2015 protects a wide range of violence against women, including domestic violence.
It prescribes a sentence of not more than five years in jail or an option of N100,000 fine for persons convicted of the offence of violence.
The Act defines ‘violence’ as “any act or attempted act, which causes or may cause any person physical, sexual, psychological, verbal, emotional and or economic harm, whether this occurs in peacetime or conflict situations.”
Also, Section 113 of the Criminal Code provides that, “A person is guilty of this offence if they unlawfully offer or attempt, with force or violence, to strike, beat, wound, or do bodily harm to, another.”
Nigeria is also a signatory to several international conventions on the violence against women such as the United Nations Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), 1979 and ratified in 1985; the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (domesticated); the African Protocol on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol); International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; the Convention on the Rights of the Child (domesticated as the Child Rights Act); and the Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power, among others.

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A Nollywood actress, Chinedu Bernard, is dead.
Bernard reportedly died after she slumped in a church in Enugu State.

She was said to have slumped while cleaning the Chapel of St. Leo the Great Catholic Church inside Federal Housing area in Enugu State.
She was confirmed dead by doctors at the East Side Hospital in Enugu.
The actress, who is fondly called “Choco”, featured in popular movies like 'The Big Mama’s Stick, Money fever, The Mad, The Last Manhood, Mad Love', etc
As of the time of this report, the cause of her death remained unknown.

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The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has described as disrespectful, a proposal by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency to make drug integrity tests part of the screening requirements for aspirants seeking to contest political offices in the 2023 general election.
IPAC, which is a coalition of 18 political parties, said in a statement by its National Chairman, Yabagi Sani, that the proposal by the NDLEA was a deliberate attack on the sensibilities of lovers of democratic governance in Nigeria.

Buba Marwa, the chairman of the NDLEA on Wednesday, had sought the permission of the ruling APC to conduct drug tests on candidates for the 2023 presidential election.
Marwa had stressed that he hoped other political parties would also participate in the exercise.
Reacting, IPAC said the proposal suggests that politicians are drug addicts whereas the NDLEA does not have the guts to request the same of security agencies who mistakenly bomb innocent citizens, rather than criminals.
The group demanded an apology from the agency, stating that there was no justification for the extra-constitutional requirements as proposed by Marwa.
It said, “IPAC demands an apology from NDLEA and strongly warns the anti-narcotic agency to desist from impugning on the character and integrity of politicians including those contesting for president who are patriotic, highly respected, well accomplished statesmen and women with proven integrity. There should be a limit to rascality in the discharge of public duties.
“It is amazing that Brig Gen Buba Marwa (retd.), who lacks the audacity to make similar proposal to the nation’s armed forces that have on several occasions “accidentally bombed” civilian settlements killing innocent citizens including children in the course of military operations to get rid of terrorists, insurgents, militants and bandits should target politicians who are working assiduously along with fellow compatriots to build a strong, virile, united, progressive, egalitarian and decent democratic nation.
“It is high time we begin to show regard for the nation’s political leaders as obtainable in other democracies. IPAC strongly condemns drug abuse by misguided citizens and urges NDLEA to discharge its duties in tandem with the law establishing it. A nation is governed by the rule of law, not by impunity.”
The group further explained that the activities of political parties are guided by the 1999 constitution as amended, Electoral Act 2022, INEC guidelines/regulations and respective parties’ guidelines.
“This is the position of the Supreme Court ahead of the contentious 2003 general election where it held that INEC had no power to impose nomination fees on aspirants vying for elective offices outside the requirements provided by the constitution. This is the clear position of the law and the position of IPAC for aspirants seeking political offices in the 2023 general election. Political parties will not be distracted by this absurdity.
“IPAC will continue to uphold democratic ideals, ethics and ethos as we jointly build a better, greater and prosperous democratic society.”

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The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs under the leadership of its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has urged Muslims across the country to look out for the new moon of Shawwal on Saturday.
As the 1443 Hijra (2022) Ramadan draws to an end, the Director of Administration of the NSCIA, Arc. Zubairu Haruna Usman-Ugwu, said this in a statement issued on behalf of the Sultan on Friday.

He said consequent upon the advice of the National Moon Sighting Committee, the Sultan enjoined the Nigerian Muslim Ummah to search for the crescent of Shawwal 1443 AH immediately after sunset on Saturday, April 30, 2022, which is equivalent to 29th Ramadan, 1443 AH.
“If the crescent is sighted by Muslims of impeccable character, then His Eminence (Sultan) would declare Sunday, May 1, 2022, as the 1st of Shawwal and the day of ‘Idul Fitr. However, if the crescent is not sighted that day, then Monday, May 2, 2022, automatically becomes the day of ‘Idul Fitr.
“In addition to the established and traditional Islamic leaders in each locality, members of the NMSC can be contacted to report credible and positive sighting of the Crescent of Shawwal 1443 AH,” Usman-Ugwu said.
He also urged Muslims to in the spirit of Ramadan, remember that Zakatul Fitr (special Ramadan charity) is a compulsory food-levy imposed on privileged Muslims, to be given to the less privileged in the society.
He, therefore, urged all concerned to ensure that they do not only comply but comply on time.
He said, “The general practice is to give out the standard measurement to beneficiaries in the last two days of Ramadan and not later than before the eid prayer.”
Sultan Abubakar, who felicitated the Nigerian Muslim ‘Ummah and indeed the entire Muslim worldwide, on the auspicious occasion of the 1443 AH ‘Idul Fitr, prayed Allah to grant every one the opportunity to witness many more of it.
He also expressed concern about the skyrocketing prices of food and consumables in the country and appealed to the government to stem the tide of inflation while urging traders, too, to desist from the habit of arbitrarily increasing the price of food items.

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THE United Nations  Assembly, UNGA, deliberations and resolution on the veto power that was held on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, was two years in the making but was all hot air without substance.

It was a poor stage drama with a linear plot. The event was like a dog sharpening its teeth over two years for a great bite, only to realize it is toothless. The veto truth stood naked, but the 81 members who moved Tuesday’s motion preferred to wrap it in layers of beautiful words and an inelegant top lace resolution which even the movers cannot explain.

The General Assembly meeting was a waste of time, its resolution an exercise in self dribble and self deceit gave the mistaken impression that it was moving to address the veto issue while in reality it was engaged in mere motions without movement. 

What the world needs, are not exhibition matches but a reversal of the veto provision that would give power to the General Assembly in line with democratic practices where the vote matters; where the minority will have its say while the majority, it’s the way. To ensure the UN is not misused, resolutions can be carried out or reversed by two-thirds of the Assembly. A case where one country’s vote is greater than the votes of 192 countries combined is unsustainable.

A situation where three European brothers: Russia, France and neighbouring Britain can team up with their first cousin, the United States, and China, the lone voice from Asia, to dictate to the world, cannot continue. In fact, to show that the Security Council is essentially a European racket, there was a 22-year period from 1949 when following its revolution, China was denied its seat in the Council.

The veto which essentially grants five countries proprietorial rights over the world body was inserted into the UN Charter at birth in 1945 after the collapse of the 1919 League of Nations. The League had collapsed under its own weight of vengeance against Germany leading to the second European war which was christened the Second World War, WWII. Then, most of the world was under European colonial occupation and the colonized were simply thrown into a war they knew nothing about. It was of no comfort to the colonized whether their oppressors were German, Belgian, Dutch, Briton, American or French.

The five countries which awarded themselves the veto when the UN was founded are often presented as the gallant victors who saved the world from Hitlerite Germany. The truth, however, is that China, which was under Japanese invasion, was not in a position to declare war against Germany. Russia, Britain and France were initially allies of Hitler, while the US was too timid to join WWII until 27 months into the conflict.

Britain under Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain sought to appease Germany in the 1930s to the extent of allowing it to seize territories. Britain in fact, regarded Hitlerite Germany as an ally with which it could go into a military alliance to destroy its main enemies: the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, USSR (now inherited by Russia) and Imperial Japan.

 The overwhelming populace of France and their government, supported Hitler and fought on the German side for four-fifth of WWII before switching sides. France which fought the allied forces, including outside Europe, only turned against Germany when it was obvious the latter was losing the war.

The US in the first two years of WWII declared it was neutral and its Congress refused to support either side of the war until December 7, 1941 when Japan was said to have attacked Pearl Harbour. Even at, it was against Japan it declared war and did not enter WWII until after Germany and Italy declared war on it for attacking their ally, Japan. One week before WWII started, the  USSR declared its neutrality by signing the August 23, 1939 “Treaty of Non-Aggression between  Germany and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics”. Also known as the Molotov- Ribbentrop Pact, the agreement which was planned to last for 10 years was a written guaranteed peace between both countries and a pledge not to aid the enemy of either side.

So effectively, the USSR was neutral in WWII  until June 22, 1941, when Germany unilaterally terminated the agreement by invading it. While the USSR suffered the highest casualty rate in the war with 20-25 million dead, it inflicted the greatest casualties on Germany by killing 76 per cent of the total German military fatalities in WWII. 

 

In the case of China, it was invaded by an ally of Germany, Japan, from July 7, 1937 –to September 9, 1945; so it merely tried to survive during WWII. 

 

 So the claims that the five permanent members earned their pips saving the world and guaranteeing world peace are not exactly correct. The simple fact is that they were those at the table when the UN was being founded while most of the world either lay in ruins or were colonies.

It was assumed that unless the five agreed, the UN was doomed; so they were empowered to make decisions that would be binding on all members, including levy war. On the over 200 occasions the veto had been applied, it had been abused; used merely to further political, economic or racial interests such as maintaining minority White rule in Zimbabwe, Apartheid in Namibia and South Africa and Israeli genocide in Palestine.

 This Tuesday’s vote was primarily a farce because it in no way challenged the suffocating veto power; it essentially asks the member wielding the veto to explain its actions which in any case can neither be legally challenged nor overturned.

If under the new resolution, the General Assembly meets within 10 workdays to listen to why a veto was used and debates it while being aware it has no power to reverse it, is it to exhibit its impotence or a mere moral challenge? Even the Liechtenstein’s U.N. ambassador, Christian Wenaweser, who led 80 co-sponsors of the resolution, hinted at its impotence when she admitted that all it aims to achieve is “to promote the voice of all of us who are not veto holders, and who are not on the Security Council, on matters of international peace and security because they affect all of us”.

Such exercise in futility is like a dog barking at its owner; what can it do, bite? In any case, even if a dog is to bite, it must have teeth that the General Assembly does not have. Only the death of veto power can transform the United Nations from a rubber stamp assembly to a body reflecting the wishes of most of humanity.

Opinion AddThis :  Original Author :  Owei Lakemfa Disable advertisements : 

Nnamdi Kanu

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has appealed a recent ruling of the Federal High Court which struck out eight out of the 15-count charge filed against him.
Kanu had been standing trial on an amended 15-count charge bordering on treasonable felony.

Nnamdi Kanu
On April 8, Binta Nyako, the judge, ruling on Kanu’s application on Friday, struck out counts 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14.
This means the IPOB leader is to stand trial on counts 1,2,3,4,5,8 and 15.
But in the appeal issued on Friday and signed by his lead counsel, Mike Ozekhome, as obtained by SaharaReporters, Kanu prayed the court of appeal in Abuja to dismiss the remaining charges against him and discharge him.
The separatist leader faulted Nyako's ruling on the case, arguing that the judge erred in several areas which amount to a "miscarriage of justice".
It reads, “Ground one: error in law. The learned trial judge erred in law when he failed to consider, make a finding of facts and accordingly pronounce on issue one raised for the trial Court’s determination, relating to the extraordinary rendition of the Appellant, and thereby occasioned a miscarriage of justice.
“Ground two: error in law. The learned trial Judge erred in Law, when he held that “the defendant is being charged under Section 1(2) of the Terrorism Act, which has been reproduced above, any offence alleged to have been committed “within” or “outside” Nigeria can be brought under the Act”, thereby occasioning a miscarriage of justice.”
“Ground three: error in law. The learned trial Judge erred in law, when he held that although the status of the Indigenous People of Biafra as a proscribed organization is a subject matter before the Court of Appeal, but as long as the appeal has not been determined, the order of Court proscribing is still in force until set aside, and thereby occasioning a miscarriage of justice.
“Ground four: error in law. The learned trial Judge erred in law when in the exercise of the powers conferred on him by Section 216(4) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, suo motu amended count 15 of the charge, which is founded on an allegation of importation of a radio transmitter in Ubuluisiuzor in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, and proceeded to assume jurisdiction over offences allegedly committed outside its territorial jurisdiction, and thereby occasioned a miscarriage of justice.
“Ground five: error in law. The learned trial Judge erred in law when he held that trials before the Federal High Court are summary, and consequently ruled that counts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 15 show some semblance of allegation of an offence on which the Court can proceed to trial, and thereby occasioned a miscarriage of justice.”

 

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The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Friday picked his All Progressives Congress’ nomination form to contest for re-election in 2023.
It was learnt that James Faleke, a lawmaker, picked the form on behalf of the Governor in Abuja.

Sanwo-Olu is seeking another four years in office that will expire in 2027, while his re-election efforts are expected to be unchallenged within the APC.
The Governance Advisory Council (GAC), the highest decision-making body of the APC in Lagos, had reportedly endorsed Sanwo-Olu, who is also heavily funding his godfather and former governor, Bola Tinubu’s presidential ambition.

 

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The Peoples Democratic Party on Friday in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, disqualified two of the 17 presidential aspirants it screened.
The Chairman of the Screening Committee, Senator David Mark, disclosed this to journalists shortly after the conclusion of the exercise at Legacy House, Abuja, at 7pm.

He, however, refused to disclose the identities of the disqualified aspirants or the reasons for their disqualification.
Mark simply noted that the aspirants did not meet the requirements.
The Chairman also affirmed that the report of Friday’s screening will be transmitted to the PDP National Working Committee for consideration tonight.

 

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Fredrick Nwabufo

A plus ca change. Leadership fails, followership fails; society atrophies and nothing changes. Why? We keep reinventing purgatory because we are either too complacent or too self-absorbed to interrogate the real issues of leadership, divorcing provincial proclivities. We want change and good governance but have refused to levitate above the insular mentation that has kept us bound in the abyss of retrogression.

Why are concerns over ethnicity, region and religion the nominators of conversation on the 2023 elections? Why are these societal retardants the leading matters of debate on the elections? In every election cycle, these misnomers have become the fundamental benchmark for selecting leaders by political parties and for electing the same by citizens?

Are we predestined to remain on this primrose path? Is there no hope for a change? Why are conversations not primarily on proven administrative competence, but on which region, ethnic group and religion the next president must come from? Yes, even if consideration should be given for the ethnic and religious backgrounds of the next president, this should only be secondary. The priority should be on who can deliver the goods for all Nigerians? Who are those candidates that can nurse and heal a divided Nigeria back to health? Who are those candidates with more than smattering knowledge of everything – security and economy especially? And these individuals must have proved their worth, capacity, character and competence in previous offices. Antecedents matter.

Fredrick Nwabufo

While we fixate over primordial concerns, we lose sight of the most important matters. We dispense too much energy on trivialities, and leaving little to interrogate those who have come forward to represent us.

Many Nigerians, regardless of ethnicity and religion, belong in the axis of competence. Political parties should zone presidential ticket to this "region". Character, antecedents, history of demonstrated patriotism and respect for diversity, proven leadership competence should be the leading issues as we head for the 2023 elections.

There is a winning argument for inclusion as regards zoning of political offices, but in our case, it appears zoning is just an end and not a means to better governance.

As I said earlier, even if ethnicity, region and religion are to be criteria for selecting Nigeria’s next president for the sake of ‘’justice, equity and fairness’’ as propounded by those calling for an orbiting in the geography of power, this should not take precedence over the principal issues of leadership.

On Wednesday, I shared my thoughts on variegated issues leading to the 2023 elections on the popular television programme, “Village Square Africa” on News Central TV, hosted by veteran and award-winning broadcast journalist, Sulaiman Aledeh.

I will reproduce a bit of what I said here.

Sulaiman: On the issues guiding the elections, what do you have to say on what is playing out in the country?

Fred: “It is an interesting time; I believe we will have an election in 2023 where an incumbent president will not be running, and it makes it much more interesting because it is an open ticket. Any party or anybody can take it because the power of incumbency is limited in this case. We have clamours for political parties to cede the presidential ticket to the south, and of course, it has been a back and forth. There are arguments for and against that.

“Personally, I believe what we should be talking about now is competence. Political parties should zone their presidential tickets to the geography of competence. If I should rephrase that, political parties should zone their presidential tickets to the axis of competence, capacity and character.

“This is the problem we have had over the years. We emphasise ethnicity and religion. Some of the presidential hopefuls that have shown interest have been toeing this path. We have a problem of putting emphasis on what should be secondary and not on primary matters of competence, character, ability, antecedents and proven track record of leadership — which should ordinarily be the issues that should guide the 2023 elections. But unfortunately, we are seeing religion and ethnicity being the topmost issues in this season. The questions are — what has zoning done for us over the years? How has zoning changed Nigeria?

‘’The problem is when you cede a presidential ticket to a particular zone on the basis of ‘it is our turn’, the person who is coming to contest is coming to represent his region and not Nigerians. We should be talking about a Nigerian president not an Igbo president. That is why I totally repudiate the phrase — Igbo presidency — it is wrong to say Igbo presidency. These are some of the things we need to correct.

“We need a Nigerian president not a president of the south-east, the south-west or the north. A president that will represent all Nigerians; that will be for all Nigerians.

“We have been through this path before. When you start ceding or start amplifying ethnic agenda and issues, the person who emerges will want to favour his own side of the country because he believes that he is at the presidency to represent his region.”

If we want to do better, we must know better. Making the 2023 elections about an ethnic group or region is reinventing a bogey. We should elevate our thinking and conversations beyond the crude and primitive.

By Fredrick Nwabufo; Nwabufo aka Mr OneNigeria is a writer and journalist.

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Some members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) narrowly escaped death on Thursday in Warri, Delta State as the coaster bus they boarded to Asaba for the passing out parade (POP) exploded at a filling station.
According to a report by an online medium, Grassroot Reporters, the incident occurred at a filling station close to the Nigerian Navy Headquarters in Warri.

File photo File photo
The corps members reportedly hired the bus which belonged to the College of Education Warri to convey them to Asaba for their final POP after the completion of their service year.
One of the corps members, Daniel told the medium, that the bus ran out of fuel shortly after the journey began and had stopped for a refuel before the unfortunate incident.
"The driver stopped at a filling station close to Nigeria Navy Barracks in Warri to refuel the bus. While we were inside, and the filling station attendant was dispensing fuel into the bus, we heard a deafening sound, and everywhere was covered with smoke."
Many of the corps members reportedly sustained serious injuries, while a female corps member had a serious dislocation and was rushed to an undisclosed hospital.
It was gathered that the corps members lost their phones, bags and other personal effects.
The cause of the fire is unknown but a source said the driver of the bus allegedly failed to switch off the bus while it was being refuelled.
On Thursday, corps members of the 2021 Batch A, Stream II, had their passing out parade in different states across the country.

 

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CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele

The 2023 presidential ambition of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, has suffered another setback after a member of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State approached the court to stop him from contesting.
SaharaReporters learnt that the suit was filed on Thursday at the Rivers State High Court seeking an order of the Court to disqualify the CBN Governor from participating in the upcoming APC Presidential Primaries on the grounds of his non-eligibility to participate in the Primaries.

CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele
The Plaintiff, Naapah ThankGod Bariledum, who is an APC member in Ward 4 of Khana LGA in Rivers State is asking the court in the suit number, PHC/1371/CS/2022 to disqualify the CBN Governor from participating in the primaries on the grounds that he was not eligible to
participate in the process in view of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the APC Constitution and the CBN Act which he has already violated.

The Plaintiff is seeking for an ex parte order to restrain the Governor from participating in the primaries pending the final hearing of the suit.
According to a platform, New Galleria, the Plaintiff argued among other things that the CBN Governor had not fulfilled the provisions of the CBN Act which would have allowed him to have the legal right to have a valid membership of the APC before participating in the Primaries. 
He asked the court to declare any interest in the Presidential race by the CBN Governor a nullity. The court is also being asked to hear the matter urgently to avoid jeopardising the APC Presidential Primaries and the entire party.
The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi and his successor in the Rivers State Government House, Governor Nyesom Wike are being speculated by Emefiele supporters to be behind the suit as both men from Rivers State and are also Presidential aspirants in both the PDP and APC.
Other defendants in the Suit are the All Progressives Congress, APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC sued as the 2nd and 3rd Defendants.
The Plaintiff is seeking also to via ex parte application which is like to be heard this week to stop the CBN Governor.

DOCUMENT: APC Member Seeks Court Order Barring Central Bank Governor, Emefiele From 2023 Presidential Conte... by Sahara Reporters on Scribd

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At least one person was killed while many others were injured when policemen opened fire on members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), popularly known as Shiites during annual Quds Day rally in Zaria, Kaduna State.
Quds Day, which uses the Arabic name for Jerusalem, is a Palestinian solidarity day held every year by IMN members on the last Friday of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

An eyewitness, who spoke with SaharaReporters, disclosed that the IMN members were peacefully going about their protest when policemen emerged all of a sudden and began firing live bullets at them.
He said others who sustained bullet wounds and are currently battling for their lives in hospital.

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The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has said the federal government is planning to procure aircraft in the six zonal bases of the Federal Fire Service to combat large-scale fires requiring aerial attacks.
He disclosed this on Friday while speaking at the decoration ceremony of the new Controller General of the Federal Fire Service (FFS), Jaji Olola Abdulganiyu, in Abuja.

Aregbesola urged the new FSS boss to live up to expectations including combating wildfires, bushfires and other large-scale fires.
He said, “We have initiated an arrangement with the Nigeria Air Force to use their planes to water-bomb fires of that nature from the air. It is my sincere hope that you will see this through. Our projection is to have our own aircraft in the six zonal bases.”
The minister added that security personnel would be accompanying firefighters to fire scenes to prevent attacks on personnel and equipment by hoodlums.
He charged Abdulganiyu to take fire advocacy seriously as he begin his tenure as the CG of the FFS, saying the public needed to know more about firefighting and managing emergencies.
“It is very necessary that you include fire advocacy and public enlightenment in the operational services of the FFS. The public needs to know, among others, that the work of the FFS is more than firefighting,” he said.
While reminding the controller general of his duty to preside over human resources to achieve organisational goals, the minister urged the CG to be on top of his game and act in the best interest of the service.
Aregbsola said. “The welfare and professional development of the officers and men under your command should therefore be put on the front burner.
“Their emoluments, allowances, promotion, training at home and abroad and other perks should not suffer.”

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Hundreds of residents of Magazu and Marke communities in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State have fled their homes over the incessant raids and attacks of gunmen, locally called bandits.
According to Premium Times, Magazu, one of the biggest wards in Tsafe, is deserted.

According to sources, tired of the unrelenting attacks by the gunmen, people began deserting the town on Thursday evening. By Friday morning, almost everyone in the town has fled.
Bandit attacks in Tsafe Local Government are more frequent than in other parts of Zamfara, which is plagued by worsening insecurity.
The gunmen, who operate across Nigeria’s north-west region, have killed thousands of people and injured even more. They sack villages, and farmlands, and rustle livestock. They impose levies on communities before they may farm and defaulters are either killed or abducted.
The gunmen also operate a widespread kidnap-for-ransom operation across the entire region. They specifically target travellers, students of educational institutions, and government offices.
Experts say their kidnap-for-ransom operation is perhaps the worst in the country’s history.
As the government fails to protect residents of the areas, many communities have set up vigilante groups to resist the bandits.
However, this has worsened the security challenges in the area as it has given rise to an explosion of tit-for-tat killings between the bandits (who are mostly of Fulani extraction) and the vigilante groups set up by the majority of Hausa communities in the area.
Abubakar Magazu, a villager said residents of the towns unanimously decided to leave.
He said residents unanimously decided to leave after some bandits raided the town on Wednesday and abducted more than 30 people.
“Let me be honest with you, these people will never allow us to rest. They’ve stopped us from going to farms and markets and now, they’ll not even allow us to live in peace.
“On Wednesday, they came to our town immediately after the Iftar (Muslim break of fast) and abducted over 30 residents and looted property. As big as this community is, nobody has more than two goats or any domestic animals in his house because the bandits have stolen them,” he said.
He said the bandits attacked the town again Thursday night but did not abduct anyone.
“We’re always in fear,” he said. “After Wednesday’s attack, we decided to leave the town. Some people started leaving yesterday (Thursday). They attacked again those of us who slept in the town yesterday, but I think they were there to scare us because they took nothing or anyone,” he said.
A youth leader in Tsafe, Samaila Usman, said the residents from Magazu and Marke have been trooping into the local government headquarters as of Friday afternoon.

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File Photo: Gunmen

At least two locals and a soldier have been killed at Rikwe-Chongu village in the Kwall District of Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The spokesman of the Special Task Force, Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), maintaining peace in Plateau and environs, Major Ishaku Takwa, who confirmed the incident on Friday in Jos, said that the incident occurred on Thursday night, adding that OPSH deployed its troops to the community.

File Photo: Gunmen middleeastpress
“There was a night attack in the area on April 28; our troops deployed to the community repelled the attack and in the process OPSH lost a soldier. Two other civilians died as a result of the attack as well,” he said.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the National Publicity Secretary of the Irigwe Development Association, David Malison, said that three locals were killed, one person injured and several houses razed.
"The attackers also destroyed many food barns and carted away foodstuffs, animals and other valuable items," he said.
Malison identified those killed to include; Markus Audu, 41, Yah Hwenke, 42 and Amus Kanga, 61.

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Former Lagos State governor and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, has picked the party’s roundly criticised N100million Presidential Nomination and Expression of Interest Forms.
It was gathered that Tinubu, who is in Saudi Arabia for Hajj, was represented by some of his close associates including the House of Representatives member from Ikeja Federal Constituency, James Faleke; member representing Agege Federal Constituency in the green chamber, Babatunde Adejare; and a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal.

According to Punch, Faleke, Lawal and other loyalists of the strongman of Lagos politics picked up the presidential forms for him (Tinubu) at the APC National Headquarters on Blantyre Street, Wuse 2, Abuja, at exactly 3pm.
Tinubu had in January 2022 announced his desire to succeed the incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari, in May 2023.
Tinubu had told State House reporters that becoming Nigeria’s President was his “lifelong ambition” and that there was nothing wrong in a kingmaker becoming a king.
Already, Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba; Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello; amongst others have picked up the APC presidential forms while others are expected to follow suit in the coming days.
They include Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige; Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi; former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha; former Abia State Governor, Orji Kalu; amongst others jostling to be the flagbearer at the end of the APC presidential primary scheduled to hold at the end of May 2022.

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