Dons EzeMBAKA WARNS OF LOOMING FAMINE, CALLS FOR REVERSAL OF FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL
MBAKA WARNS OF LOOMING FAMINE, CALLS FOR REVERSAL OF FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVALRev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Nigeria, has warned the federal government of Nigeria about the dangers of hardship and suffering caused by the removal of fuel subsidy.He urged the government to return the subsidy, as its removal has led to increased poverty and suffering among Nigerians.Mbaka, who made this call on Sunday during a homely titled, ‘Miracle of open doors,’ criticised the government for enriching governors while the poor masses suffer.He also warned those hijacking the economy to beware of God’s anger.He called on President Bola Tinubu to hire experts to help solve the economic crisis and alleviate the suffering of NigeriansMbaka emphasised that Nigeria is blessed with resources, but poor leadership has led to suffering and insecurity.He urged the government to unlock the doors of industrialisation and technology, and provide steady power supply and lower interest rates for producers and industrialists.He also warned that the country is heading towards famine and that people should not wait for the government to provide for them, but rather take action to survive.The Catholic priest charged church leaders to prepare to provide for their faithful, adding that the time for miracle is coming.He said the doors of foreign countries are open, but the doors to enter Nigeria are closed, and that the country needs God’s miracle to open the doors of healings.He said, “Look at what is happening in the country with buoyant riches of liquid and solid minerals with best ecological weather in the whole world. The demographic structure of the country is wonderful, the quality of children is excellence.“A country blessed with children of orbit and excellence. Interns of education Nigerian children are among the best out oil is the best in the world. Our trees are wonderful, our land is fertile for any type of crops but look at us importing garri, rice, pencil, matches, soap, toothpaste, importing our own crude oil.“If you go to filling station, the tank you used to fill with N10,000, you can’t fill it with N50,000 again and how much will be the salaries of our civil servants by the time they go to school and come back for two weeks. Has their salary not finished? This problem started from the past government but I believe the present government can do something.“We cannot continue like this. Shall we continue like this? Never we cannot. I am not blaming anybody but I am thinking that if they cannot provide solution, you look for those who can provide solution. I am not blaming the present government but I am noticing that there are many square pegs in round holes, people who do not know how to solve problems.“Somebody who doesn’t know how to solve maths, you ask him to be a mathematics teacher, you can’t give what you don’t have.“Nigeria is locked up, Nigeria is under a siege, Nigeria is caged, Nigeria is passing through a casket experience. We need to be unlocked.”He lamented that youths are leaving Nigeria in droves, saying, “Many are languishing having gone out but despite what they are suffering there, it is better for them than when they are here.”He said, “Why can’t there be steady power supply, why can’t the interest for producers and industrialists from the banks be lowered, how can somebody effectively take a loan from the bank and be paying 40℅, how? It’s an indirect way of increasing criminality. It’s a subtle way of perpetrating anachronisms of kidnapping and insecurity. It’s a matter of who can say it.“I am not talking about protest but I mean that the present government should sit up or sit down and plan on what to do to ameliorate the…
FROM CHINA VIA UAE, JUNKETING PRESIDENT TINUBU LEAVES LONDON FOR UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN NEW YORK
FROM CHINA VIA UAE, JUNKETING PRESIDENT TINUBU LEAVES LONDON FOR UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN NEW YORK Nigeria’s junketing President Bola Tinubu will proceed from London, United Kingdom, to attend the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York, United States. The high-level meeting will draw Heads of State and Government from around the world to the UN Headquarters in New York on 22-23 September 2024 to address critical challenges and gaps in global issues. President Tinubu departed Abuja for China on August 29, 2024 and departed China for London, United Kingdom, via Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) on September 6, 2024. Before departing China, President Tinubu met with representatives of Nigerians in Diaspora Organization in China (NIDO China) and the Nigerian community at the China World Hotel, a statement by the Special Adviser to Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said. In his farewell address, President Tinubu promised Nigerians living in China that his administration would deliver good governance and replicate the good things China has achieved for its people. He acknowledged the current hardship Nigerians are experiencing but said that they are necessary sacrifices for the government to develop good roads, provide constant electricity, good schools, and other amenities needed by citizens. The President described his official visit to China as “very good and successful.” He made the remark during his bilateral discussions with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang. He also led the Nigerian team to participate in the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). However, despite the economic challenges and increasing cost of living resulting in the recent hike in petrol pump price, together with the global outrage over the arrest and detention of the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Joe Ajaero, by the secret police, Department of State Services (DSS), the President will not return to Nigeria before proceeding to United States. Terrorists recently massacred dozens of people in Yobe State. while ravaged Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. “Tinubu will proceed to United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meeting from London; he is not coming back to Nigeria before going to New York,” a top government source said..
PETER OBI, WIFE NOT ARRESTED BY DSS – AIDE
PETER OBI, WIFE NOT ARRESTED BY DSS – AIDE he Department of State Services (DSS) did not arrest Presidential Candidate of Labour Party in the last election, Valentine Obienyem, his media aide, has clarified. There have been unconfirmed reports of Obi being arrested alongside Margaret, his wife. But in a statement released on Tuesday, Obienyem categorically dismissed the reports as entirely false and baseless. He said the rumour first surfaced on Saturday, but was promptly refuted. Obienyem said Obi was not even in Anambra State at the time of the alleged incident. “As of Saturday, Mr. Obi was in Rwanda attending to important engagements,” he said. “He has since returned to Nigeria and is currently in Edo State, where he is actively involved in party and national matters.” “There was no DSS operation at his residence, and no arrest was made,” Mr. Obienyem emphasised. He urged the public to disregard the falsehood and remain vigilant against the spread of misinformation, assuring that any official communication regarding Mr. Obi will be released through proper channels. “As the situation develops, Mr. Obi continues to focus on his commitment to the nation, while his team remains steadfast in providing accurate updates on his activities,” the statement read.
OVER 200 INMATES, INCLUDING BOKO HARAM COMMANDERS, ESCAPE FROM MAIDUGURI PRISON AS FLOOD PULLS DOWN WALL
OVER 200 INMATES, INCLUDING BOKO HARAM COMMANDERS, ESCAPE FROM MAIDUGURI PRISON AS FLOOD PULLS DOWN WALL No fewer than 200 inmates have escaped after a devastating flood pulled down a prison wall in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. An official of the Nigerian Correctional Center in Maiduguri told SaharaReporters on Tuesday that over 200 inmates escaped from the facility after a portion of the facility’s parameter fence was pulled down in the aftermath of the flood that ravaged the city on Tuesday. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that some Boko Haram commanders held at the Maiduguri New Prison were among those who escaped. The source said, “The rain was torrential and caused terrible flood which affected our facility. “Part of the wall of the Maiduguri New Prison collapsed and some Boko Haram commanders held in our facility have escaped with other prisoners. Those who escaped are more than 200 in all.” “We were able to move 200 other inmates to a different facility,” the officer added. In a stark contradiction to the Borno State government’s earlier assurances, the flood situation in Maiduguri took a turn for the worse on Tuesday, just four days after officials claimed to have implemented comprehensive preventive measures. As reported earlier by SaharaReporters, the devastating flood struck Maiduguri and surrounding communities in the early hours of Tuesday, leaving hundreds of residents stranded. The disaster has resulted in widespread destruction and displacement. When contacted the spokesperson for the Nigerian Correctional Service, Abubakar Umar, regarding the issue, he said, “We’re taking stock across the country. I can speak to the press two hours from now, so please call me in the next two hours.”
DSS RELEASES AJAERO’S PASSPORT
DSS RELEASES AJAERO’S PASSPORT The Department of State Services (DSS) has released the passport of the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero. Some labour leaders, who confided in our correspondent on Tuesday in Abuja, said the secret police did not find anything incriminating against Ajaero. The DSS bowed to pressure from various quarters on Monday when it released the labour leader on bail a few minutes to the ultimatum given by the NLC.
WHY DSS INVADED SERAP OFFICE
WHY DSS INVADED SERAP OFFICE Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on Monday raided the office of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) in Abuja to grill its directors over the 48-hour ultimatum given to President Bola Tinubu’s government, SaharaReporters can report. The organisation had given Tinubu’s government a 48-hour ultimatum to reverse the alarming and outrageous price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol and probe the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited. In response to the ultimatum, widely reported on Sunday, the DSS invaded SERAP’s Abuja office the following day – Monday – demanding to see its directors. However, sources familiar with the matter told SaharaReporters on Tuesday that Tinubu’s government sent the secret police after SERAP because of the ultimatum. According to the sources, clearly, the government was not comfortable with the human rights organisation’s demand and threats of legal action against the government. It was learnt that considering a series of legal actions SERAP has taken against Tinubu’s government, the ultimatum and threat of a legal action over the hike in the price of petrol was seen as a plot to incite the public to rise against Tinubu’s government. SERAP had in an open letter dated September 7, 2024 and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, gave President Tinubu 48 hours to reverse the recently increased fuel pump price or face legal action. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited recently increased the price of premium motor spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, across its retail outlets. But SERAP urged President Tinubu to use his “leadership position and good offices to direct the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to immediately reverse the apparently illegal and unconstitutional increase in the pump price of premium motor spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, across its retail outlets”. “SERAP office was invaded because of the 48-hour ultimatum it gave to Tinubu’s government to reverse fuel price increase and probe NNPC Limited,” one of the sources said. In its letter, SERAP urged the President to “direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and appropriate anti-corruption agencies “to probe the allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the NNPC, including the spending of the reported $300 million ‘bailout funds’ collected from the Federal Government in August 2024, and the $6 billion debt it owes suppliers, despite allegedly failing to remit oil revenues to the treasury.” The organisation said, “Suspected perpetrators of alleged corruption and mismanagement in the NNPC should face prosecution as appropriate, if there is sufficient admissible evidence, and any proceeds of corruption should be fully recovered.” According to SERAP, “The increase in petrol price constitutes a fundamental breach of constitutional guarantees and the country’s international human rights obligations. “Nigerians have for far too long been denied justice and the opportunity to get to the bottom of why they continue to pay the price for corruption in the oil sector.” SERAP said “Rather than pursuing public policies to address the growing poverty and inequality in the country, and holding the NNPC to account for the alleged corruption and mismanagement in the oil sector, your government seems to be punishing the poor. “The increase in petrol price has rendered already impoverished citizens incapable of satisfying their minimum needs for survival. “We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 48 hours of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest,” it said. On Monday, SERAP announced that some DSS officers had stormed its Abuja office, demanding to see its directors. In a statement…
LP CRISIS: PETER OBI, ALEX OTTI ASK INEC TO RECOGNIZE NENADI-LED CARETAKER COMMITTEE
LP CRISIS; PETER OBI, ALEX OTTI ASK INEC TO RECOGNIZE NENADI-LED CARETAKER COMMITTEE The leaders of the Labour Party, Peter Obi and Governor Alex Otti, have written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) notifying the commission of the appointment of 29-member Caretaker Committee for the party led by Nenadi Usman. The letter said the stakeholders meeting was held in line with an agreement reached between the party and INEC in 2022. It also stated that the leadership crisis currently wrecking the party led to the appointment of the Caretaker Committee. The letter signed by the LP’s 2023 presidential candidate, Obi and Abia State Governor, Otti on behalf of other stakeholders told the Commission the 29 members committee would within the timeframe of 180 days organize congresses and national conventions for the party It read in part: “You will recall that Labour Party had had a leadership crisis in recent times culminating in the de-recognition of the Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC) by INEC effective June 2024. “Given the above scenario, the statutory executives of the party made up of the Governor, Deputy Governor, and legislators in addition to all surviving members of NEC, the leadership of organised labour, representatives of Governorship Candidates in the 2023 election and subsequent ones, Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidates in the 2023 election and other party leaders met in Umuahia, Abia State on Wednesday, September 4, 2024 and set up a Caretaker Committee to organise congresses and the national convention within a period not exceeding 180 days to fill the vacuum created by the expiration of the tenure of the erstwhile leadership of the party at all levels.”
ABACHA SPIRIT HAS TAKEN OVER PRESIDENTIAL VILLA – LAWYER
ABACHA’S SPIRIT HAS TAKEN OVER PRESIDENTIAL VILLA – LAWYER In an apparent rebuke of Monday’s invasion of SERAP’s office, Abuja, by Nigeria’s secret police, SSS, a human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has said that the spirit of the late military dictator, Sani Abacha, has taken over the nation’s presidential villa. The officers were “unlawfully occupying SERAP’s office in Abuja, asking to see our directors,” SERAP wrote on X. “The spirit of Sani Abacha has taken over the presidential villa,” Mr Effiong wrote on X on Monday in his reaction to the SSS’ action. “The invasion of SERAP’s Abuja office by the SSS is unacceptable. The President Tinubu’s regime must end the attack on dissent,” he said in another post on the microblogging platform. SERAP is a prominent civil society group in Nigeria known for its campaigns for good governance and respect for human rights. The invasion of SERAP’s office, almost simultaneously with the arrest of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, by SSS operatives on Monday morning in Abuja at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport Abuja while trying to board a flight to the UK for a Trade Union Congress gathering. Ajaero has been summoned twice by the police in recent weeks over allegations surrounding a Briton, Drew Povey, who owns a bookshop at the NLC headquarters in Abuja. The Nigerian government claims that the Briton was spearheading a plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu. He has denied the allegation and urged the government not to criminalise peaceful protests in Nigeria. The lawyer, Mr Effiong’s comment about Abacha’s spirit taking over the presidential villa is an allusion to President Tinubu as a dictator. The late Abacha, an army general, overthrew Nigeria’s interim national government in 1993 and ran the most repressive regime in the nation’s history, suppressing the media and jailing his critics. During the infamous era, Moshood Abiola, the winner of the annulled 12 June 1993 presidential election, was jailed for treason. He later died in custody. Former military ruler Olusegun Obasanjo was also jailed for treason. The Abacha regime also jailed a former army general, Shehu Yar’Adua, who later died in custody. Amnesty International Nigeria on Monday “strongly condemned” Mr Ajaero’s arrest. “The labour union leader must be immediately and unconditionally released,” the rights group said.
DSS INTERROGATED ME ON ALLEGED TERRORISM FINANCING INVOLVING BRITISH NATIONAL – AJAERO REVEALS WHY HE WAS ARRESTED
DSS INTERROGATED ME ON ALLEGED TERRORISM FINANCING INVOLVING BRITISH NATIONAL – AJAERO REVEALS WHY HE WAS ARRESTED The president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has revealed details of his arrest and questioning following his release by the Department of State Services (DSS) after a 15-hour detention. It can be recalled that Ajaero was arrested on Monday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja just as he was about to board a flight to the United Kingdom for a Trade Union Congress (TUC) event. Sharing the experience in a recent interview, Ajaero said he was interrogated about an alleged terrorism financing involving a British national, Andrew Wynne. During his detention at the DSS office in Abuja, Ajaero revealed that he was not only questioned by DSS operatives but also interrogated by police officers. The police officers grilled him over his involvement in the #EndBadGovernance nationwide protests that took place in August. Ajaero’s detention led to criticism from labour unions, human rights groups, and civil society organizations. It can also be recalled that the NLC condemned the arrest and gave the DSS a Tuesday midnight deadline to release Ajaero, threatening to mobilize its affiliates, state councils, and civil society allies to take action if he was not freed.
POLICE IGNORED OUR PETITION ON AJAERO FOR OVER ONE YEAR BUT STARTED ACTING AFTER THE PETITION WAS WITHDRAWN – AIR PEACE
POLICE IGNORED OUR PETITION ON AJAERO FOR OVER ONE YEAR BUT STARTED ACTING AFTER THE PETITION WAS WITHDRAWN – AIR PEACE Air Peace has clarified its position regarding the recent arrest of Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), denying its alleged involvement in Ajaero’s arrest by the Department of State Services (DSS). Ajaero was arrested on Monday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, by the DSS as he was en route to the United Kingdom for an official assignment. In a statement by airline spokesperson Omotade Makinwa, Air Peace addressed media reports suggesting that Ajaero’s arrest was related to a petition filed by the airline. The statement noted that such reports had unfairly tarnished the airline’s reputation. Makinwa explained that the airline had filed a petition over a year ago concerning an incident on May 3, 2023, when the NLC disrupted Air Peace’s operations amid a broader conflict with the Imo State Government. Although Air Peace was not involved in the dispute, the disruption led to significant financial losses and inconvenienced many travelers. The statement continued, “Air Peace expresses concern over the recent media portrayal linking the NLC president’s arrest to a petition filed by the airline in September 2023. “This situation does not accurately represent the current relationship between Air Peace and the NLC. “It is important to clarify the events leading up to the petition. On May 3,, 2023, the NLC disrupted Air Peace operations as part of a broader conflict with the Imo State Government. “Although Air Peace had no involvement in the dispute between the NLC and the Imo State Government, our airline was unfortunately used as a tool to exert pressure on the government. This unlawful disruption of our services caused significant financial losses and impacted the travel plans of many Nigerians across multiple states. “In response to this disruption, Air Peace’s legal team submitted a formal petition against the NLC to the Nigerian Police. Despite our repeated efforts to follow up on the petition, the police failed to take prompt action.” However, the airline added that “over a year later, the Nigerian Police have chosen to act on the original petition, which has now led to the alleged arrest of the NLC president.” Makinwa said, “Before this arrest, the airline and the NLC had already reached an amicable resolution, and Air Peace had withdrawn its petition, allowing a positive working relationship to resume between the two organisations.”