ATIKU REVEALS WHY HE VISITED BUHARI IN DAURA
ATIKU REVEALS WHY HE VISITED BUHARI IN DAURA The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, on Saturday paid a visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari at his residence in Daura, Katsina State. He was accompanied by Senator Aminu Tambuwal and other prominent PDP stakeholders. In a social media post, Atiku revealed the reason behind his visit. “Accompanied by some stakeholders of our great party, the @OfficialPDPNig, we visited the Daura residence of former President Muhammadu Buhari to pay a courtesy call and offer Sallah homage,” Atiku said. The visit has sparked speculation about Atiku’s intentions, with many believing it may be a strategic move to build bridges and seek support ahead of the 2027 presidential election. It is worth noting that Aminu Tambuwal, who was the Governor of Sokoto State, withdrew from the PDP presidential primary election in 2022, just before voting commenced, paving the way for Atiku Abubakar’s emergence as the party’s presidential candidate. “I have come to the conclusion – to the glory of God Almighty, seeing millions of Nigerians suffering and the need for us to close ranks in the party and as one of the leaders in this party – I have come to a patriotic conclusion to step down my aspiration,” the former Speaker of the House of Representatives told the gathering.“And not only that, I have appealed to my supporters to take this in good strides and for national unity and patriotism – not only that, those who are delegates here – should vote for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.”
ATIKU VISITS BUHARI IN DAURA, DAYS AFTER MEETING IBB, ABDULSALAMI IN MINNA
ATIKU VISITS BUHARI IN DAURA, DAYS AFTER MEETING IBB, ABDULSALAMI Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, has paid a visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari. Atiku paid homage to Buhari at his residence in Daura, Katsina State, on Saturday. A video of the visit, showed that former governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, was part of Atiku’s entourage. The visit is coming barely three days after Atiku visited former military heads of state, Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, in their respective residences in Minna, Niger State. Announcing the earlier visits in a post on X, Atiku had said, “Today, I paid Sallah homage to former Heads of State Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) and Gen. Abdusalami at their residences in Minna, Niger State.” The visits have heightened speculations that Atiku is preparing grounds to contest the 2027 presidential election. In May, Atiku had vowed to continue contesting for the presidency as long as he’s healthy. He made the declaration amid moves to form a coalition with his counterpart from Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi, and other political parties.
Dons Eze
- Foreign Affairs
- June 22, 2024
- 113 views
TUNISIAN PRESIDENT SACKS RELIGION AFFAIRS MINISTRY AS 49 PILGRIMS DIED IN HAJJ
TUNISIAN PRESIDENT SACKS RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS MINISTER AFTER 49 PILGRIMS DIED IN HAJJ Tunisian President, Kais Saied, has sacked the Minister of Religious Affairs in the country after 49 Tunisians died in this year’s hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. The death toll has risen to 1126, more than half of them from Egypt, according to AFP tally on Friday, compiling official statements and reports from diplomats involved in the response. The President “decided to end the duties of Ibrahim Chaibi, the Minister of Religious Affairs,” a statement by the Presidency who posted on Facebook said without giving any further details. On Tuesday, the Tunisian Foreign Ministry reported the death of 35 Tunisian pilgrims, but the number has risen to 49 so far, according to Tunisian media. The ministry didn’t specify whether the deaths were related to high temperatures, adding that most of the dead had travelled to Saudi Arabia with tourist visas and outside of the Saudi government’s official pilgrimage programme. Each year, official permits are allocated to countries through a quota system and distributed to individuals via a lottery. Even for those who can obtain them, the steep costs can make the irregular route – which costs thousands of dollars less – more attractive. That has been especially true since 2019 when Saudi Arabia began issuing general tourist visas, making it easier to travel to the Gulf kingdom.Deaths during the pilgrimage have also been confirmed by Malaysia, India, Jordan, Iran, Senegal, Tunisia, Sudan and Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region.
RIVERS HOUSE OF REPS CAUCUS WANTS UGOCHINYERE SANCTIONED
RIVERS HOUSE OF REPS CAUCUS WANTS UGOCHINYERE SANCTIONED The Rivers Caucus in the House of Representatives has issued a stern rebuke and call for disciplinary action against Honourable Ikenga Ugochinyere following his controversial press briefing on Tuesday, June 18th. The briefing, which addressed the ongoing discord between the Rivers State Governor, the House of Assembly, and Local Government Chairmen, was labeled as misleading and provocative by the Caucus. A statement signed by Rt. Hon. Dumnamene Dekor, Leader of the Rivers Caucus, and Hon. Cyril Hart, Secretary of the Rivers Caucus, stated that Ugochinyere has consistently exhibited a lack of decorum and responsible conduct befitting his high office. They accused him of acting as an agent provocateur, disseminating blackmail, misinformation, and malicious propaganda, all for personal gain. “Hon. Ugochinyere’s latest intervention is laden with all the ingredients that have characterized his previous actions: blackmail, half-truths, outright lies, misinformation, and disinformation,” the statement read. “In every instance, his prejudicial media statements also constitute a thoughtless assault on due process and ongoing judicial processes aimed at resolving the disagreement in Rivers.” The Caucus further criticized Hon. Ugochinyere, who represents a constituency in Imo State, for meddling in Rivers State affairs, describing him as an “insignificant twerp” with no political value in Rivers. They emphasized that his actions are not only uncalled for but also undermine the integrity of the House of Representatives and the privileges of its members. “One year into his term as a lawmaker, Hon. Ugochinyere has rather doubled down on infamy, dishonour, and disreputable behaviour details of which we have at our disposal,” the statement continued. The Caucus underscored that the disagreement in Rivers State has never been brought to the floor of the House of Representatives, thus not warranting intervention from members, particularly from those not representing Rivers State. They called his actions a reckless violation of the constitution, specifically sections 49 and 72.In their concluding remarks, the Rivers Caucus publicly urged the leadership of the House of Representatives to take urgent steps to discipline Hon. Ugochinyere. They accused him of bringing disrepute to the House and misleading some members by not fully disclosing his pecuniary interests.
- Foreign Affairs
- June 22, 2024
- 126 views
US POLLS: TRUMP SAYS HE’LL GRANT AUTOMATIC GREEN CARDS TO INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS, IF ELECTED
US POLLS: TRUMP SAYS HE’LL GRANT AUTOMATIC GREEN CARDS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IF RE-ELECTED Donald Trump, the 45th President of the United States, has said if re-elected his government would grant automatic Permanent Resident permits, known as Green Cards, to Nigerians and other international students who graduate from US colleges. The former Republican President disclosed this recently in his immigration proposal titled ‘Build America visa’. Trump is known for his hardline and conservative immigration stance, however, the new proposal represents a potential shift in how the US handles immigration, particularly in retaining international talent. The US grants 1.1 million permanent legal resident visas yearly. “What I would like is a new legal immigration system that protects American wages, promotes American values, and attracts the best and brightest from all around the world.” He added, “What I will do is you graduate from college, I think you should get automatically as part of your diploma a Green Card to be able to stay in this country.” He stressed that this policy would apply to graduates from all types of US colleges and those with doctorate degrees.Trump is expected to battle for the US presidency with the incumbent President, Joe Biden, a Democrat, on November 5, 2024.
SANUSI, BAYERO RESUME HOSTILITIES IN KANO AFTER COURT RULING
SANUSI, BAYERO RESUME HOSTILITIES IN KANO AFTER COURT RULING On Friday, both the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, and the 16th Emir, Muhammadu Sanusi II, resumed their hostilities following a recent court ruling on the emirate tussle between them. Both Sanusi and Bayero conducted court sessions at their respective palaces. Each of the embattled emirs participated in Friday prayers: one at the Central Mosque and the other at the Nassarawa Mini Palace. Earlier, the Federal High Court, under the direction of Justice Abdullahi Muhammad Liman, declared Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s actions on May 23, 2024, null and void. However, the court clarified that its ruling did not invalidate the Kano Emirates Council (Repeal) Bill 2024, which had been passed by the Kano State House of Assembly.Governor Yusuf’s actions on May 23 included the removal of the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, and the downgrading of the emirs of Bichi, Rano, Gaya, and Karaye emirates to district head status. This followed the merger of their emirates into the Kano Emirate. Additionally, the Governor reinstated Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano.
- Foreign Affairs
- June 21, 2024
- 108 views
AL-QAEDA JIHADIS FROM BENIN MOVE TO NIGERIA, SETTLE AT KAINJI LAKE NATIONAL PARK
AL-QAEDA JIHADIS FROM BENIN MOVE TO NIGERIA, SETTLE AT KAINJI LAKE NATIONAL PARK Jihadi fighters who had long operated in Africa’s volatile Sahel region have settled in northwestern Nigeria after crossing from neighboring Benin, a report said Wednesday, the latest trend in the militants’ movements to wealthier West African coastal nations. The extremists believed to be linked to al-Qaida have in the last year crossed over from Benin’s hard-hit northern region and settled in Kainji Lake National Park, one of Nigeria’s largest, where other armed groups have also gained access, according to the report by the Clingendael Institute think tank, which has done extensive research in the Sahel. Residents close to the park told The Associated Press that the facility, which holds one of West Africa’s fast-declining lion populations, has been closed for more than a year because of security threats from armed groups attacking neighboring villages and roads. “Before, it was like a tourism center (but) now, people find it difficult to pass through there,” said John Yerima, who lives near the park in New Bussa town. “You cannot enter that road (leading to the park) now. It is dangerous, seriously.” The security situation at the 5,300-square kilometer (2,000-square mile) park in Niger state and along the nearby border with Benin is “getting out of hand” and is “a much more explosive situation than we had anticipated,” said Kars de Bruijne, one of the authors of the report and a senior research fellow at the institute. The “sustained presence” of the armed groups in the park is the first sign of a connection between Nigeria’s homegrown extremists that have launched a decadelong insurgency in its northern region, and al-Qaida-linked militants from the Sahel, the vast arid expanse south of the Sahara Desert, Bruijne said. Their presence offers an opportunity for the extremists to claim large-scale success in both countries, already wracked by deadly attacks in recent years, he added. Known as a global hot spot for violent extremism, the Sahel region’s worsening security crisis comes as military coups are toppling democratic governments. As the military governments struggle to contain the violence, they are increasingly severing security with traditional partners France and the United States and turning to Russia for support. In northwest Nigeria, security analysts have in the past warned that the region’s remote territories, where the government is largely absent but have rich mineral resources and high poverty levels, present an opportunity for expansion for jihadi groups that had operated mainly in the Sahel, as well as the Islamic State group, whose fighters hold sway in the Lake Chad basin. “A link between Lake Chad and the Sahel is a major opportunity for al-Qaida and the Islamic State to boast about their profiles as leaders of global jihad,” the report said. There are also concerns from conservationists that the presence of armed groups in the park could further threaten the remaining lions whose populations have declined as a result of poaching and climate change. They say the park and most protected wildlife areas in Nigeria are poorly patrolled, making them easy targets for armed groups. “The security situation has become top of the list when it comes to the concerns about the lion populations in Nigeria,” said Stella Egbe, senior conservation manager at the Nigerian Conservation Foundation. The Nigerian military often conducts aerial bombardments and deploys its personnel in criminal hideouts in the conflict-battered northern region. However, security forces — fatigued by the decadelong war in the northeast — are still outnumbered and outgunned in those remote villages, and the root causes of the conflict such as poverty remain. The Clingendael report said it is unclear what the motive of the Sahel extremists in the park is and what their relationship…
POLICE REJECT KANO GOV’S DIRECTIVE, SAY WE WON’T EVICT DEPOSED EMIR BAYERO
POLICE REJECT KANO GOV’S DIRECTIVE, SAY WE WON’T EVICT DEPOSED EMIR BAYERO The Kano State commissioner of police, Usaini Gumel, has explained why his men are yet to evict the deposed emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero. Recall that the attorney-general and commissioner for justice in Kano State, Haruna Dederi, had ordered the Bayero’s eviction to pave way for reconstruction of the facility. Dederi ordered the commissioner of police to remove Bayero from the Nasarawa Palace. But reacting to the order, CP Gumel said the directive has been ignored as any action in that line will amount to “jumping the gun”. According to him, the Kano State Government had filed a case at the State High Court on the eviction order which would come up on Monday, June 24. “The police will not evict the deposed Emir because the same government has filed a case at the State High Court on the eviction order, which would come up on Monday, 24th June 2024,” Gumel said. “The government is jumping the gun because the same government has filed a case on the eviction order, which is coming up on the 24th of June, 2024. So, if we carry out the order, it is like we are pre-empting the court because we don’t know what will happen at the court,” he added. Meanwhile, security has been beefed up around the Nasarawa mini palace where Bayero is currently staying.Sources say the deposed emir is still within the facility attending to visitors and how supporters.
RIVERS CRISIS: IGP SAYS POLICE BARRICADE OF LOCAL GOVT SECRETARIATS TO CONTINUE
RIVERS CRISIS: IGP SAYS POLICE BARRICADE OF LOCAL GOVT SECRETARIATS TO CONTINUE The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun has directed the continuation of the police barricade on local government secretariats in Rivers State to prevent a breakdown of law and order. IGP Egbetokun gave the directive while fielding questions from journalists in Abuja on the sideline of a Conference with Commissioners of Police and other Senior Officers. He said the police will continue to occupy the secretariats until a court of competent jurisdiction delivers judgment on the local government crisis in Rivers State. The IGP who also spoke on the controversy over the recruitment of constables and the allegations by the Police Service Commission (PSC) said the management of the Force will not sit idly and watch questionable and untrainable persons recruited into the police.Egbetokun maintained that the Nigeria Police Force is a specialised institution that is not meant for all Nigerians.