Dons Eze
- Foreign Affairs
- September 1, 2024
- 145 views
TOP TEN COUNTRIES WITH HIGHEST POPULATION OF NIGERIANS
BUHARI DIDN’T WANT TINUBU TO BE PRESIDENT, NEVER TRUSTED OSINBAJO – SULE LAMIDO
BUHARI DIDN’T WANT TINUBU AS PRESIDENT, NEVER TRUSTED OSINBAJO – SULE LAMIDO Former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has said former President Muhammadu Buhari never wanted President Bola Tinubu to succeed him. Lamido also said Buhari never trusted his former Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo to succeed him, adding that the former President wanted ex-Senate President Ahmed Lawan. Lamido further noted that Tinubu owed his emergence as President to nobody because he was a very daring and self-made man. Speaking with Tribune, Lamido said: “Prior to the convention, he (Tinubu) was in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where he boasted that it was his turn to rule Nigeria. And Buhari, very naive, was watching. He never liked Tinubu. There was somebody he wanted. “He didn’t even trust his own vice president, Professor (Yemi) Osinbajo; he wanted Ahmed Lawan, but his calculation was absurd. You have done eight years for the North and you wanted another Northerner for another eight years?! No. Maybe later but there are some dynamics which you can’t alter, not in Nigeria of today. “The president of Nigeria, after being in office for eight years, lacked the courage to push through his anointed choice. He was there at the convention and Tinubu that he never liked, he never believed in emerged. Tinubu knows that his victory wasn’t from Buhari, therefore, he owes him nothing.” Prior to the 2015 presidential election, there were insinuations that Buhari was against Tinubu’s emergence as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC. Some top officials of Buhari’s administration had come up with the redesign of the naira and caused artificial fuel scarcity in a bid to stop Nigerians from voting for Tinubu. Aggrieved by the move, Tinubu had during one of his campaigns declared “Emi Lokan,” meaning its my turn.
OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU BY SENATOR NED NWOKO
OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU, BY SENATOR NED NWOKOYour Excellency,REIMAGINING NIGERIA’S SOCIAL SAFETY NET: A CALL TO REPLACE THE MINISTRY OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS WITH A NATIONAL SOCIAL SECURITY AGENCY UNDER THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENTNigeria stands at a pivotal crossroads. The pervasive issues of poverty and the societal decay it perpetuates have reached a level of urgency that can no longer be ignored. The cries of hunger, now echoing in the streets, represent far more than just a lack of food. They are the voices of millions of Nigerians who have been stripped of their dignity, left to survive in a system that has failed them repeatedly. These are not merely protests; they are a collective outcry against the indignity of living without the certainty of basic needs, without hope for a better future.Your Excellency, in the face of these challenges, it is imperative that we reassess our approach to social welfare in Nigeria. The current framework, embodied by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, has not only fallen short of addressing these issues but has also perpetuated a cycle of dependency and poverty. This ministry, while well-intentioned, has proven to be a temporary bandage on a deep and festering wound. This approach does not respect the inherent dignity of our people. It treats them as dependents rather than as citizens with rights. Social security should be recognized not as an act of benevolence, but as a fundamental right. It is time to rethink our strategy and implement a transformative change that will pave the way for a more equitable and sustainable future for all Nigerians.I respectfully urge you to consider establishing a National Social Security Agency, directly under the Office of the President, to replace the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. This agency would target and address the needs of the vulnerable population through a more efficient and sustainable system, one that truly empowers rather than pities, one that upholds the dignity and respect every Nigerian deserves. A system that ensures citizens feel truly secure, confident that no matter the circumstances, their basic needs for food and shelter will be met, a system that will provide the government with the necessary space to focus on other critical aspects of governance, free from unprovoked backlash due to perceived neglect or lack of support.Who are the vulnerable to be targeted?When we speak of the vulnerable, we must recognize them for who they truly are: our elderly who have served this country, now left without the security of a pension; our disabled who are daily fighting for a life of dignity in a society that overlooks their needs; our widows and orphans, left without a breadwinner and struggling to survive; the unemployed who seek work but find only closed doors; and those who have suffered unimaginable loss—whether through accidents, violence, or abandonment—and are now forgotten by the system that should protect them. These are the faces of Nigeria’s vulnerable population, and it is our moral obligation to ensure that they are not just seen but also supported with the dignity and respect they deserve.The Flawed System: Why Our Current Approach to Poverty Alleviation Isn’t WorkingThe fight against poverty has been a central focus of development planning in Nigeria since independence. Various governments have introduced numerous poverty alleviation programs over the years. Yet, the grim reality is that these interventions have largely failed to deliver meaningful and lasting results. The statistics paint a sobering picture:•Poverty Rate: Approximately 40% of Nigerians live below the poverty line, struggling to meet their basic needs.•Unemployment: The unemployment rate stands at around 33%, with many Nigerians, especially youth, unable to secure stable employment.•Disability: Over 25 million Nigerians are living with disabilities, often without adequate support or services to lead dignified lives.•Internally…
WHY POLICE CAN’T TRACK KIDNAPPER’S PHONES
WHY POLICE CAN’T TRACK KIDNAPPER’S PHONESSeventy-four-year-old Emir of Gobir in Gawata town of Sokoto state, Alhaji Isah Muhammad Bawa was abducted by bandits on Sabon Birni road last month alongside his biological son on his way to his native town of Sabon Birni, near the border with Niger, after attending a meeting in Sokoto. His abductors demanded N1b ransom while they tortured and dehumanised him.The traditional ruler, in a viral video, was shown tied up by his abductors, pleading with the state government, his friends, brothers and sisters to pay the ransom to the bandits for his release. When he couldn’t pay the ransom after about three weeks in captivity, his abductors eventually killed him and when his family members requested his corpse, the bandits again demanded N60 million and six motorbikes as ransom.The incident triggered a nationwide outrage as people expressed shock at the inability of the security agencies to rescue the abducted monarch as negotiation for his ransom was going on until he was eventually killed by his abductors.According to a concerned citizen whose reaction trended online throughout last week, “all these were going on, yet we have, DSS, NIA, EFCC, ICPC, Army, Navy, Air force and other paramilitary agencies, we have ministers of communication, telecommunications, information and others that have access to service providers. In fact, we have Minister Bosun Tijani who they hyped and over-hyped as a computer guru.The kidnappers were discussing on the phone with the family of the kidnapped emir just as they’ve been doing all over the country. So if we can’t track calls made by kidnappers and know their location in this modern era, what’s the use of communication, telecommunications, information and other nonsense ministries?”From the north to the South, the east, and the west of the country, the story is the same. Thousands of the citizens have been kidnapped with their abductors communicating with their families using mobile phones to negotiate for ransom. Yet, the security agencies have been unable to track down the kidnappers.Recently in Delta state, a young man who had gone to his farmland in Onitsah-Ugbo was kidnapped. In this case, Saturday Vanguard gathered that during the interaction between the kidnappers and relatives of the young man, the kidnappers demanded N18 million. Unfortunately, after payment of the ransom, relatives found the abducted man dead at the designated point where they were to pick him up. To date, his abductors are yet to be tracked through the phone used.Also, on Thursday, August 15, 2024, 20 medical students from the University of Maiduguri and the University of Jos were abducted along the Otukpo-Enugu highway on their way to the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students (FECAMDS) Annual Convention in Enugu State. For several days before their eventual release, the kidnappers were communicating with their relatives, demanding a ransom of N50 million for their release. Although the medical students were released after spending nine days in captivity, with security agents claiming that no ransom was paid, the larger concern remains the apparent lapses in detecting the location of the kidnappers and arresting them.The fact that the students were held captive for some time without the authorities being able to track down the kidnappers raises serious questions about the effectiveness of the security agencies’ intelligence gathering and response mechanisms. The sheer audacity of the kidnappers, striking in the full glare of other road users, is not only a stark reminder of the utter disregard for human dignity that has become the hallmark of these criminal elements but also an indictment of our security apparatus.. Many Nigerians are of the view that the focus should shift from the ransom aspect to addressing the glaring gaps in the security system that allowed the kidnappers to operate…
SOUTH EAST KILLINGS: WE WANT ASARI DOKUBO ARRESTED, PROSECUTED – HURIWA
SOUTH EAST KILLINGS: WE WANT ASARI DOKUBO ARRESTED, PROSECUTED– HURIWA Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has called for the arrest of former Niger Delta militant leader, Asari Dokubo. HURIWA believes that Asari has done enough to deserve prosecution by the authorities or, at the very least, an open investigation to determine the legality of his actions. The rights group noted that during Asari’s visit to President Bola Tinubu after he won the 2023 presidential election, he gave a sensational interview admitting to running a private army. During the interview, Dokubo claimed that he undertook assignments for the Federal Government to combat terrorists in the North and carried out operations in the South-East. Hence, in a statement signed by its national coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA questioned how a private individual could be allowed to operate a private army, which is unconstitutional in Nigeria. The rights association urged the government to investigate the allegations “that some of the killings in the South-East during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari were carried out by Dokubo’s so-called private army”. HURIWA said it was “particularly concerned about the video footage showing Dokubo brandishing sophisticated military-grade weapons, which no private individual in Nigeria is legally permitted to possess”. “Despite these serious allegations, there has been no action taken by the Army, the Department of State Services (DSS), or any other security outfit,” it added. HURIWA said it was alarmed that the Army and the Police “continue to parade individuals purportedly arrested as IPOB members, yet there has been no transparent disclosure regarding how many of these individuals have been successfully prosecuted”. The rights group demanded answers “on how many of those arrested have been tried, convicted, or are still in detention. Moreover, HURIWA questioned whether there is any substantial proof linking the mainstream IPOB loyal to Nnamdi Kanu, who has been detained for an extended period, to the killings”. HURIWA reiterated its belief that Nnamdi Kanu’s detention is illegal, arguing that the government has failed to provide any evidence linking him to the violence in the South-East. HURIWA reiterated its belief that Nnamdi Kanu’s detention is illegal, arguing that the government has failed to provide any evidence linking him to the violence in the South-East. The group drew a parallel between Kanu’s case and that of a Miyetti Allah leader who was arrested and later released by the government, despite facing charges in court. “The Federal Government’s sudden withdrawal of charges and release of the Miyetti Allah leader raises questions about the selective application of justice,” it added. The association called for an independent and transparent investigation into the killings in the South-East to ascertain the true identities of the perpetrators. HURIWA also demanded the immediate release of leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.
ANYAOKU GROUP, THE PATRIOTS, INSISTS ON NEW CONSTITUTION, INAUGURATES COMMITTEE
ANYAOKU GROUP, THE PATRIOTS, INSISTS ON NEW CONSTITUTION, INAUGURATES COMMITTEE The patriots, chaired by elder statesman and former Commonwealth Secretary General Chief Emeka Anyaoku, have reiterated their call for a new constitution for Nigeria. To advance this cause, the group yesterday inaugurated a 17-member advocacy committee led by Prof. Anthony Kila, a prominent political economist and professor of strategy and development. During the inauguration, Anyaoku announced that the committee, with the primary role of engaging with major stakeholders and the public, would soon begin outreach efforts, starting with members of the National Assembly. The event, held in Lagos and online, was attended by notable patriots including General Ike Nwachukwu, Obong Victor Attah, Prof. Anya O. Anya, Dr Bilikisu Magaro, Prof. Remi Sonaiya, Elder Solomon Asemota, Ambassador Tokunbo Awolowo Dosumu, and Senator Ben Obi. Recently, Anyaoku and the group met with President Bola Tinubu to advocate for a new constitution, sparking mixed reactions. Some stakeholders had argued that a new constitution was not immediately necessary, suggesting that the focus should instead be on improving the conduct of politicians operating under the current framework. In response, Anyaoku argued that even the best leaders would struggle to address Nigeria’s significant challenges under the existing constitution. He emphasised that while the president’s focus on economic issues is appreciated, a democratic people’s constitution would better support the country’s economic development and benefit its citizens. Anyaoku remarked, “It is widely acknowledged that our country is under-performing in many areas.” Meanwhile, the Yoruba Intelligentsia Group and the Voice of Reason Advocacy for Social Development Foundation (VOR) have urged President Tinubu to hold a referendum to determine Nigeria’s optimal governance structure. In an open letter, they called for a restructuring of Nigeria and recommended immediate, medium-term, and long-term measures to address socio-economic challenges. Signed by Dr Ladi Awosika, the letter emphasised the need for a stable, prosperous, and united Nigeria, invoking Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which asserts that, “The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government.” The group also proposed establishing a National Rebirth Commission to tackle historical injustices, promote social justice, and foster ethnic reconciliation.
WHY WE CELEBRATED BICHI’S EXIT – DSS OFFICIAYLS
WHY WE CELEBRATED BICHI’S EXIT – DSS OFFICERSThe reasons the immediate past Director-General of the Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi, and the DG of the National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Abubakar, resigned from their positions have been revealed.Sources within the Presidency told Saturday PUNCH that President Bola Tinubu and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, questioned the intelligence gathering mechanisms of the two agencies following the violent nature of the #EndBadGovernance protests in some northern states and the seizure of three presidential aircraft in France.While Bichi was held responsible for lack of functional intelligence on the protest, Abubakar was reportedly queried for the NIA’s inability to have reports ahead of the seizure of the jets by a Chinese company, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited.A French court had sanctioned the seizure of three Nigerian presidential jets, including a newly purchased Airbus, amid a legal dispute between Zhongshan and the Ogun State Government.The #EndBadGovernance protest, which began on August 1, turned violent in Kano, Gombe, Yobe, Borno and Bauchi states while demonstrations in the South-West were peaceful.During the protests in some northern states, public and private facilities were destroyed, while hoodlums looted shops and caused mayhem. This led to the imposition of curfews in Kano, Bauchi, and Plateau states.The protest was driven by widespread hardship resulting from the removal of fuel subsidy, electricity tariff hike and the high cost of living, among other issues.Bichi, who hails from Kano State, where widespread destruction and looting occurred, was appointed on September 14, 2018, by former President Muhammadu Buhari.Abubakar, from Katsina State, was also appointed by Buhari on January 10, 2018.According to credible sources, Tinubu and Ribadu were embarrassed by the turn of events on the seizure of the presidential jets and the #EndBadGovernance demonstrations.“The seizure of the presidential jets and violent nature of the #EndBadGovernance protest embarrassed the President nationally and internationally.“The President was displeased with the NIA and DSS bosses. This was why he requested the resignation of the two security chiefs,” said one of the sources.Another source told Saturday PUNCH that Bichi and Ribadu had been having a running battle before the protest, with the fallout from the northern demonstrations serving as the final straw.He stated, “The former DSS DG and the NSA boss had been on bad terms for some time. Their issues escalated to the point that Bichi was unable to meet the President for a while. The Presidency finally had a valid reason to dismiss him due to the #EndBadGovernance protest.”Abubakar announced his resignation on Saturday, August 24, after meeting with President Tinubu. In contrast, Bichi’s resignation was announced in a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, on Monday, August 26.Bichi’s resignation elicited reactions from DSS staff and the public.Some DSS officers, who spoke to Saturday PUNCH on condition of anonymity, described his exit as ‘freedom from unprofessionalism’.The DSS officers listed Bichi’s alleged misconduct to include undue interference in the service’s operations by his wife and son, Yusuf Bichi. A video of some DSS staff members allegedly celebrating Bichi’s resignation surfaced online immediately after his departure.However, an X user, Sanusi Jibrin, said the clip was recorded at the Kogi State DSS office, where personnel were celebrating Ajayi’s appointment, as he was a former director at the state command.A DSS officer, however, said personnel of the agency were happy with his removal.“We believed his regime was a punishment for us. He impeded the career advancement of many officers by extending the service years of those due to retire. Some senior officers, who were due for retirement in 2021 and 2022 were retained in the service,” he stated.Another officer alleged that Bichi was indifferent to the welfare of workers.“The Federal Government increased our salary by 40 per…
ABIKE DABIRI-EREWA UNDER FIRE FOR IGNORING VIRAL AUDIO CALLING FOR AFRICAN UNITY AGAINST IGBO
ABIKE DABIRI-EREWA UNDER FIRE FOR IGNORING VIRAL AUDIO CALLING FOR AFRICAN UNITY AGAINST IGBO Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), is facing accusations of bias following her silence on a controversial audio clip circulating among Nigerians, particularly from the South-West region. The clip features a man and woman of Yoruba descent calling for a united front against the Igbo community, alleging that they are responsible for tarnishing Nigeria’s reputation with fraud and other negative activities. In the viral audio, the Yoruba speakers claim that Igbo people are responsible for the bad press Nigeria is receiving and urge South Africans and other Africans to unite against them. These claims have sparked outrage among some Nigerian listeners. An Edo man, who based in Germany identifying himself as a Benin native, vehemently rejected these accusations, asserting that the Igbo people are good and questioning why fellow Nigerians would publicly denounce each other in such a manner. The audio clip also includes a Yoruba woman making similar negative claims about the Igbo, calling for African solidarity against them. A response came from a man from Cross River, who defended the Igbo community, stating, “I am from the Ikom tribe, and Igbo people are good people.” The Yoruba woman dismissed his comments, claiming she had never heard of any tribe called Ikom in Nigeria. This controversy follows recent concerns about a Nigerian-Canadian woman, Amaka Patience Sunnberger, who was heard in another viral clip threatening violence against Nigerians, specifically targeting those of Yoruba descent. Dabiri-Erewa’s prompt action to address Sunnberger’s threats has drawn attention, making her silence on the audio clip even more conspicuous. The situation highlights growing tensions and divisions within the Nigerian diaspora and raises questions about the role of NIDCOM in addressing intra-community conflicts.
SELECTIVE JUSTICE? AN AUSTRIAN BASED NIGERIAN, IN VIRAL AUDIO, CALLS FOR POISONING OF IGBO CHILDREN WHEREVER THEY ARE FOUND
SELECTIVE JUSTICE? AN AUSTRIAN BASED NIGERIAN, IN VIRAL AUDIO, CALLS FOR POISONING OF IGBO CHILDREN WHEREVER THEY ARE FOUND Following statements by Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), emphasizing their focus on Nigerian bigots in the diaspora, attention has turned to Kingsley, a Benin man living in Austria with the TikTok handle @papakins18. A user on X, Chi Chi (@Sugargists), shared a photo and viral audio of Kingsley, known on TikTok as papakins18, who is based in Austria and originally from Benin. In an audio video circulating online, Kingsley is heard inciting violence against Igbo individuals, calling on others to target Igbo children both at home and abroad wherever they are found. Towards the end of the video, speaking in Bini language, Kingsley even threatens to poison Igbo people as a means of teaching them a lesson. The situation has raised questions about the fairness and consistency of NIDCOM’s actions in handling ethnic threats made by Nigerians in the diaspora. Many are calling for Dabiri-Erewa to take immediate action against Kingsley, just as she did against Amaka Sunnberger, to ensure that all such incidents are treated with equal seriousness and urgency.
HYPOCRISY!
HYPOCRISY! A man that criticized Jonathan harshly, cannot turn around & claim that the problem of Nigeria in 2024, is spiritual. What changed since then? Nigeria is 10x worst than Goodluck left it. So I suspect a more sinister plot at play here. An attempt to distract & deceive the church. Christ was ‘consistent’ in his teachings; both of the kingdom, & of the world. He never tried to muddle the whole conversation, neither did he try to deceive. “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, & to God what belongs to God.” In that moment, Christ spoke to the fact that as Christians, we are not isolated from the affairs of this world. The actions taken by Caesar or the government affects all of Christendom. The caveat thereof says “we should never compromise our beliefs & values. Furthermore; our decisions & loyalties must be anchored on what will advance the church; & in this case – our common good.” Brings me to Pastor Adeboye. Such a man is inconsistent, & a danger to others. He is yet to defeat the IMF in their so-called manipulation of the Naira. Nigerians swallow a lot of rubbish from men who don’t know any better. Eldership in Nigeria is privilege.Eldership in Nigeria is arrogance.Eldership in Nigeria is impudence.Eldership in Nigeria is foolishness.Eldership in Nigeria is moral turpitude. Elders want to say rubbish & hide under the church. They use certain types of provocative language, & hide under traditions & seniority. Tradition & Religion gave them a certain type of cover, & they abuse it. They want to do anyhow, & get away with it. Don’t let them! NIGERIA IS CHANGING, & everyone must change with it. When an elder decide to house a type of moral turpitude in their heart, rebuke is the result. Most of them enjoyed the best that was Nigeria, & left a scarecrow behind. Elders shouldn’t tell lies, they shouldn’t deceive their followers. Elders are supposed to set certain type of examples for us. We are supposed to look to them, & learn. In any case, God is more likely to listen to a sinner than your favorite Daddy GOs. Focus more on your church. Each time he spoke on behalf of the APC, rebuke was the result. Focus on the church, leave politics alone….