News
Respect democracy, rule of law, Tinubu tells African leaders
Respect democracy, rule of law, Tinubu tells African leaders
President Bola Tinubu has charged his fellow African leaders to respect the rule of law and ensure political stability in their respective countries.
He said this at an event organised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on the margins of Fifth Mid-Year African Union (AU) Coordination Meeting.
The event was held on Saturday in Nairobi, Kenya.
The President urged African military institutions and states to recognise and respect the need for democratic renewal.
Tinubu, who is also the chairman of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, said coup d’état should be discouraged on the continent.
The President’s statement was presented by Ambassador Adamu Ibrahim Lamuwa, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He lamented that West Africa, in spite of its numerous instruments and mechanisms for promoting democracy and good governance, was leading other regions in the use of unconstitutional means to change governments.
He warned that the ugly trend of the military straying into the political arena is causing threats to peace, security and stability, and engendering poverty, displacement, and humanitarian crises.
He said, “This ugly trend has only succeeded in threatening the peace, security and stability of the sub-region and by extension the African continent, leaving in its trail poverty, internally-displaced persons and humanitarian crisis.
“In the same vein, this ugly trend has also led to food shortages and escalated health challenges.
“We therefore must take deliberate steps to address the root causes of unconstitutional changes and coups d’état in Africa.”
Tinubu also said, “As a continent, we cannot make progress toward achieving the goals and targets of the UN Agenda 2030 for sustainable development, as well as those of AU Agenda 2063 for the Africa We Want.
“Between 2020 and now, Africa has witnessed six successful coups d’état and three unsuccessful attempts.
“This rise in military takeovers and unconstitutional changes in government disrupts our democratic processes and undermines stability on the continent.
“It is for this reason that I call on all African leaders at all levels to make concerted efforts in respecting the tenets of democracy and the rule of law, in order to ensure political stability on the continent.”
News
Ohanaeze Ndigbo President-General raises alarm over threats to his life
Ohanaeze Ndigbo President-General raises alarm over threats to his life
Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has expressed concern over threats to his life by individuals he described as anti-Igbo. He revealed that there have been plans to either kill him or burn his house due to his leadership of Ndigbo.
Addressing a press conference in Enugu, Iwuanyanwu highlighted the dangers he faced, mentioning the death of his predecessor, Prof George Obiozor, and an attempt on another ex-leader’s life. He recounted receiving information about people hired to attack him but assured that he remained undeterred in his commitment to serving his people.
READ ALSO:
- Your husband is not your partner, he is the head – Daddy Freeze tells Nigerian women
- Cleric allegedly sets wife’s house ablaze following prayer disagreement in Ekiti
- UCL: Real Madrid beat Bayern to book final ticket …to face Dortmund in London
Iwuanyanwu lamented being confronted by such threats despite his efforts to serve his people, citing his extensive career and scholarship schemes that benefited thousands of youths. He recalled the fate of late Prof. Joe Irukwu, who faced similar accusations of working against the interest of Igboland.
Despite the challenges, Iwuanyanwu reaffirmed his determination to serve Ndigbo and vowed not to yield to intimidation.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo President-General raises alarm over threats to his life
News
Rivers crisis festers as new factional Speaker emerges
Rivers crisis festers as new factional Speaker emerges
A new speaker has emerged in Rivers State Wednesday May 8, 2024, to signal the much-awaited showdown in state’s deteriorating political crisis which seems to be here.
Already, hidden cards or fists are appearing every hour to show that both the Nyesom Wike camp and the Governor Siminalayi Fubara camp have been preparing for it.
The Wike camp through the Rivers State caretaker committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by Tony Okocha yesterday gave go-ahead for impeachment action against the governor. The one they one the 27 defected lawmakers loyal to Wike initiated on October 30, 2023, failed when Gov Fubara fought back until a temporary ceasefire was achieved in Aso Rock with an 8-point agreement signed by both parties but largely observed in breach.
Now, it seems both camps have rearmed and may be ready for the final showdown that may make Rivers State tense in the coming days, to say the least.
READ ALSO:
- Cybersecurity levy suspension tears lawmakers apart, speaker overrules
- EFCC to arraign Sirika, daughter over fresh N2.7 billion contract scam
- Breaking: Fubara bars all LGA heads from appearing before Rivers Assembly
The APC has directed that impeachment begin immediately; the next day, the Fubara camp announced their own Speaker, Victor Oko Jumbo from Bonny; same day, hints emerge that screening of LGA caretaker committee members may be going on.
On the other hand, the local councils have staged protests saying their monthly allocations have been withheld. Pressure is thus mounting from that angle covering the 23 local council areas.
The purported screening may lead to appointment of caretaker committees of the 23 LGAs in the state who would get the monthly allocations and hit the ground running.
This action would provoke what the Wike-backed APC group said they would resist. They may begin their own action in the form of impeachment proceedings which the Fubara camp (Rivers State government) said they would resist.
These acts of resistance may plunge the state into violence and make it ungovernable. At that point, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has remained silent since the peace agreement, may unveil the sanctions he had threatened would descend on any person who breached the agreement. Each camp points to the other as the one breaching the agreements. Each clings to Tinubu as the favourite.
The battle seems timed to ensure that the one year anniversary is hindered.
Rivers crisis festers as new factional Speaker emerges
News
Cybersecurity levy suspension tears lawmakers apart, speaker overrules
Cybersecurity levy suspension tears lawmakers apart, speaker overrules
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, intervened on Wednesday to halt a motion calling for the suspension of the controversial cybersecurity levy, which has sparked widespread dissatisfaction among Nigerians.
Since the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) mandated all banks to deduct 0.5% of the value of electronic transactions from customers, Nigerians from various sectors have vehemently opposed the levy, labelling it an additional financial burden.
During Wednesday’s plenary session, Manu Soro, a lawmaker from Bauchi State, presented the motion, citing concerns about the timing of the levy’s introduction amidst Nigeria’s prevailing economic challenges.
Soro argued that imposing new taxes or increasing existing ones amid the current economic difficulties exacerbated by the removal of fuel subsidies and currency depreciation would only add to citizens’ financial woes.
READ ALSO:
- EFCC to arraign Sirika, daughter over fresh N2.7 billion contract scam
- Breaking: Fubara bars all LGA heads from appearing before Rivers Assembly
- Russia urges Israel to comply with international humanitarian law in Rafah
He called on the House to urge the CBN to retract the circular on the cybersecurity levy and halt its implementation immediately. Additionally, he urged the Minister of Finance to refrain from introducing new taxes or raising existing rates until the economic situation improves significantly.
However, Speaker Abbas advised Soro to temporarily withdraw the motion to allow the House leadership to deliberate on the best course of action to address the issue.
In a related development, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) threatened to shut down the economy over the plan to implement the cybersecurity levy on electronic transactions. TUC’s president, Mr. Festus Osifo, criticized the levy as illogical, particularly given the current economic challenges faced by Nigerians. He warned that its implementation could worsen poverty and deepen the economic crisis in the country.
Cybersecurity levy suspension tears lawmakers apart, speaker overrules
Ohanaeze Ndigbo President-General raises alarm over threats to his life
Cleric allegedly sets wife’s house ablaze following prayer disagreement in Ekiti
Your husband is not your partner, he is the head – Daddy Freeze tells Nigerian women
-
International2 days agoNetanyahu rubbishes Hamas ceasefire proposal
-
Politics2 days agoAbia deputy gov candidate, lawmaker dump PDP
-
News3 days agoNigerian varsity VC suspended over alleged gross misconduct
-
metro1 day ago33 states face flooding risk, NEMA warns
-
Business1 day agoFuel: Independent marketers introduce new pump price
-
metro2 days agoThree siblings attack school teacher for flogging brother in Port Harcourt
-
metro5 hours agoCleric allegedly sets wife’s house ablaze following prayer disagreement in Ekiti
-
metro2 days agoMany injured as Police teargas Delta protesters