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Pro-Tinubu protests rock Abuja as protesters warn against spirit of June 12

Published

2 years ago

March 28, 2023

A pro-Bola Tinubu protest, yesterday, in Abuja, turned violent over breach of monetary settlement by organisers to hired protesters.

Organised under the aegis of The Natives to counter calls for the cancellation of the presidential polls and, some participants of the protest prior to its commencement unleashed violence on fellow protesters, passersby and motorists for over one hour.

An eyewitness said organisers had failed to meet their own term to protesters, thus sparking anger and counter-protests.

“Before the protesters hit the road, few of them, armed with daggers, broken bottles, cudgels, sticks and other weapons went gaga, attacked fellow protesters, smashing burnets of cars, disruptingd vehicular movements forcing most of the cars to drive against traffic. The attackers disrupted what was meant to be a peaceful protest for about an hour forcing most road users to scamper into safety. They complained that organisers of the protest had angered them by failing to settle agreed financial entitlements prior to the commencement of the protest.”

The witness said it took the intervention of security agents and repeated appeals from the conveners to calm the violent protesters, but that was after some damage had ben done to vehicles plying that route.

The protest, which however, commenced after financial issues were settled crippled activities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

The protesters who stormed the FCT in over 100 buses vowed to resist any attempt to constitute an Interim National Government (ING).

They warned leaders of opposition parties, their candidates and supporters against pushing for an interim government.

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They cautioned that they would not settle for any other thing other than the inauguration of president-elect and the APC candidate, Bola Tinubu on May 29.

Speaking to newsmen before the protesters headed to the national headquarters of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to pass vote of confidence in its Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, leader of the group, Smart Edwards, said Tinubu did not steal anyone’s mandate and the call for an interim government was misplaced.

He appealed to the international community and Nigerians to allow democracy to grow by supporting the president-elect.

“It was either that the opposition parties did not network well with the people and Nigerians or their members did anti-party against them. Today we have witnessed PDP suspending its National Chairman, the man who campaigned for the party, that’s also democracy. It is our turn, The Natives of Nigeria to see a better Nigeria, it is our turn to see a working Nigeria, our turn to see a democracy that works, our turn to advance the country as patriots.

“Today, we are declaring absolutely that no mandate was stolen. INEC performed creditably well and the election was free and fair. The election saw NNPP won election in Kano State, APC, though challenging the outcome, has decided to go to court, that’s democracy. PDP won election in Rivers, Enugu, Taraba, Delta, Plateau states and others, and the APC candidate in Plateau has congratulated the winner, his party may chose to proceed to court, that’s democracy.

“In Benue, the APC has a Rev Father who won election overwhelmingly against the incumbent, that is democracy. We saw Peter Obi won election in Lagos State against the landlord, that’s democracy. We saw Labour Party win election in FCT Abuja, that is democracy. We saw an Okada man win election in Kaduna State, that is democracy. We saw a woman almost win election in Adamawa, but was declared inconclusive, that is democracy.

“Those calling for interim government are jokers because when Shonekan was appointed in the past the people rejected it. Africa is base for democracy is Nigeria. We have Goodluck Jonathan who is a symbol of democracy, we had late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, he was a symbol of democracy, we have General Gowon who is also a symbol of democracy. Other nations in Africa are learning from Nigeria. So, what I am saying is that the Natives of Nigeria are of all tribes and colouration, it is impossible for anybody to attempt an interim government. We will resist it. President Muhammadu Buhari has spoken clearly and that is why we came out today in solidarity of what he said that he will handover to Tinubu,” he said.

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On call for the removal of INEC chairman, Edward said: “Yakubu is not going anywhere. This same man conducted the election where NNPP won, LP won, PDP also won in some states. We will be marching to INEC headquarters to tell the commission that no mandate was stole. Asiwaju won the election and it remained so. Only the tribunal and Supreme Court can change the decision of INEC.

“The spirit of June 12 is upon us, by June 12 this year it will be 30 years. The same military that truncated democracy that time in Agbada led by President Buhari has recognised this election. We believe that MKO Abiola’s soul will rest in peace the day Bola Tinubu takes over from President Buhari. I am also appealing, in the name of the Almighty God, to all Nigerians to please give peace a chance. We cannot continue to be protesting on the streets every day.

“I appeal let us balance our emotions with progressiveness. Let us banish bigotry wherever it is find, whether in the East, West, South or North, let us work together, and I also call on all parties to sheath their swords and proceed to courts if they are still aggrieved or allow it to be.

“We are telling the opposition parties and their supporters that in the National Assembly we are seeing six different party who won elections and will form the 10th Assembly, that is democracy. I tell you, there are Senators who lost their seats, their are governors who lost election. What we are saying is that the international community should ensure that Nigeria which is their base point to Africa and the world should be supported to grow its democracy. We are calling on the opposition, and want to particularly correct the erroneous view of Peter Obi’s running mate Datti Ahmed that there is no President-elect.”

Meanwhile, another group of protesters, under the auspices of All Progressives Congress (APC) Support Groups converged about a kilometer away from Unity Fountain Abuja, and appealed to Nigerian, particularly the opposition to stop overheating the polity over the emergence of Tinubu as President-elect.

The group, which stormed the venue in about 50 buses stressed the need to accept the choice of Nigerians in good faith.

Spokesman for one of the groups, Tosin Adeyanju, said as concerned patriots, the solidarity rally would continue until the president-elect is sworn-in, and urged Nigerians not to listen to enemies of democracy.

Related Topics:Featured June 12 protesters Tinubu

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Lagos reiterates ban on Okada in 10 LGA, 15 LCDAs

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Yuletide: Travellers want fare discount for road trips

Published

10 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Trends Admin

Yuletide: Travellers want fare discount for road trips

Bemoan high fares

Passengers travelling to their country homes for the Christmas and new year day celebrations have urged the Federal Government to extend the free rail services announced early in the week to road transport routes across the country.

Some of the travellers who complained about the high fares called on the Federal Government to restore the 50 percent fare reduction on inter-state luxury bus routes granted to road passengers at this time last year.

The passengers who spoke at various terminals and loading stations of long distance road transport companies in Lagos, were reacting to the upsurge in fares to about N40,000 on luxury buses and N65,000 on mini buses going to the South-East.

Reports from some of the boarding stations revealed that upon hearing the announcement of free train ride, some passengers thronged the loading stations at various points in Lagos to benefit from the gesture, but were disappointed when they were informed that the offer did not cover road transport.

At Terminal 1 in Oshodi, Alafia, Jibowu, Mazamaza, and private stations in the Cele/Ejigbo axis, on Saturday, passengers bemoaned the high cost of travelling on both the big and small buses, disclosing that many people were not travelling because they couldn’t afford “the exorbitant fares the transport firms are collecting.”

Interestingly, a trip on board Toyota Sienna which used to attract slightly higher fare than on a typical mini bus, is the same at N40,500.

One of the passengers told our reporter one if the stations in Cele, “You press people should please tell (President Bola) Tinubu that poor masses cannot afford to go home this Christmas because there is no money in the country.

“(President) Tinubu should please repeat the 50 percent discount on long distance fares which some of us enjoyed last year to travel home.”

At the nearby Young Young Shall Grow station, a passenger who planned to travel to the east recalled how he took advantage of the 50 percent fare discount to travel from Abuja to Onitsha and back in 2023, and wondered why the Federal Government has not considered the re-introduction of the palliative this festive season.

According to the man who gave his name as Chinedu Uzoechina, his intention to travel to Anambra state and back with his wife and five children, has been stalled by the high transport fares being charged at the various terminals.

Uzoechina, who came to book for seats in advance, lamented, “I was hoping that the 50 percent fare discount that followed the increase in fuel pump price would be available this year, but that has not been the case this year. Forty thousand into seven is N280,000 for one-way luxury tickets.

“If you add the cost of coming back, it means I will spend nothing less than N560,000 on transportation alone for seven of us. Where will I get that kind of money? I have called my wife to inform her of the situation here (at the terminals in Cele).

“She is not happy that we are not travelling anymore, but what can I do?”

According to him, the only thing that can make his family travel again is if the Federal Government extends the free train ride offer to long distance road transport routes, like Lagos-east, or reduces the fares in collaboration with the operators.

Like Uzoechina, many other intending travellers were still hopeful that the government wiuld still intervene with a fare discount, even as they disclosed that they would either cancel the trips outrightly or reduce the number of tickets to be bought, if their hopes are dashed.It was learnt that the fares were slightly lower by about N2,000 at Terminal 1 where both big and mini buses have been loading for day and night trips at Oshodi.

Reacting to the passengers’ complaints about high fares at the terminal owned by the Lagos State Government, Damian Ezuma, the manager of Izu Chukwu Transport, blamed the situation on the rising cost of maintaining the buses as well as on the pump price of diesel, which he said, is as high as N2,000 a litre in some parts of the country.

“It is not our fault. The cost of maintenance is so high that it is only by the grace of God that some of transport companies still manage to keep their buses on the road these days. Do you know that one big bus tyre costs between N250,000 and N500,000, depending on the quality and brand?” Ezuma argued.

He confirmed that many intending travellers who heard about the free train services offer by the Federal Government have been coming to the terminal make enquiries on whether long distance-plying buses are part of the gesture and whether last season’s fare discount applies this year.

Many of them leave the terminal disappointed and deciding not to travel anymore, but opting instead to wait for a possible fare palliative from the government.

Also commenting on the reason for the high fares, a manager at Chisco Transport’s head office in Lagos explained that the unfavourable naira-dollar exchange rate has impacted on the prices of replacement parts and maintenance costs generally.

But a major factor is the fact that during the peak festive season, buses are usually full when leaving major cities like Lagos and Abuja, but are almost empty in their return journeys.

So some operators slightly adjust their fares upward to cover the losses incurred during return trips.

In 2023, the special fare discount by government through the luxury bus owners took effect on December 21, and lasted till the second week of January, 2024.

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Navy arrests 19 Nigerians attempting to reach Europe by hiding on ship

Published

13 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Trends Admin

Navy arrests 19 Nigerians attempting to reach Europe by hiding on ship

The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT has successfully apprehended 19 individuals attempting to stow away on Europe-bound vessels.

In a statement issued on Saturday in Lagos, the ship’s Information Officer, Lt. Hussaini Ibrahim, disclosed that 15 stowaways were intercepted on Dec. 19 aboard the European-bound Moto Tanker (MT) KRITI RUBY. Another four were caught on Dec. 21 aboard MT MCC YANBU.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the stowaways boarded the vessels at night and concealed themselves in the rudder compartment while attempting to illegally migrate to Europe,” Ibrahim stated.

The Navy’s Quick Response Team (QRT), operating from ATLAS COVE and using the Falcon Eye Alignment under the Nigerian Navy Maritime Domain Awareness Facility, facilitated the interception of the 15 individuals near the Lagos fairway buoy.

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Ibrahim further explained that credible intelligence led to the interception of the additional four stowaways by Navy personnel deployed on escort duties aboard the vessel.

“The prompt response of the QRT saved the stowaways from exposure to life-threatening situations during the long voyage,” he added.

The first group of 15 individuals has been handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service, Lagos State Port/Marine Command, Apapa, for further investigation and necessary action. The remaining four suspects will also be transferred in due course.

“The presence of stowaways poses serious security threats to maritime operations, including risks of smuggling, piracy, drug and human trafficking, among other maritime crimes,” Ibrahim noted.

He emphasized that under the leadership of Chief of Naval Staff Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla, NNS BEECROFT will continue maintaining security along Lagos waterways and surrounding creeks to support safe maritime activities and economic growth.

Navy arrests 19 Nigerians attempting to reach Europe by hiding on ship

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Troops arrest four Ambazonian rebels in Taraba

Published

13 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Trends Admin

Nigerian military troops

Troops arrest four Ambazonian rebels in Taraba

Troops of the 6 Brigade Nigerian Army/Sector 3 of the Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), have arrested four suspected members of Ambazonian rebels in Taraba.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ambazonia is a rebel group operating in neighbouring Cameroon Republic.

A statement on Saturday in Jalingo by Capt. Olubodunde Oni, Acting Assistant Director Army Public Relations, said the suspects were arrested at a hotel in Takum town.

The statement said that acting on credible intelligence, the suspects were tracked and apprehended.

According to the statement, during initial interrogation, the suspects confessed to being part of the rebel group involved in arms proliferation in exchange for cocoa with their Nigerian collaborators.

It said that four mobile handsets were recovered from the suspects now in detention undergoing further investigation.

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The statement also said that in another operation following actionable intelligence, troops deployed at Natilde community in Bantaji District of Wukari Local Government Area intercepted a truck with registration number WKR 66 BB, transporting 19 pieces of stolen pipelines belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL).

It said that further collaborative efforts with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Wukari Division led to the recovery of an additional 11 pipes, bringing the total to 30.

“The recovered items have been handed over to the NSCDC Wukari Division for further investigation and necessary action.

“The 6 Brigade Nigerian Army will remain resolute in its commitment to safeguarding lives and property while ensuring the security of critical national infrastructure.

“We urge members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies to enhance our collective efforts in maintaining peace and security,” the statement added.