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Updated: As Sudan war rages, FG worried about 4,000 trapped Nigerian students

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As Sudan clashes rage, FG worried about 4,000 trapped Nigerian students

The Federal Government says it is “deeply concerned about the escalation of the conflict” in Sudan where over 3,000 Nigerian students are currently trapped.

Already, 330 people have been killed in the country during the raging war.

The clashes have also displaced thousands of civilians who fled the capital, Khartoum.

And some foreign nations have begun evacuating their nationals as the violence which started on April 8 entered its 12th day on Thursday.

President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Sudan (NANSS), Abubakar Babangida, told Daily Trust on Thursday, “Statistically, we have more than 10,000 students studying in Sudan but now some are on holiday. Currently, about 3,000 to 4,000 are stranded.

The association had earlier written to the Nigerian government crying that its members were stranded in Sudan with no access to basic needs.

Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had made an official request to the Sudanese authorities for permission to evacuate Nigerian citizens.

It however said the non-adherence to ceasefire agreements had made it “impossible” to embark on the evacuation of trapped Nigerians.

Spokesperson for the ministry, Francisca Omayuli, said on Thursday, “The non-adherence of the warring parties to numerous international calls for a ceasefire has worsened the plight of civilians and made it impossible to embark on their evacuation. Nigeria, therefore, wishes to reiterate the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire.”

The students had earlier appealed to the Federal Government to evacuate them from the country where a fierce military confrontation between the Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary group, Rapid Support Force, has also left 3,200 persons injured.

Before the crisis

Before now, the Sudanese Armed Forces, led by General Abdel al-Burhan, and the RSF paramilitary group, headed by General Mohamed Dagalo were allies.

They worked together in 2019 in a popular uprising that overthrew Sudan’s brutal dictator, Omar al-Bashir, who ruled the country for three decades.

After the coup, a power-sharing government was formed, made up of civilian and military groups.

The plan was for the interim government to rule Sudan for a few years and oversee a transition to a civilian administration but in 2021, al-Burhan, who had become chief of the power-sharing council, dissolved it, declaring he would instead hold elections in 2023.

How fighting broke out

The current fighting broke out between the army and the RSF as a result of failed negotiations over integrating the two forces ahead of the intended restoration of civilian rule.

There was disagreement over which General would be subordinate to the other, and how quickly the RSF would be incorporated into the Sudanese military.

Heavy fighting broke out on April 8, with the cities of Khartoum and Obdurman being turned into battlefields.

Though two ceasefires were agreed upon by the warring factions, both failed to stop the violence.

World leaders/groups react

Several global bodies have condemned the war in Sudan as no fewer than 330 people have been killed with at least 3,200 injured.

Tedros Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organisation (WHO), expressed deep concern over the situation and described the crisis as heartbreaking.

“The lack of safe access, of electricity, food, water, personnel and the diminishing medical supplies are making it nearly impossible for many health facilities to function at the exact time when there are thousands injured in need of urgent care,” he said.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that the violence could push millions into hunger in a country that has previously struggled with famine and drought.

The United Nations (UN) agency said its staff, offices, vehicles, equipment and food stocks have also come in the direct line of fire, leading to the death of three of its officials on Saturday.

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Ondo gov: PDP, APC bought votes, says rights group

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Ondo gov: PDP, APC bought votes, says rights group

The Centre for Democracy and Development West Africa (CDD-West Africa), through its Election Analysis Centre (CDD-EAC), has said that the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) bought votes from the electorate for as low as N3,000 and N5,000 respectively during the Saturday’s off-cycle governorship election in Ondo State.

Prof. Victor Adetula, Lead, CDD-EAC Observation Mission Ondo 2024; and Dr. Dauda Garuba, Director, CDD-West Africa, said this in CDD’s EAC preliminary statement on the conduct of the 2024 Ondo State governorship election, presented by Ms Oluseyi Awojulugbe, a member of the CDD-EAC.

The report also said that the election recorded lower incidents of disinformation and information manipulation, also referred to as fake new compared to the recently concluded off-cycle September 21 governorship election in Edo State.

“CDD-EAC notes a lot of instances of vote buying. In Okitipupa LGA, Ward 09, Unit 003 (Irowa, Ilutitun 3), voters were solicited for their votes, with APC allegedly offering ₦10,000 per voter and PDP ₦3,000.

“In Odigbo LGA, Ward 01, Unit 001 (Oja Baale, Agbabu), reports of vote-buying were noted, with APC allegedly offering ₦10,000 and PDP ₦5,000 per voter.

“Our observers also noted that some party agents started transferring money to voters to circumvent having to hold cash. In Ese-Odo, Ward 07, Unit 013 (Tari Ama Zion Ugo Community, Arogbo Ward 2), Vote-buying was observed at this polling unit, with PDP offering ₦3,000 and APC offering ₦5,000 to voters.

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“CDD observers watching the process in Ward 5, PU 001, located at St Johns Primary School, Iba Akoko South East spotted APC leaders writing down the names of those who voted for their candidate.

“Subsequently, a card was given to them and they were instructed to converge at an agreed location where cash would be disbursed to them.

“In Ward 005, PU 001, St Barnabas Primary School, Ifon, CDD-EAC observers saw policemen arguing over money shared by a party stalwart.

“The policemen reportedly frowned that about 10 of them were given N100,000 while only one official from another branch of the armed services allegedly got N15,000,” the report said.

The CDD-EAC said that the vote buying incidents and behaviour of party agents sparked multiple conflicts during the voting process, listing Idanre LGA, Ward 06, PU 004 (Methodist High School), where APC agents were accused of strategically monitoring voters’ choices, a move initially defended by security officials but later curtailed after protests.

The report, however, commended the prompt arrival of electoral officials at polling units (PUs), with 99% of CDD-EAC observers reporting that the INEC officials were at their stations before 8:30am.

Observers also reported cases of rowdiness in the polling environment with some youths disagreeing in some cases about the initiative by poll officials to allow elderly voters to cast their ballots first, leading to the disruption of the process, despite the intervention of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) at Post Office Premises, Akungba Akoko, Akoko South West.

On disinformation and information manipulation, the report said that the numbers of false narratives, claims and counter claims in the Ondo State governorship election have been relatively low, compared to other recent polls.

It said, “In the campaign period, and on Election Day, 13 claims have so far been reported and fact checked by CDD War Room.

“This is low, compared to the 61 claims reported during the same period in the Edo election, representing a 79% increase between the two elections. While 12 of these claims have been assessed to be either false or misleading, the sole claim peddled on voting day was adjudged to be true.”

Ondo gov: PDP, APC bought votes, says rights group

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Obasanjo takes jab at Tinubu govt, says Nigeria’s failing state obvious

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President Bola Ahmed tinubu, Former President Olusegun Obasanjo

Obasanjo takes jab at Tinubu govt, says Nigeria’s failing state obvious

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said Nigeria’s current state under President Bola Tinubu is in a terrible shape.

Indeed, he labelled the country’s status as a “failing state” marked by pervasive corruption and leadership failure.

Obasanjo gave the position during his keynote address at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum held at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.

A statement released by his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, quoted Obasanjo as referring to President Tinubu with the epithets “Baba-go-slow” and “Emilokan,” a term popularized during Tinubu’s election campaign, to underscore what he viewed as lackluster leadership.

He stated that the nation’s dire situation was evident to “every honest person.”

Delivering a lecture titled “Leadership Failure and State Capture in Nigeria”, Obasanjo warned that the nation was sinking deeper into insecurity, division, and underdevelopment.

He attributed these issues to widespread corruption, mediocrity, and a lack of accountability.

“The more the immorality and corruption of a nation, the more the nation sinks into chaos, insecurity, conflict, and disunity,” Obasanjo said. “The failing state status of Nigeria is confirmed and glaringly indicated for all to see.”

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Drawing inspiration from Chinua Achebe’s 1983 treatise “The Trouble with Nigeria”, Obasanjo reiterated that the nation’s challenges stemmed from a failure of leadership.

He dismissed notions that cultural or environmental factors are to blame, emphasizing instead the inability of leaders to rise to the occasion.

Obasanjo also accused the political elite of engaging in state capture, a form of corruption where powerful groups manipulate national policies, laws, and resources for personal gain.

He highlighted the sale of national assets at undervalued prices and the undue influence of interest groups in shaping Nigeria’s economic and political landscape.

“State capture is one of the most pervasive forms of corruption,” Obasanjo declared.

“What is happening in Nigeria – right before our eyes – is state capture, where public institutions are subject to undue influence from vested interests.”

The former president criticized the intertwining of business and political elites through family ties, lobbying, and vote-buying, which he argued prioritized private gain over public welfare.

He warned of the long-term implications on education, healthcare, infrastructure, and economic development.

On a hopeful note, Obasanjo maintained that Nigeria’s challenges are surmountable, provided the nation’s leadership embraces accountability and reforms.

In honoring Chinua Achebe, Obasanjo praised the late literary icon for his lasting contributions to Nigerian society, describing him as “a great and distinguished Nigerian.”

The speech has sparked debate about Nigeria’s current trajectory and the responsibility of its leaders to address deep-seated challenges.

Obasanjo takes jab at Tinubu govt, says Nigeria’s failing state obvious

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Ondo poll: APC buying votes with N10,000, PDP alleges

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Ondo poll: APC buying votes with N10,000, PDP alleges

Dr. Eddy Olafeso, the Director General of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) campaign council for the Ondo state governorship election, has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of vote-buying in his unit at N10,000 per voter.

Olafeso, who spoke after voting at his polling unit 005 Olumekun compound, Ward 12, Idepe, Okitipupa Local Government Area, Ondo state, said the election was peaceful in his area.

According to him, ” We have been here around 8am and everything appears in line with the electoral law especially the area i voted but our fears is the APC that has not done anything for the people in the last four years are moulding up the process by paying N10,000 to each voters, we have witnessed it here and we have complained and it appears intractable.

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“For us, no matter the kind of profligacy they are introducing into the electoral process, truth will prevail in the final analysis.

“You know it is a long process and voting is the first stage , we are waiting for it to be uploaded into IREV, we are waiting to take our from E8CA to ensure that everything is appropriately recorded.

“Like I said, the only fear is the vote buying the APC is trying to entrench into the culture of voting in Nigeria.”

 

Ondo poll: APC buying votes with N10,000, PDP alleges

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