Sahara Reporters Latest News Monday 7th January 2019

Sahara Reporters Latest News Monday 7th January 2019

Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 07/01/19

target=_blank>BREAKING: After Borno Office, Soldiers Invade Daily Trust’s Abuja Office

Soldiers at the Daily Trust office in Abuja

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Hours after shutting down the Borno office of Daily Trust newspaper, officers of the Nigerian Army have invaded the newspaper’s head office in Abuja.
During the invasion of its Borno office, the regional editor, Uthman Abubakar and a reporter, Ibrahim Sawab, were arrested.

target=_blank>Gunmen Attack On Conoil Facility In Bayelsa A Hoax, Says Ex-Militant Leader

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Reuwells Oil and Gas Surveillance Company, owned by ex-militant leader, Cliford Wilson, has dismissed the claims that there was a bomb attack on the facilities owned by Conoil Limited in Koluama, Southern Ijaw Council Area of Bayelsa State.
Earlier, a group referred to as Koluama Seven Brothers, had claimed responsibility for the attack, which it said was a warning to the oil company.
Wilson, also known as ‘Pastor Reuben’, said the youth are misguided and only want to arm-twist the oil company into succumbing to blackmail.
“The news about the attack is nothing but a hoax that only existed in the imagination of the misguided youth masquerading as a militant group and geared towards creating panic, blackmail and to arm-twist the company into succumbing to threat in the area,” he said.
“As a surveillance security company, we are fully on ground and working with the military personnel of Operation Delta Safe (ODS) and the Nigeria Security and Defence Civil Corps (NSCDC), patrolling every nook and cranny of Conoil activities.
“We urge the misguided youth to shun the idea of attacking any facility in the area, as they will be resisted with brutal force.
“We urge the peace-loving people of Koluama to be vigilant and report any suspicious movement of person or persons that may want cause violence of any sort on any oil facility in the area.”
Meanwhile, the group that earlier claimed responsibility for the attack, revealed that the opinion of the surveillance company is “damage control”, as they would soon “launch another attack”.

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target=_blank>Coalition Of Political Parties, Stakeholders In Ondo South Endorse Sowore

A coalition of political parties and politicians have endorsed Omoyele Sowore, presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC).
This formed part of the activities at a recent meeting held in Ondo South senatorial zone.
Speaking at the event, Sowore called on Nigerians to do the right thing at the polls scheduled for February, to truly experience a new year.
In his comments on the need for Nigerians to vote right in the 2019 elections, Sowore said: “This time around, this is going to be a new year for us if we do the right thing. We are all united here today because of our country Nigeria. Don’t get edgy if we are talking about problems created by other political parties. You are entitled to join political parties; it’s your constitutional right and if you join a political party and you discover that the political party is not delivering, don’t feel guilty about that. Feel free to go the path of honour by joining personalities, when you cannot find parties that carry forward your aspirations of a better country.

“You must have watched a lot of movies about Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Malcom X, but sometimes you don’t know that your own Nelson Mandela is in your house because you ignore them when they show traits of these same individuals.”
In his remarks at the event, one of the stakeholders, Reverend Gbenga Akinrogunde, said: “For some time now, I have been following you. I have listened to many of your talks and interactions. I’ve seen most of your videos where you get out of your car in traffic and talk to people and it has stirred something in me. I want to encourage you. God is in this cause you are walking in; for you to be a courageous leader of this magnitude, this is the person our heart should work for”.
Victor Abiodun from Okitipupa, who is also convener of the Ikale Advancement movement, said: “I am a living witness to his struggle for a better country. On August 1st, 4th and 15th with Sowore, we took to the streets to protest the lack of electricity in Ore, after which it was restored. I have no doubt he will be a good leader”.
Delivering a goodwill message, Chief Thompson Akam from Ese Odo ward one, said: “It is not surprising to me anymore. When I got the invitation, I have assessed you severally even in your community. You were able to convince me about your aims and goals and I wish you the best. Please remember those of us that helped get you there when you do”.

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target=_blank>BREAKING: Soldiers Shut Down Daily Trust Office In Borno… Arrest Editor, Reporter

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Armed officers of the Nigerian Army have invaded the Daily Trust regional office in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
The soldiers stormed the premises of the newspaper’s office on Sunday and arrested the regional editor, Uthman Abubakar and a reporter, Ibrahim Sawab.
As at the time of this report, it was not clear why the soldiers invaded the office.
However, the newspaper says it may be connected to its lead story on Sunday which focused on military operations in the North-East.
They were also said to have shut the gate of the Maiduguri regional office, after arresting the two editorial staff in sight. The soldiers had also requested to see Daily Trust’s Political Editor, Hamza Idris, whose byline appeared on the story, a witness said.

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target=_blank>Lagos Domestic Airport Records 228,239 Passengers For December 2018

The General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos, recorded 228,239 passengers in December 2018, thereby maintaining its status as the busiest domestic airport in the country.
Of the 228,239 passengers recorded within the period, inbound passengers stood at 104,168, while outbound passengers were 124,071.
The statistics is, however, not inclusive of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Two (MMA2), Lagos, which is controlled by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL).
The statistics was made available by Adekunle Aderibigbe, the Terminal Manager of GAT.
Aderibigbe noted that before the festive season, the management of the terminal took several measures aimed at ensuring seamless passenger facilitation by servicing the conveyor belts, cooling systems and screening machines. He said the upsurge in passenger traffic was envisaged, hence it worked towards seamless movement for passengers, while some flights were moved to a less busy terminal for easy passenger facilitation.
“We have two terminals here, the Zulu and Alfa. What we did was to move some flights from the busy terminal to the less busy terminal for passengers’ comfort. Calabar, Port Harcourt and Uyo flights were moved to the Zulu terminal to ease the Alfa traffic where Air Peace operates from,” he said.
According to Aderibigbe, the Agege motor road construction work almost marred free flow of traffic at the airport, as the construction work had a spill-over, which affected domestic airport users. He, however, noted that it was carefully handled by officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) at the terminal end.
“The only challenge was the construction work on the Agege motor road, as passengers found it difficult to to move out of the terminal to connect to Agege motor road. The traffic extended to the terminal and passengers expressed bitter experiences during the Yuletide period,” he said.
The terminal manager also revealed that the automation of the domestic car park by FAAN early last year brought sanity to the area as some people who were not travellers took undue advantage of the non-automation of the park to leave their vehicles there. He said with the billing system introduced, the number of vehicles at the park had gradually reduced through proper monitoring.
While acknowledging the small size of the domestic car park, he explained further that there was a plan by FAAN management to construct a new multi-storey car park at the domestic wing, noting that when completed, it would ensure decongestion of traffic at the terminal.
He said the activities of touts had been reduced at the airport, with various arrests made on a daily basis by FAAN security personnel, and warned that anyone caught engaging in such illicit activities within the airport would be apprehended and handed over to law enforcement agents.
He expressed appreciation to the management of FAAN for the evacuation order that led to the removal of all abandoned aircraft from the tarmac, which he said had created enough space at the domestic end of the tarmac.

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target=_blank>Open Letter To IPOB By Charles Ogbu

Brethren,I bring you greetings.
It is beyond argument that, through the agitation for Biafra which you lead, you, The Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) have brought both local and international attention to the plight of Ndigbo in Nigeria. You have raised our consciousness to a level never seen before. In the face of naked brutality and state terrorism, you have stood tall, refusing to bow to tyranny. Your members have paid the ultimate price for the emancipation of the people of old Eastern region from the clutches of Nigeria, a country that is deaf and dumb to the sanctity of human lives. Above all, you have resisted the urge to go violent, remaining peaceful, even in the face of demonic provocation from the Muhammad Buhari led government. For these, my gratitude is yours.
But,I have not come to offer you gratitude. I have come to convey to you my concerns in areas I reasonably believe you are progressing in error and offer unsolicited advice as an Igbo man and a stake holder in the Biafra project. Just to be very clear, this letter is for the sake of posterity, seeing as we are all before history and will be judged by it.
1) The Biafra agitation IS NOT a quest for vendetta against Igbo politicians, Ohaneze Ndigbo and other Igbo non-IPOB members who may not share your method on Biafra in toto even when they may completely share the underlying message of your agitation. The Biafra agitation is a people’s cry against state-sponsored killings and other forms of institutionalized injustices. A quest for freedom to self determine our future and explore our potentials. That the Igbo leadership collective has not lived up to our expectations as youths is not in doubt. But a wise man must first catch Mr Vulture before asking him the name of his Barber. K’anyi zotagodi ana tupu anyi azowa ute.
2) To preside over a people, exercise any authority over them or even agitate for anything on their behalf, you must first understand them. Sometimes I fear that some of you, especially the online warriors, do not really understand the Igbo so well. Ndigbo are natural parliamentarians with a deeply rooted republican default setting. A very proud people. And they like debating every issue and having every man contribute his opinion before a conclusion is reached. This is the only way the conclusion can be binding on them. Plus, they don’t give anyone, not even the gods, absolute loyalty or trust. They can shout “Hosanna To The Highest” for you today but they won’t hesitate to gift you with “Crucify Him, Crucify Him” song the next day if they feel you are no longer serving their interest. Even if an Igbo man knows that you are taking him to heaven for a one-on-one with God, he will still need you to explain to him, in full detail, how you intend to do the journey and even after your explanation, he will not just close his eyes and allow you carry him in a wheelbarrow to God. He will want to walk the road to heaven with you, with his eyes wide open, maka adighi ama ama. That is who the Igbo man is. Most importantly, you don’t order him around.
This foray into who the Igbo man is, is as necessary as it is strategic, to enable us have a better understanding of the people for whom we are agitating for Biafra.
3) If a non IPOB Biafran expresses divergent view on any issue concerning the Biafra agitation, questions your method or voices concerns about any of your activities, do not be so quick to shut him up, insult him into silence, character-assasinate or bully him while spraying the “Sabo” tag on him like the anti-mosquito thing called “Raid”. You cannot insult an Independent Biafra Nation into existence neither can you character-assasinate your own people into submission. Everytime you insult people for asking question or refusing to follow your method without question, you create the wrong impression that the Biafra you are fighting for will be one in which free speech will be outlawed and people branded Saboteurs simply for owning and expressing divergent views on issues affecting them. Remember, the Biafra you are fighting for will not be for your members only. And if it is for all of us, how can one be a Saboteur simply for asking question or disagreeing with your method?? Being a member of IPOB does not make you more Biafran than other Igbo non IPOB members just as insulting people does not make you a hardcore IPOB members.
4)Whatever you do, however you do it, please DO NOT boycott election, especially your own states elections UNLESS you are ready to go violent. The only two means of securing an independent Nation is through the Political process or war. Any other thing aside this two is what the Igbo call ‘Ajambene’. No one will take you seriously, no one will fear you, and surely, no politician in Igboland will lose sleep over your activities UNTIL you put your numerical strength into use and prove that you can punish your enemies and reward your friends with your vote. Political power is everything. The man who holds it can determine when you should sleep and wake up. If you can’t use your numerical strength to change political terrorists in Biafra land and replace them with real Igbo Patriots who will at least use their States Attorney Generals to ensure your members are not thrown into jail simply for holding a flag, your journey to the land of the rising sun will remain an endless one because the truth is, the second biggest tragedy of Ndigbo is the tragedy of leadership.
If you cannot control your own homogeneous Igbo Nation, politically, with all your much touted numerical strength, you simply cannot extricate Biafra from Nigeria. Before preaching Boycott, do well to ask yourself the gain from the boycott of the 2006 census as championed by MASSOB. After boycotting the last Anambra governorship poll, did it exempt you from Governor Willie Obiano’s policies?
5)For any agitation to succeed, the agitators must balance Emotion (passionate commitment) with Reason. Before taking any steps, the first question you must always ask yourself is, how will this step take me closer to my target. And seeing as a Referendum date is your target, your question should be, HOW WILL ELECTION BOYCOTT HELP BRING THE MUCH NEEDED REFERENDUM FOR BIAFRA? The answer to the above question should be your guide.
It is an unjust world we live in. No one but us is coming to save us. Nigeria is a sovereign “Nation” with enough black liquid to bribe away the eyes of the international community from our plight. The United Nation is an assemblage of Nations full of flowry speeches but devoid of conscience. In the midst of well documented ethnic cleansing the Cameroonian sit-tight leader, Paul Biya is carrying out against the people of Southern Cameroon, the same UN “rewarded” Paul Biya with a seat at its Human Rights council. Syria yet burns in a senseless war being fueled by member States of the same UN. They care about one thing and one thing alone: Their Interest. The US is no different. The way and manner the US President, Donald Trump placed his country’s business interest with Saudi Arabia over and above the need to get justice for Jamal Khashoggi, the Saudi journalist allegedly butchered by the Saudi Authorities says it all.
lastly, brethren, I understand that due to the emotional attachment we have for Biafra, some of you might feel uncomfortable with this piece but I assure you, I bear nothing but love for you all and it is because of that love that I have refused to allow you be like ‘Eze Onye Agwana m’ who was busy dancing naked while mistaking laughter directed at his nakedness for cheers for his dancing prowess.
We cannot stop the Nigerian rain from falling but we can at least take measures to stop ourselves from being beaten by it.
Love From Charles
Please follow me on twitter @RealCharlesOgbu

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target=_blank>Stop Voting For Thieves Who Owe You Salaries, Says Sowore In Kogi

Omoyele Sowore, AAC presidential candidate, at the campaign rally in Kogi

Omoyele Sowore, presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), has asked Nigerians to collectively vote out leaders who “perpetually enslave their followers by not paying salaries, and not building hospitals or equipping schools for children”.
He stated this while speaking with thousands of supporters at a mega rally in Kabba, Kogi State.
Speaking on why he should be elected as president in February, Sowore said: “This is the time for young people to take power back from those who have abused it over the years. We are fighting to ensure that everyone who is working for Nigeria earns a living wage of N100,000. We are fighting for your kids, who are currently out of school, to access education for free as well as health care because Nigeria is blessed with resources, but thieves whom we have elected over the years keep stealing to take care of themselves and not you.
“Are you not tired of the suffering and poverty?”
His question met with a thunderous “we are” in response from the crowd.
“It is time for Kogi people to say enough once and for all so that we can truly liberate Nigeria and become the leaders we were promised while we were in school. The AAC is set to send the shameless fathers like Buhari who have refused to let go of power back to Daura. The roads here are terrible; it’s a sign that the people you have voted for have failed you. They do not remember you, save for election cycles when they bring a miserly N4,000, and you never hear from them again. Vote for me come February 16 and watch Nigeria transform before your eyes,” he added.
The Kabba rally, which was also attended by Dr. Rabiu Ahmed Rufai, the AAC vice-presidential candidate, as well as party executives in the state, kicked off the SoworeRufai2019 Middle Belt campaign rallies, which will take the campaign caravan across cities like Kaduna, Plateau, Bauchi, Taraba, Gombe and Adamawa states, as part of a 100-city tour ahead of the 2019 general election.

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target=_blank>False Prophets By Adebiyi Adeyera

If you are reading this now, then you are about to get the same picture going through my head right now. This picture has been in my head before now and I have tried my best to let those around me get the full picture.
In trying to make people understand my point of view, I have met people who agreed and people who still went ahead with their decision. I believe after reading this, you’ll get the full picture of what I am trying to paint and it’ll resonate in your mind. Maybe then, we can rid our country of false prophets.
A few years back, a retired General took a decision that he was still fit both physically and mentally to go to war. This General felt he was chosen to deliver his people like Moses. Having gathered all the confidence any human could get, he began preaching his truth (in the words of Kareem). Being a clever soldier, he started from his hometown because he understands one of the basic rules of human relations which states that “If those around you share in your dreams, they will support you all the way”.
As time went on, his message of truth began to spread beyond the borders of Daura. He was achieving his desired results. His congregation had an insight of hope at the mention of his name. Now, the time was ripe for him to accomplish his dreams. Like a normal human driven with a massive desire to achieve his dream, he began to work tirelessly, but he had one problem: he was too desperate.
In trying to prove that he was the Messiah, he began to make false prophecies, which a few of us out here knew to be a well constructed fallacy. His congregation held on to this fallacy so dearly; they were ready to make a fool of anybody who tried to contest that fact. Only if they knew that time.
So, Odun and Emeka just came back from the gas station.
Hear what Emeka had to say: “This one never happen before, I surprise o”.
“Wetin happen?” I ask.
“Can you imagine gas wey we dey fill for N800. Na so we reach there, dem talk say nah #2500 now. E be like say nah firewood we go dey use cook now,” Emeka said.
Look, he was a false prophet. He is still a false prophet. In fact, he is a clueless, confused false prophet.
Hope you got the picture?
First Published January 21, 2017

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target=_blank>The Troubling Embrace Of Autocracy In Nigeria By Miebara Jato

The past couple of days, I have had two occasions to defend why Nigeria must remain a democracy. On both occasions, my opponents (friends, actually), well-meaning and intelligent, had questioned the cost of running democracy in the country and pointed out other familiar deficiencies associated with democracy. They particularly gushed about the Chinese autocratic system!
My friends are not alone. The love for democracy in the general public is demonstrably waning. In a 2017 Pew Survey, an astonishing 21 percent of Nigerians voted against the democratic system of government.
Of course the decline in preference for democracy is not limited to Nigeria, rather it’s a global phenomenon. In 2017, the Economist Intelligence Unit in its Democracy Index reported a decline in the global preference for democracy.
Various reasons obviously account for why people fall out of love with democracy. But fundamentally, the root cause is connected to the state of economic development. Growing poor economic conditions to be precise. The Pew survey shows a preference for representative government significantly correlates with the economic well-being of the citizens. “Skepticism of representative governance,” as the World Economic Forum affirms in one of its reports, “is tied to negative views about economic conditions.”
For Nigeria, that conclusion couldn’t be more accurate. These poor economic conditions and governance as defined by the Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG) are accountability in government and sustainable economic opportunities. In 2017, Nigeria scored just 42.3 points in the former and 32.7 points in the later, both well below the African and Regional averages.
These governance/economic outcomes are glaring contradictions to the promises of democracy: good governance and socio-economic empowerment. In their place are crumbling roads, vast slums, impoverished villages, rampant unemployment, rampant poverty, dysfunctional education, poor health care, economic inequality, corruption, nepotism. In addition are chaos, polarisation, cynicism, and a greedy class of leaders.
Meanwhile, promises to turn things around and render “dividends of democracy” has never been in short supply. But these promises never materialise — or never get to the majority. The product of which is the increasing disillusionment with representative democracy in the country.
It didn’t therefore come as a surprise that 38 percent of Nigerians responded “Total good” to the Pew Survey whether autocratic government would be good for Nigeria.
Nigerians’ admiration for autocracy is understandable. When they look at China, for example, with its efficient planning, unrivaled quick execution of projects, and gleaming infrastructures, they can’t help but be amazed.
Indeed, China’s smooth economic growth can be seductive; but it came at a huge cost. Private rights were suppressed. For instance, in China people are required to have a proof of job before they can travel to a city; this is to ensure that millions of job seekers don’t crowd into cities or form slums ringing around its cities. Unlike Nigeria, Chinese authorities have a grip control on what people can say and do online.
There’s no dispute that democracy offers Nigerians freedoms and rights we can never get in autocratic countries. Therefore, despite the mess and unfulfilled aspirations, we have, at least established rights of property and contract, independent courts, peaceful and regular transfer of power through elections (even if they are not free and fair) and rule of law (even if it is often abused).
Yes, there are the institutional challenges and even the ‘Nigerianised’ absurdities, but the story is more telling than the snapshot and headlines. “Things are chaotic,” you say. But it should not lost in us that this country has over seven Ghana within it.
And we must not forget where we are coming from: the long struggle and painful sacrifices that procured us this Democracy.
The obvious question is: Can this democracy be improved? The answer thus far, surprisingly, is: perhaps.
Democracy is barely 20-year-old in this country. It’ll definitely get better as we move along. By the way, there’s no government system that is a silver bullet to all of a nation’s challenges. But I dare say that there’s no alternative to this noisy democracy.
As Winston Churchill famously said, “No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except for all those other forms that have been tried”.

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Gunmen Attack Conoil Facility In Bayelsa

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An explosion has occurred on a pipeline carrying crude oil, owned by Conoil Plc, at Koluama community in Southern Ijaw area of Bayelsa State
Residents said a deafening sound was heard, which resulted in panic in the fishing community.
Meanwhile, a group referred to as Koluama Seven Brothers, has claimed responsibility for the attack, which it said was a warning to the oil company.
“Our early-hour strike of 12:20am on 4th January, 2019 at Angle2 field of Conoil is just a warning to Conoil, King Solomon Eddy and his cartel. If Conoil and King Solomon fail to address the issues behind the MoU, scholarships, job creation, for the people of Koluama Clan, then we have no other option than to launch a strike to shut down Conoil,” spokesman of the group, Angel Michael, said.
A youth leader in the community, Henry Omietimi, said he was briefed about the incident by his deputy, who was a member of a local security attached to the area. He was, however, yet to ascertain the full details of the incident.
He also said he was still investigating to ascertain the aunthencity of the story, and determine if it was an attack or a burst pipeline.
Some indigenes of the community said they suspect the resumption of hostilities by the Niger Delta militant group, as they confirmed that the sound heard was similiar to sounds of previous attacks on an oil pipeline.
A source from the oil firm, who preferred not to be named, said the incident had caused tension among the workers.

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