Sahara Reporters Latest News Sunday 9th June 2019
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 09/06/19
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E2%80%94report target=_blank>44,076 Nigerians Denied Schengen Visa In 2018—Report
A total of 44,076 Nigerians were denied Schengen visa in 2018, a report by SchengenVisaInfo.com has revealed.
A Schengen visa is a short stay visa allowing its holders to travel in the Schengen area. It has become an alternative to many Nigerians denied visas to the UK, Canada, and the US.
Nigerians looking for better opportunities in Europe have utilized the visa over the years. Thousands were, however, unlucky last year as their visa received negative responses.
The Schengen area comprises 26 countries such as Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Compared to 2017, Schengen uniform visa denials increased the most in Ghana. Two years ago, Schengen embassies located in Ghana reported 11,505 were denied visas while in 2018, the number increased by 59 percent to 18,137 visa denials.
Nigeria and Ghana are not the only countries affected by visa denials. The report also showed that Schengen embassies in Africa were quite selective during 2018 regarding approval.
Algeria claimed the first spot as the African country whose citizens accounted for the highest number of visa denials. As many as 323,203 visa applicants from Algeria received a negative response following their visa application.
The report reads, “Statistics revealed that there was a 15 percent rise of visa denials in Algeria compared to 2017. While many factors could have played a role, illegal immigration in EU to which Algeria has been a major resource is thought to be the major driver that caused Schengen embassies to enforce a scrutinized visa policy to Algerian applicants.
“Other countries that followed in this list of denials were Morocco(116,498 denials), Tunisia(42,641 denials) and Sao Tope and Principe (29,686 denials).
According to the report, during 2018, more than 1.6 million Schengen uniform visas were issued to residents of African countries, according to SchengenVisaInfo.com.
Based on official statistics collected from the EU Commission, more than 1.6 million uniform visas were issued to Africans during 2018.
With more than half a million approvals, Morocco tops the list of African countries whose citizens accounted for the highest number of Schengen uniform visa grants.
Exactly 528,608 uniform visa applicants from Morocco were granted a visa during 2018, based on the statistics.
Algeria was positioned second in this list, but with a major drop compared to 2017. According to statistics, during 2017, a number of 502,706 Algerian had been granted a uniform visa, while last year the figure stood at 382,360 uniform visa grants. In percentage terms, it meant that Schengen uniform visa grants in Algeria dropped by 24 percent between 2017 and 2018.
Other countries whose citizens also claimed a high number of Schengen visa approvals were South Africa (214,491), Tunisia (186,247) and Egypt (7,325).
The table below shows the list of five African countries where Schengen embassies issued the most uniform visas along with the number of denials.
African country Schengen visa approvals 2018 Annual change (%) Denied Visas 2018 Annual Change (%)
Morocco 528,608 +3 116,498 +24%
Algeria 382,360 -24% 323,203 +15%
South Africa 214,491 +7% 5,404 +26%
Tunisia 186,247 +9% 42,641 +23%
Egypt 147,325 +8% 37,899 +23%
Source: Schengenvisainfo.com
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target=_blank>Stop Operating Illegally, Falana Cautions Nigeria’s Broadcast Regulators
Femi Falana, foremost human rights lawyer has cautioned the Nigerian Broadcast commission against breaching constitutional provisions for shutting down media organisations.
He made the call in a statement to newsmen of Friday in the wake of the comissions seeming repression of press freedom in the country; the most recent being the shutting down of AIT and Ray Power.
Falana said, “The closure of media houses was a common phenomenon under the defunct military dictatorship in Nigeria.
“Since the restoration of civil rule 20 years ago, the dangerous trend has continued under succesive regimes either through military invasion of media houses or seizure of copies of newspapers.
“The NBC has just lifted the suspension of the licences of AIT and Raypower FM Radio stations in compliance with the ex parte order granted by the federal high court.
“It is hoped that the authorities of the Nigeria Police Force and State Srcurity Service will withdraw the armed goons mounting siege in the compound of the AIT/Raypower FM stations without any delay.
“As far as democratic forces in the country are concerned, the battle for press freedom has been won, once again. But it is a temporary victory which should not be celebrated without caution.
“Even under the most vicious military junta in Nigeria the courts ordered the reopening of the premises of the National Concord and Punch newspapers which were illegally closed down and occupied for months by armed troops. And the court orders were complied with by the military dictators.
“No doubt, the NBC has been empowered by the NBC Act to regulate all broadcasting organisations in the country.
“But in exercising its wide powers NBC has to be made to appreciate that it can no longer operate outside the ambit of the Constitution as was the case under military rule.
“Since fundamental rights including freedom of expression can no longer be curtailed or abrogated except in a manner permitted by law the NBC ought to realise that it cannot suspend licences of media houses, ban radio houses from playing records of artists or impose fines on alleged offenders without a court order.
“Therefore, the NBC cannot suo motu charge a media house with engaging in inciting, inflammatory or false broadcast, try the charge, convict and proceed to impose fines on the alleged offender.
“But as no freedom is absolute the NBC may be compelled by unforseen circumstances to suspend a media house in the public interest.
“For instance, a broadcasting house that decides to announce fake result of a general election may be temporarily shut down. Even in such an emergency situation the NBC will be required, as soon as possible thereafter, to apply for a court order to legitimise the closure.
“Alternatively, the NBC may request the Attorney-General to charge a media house for breaching the provisions of the NBC Act or penal statutes.
“Otherwise, the powers of the NBC may be arbitrarily exercised to the detriment of law and order in the society.”
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E2%80%99s-bloody-islamisation-plot-conquer-enslave-igboland-%E2%80%93-says-adf-pan-igbo-group target=_blank>There’s Bloody Islamisation Plot To Conquer, Enslave Igboland – Says ADF, A Pan-Igbo Group
A pan-Igbo group, the Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF), has raised the alarm that there are subterranean plans by some powerful interests to conquer, occupy and enslave the Igbo people in Nigeria.
The socio-cultural-political group at an emergency meeting of a “consultative caucus of concerned pan-Igbo” organizations on Friday said it met to deliberate on issues of “grave and urgent importance that threaten the peace, development and security situation in Alaigbo and elsewhere in the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
In a communiqué made available to SaharaReporters, the ADF said: “There is obvious agenda of a bloody Islamisation and jihad to conquer, occupy, take over and enslave Alaigbo and elsewhere in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Recently, former President Olusegun Obasanjo had warned of a possible “Fulanisation” of the country but the Presidency refuted the claim.
The ADF, whose focus is rebuilding and development of the Igbo nation and the rebirth, advancing the spirit of its culture and civilization urged Igbo people not to be caught unawares.
“Ndigbo should do everything in their power to defend themselves, their wives, children and their ancestral land,” said the statement, which was signed by Prof Uzodinma Nwala, ADF President, Prof. Nath Aniekwu, ADF Secretary, and eight other leaders of various Ndigbo groups.
It added that it would set up a joint-committee of pan-organizations and prepare a memorandum in order to alert the Igbo in Nigeria and all over the world on peace, development, and security of “Alaigbo”.
The ADF said it was also working on getting all stakeholders in the South-east, including the government and traditional institutions to pursue a common agenda in the interest of the survival of the Igbo.
As part of its approaches to deal with the alleged existential threat, the group stated further that it would make efforts worldwide so that all Igbo people liaise with “the patriotic pan-Igbo organizations” to ensure that needed resources in “Alaigbo support all the patriotic forces” engaged in the struggle for Igbo emancipation and security.
The Igbo group did not, however, ignore working with other nations, urging its people to “seek possible working relationship with other nationalities to ensure the collective defence of their territories from the jihadists”.
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target=_blank>Education Abroad: Horrible Tales Of Nigerian Students In Top Seven Hostile Countries
Incessant strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, irregular academic calendars and the poor state of education, amongst others, have forced many Nigerian students outside the country for education.
Some of these countries have, however, proved to be hell for Nigerian students. While some of these students are alive to share their stories, the same cannot be said of those who lost their lives in foreign lands.
Exploitation, racist behavior, and the killing of Nigerian students by locals in foreign countries have become a trend in recent times. Justice was not served in many of the cases while the Nigerian government has been criticized for not living up to its responsibilities in demanding justice for its young citizens.
In this report, SaharaReporters interviewed some Nigerians students about their ugly experiences while studying abroad, exposing the countries that are notorious for being hostile and why the Nigerian Government needs to act.
Surviving racism in India
A Nigerian youth has a piece of advice for other Nigerians planning to study in India. “Don’t come to India.”
“I want to advise Nigerian students and other Africans to know that we’re not really welcomed in India. I advise my fellow Nigerians not to come over here for studies. There is racism in India. Once I collect my certificate here, I will be able to reveal the horrible experience I went through. For now, please don’t mention my name. I am about to graduate. I don’t want to be victimized.”
The Nigerian youth who sent the above quote to SaharaReporters has been in India for four years, studying agriculture in one of the Indian universities. When he left Nigeria four years ago, he was full of enthusiasm about the promises of studying in India.
“I left Nigeria four years ago because someone told me that the school I am currently enrolled in India has a good reputation for agriculture research,” he told Sahara Reporters, “I thought my experience in India was going to be a nice one.”
“I arrived in India only to find out the opposite. First, there is no agriculture laboratory and the facilities are poor. There is a lot of racism here. I am surprised it is so prevalent even in the academic community.”
India, a fast developing country, has recently become a top destination for Nigerian students, especially those interested in medical science courses. A data by the Association of Indian Universities showed there were 1202 Nigerian studying in India in 2017. That is the most recent record online.
According to the data, Nigeria ranks fifth in the biggest sources of international students in the country’s academic institutions behind Nepal (5,480 students), people of Indian birth who live outside India (4,557), Afghanistan (2,732), and Malaysia (1,357).
Indian universities are relatively cheap compared to European and American universities. That was the attraction for the young Nigerian who narrated his ordeal to Sahara Reporters. He has spent over N2m intuition alone but he says he can’t justify his expenses so far. Four years after, the young Nigerian has bitter tales to tell.
He said, “Recently it has gone worse; locals don’t want to lease their houses to Nigerians and other African students. There is a constant attack against Nigerians and other black students in India. Our lives are not safe. I regret coming to India and I am really looking forward to going back home.”
The tale of the young Nigerian may be shocking but it is unfortunately not the first in recent times. There have been several reports of a xenophobic attack against Nigerian students and other black nationals in India. In 2017, four Nigerian students, including Precious Amalawa and his brother, Endurance, nearly lost their lives in an attack targeted against blacks.
Endurance, who spoke with Sahara Reporters, says the attacks against Nigerians and other black nationals have become an annual ritual.
“Indians don’t welcome blacks, especially Nigerians. They think we are all drug peddlers. I don’t deal in drugs,” he told Sahara Reporters.
Killings of Nigerian students in Cyprus, Turkey
Cyprus and Turkey share a border and Nigerian students in both countries have similar tales of racism to share. Cyprus is divided into south and north. There are many Nigerian students on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a republic on the northern and eastern side of the island of Cyprus.
A Google search for the phrase “Nigerian students in Cyprus” would reveal negative stories. If three or four of the first ten results are not about the killing of Nigerian students, it will most likely be other harrowing tales of what Nigerian students go through in their quest for education.
Cyprus, for one, has attracted many Nigerian students over the years. Like India, the attraction is the relative lower tuition rate compared to other European countries.
Lower tuition rate is not the only reason. Cyprus universities are gaining global recognition in research. Rich Nigerians are also sending their children to Cyprus. Earlier in the year, the first daughter of Nollywood actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, graduated from the University of Cyprus. Nollywood actress, Rahama Sadat, has also joined the list of Nigerians who graduated from the Eastern Mediterranean University of Cyprus.
There is no accurate data on the current number of Nigerian students there but findings by Sahara Reporters reveal that it is one of the most hostile countries for Nigerians to study.
It will be recalled that some years ago, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, advised Nigerians to shun Cyprus because it was becoming unsafe for Nigerian students.
Last year, a 28-year-old university student, identified as Kennedy Taomwabwa, was reportedly killed by locals in the Turkish Cyprus’s province of Famagusta.
Taomwabwa was a student of Eastern Mediterranean University. He was killed by a group of eight locals, including three women, according to the police officials, reports claim.
“Some Nigerian students had bitter experiences with racist lecturers and colleagues in Cyprus,” Odiri told Sahara Reporters. Odiri obtained an undergraduate degree at the Cyprus International University.
“The good thing was that the university I attended had a near-zero tolerance for racism. There were stories of some random attacks on blacks on the streets, especially at night. A few died under questionable circumstances. The people of Cyprus found it difficult to adjust because they had not met so many black people all at once.
“The people from Turkey in Northern Cyprus were mostly against blacks dating their ladies. Why were they against dating their girls? They could not stand a black man dating a Turkish lady. During my academic sojourn there, if you dare befriend a Cyprus lady, the men would attack you. But I hear these days; it’s a lot better than when we first got there.”
Racism in Ukraine, Russia
Eastern European countries like Ukraine and Russia have also recorded many racists behavior against blacks, including Nigeria but not as deadly as Cyprus. English is not the official language in Ukraine and Russia.
Many Nigerian students in these countries have to endure the harsh weather. They often encounter problems in communicating when they travel there for education. They have to first learn the native language to begin their studies.
Both countries have a long history of racism against black students. Between 2007 and 2012, the International Organisation for Migration recorded 204 racist attacks, mainly against Asians and Africans. Sixteen people were reportedly killed.
In 2014, two Nigerian students at the Donetsk National Technical University, Ukraine (Theresa Olaoluwa Oresanya, third-year Electrical Engineering; and Bede Olunna Ogbu, a graduate student of Engineering) reportedly died owing to alleged negligence on the part of the hospital authorities where they were admitted for treatment.
Last year, a 28-year-old Kharkiv man, Vitaly Kadnichansky, was sentenced to life imprisonment for racist and homophobic attacks against some Nigerian students, Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group reports.
The story is similar in Russia. The Moscow Times had reported earlier last year how an unnamed Nigerian student was hospitalized after knife attack in southern Russia. Many Nigerian students on the Bilateral Education Agreement in Russia have also recounted one form of racism in Russia.
Speaking with Sahara Reporters, a Nigerian student, Akwara Michael, who recently completed his master’s degree at Ternopil National Technical University, Ukraine, confirmed that cases of racism against Nigerians and other black students are rife but noted that the hostilities had reduced compared to the early 2000s.
“Yes, racism is a problem in Ukraine. During early 2000, racism was severe in Ukraine. Sometimes ago, I visited the club for the first time and that was one of the worst experiences I had in the country. Being the only black in the midst of white students, it was easy to sight me. There was a clash which would have taken my life or left me injured but I escaped.”
Xenophobia in South Africa
Despite being an African country, South Africa has remained a volatile region for Nigerian students in the past decade. Constant xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and black nationals have continued unabated.
Many Nigerians have been killed during the attacks. The Nigerian government has been accused of paying lip service to the issue.
It will be recalled that in 2017, South African policemen reportedly killed a 25 year old Nigerian, Ibrahim Olalekan-Badmus.
Nigeria`s Consul General in South Africa, Godwin Adama, had told the News Agency of Nigeria that Badmus was allegedly killed at Vaal Vereniging, near Johannesburg.
More Nigerian students in South African are lamenting the situation. Sahara Reporters spoke with Oliyide Taofeek, a 21-year-old student of Public Administration at North-West University in South Africa. Taofeek, who is the treasurer of the International Students Chapter, North-West University, shed more light on the hostilities Nigerian students experienced in South Africa.
“Any time there is a xenophobic attack against Nigerians, we always hide like criminals so as not to be killed. Xenophobia is the only problem we have here. Attacks are unpredictable and one has to be careful not to become a victim. Usually, they tell us, Nigerian students, not to go out during those attacks,” he says.
“South Africa is a good place to study. The only fear is xenophobia. You don’t know when the next one would take place.”
Sad tales from Malaysia
Malaysia, a Southeast Asian country, began to witness an upsurge in the admission of Nigerian students to the country in the early 2000.
The country used to be friendly to Nigerian students but not anymore. Some analysts think that a series of cases involving some Internet scammers identified as Nigerians might have been responsible for the changes.
Last year, a Nigerian student identified as Uju Pious Ejikeonye, who hailed from Imo State, died after jumping from the 13th floor of a building in an alleged bid to escape from Malaysian immigration arrest.
Recently, Sahara Reporters published an SOS from the Malaysian chapter of Nigeria in Diaspora Organization. The group strongly condemned the alleged killing, extortion, and harassment of Nigerians schooling and living in Malaysia by the police.
The group says recent news of the raid and molestation of Nigerians in Malaysia by the police was unacceptable and gradually becoming the norm in the country.
In a statement issued signed by its President, Kingsley Nwankwo, the group also criticized the Nigerian High Commission in the country for failing to act on behalf of its citizens and not living up to its responsibilities.
Experts blame the Nigerian Government
A Nigerian lawyer based in South Africa, Daniel Okeke, has condemned the attacks and blamed the Nigerian government for paying lip service to the protection of its citizens in the Diaspora.
“This is becoming worrisome,” he told Sahara Reporters. “I can’t count the number of Nigerians whose corpses were sent back home from South Africa.”
Also reacting to the issue, the Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association, Lekki Forum, Aremo Oladotun Hassan, also blamed the problem on the appointment of “inexperienced diplomats, who are mere political appendages and beneficial of ambassadorial appointments largesse.”
He said, “Appointment of inexperienced diplomats invariably negatively affects internal mechanism of our foreign missions to protect the average Nigerian student. Our scholarship support programs are dead, while we have no technical support plans to salvage the dying hydra-headed situation.
“The Nigeria nation still remains a mere geographical expression, due to blurred views of sentiments, parochial internal strife and ethnic bigotry, more dangerous than our foreign racist system. Perhaps, it pays a Nigerian student to bear the brunt of racism firestorm abroad than to survive the scorching heats of our chronic homegrown hatred for ourselves and regressive educational system.
“Several other silenced cases are brewing in Europe, UK, London, Mexico and South America and Asia, with evil tales of deaths and staunch hatred for blacks, but with an advance devaluation of the Nigerian citizens with the green passports.
“Unfortunately most of these crimes go without consequential punitive measures of justice, wherein shoddy investigation is conducted and later dismissed because sometimes the cost of ensuring due justice is not only expensive but rarely unavailable.”
Don calls for investment in education
A former Vice-Chancellor, Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, Prof. Kayode Makinde, has also reacted to the issue. In an interview with Sahara Reporters, Makinde recounted his academic sojourn in Lebanon, England, US and France, noting it was not as bad as it is now.
He said, “Right now I believe Canada, New Zealand, and Australia are still welcoming. But the old continent of Europe is tired and broke. Terrorism and economic migrants don’t also help matters either. Nigerian youth’s current reputation for Internet scams has made it a lot harder for Nigerian genuine students getting a chance to prove themselves.”
The Ex-Babcock Vice-Chancellor said rather than lament about the harsh treatments meted out to Nigerian students, the Nigerian government should turn the problem into an opportunity by transforming education into an export commodity like the Philippines.
He said, “We need to make education so good in a way that foreign students will flood back to Nigerian Institutions as it used to be. The Nigerian Government needs to perfect its role as regulator and create an enabling environment for private and state operators who are better placed to attract and make higher investments due to greater productivity and better accountability.
“Then the Nigerian students who still feel the need to go abroad will do so by choice for greater intellectual, professional exposure, not by chance out of desperation for just anything that comes. This may be the opportunity we have been waiting for to turn the tide.”
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa could not be reached for comments on the issue.
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target=_blank>GRAPHIC: 18 People Burnt To Death In Akure Road Crash
At least 18 persons have died in a road crash which occurred on Akure road, Ondo State.
The incident which occurred today (Saturday) involved a white Toyota ‘Hummer’ vehicle and a heavy-duty truck.
SaharaReporters gathered that the accident occurred few metres away from the popular Akure Airport road on the Akure-Owo highway.
The Toyota vehicle’s – an 18-passenger bus – registration number is YLA25XU while that of the truck is GG873XM.
An eyewitness, Mr. Temitope Adeola, said both vehicles had a head-on collision.
“The driver of the bus was coming from Abuja with speed while the driver of the truck was driving on the wrong side of the road. Before we knew it, the driver of the Toyota white bus had a collision with the truck. Immediately the two vehicles went up in flames.
“In fact, all the passengers in the vehicles were burnt into ashes and even beyond recognition,” he said.
The Ondo State Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) confirmed the crash in a telephone interview with SaharaRerporters.
Mr. Olusegun Ogungbemide, Heads of Operations of the FRSC, said the crash occurred due to wrongful overtaking and speeding by the drivers of the vehicles.
“Yes, it is true the accident occurred at Airport road on the Akure-Owo road and it involved a truck and an Hummer bus. The crash was caused by wrongful overtaking and speeding on the side of both drivers.
“According to our investigations on the crash, the whole 18 passengers of the Hummer vehicle died in the crash. All of them were burnt beyond recognition and they were mostly all adults traveling from Abuja,” Mr. Ogungbemide.
He, however, added that the Rescue Team of FRSC had evacuated the casualties.
Meanwhile, SaharaReporters learnt that the driver of the truck survived the crash.
Femi Joseph, spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, who also confirmed the accident told SaharaReporters that the driver fled the scene immediately after the fatal crash.
“It happened this evening and we joined the FRSC in evacuating the burnt bodies but we learnt that the driver of the truck and his motor boy flew immediately the accident occurred,” he said.
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target=_blank>IMF Warns Of Tech Firms Causing Disruption To Nigeria, Other Countries’ Financial System
Giant technology companies might cause significant disruption to the world’s (including Nigeria’s) financial system, the head of the International Monetary Fund has warned.
Christine Lagarde said just a few firms with big data access and artificial intelligence could run the global payment and settlement arrangements.
Her warning came as the G20 finance ministers met in Japan.
The summit is also discussing the need to close tax loopholes for internet giants like Facebook and Google.
One of the options being considered is to tax such companies where they make their profits – rather than where they base their headquarters.
“A significant disruption to the financial landscape is likely to come from the big tech firms,” Ms. Lagarde said in Japan’s south-western city of Fukuoka.
She said such firms “will use their enormous customer bases and deep pockets to offer financial products based on big data and artificial intelligence”.
“This presents a unique systemic challenge to financial stability and efficiency,” she added.
She cited China as the most recent example.
“Over the last five years, technology growth in China has been extremely successful and allowed millions of new entrants to benefit from access to financial products and the creation of high-quality jobs,” Ms. Lagarde said.
“But it has also led to two firms controlling more than 90 percent of the mobile payments market.”
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C2%A0ministerial-slots-ahead-cabinet-reshuffle target=_blank>Ebonyi Women Beg Buhari for Ministerial Slots Ahead Of Cabinet Reshuffle
A political pressure group, Ebonyi Women Vanguard (EWV), an umbrella body of Ebonyi women in politics and professionals has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint women from the state into his new cabinet.
The National President of the group, Mrs Immaculata Ibe, made the demand in a statement in Abakaliki on Saturday ahead of presentation of lists of nominees for federal cabinet members to the soon to be inaugurated 9th Senate.
The body which comprised also Ebonyi women entrepreneurs as well as Ebonyi women resident outside Nigeria, decried long period of exclusion of Ebonyi women in Federal Government ministerial and other federal executive appointments.
She said: “Our appeal to Mr President for inclusion of at least a woman from Ebonyi extraction into his up-coming cabinet is predicated on the long period of neglect and marginalisation suffered by Ebonyi women under successive administrations.
“While other states in the South-East zone have produced, at various times women who were appointed into the federal cabinet and other executive positions, no Ebonyi woman has enjoyed this privilege since the creation of Ebonyi in 1996.
“We have remained marginalised, neglected and excluded in spite of the robust contributions of Ebonyi women in Nigerian politics and national development.
“For 20 years running, successive administrations in the country have neglected Ebonyi women from appointment into major Federal establishments.
“EWV considers it as unfair and against the spirit of equity, fairness and good conscience in the distribution of political appointments in the country.”
The group noted that Ebonyi paraded some of the most illustrious women that Nigeria could offer, who had contributed tremendously in the socio-economic and political emancipation of Nigeria.
It added that a woman, Mrs Ann Agom-Eze, made solid contributions and indeed mobilised the different segments of women and youths for the second term re-election of Buhari in the last presidential election.
The group also said that Agom-Eze dared and contested senatorial position on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the last general elections, a position that had remained the exclusive preserve of the men.
EWV noted that women in other South-East states had fair representation in major federal appointive positions and argued that the alienation of Ebonyi women deserved a legitimate concern.
“A checklist of federal appointments of women from Abia, Anambra, Enugu, and Imo states into federal establishments reveals a stark illustration of how Ebonyi women have been marginalised since the advent of democracy in 1999.
“Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former Minister of Finance is from Abia state; Mrs Stella Odua, former Minister of Aviation, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, Ex-Education minister and later Solid Minerals, Mrs Josephine Anenih of Women Affairs were all from Anambra.
“Anambra also produced late Dr Dora Akuyeli, former Director-General, National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and later appointed Minister of Information and National Orientation.
“In Imo State, Mrs Viola Onwuliri and Mrs Kema Chikwe served as ministers at various times, while in Enugu state, Mrs Fidelia Njeze and Mrs Alison-Madueke were appointed ministers of Aviation and petroleum.
“Mrs Chinwe Obaji, a former Minister of Education was also from Enugu state,” she said.
The group regretted that in spite of the avalanche of stockpile of intellectual amazons that abound in the state, no woman had been considered for ‘juicy’ federal appointment.
“Mr President, our appeal is predicated on the reality on ground of how our women who have the experience, capacity, intellectual accomplishments, and proven track-record of achievements in divers areas of human endeavour remained unfairly treated”.
The group, therefore, urged Buhari to translate his ‘Next Level’ agenda into resolving the injustice meted out to women in Ebonyi by setting aside at least one ministerial slot in favour of an Ebonyi woman when his new cabinet is constituted.
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target=_blank>Ganduje Vs Sanusi: Police Ban Demonstrations, Rallies As Tension Brews In Kano
The Kano State Police Command has banned any form of rally, demonstration, procession or assembly in the state until further notice.
The order was contained in a statement signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Abdullahi Haruna, and made available to newsmen in Kano on Saturday.
Similarly, he said, the command had withdrawn permission given to members of the public, civil society organisations, political parties, NGOs and other groups.
The police order might not be unconnected with the tension generated following the query issued to the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, over alleged misappropriation of N3.4 billion by the Emirate Council under his (Sanusi) leadership.
He explained that the action was necessary to prevent any threat, breach of the peace or breakdown of law and order in the face of various security challenges in the state.
He warned that any person or group of persons found engaging in any unlawful assembly would be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the laws of the land.
“The Public should know the position of the state command in maintaining peace and order in the society,” the police spokesman cautioned.
He, therefore, warned groups under whatever guise to adhere to the order until further notice, or face the wrath of the law.
“The measure is to assure a lasting peace and unity in the State,“ Haruna emphasised.
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E2%80%99s-anti-corruption-summit-abuja target=_blank>Buhari To Open EFCC’s Anti-Corruption Summit In Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari will on Tuesday, June 11, declare open a National Democracy Day Anti-corruption Summit.
Mr. Tony Orilade, EFCC’s Acting Head, Media and Publicity made this known in a statement in Abuja on Saturday.
Orilade said that the summit would hold at the Congress Hall, Transcorp Hilton, Abuja by 11 am.
The summit is being organised by EFCC in collaboration with the Presidential Inauguration Planning Committee.
The summit is themed: “Curbing Electoral Spending: A panacea to Public Corruption”.
According to Orilade, President Buhari will feature alongside the President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame; Ghana’s Nana Akufo-Addo; Liberia’s George Weah, and, Macky Sall of Senegal.
“The Nigerian President and his African counterparts would at the occasion further lend their voices against corruption.
“The occasion will also feature paper presentation on the “Use of Public Funds in Election Litigation and the Integrity of the Judiciary” by retired Justice Ayo Salami,” he said.
Other paper presenters are: Kagame, who will speak on “Electoral Spending, Voter Inducement and Public Corruption: an African Overview.
“Prof. Attahiru Jega, former Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will be speaking on “Curbing Electoral Spending and Voter Inducement in Nigeria: The Role of Regulatory and Law Enforcement Agencies”, while Prof. Patrice LO Lumumba will offer a“Review of Anti-corruption Strategy in Africa and the Way Forward,” Orilade added.
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You Cannot Harass Our Officer And Be Rewarded With Certificate Of Return, INEC Tells Okorocha
The Independent National Electoral Commission has said it cannot give Certificate of Return to any individual that harasses, intimidates and puts the commission’s officers under pressure in order to procure a favourable declaration.
The commission said this in response to a court ruling ordering INEC to issue Rochas Okorocha his Certificate of Return as the winner of Imo West Senatorial Election.
Okorocha, had during the declaration of the election result, allegedly kidnapped Prof. Innocent Ibeawuchi, a returning officer in Imo and forced him to announce him as the winner of the election.
Festus Okoye Esq., National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, in a statement said the INEC received a copy of the judgment while also noting that it is also in possession of another court order of a high court in Imo State directing the electoral body not to issue Okorocha a Certificate of Return.
“The commission’s overriding consideration is the safety of its ad-hoc staff, Electoral Officers and Collation/Returning Officers and is worried that if electoral impunity is allowed to flourish, any individual can harass, intimidate and put the Commission’s officers under duress, procure a favourable declaration and be rewarded with a Certificate of Return,” Okoye said.
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