Sahara Reporters Latest News Sunday 22nd September 2019

Sahara Reporters Latest News Sunday 22nd September 2019

Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 22/09/19

target=_blank>Ten Wedding Guests Killed In Ekiti Road Crash

At least 10 wedding guests have died in a motor accident on the Ikere-Ado Road in Ekiti State.
Several others also sustained injuries in the accident. The accident involved an 18 seater bus with registration number Ekiti LG 05 MUE.
Eyewitnesses confirmed that the victims were returning from a wedding reception when the tragedy occured.
One witness, Abiodun, told SaharaReporters that the driver lost control of the vehicle’s wheel.
He said, “The vehicle was speeding and summasulted several times immediately the driver lost control of the wheel.
“I counted at least 10 bodies on the road before the arrival of officials of Federal Road Safety Corps.”

Travel

News

AddThis

Original Author

SaharaReporters, New York

Disable advertisements

target=_blank>Sowore’s Idea Can Never Be Caged, Ezekwesili Tells Buhari

Former Minister of Education, Obiageli Ezekwesili, has told President Muhammadu Buhari that he cannot cage the ideas of pro-democracy campaigner, Omoyele Sowore.On Friday, Buhari’s regime slammed a seven-count charge of terrorism, felony and cyberstalking on Sowore, drawing criticisms from far and near.
Expressing her views on the matter, Ezekwesili through her Twitter account said, “We stand with @YeleSowore and defend his constitutional right and freedom to protest any matter of governance that worries him.
“Mr Sowore’s convening of citizens to protest poor governance – via #RevolutionNow – is constitutionally guaranteed.
“Democracy and voice are Siamese twins. No one regardless of their position is given the right to shut down voices like @YeleSowore‘s for daring to disagree.”How long shall it take before the @NigeriaGov understands the Basics of Democracy?
“Our FG @NigeriaGov led by @NGRPresident @MBuhari may think they have ‘caged’ @YeleSowore because he dared to challenge bad leadership and poor governance through #RevolutionNow, not so, actually.
“His idea can never be caged. Why? You cannot cage an idea whose time has come.
“@YeleSowore is unconstitutionally and unlawfully detained for calling out deadly incompetence of the @NigeriaGov of @MBuhari.
“Not even the judiciary is spared this spread of deadly incompetence.”
Sowore was arrested on August 3 by operatives of Department of State Services in his Lagos for calling on Nigerians to protest against bad governance in the country.
Despite calls for his release, the Buhari’s regime has continued to hold on to him, sparking outrage from around the world.

Free Speech

Human Rights

News

AddThis

Original Author

SaharaReporters, New York

Disable advertisements

target=_blank>Charges Against Sowore, Misuse Of Criminal System To Silence Dissent -Amnesty International

Omoyele Sowore

Amnesty International has described the fresh charges against Omoyele Sowore by the Nigerian Government as a misuse of the criminal system to silence critics and opposition.
The Nigerian Government had at the expiration of 45 days order to detain Sowore filed seven-count charges bordering on cyberstalking President Muhammadu Buhari, terrorism and felony including money laundering.
The charges had generated reactions from different individuals and rights group in the country, condemning Buhari’s administration for not respecting human rights.
Also, condemning the fresh charges against Sowore, Amnesty International said the charges the activist was facing show an attempt by the Nigerian authorities to deprive him of his human rights.
The group said, “Amnesty International condemns the bizarre charges pressed on activist, Omoyele Sowore, for expressing his views in media interviews.
“Omoyele Sowore’s continued incarceration on application of the Terrorism Act for exercising his right to freedom of expression is a misuse of the criminal system to silence dissent.
“The international rights group call on the Nigerian authorities to respect and protect human rights of all persons without discrimination and ensure that it does not use its laws to justify violations of Omoyele Sowore’s human rights.”

Free Speech

Human Rights

News

AddThis

Original Author

SaharaReporters, New York

Disable advertisements

target=_blank>Don’t Let DSS Deceive You Into Undermining The Constitution, Kadaria Tells Buhari

Popular journalist, Kadaria Ahmed, has criticised the actions of President Muhammadu Buhari over charges of felony and terrorism against human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore.
Kadaria, who tagged Buhari in a tweet on Saturday, said, “This is ridiculous. Damages you @MBuhari and our democracy.
“Don’t let your security service deceive you into taking decisions that undermine the constitution which confers legitimacy on you.
“The right to protest is critical to democracy which you should strive to deepen. #FreeSowore.”

ACTIVISM

Free Speech

Human Rights

News

AddThis

Original Author

SaharaReporters, New York

Disable advertisements

E2%80%98insult%E2%80%99-buhari-and-get-charged-treason-fredrick-nwabufo target=_blank>ALERT: ‘Insult’ Buhari And Get Charged With Treason By Fredrick Nwabufo

Fredrick Nwabufo

President Buhari shares paternity with Paul Biya of Cameroon in leadership style. Both men are joined by the umbilicus of repression and abrasion.
In 2010, Bertrand Teyou, an author, was sentenced to two years imprisonment for insulting the wife of Biya, Chantal. The Cameroonian Government filed charges against him for this spectacular reason.
Under Biya, Southern Cameroon has become the scene of a volcanic crisis – killings, illegal detentions and arrests. Specifically, the government is zeroing in on dissenting voices in effecting these violations.
I think, the situation is much more execrable in Nigeria than in Cameroon.
Amnesty International encapsulates it in these words: ‘’The human rights situation in Nigeria is marked by serious human rights violations such as extrajudicial executions, arbitrary arrests and detentions, torture and other ill-treatment, enforced disappearances, violence against women and girls, restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, mass forced evictions, environmental pollution and lack of accountability for human rights violations and abuses.’’
As a matter of fact, the Buhari government has racked up egregious human rights records more than any other administration before it. In 2017, the United States Department of State released a convicting exposition on this villainy.
“Impunity remained widespread at all levels of government.
“The government did not adequately investigate or prosecute most of the major outstanding allegations of human rights violations by the security forces or the majority of cases of police or military extortion or other abuse of power.
“Authorities generally did not hold police, military, or other security force personnel accountable for the use of excessive or deadly force or for the deaths of persons in custody. “State and federal panels of inquiry investigating suspicious deaths generally did not make their findings public,” it said.
I have studied the charges levelled against Omoyele Sowore, publisher of SaharaReporters, and they ossify my position that the gentleman is being put through a mill of thistles and thorns for being a relentless critic of the administration.
He is charged with ‘’insulting’’ the President, and for transferring money from New York to Nigeria? What a phenomenal charge? Obviously, Sowore’s only crime is that he has a roaring voice which puts the foundations of Aso Rock to fright.
And does it mean words cannot change the General, but they get to him?
Really, the cyberstalking law, by which Sowore is charged, was fashioned under President Jonathan. This was, perhaps, the former President’s response to social media criticism at the time. But the law, being defective, was never applied under him.
Jonathan was vilified, abused and defamed but not one Nigerian was incarcerated or charged with ‘’treason’’. In fact, in the North, coffins with photos and semblances of Jonathan were coursed through the streets by dissenters but not a single protester was detained. And he was even stoned in Yola on his way to Taraba.
These were clearly grievous offences that are punishable by the law. But a democrat will see beyond an act and ask, ‘’why is this happening? Why are citizens angry?’’
Although Jonathan was not without freckles, he exercised his own brutish aspect with the clampdown on media organisations.
Really, only a non-performing government will be afraid of citizens’ protests or interpret civil actions as subversion. Only a failing administration will be extremely irritated by criticisms and divergent opinions.
In the case of Sowore, he has exercised himself in the discipline of civil opposition. He has only used his voice as a protected child of the Nigerian constitution.
Section 39(1) of the 1999 constitution establishes that “Every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information without interference.”
This is the grundnorm to which all laws submit. This is the pillar on which our democracy is built.The charges cannot stand. But why do dictators rise in AFRICA? It is because of the people, who do nothing; who enable them and who only pray for an end to their suffering. @FredrickNwabufo

Opinion

AddThis

Original Author

Fredrick Nwabufo

Disable advertisements

target=_blank>I Saw The Miracle Of Allah By Hannatu Musawa

On Saturday September 14, 2019, at approximately 5:52pm, I witnessed the miracle of Allah. There was a fire. It was ferocious and intense. It was unforgiving and determined. It ate up everything in its wake, as its scorching embers made their way through material and matter, melting even metal and desecrating all. Almost everything was lost.
But despite the destruction, under the burnt debris, there lay five Holly Quran – intact – as if they had been gently placed under the rubble and protected. The covers and sides of the pages were charred but the pages where the words of Allah were remained whole and undamaged. The fire completely destroyed everything it came across apart from the five Qurans. And it wasn’t just one Quran that survived the blazing inferno, it was all of the Qurans in the room. As I looked at the scorched remains against the five pure and intact Qurans, I knew that I had just witnessed the miracle of Allah.
While I have had the knowledge that a full version of the Holly Quran cannot burn on its own and even though I had come in contact with a Quran that wouldn’t burn in a fire in my past, this incident where I saw five Quran’s in a fire scorched room intact, proved to me that a full version of the Holly Quran really cannot burn.
The extraordinary miracle of the five Qurans that I experienced reinforced my faith and my love for my Deen. While every religious tradition reports cases of miracles due to supernatural causes, miraculous healings, visions, etc, the type of miracle I experienced with the five Qurans was a life changing one. The experience instantly transformed my view of life; what may be going on in my life or what’s important or what is meaningful.
Seeing the five Quran’s that didn’t burn in the fire gave me a feeling of gratitude, awe and wonder. It made me want to strengthen my faith and Iman as much as possible. It made me count my blessings and forced me to reflect on life and death, on those small blessings and vivid signs that Allah shows me every day. It made me grateful for every good thing, every loss, every gain and every challenge that Allah has introduced to my life. Seeing the five Quran’s that didn’t burn in the fire, made me remember why I love being a Muslim. I love being Muslim for many reasons.
With my experience of the five Qurans, more than most times in my life, I have reflected on how much I enjoy being Muslim, regardless of how complicated third forces make it to be. Being a Muslim is an incredibly exciting experience, as much as it is comforting. Being Muslim means that no matter what, I will always be introduced to new ideas.
The Holly Quran is a vast, poetic explanation of everything pertaining to life. It is a way of living. It explains everything, even the things that I didn’t know that need explaining. It is complete. It’s absolutely beautiful.
In my eyes, the Quran is the Book of Life, joined with the Bible and the Torah. These three books, the ‘authentic’ writings, and not the modified ones, are indeed miraculous to me. I can fully see and appreciate that now more than ever.
As I gaze at the five Qurans which wouldn’t burn, I remember that I can read the Quran hundreds of times, and still discover new things about life as well as myself. As a Muslim, I can appreciate the Quran without scepticism. And I love that.
Looking at the five Qurans, I recall that, as a Muslim, I enjoy being me. I enjoy the confidence I have in my Deen. I enjoy the uniqueness of the words of The Almighty and the many ways my faith comforts me when I am in doubt. I’ve been through many obstacles in my life and being Muslim is the only reason I was able to get through them without losing myself in the process.
I was born as a Muslim. I’ve been raised as a Muslim. And as I grew up, I have learnt a lot of things that make me proud of being a Muslim. As a Muslim, I have learnt to love all people; whatever their religion is. As a Muslim, I do not judge others. I respect everyone and their right to practice their religion, whether it is Islam or not. There is a verse in the Holly Quran, which says, “you have your religion and I have mine.”
Looking at the five Qurans, I know that, as a Muslim, I appreciate everything that The Almighty has created (apart from Wall Geckos). When I look at any creature or thing, I know it is not created by any human in the universe, no matter how smart they are. I know who created them. Another verse in the Holly Quran says, “Allah created everything.”
I have always seen the Holly Quran as a miracle but even more so now as I look on to these five unburned and intact Qurans. Just by reading the Holly Quran, I can easily tell that it is not written by a human being. The Holly Quran is divine.
Some think that it is hard work being a Muslim because of the rules and certain constraints. But it isn’t hard to be a Muslim because just ‘being’ is absolutely wonderful. Islam is a beautiful wonderful experience and way of life and just being one gives a sense of protection, confidence and contentment.
As I watch the five Qurans, I know that being a Muslim brings me peace. It is a peace that comes with the security and contentment that I feel from within. The idea that a superior being is looking after me, wanting the best for me, diverting trials and tribulations just for me. It gives me the realisation of life and its purposes and the ease it delivers in fulfilling these aims.
To me, these five Qurans are proof that being a Muslim means that I share a wonderful history and legacy with a blessed people. I am proud of that history and can look at our Prophets (PBUT) and Islamic heroes (PBUT) for inspiration and motivation.
With these five Qurans, I am aware that Islam keeps me mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually healthy. It gives me a guarantee of a life of success in this world and in the hereafter, providing I live my life in accordance to the wishes of my creator.
In my mind, these five Qurans are proof that Islam makes my problems go away and makes it easy for me to overlook the injustices of creation because I know that I have a Lord that is just. No matter the challenges one goes through, Allah is always just and gives one the gift of small mercies.
I have always loved being a Muslim, even with the aspects of Islam that I have struggled with because it is a message, a blessing and perfected way of life straight from Almighty Allah. I love being a Muslim because it is the Holy Prophet’s (SAW) way.
I watched the five Qurans, intact from that blazing inferno and I realised that the greatest thing that makes me love being a Muslim is The Almighty God. Allah is my Lord and creator. He is the Master of my Universe. I love being a Muslim simply because of God. I am a Muslim because I love God. And I love God because He is the most beautiful, wonderful thing there is.
In Islam, the first part of the Islamic shahada, or testimony of faith, is la ilaha il’Allah, “there is no god but God!” Islam puts the One God front and centre, a simple and commanding being. And I love Islam purely for that.
I look at the five Qurans and I know that it is because of Allah that I am here. It is because of Him that I am what I am now. If He weren’t there, I would not be here. Nothing, to me, is more superior to my creator.
In the past several months, I asked Allah for help, to show me the way. The answer. A feeling. A sign. Anything. I prayed for the Almighty God to “grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.” And He did… In the form of five unburnt Holly Qurans.
As I gaze at the five Qurans, I thank the Almighty for all my trials and blessings. And I thank Him for being what I am… A proud, strong, accommodating, content, objective and grateful black Muslim woman yearning to know more and do better.
I will be donating the five Qurans to the Central Mosque in Abuja so that other people can see, believe and feel the miracle that I experienced first-hand with my beautiful Qurans.
I invite you to follow me on Twitter: @hanneymusawa

Hannatu Musawa

Column

Opinion

AddThis

Original Author

Hannatu Musawa

Disable advertisements

target=_blank>Nigeria Silent As Trade Unions, Students Stage Climate Change Protests

Students and trade unions in about 130 countries on Friday staged work outs, stop work actions and demonstrations to get governments to do more to adapt the world to the changing climate.
Nigeria, which has lax climate change policies, was not on that map.
SaharaReporters had sought comments from Quadri Olaleye, President of the Trade Union Congress, and Danielson Akpan, President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, to know if their respective bodies would canvas for climate change reforms in the country.
Olaleye promised to speak after a scheduled flight, while Akpan said he was on a tour.
Both leaders however, failed to honour their promises.
Protests kicked off in the pacific countries of Kiribati, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Australia where the morphing climate has left its dents on lives and the environment.
Demonstrations spread to Europe and African states like Ghana, before climaxing in New York.
The demonstrations, which have been powered by school children for over one year now, led to the International Trade Union Confederation, promising to match alongside students on Friday. Following protests in over 500 German towns and cities, the Angela Merkel-led government, which has made Germany one of the most climate change compliant countries, promised an additional $60bn to halt the emission of greenhouse gases.
In Nigeria, a 2013 automotive policy is supporting the dumping of semi-knocked down cars in the country.
Many governments have set-up fines for vehicle manufacturers, who bring vehicles that do not meet set emission thresholds into their countries but this is not considered a problem in Nigeria despite researches showing that black carbon has damaging impact on humans, unborn babies included.

Environment

News

AddThis

Original Author

SaharaReporters, New York

Disable advertisements

target=_blank>Presidency Rejects UN Assessment Of Insecurity In Nigeria

The Nigerian Government has rejected the assessment of the United Nations of the state of insecurity in the country.
The Presidency in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, on Friday said that the UN Rapporteur on violence in Nigeria was inadequate and does not reflect the true situation in the country, describing it as disappointing.
It said while the government admitted that violence was a challenge, it was equally addressing the issue at all levels in collaboration with state governments.
However, the Presidency argued that any report that left out intra-group violence as a major factor contributing to the general spate of insecurity was unacceptable to the government.
Shehu said, “In Benue, Taraba, Cross River states and many parts of the country, most of the casualties result from intra-group, inter-group and community violence.
“Many of the displaced persons across the nation are also victims of these conflicts.
“Therefore, we are saddened that the rapporteur did not address intra-ethnic conflicts and cattle rustling as key elements in herders/farmers conflicts.”
The Rapporteur, Agnes Callamard, in one report this month, said “Nigeria is a pressure cooker of conflicts”, warning that it posed serious danger to the rest of West Africa.
Aside from widespread killings by Boko Haram, she touched on raging banditry, killings by herdsmen over right of access to farmlands, kidnapping and alleged increasing human rights abuses by Nigerian security forces.
Callamard said, “The lack of accountability is on such a scale that pretending this is nothing short of a crisis will be a major mistake.
“If ignored, its ripple effect will spread in the sub-region given the country’s important role on the continent.”

Insurgency

Politics

News

AddThis

Original Author

SaharaReporters, New York

Disable advertisements

target=_blank>Only Five Per cent Bank Customers Will Be Affected By New Policy, Says CBN

The Central Bank of Nigeria has refuted claims that the new policy of fees being charged on deposits and withdrawals on savings account would affect the majority of Nigerians.
Governor of the CBN, Godwin Emefiele, said the charges on savings and withdrawals above N500,000 will only affect about five per cent bank users.
Emefiele made this clarification while addressing journalists in Abuja on Friday.
In the new policy, the apex bank had said it would impose a 2% charge on deposit of withdrawal of excess limit of N500,000.
For corporate accounts, the apex bank said that Deposit Money Banks would charge five per cent processing fees on withdrawals and three processing fee on lodgements of amounts above N3m.
The House of Representatives had on Thursday through a resolution directed the apex bank to suspend the policy.
But responding to the development, Emefiele said if the Nigerian economy was to compete effectively with those of developed countries, a payment system that encourages the use of non-cash channels was desirable.
He said that before the cashless policy was first inaugurated in 2012, a lot of stakeholder engagements were done to sensitise Nigerians on its benefits.
He said the policy was suspended in 2014 to allow more payment channels to be developed by Deposit Money Banks.
Emefiele said that since the policy was suspended, currency management cost had continued to increase year-on-year at an average annual growth rate of 33 per cent.
However, he said the bank had continued to provide alternative channels, adding that people had embraced it.
He said Point of Sale transactions had moved from N48bn in 2012 to N2.2trn while electronic transfer had moved from N3.8trn in 2012 to N80.46trn in 2018.
Emefiele said, “Since the policy was first launched, currency management costs have continued to increase year-on-year at an average annual growth rate of 33 per cent.
“Notwithstanding, electronic transactions have increased within the economy. We have provided alternative channels and people have embraced it.
“This is a strategic timing of these actions because on Monday, September 23, the mutual evaluation by GIABA (Inter-governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa) on the country’s anti-money laundry and CFT (Combating Financing of Terrorism) regime will begin.
“GIABA will be in Nigeria to access the rate at which the country has embraced anti-money laundry and CFT regime. It is important that we display and show to them that Nigeria is indeed in conformity with their practices as enshrined in their anti-money laundry and CFA laws.”
The apex bank boss said if the CBN did not implement the cashless policy, credit cards owned by Nigerians might not be used abroad.
On the Value Added Tax, he said the MPC supported the decision of the Federal Government to increase the rate from five per cent to 7.5 per cent.
He said with Nigeria having one of the lowest VAT rate in the world, and faced with fiscal challenge, the best way to shore up revenue was to increase tax.
He added, “The MPC endorsed the increase in the VAT rate from five per cent to 7.5 per cent. The government has the responsibility to fend for everybody.
“Fending for everybody means that it has to spend money to provide infrastructure – roads, airports, different things that will improve the lives of its people.
“There are two ways through which government can fund these expenditures. It’s either it raises revenue or goes for debt. You all know that the government has been criticised that the debt stock is too high.
“You all know that government debt service ratios are too high. What that means is that your revenue is small because if your revenue is large, then your debt service ratios will be lower.
“If we say government should not borrow; then, government must raise revenue. If government must raise revenue and we think this is one way government can raise revenue to meet its obligation.”
Emefiele said while the decision to increase VAT might be painful to Nigerians, the benefit of such move far outweighed the cost.

Money

News

AddThis

Original Author

SaharaReporters, New York

Disable advertisements

25-year-old Man Rapes 14-year-old Girl In Gombe

Sanusi Usman, a 25-year-old man, has been arrested for allegedly raping a 14-year-old girl.
According to the spokesperson for the police in Gombe State, Mary Malum, the suspect confessed to raping the girl following his arrest.
She said the victim was running an errand when Usman intercepted her, adding that a plastic bucket containing maize belonging to the girl was recovered from the suspect’s apartment.
She said, “The police from the Pantami Division arrested the suspect over the rape of the girl.
“They both reside in Jekadafari quarters, Gombe. The suspect lured her into his flat, held her hostage overnight and sexually assaulted her.
“An investigation is ongoing and the suspect will be charged.”
Malum added that the command would continue to partner members of the public in fighting crimes in the state.

CRIME

Police

S**

News

AddThis

Original Author

SaharaReporters, New York

Disable advertisements