Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Tuesday 19th May 2020
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 19/05/20
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BREAKING: Nigeria Records 216 New COVID-19 Cases
Nigeria has recorded 216 new Coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of confirmed infections in the country to 6175.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control disclosed this in a tweet on Monday.
It said, “216 new cases of #COVID19; 74 in Lagos, 33 in Katsina, 19 in Oyo, 17 in Kano, 13 in Edo, 10 in Zamfara, eight in Ogun, eight in Gombe, eight in Borno, seven in Bauchi, seven in Kwara, four in FCT, three in Kaduna, three in Enugu and two in Rivers.
“6175 cases of #COVID19 in Nigeria, discharged: 1644, deaths: 191.”
216 new cases of #COVID19;74-Lagos33-Katsina19-Oyo17-Kano13-Edo10-Zamfara8-Ogun8-Gombe8-Borno7-Bauchi7-Kwara4-FCT3-Kaduna3-Enugu2-Rivers6175 cases of #COVID19 in NigeriaDischarged: 1644Deaths: 191 pic.twitter.com/FbcGTJ06iE— NCDC (@NCDCgov) May 18, 2020
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Trial For COVID-19 Drug Has Started In Some States In Nigeria, Says World Health Organisation
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The World Health Organisation has said that the solidarity trial for a drug to treat COVID-19 has commenced in some states in Nigeria.
Country Representative of the WHO, Fiona Braka, made this known on Monday during the daily briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja.
In April, Lagos, FCT, Ogun, Kaduna, Sokoto and Kano states signed up to participate in the WHO solidarity trial to help find an effective treatment for Coronavirus in the shortest possible time.
Braka however, didn’t mention the states that have commenced the process.
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She said, “The solidarity trial is a large multi-country effort that is going on across several countries globally. We are picking up on that trial in Nigeria; some states have started while some are yet to start.
“The whole idea is that the large pool of information across countries will be systematically analysed at the global level, in addition to what is coming in from the other countries. Guidance will now be provided to countries on which formulation is more effective.
“These are not new drugs that we are trying but drugs that we already have available but are simply being repurposed for the intention of determining their effect on the coronavirus. We will keep you updated on what the timeline for the vaccine will look like. But we are still early in the process in collection of the data.
“Overall, we have relatively few cases of COVID-19 confirmed in infants, children, and those that get infected experience mild symptoms.
“However, recently, we have received reports from Europe and North America that have described a cluster of children and adolescents requiring admission to intensive care units with a multi-cystic inflammatory disorder which has some features similar to those of Kawasaki diseases and toxic shock syndrome.
“The case report has described the presentation of an acute illness encountered by hyper inflammatory syndrome that eventually leads to organ failure and shock.”
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BREAKING: Two Bomb Blasts Rock Borno Community
Two bomb explosions have occurred in Mandirari Village in the Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State.
The explosions occurred on Monday night around 8:38pm.
A security source told SaharaReporters that details of the actual casualties could not be ascertained yet but more than two persons were killed in the blast.
“There were two explosions in Mandirari Anguwan around 8:39pm this night,” he said.
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BREAKING: Boko Haram Currently Attacking Yobe Community
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United Kingdom Sanctions Chris Oyakhilome Over Controversial Comments On Coronavirus, 5G Network
The Office of Communications, commonly known as Ofcom, has sanctioned Loveworld Television Network, the United Kingdom-based station belonging to Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, over his comments on the outbreak of Coronavirus.
Ofcom, the government-approved regulatory and competition authority for the broadcasting, telecommunications and postal industries of the United Kingdom, held that Loveworld News and comments by Oyakhilome featured potentially harmful statements about the Coronavirus pandemic and adequate protection was not provided to viewers, adding that his statements were not presented with due accuracy.
Oyakhilome was also sanctioned for making claims on the usage of hydroxychloroquine as a potential treatment for COVID-19.
This was contained in a document sighted by SaharaReporters on Monday.
Details of the sanctions were not clear as of the time of filing this report.
The regulatory company held that Oyakhilome breached Rules 2.1 and 5.1 of the Broadcasting Code, thereby imposing a sanction while considering whether to impose any further sanction.
Oyakhilome had on April 7, 2020, while commenting on the link between 5G and Coronavirus said, “With the classification of a weapon, 5G technology is very dangerous.
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SPOTLIGHT: How Lesotho Has Been Using 5G Since 2018 And Yet To Record A Single Coronavirus Case
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“When it comes into contact with a human body, it can provide some poisons to the cells because our bodies try to fight the radiation, kicking out some protein and some DNA cells in a form of a chemical, which is called a virus. This shows that what’s killing people is not Coronavirus but 5G.”
Oyakhilome had recently slammed Nigerian pastors that complied with government’s ban on large gathering because of Coronavirus.
He posited that such congregation leaders were not true Christians as they did not ask the government for time to pray and consult with their congregation.
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Merchants Of Nation (Part Two): Where Are The Young People? By Dr Bolaji O. Akinyemi
The author, Dr Bolaji O. Akinyemi
In my last piece under the headline: Merchants Of Nation, I encapsulated our troubles in the hands of money mongers who masquerade as leaders. People whose motive in bending over to ameliorate the challenges of the vulnerable members of our society must come at a price.
Everywhere you turn, their grandiloquence stares you in the face. They litter the entire national space and appear ubiquitous. Mostly, they hold sway in political circles either as king makers or party chieftains trading the nation’s interests under the guise of loyalty to party and its supremacy. But most often, such loyalties are to one man and the supremacy of his ambition.
In retrospect, Professor Wole Soyinka must have asked Omoyele Sowore the question, ‘where are the young people? But for the lethargy of the young Nigerians, considering his age and his long fought battles, by now, Soyinka’s legs should have tired and retired from walking the streets in protest of bad governance. But unfortunately, going by way things are the professor’s feet may never know rest and so the struggle continues.
The author, Dr Bolaji O. Akinyemi
At age 33 in 1967, young Wole Soyinka could not stand the sight of millions of Nigerian children trapped in the decision of the adult population of the South East who were given to the cessation agenda and the desire to birth the Biafra nation without due consideration for their vulnerable women and children. The entire region ended up ravaged by war. And with its attendant consequences of economic dislocations and displacements, poverty became rife, wives and daughters became s** toys in the hands of “Army of occupation” in returns for a morsel of bread just to stay alive. At the end, mothers could hardly tell which was their child for dominant impact of gene that allows for recognitions had gone recessive. Millions of these children roamed the war torn South Eastern region looking alike: big headed, sagged chins, visible ribs, and protruding, glistering stomachs. Host of “kwashiokorished” children trailed by vultures that had migrated from as far as the Sahara to feast on whichever child that dropped first! Meal that a senseless war had made of humanity!
Soyinka could not bear it anymore and he rose to the occasion. He made an appeal for ceasefire. But merchants of nation, the unreasonable power mongers in khaki and their civilian collaborators will have none of it. Many had become billionaires trading in guns and weapons of wars. They refused to let go!
Wole Soyinka was accused of conspiring with the Biafran Rebels and was slammed to jail. For 22 months he was held as a political prisoner of war. I guess the passion he once felt and the price he paid to see the war end for the hope of a greater Nigeria to be kindled must have come to mind when he leaned towards Sowore to ask, ‘where are the young people?
Where indeed are the younger generation?
Prof., no doubt, is eminently qualified to ask such a question. And so are few other Nigerians. After his release from incarceration in 1965, Prof. had led many protests in the company of compatriots relying on the support provided by the army of other young Nigerians. Men like, Gani Fawehinmi, Dr Beko Ransom Kuti, Debo Adeniran, Femi Falana, Adams Oshiomhole and many other regular foot soldiers who for want of space we may not list here. These had walked the streets along side the Professor in company of ever ready young people in demand for a greater nation.
Unfortunately, some have fallen in the midst of the battle. Others have come of age and may be tired in body but not in Spirit who for lack of capable replacement cannot even retire. Femi Falana is one never tired in spirit who must help provide answers to Soyinka’s question. And unless answers are found, the labour of these heroes of the masses will be in vain.
As an activist since his university days, Professor Soyinka had been involved in the students union movement. Even as a lecturer and when political parties were formed in the first republic, the student wing of political parties were the platform for the expression of young Democrats. How can we forget the impact of the great Zik, the Sage, Awolowo and other first generation of leaders on younger Nigerians? Their proteges embraced progressive political ideology and this began to drive activism in persons without whose efforts the nation would not have gained independence.
It was a 30 year old Anthony Enahoro, in 1953 that first moved the motion for the independence of Nigeria. His effort was complimented by Samuel Ladoke Akintola who in 1957 at 47 again moved the same motion. Then came the turn of Remi Fani-Kayode, who at 37 in 1958 moved the motion that finally led to the emancipation of our great nation.
We cannot wish away the drive for an egalitarian society that saw the crops of young people buy in to progressive ideology. At inception, the Late Chief Bola Ige championed many exploits of the young members of the Action group. Also young then but now old and still standing as an inspiration personally to me and others in my generation is Chief Ayo Adebanjo whose dogged fight for the restructuring of the country is unassailable.
The versatility of young blood in politics saw the formation of the youth wings of political parties. The Students wing of the Action Group was at best a model that must be revisited.
In 1993, again national duty called out the Professor. This time to restore the hope he once foresaw in the Nigeria project that kept him out of circulation all through the civil war. Hope was close for actualisation. Nigerians had lined up to elect a President in Moshood Olawale Kasimawo Abiola. The free and fair election was annulled by the military Government of Ibrahim Babangida who was not prepared to let go of power. The battle line was drawn between the military and the masses of our people. In the front line of the battle for the masses was 59 years old Wole Soyinka. The regulars were also not missing: Gani Fawehinmi, Beko Ransom Kuti, Femi Falana, Mike Ozekhome, Olisa Agbakoba Ademola Ogunlana, Shehu Sani, Chris Ubani, very many others in NADECO movement. Some died in the battle and others defected to the merchants of nation who bought their consciences for a price.
The struggle was to pave way for new entrants of Democrats like Bola Ahmed Tinubu and many unsung soldiers like yours truly who played their little roles in their little conners. Privileged to stand with Wole Soyinka and other activists in the front line of the battle was young Revolutionist Omoyele Sowore who at 22 was then the President of the Student Union Government of the University of Lagos. Lagos being the theatre of war for the actualisation of Hope 1993, necessitated the need for Sowore to keep ranks with the Generals in the People’s army, a billing he has lived up to since then.
Wole Soyinka knew the role of young people, students in particular, in freedom fighting against the colonialists, which began in 1925 with the formation of West African Students Union started by the duo of Ladipo Solanke and Herbert Bankole-Bright. Their activities ran into the 1960s till all West African States were seen through independence. Where indeed is the spirits of young people that fought the colonialists?
The role of young Enahoro in 1956 birthed our nation’s independence. The engagement led by Segun Okeowo gave Obasanjo a match for his stubbornness, as the armies he commanded screamed, Ali must go! Where are all the nostalgic memories of the role of our young people in our liberation movements?
Yes, where are the young people! When they were organised under the banners of NANS, they were strong enough to take on the Abacha Junta till he breathed his last. Our democracy came at a great price, and its sustenance will be at no less a price. A RESURGENCE of the National Association of Nigerian Students again must come to the rescue. We must call out the young people and get them organised to take their place in the struggle for the redemption of Nigeria to guarantee their future.
Young Nigerians, at home and in the diaspora, where are you?
The need to aggregate the young people as a dependable 3RD FORCE for the course of nation building and defence of democracy far outweigh our individual ambitions.
To the last man standing, Revolutionist Omoyele Sowore, where indeed are the young people?
Foot notes: A must read is Part 3; the concluding part of Merchants of Nation, titled: Beware Of Merchants.
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Merchants Of Nation? – Part One By Dr Bolaji O. Akinyemi
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Ex-Abia Governor, Kalu, Hires Six SANs To Secure Release From Prison
Orji Uzor Kalu
A former governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu, has hired a 12-man team of lawyers including six Senior Advocates of Nigeria to secure his release from prison.
Kalu, who is serving a 12-year jail term at the Kuje Custodial Centre, Abuja, for looting N7.65bn belonging to the Abia State Government during his eight years in office, had his conviction judgment recently set aside by the Supreme Court.
The apex court had ruled that a fresh trial be done on his case.
Orji Uzor Kalu
Since the ruling, he is yet to leave the prison.
Kalu, in his motion on notice against the Nigerian Government, is seeking to set aside his trial and conviction.
The motion for Charge No FHC ABJ/CR 56/2007, was signed by Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), on behalf of 11 other lawyers.
They are Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN; Awa Kalu SAN; Chris Uche SAN; Dr. U. Olatoke, SAN; Chef H.O Alolabi, SAN; Sylvester Elema SAN; Ikoro N. A. Ikoro; Omosanya Popoola; C. Obidike; Nnamdi Awa Kalu; Vivien Udora and A S. Amire.
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BREAKING: Former Abia Governor, Kalu, Remains In Kuje Prison
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They argued that no legal basis exists for Kalu’s continued incarceration because the Supreme Court on May 8 declared his trial a nullity and freed his co-defendant Jones Udeogu.
It was brought pursuant to Section 180 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
Kalu prayed the court for an order setting aside the judgment of the court dated December 5, 2019, under the hand of Hon Justice M.B. Idris, JCA the same having been given without jurisdiction.
He also asked the court to grant an order “setting aside the trial and conviction of the applicant – the order of conviction having been made without jurisdiction.
“An order setting aside the sentence passed on each of the counts as applicable to the applicant in the 39-count charge in charge No: FHC ABJ/CR 56/2007 – the sentences having been imposed without jurisdiction.
“An order directing that the Applicant be released forthwith, from the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service Kuje Abuja FCT”.
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BREAKING: Boko Haram Currently Attacking Yobe Community
Boko Haram terrorists in several gun trucks are presently attacking Dapchi community in Yobe State, forcing many residents to flee for safety into nearby bushes.
A source, who spoke with SaharaReporters on Monday, said the insurgents attacked the community around 7:30pm and began to fire sporadically at anything within sight.
He said the people were presently running into nearby bushes and the Kumadugu-Yobe River to avoid being killed or kidnapped.
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Another resident of the community told SaharaReporters that the town was up in flames with gunshots continuing.
The resident said he narrowly escaped and took refuge in a nearby village, adding that the attack was a major one.
Dapchi was attacked on February 19, 2018 by insurgents, who abducted 110 schoolgirls from their dormitory at Government Girls Science and Technical College.
The girls were later released in a deal with the Nigerian Government but one of them, Leah Sharibu, was held back because she refused to convert from Christianity to Islam.
Also in March, 2020, Boko Haram fighters attacked the town and killed seven policemen.
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E2%80%94foreign-affairs COVID-19: Nigerian Government Bows To Pressure, To Pay Cost Of Citizens Evacuation —Foreign Affairs Ministry
Nigeria Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyeama
The Nigerian Government has said that the cost of evacuation of its citizens stranded in countries abroad due to the Coronavirus pandemic would be borne by the Central Bank of Nigeria and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.
Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of Foreign Affairs, made the disclosure on Monday during the briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.
Nigeria Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyeama
He said, “After getting all the barrage from all around the world including that we were somehow conspiring with hotels to fleece Nigerians and make money for ourselves and other kinds of accusations, we continue to find the way through.
“They say that two heads are better than one. The Honourable Minister of Environment, Dr Mahmoud Abubakar, called me on Friday and suggested that why not try NNPC and CBN. They have corporate social responsibility funding and I told him I will do that immediately.
“I got in touch with the governor of the CBN and he generously agreed. He said the amount I was talking about is over a billion naira because we have over 4000 Nigerians out there and if over 3000 of them comes back, the cost of feeding and accommodation is over a billion naira that we don’t have. He said he was ready to share the cost with the NNPC.
“I spoke with the GMD of NNPC and he said he was going to consult and thanks be to God today (Monday), he got back to me and he said he was going to meet with the governor of CBN and together they will fund this portion, a very important one, the feeding and accommodation of the evacuees.”
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I Am Praying To Buy More, Dino Melaye Tells Critics Asking Him To Sell His Cars And Gift Proceed To Poor
Dino Melaye
A former lawmaker representing Kogi West Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Dino Melaye, has said that he would not sell his cars as some critics have demanded, disclosing that he is in fact praying for more wealth to buy addition vehicles.
In a viral video, Melaye tells his critics that selling off his cars would not solve the problems of the country.
He said, “I am here to address some myopic intellectual stagnant individuals who have called on me that I should sell all my cars and houses and give to the poor as if that would solve Nigeria’s problems.
Dino Melaye
“The truth of the matter is that if I sell everything I have, I will become poor and only the rich can deliver the poor. The poor cannot deliver the poor.
“I am not going to sell any of my cars, I am even praying for more wealth to buy more.”
Melaye told his critics not to question his passion and love for automobile. #PressPlay: I am Praying To Buy More, @Dino_Melaye Tells Critics Asking Him To Sell His Cars And Gift Proceed To PoorWATCH FULL VIDEO: pic.twitter.com/GcXGrwpSCn— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) May 18, 2020
Melaye had recently bought a 1977 corvette, a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon Limousine, and a Toyota Land Cruiser.
He also boasts of two bulletproof cars worth N726m and a vintage car.
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COVID-19: Buhari Urges State Governors To Partner PTF To Strengthen Fight Against Pandemic
President Muhammadu Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari has urged governors to work with the Presidential Task Force to help strengthen the fight against Coronavirus in the country.
Making this call during a virtual meeting with state governors on Monday, President Buhari, who revealed that the task force had briefed him on the next line of actions however, said that he directed them to partner with state governors.
He said “We have to be very careful. We need to continue to educate and persuade the people to accept the reality of the situation, and do all that is necessary to stay safe.”
President Muhammadu Buhari
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