Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Tuesday 4th August 2020
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 04/08/20
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Nigerian Government Asks Organised Labour To Shelve Planned Protest Against Corruption In Government Agencies
Garba Shehu
The Nigerian Government has described the planned protest by the Trade Union Congress over the high level of corruption in some government agencies and the inaction of President Muhammadu Buhari as ill-advised and uncalled for.
In a statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, on Monday, the government asked the labour union to allow the investigation by both the executive and National Assembly to run its full course.
The statement reads, “The reported plan by the Trade Union Congress to embark on a nationwide protest over the alleged President Muhammadu Buhari’s inaction over the high-level of corruption uncovered at the Niger Delta Development Commission, the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is ill advised and totally uncalled for considering that there are ongoing investigations in the cases by both the executive and legislative arms of government. These processes must be allowed to run their full courses.
Garba Shehu
“It is against the norm in a democratic society as well as the natural laws of justice to seek “action,” meaning punishment, against offenders before proper investigation, trial and conviction.
“The President has made it clear that the allegations that have surfaced clearly constitute a breach of trust and as the investigations take hold and close out, all those found wanting will face the wrath of the law.
“The TUC, as an enlightened group of labour Unionists, should indeed voice their indignation whenever such acts are being unearthed.”
Organised labour earlier frowned at the massive corruption going on in the country and threatened to mobilise its members to stage a nationwide protest.
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E2%80%99s-name-ondo-governorship-election INEC Denies Substituting AAC Candidate’s Name For Ondo Governorship Election
The Independent National Electoral Commission on Monday denied the substitution of the name of the deputy governorship candidate of the African Action Congress in Ondo ahead of the governorship election in the state fixed for October 10.
The AAC had on Sunday accused the commission of publishing a “strange name” as running mate to its governorship candidate, Adekunle Adeleye.
The party stated that it sent the name of Mrs Mopelola Evelyn Ibrahim as the party’s deputy governorship candidate but was surprised to see that her name was replaced with one Samuel Tope Omotosho by INEC.
In a statement by Festus Okoye, National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, the electoral body said, “On Friday 31st July, 2020, the Independent National Electoral Commission published the provisional list of candidates for the Ondo State governorship election scheduled for 10th October 2020 in its state office in Akure and also uploaded same to its website and social media platforms.
“The list contains the names of the governorship and deputy governorship candidates submitted by 17 political parties, including the African Action Congress (AAC) at the close of nomination on 28th July 2020.
“However, one of the aspirants in the primaries of the party accused the commission of substituting his name as the rightful governorship candidate of the party, while another aspirant also claimed that the commission substituted his deputy governorship candidate.
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AAC Kicks As INEC Replaces Name Of Party’s Deputy Governorship Candidate Ahead Of Ondo Election
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“Contrary to these assertions, INEC did not substitute the name of any aspirant or candidate. The commission received only one submission from the AAC through its dedicated online portal for candidate nomination. There was no human interface. The names uploaded on the portal by the political parties were the same names published. The commission only receives the names of candidates and running mates from the national headquarters of political parties, duly signed by both the national chairman and national secretary.
“The commission does not deal directly with aspirants, candidates or state branches of political parties in matters relating to the nomination, submission and substitution of candidates of political parties as that is the exclusive preserve of the political parties as represented by the national chairman and national secretary. The commission duly published the names of the governorship and deputy governorship candidates as submitted by the national chairman and secretary of the African Action Congress.”
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NCFront Knocks Buhari For Turning Nigeria To A Failed State
Muhammadu Buhari
NCFront, a newly formed political movement, has slammed President Muhammadu Buhari for running Nigeria as a criminal enterprise and failed state, thereby making it the poverty capital of the world.
The group made this known in a statement by its Head of Public Affairs, Mallam Tanko Yunusa, on Monday in Abuja.
The NCFront said the nonchalant and irresponsible manner by which the railway contract between Nigeria and China was handled leaves much to be desired of the present political leadership in Nigeria.
Muhammadu Buhari
The group said the present crop of political office holders were only interested in trading away the sovereignty, asset and pride of the Nigerian people for their self-aggrandisement.
The group asked the House of Representatives to put a stop to the contractual sale of the future and sovereignty of the Nigerian people to China.
They also commended Borno State governor, Babagana Zulum, for exposing internal sabotage in the fight against Insurgency and banditry in the North-East.
The statement reads, “Furthermore, we wish to note that with the latest security crisis in Borno State and the strong worries and reservations expressed by Governor Zulum, it’s now very clear that Federal Government and its military forces are clearly implicated as culpable and complicit as accomplices in the unending insurgency and banditry in the country.
“This has further revealed that the present ruling class in Nigeria has nothing more to offer its citizens, especially our best and brightest, than mindless elimination to allow them the space and latitude for personal acquisition of a more incredulous chunk of the country’s commonwealth.”
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Former NNPC Group Managing Director, Dawha, Is Dead
A former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Joseph Thalama Dawha, is dead.
Mele Kyari, current GMD of NNPC, disclosed this in a statement on Monday evening.
The statement reads partly, “The NNPC family gravely mourns the death of the former GMD, who provided astute leadership and made immense contributions to the progress of the corporation. It’s a great loss to us, the nation and the family.”
The former GMD joined the services of the NNPC in 1988 and rose to the rank of Executive Director Commercial Services of Eleme Petrochemical Company Limited (now Indorama) Port Harcourt in 2003, from where he was appointed the Managing Director of Integrated Data Services Limited, Benin in 2005.
Dawha as MD IDSL turned around the fortunes of IDSL which saw it exceed its target between 2007 and 2010.
In 2014, former President Goodluck Jonathan appointed him to replace Andrew Yakubu.
Dawha hails from Biu in Borno State and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical engineering from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1977, a Master’s of Science in the same discipline in 1985 and a doctorate in Chemical Engineering in 1988.
His death comes about two months after Maikanti Baru, immediate-past NNPC GMD, died.
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Socialist Party Condemns N25,000 Levy For COVID-19, Malaria Test For Pupils In Ogun
The Ogun State Chapter of the Socialist Party of Nigeria has condemned the compulsory payment of N25,000 for COVID-19 and malaria tests for all students of private schools in the state.
The party held that the Ogun State Government must rescind the discriminatory policy and bear the costs of the test.
SaharaReporters had reported how the state government asked graduating secondary school students to pay N25,000 each before they are allowed to resume.
The government said only students certified free of COVID-19 will be allowed into school premises.
Angered by the decision of the government, parents staged a protest against the monetisation of the free COVID-19 test.
Reacting to the situation, the SPN described the compulsory payment as “stone-hearted, wicked, irresponsible, discriminatory and reprehensible action of the Dapo Abiodun APC-led government”.
Eko John Nicholas, Chairperson of SPN in Ogun State, said they find the latest move by the government as disturbing and disheartening.
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Ogun Government Asks Graduating Secondary School Students To Pay N25,000 Each As COVID-19 Test Fee
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He said, “It’s unimaginable, crass recklessness and the highest insults for the state government to have flippantly treated the citizenry, knowing that these parents, who have struggled to fend for their wards need during the lockdown are currently living in an unprecedented sufferings and agonies made worse by COVID-19 pandemic lockdown that has been partially lifted.
“We demand that the state government takes full financial responsibility of all the COVID-19 test for pupils, teachers and other education workers across the state both in private and public schools without discrimination, before the schools are reopened, and that provision of personal protective gears and other safety measures be put in place in place, to prevent the transmission of the disease among pupils and workers in schools.
“Failure to do this, we call on parents and students with the support of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress in Ogun State to stage mass protest, demonstrations and picket in order to compel the state government to reverse this discriminatory policy.”
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#RevolutionNow: Amnesty International Calls On Nigerian Government To Drop Charges Against Sowore
Amnesty International has called on the Nigerian Government to drop all trumped up charges brought against human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, and restore all his rights as guaranteed by Nigerian and international laws.
The group made the call in a Twitter post on Monday to mark one year of Sowore’s arrest by the Department of State Services.
Amnesty International had on November 20, 2019 designated the activist as prisoner of conscience following his arbitrary detention and unfair trial for exercising his right to protest.
The rights group said President Muhammadu Buhari should stop using security agents and judiciary as a tool for persecuting people, who voice dissenting opinions, challenge abuse and call for accountability.
The organisation said, “Today marks exactly a year after Nigerian authorities unlawfully detained Omoyele Sowore.
“He was put through an unfair trial based on bogus charges. In November 2019 we declared him a Prisoner of Conscience; who was deprived of his rights solely for exercising freedom of expression.
“We are again calling on Nigerian authorities to drop all charges against Omoyele Sowore and restore all his rights guaranteed by Nigerian and international law.”
We are again calling on Nigerian authorities to drop all charges against Omoyele Sowore and restore all his rights guaranteed by Nigerian and International law; mdash; Amnesty Int. Nigeria (@AmnestyNigeria) August 3, 2020
Sowore was arrested in Lagos for calling on Nigerians to take to the streets to demand better governance from the administration of President Buhari.
He was kept in unlawful detention from that period until December 5, 2019 when he was finally released on bail despite two court orders earlier sanctioning his freedom.
The DSS operatives invaded the Federal High Court in Abuja on December 6, 2019 to rearrest him without any court order.
He remained in detention until 18 days later when he was released by the secret police for the second time.
At the resumption of his trial in a case brought against him by the Nigerian Government, the prosecution failed to prove accusations against him and even went ahead to dropping seven of the charges earlier preferred against him.
Groups and prominent individuals from around the world have described the charges against Sowore as baseless and a waste of time.
He was confined to Abuja as one of his bail conditions forbids him from leaving the city or speaking with journalists until the end of his trial.
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Again, NDDC Scholars Protest Non-payment Of Two-year Allowance By Commission
Nigerians students studying abroad under the Niger Delta Development Commission scholarship have again held a protest to demand their two-year allowance.
The students are demanding their take-off fee and tuition as they risk termination of their academic programmes by the foreign institutions due to the non-release of funds by the NDDC.
The young citizens picketed the Nigerian High Commission, London, United Kingdom.
Some of the affected persons, who spoke with SaharaReporters, said their institutions had terminated their academic programme and have listed them for deportation.
Speaking at the scene of the protest, one of the scholars said the protest will continue until the government paid their funds.
“We spoke with the consular and they said they will contact the presidency.
“We have been deregistered from school and we will be deported within 60 days maximum.
“We came here to send a strong message that you can no longer trample on us and think that we will not fight back,” one of the scholars said.
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E2%80%99ll-remember-buhari-overseeing-most-corrupt-government-arresting-critics- #RevolutionNow: We’ll Remember Buhari For Overseeing Most Corrupt Government, Arresting Critics –Deji Adeyanju
Human rights activist and Convener of Concerned Nigerians, Deji Adeyanju, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari would be remembered for presiding over the most corrupt government in the history of Nigeria.
He accused the President of suppressing the opposition and using security agents to harass persons, who speak truth to power.
Adeyanju spoke in commemoration of the first anniversary of #RevolutionNow protest – an occasion that saw Nigerians in large numbers taking to the streets to demand better governance by Buhari’s administration.
The protest led to the arrest of many activists and ordinary Nigerians, who participated in the demonstration.
He said, “Buhari will be remembered for looting and relooting the loot and for selling the sovereignty of Nigeria to China by taking the loan he could not account for.
“The loot that was recovered was also relooted by his government.
“He oversees the most corrupt regime in the history of our country. He will be remembered for enthronement of corruption, violations of human rights, freedom of assembly and speech.”
Adeyanju also said that the continued attacks, killings and maiming of Southern Kaduna people by suspected herdsmen without any meaningful intervention from the federal and state governments was shocking and despicable.
He added, “Enough of these senseless and mindless killings. The indigenous people of Southern Kaduna need a respite from all these killings and unrest in their villages.
“Every citizen in Nigeria has a right to be protected by the government and the silence of the state and federal governments concerning the killings going on in Southern Kaduna speak volumes.”
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EXCLUSIVE: Nigerian Women, Children Abducted As Boko Haram Terrorists Attack IDP Camp In Niger Republic
A boy walks past the remains of a village burnt down by Boko Haram on the outskirts of Maiduguri
Boko Haram terrorists have kidnapped many people mostly women and children during an attack on an internally displaced persons camp in Garin Wanzam area of Diffa, Niger Republic.
SaharaReporters gathered that the attack took place on Sunday night while many Muslim families were still celebrating the Id el Kabir festival.
A security source said those abducted were displaced people from Abadam and Mobbar local government areas of Borno State.
He said despite the fact that the area was well guarded by soldiers, the insurgents easily made their way into the camp to carry out their mission before leaving.
A boy walks past the remains of a village burnt down by Boko Haram
Audu Marte/AFP/Getty
“Most Nigerians from Abadam and Mobbar staying in a refugee camp in Garin Wanzam were abducted last night by Boko Haram,” the source said. “The total number of people taken away can’t be ascertained now,” he added.
There are an estimated 75,000 Nigerian refugees from Borno State in Niger Republic.
This is aside the estimated 50,000, who fled to neighbouring Cameroon from communities such as Bama, Gwoza, Kala-Balge, Gamboru-Ngala and Dikwa following consistent attacks by Boko Haram terrorists.
Thousands of persons have been killed in the decade-long deadly campaign by Boko Haram while millions more have been displaced after their communities were razed by the insurgents.
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Air Peace Sacks 70 Pilots, Cuts Salaries By 40 Per Cent Over COVID-19 Crisis
Nigerian airline operator, Air Peace, has announced the sack of 70 of its pilots as part of efforts to cushion the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic.
It also reduced staff salaries by up to 40 per cent.
In a statement on Monday, Stanley Olise, spokesperson of the airline, said the decision was taken for the greater good of the company.
He said, “The management of Air Peace wishes to state that it has taken a very painful but rightful decision in the circumstances the airline has found itself as a result of the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on its operations and financial health, to terminate the employment of some of its pilots.
“This decision was taken for the greater good of the company and its almost 3000 workforce, the affected pilots inclusive.
“The airline cannot afford to toe the path of being unable to continue to fulfill its financial obligations to its staff, external vendors, aviation agencies, maintenance organisations, insurance companies, banks and other creditors, hence the decision to restructure its entire operations with a view to surviving the times.
“The pandemic has hit every airline worldwide so badly that it has become very impossible for airlines to remain afloat without carrying out internal restructuring of their costs. Anything short of what we have done may lead to the collapse of an airline as could be seen in some places worldwide during this period.
“Therefore, we decided to review the salaries being paid to all staff. The new salaries reflect a 0%-40% cut of the former salary depending on the salary grades of every staff. Even after the cuts, it was obvious that for us to be able to sustain our operations and survive the times, some jobs must inevitably have to go.”
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