Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Monday 31st August 2020
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 31/08/20
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E2%80%99s-case-file-threatens-legal Coalition Tells President Buhari To Order Malami To Release Melaye’s Case File, Threatens Legal Action Against AGF
The Civil Society Network Against Corruption has written to President Muhammadu Buhari, asking him to immediately order the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to release the corruption file of ex-senator, Dino Melaye.
The group also threatened legal action against Malami if he continues to hold on to the case file of Melaye, an act said to be shielding the former senator, who represented Kogi West, against justice.
SaharaReporters had in December 2015 published how Melaye had since 2010 illegally operated bank accounts in the United States of America.
After the revelation, CSNAC, a coalition of over 150 anti-corruption organisations whose primary aim is to constructively combat corruption vigorously, wrote the Code of Conduct Bureau to investigate Melaye.
Malami, however, went secretly to obtain the case file from the bureau and had since squashed the investigation of Melaye.
After so many inquiries, the CCB finally revealed that Malami had taken over the case file of Melaye.
Following silence by the minister, CSNAC invoked the Freedom of Information Act, urging Buhari to direct Malaimi to release the case file in the next seven days.
“As President of the country, you have the responsibility to ensure equity in the campaign against corruption.
“The fight against corruption can never succeed when the claws of law are deployed in a discriminatory manner or used to score cheap political gains,” the CSNAC stated in the petition signed by the group’s Legal Officer, Rebecca David.
CSNAC also threatened legal action against Malami for obstructing the cause of justice in the matter.
“Series of requests have been submitted to your office to release the file on Senator Melaye. There are serious cases of corruption levelled against him.
“The cases were to be prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
“It’s unfortunate that you ordered the transfer of the file leaving Senator Melaye with the prospect of escaping justice in the face of the weighty allegations
against him.
“There are speculations that Senator Melaye is your bossom friend and that the transfer of the file on corruption cases against him was designed to give him a soft landing.
“You have to prove these allegations false by releasing the file without further delay,” CSNAC stated.
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E2%80%99s-secretariat-disrupts-meeting Rivers Government Seals Trade Union’s Secretariat, Disrupts Meeting
Rivers Governor Wike
Chairperson of the Rivers State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Beatrice Itubo, has accused the state government of disrupting the union’s meeting on Sunday.
Beatrice said thugs led by a councilor in the state stormed the Medical and Health Union Workers Union state secretariat, disrupting the meeting and inflicting injuries on participants.
She said the thugs chased the workers out of the venue using dangerous weapons.
They also vented their anger on properties and vehicles within the vicinity, she added.
“We actually scheduled a meeting of the state executive council in line with the directive of the national secretariat that we should meet with our ULC brothers and integrate. So, two men came to us, one of them introduced himself as the councilor of Ward 7, Obiakpo, and they have a directive from above that the meeting should not hold.
“Then we saw a lot of boys, they started banging everywhere, the vehicles, and chased us away. I don’t know when our state got to this level that workers can’t meet. They have locked the secretariat they said they built for us, now this one that is our own they don’t want us to use it.
“There are several states that have issues with labour and they have been dialoging.
“Today they said they came with a mandate and I want to put it on record, should anything happen to any labour leader in the state, the government of the day should be held responsible cause they have started to unleash a lot of arsenal on us. They have decided to bring bad boys to hunt us and we are aware and we are also watching. So the people should be aware, the Federal Government should be aware, the international community should be aware that if anything happens to any labour leader in this state, the government should be held responsible,” she said.
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COVID-19: Special Needs Women Knock Government Over Exclusion From Palliatives Distribution, Demand Special Relief Program
Women with special needs in Nigeria have asked the government for a special relief program targeted towards them only.
They also berated their exclusion from the palliative distribution by the Nigerian Government during the COVID-19 lockdown in the country.
The WWDs made known their demands during an online national policy dialogue convened by BONews service in collaboration with FACICP Disability Plus.
Ms Ekaete Judith Umoh of Family Center Initiative for Challenged Persons stated that persons with disability were excluded from different palliatives distribution by the government.
She noted that the continued neglect of persons in this category by government would make the impact of the COVID-19 crisis extend for a long period.
She said, “There is need for the Ministry of Woman Affairs to review its various interventions on gender-based violence to ensure that WWDs are able to participate and benefit in the design, planning, implementation and monitoring of interventions.
“A special COVID-19 relief program for WWDs should be initiated to quickly reach those with very challenging situations. Key component of the special relief for WWDs could include—food support, mobility/assistive aids and micro/small business grants.”
Similarly, Dr Adebukola Adebayo, Disability-inclusion consultant, called on the government and stakeholders to identify and engage organisations of and for WWDs all through the design, planning, implementation and monitoring of all COVID-19 Interventions.
He said, “There is need for the management and staff of the Humanitarian Affairs Ministry to embark on extensive capacity-building towards developing new strategies for inclusion of WWDs in all humanitarian and disaster management interventions.
“There is also a need for rapid sensitisation and capacity-building for health workers to understand the peculiar issues that come with attending to WWDs and PWDs in general.”
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Pregnant Woman, Two Kids, Others Among Victims Of Ondo Accident
A yet to be identified pregnant woman was among victims of a fatal auto accident, which occurred on Saturday in Ondo State.
The accident occurred at Ikare Akoko in Akoko North Local Government Area of the state.
SaharaReporters gathered that the woman also lost two of her male children in the crash.
The family was among seven casualties involved in the accident.
Three other persons sustained injuries in the accident, which was caused by a truck conveying diesel, which rammed into some shops in the commercial area of the town, causing destruction.
Federal Road Safety Corps Head of Operation, Samuel Oyedeji, confirmed the accident.
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He said, “The bodies of the victims have been deposited at General Hospital in Akure.
“Those who sustained injuries are currently receiving treatment in the hospital.”
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The Hypocrisy Of Igbo Political Leaders By Fredrick Nwabufo
Fredrick Nwabufo
The so-called Igbo struggle is an enterprise. Individuals from the South-East, who find themselves in position of political influence, hawk the ‘’Igbo agitation’’ as merchandise in self-seeking ventures. These politicians pursue personal gains robed in the collective agenda. And this is largely because of the people who have become addlepated by barbiturated sentiments, conspiracy theories, and nerve-raising nothings.
There are 15 lawmakers from the South-East at the Senate and more of this number at the house of representatives, but no single region-centred legislation has reached fruition. In March 2020, these lawmakers in league with their colleagues approved the $22.7bn loan request of President Muhammadu Buhari unfettered.
Fredrick Nwabufo
But a week after some public-spirited Nigerians raised the alarm that the South-East was excluded in the projects the loan was meant for, these lawmakers in caucuses retreated to playing to the gallery and lacquering their action. They resumed the accustomed showmanship and grandstanding in the face of an obvious fait accompli. Nothing happened afterwards.
Also, most of the lawmakers from the south-east are members of the opposition — the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) — but clearly, they have failed in providing leadership in opposition. Some contentious bills were passed right under the stoned watch of these lawmakers. Currently, there are two anti-citizen bills – on hate speech and social media. But these lawmakers do not think they are worth advocating over. These are bills targeted at garrisoning the civic space, the media and the populace.
Considering the disaffection of a section of the South-East with the Buhari administration and juxtaposing that with those who have been operational in their dissent against the administration, is it not logical that the opposition secure the fort of varied voices by working to extirpate these gag bills?
Perhaps, the bills when passed will put a hedge around them – to protect them from minatory probes by their constituents whom they have been remiss in representing. The legislation serves them.
There is now an exhumation of the interred National Water Resources Bill which reposes control of the country’s water resources – both over and underground – in the executive, and which requires Nigerians to get a licence before drilling a borehole (in a nation that cannot provide pipe-borne water for citizens). This legislation, with implications of slavish proportions, is already at an advanced stage at the house of representatives – where there are lawmakers from the South-East — which will be maximally impacted by this bill when passed. This is where Igbo political leaders, particularly those in the national assembly, should be leading the charge. Whatever development we want in the south-east must proceed from the law; so, change must begin from parliament.
Why have I zeroed in on lawmakers from the south-east? Well, because they are the representatives of the people of the region and they form a bulk of the opposition in the legislature. Naturally, they should wear the shoes of the commoner in the region and feel his pain. They should be the voice of the region. They should be in the vanguard of whatever the people are agitating for provided it is within the remit of the constitution. I have no doubt that whatever they set to achieve for the region in parliament, regional and national consciences will be mobilised in support as long as the agenda is not jaundiced.
But these politicians have commoditised the Igbo interest, blaring hot air on issues affecting the region. They know the people are very emotive and unthinking, so they flagellate the usual marginalisation slant and other conspiracy theories to thrust themselves into public consciousness. And they remain there by constantly reinventing the wheel and stroking the people sore with sentimental nothings.
Some unarmed young men were mowed down by guilty bullets in Enugu a few days ago. Though the DSS said two of its operatives were killed in an encounter with some Biafra agitators. This incident, no doubt, deserves a thorough investigation and the culprits punished at the end of a credible hearing. We cannot keep losing citizens to summary executions. I believe this is a matter on which the voice of lawmakers from the South-East should be loudest. They should not only speak up when it is politically convenient to do so.
I have been threatened by these agitators, but I strongly believe it is against natural propriety if my voice is muted out of grudge on this case. Every Nigerian deserves to live; even if there is an offence, the law must take its course. Summary executions are a reprise of the military era; they have no place in a democracy.
Really, the biggest adversary of the Igbo is not the Hausa, the Yoruba or the Fulani, but fiendish leaders of the ethnic group who secrete their interest in the ‘’Igbo agenda’’; who pit the people against their neighbours and other groups, and who flagellate ethnic emotions for insular ends.
Fredrick Nwabufo is a writer and journalist
Twitter: @FredrickNwabufo
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Buhari Is Only Nigerian Military Officer To Overthrow A Democratic Government –Sowore
Rights activist and SaharaReporters Publisher, Omoyele Sowore, has knocked Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, over comments that he (Sowore) was trying to overthrow a democratically-elected government.
According to the activist, the only Nigerian military officer, who overthrew a democratically-elected government in history was President Buhari.
Shehu had on Friday while reacting to SaharaReporters’ publication accusing him of reversing the Council of State decision nominating Silas Agara as Chairman of National Population Commission and announcing one Nasiru Kwarra, a Muslim, described Sowore as a coup plotter.The digital newspaper published using donor funds from the US including the Ford Foudation & the Omidyar Foundation, which publisher is standing trial for plotting the overthrow of the elected govt of Nigeria is reporting that I have changed the decision of a constitutional body, mdash; Garba Shehu (@GarShehu) August 28, 2020
But responding swiftly to Shehu’s post, Sowore said, “Garba Shehu, let me remind you that the only Nigerian military officer who ever overthrew a democratically-elected government in 1983 was and remains Major
General Muhammadu Buhari, your current boss. He is yet to face trial for that criminal act of treason! #Revolutionnow.” Garba Shehu, let me remind you that the only Nigerian military officer who’d ever overthrown a democratically elected government (in 1983) was and remains Major General @MBuhari MBuhari, your current boss, he is yet to face trial for that criminal act of treason! #RevolutionNow mdash; Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) August 28, 2020
SaharaRepoters earlier raised the alarm on the plot by some powerful persons to replace Agara, who is a Christian, with a Muslim despite his selection for the position by President Buhari.
Hours after the Council of State meeting ratifying the appointment, Shehu sent a brief message to journalists announcing Kwarra, a Muslim from Nasarawa State, as Chairman.
According to findings, Shehu disrupted the entire arrangement with his message to journalists, who reported the narrative he sold to them.
A government source confirmed to SaharaReporters that Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State was among top Northern Muslims, who worked against Agara being appointed to head the commission.
“Governor of Nassarawa and Chief of Staff told Buhari not to handover NPC to a Christian,” the source said.
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Garba Shehu Reverses Council Of State Decision Nominating Christian As Chairman Of NPC, Announces Muslim As Replacement
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The Complex And Confusing Drums Of Fear In Nigeria By Toye Olorode
On the trending video claiming that ISWAP is massing for military invasion of the South West!
Well, unless and until there is factual empitical evidence, my take is that people are really searching for enemies in primordial clothing to cover the real threats to existential wellbeing of ordinary people.
When they are done with pursuing one illusion, they manufacture new ones. For a long time, it had been “the Hausa-Fulani bogey in the so-called “South”; followed by Boko Haram invasion, now, it’s ISWAP in the “rain forest”!
Then there’s a whole lot of rattle about Amotekun and Buhari’s “Community Police”!
All of these now compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic.
A perfect situation of confusion, ethnic fear and uncertainty, is created for the masses of the oppressed which limit their capacity for class reasoning, class solidarity and class based defense across ethnic and religio-confessional boundaries.
Meanwhile, the ruling class and their ofgivial and unofgivial dogs (consisting of membership in all ethnic groups) is selling Nigeria, practically raping and stealing Nigeria blind and regrouping for 2023!
And who are the leaders now? Some religious, ethnic bigots and warlords, ascwell as their intellectual props, and business partners!
We must be cautious and be aware of historical precedents on a world scale.
Just one example:
The people of Lebanon, who had been captives of similar historical manipulations since the early 1940s woke up only in 2020 to realize that the entirety of the Lebanese ruling class and their imperialist backers, not Suni, Shia or Christians or any of the other smaller sects, had been their enemies!
The 1945 independence Constitution of Lebanon mediated by the departing colonial authority (France) rigged power-sharing among Christians and two Muslim sects. Lebanon still ended up with a Civil War in 1975 with foreign interests meddling on various sectarian elite sides that had by then fractured further!
It was this multiplicity of sects (over thirty of them) that shared power in post-Civil-War Lebanon and continued to entrench corruption, economic collapse, violence and poverty in Lebanon today.
As in Lebanon, the Muslim, the Christian, the Northerner, the Igbo, the Birom or Fulani, the Yoruba is not the enemy or the problem in Nigeria. The enemy is the Nigerian ruling class who share backgrounds across ethnic and religious divides and their foreign masters!
Our duty is to pose existential issues that would force everyone to show their real face and where they stand on those issues, such as:1. Retrieving looted wealth not earned from productive activities abd investing in projects for public good, such as free education, social housing, employment or unemployment benefits.2. Payment of minimum living wage of at least the legislated N30 000 pet month.3. Reversal of all past privatisations and putting them under democratic management and control.4. Free medical care for all and prohibition of medical tourism.5. An end to contractocracy and execution of public projects through MDAs.6. An end to disproportionate reward system for political office holders and enforcement of national minimum wage as remuneration for elected public office holders, etc.
These are some of the issues that would force these ethnic bigots to take positions along class lines rather than hiding under the cover of ethnic and religious false champions.
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AMCON Seeks Senate Intervention In Recovery Of N5trn Debt
The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria has called on the National Assembly for legislative support in recovery of N5trn debt from defaulters.
Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the corporation, Mr Ahmed Lawan Kuru, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday after a meeting with the Senate Committee on Banking Insurance and other Financial Institutions in Abuja.
The statement reads, “We want the 9th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to pile pressure on some of our obligors through the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions under the leadership of Senator Uba Sani as Chairman.
“Some of these obligors are very important members of the society and as distinguished senators, I know they have all it takes to intervene and even compel AMCON obligors to meet their obligation.”
The statement urged the Senate to do more to support AMCON in recovery of the debts, noting that some of the top obligors and defaulters are still hiding under legal technicalities to tie corporation in courts.
“But in spite of all the challenges and frustrations, which have been heightened by the ravaging pandemic, the corporation is not deterred because as at August 2020, AMCON’s assets under management amounted to about N136.73bn, while the agency has about N112.03bn worth of propriety assets.
“COVID-19 pandemic has had a monumental impact on the globe and Nigeria in particular. Not only has it adversely affected the global economy, but the entire health system of the world has remained on its knees. AMCON, one of the institutions of government saddled with the responsibility of revitalising Nigeria’s economy is not immune to this monumental global disaster.
“The pandemic has impacted negatively on the various sectors of our economy, particularly the sectors, which AMCON is substantially exposed to like aviation, oil & gas, manufacturing, and retail sectors,” the statement added.
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Gunmen Kill Councilor In Bayelsa State
Karma Agagowei
Karma Agagowei, Councilor representing Ward 6 Sagbama Council Area of Bayelsa State was on Saturday evening shot and killed by some gunmen.
He was killed along Opolo while returning from the Peoples Democratic Party ward congress.
Karma Agagowei
The deceased was rushed to two different hospitals including Gloryland Hospital and Federal Medical Centre, Yenogoa, but was denied treatment for lack of a police report.
He died shortly afterwards.
Another person, who was with Agagowei in a commercial tricylce at the time of the incident, was attacked with machetes by the hoodlums but fled with the injury.
When contacted, spokesperson for the police in Bayelsa, Anisim Butswat, said the matter had not been reported to them.
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Zamfara Governor To Introduce Death Sentence For Reckless Drivers
Governor Bello Matawalle
Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State has promised to reintroduce serious punitive measures of death for reckless drivers in the state following the accident that claimed 16 lives on Wednesday evening.
The accident occurred when a truck lost control and rammed into four vehicles conveying supporters of Matawalle along Gusau/Funtua Road.
Governor Bello Matawalle
The governor made this known when he led his cabinet members and the management of BUA Group to a condolence visit to the Emir of Gusau, Alhaji Ibrahim Bello, on Saturday.
He announced a donation of N2m to families of each of the deceased, who had a wife and N1.5m to families of those unmarried among them.
The governor further declared that he will put the next of kins of each of the victims on a monthly allowance of N50,000 each.
He said his administration will introduce speed limit gauge on highways as well as weight measurement on trucks and drug tests on drivers in order to guard against rough and reckless driving, which usually ended in fatalities.
Matawalle noted that the measures had become necessary so that drivers and their families will no longer think they will have it easy if they kill anyone, adding that the lives of citizens of the state were more valuable than any other thing.
He urged management of BUA company to call their drivers to order and caution them on acceptable speed limit.
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