Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Sunday 17th January 2021
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 17/01/21
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How Was Nigeria Before Buharism? By Ozodinukwe Okenwa
SOC Okenwa
Ever since he happened presidentially on the national stage five odd years ago President Muhammadu Buhari and his handlers and aides had not ceased bemoaning the past, blaming the national woes on the past (PDP) administrations. While the blame-game goes on the nation slides further into anarchy and chaos, something unprecedented in the democratic evolution of our nation.
Receiving recentlythe Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission, Rev. Yakubu Pam at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, President Buhari reached for his pastime of blaming others for what we are collectively living hellishly. Hitherto impervious to widespread criticisms that had trailed his dictatorial methods and tactics the President had asked those who had been criticising his regime, particularly the nation’s elite, to be fair in their criticisms.
He urged his critics to be objective and fair while remembering where and how Nigeria was prior to his ascension to power. Hear him: “Those criticising the administration should be fair in terms of reflecting on where we were before we came, where we are now and what resources are available to us and what we have done with the limited resources….We had to struggle paying debts, investing in road repairs and rebuilding, to revamp the rail and try to get power….This is what I hope the elite when they want to criticise will use to compare notes”.
But the issue or question here is: how was Nigeria before Buhari took the oath of office replacing ex-President Goodluck Jonathan (GEJ)? Was Nigeria a failed state then like now as many observers and critics say now? Was insecurity in general terms as ubiquitous and intractable as now? Was Nigeria then the poverty capital of the world?
Was recession as recurrent as now? Was nepotism, sectionalism and mediocrity the order of the day? Were the national land borders ever closed for more than one year due to the inability of the concerned authorities to do their paid jobs?
While it is true that during the GEJ presidential era corruption was uncontrollable, insecurity was rife and presidential inertia was visible but there were good things Jonathan did in the interest of the nation for which he would forever be remembered. He was even accused of developing the north more than he did the south-south region!
Besides, no one ever accused GEJ of nepotism or playing ethnic or religious or regional politics.
While GEJ’s administration was indeed overwhelmed by the Boko Haram terrorists up north today the bloody islamic group have become more desperate and daring. And more frontal in their deadly conquests and attacks (including mass abduction for hefty ransom).
Jonathan must have lost the presidential poll of 2015 more because insecurity was besetting the nation. Buhari campaigned against the rising security challenges promising to defeat Boko Haram. But today, five years down the line, Boko Haram are still here with us. And we have more security challenges like the armed and dangerous Fulani herdsmen terrorizing land-owners and committing arson. Today kidnappers are on the rise and armed robberies and banditry are becoming a daily occurrence.
During the GEJ giddy era demonstrations took place across the federation (including importantly those that happened following the unilateral hike in the pump price of the Premium Motor Spirit) yet no one was ever killed or maimed or even harrassed. Freedom of movement, of association and of expression were taken for granted.
Last year, in contrast, during the popular #EndSARS nationwide (nay, southwide) protests denouncing the gory brutality of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad scores were killed and hundreds more wounded at the Lekki Toll-Plaza in Lagos as the military ended abruptly the revolution-like week-long event with mindless brutality.
Despite probe panels and investigations in different states no justice had been served those mown down youthfully at their prime. And the rest is likely to be history!
The problem with the Buhari regime is that it thrives on divisive politics, propaganda and criminal executice aloofness. The President appears disconnected with the popular sentiment on the streets. And to cover up its failures it has resorted to brutality and intolerance of dissent.
The three promised cardinal programmes of the administration to wit: revamping the economy, securing lives and properties and fighting corruption are far from being realised. Insecurity remains a major threat to our daily lives, the economy suffers from regular bouts of recession and unemployment is skyrocketing. And corruption is being fought more on the pages of newspapers and national TV screens.
Where was Nigeria prior to the democratic emergence of Buharism in 2015? Or better still, in which state was Nigeria before Buhari took over the mantle of leadership? During the GEJ presidency Nigeria could be said to be in a terrible bad shape but today the nation is in a worse horrific shape!
With President Buhari muddling up social, political, economic and social issues of the day ex-President Jonathan could very well afford risibly to argue that he was a better manager of men and resources in his mediocre years in Aso Rock. However, between GEJ and PMB none could ever convince us that they are good at the job.
We need a better hand come 2023, if not sooner.
SOC Okenwasoco_abj_2006_rci@hotmail.fr
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Tailors Making Fake Amotekun Uniforms Arrested In Oyo
Some unauthorised tailors, said to have been sewing fake uniforms of the Oyo State Security Network Agency otherwise called Amotekun, to unscrupulous elements in the state have been arrested.Making this disclosure on ‘Fresh 105.9 FM Political Circuit’ on Saturday was the Chairman of the Amotekun Corps, Gen. Kunle Togun (retd.).
The Amotekun chief said the unscrupulous elements were arrested not far from the radio station at Challenge, Ibadan.According to him, the suspects were investigated and handed over to the police at Yemetu Police Station.Togun said, “We heard that these people were sewing and selling the fake Amotekun uniform to some people particularly at Lagelu area of Ibadan. We are presently in the area to uncover the truth.“Our fear is that if the uniforms get to the wrong hands and they use them to commit crimes, people will believe it is the handiwork of real Amotekun personnel.Togun, who recalled how he fired an erring Amotekun officer who killed 21-year-old Tosin Thomas in the Mokola area in the state to set a good example, said, “We are really afraid of this development because bad news spread quickly than good news.”
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Bandits Abduct 18 Police Officers In Kaduna
Gunmen suspected to be bandits have abducted 18 police officers around Farin-Ruwa junction along the Birnin Gwari- Funtua road in Kaduna State.SaharaReporters gathered that the policemen were on transit from Minna in Niger State to Kano State when they were attacked on Friday.
However, Sources said about 10 of the police officers were rescued by military operatives at Maganda on Saturday.Birnin Gwari Emirate Progressives Union (BEPU) Chairman, Barrister Salisu Haruna, confirmed the attack in a statement.Haruna said police officers around Dogon Dawa and other nearby communities had been told of the incident.He said, “Birnin Gwari Emirate Progressives Union (BEPU) reports that the whereabouts of 18 Police Officers attacked along Birnin Gwari Funtua road on Friday 15 January 2021 is unascertained.“The 18 police officers, who are on surveillance along Birnin Gwari Funtua road, were attacked on Friday. As at the time of filing this report, we could not ascertain the number of casualties. Eyewitness feared that some of the police officers were killed while others are said to be missing in the bush.“Reports confirmed that two police have called via phone to inform home that they were attacked and that they could not locate their location.“Similarly, Birnin Gwari Emirate Progressives Union (BEPU) reports that on Thursday an unconfirmed number of bandits have ransacked Damari village in Dogon Dawa constituency of Birnin Gwari local government area. The bandits who came on several bikes were said to have carted away heavy food commodities and stole many motorcycles. They did not kill anyone. They spent three hours in Damari village without any confrontation by the security.“Birnin Gwari Emirates Progressives Union begs the government, upon who the protection of our lives and property is reposed on, to sit up and face security issues in Birnin Gwari squarely until victory is ascertained.”Calls put across by SaharaReporters to Mohammed Jalige, the Kaduna State Police Command spokesperson, were not picked nor returned.
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It’s Most Fraudulent Election In Uganda History, Bobi Wine Says, Rejects Election Result
The opposition candidate in Uganda presidential election, Bobi Wine, has accused the incumbent president, Yoweri Museveni, of fabricating the results of the election.
He described the poll as the most fraudulent election in the history of Uganda and urged citizens to reject the results.
Voice of America
Wine, a singer-turned-lawmaker, also said his home in the capital, Kampala, was surrounded by hundreds of soldiers and that the military was not allowing him to leave.The army’s deputy spokesman, Deo Akiiki, said security officers at Wine’s house were assessing threats he could face by going out: “So they might be preventing him in the interest of his safety.”Uganda Election Commission had declared incumbent Yoweri Museveni the winner of the Thursday presidential election.Chairman of the commission, Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama, said Museveni won 5.85 million votes, or 58.64 per cent, while main opposition candidate Bobi Wine got 3.48 million votes or 34.83 percent.
“The electoral commission declares Yoweri Museveni… elected President of the Republic of Uganda,” he said.
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BREAKING: Uganda’s Museveni ‘Wins’ Sixth Term In Office
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He said turnout was 57.22 per cent of the almost 18 million registered voters.
Byabakama urged the population to “remain calm and accept the outcome of these elections” while reminding those celebrating to be mindful of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Museveni has ruled Uganda without pause since seizing control in 1986 when he helped end years of tyranny under Idi Amin and Milton Obote. He is one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders.
Once hailed for his commitment to good governance, the former rebel leader has crushed any opposition and tweaked the constitution to allow himself to run again and again.
Wine, 38, meanwhile was on track to see his newly formed National Unity Platform (NUP) become the main opposition party in Parliament, notably winning eight of nine constituencies in the capital Kampala.
The poll followed one of the most violent campaigns in years, with harassment and arrests of the opposition, attacks on the media and the deaths of at least 54 people.
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Uganda
We’re Under Military Siege – Uganda Opposition Candidate, Bobi Wine Cries Out
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Thursday’s election took place in an apparent calm but under soldiers’ oppressive presence and riot police and an internet blackout that entered its fourth day.
However, Wine has alleged widespread fraud such as ballot-box stuffing and said his party agents had in some places been beaten and chased away from polling stations.
Whatever is being declared is a complete sham, we reject it, and we dissociate ourselves with it,” he said on Friday.
Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, promised to provide video evidence once the internet was restored.
Election commission chairman Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama said: “The onus is on candidate Kyagulanyi to show how votes are rigged.
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Again, Jihadists Seize Military Base In Borno
File Photo
Jihadists aligned with the Islamic State militant group have captured a military base in Borno state after overnight clashes with troops.
According to AFP, machine-gun wielding fighters from Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) attacked the base in the town of Marte in the Lake Chad area overnight Friday into Saturday.
File Photo
“The priority now is to reclaim the base from the terrorists and an operation is underway,” the news agency quoted a source as saying.“We took a hit from ISWAP terrorists. They raided the base in Marte after a fierce battle.”He said the army “incurred losses” but it was not clear how many people had died or the level of destruction inflicted by the insurgents.Last week, the jihadists attacked the Marte base but were repelled, prompting them to mobilise more fighters for the overnight raid.In November last year, Nigerian government officials began the phased return of residents to Marte six years after the jihadists pushed them out.The town, 130 kilometres (80 miles) from the regional capital Maiduguri, was once considered the Lake Chad region’s breadbasket.
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E2%80%94john-nwodo Nigeria Must Restructure Now To Avoid Boycott Of 2023 Elections—John Nwodo
Chief. Nnia Nwodo
The immediate past President-General of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nwodo, says Nigeria must restructure to avoid a boycott of the 2023 elections.
Nwodo, a two-time minister, gave the warning at the 17th Gani Fawehinmi annual lecture organised by the Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association in Lagos, on Friday.
The event was also attended by the Governor of Borno State, Prof Babagana Zulum, a human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), legal practitioners and human rights activists.
He said Nigeria used to be the envy of nations, given its pedigree in education, agriculture and well-being of its people because there was a regional system of government that allowed regions to enjoy sovereignty over their national resources until the system was thwarted.
Nwodo added that the restructuring process must be concluded before the 2023 elections to avoid a boycott by some sections of the country.
He said, “There was only one reason why things worked so well then. We had a regional government system that allowed regions to enjoy sovereignty over their national resources whilst paying royalties and taxes to the federal government. Our domestic security was independent and uncontrolled by the federal government.
“Suddenly, the army came to power and abolished our constitution, turned us into a unitary state and imposed a unitary constitution on us. They seized our natural resources and donated them to the federal government to share without adequate respect for derivation.
“Nigeria must restructure and give it’s component units sovereignty over its natural resources provided they pay a royalty or some form of taxes to the federal government to maintain federal responsibilities like external defence, foreign missions, customs and immigration.
“Emphasis must return to agriculture and education. Domestic security must remain in the federating units’ hands because living safely in Nigeria today is by luck. The secularity of the Nigerian state must be respected. These irreducible minimum conditions are not negotiable. If it does not happen, we will have no alternative but to go our separate ways.
“Processes to begin our restructuring as a nation must be concluded before the 2023 elections to avert a situation where sections of the country may boycott the elections and present the country with a constitutional force majeure.”
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COVID-19: Lagos Orders Civil Servants To Work From Home Till February 1
Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has directed civil servants on Level 14 and below to work from home till February 1, 2021, as part of measures to contain the coronavirus disease’s spread the second wave of the pandemic.
This was contained in a statement signed on Saturday by the Head of Service in the state, Hakeem Muri-Okunola.
Muri-Okunola, however, noted that the directive excludes staff on essential duty as well as first responders.He said, “Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has approved a further extension of the work-from-home order to all State Public Servants on Grade Levels 14 and below from Monday, January 18 2021, to Monday, February 1 2021, to curtail the spread of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.”He urged all public servants to stay safe and ensure continued observance of all COVID-19 protocols for physical distancing, use of face masks, regular washing of hands with soap and running water as well as the use of hand sanitisers.”
Muri-Okunola also stated that the weekly duty rosters should be maintained for effective service delivery by Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the State Government.
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UPDATED: Uganda’s Museveni Declared Winner Of Presidential Election
Uganda Election Commission has declared incumbent Yoweri Museveni the winner of the Thursday presidential election.
Chairman of the commission, Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama, said Museveni won 5.85 million votes, or 58.64 percent, while main opposition candidate Bobi Wine got 3.48 million votes or 34.83 percent.
“The electoral commission declares Yoweri Museveni… elected President of the Republic of Uganda,” he said.
He said turnout was 57.22 per cent of the almost 18 million registered voters.
Byabakama urged the population to “remain calm and accept the outcome of these elections” while reminding those celebrating to be mindful of the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Breaking News
BREAKING: Uganda’s Museveni ‘Wins’ Sixth Term In Office
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Museveni has ruled Uganda without pause since seizing control in 1986 when he helped end years of tyranny under Idi Amin and Milton Obote. He is one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders.
Once hailed for his commitment to good governance, the former rebel leader has crushed any opposition and tweaked the constitution to allow himself to run again and again.
Wine, 38, meanwhile was on track to see his newly formed National Unity Platform (NUP) become the main opposition party in Parliament, notably winning eight of nine constituencies in the capital Kampala.
The poll followed one of the most violent campaigns in years, with harassment and arrests of the opposition, attacks on the media and the deaths of at least 54 people.
Thursday’s election took place in an apparent calm but under soldiers’ oppressive presence and riot police and an internet blackout that entered its fourth day.
See Also
Uganda
We’re Under Military Siege – Uganda Opposition Candidate, Bobi Wine Cries Out
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1 Day Ago
However, Wine has alleged widespread fraud such as ballot-box stuffing and said his party agents had in some places been beaten and chased away from polling stations.
Whatever is being declared is a complete sham, we reject it, and we dissociate ourselves with it,” he said on Friday.
Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, promised to provide video evidence once the internet was restored.
Election commission chairman Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama said: “The onus is on candidate Kyagulanyi to show how votes are rigged.
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E2%80%99s-museveni-wins-sixth-term-office BREAKING: Uganda’s Museveni ‘Wins’ Sixth Term In Office
President Museveni Campaigning
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has won a sixth term in office with 58.6 percent of the vote, in an election disputed by his main rival Bobi Wine who trailed with 34.8 percent, the electoral commission announced on Saturday.
President Museveni Campaigning
Washington Post
“The electoral commission declares Yoweri Museveni… elected President of the Republic of Uganda,” said election commission chairman Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama.
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B’Haram Landmines Kill Five Soldiers, Injure 15 Others In Chibok
Five soldiers, including an officer from the 117 Battalion, 28 Task Force Brigade, have been killed while 15 others were injured when they ran into landmines planted by Boko Haram insurgents during an operation in Kwada Kwamtah Yahi village in Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State on Thursday.According to Daily Trust, the incident happened at about 10.20 am when a military vehicle ran over a massive bomb.
A top vigilante member, Yohanna Bitrus, who was part of the troops’ clearance operations in Kwada Kwamtah Yahi village, disclosed that the vehicle ran over a buried improvised explosive device (IED) and loud explosions ensued, resulting in casualties among troops in two other Hilux vehicles.”It was a sad encounter for us in Chibok when our escort commander’s car ran over a landmine, and the van was damaged completely.”I saw the vehicle being tossed up into the air. We managed and summoned the courage to evacuate the fallen heroes’ corpses, including a lieutenant and four soldiers.”Not fewer than 15 others sustained various degrees of injuries; they are currently receiving medical care at 28 Task Force Bridge Clinic in Chibok,” he said.
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