Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Sunday 29th August 2021
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 29/08/21
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E2%80%93-bishop Any South-Easterner Who Becomes President Will Fail Under Present Conditions – Bishop Mike Okonkwo
Mike Okonkwo, the presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), has said the South-East should not produce a presidency on the grounds of pity.
He pointed out that the South-East should not allow themselves to produce a president so they can be appeased.
Speaking with journalists in Lagos, the TREM founder stressed that a presidency produced under such a condition would not succeed.
According to Okonkwo: “To the best of my knowledge, the easterners are not asking for anything other than live and let live.
“They are not saying, ‘give us everything’. For me, to be honest with you, I am not in agreement with any easterner saying, ‘it’s time for us to be president’.
“So you should beg to be president? If it’s going to be a case of making you president so that you can be appeased, that is stupidity; I don’t want that. You are a Nigerian; you have an equal right to everything that every other person in Nigeria.
“So, it’s not a matter of being appeased. In fact, I don’t even want any easterner under this situation to be a president because he will fail. Do you know why? The present system can never allow you to succeed. That is why we have to look at the system.”
His comment is coming when people of the Southeast have been agitating for the presidency ahead of 2023.
Comrade Igboayaka Igboayaka, the National President Ohaneze Youth Council, OYC, said an Igbo presidency would favour Nigerians more.
Meanwhile, Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State said the country’s Southern part should be allowed to produce Nigeria’s next president.
However, Northerners have insisted that the North still has four years at the end of President Muhammadu Buhari’s second tenure.
Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, AYCF, had said the Southern part of the country had ruled Nigeria for 14 years while the North would have ruled for ten years at the end of Buhari’s second tenure.
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BREAKING: Legendary Singer, Victor Uwaifo Dies At 80
Nigeria’s legendary singer and guitarist, Sir Victor Uwaifo, is dead.
A close source to the family confirmed this to The Nation on Saturday.
The source said he died after a brief illness.
The ‘Guitar boy’ as he was fondly called celebrated his 80th birthday in March.
Uwaifo is also the first professional musicians to be awarded with the National Merit Honours of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON).
He was also the first Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism in Nigeria.
He was the winner of the first gold disc in Africa (Joromi) released in 1965 and seven other gold discs in Guitar boy, Arabade, Ekassa series and Akwete music.
He recorded under the name Victor Uwaifo and His TItibitis.
He was recognised as the most educated performing music legend, musical instrument inventor, artist, worldwide with a B.A Honors (first class valedictorian), Masters degree and Ph.D in Architectural Sculpture from the University of Benin in Nigeria
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E2%80%93-ipob-debunks-claims-attacking-south-east-newsmen Journalists Not Our Problem – IPOB Debunks Claims Of Attacking South-East Newsmen
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has said the group has no plan to attack journalists.
IPOB spokesperson, Emma Powerful, in a statement obtained by SaharaReporters on Saturday, described journalists as partners in progress.
The statement read, “The attention of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by our great leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has been drawn to the fallacious statement credited to one Petrus Obi, against IPOB concerning the Nigerian Union of Journalists in the South East.
“We want to make it clear that IPOB has nothing against NUJ and will support and defend NUJ because they have been on the side of truth regarding the atrocities of Fulani herdsmen, bandits and terrorists in Nigeria.
“IPOB can never resort to attacking NUJ in South East because journalists are not our problem; rather they are partners in progress. IPOB remains the most peaceful freedom movement in the world today but detractors and enemies are trying to portray IPOB in bad light to demonise our hard-built images across the world.
“We reiterate that IPOB is a friend of NUJ, and will never take any action injurious to their interest. Importantly, IPOB is peace-loving and committed to Biafran restoration. The fabricated and fallacious statement from Petrus Obi against IPOB should be ignored and disregarded.
“We are aware that he is sponsored by the wicked Nigerian Government and enemies of Biafra who are not happy with the reportage of pro-Biafra groups by journalists.
“Petrus Obi has been in loggerheads with his people in the village as well as NUJ. He now was to get cheaper popularity by attacking IPOB but we will not dignify him with a response. We therefore, caution him to retrace his steps and stop dragging IPOB into his NUJ politics. He is too little to contend with IPOB.”
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24 Hours Curfew: Plateau Residents Decry Shortage Of Food Items, Rising Prices
Residents of Jos metropolis, Plateau State, on Saturday, cried out over the shortage of food items and other essential commodities in their areas following the re-imposition of 24 hours curfew in the area, Daily Trust reports.
The residents also complained about the hike in prices of food items after the directive.
The 24 hours curfew was re-imposed by the state government following the killing of members of the Anaguta ethnic group on Tuesday in Yelwa Zangam community of Jos North LGA.
Residents who came out to look for food complained about the situation.
Yakubu Busari, a resident of Janta Adamu, said people in the area were finding it very difficult to cope with the situation, saying the curfew, though important, had resulted in hardships in the area.
He said, “Getting the food is problematic. Many people don’t have money because they have to go out before they can get some money to buy food.
“Recharge cards are not available because many shops are not operating.
“The situation may result in theft and other criminal activities within the community.”
Peter Azi, a resident of Laminga, said, “The curfew is seriously affecting residents of my area in all aspects of their life. People can’t go to town to access health care services.
“Food items and other essential commodities are very scarce because sellers of the items often go to the town to supply them and the town is locked.”
Hamza Musa, a resident of Anguwan Rogo, said, “To me, the government by now should relax the curfew. People are hungry and should be allowed to go out and source food to eat.
“When hunger becomes unbearable and people decide to go out, the government may not control people.”
While calling for the lifting of the curfew, many residents urged the government to deploy security personnel at all flashpoints to protect lives and property.
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E2%80%98inviting%E2%80%99-retired-commodore-olawunmi-over Sowore Lambasts Defence Intelligence Agency For ‘Inviting’ Retired Commodore Olawunmi Over Information That Is Everywhere
Human rights’ activist, Omoyele Sowore, has knocked the Defence Intelligence Agency for claiming it only invited a former Nigerian Navy Commodore, Kunle Olawunmi, and did not declare him wanted.
Sowore noted that the DIA by its subtle strategy had exposed its inefficiency by inviting a retired military officer to give them information on bandits and terrorists that was everywhere.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported that the DIA confirmed SaharaReporters’ report that it declared Olawunmi, wanted for exposing in an interview how the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration did not probe high profile politicians whom Boko Haram terrorists named as their sponsors.
The DIA had said in a shallow statement that it only invited Olawunmi to its headquarters in a ”text message to come over as a retired military officer to shed more lights with the information that would assist the AFN to further fight against terrorism, insurgency and banditry.”
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BREAKING Defence Intelligence Agency Declares Retired Commodore Olawunmi Wanted Over Channels TV’s Anti-Buhari’s Interview, May Seize International Passport
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In his reaction, Sowore said, “They’ve now downgraded from WANTED to “INVITE” to Retired Naval Commodre Kunle Olawunmi but this is still part of their tactics and strategy. They had the entire Channels Television anchors of Sunrise Daily taken from Lagos and Abuja to Asokoro Villa over one interview and grilled all day long at NBC, now inviting the person interviewed to come and tell you what you already know. #RevolutionNow.”
SaharaReporters had last Wednesday reported that Olawunmi spoke when he featured on Channels Television’s ‘Sunrise Daily’ breakfast programme.
He had condemned Tuesday’s attack by bloodthirsty bandits on the Kaduna campus of Nigeria’s foremost military university, the Nigerian Defence Academy, where two military officers were killed and another kidnapped.
The Professor of Global Security Studies had noted that he was a member of the Intelligence Brief at the Defence Headquarters during the leadership of the then Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin (retd.).
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We Need Information From Him To Tackle Terrorism, Banditry – Defence Agency Gives Lame Excuse For Declaring Retired Navy Commodore Olawunmi Wanted
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The intelligence expert said he told the then CDS that the centre of gravity of the Boko Haram insurgency ravaging the North-East and spreading to other parts of Nigeria was the sponsor.
“I told General Olonisakin then that the centre of this problem cannot be solved the same way we solved the problem of the Niger Delta. The Niger Delta problem was solved during (Ex-President Umaru) Yar’adua basically by me and I told them that we can’t use that same template for Boko Haram.
“I told General Olonisakin to look at the centre of gravity of the problem. I was made a member of the committee in 2016-2017 including former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru that died.
“I told them that the centre of gravity of Boko Haram in Nigeria is the sponsors of the programme. It was beyond us because the job we needed to do was kinetic but we cannot resolve the issues of sponsors of Boko Haram that were in Buhari’s government that we know them. That was why we couldn’t pursue that aspect that could have resolved the issue because we need to arrest people.
“Recently, 400 people were gathered as sponsors of Boko Haram, why is it that the Buhari government has refused to try them? Why can’t this government bring them to trial if not that they are partisan and part of the charade that is going on?
“You remember this Boko Haram issue started in 2012 and I was in the military intelligence at that time. We arrested those people. My organisation conducted interrogation and they (suspects) mentioned names. I can’t come on air and start mentioning names of people that are presently in government that I know that the boys that we arrested mentioned. Some of them are governors now, some of them are in the Senate, some of them are in Aso Rock.
“Why should a government decide to cause this kind of embarrassment and insecurity to the sense of what happened yesterday (Tuesday at the NDA)?”
Olawunmi had also said that the Department of State Services had tremendous information on terrorists but they could not do anything except by the body language of the Commander-In-Chief.
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E2%80%93-defence-agency-gives-lame-excuse We Need Information From Him To Tackle Terrorism, Banditry – Defence Agency Gives Lame Excuse For Declaring Retired Navy Commodore Olawunmi Wanted
The Defence Intelligence Agency has confirmed SaharaReporters’ report that it declared a former Nigerian Navy Commodore, Kunle Olawunmi, wanted for exposing in an interview how the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration refused to probe high profile politicians whom Boko Haram terrorists named as their sponsors.
The DIA said in a shallow statement it invited Olawunmi to its headquarters in a ”text message to come over as a retired military officer to shed more lights with the information that would assist the AFN to further fight against terrorism, insurgency and banditry.”
The intelligence agency, despite the volume of information on the activities of the insurgents and bandits ravaging the country said it was waiting for a retired military officer to assist it fight the insurgency.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported that the DIA asked Olawunmi to come to its headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday with his international passport, which may be seized.
In a reaction obtained by SaharaReporters on Saturday afternoon, a DIA official said, “Please gentlemen of the press. There is a SaharaReporters’ online news that the DIA has ordered for the arrest of Cdre Olawunmi rtd. We are issuing a statement soon. You recall he said he his (sic) privileged to lots of information during his media interview on Channels. He was only invite (sic) through text message to come over as a retired military officer to shed more lights with the information that would assist the AFN to further fight against terrorism, insurgency and banditry.
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“Also recall that the CDS has just concluded his tour of the 6 Geo-Political Zones where he solicited for the support and cooperation of retired military officers. Arrest of persons was not part of it.”
The Defence Intelligence Agency is the primary military intelligence agency of Nigeria.
“The agency has declared retired Navy Commodore Kunle Olawunmi wanted for spilling the beans over Boko Haram sponsors in the Buhari regime. They asked him to come with his international passport on Tuesday to the DIA office in Abuja,” a top source had said.
SaharaReporters had last Wednesday reported that Olawunmi spoke when he featured on Channels Television’s ‘Sunrise Daily’ breakfast programme.
He had condemned Tuesday’s attack by bloodthirsty bandits on the Kaduna campus of Nigeria’s foremost military university, the Nigerian Defence Academy, where two military officers were killed and another kidnapped.
The Professor of Global Security Studies had said, “It is an aberration; you don’t attack the Nigerian Defence Academy and get away with it. In 2017, I carried out an investigation by the Minister of Defence that wanted me to check what was going on with the training and the security there (NDA). I remember I spent about a week in the NDA with the commandant and the staff but something struck me: every Friday, the gate of NDA is thrown open and everybody has access to pray in the mosque.
“On Fridays, you are going to see the same thing happening across all military formations in the country. If you go to Defence Headquarters, I served at the Defence Headquarters as the Deputy Director, Defence Administration, between 2015 and 2017, throughout my two years at Defence Headquarters, I received visitors twice because of the strict security architecture there but every Friday, the gate of the Defence Headquarters is thrown wide open for everybody to come in and observe Juma’at.
“That is the time the terrorists have the time to profile our security environment. It has always been the case. I have served the military intelligence for the past 35 years. Our problem is religion and socio-cultural.”
Olawunmi had added that he was a member of the Intelligence Brief at the Defence Headquarters during the leadership of the then Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin (retd.).
The intelligence expert said he told the then CDS that the centre of gravity of the Boko Haram insurgency ravaging the North-East and spreading to other parts of Nigeria was the sponsor.
“I told General Olonisakin then that the centre of this problem cannot be solved the same way we solved the problem of the Niger Delta. The Niger Delta problem was solved during (Ex-President Umaru) Yar’adua basically by me and I told them that we can’t use that same template for Boko Haram.
“I told General Olonisakin to look at the centre of gravity of the problem. I was made a member of the committee in 2016-2017 including former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru that died.
“I told them that the centre of gravity of Boko Haram in Nigeria is the sponsors of the programme. It was beyond us because the job we needed to do was kinetic but we cannot resolve the issues of sponsors of Boko Haram that were in Buhari’s government that we know them. That was why we couldn’t pursue that aspect that could have resolved the issue because we need to arrest people.
“Recently, 400 people were gathered as sponsors of Boko Haram, why is it that the Buhari government has refused to try them? Why can’t this government bring them to trial if not that they are partisan and part of the charade that is going on?
“You remember this Boko Haram issue started in 2012 and I was in the military intelligence at that time. We arrested those people. My organisation conducted interrogation and they (suspects) mentioned names. I can’t come on air and start mentioning names of people that are presently in government that I know that the boys that we arrested mentioned. Some of them are governors now, some of them are in the Senate, some of them are in Aso Rock.
“Why should a government decide to cause this kind of embarrassment and insecurity to the sense of what happened yesterday (Tuesday at the NDA)?”
Olawunmi had also said that the Department of State Services had tremendous information on terrorists but they could not do anything except by the body language of the Commander-In-Chief.
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E2%80%99s House Of Representatives Caucus Tackles Buhari Regime Over Harassment Of Channels TV’s Presenters
Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari.
The House of Representatives Minority Caucus has described the alleged harassment of Channels Television and its staff as a toxic push against press freedom and citizens’ rights.
The Nigerian Broadcasting Commission had issued a notice of infraction against the management of Channels Television over an interview granted by the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, on its news and current affairs programme, Sunrise Daily.
Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari.
The two presenters are Chamberlain Usoh and Kayode Okikiolu, the anchors of the programme.
Reacting to the development, the Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives in a statement by its Leader, Ndudi Elumelu, condemned the action of the NBC.
The lawmakers frowned at the growing clampdown on the media and the lack of neutrality on the part of the regulatory agency.
“The Minority caucus frowns at the growing clampdown on the media as well as the lack of professionalism and neutrality on the part of the regulatory agency under the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government.
“As lawmakers, we hold that rather than try to muffle the media, the broadcast regulator should have directed the television station to avail the Federal Government the opportunity to refute, with facts, the statements of Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State during the Sunrise Daily programme, which it considered critical or misrepresentation of the government.
“The commandeering of Channels Television presenters to NBC’s headquarters in Abuja, the query of television outfit, and the unrelenting intimidation of independent broadcast media outfits by the NBC is most inauspicious.
“Section 14 (2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution is very clear that the security of lives and property is the primary purpose of government. The same Constitution also vests all the security agencies and legitimate instruments of coercion solely in the Federal Government.
“Therefore, when criminal cartels freely prowl and plunder the citizens, with the Federal Government showing manifest failure to step up to discharge its constitutional obligations, why should any reasonable government try to muffle the media in their constitutional role in the collective effort to salvage the situation, including the carnage going on in Benue State?
“The Minority caucus points the Federal Government to the call by the Governor of Mr. President’s home state, Hon. Bello Masari, on people of Katsina State to defend themselves, and wonders how such is different from the attempt by Governor Ortom to hold the Federal Government to account on the failure to check the killings in his state. Both confirms the total breakdown of security in the land.
“Our caucus insists that when bloody bandits and terrorists find their ways into an elite military training institution like the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), it presupposes nothing else but a brutal violation of our sovereignty and an unedited collapse of government and security.
“In that regard, the Federal Government should take steps to reassure the people rather than trying to muffle information. As representative of the people, the Minority caucus reminds the NBC the need to stick to professionalism and patriotism in the discharge of duties, urges the Federal Government to desist from engaging in activities that give the citizens the impression that it is always trying to cover up facts.
“The NBC should not promote the suppression of the truth. It should bear in mind that there cannot be any NBC without a Nigeria. It is also high time the NBC eschews partisanship and also understand that regulation does not presuppose the suppression of truth, but the promotion of it.”
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E2%80%99s-insistence-grazing-routes-shows-he%E2%80%99s-mentally Soyinka Hits Buhari Again, Says President’s Insistence On Grazing Routes Shows He’s Mentally Handicapped
Wole Soyinka
Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, has queried President Muhammadu Buhari’s insistence on establishing grazing routes around the country despite public outcry against the policy.
He said the president may be suffering from “mental delusion.”
Wole Soyinka
“It’s like there’s some delusion about this thing, a kind of mental delusion about this thing. What is it?” Soyinka asked, as he addressed a press conference in Lagos on Friday.
The Nobel laureate added that Buhari may also be suffering from deafening noise from his son’s wedding bells last weekend.
“Perhaps the sound, the noise of the wedding bells (Yusuf Buhari) has contributed to the possible impairment of the hearing of the president of this nation. Because he does not seem to hear anything,” the professor of linguistics lampooned.
Citing a series of groups of people that have kicked against Mr Buhari’s move, Mr Soyinka wondered why the president was obsessed “about something which is being rejected, right, left and centre.”
Virtually the whole nation is screaming we do not want any open cattle grazing whether they go by the name cattle routes or grazing reserves. Even the all-powerful and untouchable Miyetti Allah, patrons of the murderous Fulani herdsmen, have gone on record that ranching is it,” Soyinka asserted.
In April and July, Southern Governors’ Forum at their meetings in Asaba and Lagos respectively announced a ban on open grazing in the region, setting a September 1 deadline for full implementation.
Soyinka alleged that there was perhaps another agenda behind Buhari’s setting up of a committee to recover old grazing routes across the country.
“And when we think of all that discussions, all that debates is settled in rational terms, along comes a new version of RUGA with the president insisting on sending his agents out to go and map out and recover the old grazing reserves when governments and people, experts, agronomists, businesspeople are saying this is the business and should be conducted in this particular way.” Why is the president obsessed about something that is being rejected by the people? The activist queried.
“The obsession is on such a level that even people who consider themselves rational, like myself, begin to wonder whether this is really all about cattle. Perhaps there are other kinds of agenda that we don’t know about.”
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E2%80%98making-noise-about-his-private-jet%E2%80%99 Pastor Bakare Mocks Bishop Oyedepo For ‘Making Noise About His Private Jet’
The founder of Citadel Global Community Church (formerly Latter Rain Assembly), Tunde Bakare, has spoken about his relationship with David Oyedepo, the founder of Winners’ Chapel.
Bakare during a TVC programme with Sam Omatseye tagged ‘The Big Talk’, said he and Oyedepo were on a plane one time and another brother was coming over to greet him, but on seeing them together, he froze.
“There is a difference between issues and persons. We can defend the gospel but those who do not and destroy it will die before their time. I have nothing personal against any man of God but I will always defend the truth that I know and I will always make it plain,” he said.
When asked whether the incident was before Oyedepo acquired his private jet, Bakare said he doesn’t know why the clergyman made so much noise about his private jet.
“By the way, when he makes noise about his private jet of a thing, do you know that I once acquired a 1707 with the logo of our church on it? Are you aware of that? But we use it for business. I don’t buy a plane to be spending money on it; that I can jump quickly on another and pay little money to where I’m going.
“We can afford it; we are not envious of them at all,” he added.
Speaking on his differences with Oyedepo, Bakare said the gospel and truth is one but when someone “begins to twist the truth to make it funny,” he will speak out.
He also referenced an incident where he tore a book written by Oyedepo in the open and when he was confronted, he said the book was full of errors.
“How can someone say the anointing oil is not a symbol of the Holy Spirit? It is the release of God in the bottle. If it is told to few people so, it is okay. If anointing oil is the Holy Spirit, then Jesus is a lamb walking on four legs. They are symbols, and symbols are not as important,” he said.
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E2%80%99-forum-denies-calling-uche-secondus%E2%80%99-resignation PDP Governors’ Forum Denies Calling For Uche Secondus’ Resignation
Uche Secondus
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum has denied it called for the resignation of embattled National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus.
Hon CID Maduabum, Director General of the Forum disclosed this in a statement on Friday.
Uche Secondus
Maduabum described the interpretation of the statement of the Chairman of the PDP-GF, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal after their emergency meeting on Thursday as mischievous.
He said, “The PDP Governors Forum hereby categorically denies the insinuation in some media, that it had asked Prince Uche Secondus to quit as National Chairman of PDP, in spite of the Kebbi State High Court Order reinstating him.
“The PDP Governors Forum at its emergency meeting on Thursday, 26th August, merely endorsed the NWC resolution adopting Elder Yemi Akinwonmi, the Deputy National Chairman, South as acting National Chairman of PDP, and the holding of the NEC meeting of PDP on Saturday, 28th August, 2021.
“For the avoidance of doubt, this warped interpretation of the statement of the Chairman of the PDP-GF, Rt. Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal CFR, after their emergency meeting on Thursday is clearly mischievous. At the time Tambuwal spoke on Thursday night, the Kebbi State High Cout Order had not been received by the Forum, and consequently was not discussed or commented upon.
“This clarification has become necessary to set the facts straight.”
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