They expressed anger that the President chose to travel to Lagos for the book launch at a time Nigerians were grieving the 23 people, including women and children, who were burnt and killed in Sokoto last Monday.
Aggrieved Northern youths under the aegis of Northern Alliance Movement (NAM) have lambasted President Muhammadu Buhari for attending a book launch in Lagos last Thursday.
Information says the 90 years old Emir of Daura has taken a 21 years old lady as his new bride. If you could recall, Daura is the home town of president’ Buhari, Katsina where banditry and kidnapping have become culture.
A report gives a very modest estimate of people killed by bandits in the last 11 months at over 3,000 and those kidnapped not less than 2,000 in northern Nigeria. As I said that is a very modest estimate.
2023 potential PDP Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar shared an update on his verified Facebook page saying;
The #NorthIsBleeding because we’ve been complacent. We need to wake up from our slumber and collectively acknowledge that we face an existential threat. We must never be shy of speaking about our challenges and then engaging to solve the problems.
To #SecureNorth, we need a leadership direction that will mobilise all hands on deck.
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Leo Irabor has ordered 50 Generals in the Nigerian military to tender their resignation with immediate effect.
They cut across the Air Force, Army and Navy; around 25 of the senior officers are in the Army.
At a 2pm meeting, the CDS thanked them for their service and told all present that it was high time they left office.
But the Course 36 Generals still have more than three years before their retirement.
“They are about 50; 2 of them in the Army will retire in 2022, while the rest have about 3 and half years left in service”, the source revealed.
Another source wondered why the Armed Forces are eager to ease out scores of capable and experienced hands at a time the country is battling insecurity.
Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, during a State House Briefing in Aso Villa on Thursday
The Federal Government is to ban flights from the United Kingdom, Canada, Argentina and Saudi Arabia in retaliation against their decisions to have included Nigeria in red list countries.
Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, disclosed this in a leaked audio, where he revealed that the ban on the three nations would be announced on Monday or Tuesday by the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19.
The Federal Government had repeatedly kicked against the ban on Nigeria by the UK, Canada and Saudi Arabia after the outbreak of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.
In the leaked audio, Sirika was providing explanations on why the Federal Government reduced Emirates Airlines daily flights into Nigeria to only one weekly flight, and went ahead to stress that countries that placed Nigeria on red list would receive similar fate from Nigeria.
He said, “Also, there is a case of Saudi Arabia, which put Nigeria on the banned list – no visa, no travel, etc. So also Canada. So, today, there was a meeting, I participated in a zoom meeting, COVID-19 task force, just for your information also.
“We have given our input in aviation, it is not acceptable by us and we recommend that those countries – Canada, the UK, Saudi Arabia, and Argentina be also put on red list, as they did similarly to us.
“If they don’t allow our citizens to go into their countries who are their airlines coming to pick from our country?
The former president of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo, has warned Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, not to direct Yoruba people to support any aspirant for political position, because the race was not known for following a single political party.
OBJ told Ooni to be wary of those that never wanted him to be installed when he was seeking the throne, but now sought his support to gain political favour, said people of the Yoruba race would never follow a single political party,however said the monarch should be careful with political office seekers.
Zainab Naseer Ahmad, one of the conveners of protest against insecurity in Kano, has dissociated herself from the ongoing protest after she was invited for questioning by the State Security Service, SSS.
“I want to let people know that from today I’m dissociating myself from the protest that started today, I’m kindly advising my Kano people to stay away from tomorrow’s protest,” Ms Ahmad said.
“I heard about the plans to hijack and cause chaos for some political interest. I advice us to stay at home for our SAFETY. I was invited for a discussion by the DSS It is not about me or you rather the interest of the state,” she added
Scores of youths on Friday marched across states in the North in frustration over the worsening insecurity that has beset the region.
In the region’s most populous state, Kano, hordes of youth demonstrated against the horrible death of 23 people killed in Sokoto.
The All Progressives Congress, APC, says Nigerians should stop putting all blames on President Muhammadu Buhari over some of the problems affecting the country.
Chairman, Jigawa State APC chapter, Hon. Aminu Sani Gumel stated this at the Media Engagement Forum organized by the state Correspondents’ Chapel, held at Manpower Development, Dutse.
He said Nigerians should have been thanking God for having a leader like Buhari who was concerned to curtail all the problems he inherited.
“President Buhari has done a lot for the development of Nigeria and we are lucky to have him as president because if it is somebody else, only God knows the situation Nigerians would have been going through now”
“People have forgotten so easily the security situation of the country during PDP era before the coming of APC.
“We all know what had happened then during Jonathan’s administration and what is happening now, at that time people are even afraid to come out from their houses because of the insecurity situation of the country,” he stated.
He added that, “They have forgotten the hardship and the days they used to spend on long ques just to buy petrol.
“We are in a democratic era, so in dealing with issues like these, you have to be extra careful.”
… Says any candidate who doesn’t carry youths along is unlikely to win
Publisher of Ovation magazine and Politician, Chief Dele Momodu has said that the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC) does not deserve to be voted into power by 2023.
He averred that APC should be punished for the irregularities and challenges Nigeria is currently faced with, saying that none of the cabinet members and party members can distance themselves from President Buhari’s inactions.
Momodu who spoke as a guest on a radio programme in Osogbo, Osun State capital city on Wednesday, posited that any candidate in 2023 who does not carry the young ones along is unlikely to win.
According to him, “the EndSARS movement has emboldened the youths to know that they have power and that they can use that power effectively to bring about change in Nigeria.
“Things are going to change, those politicians have not seen it yet and they have not accepted it yet. They think it’s politics and business as usual. But something is about to change, there is going to be an eruption and there is going to be a long term revolution when the youths will use the power of their songs to change Nigeria. That I see already, I can feel the vibrations but the politicians are not seeing it. Any party that is not smart enough to see that a change is coming, that party will be swept away.”
When asked if he already has a candidate in mind considering his closeness with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, the Journalist declared his allegiance to the candidate of his party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“I will support any candidate of my party PDP as I expect my party to pick the best who can win the election.
“My preference on the next election would be someone who Nigeria needs urgently which is a technocrat who is just coming into politics. Considering Asiwaju who has been in politics for over 30years. He is not qualified to be a technocrat. Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has also been in politics since 1999. We need a technocrat who would not carry the liabilities of politicians.
“I believe that APC should be punished severely for the nonsense they have done to Nigeria. APC does not deserve to come back to power. Anybody who is a member of APC now is culpable. They can’t distance themselves from Buhari. They ought to have spoken up even if they are powerless.
“Nigeria now is so broke, so indebted. We need a leader who will treat the country as a business entity. Nigeria cannot afford to play politics again in another four years after Buhari. Our problems need urgent treatment. I will go for someone who is in his fifties or sixties because age is a factor. Even in America, age has slowed down Joe Biden in some certain area.
“I’m a member of PDP and will support my party. I am very close to Tinubu but when it comes to politics, we have our different opinions. I’m also close to Yemi Osinbajo but he is in APC. I will support the candidate of my party. For me, I don’t think after Buhari, APC deserves to govern Nigeria,” Momodu stated.
The Arole Oduduwa & Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, has declared that descendants of Oduduwa must unite across the world regardless of religious and political differences.
Ooni Ogunwusi made the declaration at his Ile Oodua palace on Tuesday, during the commemoration of his sixth coronation anniversary, describing the Yorubas as natural leaders who are being watched by other nationalities for direction at all times.
“Our unity is nonnegotiable and this is the best time that such irreplaceable virtue is needed the most. We must speak with one voice at all times as we prevent politics, religion or other biases from setting us apart.
“In whatever we do, we must be conscious of the fact that we are being watched by others and we cannot afford to let the world down, especially those looking up to us for leadership.” Ooni Ogunwusi said.
Addressing the happy crowd on the journey so far, Ooni Ogunwusi described the six years of his reign as the goodness of God Almighty, explaining that the moments therein were not without challenges which were defeated through love and support of his subjects.
“Six is not just a common figure, it can be likened to ‘Ifa’ in Yoruba language and I am sure that we all want ‘Ifa’ which is freebie. The days ahead are promising and we shall continue to work for the goodness of all.” Ooni Ogunwusi added.
The Executive Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi who doubles as the Chairman, Nigeria’s Governors Forum on Monday night led top members of the Ekiti State Government to pay homage to the Ooni at the ancient Ile Oodua palace, wishing the frontline monarch a long peaceful reign on the throne of his ancestors.
The event climaxed on Tuesday, with an early morning prayer session by the Ife Muslim community, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the traditional worshippers at the palace auditorium.
As part of his investment in human development and capacity building for the youths, five youths who were trained freely under Ooni Ogunwusi’s Adire Oodua Initiative, got certified and empowered with startup capitals at the event.
The event was witnessed by prominent traditional rulers including the Olu of Ilaro & Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Adegbenle, Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, Alara of Ilara-Epe, Oba Folarin Ogunsanwo, Ajero of Ijero-Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adewole, Orangun of Oke-Ila, Oba Abolarin Arouinkeye, Oore of Otun-Ekiti & Paramount Ruler of Mobaland, Oba Adekunle Adeagbo, Obaro of Kabba, Oba Solomon Owoniyi, Oloye of Oye-Ekiti, Oba Oluwole Ademolaju and Olojudo of Ido-Faboro, Oba Ayorinde Ilori and a host of others.
Iyalaje Oodua Worldwide, Princess (Dr.) Toyin Kolade and Moremi of Yorubaland, Chief Mrs. Olufunso Amosun, equally attended the event while a three-man delegation led by Director General of NTDC, Folorunso Coker delivered a special goodwill message on behalf of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu whom the Ooni described as worthy ambassador and a great leader of the Yoruba race.
Signed.
Comrade Moses Olafare,
Director of Media & Public Affairs,
Ooni’s Palace.
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