A member of the House of Representatives, Sergius Ogun, on Monday hinted that a groundswell of opposition has arisen against Senate President Ahmad Lawan and that the development may lead to his impeachment.
Ogun attributed the developments to what he termed loose remarks by the Senate President on the position held by Southern governors on the matter of the country’s restructuring and open grazing of cattle by herders.
The lawmaker claimed that Lawan’s comments had betrayed his plans to scuttle the on-going constitution amendment project which has the key element of restructuring of the Nigerian state.
Ogun spoke while fielding questions on Arise Television.
The death toll mounted in Gaza on Monday as Israeli air strikes hammered the Gaza Strip, in continuation of the week of violence between the Jewish state and Palestinian militants.
At the last count, 207 people have died, with 197 of the dead recorded in Gaza.
Among the dead Gazans were at least 58 children.
More than 1,200 have also been wounded since Israel launched its air campaign against Hamas on May 10 after the group fired rockets.
The heaviest exchange of fire in years was sparked by unrest in Jerusalem.
In Israel, 10 people, including one child, have been killed and 294 wounded by rocket fire launched by Hamas in Gaza.
Overnight Sunday to Monday, Israel launched dozens of strikes in the space of a few minutes across the crowded coastal Palestinian enclave controlled by Islamist group Hamas. Flames lit up the sky as blasts shook Gaza city.
The strikes caused widespread power cuts and damaged hundreds of buildings, local authorities said.
Israel’s army said in a statement that it hit the homes of nine ‘high-ranking’ Hamas commanders, without providing details on casualties.
The overnight bombardment also included a third round of strikes on what the army calls the ‘Metro,’ its term for a Hamas underground tunnel network.
Israel said 54 fighter jets pounded nine miles of tunnels, which the army has previously acknowledged runs in part through civilian areas.
Israel’s military said Gaza militants had fired about 60 rockets towards Israeli cities overnight, down from 120 and 200 the two previous nights.
A Palestinian sponge factory in northern Gaza was hit in a morning air strike and firefighters battled to quell the blaze, which sent plumes of smoke into the air.
With the sounds of Israeli bombardment continuing throughout the morning, Gaza residents rushed to bakeries and drugstores to stock up on bread and other essentials.
“My children couldn’t sleep all night even after the wave of intensive bombing stopped,” said Umm Naeem, 50, a mother of five, as she shopped for bread in Gaza City. “What is happening to us is too much, but Jerusalem deserves all the sacrifices.”
Hamas began its rocket assault last Monday after weeks of tensions over a court case to evict several Palestinian families in East Jerusalem, and in retaliation for Israeli police clashes with Palestinians near the city’s al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third holiest site, during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
World concern had already deepened after an Israeli air strike in Gaza that destroyed several homes on Sunday and which Palestinian health officials said killed 42 people, including 10 children, and persistent rocket attacks on Israeli towns.
“All parties need to deescalate tensions – the violence must end immediately”, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrote on Twitter, injecting more urgency into Washington’s calls for calm after speaking with Egypt’s foreign minister.
At a U.N. Security Council meeting on Sunday, the United States said it had made clear to Israel, the Palestinians and others that it was ready to offer support “should the parties seek a ceasefire”. read more
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel’s campaign in Gaza was continuing at “full force”, and that deterrence had to be achieved to prevent future conflict with Hamas.
A frontline Yoruba militia group, Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), yesterday indicated that close to N200 million might have been made within two months by armed Fulani herdsmen, who have occupied many Ogun State communities, kidnapping for ransom.
In a statement made by the state Coordinator of OPC, Chief Adesina Jimoh, the group said it was now clear that the security agents could no longer handle the situation.
Jimoh stated that the OPC was set to serve as an alternative platform to secure lives and property in the state, and would from now on repel the headers “fire for fire, and violence for violence.”
He quoted a report in the media that the killer herders “collected the sum of N34.5 million in three separate operations carried out in one week in Ogun State.”
The OPC leader also cited another publication which stated: “The kidnappers suspected to be herdsmen reportedly collected over N30 million from the eight victims in three separate operations carried out in different parts of the state.
“Recall also that around the second week of March 2021, two female students of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Aiyetoro campus, were kidnapped and paid the sum of N50 million.”
He added that a female teacher, a female nurse and her guests were also recently kidnapped at the Ijebu Igbo axis of the state, in which several millions of naira were paid as ransom to secure their release.
Jimoh further lamented that at the Olubo village on the Abeokuta-Aiyetoro-Imeko/Afon road in early April this year, a medical doctor and a nurse were abducted, and that a month after, their relatives could only pay N4.5 million ransom before they could regain freedom.
The OPC leader said one of the instances showing that the situation at hand was too enormous for the police alone to handle was the gale of kidnappings that occurred barely 48 hours after the state police command recently paraded 16 suspected kidnappers.
“It is worrisome to note that barely 48 hours after these criminals were paraded at the police headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta, four other people-three market women and a driver-were also kidnapped at a spot near Olubo village on the same Imeko/Afin-Aiyetoro-Abeokuta in the Yewa North Local Government Area of the state,” he recounted.
Jimoh noted that it was evident that the series of attacks, kidnapping and rape cases could be traced to the Fulani herders, and that the situation had ethnic undertone.
“Report has it that though the victims (of the Olugbo village kidnap) were selected in random, however, Hausa/Fulani women, who were inside the same vehicle conveying those victims, were released during the operation,” he said.
The headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Enugu State, was razed by an inferno on Sunday night barely one week after the office in Obollo-Afor, Udenu was also razed.
The office is located at number 1 Achi Street by Agric Bank Bus stop in Independence Layout, Enugu.
This was confirmed by the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Mohammed Aliyu, via a statement released to the press.
The commissioner, who did not respond to further questions, said that he was still at the scene of the incident to save the office from the disaster.
It was gathered that the Enugu State Fire Service, as well as the Federal Fire Service, were also doing everything possible to quench the fire.
The state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr Emeka Ononamadu is yet to issue an official statement regarding the situation.
The Chairman of Nigeria’s Governors’ Forum, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has advised Nigerian youths to quit social media politics and get involved in real politics that will connect them with the people if they are serious about effecting changes in the country.
Fayemi, who is the Ekiti State Governor, said this in the goodwill message he delivered in Ibadan on Friday at the National Security and Peace symposium to mark the 45th birthday of a member of House of Representatives, representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Iwajowa/Kajola Federal Constituency, Shina Peller.
He said Peller had performed creditably well and had impacted the lives of the people of his constituency, the state and the country, saying the youths should emulate him.
He said, “If we want to make a difference, our young ones cannot just remain Twitter revolutionaries. They have to be on the ground, they have to be in their wards, they have to be in their constituencies. They have to be involved in real politics with the people in order to really connect themselves beyond just writing and be active on Twitter and Facebook
“They have to cease to be paper weight politicians by being in the midst of the people.”
Speaking on the insecurity in the country, Fayemi said Nigeria could overcome its challenges with sincerity and determination to tackle the problem.
He stated that countries with worse problems than these overcame theirs because they were sincere about solving their problems.
Fayemi said, “Our country is going through a lot of challenges but these challenges are not insurmountable. They are challenges that can be overcome. Countries that have been in far deeper problem in the past overcame their challenges.
“If we are singleminded and demonstrate sincerity of purpose, if we are committed about transforming Nigeria for the better and understanding our challenges, if we are honest, purpose driven and determined, we will put behind us, all the triggers of violence in the land be it insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery,
“As long as we are tough on the crime and criminality, we must also be tough on the causes of the crime. We all know those causes of the crime that have been in our country.
“Inequality is clearly a major cause, poverty is another and unemployment is the one we all see. When you see what my brother (Peller) has done in the House of Representatives and in his constituency in terms of poverty eradication, in terms of community empowerment and bridging the gap between the privileged and the less privileged in our community, you will know that this is an indication of what he can do if he is saddled with higher responsibility.”
The Dean, Multi-disciplinary Studies, University of Ibadan, Prof. Olawale Albert, who was the guest lecturer said Nigeria had become a huge slaughter slab and that no part of it was safe as criminals daily roam about killing, manning and kidnapping many.
Albert said, “On the balance, it is argued here that there is little the international community can do to help Nigeria when the country is not doing enough to help itself. Hence, what matters most at this moment is for Nigeria now to start investing more on its whole of nation, society and nation approaches.
“The most strategic is the whole of the national approach. Once a nation is formed from the multiplicity of sub-nationalities now competing for the ownership and management of Nigeria, every other things would fall in place. In other words, the country must first become a nation for the whole of the government and other approaches to work.
“Having sustainable peace and security in this respect requires doing everything that could be done to win back the hearts and minds of Nigeria.
“Most Nigerians are disappointed with how the country has been mismanaged over the years. For now, Nigerians do not believe in themselves and their leaders. More annoying to the people is the way Nigerian leaders seek to turn deceits into a philosophy of governance.”
Some of the dignitaries present at the lecture were wife of Senator Abiola Ajimobi, Florence; the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adeyunji; the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi; Senator Teslim Folarin, former Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu among others.
2023 Presidential Campaign Posters of Kogi state Governor, Yahaya Bello, has flooded parts of Bauchi particularly the State capital, Misau, Katagum towns on Sunday.
The Posters of Bello also carry greetings for Eid-el-fitr celebration. The posters had inscriptions that Bello was a fitting personality to be Nigeria’s next president.
The posters had the slogan “Yahaya Bello for President 2023 Barka da Sallah”.
The sponsors of the posters, the Nigerian Youth Awareness Group, ensured that they flooded very part of the three major emirates.
They were posted on electricity and street light polls, billboards, etc.
In what happens to be one of the craziest, most amazing moments in the 128-year history of Liverpool football club. Their goalkeeper Allison Becker scores a header to make it Liverpool 2-1 West Brom to keep them in the top four race.
As it now stands, Liverpool now have two game to play and will folds arms and expect either Chelsea or Leicester slips in their two remaining matches.
European Union’s foreign ministers will hold urgent video talks on the escalating fighting between Israel and the Palestinians on Tuesday, the bloc’s foreign policy chief said.
“In view of the ongoing escalation between Israel and Palestine and the unacceptable number of civilian casualties, I am convening an extraordinary VTC of the EU Foreign Ministers on Tuesday,” Josep Borrell wrote on Twitter Sunday.
“We will coordinate and discuss how the EU can best contribute to end the current violence.”
The heaviest fighting since 2014 between Israel and Islamist group Hamas, sparked by unrest in Jerusalem, has claimed 174 lives in the crowded coastal enclave of Gaza and killed 10 people in Israel since Monday.
The EU says Borrell has been conducting “intense” diplomatic efforts to try to help de-escalate the violence – holding talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, and the top diplomats from neighbouring nations.
“The EU’s priority and message in this context remains clear: violence must end now,” the bloc’s foreign service said in a statement Saturday.
The EU’s 27 nations often struggle to find a common position over the conflict with some members including Germany, Austria and Slovenia firmly supporting Israel’s right to defend itself and others urging it show greater restraint. (AFP)
Things are getting hotter and spicier within the Oyo chapter of the All Progressives Congress with many veterans pushing buttons and pulling levers to take over the party’s leadership.
Camp loyalty has evolved into a collar for tying bewildered supporters to the wagon of the top contenders, especially Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, Teslim Folarin and Chief Adebayo Adelabu.
The crisis in Oyo APC is being used as an anecdote to instruct young politicians on the necessity of unity within a party, especially when the governor of that state belongs to the opposition.
Reflective of the idea that a house divided against itself cannot stand, the influence of the APC in Oyo is as shaky as it has ever been. And that is because of the power struggle.
The main characters behind this struggle include former Governor Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, who left APC long ago to join the Peoples Democratic Party, and then Labour Party, and then Action Democratic Party, before returning to APC.
There is also Senator Teslim Folarin, who joined APC (from PDP) alongside Alao-Akala in 2017. He has been criticised for reaching above his station since he is a newcomer relative to the old hands that have championed the party for donkey years.
Of course, there is no forgetting former Deputy Governor Adebayo Adekola Adelabu, who has announced time and time again that there is no power struggle in Oyo APC but appears to have thrown his weight behind Chief Alao-Akala. Nevertheless, certain folks appear to be considering him for the hot seat of leadership.
Political analysts have noted that this struggle might ultimately result in more fractures within the administrative framework of the party. After all, those loyal to the former party leader, the late Senator Abiola Ajimobi, are still much around, seemingly without a leader.
Thus, although Alao-Akala appears to be the most popular candidate, he is also the most unpopular with certain elites in the party. Or so the reports claim. Folarin and Adelabu are not just sitting still, unsurprisingly.
Thus, the drama continues.
Igboho disclosed this while speaking with other agitators at a rally held on Saturday in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, to demand the Yoruba nation.
Yoruba freedom fighter, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, says there will be no election in the South-West states in 2023.
Igboho disclosed this while speaking with other agitators at a rally held on Saturday in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, to demand the Yoruba nation.
He said that the Yoruba nation must leave now as it is no more a slave to the northerners.
Ighoho sought unity among Yoruba people and asked all that are aggrieved to come together.
The Yoruba freedom fighter also asked the Oyo and the Federal governments and the Nigeria Police Force to immediately release all Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) members in custody over the arrest of the Fulani warlord Isikilu Wakili in Ibarapa.
Recall that the Oyo State Police Command announced that it took into custody some members of the OPC connected with the earlier arrest of Wakili.
But Ighoho, during the rally, warned against their continued detention.
He said, “I urge the Oyo, Federal Governments and police to release OPC member who arrested Fulani herdsmen terrorising Yoruba people in Ibarapa land immediately, before all, Yorubas will come out en masse to protest against it.
“They apprehended some Fulanis who were disrupting the peace of Ibarapa and handed them over to the police. But the Oyo State Police and Nigerian Government now arrested them which should not be so.”
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