The former President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama had condemned the xenophobic attack against Africans in South Africa.

Mahama, in an interview lamented that the ugly incident is really most regretable and most unfortunate.

He lamented that the whole of African stood behind South African to fight against apathy. He retold the story of how they went on marches, demonstrated and boycott classes all in the fight against apathy when he was growing up as a secondary school student then.


The former president opined that most of the young South African did not know what happened before they gained their freedom.


He lamented that most of the countries where their citizens have been brutalized in South Africa, they are the countries that haboured the freedom fighters of South Africa, claiming that these countries stood with South Africa, gave them passport and safe haven before they gained their freedom.

"It is most regretable and most unfortunate. I think that the young people of South Africa do not know what happened before they gained their freedom .
The whole of this continent stood behind South African. The whole of African stood behind South African to fight against apathy, the former president said.

"I remember all of this. Growing up a secondary school children; we went on marches, we were part of the African youth command, we demonstrated, we boycotted classes and all that all in the fight against apathy.

"Indeed for several of the countries where their citizens have been brutalized in South Africa, these are countries that were called frontline states that haboured the freedom fighters of South Africa and gave them safe haven", he added.

Senator Dino Melaye has denied plans to step down from the governorship race in Kogi State.

The lawmaker, who is favourite to clinch the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the election in November, in a video posted on Twitter on Monday, denied stepping down.

“There’s a rumour by evildoers that Dino Melaye stepped down. I did not step down. I cannot step down. I’m winning the primaries. We’re cruising to victory. Yahaya Bello must go,” he said.

Melaye had earlier denied plans to contest the governorship election as the deputy to a former governor of the state, Idris Wada.

The lawmaker, through his media aide, Gideon Ayodele, said the rumour was meant to stop his emergence as the party’s governorship candidate.

PDP will on Tuesday hold its governorship primary in Kogi

Governor Yahaya Bello of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has already won the bid to seek re-election.

Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has vowed to institute legal action against Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, over the alleged demolition of Rainbow Town Central Mosque located at Trans-Amadi area of Port Harcourt.

Reports had circulated on August 26 on social media about the demolition which was alleged to have happened on August 20.

Ganduje, in a statement by his chief press secretary, Abba Anwar, described the “sad story of Mosque demolition in Rivers state as shocking and promised that necessary lawful action must be taken over the happening.”

The statement said Ganduje would institute “legal action against this demolition of the Mosque as well contest it with appropriate authorities for redress.”

Mr Anwar quoted the governor saying: “We received this information with high degree of shock. And I am assuring the general public that, all necessary action against this demolition will be taken through appropriate authorities.”

He, therefore, called on the public to remain calm and peaceful, as they were enjoined to and go about their normal businesses.

Ganduje said: “As government, we have started touching appropriate quarters against the demolition.

“Kano State is known for peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Christians, we should, therefore, improve on that and remain calm and peaceful. People should live peacefully with one another.”

Wike had denied reports of the demolition after taking journalists on a tour of the location on August 26.

He said the false report was planted by mischief makers to create disaffection.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has warned the United States against the stereotyping of all Nigerians after a list of 77 Nigerians involved in fraud was released.

A statement on Friday by the chairman/CEO of NIDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said the actions of a few Nigerians involved in criminal activities are not a representation of the majority.

Days after the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) charged the founder of Invictus Group, Obinwanne Okeke, over conspiracy to commit fraud of about $11 million, a 252-count federal grand jury indictment unsealed Thursday charged 77 Nigerians for fraud-related offences.

They are accused of participating in a massive conspiracy to steal millions of dollars through a variety of fraud schemes and launder the funds through a Los Angeles-based money laundering network.

Mrs Dabiri-Erewa said an accusation does not necessarily mean guilt and that she expects that all the suspects would be given fair and speedy trial.

The statement, however, said that those accused should turn themselves in to the American authorities to clear their names.

The commission said failure to do so could result in the Nigerian government extraditing them if relevant international treaties between both governments are invoked.

Don’t spare bandits in your mission to restore peace, Buhari orders military

President Muhammadu Buhari has charged the military to be more spontaneous in restoring peace to the country, particularly states troubled by bandits.

He gave the order in Katsina on Saturday while ordering them “not to spare bandits’’.

A statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu released in Abuja on Saturday, said the order had become necessary in view of the fact that the bandits had been killing, maiming and extorting innocent citizens.

Shehu said the president was addressing 15 officers and 160 soldiers of the 17th Army Brigade and Nigerian Air Force 213 Operational Base in Katsina, under the “Operation Hadarin Daji’’, at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Airport, Katsina.

The statement quoted President Buhari as saying: “This group was formed by the military to secure the geo-political zone from the activities of bandits. Fundamentally, it is your responsibility to secure the country.

“As the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, I believe you are capable of doing it.

“I don’t think you should spare any bandit. Identify and eliminate them. Pursue them anywhere you can find them and eliminate them.

“Nigeria deserves peace. The rainy season is good and we are already achieving food security, but we need peace.

“The money saved from food importation will be used to purchase arms for operations.”

President, accompanied by Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina, assured the troops that the Federal Government would provide all the necessary support for restoration of peace in the country.

“We will give you all the right equipment so that you can deal with them with despatch.

”I appreciate all your efforts but you can do more. I don’t want any bandit spared,’’ he added.

Buhari had also said that the government and all officials were being sustained in office by the ordinary people, and they owed the people a duty to protect their lives and property.

“Please give my regards to your families. The earlier you finish with the bandits, the earlier you will return and stay with your families,’’ he said.