₦airaland Forum

Senate meets security chiefs over tension in South-east
today.ng

The President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has urged all Nigerians to maintain peace and avoid statements or actions that can threaten the peace of the nation.

This is even as the leadership of the Senate is set to meet with security chiefs over the tension in the South East as well as the skirmishes in Plateau State.

In a statement by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki advised Nigerians to remain calm and not do anything that would aggravate the tension in some parts of the country.

The Senate’s President who was reacting to the skirmishes in the South East and in Plateau state, said that the crises was not unconnected to the economic challenges of the nation.

“The tension in some parts of the country has its roots substantially in the economic situation.

“The nation should be assured that some of the legislative and executive actions taken to address the economic problems are beginning to yield fruits.

“That is why we recently witnessed the rebound of the economy and the exit of the country from recession.”

“I want to appeal to our people to avoid stoking ethnic or religious fires. We should not deepen the fault lines of our nation and place citizens in danger of violence and sustained crises.

“The government requires the support of all Nigerians and we should please give peace a chance. No real development or genuine economic activity can take place in the midst of crisis or tension.

Investments and development thrive only where there is peace,” he said.

Saraki advised Political, Social and Religious leaders to take actions that will douse the tension and reassure the people that the best way is for us to live together in peace, harmony and co-operation.

“All leaders at this point must canvass support for government and preach peace, love and harmony.

“The Senate leadership will soon meet with security chiefs and we will work for the promotion of dialogue as well as peaceful resolution of all contentious issues.

“Once again, I plead with our people to avoid taking laws into their hands or antagonizing our neighbours,” he said.

Nobody, group can break Nigeria says Osinbajo
spillednews.com


Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Saturday in Adamawa restated the commitment of the Nigerian government to keep the country united.

Speaking at the reception in Yola in honour of the new President of the Lutheran World Federation, Most Reverend Musa Filibus, Osinbajo declared that no individual or group will be allowed to split the nation.

Others in attendance were Governor of Plateau, Solomon Dalong, David Babachir, representatives of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Governor of Taraba Ishaku Darius and his Benue counterpart, Samuel Ortom.

The vice-president urged Nigerians to sustain “the unity and the dream of our fore fathers”.

He encouraged Christians to pursue justice and reconciliation with people of other faith.

“It is our role as Christians to bind people together and we must do so by self sacrifice and love.

“On behalf of the Federal Government and Mr President, I wish you an excellence and God guided tenure as President of LWF”, Osinbajo said.

Governor Mohammed Bindow congratulated Filibus for his elevation and assured him of his administration’ support to succeed.

In his remark, Filibus thanked the government of Adamawa and Nigeria for standing behind him.

He called for more support and prayers for a successful tenure.

LWF is a global communion of 145 churches in the Lutheran tradition, representing over 75 million Christians in 98 countries.

Nigerians choose President Buhari ahead of 2019 elections - Poll results
naij.com


A recent poll conducted by NAIJ.com on social media, has shown that many Nigerians believe President Muhammadu Buhari is fit to rule the country in 2019.

The polls which were carried out on Twitter and Facebook, showed that although many were against a Buhari presidency in 2019, others endorsed it.

On Facebook, 45% of the total votes went to President Buhari, while 23% went to former vice president, Atiku Abubakar.

On Twitter, 48% of the votes also went to Buhari while 21% again went to Atiku. Below are screenshots of the results of the poll.

needful:
One major problem in our marriages this days is infidelity. Cheating is the order of the day in marriages. I am a feminist but am happily married. But if for any reason I discovered that am being cheated, I see it as " breaking of marriage vows" there is no sanctity in that marriage anymore. Once a woman noticed she is being cheated, if she decided to keep her marriage because of her kids, note that, the hubby will and can never get that humility again from her. Talking about olden days marriages that lasted, it lasted because our mothers then endured because they had no choice and many of them died out of depression from their husbands. I will train my female children very well so that in situations where the useless men of nowadays tried to enslave them in the name of marriage, they wouldn't hesitate to kick their ass out of their hearts. THERe is no reason to cheat or treat someone like a slave, be it, wife, hubby, house help, kids etc. We all are equal befor God the creator.

It is only God that can help the Igbo people - Fayose
naij.com


- Governor Fayose has once again reacted to the army's operation in the southeast

- Fayose alleged that the army's presence in the southeast is for ethnic cleansing

- The governor said President Buhari's return to power has dragged the nation back to the dark days

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state has once again criticised the Operation Python Dance II by the Nigerian military in southeast Nigeria.

The governor, who spoke while receiving the Peoples Democratic Peoples’ Elders caucus in his home said the army is perpetuating ethnic cleansing in the southeast.

He said: “I have said it before now that it is only God that can help the Igbo people. What I see going on the is ethnic cleansing when you see the video clips of that occupation the behaviour of the soldiers leaves much to be desired but they cannot act like that without a whistle blower, somebody is behind them telling them go and cleanse the people.

“Reckless human rights violation in Nigeria today is second to none. And I hope the international community would not be quiet on this. It is unfortunate.

"I have said it earlier that this is beyond Kanu. That region entirely is embattled and challenged. But you know politics, time will tell. The wind blowing away your wife will blow you away one day. The wind blowing away your enemy today may blow you say one day. It is unfortunate that the Igbo people are suffering this kind of fate.

The governor urged the government to focus more on the herdsmen attack all around Nigeria.

He said: “The herdsmen wrecking havoc all over, and killing, what has the military done to deal with them? Has any of the herdsmen been prosecuted, let alone giving them this kind of treatment?

“You went to court to revoke Kanu’s bail but you can’t even wait for the court to take decision before occupying his house. Nigeria is in trouble except the Lord helps us.

“When the wicked are in authority, the people suffer; when the righteous are in power, the people rejoice.

“We are in a major dilemma. Buhari coming back to power as I have said before is like returning to the dark days of the 1984, because they want to gag Nigerians; they came up with law against hate speech, they threatened to deal with people.

“Glory be to God who can take both life here and life beyond, these ones can only go for life and can’t do more than that. Let me assure you, Nigeria is a country where God knows how to rearrange thing."


Meanwhile, the Nigerian military has categorized the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist group.

The Defence Headquarters said following analysis by the military on the various activities of the group, the Armed Forces has profiled the IPOB as a terrorist organization.

The DHQ in a statement signed by the director of defence information John Eneche said after due professional development and recent developments and activities of the group, it has become important to notify the public that IPOB and its members are not as non-violent as they claim.

Watch this NAIJ.com exclusive video of Nnamdi Kanu's lawyers reacting the army's invasion of his client's residence:

Mama Taraba begs Buhari, APC

africanspotlight.com


Following her outburst on President Muhammadu Buhari and the 2019 presidential election, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Aisha Jummai Al-Hassan on Thursday apologized to the All Progressives Congress (APC).


Alhassan, who was one time Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General in Taraba and a Senator of the 7th Senate last two weeks went on media to pledge her loyalty to the former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar for 2019 presidential election.

The Minister also alleged that the President, Muhammadu Buhari had promised to serve only one term as President.

She arrived the APC National Secretariat in Abuja in her Mercedes Benz SUV as she was grilled for 2 hours. She arrived at 2 pm and left at 4 pm.

She was escorted to her car by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, who told journalists that she was invited by the party leadership.

Briefing journalists on the discussion of the party with her, Abdullahi said the party interrogated her what she said and the contest on which she said.

He explained that the minister apologized.

Abdullahi noted that the party did not hold anything against on her views but frowned at the timing.

Speaking on her visit, Abdullahi said, “You will realize that since she made her comment the party has not said anything in spite of what individuals must have told you. We have not responded in anyway because we are also a party that recognize the rights of our members to express their opinions, their express views and all that. So, we want an opportunity to discuss with the Minister before we know how to respond on what she said and in what contest she said it. So, when she came today we asked her to explain to us what truly transpired and in what contest she said what she said and she did offer this explanation.

“Having offered her explanations we acknowledged that as a member of this party she is entitled to her opinion and she is entitle to her choice. However, as a senior member of this party her statement represent an act of indiscretion because occupying the kind of position she occupies especially in the party, she is a party leader in her own right. What she said was not what she supposed to have said at the time that she said it and that she ought to have exercise greater judgment than she did and she acknowledged that yes may be the time was wrong and she apologized that if she had put the party in any difficulty that she was sorry. As far as we are concerned the case is closed.”

Asked if the party was embarrassed with her comment, Abdullahi said: “I want you to take note of the fact that nobody is questioning her right to take the position she has taken. We have not come out to say, ‘why are you saying you are supporting this person? She has a right to her choice and to support whoever she wants to support afterall she is not saying she supports a member of another party but what we are saying is that with the position she occupies, she ought to have exercised greater sense of discretion and better judgment knowing that making that kind of statement would definitely create some other situations for the party, if not for the government.

On whether party asked her to resign Abdullahi said, “No, that did not come up. What we just said was that we understand the context in which she said what she said but it was an act of indiscretion for someone occupying the position she is occupying in the party to make that kind of statement. If this was 2018 and the people have filed their applications to say they are contesting and she now comes out and says she is supporting this person, how can that be an issue? But we are still in 2017. We are still far away. Atiku has not said he is contesting. He has not collected any form. He has not announced to anybody that he is contesting. So, that is what we mean by the timing. It is not that she had no right to say what she had said”.

The outburst of the Minister had attracted attention to the party and the Presidency, with some party members calling for her resignation.

NNAMDI KANU HAS GIVEN ME REASONS TO SAY "THANK YOU PRESIDENT BUHARI"
247nigerianewsupdate.co

You can't send police officers to quench a quasi-military camp, which is maintained by Nnamdi Kanu, who has aggressively vowed to tear apart a sovereign nation, Nigeria. Kanu made a serious mistake by parading a ragtag army; especially when you have a former General as the president, that was disrespectful.

I lived in Nigeria for more than two decades, Nigerian soldiers don't like to be disrespected; in fact, from working with soldiers in the United States (Michigan National Guard, Joint Forces Headquarters), I can tell you that, generally, soldiers don't like to be disrespected.

If someone, a civilian for that matter, maintains and parades militants (wearing a military uniform), he should not expect the government to roll in with police officers and patrol vans; he should reasonably expect army tanks.

Pursuant to the 1949 Geneva Conventions Article 3, your status changes once you start wearing an army uniform, for you have become an enemy combatant: A recognized army (the Nigerian Army, in this case) can use force to neutralize you and your fellow militants.

Let’s gaze into history here: When the 1791 "Whiskey Rebellion" happened in the United States, spearheaded by some civilians, President George Washington did not send in police officers, he brought in military tanks to quench the rebellion.

In the United States, when violence escalates, a governor, pursuant to Title 32 of the United States Code, can summon the army and their tanks to the street (didn’t you watch CNN at the height of the “Black Lives Matter movement;” didn’t you see numerous armoured personnel carrier (APC) on the street)?

Let's stop pretentiously invoking the violation of the rule of law, especially if you don't understand the rule of law and the rule of engagement. A military incursion, or rolling of tanks, into a street, in order to clear the illusion of outlaws, like Nnamdi and his cohorts, is not a violation of the rule of law, but an enforcement of the rule of law.

If Kanu is scared of a small deployment of soldiers, will he chicken out when battalions are deployed? To his supporters, we told you this: secession is not won on Facebook. Continue arguing about the violation of the rule. Listen, when hostility begins, the rule of law is suspended or amended. I hope we won't get there. Start listening.

ThatCEO:
Wrong Heading

I will fight Obiano with the blood of the gullible youths who will do my bidding for #5k.

navada99:
Peter Obi I love you but this not the time for elections there is more serious issues in Igbo land sorry.

Oshidaguy:
Sir Obi my mentor, it's unfortunate there won't be election in Anambara state.

richidinho:
So what is breaking about these useless thieves

Any news about them ought to be reported in crime section