₦airaland Forum

Buhari Furthers His Farmers-Herders Clash Narrative, Tags As Farmers The 45 Killed By Terrorists In Nasarawa

In furtherance of the farmers-herders clash narrative he perpetuated, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has sadly described as farmers the 45 citizens murdered and scores injured by terrorists who invaded their ancestral homes in Nasarawa State, in an attack which started on Friday morning and continued up till Sunday night.

On Tuesday, the Nigerian Tribune reported an eyewitness account that trouble started when a herder was killed by "unidentified hoodlums" on Friday at Obi and the following day the invasion of more than 12 communities across the three local government areas of Lafia, Obi and Awe began as reprisals.

President Buhari should explain how the murder of 45 indigenous Nigerian citizens in their ancestral homes in more than 12 communities across 3 local government areas because a herder was allegedly murdered in a single community qualify as a clash between them and others occasioned by occupational differences?

The president should not forget that he took an oath to protect the lives and properties of thousands of residents in the communities that have been killed or displaced following the invasion and the dozens of others who sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment at hospitals across the 3 local government areas... CONTINUE READING: https://atlanticpostng.com/buhari-furthers-his-farmers-herders-clash-narrative-tags-as-farmers-the-45-killed-by-terrorists-in-nasarawa/

Policy Alert has announced plans to hold a Special Panel Session on “The Energy Transition in Africa: An anti-corruption perspective” at the ongoing Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) holding this week at Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.

The hybrid event, co-organised with Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) and other partner organisations, will hold at 12.00noon (Egypt time) tomorrow Friday December 17, 2021, at the St. Catherine Conference Room at the International Congress Centre, Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt while virtual participants can join via Microsoft Teams at https:///3p0lXBE.

A statement signed by the organisation’s Executive Director, Tijah Bolton-Akpan, said: “The energy transition has been heralded as a solution for both the energy and the climate crises. But corruption has not only exacerbated climate change but also severely limited the options for the energy transition. The reality we must face is that the road to a low carbon energy future is actually strewn with governance risks, and an effective and just transition must address those risks...
Continue reading here: https://atlanticpostng.com/policy-alert-set-to-host-session-on-energy-transition-at-uncac-cosp9-in-egypt/

Stabilize W/Africa with your position, UN Sec-Gen urges, after Buhari raises coup concerns

United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres, while commending Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari for his leadership roles in Africa, urged him to continue to use his position to stabilize West African after he raised the alarm on erosion of democracy in the subregion by authoritarian rulers and coup plotters, himself not excluded.

The UN Secretary-General spoke in a meeting with the Nigerian President at the sidelines of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) taking place in New York.

According to the UN Scribe, Africa, especially West Africa was generally seen as an ocean of stability and good governance, but was deeply concerned at recent reversal of fortunes in democratic rule in some parts of the West African sub-region with coups overturning elected institutions.

He, therefore, urged President Buhari, who expressed the same concerns earlier, to continue to show leadership as he looks up to Nigeria to help stabilize the subregion in terms of democracy and good governance.

This charge from Secretary-General Guterres to President Buhari should begin at home as Nigeria is in West Africa and stabilizing the member nations is an integral part of stabilizing the subregion.

While President Buhari, a former military coup plotter and dictator, was meeting with World leaders on the sidelines of the 76th UNGA in New York, Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-determination (NINAS) Million-Man March protesters were outside the UN Building venue for days demanding an end to the military-era imposed constitution which they believe is antidemocratic and foists the rule of men, rather than the rule of law.

Going forward, President Buhari needs to heed the clamour of NINAS, which in its December 16, 2020 Constitutional Force Majeure (CFM) declaration issued a notice of constitutional grievances and itemized a well thought out roadmap for an orderly transition to a people-driven democratic constitutional order... CONTINUE READING: https://atlanticpostng.com/unga76-buhari-raises-alarm-over-erosion-of-democracy-in-w-africa-urges-resistance/

Prof. Akintoye replies Presidency over statement by Garba Shehu linking Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-determination (NINAS) organized Million-Man March at the 76th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) with IPOB.

The Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination (NINAS) has described the statement credited to the Nigerian Presidency linking the ongoing Million-Man Freedom March opposite the United Nations Headquaters, New York, United States of America as an alliance between the Agitators for Self-Determination In Yoruba Land and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as an unintelligent attempt to paint the peaceful demonstration black because it has succeeded in exposing to the world, the ongoing genocide and fraud being perpetrated by the Fulani-Controlled Nigerian Government against the peoples of the South and Middle-Belt Regions of the Country through the imposed 1999 Constitution.

The Chairman of NINAS, Professor Banji Akintoye, in a statement made available to News Men on Monday through his Communications Manager, Mr. Maxwell Adeleye, said the March, which was organised to show to the world, the ordeal, suffering and subjugation of the indigenous people of the South and Middle of Nigeria in the hands of the Fulani-Controlled Nigerian Government, is a collaboration of the Members of Ilana Omo Oodua representing the Yoruba Land, Lower Niger Congress representing the South South and South East and Middle-Belt Rennaissance Movement representing the Middle Belt Region.

Akintoye said NINAS have nothing whatsoever in plans, principle and content to do with IPOB, stating that the Nigerian Government should address all issues raised by the protesters, rather than resorting to blackmail and peddling of fallacies.

The renowned Historian said rather than losing sleep and temper over the March, the Nigerian Government should, without further delay, declare Miyyetii Allah a Terrorist Organisation as being demanded by NINAS, saying “the real Terrorists in Nigeria are operating under Miyyetii Allah”.

“Members of Miyyetii Allah have killed scores and thousands of the people in the South and Middle-Belt Regions of Nigeria. They have invaded hundreds of towns and villages, brandishing dangerous weapons to kill, maim and rape our people. The Nigerian Government has done nothing to curtail these marauders....
CONTINUE READING>>>>
https://atlanticpostng.com/linking-ninas-million-man-march-at-unga-with-ipob-prof-akintoye-replies-presidency/

NINAS and its partner organizations have been denouncing IPOB like forever. But somehow, the Buhari media handlers have fought tirelessly but unsuccessfully to insert them into the fold.

Read this:

On behalf of the Lower Niger Congress (LNC) and its Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-determination (NINAS) partners, Secretary General Tony Nnadi writes on how the so-called "Biafra Restoration” commotion impacts negatively on the greater Eastern Nigeria liberation efforts.

Continue on:

https://atlanticpostng.com/how-biafra-restoration-commotion-impacts-negatively-on-real-liberation-efforts-lnc-ninas/

And this:

NINAS Million-Man March to 76th UNGA: IPOB not part of us, NINAS corrects Elombah News https://atlanticpostng.com/ninas-million-man-march-to-76th-unga-ipob-not-part-of-us-ninas-corrects-elombah-news/

The Biafra struggle is an expression of a legitimate right to self-determination induced and fueled by the Nigerian State. It is sustained by the emotions and common solidarity of the Igbos of South Eastern part of the country whose successive generations have been victimized with Nigeria’s apparatus of State power, but most unfortunately; this legitimate aspiration has continued to be jeopardized by its own leadership which has repeatedly fallen into the hands of demagogues with poor conflict handling attitudes.

In spite of this unfortunate fact, the aspiration will be kept live as long as the Nigerian State continues to neglect to adopt peace building and conflict transformation strategies rather than its approach of coercion against the agitators. Those in whose grip the country has been held up in her structural contradictions, constitutional and institutional aberrations, and who continue to promote the prejudices and tendencies that engendered the agitation in the first place should realize that they are running a race against time.

There is no doubt that the Igbos constitute the most dispersed population in Nigeria if not on the African continent. They are found in every human community in the country and even across the world, they are basically merchants trading in every ware available and required by humans. They carved a niche for themselves in this field of human endeavor, and the ways and manners they go about it have attracted for them the combination of admiration, envy and hatred.

Socio-politically; the Igbos developed a republican system with its attendant egalitarianism and the high sense of liberty which open the individual to the attainment of the highest station in life as his or her abilities could detect. Obstacles to individuals on the social ladder are very limited and there is no entrenched aristocracy. Theirs has been a truly republican society.

This is the socio-philosophical foundation of the adventurous nature of the Igbos. It has also been contended by some school of thought that the nature of the soil in the Igbo territories which is not very suitable for agriculture; the basic industry of all African societies, accounts in great measure for the people’s focus on trading as their fundamental preoccupation as well as their mass migration to other territories for their sustenance.

A fact that is hard to be contradicted is that the Igbos have remained the most self-sustaining ethnic nationality in Nigeria. They have the credit of mobilizing for community self-help projects, human capital development through apprenticeship and collective pooling of capital for investments especially in merchandise. They have a tradition of capital accumulation and the resilience to survive adversities. Like the Japanese in the spirit of the Meji Restoration demonstrated in their quick recovery from the devastations of the World War 11, the Igbos recovered from the genocide visited on them by the Nigerian State during the civil war which lasted for thirty months. They rebuilt their destroyed communities and businesses and bounced back to their original status that in the first place attracted for them the jealousy of some other peoples of Nigeria especially those who orchestrated the Kano attack in 1954 and the pogrom between 1967 and 1970. A visit to South Eastern Nigeria today will confirm the creative, generative and self-sustaining spirit of the Igbos. The region has the least level of unemployment in the country and economic activities by self-employment are highest in the region with its attendant consistent highest regional Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate.

Unfortunately; this people have remained at the receiving end of Nigeria’s crisis of co-existence especially as this relates to the mutual suspicion and antagonism among the ruling and political elites of the northern and southern parts of the country. The absence of national unity in Nigeria was clearly revealed early enough by Alhaji (Sir) Tafawa Balewa when he addressed the Legislative Council in 1948 in the following words.



‘’Since 1914, the British government has been trying to make Nigeria into one country, but the Nigerian people themselves are historically different in their backgrounds; in their religious beliefs and customs, and do not show  themselves any willingness to unite’’. ‘’Nigeria unity is only a British intention for the country. Many people deceive themselves by thinking that Nigerian unity is one, particularly some of the Press people…..this is wrong’’.  I am sorry to say that this presence of unity is artificial and it ends outside this chamber, the Southern tribes who are now pouring into the North are more or less domiciled here and do not mix with the Northern people……and we in the North look upon them as invaders’’. CONTINUE READING: https://atlanticpostng.com/analysis-the-biafran-struggle-twice-stumbling-on-a-similar-stone/

By Owei Lakemfa

Following a codeine-propelled high drug addiction problem, the Federal Government in a swift reaction, banned the production and importation of codeine containing cough syrup. The syrup usually taken by millions of youths who mix it with soft drinks, alcohol or illegal drugs, leads to physical and mental reliance on the drug and can be fatal.

Five days after the welcome ban, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on May 5, held its Ward congresses across the country. In most of the thirty six states, they were characterized by thuggery, manipulation, imposition, and in at least two cases, murder. In Rivers State, a member was shot dead right in the party secretariat while in Ughelli, Delta State, a party chairmanship aspirant, Mr. Jeremiah Oghoveta was stabbed to death. In Oyo State, supporters of Governor Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi and those of Communication Minister, Adebayo Shittu, were engaged in a mini Civil War with the Governor accusing the Honourable Minister and some members of the House of Representatives of perpetuating the violence and threatening arson.

The Minister was luckier than his Labour and Employment colleague, Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige whom security agents had to spirit out from the venue as APC members loyal to the party’s 2017 gubernatorial candidate in the Anambra State elections, Mr. Tony Okechukwu Nwoye, allegedly tried to lynch him. The party violence spread to Imo State where State Governor and Chairman of the APC Governors Forum, Rochas Okorocha declared the congresses as fictional. In Bauchi State during the resultant violence, party members burnt down a local government secretariat while congresses in states like Taraba, Ondo, Ebonyi, and Adamawa were consumed in an orgy of violence. Rather than completely condemn the congresses in Enugu State as a sham, the country’s chief diplomat, Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama said “The processes were totally flawed.”

In a number of instances, there was no level playing field. In Kaduna State, the two Distinguished APC Senators, Shehu Sanni and Suleiman Hunkuyi, already had a Fatwa pronounced on them by Governor Ahmed el-Rufai who days before, had told a mammoth crowd that the senators are enemies of the state and when found, should be seized and their heads and beads, forcefully shaven. The National Chairman of the party, Chief John Oyegun did not bother to show up at his Ward congress as weeks before, leaders of the party in his Edo State constituency, had shown him as a spent force who should not recontest for his post. In a number of states such as Ebonyi and Adamawa, parallel congresses were held.

This certainly is a bad report card for a party that promised to rescue the country from the shameful past of the former ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) What happened at the congresses were bad for our national psyche, bad for our politics and bad for our reputation as a country. I expected the APC to be sober and reflective; why so much violence and thuggery? Why should people be murdered for Ward congresses? How can the party ensure that their future congresses and the inevitable inter-party elections, are democratic and violence-free especially in a country that has been subjected to so much violence and massacres? READ MORE:
https://atlanticpostng.com/perspective-banning-codeine-in-apc/

I don’t watch #BigBrotherNaija but in my usual yearly tradition, I do a last day analysis based on people’s reactions and social media commentaries.

So far, I must say Cee C completely lost it not because of her arrogance and regular insults on housemates but for the fact that she didn’t realized she was doing all these dramas in front of millions of viewers not just in Africa but across the globe.

We all have bad attitudes but who says it is right to sell it on TV? How ‘real’ do you wanna be to sell your weakness before an entire continent of 1. 2 billion people?

She knew the implications of going into that house with ‘the Good, the Bad and ugly’ but couldn’t put up a surviving mechanism to scale through the h8urdle of living with strangers for 90 days. ���� Continue reading:

https://atlanticpostng.com/bbnaija-my-take-on-big-brother-nigeria-2019-by-may-ubeku/

In Diary of a Lazy Nigeria Youth, Elizabeth Omonigho Asekome aptly captures Buhari's Nigeria and clearly punctures Buhari's #LazyNigerianYouth narrative.
Read below:
It’s not that I don’t try; I ran out of motivation after series of futile attempts
It’s not that I’m not educated, I have more than one certificate from the country institutions I could afford
It’s not that I’m always ill and unhealthy; I got all the medical help I can afford from the ill-equipped medical facilities available with mostly cold and uncaring
staff.
It’s not that I’m not talented, there’s no provisions for nurturing talents in the country
It’s not that I’m lazy! There’s no job or employer willing to hire me
It is not that I am poor, cost of living has been rising while there’s no descent means of affording basic human needs.
It is not that I am not law abiding, I live in a lawless society
While other developed country pay disabilities, unemployments, social security and all other such benefits to their citizens I get none from my government;
I cannot sleep at night because of unbearable heat and no electricity even after I pay the electricity bills
I am not safe in my home because the law officers who are supposed to protect me are worse than the robbers themselves
I cannot rely on justice because our judicial system is expensive and corrupt too.
I cannot call on the government because they don’t care, never did.
I can’t run to my church because I’ll be told to pray harder like I’ve been doing for years while bills grow
I cannot call on God because unaswered prayers makes you weak
I’m so broke and broken that I can’t even afford to die!
Continue reading:
https://atlanticpostng.com/perspective-diary-of-a-lazy-nigeria-youth-by-elizabeth-asekome/

Lazy freebies seeking youths.

Every opportunity Buhari gets in front of the international communities, he demarkets Nigeria and her people regardless of the dire consequences on our international image.

This man never speaks to us at home, he does that only when he’s abroad. As painful as it may seem, I have no words for Buhari aside looking forward to when he would stop being my president.

Those I have words for are the shameless young Nigerians defending a man who spent 35 years of his post-head of state life doing NOTHING other than collect pension and thereafter waited to be voted in as president.

This was how he called Nigerians criminals and some of you defended that crap making posts to explain what Buhari meant in the name of political sentiment claiming he said the truth. Truth about what exactly?

60 years after crude oil was discovered, Nigeria has no functional Refinery. No standard hospital. No standard airport. No roads etc. Is this because our youths are lazy? What has Nigeria given back to her people in terms of infrastructures to support their hustles despite the billions of dollars gotten from crude oil? Yet you defend Buhari’s despicable statement.

The Nigerian state constantly use the nation’s resources to empower the rich while the masses continuously live in penury and some of you come on social media to defend such absurdity.

Now I understand our elites aren’t the problem. You on SM taking sides with those robbing the masses is indeed the problem of Nigeria! Continue reading:
https://atlanticpostng.com/lazynigerianyouth-remark-see-a-nigerian-youth-may-ubekus-reaction/

All former presidents and leaders of Nigeria are in unison to effect a change in the leadership of the country in 2019, opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), revealed on Thursday.

The National Chairman of the party, Mr Uche Secondus, hinted on Thursday at an emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Thursday,

He hinted that all former presidents and former leaders of Nigeria were in unison to make sure that in 2019 a fresh and new government was formed in the interest of the nation.

Secondus called on members of the party and other political parties to join forces to rescue power from the APC. Continue reading:
https://atlanticpostng.com/secondus-former-presidents-leaders-unite-against-buhari-in-2019/

Former U.S. first lady Barbara Bush died on Tuesday, a spokesman for the Bush family announced. She was 92 years old.

Barbara Bush, the wife of former President George H.W. Bush, had been suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and congestive heart failure. A spokesman for her family had announced Sunday that she would no longer seek medical treatment after a recent series of hospitalizations.

Her son, former President George W. Bush, released a statement to the press on behalf of himself, his wife, and his twin daughters.
My dear mother has passed away at age 92. Laura, Barbara, Jenna and I are sad, but our souls are settled because we know hers was. Barabara Bush was a fabulous First Lady and a woman unlike any other who brought levity, love and literacy to millions. To us, she was so much more. Mom kept us on our toes and kept us laughing until the end. I’m a lucky man that Barbara Bush was my mother. Our family will miss her dearly, and we thank you all for your prayers and good wishes.

George P. Bush, son of Jeb Bush, honored his grandmother’s legacy in a statement to Twitter.

My grandmother’s entire life was focused on others. For my grandfather, she was his top adviser and confidante. For her family, she was a steady, loving and guiding hand. And for her country, she was an inspiration and an example for all. My grandmother didn’t just live life; she lived it well. And the sorrow of her loss is softened by the knowledge of her impact on our family and our country. I will miss you, Ganny — but know we will see you again.

As first lady from 1989 to 1993, she was known for her work on early childhood education. In 1989, she established the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, with the goal of raising awareness about the importance of reading and writing at a young age. She was also recognized for her work on AIDS awareness and cancer research. Read more...

https://atlanticpostng.com/barbara-bush-former-first-lady-dies-at-age-92/

The Peoples Democratic Party has demanded for an immediate inquest into the violent clash between security forces and members of the Shiite Movement in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

The party is gravely worried over the handling of security in the nation’s capital and the near breakdown of law and order which resulted in stampede and disruption of public and private businesses in the city center.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, “the PDP noted that the development is linked with protests over the continued refusal of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government to release the leader of the group, Shiek Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, despite being granted bail by courts of competent jurisdiction.” Read more...
https://atlanticpostng.com/abuja-protest-clash-pdp-calls-for-immediate-inquest/

This will be my Tribute to Prof J.O.C Onyemelukwe, just laid to rest in Nnewi, April 2018 as I mourn with his son and my friend, Obiora Onyemelukwe.
While lamenting the atrocious Post-War Punitive Policies of the so-called “Federal Government” of Nigeria in Igboland and the heinous outcomes, Chike Onyemelukwe wrote as follows:

“By plan since after the War, the Zone by Official Federal Government Policy was denied Infrastructure to support meaningful Development. Roadways, Water, Electricity, Seaports, Airports, Federal Institutions, Foreign Embassies. NotIgb only that, Self-Help Community efforts was outlawed right after the war in East Central State. It was outlawed, because Nnewi developed a Master-Plan for Nnewi that would have Nnewi businesses headquartered at Nnewi, with a Market bigger than Onitsha Market with Roads and Highways to the Food-Producing areas. It was at the stage of raising the Funds in the Nnewi traditional manner that the news got to the Federal Government. East Central State was forced to pass an Edict, to the effect that any Community that raised Funds for Community Projects, shall forward the raised Funds to the State Government. The State will decide what the money will be used for and where. Some will remember that at the end of the War, people were forced to drive from Sokoto, from Lagos, from Madugiri to Nnewi for Motor Parts. By 1973 the Roads and lack of structures forced the business people to relocate to Lagos and from there to other parts of Nigeria with roads and etc. Our people were forced out of Igboland. The Professor that led the effort on the Master Plan for Nnewi at that time was buried Thursday last week, Prof J. O. C. Onyemeluke. He drove from Ibadan every two weeks in a Volkswagen Beetle, for a working meeting with other professionals.”

As it was for shutting down the Nnewi Master- Plan, so it was for shutting down the only Power Plant in Igboland at Oji River built by the Government of the then Eastern Region to Provide Electricity to the Eastern Nigeria.

Read more...
https://atlanticpostng.com/the-federal-arrest-of-the-nnewi-master-plan-as-a-microcosm-of-the-arrest-of-development-of-igboland-and-advancement-of-igbo-people-in-nigeria-by-tony-nnadi/

Having escaped to the U.S. after the 2014 mass kidnapping, a group of Nigerian students found themselves trapped all over again


VIENNA, Va.—Four years ago, on a truck barreling toward the forest hideout of Boko Haram, teenager Kauna Bitrus made a desperate move to avoid the fate of the more than 200 other schoolgirls abducted from Chibok, Nigeria, that day.

She jumped.

When Kauna landed, months later, in the pine-shaded town of Grundy, Va., she was among the lucky few Chibok students awarded full scholarships and sanctuary at Christian academies in rural America.

But here too, Ms. Bitrus and six of her classmates found themselves hostage to forces they couldn’t control. Thrust into the media spotlight by a prominent Nigerian human-rights lawyer, they say they were forced to relive their trauma to raise money and further political agendas in Washington.

Eventually, they passed word in secret to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security with an urgent plea: We are Chibok students, held captive again. Get us out of here.

By now, the story of the schoolgirls abducted by the Islamist insurgency in Northern Nigeria on April 14, 2014, has passed into the realm of legend. Millions of people, Michelle Obama and Pope Francis among them, joined the #BringBackOurGirls cause. There are still 112 missing.

Meanwhile, a dozen young Nigerians found themselves in small-town America, shadowed by the celebrity of a night they wanted only to forget.

Read more:
https://atlanticpostng.com/the-american-ordeal-of-the-boko-haram-schoolgirls/

The People's Democratic Party (PDP) has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria of plot to loot and divert the $1Billion he unilaterally approved without recourse to the National Assembly.

The PDP made this position know today (Thursday, April 5, 2018) in a barrage of strong-worded tweets via their official Twitter handle, @OfficialPDPNig. Read more:
https://atlanticpostng.com/breaking-pdp-accuses-buhari-of-plot-to-loot-1-billion-to-fund-2nd-term-bid/

Ohaneze Ndigbo, the Pan-Igbo socio-cultural group, said it would resist any attempt to discredit Deputy President of the Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu.

President-General of the group, Chief Nnia Nwodo, in a statement on Thursday, in Enugu, said it was preposterous for the Federal Government to be carrying out unwarranted inquisition into Ekweremadu’s life.

He said that the allegation that Ekweremadu, the highest ranking Igbo politician in the country, embezzled public funds without any prima facie case was inappropriate. Read more:
https://atlanticpostng.com/well-resist-attempts-to-discredit-ekweremadu-ohaneze/

President Trump has instructed military leaders to prepare to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria, but has not set a date for them to do so, according to a senior administration official.

In a meeting with top national security officials Tuesday, Trump stressed that U.S. troops can be involved in current training tasks for local forces to ensure security in areas liberated from the Islamic State, the official said.

But the president said that the U.S. mission would not extend beyond the destruction of the Islamic State, and that he expects other countries, particularly wealthy Arab states in the region, to pick up the task of paying for reconstruction of stabilized areas, including sending their own troops, if necessary.

Trump on Tuesday had repeated his desire to quickly “get out” of Syria, even as his top commander for the Middle East outlined the need for an ongoing military presence there.

Read more:
https://atlanticpostng.com/breaking-trump-instructs-military-to-begin-planning-for-withdrawal-from-syria/

China hit back quickly on Wednesday against the Trump administration’s plans to slap tariffs on $50 billion in Chinese goods, retaliating with a list of similar duties on key U.S. imports including soybeans, planes, cars, beef and chemicals.

The speed with which the trade struggle between Washington and Beijing is ratcheting up – China took less than 11 hours to respond with its own measures – led to a sharp selloff in global stock markets and commodities. [MKTS/GLOB]

U.S. President Donald Trump denied that the tit-for-tat moves amounted to a trade war between the world’s two economic superpowers.

“We are not in a trade war with China, that war was lost many years ago by the foolish, or incompetent, people who represented the U.S.,” Trump wrote in a post on Twitter early on Wednesday.

Investors were wondering, nonetheless, how far one of the worst trade disputes in many years could escalate.

“The assumption was China would not respond too aggressively and avoid escalating tensions. China’s response is a surprise for some people,” said Julian Evans-Pritchard, Senior China Economist at Capital Economics, noting that neither side had yet called for enforcement of the tariffs.

Read more:
https://atlanticpostng.com/china-retaliates-slaps-duties-on-u-s-soybeans-planes-markets-skid/

ABUJA - A mammoth crowd of protesters on Tuesday stormed the Three-Arms-Zone around Unity Fountain, Abuja to protest against President Muhammadu Buhari over what they termed the wickedness and tyranny of his regime.

Continue reading:
https://atlanticpostng.com/video-protest-in-abuja-against-president-muhammadu-buhari-by-enraged-muslims/

South African anti-apartheid campaigner Winnie Mandela has died aged 81, her personal assistant says.

Winnie Madikizela Mandela was the former wife of South Africa's first black president, Nelson Mandela.

The couple - famously pictured hand-in-hand as Mr Mandela walked free from prison after 27 years - were a symbol of the anti-apartheid struggle for nearly three decades.

However, in later years her reputation became tainted legally and politically.

Family spokesman Victor Dlamini said in a statement: "She died after a long illness, for which she had been in and out of hospital since the start of the year.
Continue reading:
https://atlanticpostng.com/breaking-winnie-mandela-south-african-anti-apartheid-campaigner-dies-at-81/

No fewer than 15 people were killed and about 83 wounded in a Boko Haram attack in Maiduguri military spokesman Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu. said on Monday.

The incident whict he said happend on sunday night is one of the biggest strike since the government said it was in talks with the Islamist militant group.

“Fifteen persons including a soldier have so far been confirmed dead in the encounter, while about 83 persons who suffered varying degrees of injuries are receiving due medical attention,’ Nawchukwu said.

He noted that 13 insurgents had been killed, including seven bombers, adding that the retreating militants attacked locals.

‘It is clear that the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists are hell-bent on remaining relevant by attacking soft and vulnerable targets,’ Nwachukwu added.

Continue reading:
https://atlanticpostng.com/maiduguri-15-dead-83-injured-in-boko-haram-attack/

It has been revealed that London has become notorious as far as murder cases are concerned and it’s becoming more like New York City.

The city of Big Ben and the tube overtook New York in murders for the first time in modern history as the British capital dealt with a surge in knife attacks.

According to the Sunday Times, 15 people were murdered in London, against 14 in New York.

Both cities are very diverse with large populations: London has over 8.7 million residents to New York’s 8.5 million.

In March, according to the British publication, there had been 22 killings in London versus 21 in New York.

Continue reading:
https://atlanticpostng.com/murder-rate-in-london-overtakes-that-of-new-york/

[Perspective] The Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps: why Wike is right (Part 1)

By Enemi Alabo George

- Essence of Neighbourhood Security
- Proactivity, Rather than Reactivity
- Provisions of the Law
- Needless Worries
- Dakuku Peterside’s comments

The recent passage into law of the Rivers State Neighbourhood Security Corps bill (HA., 2018 by the Rivers State House of Assembly has elicited a cascade of reactions, positive and negative, for and against. In considering most of the negative reactions however, I noticed a recurrent decimal, a common factor, that they were borne out of ignorance, misinformation, unnecessary fear or suspicion, which to me is largely inexplicable and deeply surprising. To me and to my mind, anyone who has taken time to study the bill (which is now law) establishing the Rivers State Neighbourhood Security Corps would be glad and grateful to the almighty God, who has made this possible.

Section 14(2b) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) places as the most important responsibility on the government, the security and welfare of its people. It states thus: “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.” Please also recall that Section 13(1) (ibid) states that “it shall be the duty and responsibility of all organs of government and all authorities and persons, exercising legislative, executive or judicial powers to conform to, observe and apply the provisions of this chapter (chapter 2) of this constitution”.

If the above holds true and strong, then permit me to say that the government of Rivers State of Nigeria as is constituted today, has no choice but to protect its citizenry and their belongings. Perhaps, it was in anticipation of this scenario that on March 30th 1981, at the Conference of the Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO, Ronald Reagan said “government’s first duty is to protect the people…”
In avoiding rhetoric exuberance and complex ebullience, let me dwell slightly on, or emphasize the essence of NEIGHBOURHOOD SECURITY (emphasis deliberate).

Continue reading:
https://atlanticpostng.com/perspective-the-rivers-state-neighbourhood-safety-corps-why-wike-is-right-part-1/

By Owei Lakemfa

Serious diplomacy has this Easter Season, given way to the farcical drama of European countries expelling diplomats of their Russian brothers with the later retaliating. This week, 25 countries including non-European allies like the United States, Australia and Canada, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) had knocked out 158 Russian diplomats  with Russia absorbing the punches and throwing its own. There is the joke that American  President, Donald Trump was watching the CBS 60 Minutes programme when he was asked how many Russian diplomats should  be expelled, he looked at the screen, saw 60 Minutes and decided that 60 Russians should be expelled.

In descending  into Cold War politics, no shots have been fired, and may not be; it is actually more of shadow boxing. The ostensible reason for this street  musical   is the tragic attempted murder of  Russian double spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia who were on March 4,  found unconscious in Salisbury, Britain. Skripal was a Russian intelligence agent found guilty of "high treason in the form of espionage" and imprisoned in 2006 before being exchanged in 2010 for some Russians accused of spying in the US.

British Prime Minister Theresa May said the poison used was a  “military-grade nerve agent of a type developed by Russia” and concluded that Russia was “highly likely” to have made the attempt.  Also, the attack bore resemblance to the murder of Alexander Litvinenko,  a former KGB agent who fled prosecution and took asylum in Britain. On  November 1, 2006,  he  fell ill and passed away twenty days later. The autopsy showed he had ingested poison; polonium-2010 and  the Russians were accused of administering it.

The Russians denied being behind the Salisbury attack and asked  the British for evidence beyond mere suspicion. An angry Britain responded by expelling 23 Russian diplomats, the latter  retaliated  expelling an equal number of British diplomats and shutting down the British Council.
Continue reading:
https://atlanticpostng.com/perspective-the-european-game-of-expulsions/

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reacted to a list released by the Federal Government indicting its members as ‘top treasury looters’.

The PDP in a press statement by its National Chairman, Uche Secondus, on Friday released a counter list containing Governors, Senators, Ministers and other top All Progressives Congress Chieftains.

It will be recalled that the FG through the Minister of Information had released a list containing PDP members who have allegedly looted Nigeria monies.

The statement read in part: “In line with the directive of the ruling APC Government that PDP should return all looted monies for Nigerians to accept our apology, PDP hereby wholeheartedly agrees to abide by this suggestion and will get its members to return the said looted money.

“Accordingly, the following are directed to immediately report to the EFCC with their loots:

Continue reading...
https://atlanticpostng.com/breaking-looters-list-pdp-replies-fg-lists-saraki-amaechi-50-apc-leaders-as-top-looters-see-full-list/

In a broad expansion of the information gathered from applicants for U.S. visas, the federal government is proposing to collect social media identities from nearly everyone who seeks entry into the United States, according to a State Department filing on Friday.

The proposal, which must be approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), would require most immigrant and non-immigrant visa applicants to list on a federal application form all of the social media identities they have used in the past five years.

The information will be used to vet and identify them, according to the proposals, which would affect about 14.7 million people annually.

Read more...
https://atlanticpostng.com/u-s-visa-applicants-to-be-asked-for-social-media-history-state-department/

Remarks by Atiku Abubakar, GCON, former Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, at the South-South Mega Rally on Restructuring, at Oxbow Lake Pavillion, Swali-Yenegoa on 24th March, 2018.
 
Protocol:
Thank you very much for inviting me to this rally in support of the restructuring of the Nigerian federation.  All who support the calls for restructuring our federation are united in their desire to live in a society that works better and works for its people. They are also united by their love for their country, their patriotism. Those who do not love their country would just want it to break up; they would not be interested in making Nigeria work better. And I want to believe that those who oppose restructuring, preferring instead the retention of our current structure, with all its challenges, are also driven by their love of the country. I just happen to think that they are wrong; they are mistaken in their views.
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https://atlanticpostng.com/a-restructured-nigeria-is-good-for-the-north-and-the-south/

President Cyril Ramaphosa has stunned South Africans as he was spotted travelling to Durban in economy class.

It was on a Safair flight from Pretoria on Friday morning. He was on his way to attend the Covenant Fellowship Church International in eSikhaleni, Kwazulu Natal north coast.

Ramaphosa’s co-passengers snapped photos with the president which were shared on Twitter, according to News24.
See more:
https://atlanticpostng.com/president-ramaphosa-travels-economy-class/

The farm of former Zimbabwe First Lady, Grace Mugabe sits on gold deposits and it is a secret known to illegal miners who have now swooped on it.
Read more:
https://atlanticpostng.com/grace-mugabes-farm-sits-on-gold-illegal-miners-move-in/

The Atlantic Post published an exclusive that went viral on Wednesday, March 28 with the title: "The fake MLK award presented to President Buhari: how Abike Dabiri scammed the President" with the following link... https://atlanticpostng.com/the-fake-mlk-award-presented-to-president-buhari-how-abike-dabiri-scammed-the-president/.

However, here is a follow up.
Read more:

https://atlanticpostng.com/the-king-center-buharis-purported-award-not-from-mlks-family-2/