Details of US, Nigeria, 82 countries’ meeting on terrorism

 

The United States and Nigeria convened a virtual meeting with members of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS on Tuesday.

In attendance were other West African states and relevant regional organizations.

The parley discussed the threat of ISIS and ways the coalition can contribute to collective efforts to quell ISIS in the region.

Participants reviewed potential lines of effort, including the use of battlefield evidence and border security measures.

There were sessions on understanding and countering the threat, moderated by U.S. Special Envoy for the Sahel, Ambassador J. Peter Pham.

Representatives from Cameroon, Chad, Guinea, Niger and Nigeria provided insights on troubling developments of ISIS affiliate activity in West Africa.

The countries suggested ways the coalition could enhance efforts to counter the trends.

A State Department statement said it was the first of such meeting for Nathan A. Sales, Coordinator for Counterterrorism.

The Ambassador is the new Special Envoy for the Global Coalition.

Sales outlined the increasing focus on defeating ISIS’s global branches and affiliates.

The senior official expressed appreciation to the Nigerian delegation, led by Rear Admiral Yaminu E. Musa, Coordinator for the Counter Terrorism Centre, for co-hosting the event.

Mauritania’s accession into the coalition as the 83rd member was announced.

Since January 2017, the body has welcomed 14 new members from Africa and Asia.

ISWAP was formed after several terrorist leaders and members broke out from Boko Haram in 2015.

Since then, the ISIS affiliate in West Africa, has wreaked havoc in Nigeria and its neighbours.

ISWAP has murdered hundreds, including civilians and soldiers, in dozens of heinous attacks.

In February, the United Nations (UN) added that the sect and ISIS-Greater Sahara (ISIS-GS) to its terrorist designations list.

America, in a statement by the State Department spokesperson, Morgan Ortagus, hailed the decision.

Ortagus recalled that the U.S. designated ISWAP and ISIS-GS as Foreign Terrorist Organizations on May 23, 2018 and February 28, 2018, respectively.

Okonjo Iweala made to wait as WTO cancels meeting on appointment

 

Nigeria’s Former Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, will have to wait to know her fate as the next Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

This is because a meeting of the organisation originally scheduled for Monday, November 9 on the issue has been postponed.

Okonjo-Iweala had been proposed by a WTO nominations committee on October 28 for the job, only for the United States to veto the recommendation.

It is, however, believed that the postponement of Monday’s meeting is due to the fresh surge in the spread of COVID-19 and restrictions being imposed in some countries which may prevent some delegates from attending.

Trump fires US Defense Secretary, Mark Esper

 

United States President Donald Trump has fired Defense Secretary, Mark Esper.

The American leader made the announcement on Monday.

Trump said Christopher C. Miller, director of the National Counterterrorism Centre, will be acting secretary of defense.

The appointment is effective immediately.

“Chris will do a great job! Mark Esper has been terminated. I would like to thank him for his service”, the President tweeted.

Esper was Trump’s second permanent Defense Secretary after James Mattis.

The retired General of the US Marine Corps resigned in late 2018.

US election 2020: Trump is like Biafra – Nnamdi Kanu

 

Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has stated that the incumbent President of the United States, Donald Trump is like the defunct Biafra Republic.

Nnamdi Kanu, in a Facebook post on Saturday, claimed that the plots to rig Trump out of office, through a system known as ‘Deep State’, was perfected in the last four years.

The IPOB leader said that all the polling and tech companies are behind what he described as the incoming reign of darkness.

According to Kanu, those that want to see man marry their fellow men and similar laws want Trump to go.

Nnamdi Kanu noted that even the church is against President Trump because he is a man of truth and action.

He said, “It’s proven, truth and righteousness alone no longer save the just. Trump is like Biafra. The world knows the truth but prefers the lies.”

See attached…

Arewa youths projects impact of Biden’s Presidency on Nigeria

 

The Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, AYCF, on Monday, said the victory of Joe Biden in the just concluded presidential election in the United States would have a positive impact on Nigeria.

Yerima Shettima, National President of AYCF, said Biden’s victory would strengthen Nigeria’s democracy with other parts of the world.

Shettima, who disclosed this in a chat with DAILY POST, recalled how Biden, a former US Vice President and his principal, Barack Obama played major roles in the emergence of Buhari’s government.

According to the AYCF National President: “Biden’s victory is going to have a positive impact on Nigeria because when he was the Vice President, they played a major role in the emergence of Buhari’s government.

“You will also recall that Obama’s government favoured Buhari’s government, so I’m of the view that the relationship between Nigeria and America would be more casual than it was in the past. To a large extent, it’s a positive result.

“Buhari’s government did not actually enjoy the support of Trump’s government

“We are looking forward to a very good working relationship and how democracy would be strengthened between Nigeria and other parts of the world.”

Nigeria love evil : US election: Biden declared himself winner – China refuses to congratulate President-elect

 

China has said that it was not aware of Joe Biden winning the US presidential election, declining to congratulate him.

The Asian giants said the outcome of the vote was still to be determined.

Despite media houses projecting Joe Biden as the winner of the tightly contested election after he polled over 270 college votes, incumbent Donald Trump is yet to concede and has filed several legal challenges.

China’s foreign ministry Spokesman, Wang Wenbin, told the press at a regular briefing Monday that his country had “noticed that Mr Biden declared he is the winner of the election.

“Our understanding is that the outcome of the election will be determined in accordance with US laws and procedures,” he said.

Many world leaders have since sent their congratulatory message to Biden and running mate Kamala Harris.

Trump’s presidency has been marked by a costly trade war and increasingly icy relations with China.

Trump Lawsuit likely as United States authorities fail to recognize Biden

 

The transition team of Joe Biden is dissatisfied that the former Senator has not been recognized by the United States authorities.

According to Associated Press, Biden of the Democratic Party won 290 electoral votes, and
76,343,332 vote count.

President Donald Trump of the Republican Party secured 214 electoral votes, and 71,444,567 vote count.

But the General Services Administration (GSA) has remained silent on the declaration of Biden as president-elect.

The independent agency must formally recognize election winners before they can commence transition tasks.

The GSA delay may not be unconnected to Trump’s rejection of the results. The President is filing legal action in several states over allegations of fraud.

Biden’s team say they may sue the federal government for refusing to acknowledge him as winner of the November 3 election.

“Legal action is certainly a possibility, but there are other options as well that we’re considering,” an official told Reuters.

The official said with the current situation, Biden cannot access classified information, as well as federal funds to pay salaries, consultants, travel expenses, among others.