BIAFRA NEWS : Igbo group attacks Arewa youths over call to arrest Senator Abaribe

 Igbo Renaissance Forum, a pan Igbo movement, has vehemently condemned the call by the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, AYCF, for Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, the minority leader in the Senate, to be arrested.

Recall that the AYCF, in its reaction to the court order to detain Senator Ali Ndume for failing to produce Abdulrasheed Maina, former Chairman of the defunct Pension Task Team in court, had questioned the authorities’ refusal to arrest Senator Abaribe who stood as surety for Nnamdi Kanu.

And in a statement signed by its International Coordinator, Nze Ugo-Akpe Onwuka (Oyi), the organization said it was baseless comparing Abaribe’s situation with that of Ndume.

The statement reads, “We wish to express our deepest disappointment at the grossly unfortunate call by the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, AYCF, for the arrest of Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe following the order of a court to remand Senator Ali Ndume in Kuje Correctional Centre, over his failure to produce Maina in court.

“We want to unequivocally state that such a hatchet job by a Youth organization is a terrible development at this stage of our national life.

“It is sad that Alhaji Yerima Shettima is still stuck in his tribal quandary, and has been so blinded to see things from objective and realistic national perspectives.

“It is sad and heartbreaking that the instead of commending the court for taking such an action that would deter other looters in the Nigerian state in line with the Federal Government’s push for zero tolerance to corruption, this youth leader veered dangerously off course and started making demands that ultimately makes corruption look like a noble venture.

“We would not hesitate to advise Alhaji Yerima Shettima to retrace his steps and cease from being used as a hatchet man.

“We call on President Muhammadu Buhari to take immediate actions to prevent the desecration of the judiciary by such unguarded and vexatious narratives from tribally sequestered minds.

“It is very pertinent to note that if such rhetorics are ignored and those who propagate such divisive and unintelligent narratives are allowed to go scot free, it would surely embolden such myopic and tribally twisted elements to rubbish the judiciary and other arms of government in future.

“IGBO RENAISSANCE FORUM demands that Alhaji Yerima Shettima be made to withdraw his putrid statement which goes to paint the judiciary in a very terrible light.

“Comparing the case of Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe to that of Senator Ali Ndume is a classical case of comparing apples to oranges, and this can only happen where intelligence has been suspended based on pecuniary interests.

“Finally, we want to state that we would not stand by and watch hired hands raise questionable issues with the ultimate aim of targeting Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe for harassment.”

BIAFRA NEWS : Senator Abaribe may land in jail, Igbo leaders won’t help Nnamdi Kanu – Ohanaeze

 

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council, OYC, has described the commencement of Nnamdi Kanu’s trial at the Federal High Court, Abuja, as the beginning of his repatriation process by the Federal Government.

Justice Binta Nyarko-led Federal High Court Abuja, on Thursday fixed January 27,2021 as the new date for continuation of the trial of Kanu.

The matter was fixed for hearing on Thursday Nov. 26, 2020, but both Kanu and his counsel, Mr Ifeanyi Ejiofor, were absent in court.

Ohanaeze said it was now very unfortunate for Kanu because Igbo leaders were no longer interested in helping him.

OYC’s statement was signed and made available to DAILY POST by Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, President General; Comrade Obinna Achionye, Deputy President General and Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, Secretary-General

OYC further said that it sympathizes with Senator Enyinnayah Abaribe and other sureties of Kanu, adding that “there is the possibility they might face the battle axe of the law, the same situation that befell Senator Ali Ndume, if they fail to produce Nnamdi Kanu in person before the court.”

According to OYC, Kanu’s rantings and continuous threats against Southeast Governors, Igbo leaders and issuance of standing orders for them to be attacked in foreign lands affirms that he (Kanu) has squandered goodwill.

“Kanu’s case is pathetic and unfortunately, the recent outcry of military invasion in his hometown Afaraukwu, Umuahia, is an outdated strategy craftily designed to attract public sympathy which has been squandered too,” Ohanaeze youths said.

The group, however, gave the IPOB leader one condition, adding that “there’s only one way out for Kanu, OYC is ready to help him get Presidential Pardon from Federal Government especially with the existing cordial relationships between Southeast Governors and President Muhammadu Buhari.

“But he should show remorseful repentance in actions and apologize to Southeast governors and leaders in private or public.”

US election : Donald Trump give condition to leave White House

 

US President, Donald Trump don give condition before e go leave di White House even though e go dey hard for am to agree say Joe Biden win di election.

Dis na di US presidential election results latest update since afta Trump begin drag say im no go accept defeat.

Oga Trump say im go leave di White House if di Electoral College officially confam Joe Biden victory when dem meets next month.

On Thursday, tori pipo ask president Trump weda e go agree to leave di White House if e lost di electoral college vote and e reply say; "Certainly I will, certainly I will and you know dat."

But e also add say "if dem pick [elect Joe Biden], dem make mistake", and suggest say e fit no ever accept defeat.

"E go be very hard thing to concede because we know say big fraud dey di election." President Trump tok.

Di president don bin refuse to accept defeat for di 3 November vote, and tell reporters say e go dey "hard" to concede.

E also repeat im claim of voter fraud wey no get prove once again.

US presidential election results

Joe Biden pass oga Trump with 306 votes to 232 under di electoral college system wey dem dey use take pick US presidents.

Di tally dey far more than di 270 wey Biden need to win, and oga Biden also lead di popular vote by more than six million.

Electors go meet next month to formalise di vote, as Joe Biden dey prepare for im swearing in as president on 20 January but Trump no tok weda e go attend oga Biden inauguration.

Under di US electoral system, voters no dey directly choose di next president. Instead, dem go vote for 538 officials, who dey allocate to American states based on dia population size.

Di electors almost always dey vote for di candidate wey win di most votes for dia states, and although e dey possible for some to disregard di voters' pick but no result don ever changed dis way.

Donald Trump speak afta e participate for Thanksgiving video teleconference with members of di military.

President Trump and im supporters don file alias lodge plenti-plenti legal challenges ova di election, but most of dem don dey dismissed.

Early dis week, oga Trump finally agree to allow di formal transition to President-elect Biden team to begin, afta several weeks of dragging.

Di decision mean say oga Biden dey able to receive top security briefings and access key goment officials and millions of dollars in funds as e dey prepare to take ova on 20 January.

TODAY NEWS : Lawan attends as Adamawa Senator, Abbo formally dumps PDP for APC

 

The All Progressives Congress (APC) formally accepted Senator Ishaku Abbo into the party on Thursday.

The lawmaker was received at the APC national secretariat in Abuja.

He was welcomed by Mai Mala Buni, Yobe State Governor and Chairman of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC).

The event was witnessed by Senate President Ahmad Lawan.

Abbo, elected on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), is the Senator representing Adamawa North District in the National Assembly.

He announced his intention to join the ruling APC on Wednesday.

Also in November, Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, dumped the PDP for the APC.

Earlier, former House of Representatives Speaker, Yakubu Dogara likewise decamped from the PDP to the APC.

TODAY NEWS : Netherlands returns smuggled 600-year-old Ife terracotta to Nigerian govt

The Kingdom of Netherlands on Thursday officially presented a smuggled Ife Terracotta antiquity dated to be at least 600 years old to Nigeria.

The repatriated antiquity was presented to the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed at a ceremony held in Abuja.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema, Netherlands Ambassador to Nigeria, Harry Van Dijk, Nigeria Charge de Affairs to the Netherlands, Kabiru Musa and the Director-General National Commission for Museum and Monuments (NCMM) were present at the event.

Receiving the repatriated object, the minister said it was smuggled through the airport in Ghana before getting to Europe in 2019.

“The smuggler had obtained forged documents purported to be from a former Director-General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments.

“The smuggler ultimately passed through the airport in Ghana before getting to Europe in 2019.

“The Dutch Customs at Schiphol Airport suspected that the object might be illicitly imported and alerted the antiquity protection office known as the Inspectie, which is the Information and Heritage Inspectorate of the Netherlands, to give an opinion.

“The Inspectie invited Nigeria to prove her case against the suspected smuggler,’’ he said. 

NEWS : Buhari promises to appoint more Nigerian women

 

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Abuja assured of more inclusion of women in governance.

He also reaffirmed the commitment of his administration to end child marriage and boost girl-child education.

Buhari spoke when a group of Nigerian women led by Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, visited him at the State House.

The Nigerian leader said he understood that when women hold strategic leadership positions both in government and the private sector, development will be accelerated.

“I want to reassure you that this administration remains resolute to not only meet the 35 percent National Gender Policy, but to exceed it across key decision making roles in government.’’

He advocated that the on-going Constitutional Review processes at all levels institutionalize accountability mechanisms and frameworks in the implementation of the National Gender Policy.

TODAY NEWS : Wike reveals why Gambari was ‘shocked’ over Amaechi’s absence during South-South, FG meeting

 

The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has insisted that the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, was shocked over the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi’s absence at the South-South stakeholders’ meeting with the President Muhammadu Buhari’s delegation because he knew that the Minister was at the airport with them.

Wike stated this while speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday.

The governor described as regrettable the absence of Amaechi, who arrived at the Government House, Port Harcourt, with Gambari for the crucial stakeholders meeting on Tuesday, but failed to participate in the event for inexplicable reasons.

“When I told the Chief of Staff, where is my own Minister, he was also shocked, because he knew that the Minister was at the airport with them,” Wike said.

Recall that the Federal Government held a meeting in the Rivers State Government House, Port Harcourt, on Tuesday.

The meeting had in attendance most presidential appointees from the region and elected representatives.

Gambari led the presidential delegation comprising ministers from the South-South.