President Muhammadu Buhari expressed profound commiserations with the family, friends and associates of His Royal Majesty, Attah Igala, Michael Idakwo Ameh Oboni II, over the transition of the Paramount Ruler of Igala Kingdom and President, Kogi State Council of Chiefs.
The President also condoled with the Kogi State Government, describing the late royal father as a “man of peace who devoted his life and reign to the unity and progress of not only his people, but also the state and country.”
In a statement today, August 29, by the senior special assistant to the President on media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, the President said that the 27th Attah Igala will be greatly missed for his wise counsels and reputation for honesty, urging the people of his domain to sustain his achievements during his eight-year rule.
The President prayed that God will console the family of the revered foremost traditional ruler and all those who mourn him, and grant his soul eternal rest.
The President’s condolence message came against the backdrop of a statement today from the Attah’s legal team that the media announcement of the death of the monarch was a taboo in Igala culture.
“If Biden wins, which I honestly can’t believe would happen, I will have lost to a low IQ individual.”
This was the verdict of President Donald Trump of the United States of America, who is running for a second term on the platform of the Republican.
Trump, who addressed party supporters at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, as he continued with campaign, remarked: “the only way we’re going to lose this election is if this election is rigged.”
President Trump resumed campaigning for reelection as though the coronavirus pandemic was a thing of the past, rallying hundreds of supporters at an airport hangar.
But with the virus looming over the race, the president for the first time, acknowledged even the theoretical possibility of defeat.
The president’s supporters stood shoulder to shoulder, most of them not wearing face masks that health experts say can help prevent the spread of coronavirus, which has killed more than 181,000 Americans.
Yesterday, August 28, more than 45,000 new cases were reported in the U.S.
Yet Trump seemed eager to pack more people into his rally.
He boasted that on his approach to the airport that he had seen “thousands and thousands” more supporters lined up who were denied entry out of health concerns, a twist on his usual rally mantra, that “fire marshals” had limited the size of his audience.
“Sir, we couldn’t let them in,” Trump said, recounting what he said an aide had told him, to which he said he responded, “Why not? Let ’em in.”
Solicitors to His Royal Majesty, Dr. Michael Idakwo Ameh Oboni II and Igala Area Traditional Council have faulted the announcement of the demise of the monarch that was published in media across the country this week, saying that it runs contrary to the culture and tradition of the people.
Consequently, they are seeking the immediate withdrawal of such announcements and presentations by all the media platforms.
In a statement issued yesterday, August 28, asking the media to immediately withdraw such announcement, Chief Festus Oguche and Dr. D.D. Makolo representing the royal legal team, said that the whole idea of the announcement were however predicated on certain fundamental misconception of the underpinnings of the Igala culture and tradition.Unfortunately, they said, some of the purveyors of the falsehood are Igala sons who should have known better.
“It is utmost dismay that we noticed the peddling of certain information both on social and mainstream media announcing the demise of the Attah Igala.
”We state here categorically the whole idea of this announcement is predicated on certain fundamental misconception of the underpinnings of the Igala culture and tradition.
“Unfortunately, some of the purveyors of this falsehood are Igala sons who should have known better.
”Firstly, Attah Igala Never Dies. He lives in perpetuity.“Secondly, the incumbent on the throne being a mortal person may pass on, but the fact about his demise or death remains in abeyance.
”If at all it does happen or whenever such happens , it remains in abeyance until it is formally announced from the palace in accordance with the dictates of Igala culture and tradition.
“It does not lie on the media to announce the death of an Attah , without confirmation from the royal stool. Doing that is tantamount to the desecration of the whole essence of Igala culture and tradition.
”Suffice to mention that Attah Igala stool is a sacred one imbued with a high level of traditional paraphernalia and the act of announcing the demise in a speculative manner is a grave desecration of the ancient traditional stool.
“From the foregoing, we humbly seek the immediate withdrawal of such announcement by all media platforms in obeisance to the requirement of traditions and the rights of the good people of Igala Kingdom.
”We therefore expect a high level of responsibility from the media as the tradition of the Igala people is a recognisable one and consistent with the practice globally in monarchical systems.“
Nigerian government has sent a stern warning to the government of and authorities in Ghana that it would no longer tolerate further attacks on Nigerians in that country under whatever guise.
“Nigeria has time after time demonstrated its fidelity to the long cordial relations with Ghana. But indications, especially in recent times, are that Nigeria’s stance is now being taken for granted and its citizens being made targets of harassment and objects of ridicule. This will no longer be tolerated under any guise.”
Reacting today, August 28, to the recent series of attacks on Nigerians in Ghana, the minister of information and culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed asked Nigerians in Ghana to remain law-abiding and avoid engaging in self-help, despite their ordeal, saying that the issues are being addressed at higher levels.
Lai Mohammed stressed that Nigeria will no longer tolerate harassment of its citizens in Ghana.
He said that the government is deeply concerned over the progressive acts of hostility towards the country by Ghanaian authorities, “and will no longer tolerate such.”
He said that the federal government is urgently considering a number of options aimed at ameliorating the situation.
“The Federal Government has been documenting the acts of hostility towards Nigeria and Nigerians by the Ghanaian authorities. These include Seizure of the Nigerian Mission’s property located at No. 10, Barnes Road, Accra, which the Nigerian Government has used as diplomatic premises for almost 50 years. This action is a serious breach of the Vienna Convention.
Demolition of the Nigerian Mission’s property located at No. 19/21 Julius Nyerere Street, East Ridge, Accra, another serious breach of the Vienna Convention.
Aggressive and incessant deportation of Nigerians from Ghana. Between Jan. 2018 and Feb. 2019, 825 Nigerians were deported from Ghana.
Closure of shops belonging to Nigerians. Over 300 Nigerians shops were locked for four months in Kumasi in 2018; over 600 Nigerian shops were locked in 2019 and currently, over 250 Nigerians shops have been locked.
Residency permit requirements, for which the Ghana Immigration Service has placed huge fees, far higher than the fees charged by the Nigerian Immigration Service. These include the compulsory Non-citizen ID card (US$120, and US$60 for yearly renewal); Medical examinations, including for COVID-19 which is newly-introduced, at about US$120), and payment for a residency permit (US$400 compared to the N7,000 being paid by Ghanaians for residency card in Nigeria) and outrageous stipulations in the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Act.
When the Act was initially promulgated in 1994, a foreigner was required to invest at least US$300,000 by way of equity capital and also employ 10 Ghanaians. This Act has now been amended twice, with the 2018 GIPC Act raising the minimum capital base for foreign-owned businesses to US$1m.
Though targeted at foreigners, it seems GIPC’s definition of foreigners is Nigerians. The GIPC Act also negates the ECOWAS Protocol.
“The negative reportage of issues concerning Nigerians resident in Ghana by the Ghanaian media is fuelling an emerging xenophobic attitude towards Nigerian traders and Nigerians in general. The immediate fallout is the incessant harassment and arrest of Nigerian traders and closure of their shops.
“Harsh and openly-biased judicial trial and pronouncement of indiscriminately-long jail terms for convicted Nigerians. There are currently over 200 Nigerians in the Nsawam Maximum prison in Ghana alone.
“The Federal Government will like to put on record the fact that even though over 1 million Ghanaians are resident in Nigeria, they are not being subjected to the kind of hostility being meted out to Nigerians in Ghana.
“Also, Even though the main reason given for the seizure of Federal Government property at No. 10, Barnes Road in Accra is the non-renewal of lease after expiration, the Ghanaian authorities did not give Nigeria the right of first refusal or the notice to renew the lease. By contrast, the lease on some of the properties occupied by the Ghanaian Mission in Nigeria has long expired, yet such properties have not been seized.
President Muhammadu Buhari and the national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu have sympathized with the families, friends and associates of victims of the Bell 206 helicopter operated by Quorum Aviation which crashed into a building in Opebi, Lagos State today, August 28.
In a statement by the presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, the President said that while the nation awaits report of investigation into the accident by aviation regulatory agencies, he prays that God will console the bereaved families, grant peace to the souls of the dead and speedy recovery for the injured.
Asiwaju Tinubu also expressed sympathy to the families, relations and friends of those who lost their lives in the crash even as he called on the aviation authorities to investigate the causes of the crash.
In a statement by his media office, Asiwaju prayed that Almighty Allah consoles the families of the victims of the crash and grant the deceased eternal rest.
He wished the survivor of the crash soonest recovery.
The Northern version of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) known as New Nigerian Bar Association, (NNBA) has emerged.
A statement from the group, signed by two Northern lawyers who are the Conveners, Nuhu Ibrahim and Abdulbasit Suleiman, said that the formation of the new group was informed by the recent developments in the Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA) which had plunged iit into crisis following the disagreement on the invitation of Kaduna State Governor, Mallam El Rufai as a Guest at the NBA conference.
In the statement, termed Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA), “peddling
of sectional interests” the group said that the recent rumblings from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) is leaving much to be desired within the ranks of Concerned Lawyers especially from Northern part of the Country.
“What has been happening recently has exposed the inability of the NBA to manage and contain the heterogeneity of it’s members as well as their various interests. It’s penal powers has been deployed discriminatively on the basis of ethnicity and regionalism.
“As a body of Lawyers who have undergone training towards ensuring the promotion and protection of Human rights and liberties, the NBA is supposed to live above sentiments, regionalism and discrimination on any basis and of any kind. Therefore, the NBA cannot afford to be seen not to be upholding the rights and freedom of its own members if at all, it should be seen to be practicing what it preaches. As the Hausa saying goes: ‘Idan Kura tana maganin zaho, ta yi ma kanta’ (If Hyena has cure for diarrhoea let her use it for herself).”
The statement said that The New Nigerian Bar Association had been watching the activities of the NBA, an association “we all looked forward to joining with high hopes before being called to the Nigerian Bar, forcing idiosyncrasies of few on the majority of its members especially in recent times.
“No wonder, NBA NEC, which is the highest decision-making organ of the Association failed to uphold the fundamental principles of fair hearing which in itself, is the fundamental aspect of Rule of Law, on the allegations against the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai as were contained in a petition by Chidi Odinkalu Esq. a long time foe of His Excellency and a Lawyer of Eastern extraction, but the NBA failed to extend the same treatment to Southern invitees who were also petitioned and are also alleged to have committed similar or more human rights abuses than those alleged against Mallam El-Rufai.
“It is pertinent to state that the NBA membership as currently constituted can be termed ” Mandatory Membership Association which, for all intents and purposes, is against the provisions of the Constitution since the grundnorm recognises freedom of membership of every Association.
Section 40 of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999 provides as follows:
”Every person shall be entitled to assembly freely and associate with other persons, and in particular he may form or belong to any political party, trade union or any Association for the protection of his interests.”
The New Nigerian Bar Association members, the group said, gleaning from the above Constitutional provision “feel that their interests are no longer taken into consideration in major decisions of the NBA hence the formation of this Association. A cursory chronicle of the membership composition of major organs of the NBA would reveal lopsided representation despite having large numbers of Lawyers from all parts of the Country and especially Northern Nigeria who have diligently paid their Bar practicing fees and have distinguished themselves in the legal profession.”
According to the group, the
New Nigerian Bar Association feels that, Lawyers, as professionals like Doctors and Accountants should have more than one Association regulated by the General Council of the Bar.
“The Legal Practitioners Act (LPA) which regulates the legal profession in Nigeria did not establish the NBA. In fact, the NBA was established as an Incorporated Trustee by Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). It is no longer gainsaying that a group of Lawyers can freely join any lawful Association for the protection of their rights and interests as Lawyers and citizens of Nigeria pursuant to the above cited Section 40 of the Constitution.
Even Section 1of the Legal Practitioners Act, which seemingly conscripted all Lawyers in Nigeria to Mandatory Membership of NBA is, for all intents and purposes, at loggerheads with Section 40 of the Constitution which makes the former null and void and of no effect whatsoever,” the group stated.
It argued that the Constitution remains the supreme Law of the land to which all other laws including the LPA are subject.
Section 1(3) of the Constitution states that:
“If any other Law is inconsistent with the provision of this Constitution, this Constitution shall prevail, and that other Law shall to the extent of the inconsistency be void.”
“On the basis of the foregoing, the group argued, some Lawyers of like mind and duly called to the Nigerian Bar have decided to form New Nigerian Bar Association with the aim of protecting their interests as encapsulated under Section 40 of the Constitution”
The NNA said members of the group have commenced consultations with very Senior Lawyers of Northern Nigeria extraction and those practising therein with the view to constituting the Trustees and for purposes of fixing date for formal inauguration of the Association.
Ambassador of Norway to Nigeria, Jens-Petter Kjempru
Out-going Ambassador of Norway to Nigeria, Jens-Petter Kjemprud, has said that his sojourn had attracted more than 70 Norwegian companies to Nigeria.
He also recalled step taken by the Norwegian Sovereign Welfare Fund to invest in the Nigerian Stock Exchange
The out-going Ambassador, who paid farewell visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa, Abuja today, August 28, said on the whole, his four-year tenure had grown substantial economic relations between his country and Nigeria.
He cited as a very important achievement, the organisation of two donor conferences driven by Norway that raised more than USD 1 billion for the development and humanitarian assistance to the Northeast.
Responding, President Buhari expressed delight at the progress made in Nigeria-Norwegian relations in the last four years.
Buhari commended the Ambassador for the bilateral accomplishment in the area of oil and gas, fishing, humanitarian assistance in the Northeast and other benefits that his efforts have brought to Nigeria.
“I congratulate you on your performance and hard work and for the help in the promotion of welfare of people in the Northeast where we have problem of Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs and in infrastructural deficit. We are very grateful. Thank you.”
Chairman of Toto local government area of Nasarawa State, Nuhu Adamu Dauda has said that it took the military five days to dislodge “Darul Salam” terrorists from his local government.
The chairman who confirmed the latest developments to journalists in Toto, said that after intelligence gathering, it was discovered that the criminals were not mere bandits but an emerging terrorists group known as “Darul Salam.”
The five-day battle which ended in victory for the military led to the surrender of 410 persons, including women and children.
“Their cell at Uttu forest in Toto local government was bombarded where bomb making factory was discovered, leaving their wives and children at the mercy of the military.”
Adamu Dauda commended operation WHIRL STROKE for the successful operation, adding that, destroying the terrorist camp would not only tackle kidnapping and banditry in the area but would also bring peace to the area and the state at large.
“We are happy that the military discovered bomb factory and destroyed terrorist camp in my local government.
“The destruction of their camp by the military would not only tackle the activities of kidnappers and bandits but would also bring peace to the area and the state at large.
“As the activities of these kidnappers and bandits have affected our lives negatively, ” he said.
The council boss further revealed that a security summit will be called to determine if farming and other activities could resume fully in Toto after the operation.
At the camp where the women and children are being camped by the military awaiting further directives, it was crystal clear that they were subjected to hardship by the terrorist.
Most of the women were either pregnant or breastfeeding a child, looking very pale and malnourished.
One of the women found in the camp, Kadijat Abdullahi, who shared her ordeal with newsmen said that her husband was kidnapped and killed in Gombe by members of the sect, before she was brought down to Toto forest in Nasarawa state.
“After killing my husband, they took me to the bush and we have been there for nine months where they impregnated me.
“We only woke up and saw military shooting and killing them. The one I’m under him I wouldn’t know whether he was killed” she said.
Another is Aisha who put to bed barely 24 hours after her husband was killed in an exchange of fire with the military.”
Those who are regarded as powerful forces in the service of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) are said to have continued to sideline the minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello over special alliance he approved for the frontline medical personnel on coronavirus pandemic and other staff in various categories.
Investigations by our reporters showed that the minister had since approved the money, running into billions, but that the powerful forces are sitting on it because the minister insisted seeing evidences of hundreds of “ghost names” they earlier submitted as those entitled to the special allowance.
It was gathered that while the powerful forces are defiantly sitting on the money which is saved in individual deposit accounts, the frontline workers on Covid-19 are threatening to embark on strike over lack of payment of their alliances, which of course, the minister had long approved and the money duly released.
Some staff close to the powerful forces, who spoke to our reporters on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the minister meant well for the staff regarding their welfare but that those powerful ones are thwarting his efforts “in a way that the minister would not know what is actually happening around him.”
The anonymous staff said that the powerful forces have perfected their acts of sabotage in their desperate desire to amass workers’ entitlements that they corner even the promotional and other benefits of the workers, including course allowances and disturbance allowances.
“They are so wicked and dangerous that anyone who stands on their way would die (mysteriously) within a month. In fact, we know what is happening and we are sure the minister does not know because of the clever way they do it, but we dare not talk or expose them.”
Our reporters made several efforts to speak to the Director of Human Resources in the FCTA to react to the story but he rebuffed all such moves, giving one excuse or the other. On an occasion, he invited one of our reporters to his office, but ended up not attending to him after the reporters had spent six hours, from 9.00am to 3.00pm waiting for him in the visitors’ room.
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President Muhammadu Buhari and the national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu have sympathized with the families, friends and associates of victims of the Bell 206 helicopter operated by Quorum Aviation which crashed into a building in Opebi, Lagos State today, August 28.
The Northern version of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) known as New Nigerian Bar Association, (NNBA) has emerged.
Those who are regarded as powerful forces in the service of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) are said to have continued to sideline the minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello over special alliance he approved for the frontline medical personnel on coronavirus pandemic and other staff in various categories.
