Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Thursday 3rd December 2020

Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Thursday 3rd December 2020

Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 03/12/20

Court Sacks Pondei, Interim NDDC Leadership

Acting MD of the NDDC, Kemebradikumor Pondei, fainting during public interrogation before a legislative committee probing allegations of contracting fraud under his watch to the tune of N81 billion.

The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday sacked Prof Kemebradikumo Pondei, Mr Cairo Ojougboh, Dr Joi Nunieh and others from functioning on the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission.
In a suit numbered ABJ/CS/617/2020, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, in a ruling on an application by a Civil Society Organisation, Forum for Accountability and Good Governance, restrained them from parading themselves as board members of the NDDC.

Acting MD of the NDDC, Kemebradikumor Pondei, fainting during public interrogation before a legislative committee probing allegations of contracting fraud under his watch to the tune of N81 billion.

Daily Trust reports that the court also granted leave to the applicant to apply for a judicial review of the power of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or the Minister of the Niger Delta to appoint Pondei, Ojougboh and others in an interim capacity as members of the NDDC Board.The judge also granted leave to the applicant to apply for judicial review for an Order of Mandamus compelling the ICPC, sued as the 9th Defendant in the suit, to investigate the Minister of Niger Delta, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, and the five members of the Board over allegations of N3billion contract fraud.

BREAKING: Lagos-based Lawyer, Omirhobo Regains Freedom After Eight-Hour Detention For Protesting Against Insecurity

Malcolm Omirhobo addressing journalists

A Lagos State-based human rights lawyer and activist, Malcolm Omirhobo, who was arrested by the operatives of the Department of State Services at the Presidential Villa gate on Wednesday in Abuja has been released.
The lawyer, upon his arrest by the secret police, was handed over to the Nigerian police at the Supreme Court where he was asked to write a statement.

Malcolm Omirhobo addressing journalists

He was later taken to the Special Investigation Branch of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command where he was made to write another statement.
He was released at about 6:20 pm to some of his associates and lawyers, including Chidel Onuarah, Chidi Onwuekweikpe, Seprebofa Oyeghe, Uchenna Ezendu and Lord Lugard Simon who thronged the police command in solidarity.
Omirhobo, who spoke to SaharaReporters, condemned and described the action of the overzealous DSS operatives as undemocratic and uncivilised.
He said he would approach the court to interpret his rights to enable him to enter the Presidential Villa without any form of molestation from the security agents.
He explained that it was part of his fundamental rights to protest at the seat of power, so far he remained peaceful.
The activist said, “They asked me to write a statement at Supreme Court police station, and they took me to the Commissioner of Police, and they asked me to write another statement. They studied it, and at the end of the day, they saw that I was qualified to be released.”
SaharaReporters had reported the “one-man protest” by the activist aimed at getting President Muhammadu Buhari to put an end to what he described as genocide against Nigerians, especially in the North-East.

E2%80%93-army Boko Haram Attacks Are International Conspiracy To Split Nigeria – Army

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt General Yusuf Tukur Buratai.

The Nigerian Army has said that the Boko Haram attacks are an international conspiracy to “cut Nigeria to size” and to destabilise the peace of the country.
The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col Sagir Musa, stated this, claiming that there are some international paymasters sponsoring Boko Haram.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt General Yusuf Tukur Buratai.

Musa stated this in an article he shared on social media and with journalists.
The army spokesman said, “The recent killing of our people on a rice farm in Borno State was unexpected, inhuman, cowardly, dastardly and sadistic cruelty by the Boko Haram terrorists. There is no normal human being that will take pleasure in such inhuman massacre of defenceless and armless civilians, working on their farms; but that is the nature of terrorism and those who sponsor it.
“There is an international conspiracy to cut Nigeria to size and compromise national renegades making attempts to destabilise and dismember Nigeria if possible in subservience to the international paymasters; who are the owners of Boko Haram. They train them, arm them, finance them and supply their logistics.
“Without this treacherous international support of Boko Haram; they would have since been defeated. Yet, we can defeat them through our unity and unflinching support and encouragement of our security forces, particularly the military.”

Boko Haram

Insecurity

Military

News

AddThis

Original Author

SaharaReporters, New York

Disable advertisements

On The Naira Free Fall By Kunle Wizeman Ajayi

If you need a million naira, just get a friend in US to get you two thousand dollar. Gbam, you don become millionaire be that!
A dollar is now #500. And as it is, global price of the crude oil has fallen so low, increasing to $47 from $46.3 in November. The Naira may not appreciate this year against the dollar as Nigeria does not produce neither does it even have a cordinated services sector. To make matters worse, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has totally devalued the currency.
Lessons in history has shown that the CBN has only buried the naira after Nigeria has been murdered in an economic depression that is likely to end the current crude ruling class governing the most populated black country in the world. Governor Godwin Emefiele keeps speaking from both sides of the mouth; blaming the “tainted” parallel market as well as the pandemic. But he fails to admit that it is the full devaluation of the naira that has deepen the grave of a currency that in itself has fallen since the Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) has been imposed. Late Henry Boyo once quipped that “Naira Devaluation Be Like 419,” this must be an understatement as the policy is a conscious assassination of the Naira after it’s security exchange has been literally undermined through the state dependency on the services sector and oil, it’s only value market, has been deregulated through the conscious closure of the refineries to depend on importing while the crude oil is sold off so cheaply.
The same disaster befalling the Naira reminds us of the German Mark in 1919 after the 1st World War. Germany lost and the big countries started feasting on the Berlin Wall Street. The Mark had to exchange for a thousand times to a dollar. And this was the advent of the Hitler years of Nazist horror.

So, Buhari and Emefiele are openly negotiating a war situation with the worst devastating mal-economic policies. This is what is being done in all sectors. Working people need to jettison the compromised inactions of Organized Labour and join fighting youths to build beyond the #EndSARS moment for a surgical advancement to #RevolutionNow. That’s the alternative that Germany had to choose from after 1919. The German Social Democratic Party and the Rosa Luxembourg-led mass actions failed to unite at the critical period. For Germany, like Nigeria today, was torn between Revolution and war. Failure to unite all oppressed and fighting forces brought in Hitler, and therefore the Holocaust.
With the free fall of the Naira and the unwilling ways of the Buhari/Emefiele to halt the suicidal Devaluation malpractice, we are all condemned to either unite and revolt from North to South, or we all perish together in a war. The ZabarmariMassacre and #EndSARS genocide are clearly proverbial!

Opinion

AddThis

Original Author

Kunle Wizeman Ajayi

Disable advertisements

Insecurity: Nigerian Air Force Takes Delivery Of Serbian Helicopter

The Nigerian Air Force on Wednesday took delivery of a second Mi-171E Helicopter purchased by the government from Serbia to tackle insecurity in the country.
The Serbian Ilyushin 76 Strategic Airlifter aircraft that brought the helicopter touched down at the NAF Base, Makurdi on Wednesday afternoon.

This aircraft is coming among two dozens of platforms which the air force claimed it had deployed to the North-East and across the country to quell insecurity, without any visible improvement.
The silent supremacy war between the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Air Force has also worsened the Boko Haram insurgency with no effective synergy between the two frontline land and air forces.
The NAF said on Wednesday that its personnel and technical support staff from the equipment vendor were on hand to assist in offloading the new aircraft, some parts of which came in crates.
It said, “The new aircraft is the second of two Mi-171E helicopters procured by the current Federal Government and brings to 23 the total number of brand new aircraft acquired since 2015.
“The new aircraft will undoubtedly boost NAF’s contributions in the fight against insurgency, armed banditry and other criminal activities in the country. The newly-received aircraft will now be assembled in Makurdi by a team from the equipment vendor, assisted by NAF technicians, before test-flying and formal induction into the NAF.”FIGHT AGAINST INSURGENCY RECEIVES BOOST AS NAF TAKES DELIVERY OF ANOTHER MI-171E HELICOPTER pic.twitter.com/WVEzlxoPIY— Nigerian Air Force (@NigAirForce) December 2, 2020

Insecurity

News

AddThis

Original Author

SaharaReporters, New York

Disable advertisements

Senators Call For Probe Of Strange Deaths In Benue

Benue State Map

The Senate on Wednesday asked the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Arbovirus and the Vector Research Centre to investigate the source of a strange illness, which has claimed lives in Benue State.
The senators made this resolution following a motion on the urgent need to deal with the outbreak of the mysterious ailment suspected to be Yellow Fever, ravaging Epeilo-Otukpa and Itahono-Owukpa communities in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State.

Benue State Map

Senator Patrick Abba, representing Benue South in the red chamber, moved the motion.
The Senate also appealed to the Federal Ministry of Health to urgently assemble focal persons to the affected areas to aid the efforts of the Benue State Government in discovering the nature of the ailment.
The upper chamber also tasked the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control “to quickly put up investigation to contain the disease and see to the treatment of victims and protect others from further contracting it.”
It urged the NCDC and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency to synergise and support the people of Benue South Senatorial District and in particular the Epeilo-Otukpa and Itabono-Owukpa communities, in treating, preventing and or reducing the number of cases and deaths.
The Senate further urged the Federal Ministry of Health to actively set up a multi-agency yellow fever emergency operation centre in Benue South, in case the result is positive to be yellow fever.

News

AddThis

Original Author

SaharaReporters, New York

Disable advertisements

Kidnappers Demand N100m To Release Reverend Father

Fr. Matthew Dajo, who was kidnapped Nov. 22 in Nigeria’s Abuja archdiocese.

The suspected abductors of a Reverend Father, Mathew Dajo, of the Parish Catholic Church, Yangoji, along the Abuja-Lokoja Expressway have demanded N100 million as a ransom for his release.
It was gathered that the kidnappers made contact with a source on Saturday.

Fr. Matthew Dajo, who was kidnapped Nov. 22 in Nigeria’s Abuja archdiocese.

The cleric was said to have been abducted by gunmen at his residence in Yangoji, Kwali Area Council, and has been in captivity of the kidnappers for ten days.
According to Daily Trust, a source, however, said contact was last established with the kidnappers on Saturday.
“His abductors did not call in until Saturday. They are demanding N100 million, but I don’t know what figure the man negotiating with them has been able to arrive at,” he said.
He said the church was solely depending on the family members and relatives of the victim to raise the ransom.
“The other thing we are more worried about is that when a reverend father is abducted, it is against the rules of the church to pay for the ransom, except the family members, friends or relatives of the victim can take such responsibility,” he said.

CRIME

Insecurity

News

AddThis

Original Author

SaharaReporters, New York

Disable advertisements

E2%80%93-wole-soyinka Why #EndSARS “Manifested” In My Latest Novel – Wole Soyinka

Wole Soyinka

Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, has described the recent nationwide EndSARS movement as one of the issues that found expression in his latest novel, which captures the impending dangers of a desperate society.
Soyinka noted that the more Nigeria decays and betrayals are encountered, it points to a future of implosion where the people have to lead a revolutionary struggle.

Wole Soyinka

The playwright stated these in an interview with Channels Television monitored by SaharaReporters.
The interview centred on his new novel, “The Happiest People on the Earth”, which he wrote during the COVID-19 holiday.
Soyinka described the EndSARS movement as one of the “manifestations” of his new piece.
He said, “So, there are so many things I could find to do here. But this has been an internal demand for a number of years. The more this society decays, the greater the betrayal encountered. Look at what happened, EndSARS is another manifestation of this novel. You know, it is something coming to the fore and which has to be expunged. So take the novel, yes, just another feature of SARS.
“This society needs to be told some truth and told in some very harsh, rigorous way. When I say society, and I am not talking just about government, I am talking about the society which accepts, and has programmed, or which has programmed itself to accept the rape of children, the butchery of humanity for money rituals, the lynch mentality which has also become common.
“No other word for it. North-East 100 deaths, another comes from the south, 50. People have been butchered. In the meantime, within that society are those who are doing very well for themselves. The normal pressure of contradictions within the society has to find expression in one way or the other.
“The title (of the novel) is meant to be deliberate. It is a negative title. It doesn’t talk about the happiest people, and it has no intention of talking about the happiest people. I’m glad you mentioned the title. How do ideas for creative work come into being? Sometimes, it’s just something somebody said. But somebody says that thing in a particular context. And it distracts you so very forcibly.
“So, there is a deliberate irony about….the happiest people. Let’s see what constitutes happiness. But, also we have a habit of swallowing bile in this nation, which is putting a brave face on things. The danger of that is it comes to a point the veneer shatters completely, and it manifests itself as I said in EndSARS movement.”

#EndSARS

Books

News

AddThis

Original Author

SaharaReporters, New York

Disable advertisements

Insecurity: Obasanjo, Afenifere Leaders Meet In Lagos, Discuss Way Forward For South-West

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, and some leaders of Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, met in Lagos on Wednesday over the challenge of insecurity facing the Southwest.
The meeting was held at the residence of Afenifere Leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, in Lekki, which was also attended by the Afenifere National Publicity Secretary, Mr Yinka Odumakin.

According to Daily Trust, the Aare Onakakanfo lamented the insecurity in Yorubaland, which he said threatens the livelihood of the people of the South-West.
According to a source, the meeting was at the instance of Obasanjo to discuss the future of Yorubaland following the rising wave of insecurity in the country.

Afenifere, the pan Yoruba socio-cultural group, had recently condemned the rising cases of insecurity in the region following the murder of a first-class traditional ruler in Ondo State, Oba Israel Adewusi.
Several kidnapping cases were last week recorded in the region with Afenifere declaring that enough is enough and calling for a change in the security architecture of the country.
The spokesman for Afenifere, Odumakin, said the meeting was also to reconcile former President Obasanjo and Aare Onakakanfo.
“Thankfully, we have reconciled them, and we also looked at other issues critical and germane to Yoruba interests within Nigeria,” he said.

Insecurity

Politics

News

AddThis

Original Author

SaharaReporters, New York

Disable advertisements

Insecurity: Buhari Has Agreed To Address Reps, Says Gbajabiamila

Femi Gbajabiamila

President Muhammadu Buhari has agreed to address the House of Representatives on the security challenges across the country.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed this to State House correspondents on Wednesday after meeting Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Femi Gbajabiamila

He said the date of the address would soon be made public.
The House of Representatives had on Tuesday resolved to invite Buhari to address lawmakers on efforts being made to address the security challenges in parts of the country.

Nigeria News Headlines Today

Nigeria News Today Headlines Update

Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Thursday 3rd December 2020

Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Thursday 3rd December 2020

Court Sacks Pondei, Interim NDDC Leadership

BREAKING: Lagos-based Lawyer, Omirhobo Regains Freedom After Eight-Hour Detention For Protesting Against Insecurity

E2%80%93-army Boko Haram Attacks Are International Conspiracy To Split Nigeria – Army

On The Naira Free Fall By Kunle Wizeman Ajayi

Insecurity: Nigerian Air Force Takes Delivery Of Serbian Helicopter

Senators Call For Probe Of Strange Deaths In Benue

Kidnappers Demand N100m To Release Reverend Father

E2%80%93-wole-soyinka Why #EndSARS “Manifested” In My Latest Novel – Wole Soyinka

Insecurity: Obasanjo, Afenifere Leaders Meet In Lagos, Discuss Way Forward For South-West

Insecurity: Buhari Has Agreed To Address Reps, Says Gbajabiamila