The youth wing of apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has described the non-participation of the entire South-East in the nationwide EndBadGovernance protest as historical.

It could be recalled that the entire South-East shunned the hunger protest which lasted from August 1-10 across the country.

Addressing journalists on Sunday, the National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike said it was not by chance that Ndigbo boycotted the protest.

Okwu said it was a demonstration of the love and support Ndigbo have for the President Bola Tinubu administration.

He stated that the Igbo youth group held a series of meetings with affiliate youth organisations where all of them saw reasons not to be part of the protest.

“We took this stand to make Mr President understand clearly that we are solidly behind his government.

“There was a series of engagements with the various affiliate bodies of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, after which we all came to the conclusion that the protest was not needful. From there, we agreed to scale it down to the communities where we were also able to make the people see reasons with us.

“Having said this, we want to, in a special way, thank all the affiliate bodies of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, religious, traditional and community groups, as well as market unions and CSOs for heeding to our call”, he stated.

Okwu, however, urged the President Tinubu government to reciprocate the love shown to his administration by Ndigbo.

“This should be done in the area of ensuring the creation of an additional state for the South-East, correction of imbalance in appointments, release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and adequate funding of the South-East Development Commission, which will aid rapid infrastructural development in our region”, he appealed.

The Chairman of Heir Holdings, Tony Elumelu, has said the federal government knows those behind crude oil theft in Nigeria.

Tony Elumelu said oil theft is a coordinated crime.

He argued that crude oil thieves operate using vessels and cannot carry out successful operations without the knowledge of security agencies.

Elumelu, in an interview, said his first attempt to invest in the oil and gas industry was thwarted by former president, Muhammadu Buhari and his former chief of staff, late Abba Kyari, in 2017.

He said his company lost about 95 percent of its crude to oil theft in 2022.

“This is oil theft, we’re not talking about stealing a bottle of Coke you can put in your pocket. The government should know, they should tell us.

“Look at America, Donald Trump was shot at and quickly they knew the background of who shot him. Our security agencies should tell us who is stealing our oil. You bring vessels to our territorial waters and we don’t know.

Elumelu, a member of President Bola Tinubu’s Economic Advisory Council, explained that there was nothing wrong with the migration of Nigerian citizens to Western nations.

He explained that unemployment and the need for young Nigerians to achieve their dreams after graduating from high institutions were responsible for the brain drain.

In fulfilment of their vow to come out for a one million man march as part of the end bad governance protest, the protesters turned up in their numbers yesterday,at two venues, Apo district and Lokogoma district, both in Abuja.

The protesters who strategically skipped the MKO Abiola National Stadium after the City Gate and the Eagle Square, following heavy Police and Military Presence at both venues, streamed to Apo and Lokogoma as early as 7 am.

The protesters who displayed several placards were chanting “End hunger” and “Reverse fuel subsidy removal,” among others.

Recall that the protest which kickstarted on August 1, turned ugly as hoodlums hijacked the process and embarked on massive looting, destruction of critical infrastructure and attack on motorists among others.

In many Northern states, including Kano, Zamfara, Kaduna, and Bauchi, many of the violent demonstrators resorted to carrying and flying foreign nations flags and calling for a regime change, a call that has been roundly condemned by Nigerians, the armed forces of Nigeria and other security agencies, as well as the organizers of the end bad governance protest themselves.

The self acclaimed Prime Minister of Biafra Republic Government In-Exile has told the former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Emeka Anyaoku not to sabotage the actualization of Biafra Independence.

Ekpa made this known in a statement through his official X handle on Saturday.

This came after Anyaoku led a group of Nigerian elder statemen, the Patriot, to visit President Bola Tinubu on Friday at the Presidential Villa.

Anyaoku had advocated for a change to Nigeria’s Constitution.

However, Ekpa stressed that Anyaoku should not allow himself to be used as a pun against Biafra’s agitation for self-rule.

He lamented that Anyaoku had been silent despite the marginalization and killings of Biafrans in the South-East and South-South.

“They have dragged you out from your shell of hiding and silence in the presence of the massacre of Biafrans in the South East and South-South.

“You never condemned the killing of the people you claim to be speaking for.

Whoever knows Emeka should warn him to stay away from anything that will sabotage our freedom.

We always warn before calling on the gods to go after you”, he said.

Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has stated that many individuals currently in public office in Nigeria should be locked up in prison.

According to him, leaders do not possess the necessary qualities to effectively lead the nation, suggesting they would be better suited for incarceration or worse.

Obasanjo made these remarks at his home in Abeokuta, Ogun State, during a meeting with six members of the House of Representatives who are co-sponsoring legislation aimed at establishing a single six-year term, as well as advocating for the rotation of the presidency between the northern and southern regions, and the rotation of governorship positions among the three senatorial districts in each of the 36 states.

Obasanjo noted that the proposed six-year single-term presidency is not a viable solution to the challenges bedevilling the country.

The former president stressed the need for the country to rethink its democracy.

Obasanjo emphasized that the West African nation is precariously positioned, likening it to a powder keg that could erupt if leaders do not take bold and decisive actions to tackle the numerous challenges at hand.

The former President asserted that the demands raised by the #EndBadGovernance protesters are entirely valid, urging the government to address these issues rather than merely masking them.

He pointed out that it is inappropriate for those in power to continue enjoying lavish lifestyles while urging the struggling populace to persevere.

Obasanjo expressed disappointment over the inability of successive administrations to build upon the groundwork he established, highlighting that this has led to considerable setbacks for the country.

His words read: “More than anything else, such as changing our system of government or moving to a single term of six or four years, we must change our ways of doing things in this country, we must decarbonise our brains, we must change our mentality and character.

“How I wish that the succeeding governments had built on the foundation we laid, even if not as fast as one would have wanted it. Sadly, the blocks we put there are even being removed.

“What I know about Nigeria is that, yes, if we get it right—the leadership, the team, because one tree does not make a forest—you need a good leader, but you also need a good team for a job well done.

“The point is that if we get this right, in about two and a half years, we shall get some of the challenges behind us, and in about 10 years, we would have a solid foundation, and in about 25 years, we would be there.

Residents of Ohaji, Imo State, have demanded quick intervention by State and Federal Governments on Owerri/ Portharcourt Road which is highly deplorable.

The Owerri/Portharcourt Highway is badly spoilt within Umuagwo and Umuapu axis, in Ohaji, witnessing on daily basis, vehicular damage and accident, recording casualties and loss of property.

Obviously, the Express Way is a major link to Imo, Rivers and Bayelsa States. Multiple crude oil trucks always pass through this road.

Entertaining questions from journalists at Umuapu, Ohaji, recently, the President General of Umuapu Town Union, Apostle Daniel Clifford Ogbuehi, said the ExpressWay has been in deplorable condition as government shies away from doing the needful.

The PG explained that the link road got worse during reconstruction to double-lane during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan because it was intentionally abandoned by the contractor that handled the project.

Ogbuehi said Umuapu community stands as a boundary between Imo and Rivers States, saying the side of Rivers State is very clean and smooth.

“You only enjoy smooth ride on the ExpressWay from the boundary between Imo and Rivers States, while the side of Imo is nothing to write home about, because the nature of the federal road poses danger to road users. The road is a death-trap to users”, Ogbuehi observed.

Ogbuehi pointed out that the dilapidated road was making living too difficult for the people who use the road regularly, wondering why government would neglect Ohaji which he said contributes hugely to economic and social growth of the country.

“When accessing farm, market, we suffer, at home, we do not sleep well, as motorists disturb our sleep while looking for alternative routes. Businesses have slown down, with young entrepreneurs leaving the areas in search of more viable places given the unfriendly environment. Hoodlums use the bad spots as target points to rob users of the road. Hence, I urge State and Federal Governments to quickly intervene before the road becomes a total dungeon and a breeding spot for criminals”, he stressed.

Also commenting, a community leader in Awarra, Ohaji, Chijioke Osimiri, highlighted that heavy-duty vehicles fall on the road on daily basis, an anomaly he regretted hampers movement, slows commercial activities at the oil rich region.

“Major users of this road are Government and Oil Companies. Many of the trucks that fall on the road belongs to Oil Companies and still they find it difficult to put the road in good shape”, Osimiri bemaned.

Dr Stella Iwuagwu, was hale and hearty when she returned to Nigeria in 2007, to work on her PhD desertion. Sadly, she went back to the United States on a wheelchair.

The mother of two, who was pursuing her PhD degree in the United States was involved in an accident that confined her to a wheelchair for almost 17 years.

Iwuagwu said she was travelling to Kano from Abuja, when the accident occurred. Their vehicle suddenly went out of control and skidded off the road in Zaria. Following the accident, she sustained a spinal cord injury that has left her permanently on a wheelchair.

A PhD holder in Health Education, Iwuagwu is also a nurse/midwife and the Executive Director at the Centre to the Right for Health. She has not allowed her present condition to cloud her ambition to excel in her chosen career.

Iwuagwu was among the distinguished personalities honoured at the maiden edition of Imo International Film festival, for her immense contribution to the development of humanity.

Apart from being a public health specialist, Iwuagwu is also a farmer and a teacher. She has strong passion for filmmaking, following her belief in using film for behavioural change and for educating the public about critical health and development situations.

She has been using films and documentaries to advocate the right to life of persons with disabilities.

Recently, she premiered her latest movie, “Breaking the Silence,” in Owerri. The movie, she said, documented the experiences of gender-based violence among women with disabilities.

She also produced another documentary titled “Failed by Angels” which, she said, chronicled the challenges faced by people living with disabilities in terms of accessing healthcare in Nigeria. In addition, she produced a community play titled, “Imeogwa”, where she looked at unintended pregnancy among teenagers. She was also part of the production of a religious movie on AIDS among others.

After the completion of her PhD programme, Iwuagwu taught at the School of Health Sciences, Cleveland State University, Cleveland Ohio, for six years before returning to Nigeria to establish the Centre to the Right for Health. She has devoted her life to pursuing her goal of being a voice of the voiceless, advocating a better life and inclusion for people living with disabilities.

Sharing her story, the Imo State-born public health specialist, said, “I came home in September 2007, to work on my desertion. It was in the course of that visit that I got involved in an accident, where I sustained a spinal cord injury that left me in this condition. For the past 17 years, my life has been confined to the wheelchair. The accident happened while I was working on my PhD, and still running my NGO back home”.

Having accepted life on her wheelchair, Dr Iwuagwu encourages other people saying, “where there’s a wheel, there’s a way!”

Igbo leaders have given reasons why South-east residents shunned the ongoing nationwide protest against economic hardship in Nigeria.

Igbo is an ethnic group dominant in Nigerias south-east.

The ongoing #EndBadGovernance protest, which began on Thursday, was billed to last until 10 August.

It has been ongoing across states in five of the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

According to reports, the protest has not been held in the South-east since the exercise kicked off.

“We ‘re usually at receiving end”

In an interview with newsmen on Tuesday, Damian Okeke-Ogene, the national vice president of the Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, said the South-east shunned the protest because they usually bear the brunt of such exercise in Nigeria.

Mr Okeke-Ogene said the South-east believed in the leadership of late President-General of Ohanaeze, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, who he said, before his death on 25 July, asked Igbos to shelve the protest to avoid being the scapegoats.

He (Iwuanyanwu) asked them not to join the protest because we have had this kind of protest and we (Igbos) are usually at the receiving end in every protest (in Nigeria), he said.

The Ohanaeze leader said, after the death of Mr Iwuanyanwu, he (Okeke) re-echoed the call for Igbos to shun the exercise.

He stated that he equally asked Igbos residing in other regions to shelve the protest and mobilise security operatives to guard their shops against looting.

“We know that the federal government is not ready to protect their properties because if they (Igbos) go out for a hunger protest, they (protesters) will loot your shops”, the vice president said.

On his part, the new Chairperson of the South-east Traditional Rulers Council, Emmanuel Okeke, suggested that the South-east shunned the protest for a variety of reasons.

Mr Okeke told newsmen on Tuesday that the people of the region had become tired of seeking freedom, relevance and equal treatment in Nigeria.

The traditional ruler said the region has also been frustrated with their failed quest to produce Nigerias president.

“So, now we have cried enough. We have been cheated enough. We dont have anything to do. So, we instead kept quiet and started praying to our God. Whenever God feels to answer us. We are descendants of Israelites, he will answer us”, he said.

“So, there is no need for us (Igbos) to start making noise or start protesting against the government or creating violence, which we have been pleading to our people against for long”, said Mr Okeke, who is also the chairperson of the Imo State Traditional Rulers Council.

Past experiences

Also speaking, the immediate past Chairperson of the South-east Traditional Rulers Council, Samuel Asadu, said the South-east shunned the protest because of the way they were badly treated in the past.

“(They shunned the protest due to) grace of God and going by their past experiences in such protests”, he said without giving details.

Continuing, Mr Asadu said: Again, the South-easterners are industrious people. They are mainly business people.

Mr Asadu, who is the chairperson of Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, told PREMIUM TIMES on Monday that he and other South-east leaders also helped to appeal to Igbos to shun the protest in the region.

The traditional ruler added that the outstanding performances of the South-east governors, the move to create an additional state in the region and the recent establishment of the South East Development Commission must have combined to discourage Igbos from joining in the civic action.

The South East caucus in the National Assembly has formally petitioned Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun over what they describe as a hate campaign against the Igbo ethnic group.

The petition, dated August 4, follows a concerning development related to the ongoing nationwide protests against economic hardship.

Before the protests, an X account issued an alarming ultimatum to the Igbo community, demanding that they relocate their businesses from Lagos, Nigerias commercial hub.

Enyinnaya Abaribe, Senate Minority Leader, and Igariwey Enwo, House of Representatives Minority Leader, signed the petition on behalf of their colleagues from the southeast.

The petition references a recent post by Bayo Onanuga, a presidential media aide, who alleged that the protests were orchestrated by supporters of Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP).

The lawmakers argue that such statements contribute to the escalating hostility against the Igbo community in the country.

In light of Section 41(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees every Nigerian the right to move freely and reside anywhere in the country, and Section 15(4), which mandates the State to foster national unity and discourage sectional loyalties, the #IgboMustGo campaign is a blatant violation of these constitutional provisions, the petition read.

The South-East caucus also called on the IGP to take decisive action against the proponents of the campaign.

They urged the police to identify and prosecute those responsible for spreading these divisive messages.

Additionally, the petition demands that the owner of the Lagospedia X account, which has been promoting the #IgboMustGo campaign, be unmasked and held accountable.

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested Micheal Lenin, one of the leaders of the ongoing hunger protests in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Lenin was apprehended around 2 am on Monday at his residence in the Apo area of the FCT.

Damilare Adenola, Director of Mobilisation for the Take It Back Movement, reported to newsmen that Lenins house was raided by the DSS, and Lenin was allegedly assaulted during the arrest.

Adenola stated, Lenin has been arrested by the DSS. He was picked up during a raid on his house around 2 am.

He was arrested and tortured in the presence of his family. We are demanding his immediate and unconditional release.

A coalition of Civil Society Organisations has announced their intention to closely monitor the compliance of the Nigerian National Petroleum Limited in its crude oil sales to the Dangote Refinery.

This move, according to the CSOs aims to ensure transparency and adherence to regulatory standards in the dealings between the state oil company and the privately owned refinery.

The CSOs made their accusation known during a facility tour of the 650,000 bpd refinery in Lagos.

Speaking, Solomon Adodo of the Rise Up for A United Nigeria, spoke on behalf of the 28 CSOs through a statement issued on Monday.

Adodo expressed dismay over the governments apparent reluctance to support the local refinery, despite its potential to alleviate the nations fuel crisis and foreign exchange challenges.

The group further accused the NNPCL of disregarding President Bola Tinubus directive to sell crude oil to the Dangote Refinery in Naira.

The CSOs vowed to intensify advocacy efforts to compel the government to prioritise the Dangote Refinery and ensure its smooth operation.

The statement read, The disposition of the NNPCL and the regulatory agencies is a clear indication that they deliberately held down the nations refineries so that they could continue importing petroleum products.

“Having gone round to see this world-class project, we are at a loss as to why the government could decide to turn against Nigerians in this manner.

“We are ready to defend this facility with everything as civil society organizations.

“We are going to set up a situation room to monitor the compliance of the NNPCL with the directive of Mr President that Dangote Refinery would be supplied with Crude in Naira because we know that the enemies of the people would want to adopt another strategy to sabotage the presidential directive”

The Vice President of Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, echoed the CSOs concerns, highlighting the refinerys potential to transform Nigerias economy.

“This is what Dangote refinery seeks to correct, we did the same in the Cement and Sugar sectors where Nigeria was a leading importer of those products and with the coming of Dangote leading the backward integration programme of the government, others came into the sector and together Nigeria now exports cement to other countries”, Edwin explained.

“Despite facing numerous challenges, including difficulties in securing crude oil supply, the Dangote Refinery remains committed to its vision of transforming Nigerias petroleum industry, according to Edwin”.

The Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on Monday, witnessed a surge in vehicular movements on the fifth day of the nationwide protests, indicating a gradual return to normalcy.

However, government offices at the Federal Secretariat Complex remained deserted, with only a few staff members reporting for duty.

Despite the increased vehicular movements, petty traders who rely on government workers for patronage were left waiting, as business remained slow.

The protests have significantly impacted the daily lives of Abuja residents, with many struggling to cope with the disruptions.

The protesters, who have taken to the streets in cities across the country, are demanding an end to hunger, food inflation, and bad governance. They are also calling for the return of fuel subsidies, among other demands.

The government has yet to effectively address the protesters demands.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu made a broadcast on Sunday in an attempt to address the protests. However, the broadcast was widely criticized for falling short of expectations.

Organisers of the protests, as well as prominent figures such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), amongst others, expressed disappointment with the Presidents response.

The protesters have vowed to continue their actions until their demands are met, and the situation remains fluid, with developments unfolding by the hour.

A Federal High Court in Lagos State, on Monday, nullified the sale of Nigeria Air to Ethiopian Airlines.

The court declared null and void the sale of Nigeria Air to Ethiopian Airline, after determining the issues in the suit.

Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa ordered that the Federal Governments plans to establish the national carrier, Nigeria Air, should be halted.

The judgment was delivered in favour of the Registered Trustees of the Airline Operators of Nigeria and five other aviation industry stakeholders.

Justice Lewis-Allagoa granted all the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs except for the request for N2 billion in damages.

The plaintiffs in the case include the Registered Trustees of the Airline Operators of Nigeria, Azman Air Services Limited, Air Peace Limited, Max Air Limited, United Nigeria Airlines Company Limited, and Topbrass Aviation Limited.

The defendants are Nigeria Air Limited, Ethiopian Airlines, former Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika; the Federal Ministry of Aviation, and the former Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami.

The plaintiffs sought an order to nullify the entire bidding and selection process for the Nigeria Air project, as well as the approval and selection of Ethiopian Airlines by the defendants.

The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre has condemned the continuous arrest of some of the people participating in or associated with the ongoing #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria protest across Nigeria by security operatives.

RULAAC, in a statement on Monday by its Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, said citizens are simply making legitimate demands for good governance, adding that the clampdown by security agencies underscores the governments insensitivity and despotic disposition.

Nwanguma also noted that the protesters have the constitutional right to express their displeasure against economic hardship and widespread suffering in Nigeria under the President Bola Tinubu administration.

He insisted that it is never an offence when citizens peacefully protest to call the attention of the government to the plight and pains of their fellow citizens.

The statement read, RULAAC received information about the arrest of Mr Tunde Oluajo (a.k.a. Sankara), a human rights activist and anti-corruption campaigner and Michael Adaramoye, the National Coordinator of Youth Rights Campaign in Abuja. They and others were arrested by the State Security Service at about 2 am on Monday, August 5, 2024. It is never an offence when citizens peacefully protest to call the attention of the government to the plight and pains of their fellow citizens.

“The citizens are simply making legitimate demands for good governance. The repressive clampdown by security agencies underscores the governments insensitivity and despotic disposition. The continued clampdown on protesters and protest organisers in Nigeria is indeed a contradiction to the Tinubu governments claim to respect the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression.

“It reflects an intolerance for dissent and demonstrates insincerity and hypocrisy by the same government that acknowledges the right of citizens to freedom of expression and the right to demand good governance devoid of corruption. Such actions show a lack of respect for human rights and democratic ideals and undermine the governments credibility in promoting and protecting these rights.

“The use of force, intimidation and arbitrary arrests to suppress peaceful protesters is unacceptable in a democratic society and goes against the principles of freedom of expression and assembly as enshrined in international human rights treaties that Nigeria has ratified.

“RULAAC, therefore called for the immediate release of all citizens arrested by the SSS and other security agencies in connection with the peaceful exercise of their democratic rights, adding that the government should respect citizens rights to protest peacefully and dialogue with them to address their grievances rather than clampdown on them”

The Nigerian Defence on Monday issued stern warning to citizens agitating for military rule in the country.

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Mustapha who gave the warning while addressing journalists shortly after an emergency meeting with President Bola Tinubu, also said that those flying the Russian flag in Nigeria have committed a treasonable offence.

Our correspondent reports that while some of the EndBadGovernance protesters were flying the Russian flag in some northern states, others were heard calling on the military to take over leadership via coup.

Responding to the moves by aggrieved Nigerians protesting against hunger and high cost of living, General Christopher vowed that the law would catch up with such people.

Specifically addressing the call for coup, Musa said the military had accepted democracy and regime change would never be allowed in Nigeria, warning those behind the call to desist.

“All of us have seen it where foreign flags have been flown within the sovereignty of Nigeria, and that is totally unacceptable. We are warning in clear terms and the President has also said we should convey this, that we will not accept anybody, any individual flying any foreign flag in Nigeria.

“That is a treasonable offence, and it will be viewed and treated as such. So nobody shall allow himself to be used by any individual.

“Also the issue of coups, Nigeria is a sovereign nation, Nigeria is a democratic nation all security agencies are here to defend democracy and ensure that democracy continues to strive.

“We will not accept anyone pushing or taking any action, seemingly or for whatever reason, to want to push for any change of government. Democracy is what we stand for, democracy is what will continue to defend”, he said.

This weeks Federal Executive Council meeting has been postponed to an undisclosed date.

Our correspondent, who was at the Council Chamber at the scheduled time, observed that although some ministers were seated, President Bola Tinubu, his Vice President Kashim Shettima, his Chief of Staff, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, were yet to arrive.

At about 12:15 pm, some ministers began packing their memos and walking to the exit.

One of the ministers, who spoke to newsmen on condition of anonymity, said Mondays meeting had been shifted to a soon-to-be-disclosed date.

“It is no longer holding today. But you know, the council meets on Mondays only when there are issues to discuss”, the minister said.

However, the cabinet member declined to give reasons for the postponement.

Nonetheless, Presidency sources who confided in our correspondent said the first notice of the meeting was disseminated on Sunday night but was postponed hours before noon.

However, some ministers did not receive the postponement notice on time.

The ministers were not even supposed to come here because the meeting has been postponed. But it appears they got the notice very late.

The meeting itself was impromptu because the notice came out last night, said one source who asked to remain anonymous.

Another source who works closely with the President confirmed that President Tinubu is scheduled to meet with Service Chiefs at 2:00 pm to discuss the nationwide protests, among other matters.

“Yes, FEC was postponed, but there will be a security meeting at 2:00 pm, the source said, glancing at a wristwatch”

Reports indicate that Nigerians, mostly youths, are regrouping across the country for the fifth day of the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests.

President Tinubu had on Sunday called for dialogue and an immediate end to the nationwide protests that have rocked the nation since Thursday.

Tinubu said his administration is ready to listen to and address the protesters concerns, affirming that he has heard their calls loud and clear.

However, protesters have continued their demonstrations in major cities, including Lagos, Abuja, and Kaduna.

Former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, (IBB), has distanced himself from a statement accredited to him on X.

IBB was quoted to have said that Nigeria had the best years under military, and that democracy made things worse for the nation.

He denied the comments in a statement from the IBB Media Office signed by Alhaji Mahmoud Abdullahi.

The statement read, Our attention has been drawn to a post on a parody account on X, formerly known as Twitter, which carries the handle, @General_Ibbro, in which former President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, GCFR, was supposed to have endorsed the virtues of military rule over democratic governance.

“This dubious account carries our principal’s picture and name, and the coat of arms of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for added effect, but it does not belong to him, nor does the former President sanction any post appearing there.

“In the past, and more famously during the presidential elections last year, it posted a blatant falsehood that the former President had endorsed a particular presidential candidate and his party, thereby causing public confusion and some embarrassment to the elder statesman.

“We want to state, unequivocally, that neither the Twitter or X account, which is essentially a parody or pretend account, nor the statement made therein, ever belonged to the retired General.

“General Babangida truly believes that the era of military intervention in Nigerias politics is long gone and he has said how proud he is that the Nigerian military has stood firmly behind multiple democratic governments in this country since 1999, thus giving us the longest run of civilian administration since independence.

“The user of this unfortunate parody account, which we gather was traditionally supposed to be an account that imitates or at least mirror the sentiments of the original twitter or X account that it copies, has serially chosen to use the account to undermine democracy and spread stories capable of causing animosity.

The statement advised the general public to ignore any post from the X account that purportedly claims to represent IBBs opinion adding, Sadly, there seems very little we can do to make the overseers of X or twitter to remove or sanction the tiresome account.

“In future, we sincerely hope that our media practitioners and social media users will be more discerning and make the necessary efforts to get confirmation before sharing messages attributed to former President Babangida on X on any social media platform.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board,( JAMB) has given all tertiary institutions in the country one month to disclose all admissions conducted outside its Central Admissions Processing System(CAPS), prior to 2017.

Dr. Fabian Benjamin, Public Communication Advisor for JAMB, who disclosed this at a press briefing in Abuja on behalf of the boards registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, on Sunday, stated that the directive was aimed at enhancing transparency and fairness in the admissions process.

His words, The attention of the Board has been drawn to the predilection of some institutions to admit candidates outside the approved Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) platform and process such through the condonement of illegal admissions window to accord legitimacy.

In order to close this abused window, the Board has decided that: all institutions should now (or never) disclose all candidates illegally-admitted prior to 2017 whose records are in their system within the next one month, beginning from 1st August, 2024; and any admission purportedly given prior to 2017 will no longer be recognised or condoned unless disclosed within this one-month window.

Institutions are advised to comply with this directive as there will not be any further condonement of hitherto unrecorded candidates who did not even register with JAMB not to talk of sitting for any entrance examination.

This move is aimed at curbing illegal admissions and falsification of records, while ensuring compliance with the provisions of CAPS.

He said the decision marks the end of the Condonement of Illegal Admissions window, which previously allowed institutions to incorporate unauthorized admissions into the system.

Benjamin highlighted concerns over institutions colluding with candidates to falsify details for illegal admissions, which has led to fraudulent participation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

He said despite warnings, some institutions continue to admit candidates outside CAPS and seek Condonement of Undisclosed Illegal Institutional Admissions (CUIIA).

Consequently, the Board is terminating the aspect of CUIIA process which allows completely unregistered candidates (without registration) to be introduced to the system. CAPS is the only authorized platform for admissions. Those who even have registration but were illegally admitted between the period (2017-2020) would soon be denied the opportunity of the waiver unless they are disclosed within the next one month.

Therefore, all institutions are hereby directed to disclose, for the final time, all candidates admitted illegally within their systems. Moving forward, the Board will not

Speaking further, Benjamin said recent worse discoveries made it imperative for the Board to speak out to save the integrity of the education system.

On the issue of the minimum age for admission into tertiary institutions for 2024/2025 session, the board maintained that the minimum age for admission remains 16 years.

For the 2024 admission cycle, candidates who will be at least sixteen years old at the time of admission will be considered eligible. This decision follows the directive from the Chairman of the 2024 tertiary admission policy meeting, who is also the Honourable Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, SAN,OON that the extant policy of 6-3-3-4 be enforced only from 2025 session.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, ( JAMB), has raised alarm over an upsurge in the number of doctored and upwardly adjusted age declarations on NIN slips being submitted by candidates.

The exam body expressed worry that the trend of underage candidates falsifying their age to gain admission into the university has become dangerous, inimical and unnecessary.

JAMB has now insisted that only candidates who will be at least sixteen years old at the time of admission will be considered eligible for admittance into the university.

A statement by the boards spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, said the directive came from the Chairman of the 2024 tertiary admission policy meeting and Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman.

He said the extant 6-3-3-4 on education will be enforced only from the 2025 academic session.

The statement partly read, This position is informed by the discovery of widespread and unwholesome practice whereby some institutions collude with candidates to falsify vital details, such as backdated year of entry and subsequent age adjustments, to utilise certificates of genuine candidates with similar names to facilitate illegal admissions to enable participation of fake candidates in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

Some hoodlums invaded the Living Faith Church in the Daura local government area of Katsina State on Saturday night, stealing approximately 205 chairs, musical instruments, and other valuable items worth millions of naira.

The attacks followed nationwide protests on Thursday, August 1st, which included violent clashes between hoodlums and security operatives.

Emmanuel Micah Yakusa, the pastor in charge of the church, informed newsmen yesterday, that Sunday service was conducted under tight security.

He also revealed that the main auditorium and the accountants office were vandalized before the hoodlums made off with everything in the church building during the protests.

He said: We have two security men working in the church, one was on duty while the other was off. When the protest began around 10:00am, the hoodlums just diverted to the church, many of them in Keke NAPEP (Tricycle), and broke the doors and classes and penetrated the church auditorium.

They packed everything inside the church auditorium, including the wall digital clock, musical instruments, pupit, pastors chairs, plastic chairs, and a desktop computer at the reception, as well as a scoreboard where the accountant usually kept church documents. They scattered everything.

He added that three churches were also targeted but the hoodlums only succeeded in invading the Living Faith Church and Deeper Life Church, but couldnt force themselves into the Anglican Church because of the strong iron protector at the gate.

He also announced that the church has informed the police and the Army about it, and the police told us yesterday that they have made some arrests.

He said: Im surprised by this attack; when we are thinking about ending bad governance, which now escalated to the invasion of churches, it is something that everyone should seriously condemn. It is not food that we store in the House of God. It is a place of worship. Why is it only church? The government should come to the reality they are serving humanity, and God will judge us all, whether political or religious leaders.

My prayer to the perpetrators is that they should repent from what they are doing because for you to enter church, a place of worship, is wrong and you know you are not fighting man, they should seek for repentance. I know God is forgiving and He will forgive them Meanwhile the former state chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Very Rev. Nelson Onyekachukus church was also vandalised.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Sadiq Abubakar, confirmed the incident when contacted.

He further assured that arrests have been made while investigations were ongoing

The Former Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has called on the International Criminal Court, (ICC), to look into the activities of security agents and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu following the use of live bullets on #EndBadGovernance Protesters.

“I vehemently condemn the heinous act of using live ammunition on citizens peacefully protesting against bad governance, as witnessed today in Kano and Abuja. This is utterly intolerable and reminiscent of the dark days of military dictatorship.

“It is crucial to remind the government and security agencies of their paramount duty to ensure a safe and secure environment where citizens can exercise their right to protest without fear. When security forces open fire on innocent protesters, they do nothing but exacerbate tensions, transforming peaceful demonstrations into chaos. I refuse to believe that inciting violence is the intention of our authorities.

“I urge the international community, including the United Nations and the International Criminal Court, to closely monitor the situation in Nigeria and hold its leadership and security apparatus accountable.

“I reaffirm my counsel to protesters to steadfastly exercise their right to peaceful protest and reject any form of violence. Those engaging in looting and the destruction of public and private property must be isolated and prosecuted according to the law. By indulging in such acts, they undermine the legitimate protests and play into the hands of those who oppose their right to protest.

“President Tinubu must demonstrate true leadership by immediately addressing and implementing the demands of the Nigerian people, Atiku stated.

Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka has rebuked President Bola Tinubu’s Sunday broadcast for failing to address police and SSS deployment of lethal force to quell #EndHunger demonstrations, which began on August 1 and are scheduled to last 10 days.

Mr Soyinka, 90, a longtime ally of the president, said Mr Tinubu’s neglect to address the matter in his minutes-long broadcast could be seen as endorsing and empowering security agencies to continue toeing the path of impunity.

My primary concern, quite predictably, is the continuing deterioration of the states seizure of protest management, an area in which the presidential address fell conspicuously short, the celebrated literature icon said in a statement on Sunday. Such short-changing of civic deserving, regrettably, goes to arm the security forces in the exercise of impunity and condemns the nation to a seemingly unbreakable cycle of resentment and reprisals.

Mr Soyinka condemned the use of live rounds to disperse protesters, noting that the protest itself was not unique to Nigeria alone, recounting how similar natuonwide protests took place in France as recently as 2022 and 2023.

Live bullets as state response to civic protestthat becomes the core issue. Even tear gas remains questionable in most circumstances, certainly an abuse in situations of clearly peaceful protest. Hunger marches constitute a universal SOS, not peculiar to the Nigerian nation, wrote the nonagenarian.

Police and SSS operatives fired live ammunition at journalists hanging around the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Abuja to cover the protests shortly after noon on Saturday.

The rear windshield of a Toyota Sienna vehicle conveying reporters from The Punch and Cable was shattered into smithereens after getting shot by the agents.

Mr Soyinka said the nation was long overdue to abandon, permanently, the anachronistic resort to lethal means by the security agencies of governance.

Firing live bullets at peaceful protesters who bemoaned hunger in the land, according to Mr Soyinka, symbolises an ominous retrogression, the kind that precedes upheavals and most likely revolutions.The serving of bullets where bread is pleaded is ominous retrogression, and we know what that eventually provesa prelude to far more desperate upheavals, not excluding revolutions, Mr Soyinka warned.