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.

Imo state Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma has advocated constant dialogue by the government with relevant Nigerian stakeholders, as a veritable means of averting any future disenchantment or protests.

According to him, if the organisers and participants of the recent protests were fully engaged and informed of the gains of the economic reforms by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, there would not have been any need for the protests.

Senator Uzodimma, who was speaking in Arise Television in an extensive interview, blamed lack of information on the real cause of the temporary economic hardship and efforts being made to address them, as the main reasons the protests took place.

Hear him: “I sincerely believe that there was no need for the protests. If Nigerians were better informed of the efforts made by the President to address the issues they were protesting, they would have stayed home.”

The governor noted that it was not just the duty of the President alone to offer such an explanation, adding that it involves all officials of the government at all tiers.

He said: “We have the Vice President, we have the Senate President, we have 360 House of Representatives members, who should have their Constituency offices and attract constituency projects, and we have 109 Senators and governors and commissioners, who collectively should offer explanation to Nigerians on what is happening in government”.

According to the Chairman, South East Governors’ Forum, such a dialogue with Nigerians would help to clear confusion and suspicion, as well as engender trust in government.

He explained that given our culture and tradition, there were means of exhaustively addressing grievances before they snowballed to violence and protests.

Senator Uzodimma said going forward, all the tiers of government should activate regular communication between them and ordinary Nigerians, on what the Federal Government is doing in terms of reviving the economy and ameliorating hardships.

He noted that the economic reforms embarked upon by President Tinubu have temporary consequential impacts, which, he said, will progressively ease off to a robust living condition for Nigerians.

“I have always said it, that what we are experiencing is like the pangs of labour which will soon bring joy as soon as the child is born,” he further said.

The governor however blamed what he described as leadership failure on the part of past administrations, as being responsible for the economic quagmire Nigerians found themselves, saying that it was only Tinubu that had the courage to stop the slide into anarchy.

He, therefore, pleaded with Nigerians to have faith in Tinubu and the government, saying that a country without a stable government was an open invitation to anarchy.

On why the people of the South East did not participate in the nationwide protests, Uzodimma attributed it to the grace of God, which opened the eyes of the people to the futility of the action.

He lamented that Igbo people had often borne the brunt of any kind of crisis in Nigeria, leading to their being killed and their property destroyed.

He said leaders in the Soufh East had also carried out enlightenment programmes, sensitizing the youths, on why they should shun the protests.

He disclosed that within the 14 months in office as President, South East people have felt the impact of Tinubu’s leadership, therefore, would continue to offer him the necessary supports to succeed.

Despite the appeal by President Bola Tinubu, urging Nigerian youths to suspend the ongoing nationwide protests against the high cost of living, protesters in Edo State stormed the road on Sunday morning for a live church service.

The protesters gathered at the Agho junction on Ekenhuan road, Benin City, praying to God for intervention in the several crises rocking the nation at the moment.

President Tinubu on Sunday morning addressed Nigerians on the ongoing nationwide EndBadGovernance protests.

The president, who expressed sadness over the loss of lives and properties after hoodlums hijacked the protest, appealed to the youths to suspend the exercise.

Tinubu while reeling out some steps taken by the Federal Government to alleviate the suffering, said the countrys economy is already on its way to recovery.

His speech was vehemently criticized by Nigerians who claimed that the president failed to address their demands.

Following the recent formation and inauguration of Southern Traditional Rulers Council in Owerri, Imo State capital by Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, HRH Eze Dr. Oliver Ohanweh has described Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State as the pillar of Southern region unification.

Eze Ohanweh who’s the Chairman, Okigwe Elders Global Forum as well as the traditional ruler of Isiama ancient kingdom in Isiala Mbano local government area of Imo State disclosed this on Friday while addressing news men in his Wisdom Palace kingdom, Ihim

The reverred traditional ruler described the inauguration programme as the antidote, needed to cure the nation’s age long disease of disunity among the people of Southern Nigeria region.

” This inauguration is the key needed to institute unity of purpose and progress among the Southerners and history will always remember Governor Hope Uzodimma as the pillar for the re-unification of Southern region.

“Since amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorate on January 1st 1914, by Sir Fredrick Lord Lugard to be a nation called Nigeria by her British Journalist girl friend, Miss Flora Shaw. No day has been like this, in terms of coming together of eminent leaders of the region, it’s a sign that the region and the nation is on the verge of greatness again, under unity of purpose and brotherly love and understanding”.

Ohanweh recalled with nostalgia that the Northern region have their own traditional rulers council and they have been united in every course of pursing their overall interest.

“It’s certain that the inauguration will engineer the needed unity and understanding, expected from the populace of the region and it would snowball into improved socioeconomic and political activities.

He further assured that inauguration would also eliminate the suspicious differences among leaders of the region and institute harmonious relationship among all the interest groups in the region, which are the West, South South and South East geopolitical regions comprising 17 out of the 36 States of the federation.

According to him,”the region is made up of people of high protein and energy and there’s every reason for them to stay together so as to have the expected results of progress, growth, development and transformation and to strongly stand against marginalization.

“It’s a credit to the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that his region is united and working for unity of purpose, hence charity begins at home and we must give Tinubu’s administration all the maximum support and cooperation it needs.

Ohanweh further expressed optimism, that the 17 Southern governors in Nigeria will henceforth be speaking in one voice and all these credits goes to Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State.

The South East Caucus of the National Assembly on Friday described as unfortunate and dangerous the ethnic profiling of Igbos in the ongoing mass protests across the country.

This ugly situation came up during the nation wide protest as several statements such as the Igbo Must Go hashtag started emanating online. Such comment became worrisome especially when Igbos heeded to the advice of their leaders and shun the protest.

The South East Caucus who expressed their concern over the development and quickly condemned the Igbo must go hashtag through a press release signed by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe Leader of the South East Senate Caucus of the National Assembly and the Rt Hon Igariwey Iduma Enwo Leader of the South East Caucus of the House of Representatives.

“For the records, the Igbo nation, in obedience to the advice of their leaders, Governors, Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, parliamentarians and others in the private sector- had taken a reasoned and strategic decision not to participate in the on-going nationwide protests.

“This is evident in the relative calm experienced in the five South Eastern states.

“We are, therefore, surprised and disappointed, that Igbos are still made scapegoats, and targeted as instigators of the protests, as shown in several statements (such as the Igbo Must Go hashtag and call by a certain ‘Lagospedia’ X(Twitter) handle) and videos seen online.

“This dangerous ethnic profiling is unwarranted, and must stop. It was such profiling that led to the millions of deaths in Nigeria from the 1950’s to the unfortunate civil war in 1967 to 1970. Elsewhere in Africa it led to the genocide in Rwanda and the xenophobia in South Africa.

“Such should not be our fate again in Nigeria.

“We demand therefore that the security agencies bring to book the purveyors of these hate speeches in line with the cybercrimes act and criminal laws of the country.

“We continue to appeal to Igbos across the country to stay away from the protests, and remain law abiding. The caucus stated
End

By Sampson Uhuegbu

As at the time of filing this report, normalcy had already returned to Owerri, the commercial capital of Imo State- unlike on Thursday, August 1, 2024, when the nationwide protests begun.

Anxiety gripped people of the State who thought that the planned demonstration could be highjacked by bandits to destroy lives and property.

Earlier this week, people of Imo sat at home over fear of the unknown, but presently, businesses have commenced in earnest as commercial drivers, private vehicles were seen in operation, hawkers, food vendors, Point of Service, (POS) operators were also selling.

At the ever- busy Douglas road, Ama Jk and Okigwe road, traders displayed their wares and usual commercial activities were moving as if nothing was happening.

Also, few individuals were sighted in groups discussing the situations in the country and how President Bola Tinubu has remained silent to the plights of Nigerians.

In an interview, the General Overseer of Arm of The Lord Church, His Lordship, Archbishop Steve Grazie, lamented hardship Nigerians are facing and called on President Tinubu to address the challenges.

“So many people are struggling to stay alive. There is so much hardship and that is why collectively people want to speak out”.

Grazie advised the President to address hunger that is ravaging Nigeria, reduce the fuel pump price, tackle insecurity, create jobs for the unemployed graduates and release the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu from detention.

Meanwhile, the Imo State Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, has stated that the Police command was working in synergy with other heads of security agencies across the lengths and breadth of the state to ensure there is no breakdown of law and order.

The CP who spoke in Owerri, during a show of force exercise, said

“No protest of any kind is ongoing in the State. Monitoring continues. Imo is relatively calm and peaceful, residents are going about their lawful businesses”.

He urged people of the State to be security conscious and report any suspicious person and activity within their vicinity to the nearest Police Station.

By Jennifer John

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has expressed unreserved appreciation to people of the South East region for agreeing and resolving not to participate in the ongoing nationwide protest against bad governance, hunger and hardship.

Uzodimma made this appreciation while fielding questions from newsmen over the nationwide protest and situation in Imo State and entire South Eastern States. He said the people relied on past experience which has shown that each time there is violent protest in Nigeria, Igbos pay dearly for it, as the shops looted in various parts of the country during crisis belongs mainly to Igbo people.

The Governor posited that the current agitation was contrived by aggrieved politicians describing it as unnecessary, as according to him, the current hunger and hardship were not of any activity of the current President, whose administration was barely one year old.

“Those behind this protest, some of them have been two times speakers of Houses of Assemblies, some have been Ministers for eight years or more, some have been governors for eight years. One time or the other, they have been in government and the result of their failure, what they were not able to do for lack of courage or selfish interest, is what put us in the current hardship.

Meanwhile, this is the only time we have seen courage to dismantle the cabal in the Oil and Gas Sector, to the extent that Crude Oil is now sold in local currency, dismantled the cabal in the power sector, who were busy increasing the prize of power, without supplying power to Nigerians, and in virtually all sectors of the Nigerian economy”, Uzodimma enthused.

The Imo State Governor concluded by saying it was time for Nigerians to tell themselves the home truth and encourage dialogue, jettison blame game, be productive and develope the country for better prosperity.