Nnamdi Kanu reacts to South-East governors’ letter to Buhari

Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has reacted to a letter written by governors from the South-East region of the country to President Muhammadu Buhari.

DAILY POST reported that the governors on Tuesday sent a letter to the President over the closure of Akanu Ibiam International Airport and the incessant attacks on people of the region by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

The Governors in the letter signed by Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, asked Buhari to approve their earlier resolution banning herdsmen without cattle and movement of cattle by foot in the zone.

In the letter, the governors demanded a postponement of the closure of the airport, saying that this will enable them to make adequate arrangements for airport users in the zone as well as carry out some remedial works on the Airport.

Nnamdi Kanu, while reacting, condemned the South-East governors over the letter to Buhari over cattle and herdsmen in the region.

The IPOB leader described the letter as a shame to the Igbo.

Kanu, on his official Twitter page, wrote: “It’s a shame that the Umahi-led SE Govs have turned to beg for the approval of Jubril (aka Buhari) on a simple matter of controlling “movement of CATTLE by foot” in South East.

“Cattle is livestock. The Zoo Constitution allows the State/LGAs (not the President) to regulate it. Sad!

- DAILY POST

KIDNAPPING GOVT AGENCY !! DSS: Sowore, Nnamdi Kanu conspired to overthrow Buhari

The Department of State Services (DSS) has alleged that Omoyele Sowore, convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, conspired with Nnamdi Kanu to overthrow the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

In a counter-affidavit filed at the federal high court, Abuja, in response to an application by Sowore, the DSS said Sowore held a series of meetings with Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to “mobilise strong forces” to realise his agenda.

In July, the duo had met in New York to discuss “how to fight Nigerian oppressors”.

A few weeks later, the secret police arrested Sowore just two days to the kick off of the #RevolutionNow protest.

In the application filed by Godwin Agbadua, an official of the DSS, the agency said its investigations had shown that the protest was a smokescreen for Sowore and his allies “to topple the government”.

The security agency said it would approach the court to extend the 45 days order to detain Sowore to 90 days it initially requested for.

“The respondent/applicant (Sowore) planned to violently change the government through the hashtag RevolutionNow, ” the agency said.

“The respondent/applicant hid under the cover of call for mass protest with the hashtag RevolutionNow to mislead unsuspecting and innocent members of the public into joining him to topple the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“In his plot to topple the government the respondent/applicant held series of meetings with members at a prescribed terrorist organisation, Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) with a view to mobilising strong forces to realise his agenda at changing the government.

“The respondent formed an alliance with a fugitive, Nnamdi Kanu, a self-acclaimed leader of the proscribed terrorists group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to launch series of attacks on Nigeria with a view to violently removing the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“After series of closed-door meetings between the duo in the United States of America, they addressed a press conference wherein they both stated their resolve to form alliance against the Nigerian government. The duo stated that they have a well-planned out strategy to realize their objective, which is toppling the government.”

The DSS said Sowore was arrested on reasonable suspicion of having committed a capital offence, upon his alleged involvement in terrorists’ activities.

“The applicant/respondent is investigating the activities of the respondent /applicant as it relates to a terrorist organisation, IPOB. The facts show a conjecture between the respondent/applicant and IPOB activities,” the application read.

“There is the need for the applicant/respondent to investigate such reasonable suspicion of the relationship between the respondent/applicant and IPOB.

“The respondent held series of meetings with some foreign collaborators outside Nigeria including Dubai where millions of dollars were given to him to sponsor a widespread attack on Nigeria with a view to violently removing the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and freeing Ibrahim El-Zakzaky (Sheikh).

“In furtherance to the plans to violently free El-Zakzaky from lawful custody. the respondent held several meetings with a proscribed terrorists organisation. Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) where they strategized on how to carry out attacks to force the government to free Elzakzaky.

“The investigation is still ongoing. Upon the completion of investigation, the case file will be forwarded to the office of the Attorney General of the Federation for advice and possible prosecution.”

- THECABLE 

OGUN : Cultists take over Ijebu-Ode as residents flee

There is tension in Ijebu-Ode area of Ogun State as members of Eiye and Aiye confraternities are reportedly taking turns to retaliate the killings of their members.

Residents of Ijebu-Ode were said to running helter-skelter as the cultists continue to terrorise the ancient city.

DAILY POST learnt that the superiority battle between the two groups started during last Tuesday’s Ojude-Oba Festival held at Olisa Road in Ijebu-Ode.

A young man simply identified as Hassan, who was reportedly a member of Aiye Confraternity, was said to have been killed in the evening of the festival by a member of Eiye Confraternity, who was his friend.

Hassan was allegedly killed with a “poisonous dagger” by his friend; who had been nursing a grudge against him for some time.

A resident of Ijebu-Ode, who pleaded anonymity told DAILY POST, “That night I was even fortunate to run for my life because, I was around that place when the crisis started.

“A guy belonging to Aiye, named Hassan was killed that night by an Eiye guy who happens to be his friend. Before they could rush the guy to hospital, he gave up.”

According to our source, members of the Aiye Confraternity retaliated Hassan’s death by killing two Eiye members before daybreak.

It was gathered that the killings had been increasing at an alarming rate as it has now become a source of worry to members of the public, who have been blaming the police for not doing enough to nip same in the bud.

On Tuesday, indigenes of Ijebu-Ode were sending messages to their loved ones through the social media to steer clear of some areas in the metropolis for fear of being killed or injured by the cultists rampaging the areas.

A copy of the message seen by our correspondent reads: “Violent Cult activities reportedly ongoing in Italapo area, Ijebu Ode with probable fatality. You are advised to exercise caution, please.”

Our source added that, “The cultists are still killing each other. As at August 19, two Aiye and one Eiye members were killed. But none have been reported dead today. One Aiye guy killed at Oloode road in Ijebu-Ode was ‘packed up’ by the police. But the police have not been doing anything.”

Contacted, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said he would reach out to the Ijebu-Ode Area Commander for details and revert back to our correspondent.

However, he was yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.

- DAILY POST

Lightning kills shepherd, 19 buffaloes

Lightning has killed a shepherd and 19 buffaloes in Indonesia’s North Sumatra province, local media reported on Wednesday.

Police said Sinto Habeyan, 23, was lighting a bonfire in a cattle barn in the Central Tapanuli district late Monday when lightning struck amid heavy rain, the Kompas daily reported.

Habeyan and the 19 buffaloes died immediately, district police chief Sukamat said.

“We never had an incident like this before in this area,” he said.

- PM NEWS

Paul Pogba finally reacts to penalty miss in Man Utd’s draw with Wolves

Manchester United midfielder, Paul Pogba held his hands up and apologised to his teammates after missing a penalty against Wolves in his side’s Premier League 1-1 draw on Monday night.

DAILY POST had reported that the France international, who was awarded the penalty, stepped up after discussing with Rashford but saw his kick saved by Rui Patricio at the Molineux.

According to The Sun, Pogba was enormously upset after the match and told his Man United teammates he was sorry for missing the penalty against Wolves, in the Molineux dressing room afterwards.

The former Juventus star has now missed four of his last nine penalties.

The 26-year-old has one of the worst spot-kick records in Premier League history of players to take at least 10.

Meanwhile, Manchester United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has now designated Marcus Rashford as the team’s permanent penalty taker ahead of Pogba.

Man United will take on Crystal Palace in their next Premier League fixture this weekend.

- DAILY POST

Jews who vote Democrat show ‘great disloyalty’ – Trump

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday lashed out at Democrats over what he claimed was their lack of support for Israel.

He said that American Jews who intend to vote for his rival party in the 2020 elections would be displaying “great disloyalty.”

“I think any Jewish people who would vote for a Democrat, I think it shows either a total lack of knowledge or great disloyalty,” Trump said during an Oval Office meeting with President Klaus Iohannis of Romania.

Polls found that 76-79 percent of Jews voted for Democrats in November’s midterm elections, mirroring a long history of backing the party.

Trump was commenting on the uproar in Washington over Israel’s barring of Democratic congresswomen Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar from entering the country due to their pro-Palestinian activism.

Tlaib and Omar, who have sparred with Trump over Israel and a number of other issues, on Monday accused the US president of encouraging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to ban them, and called to cut the $3 billion in US assistance to Israel until it halts settlement building and ensures equal rights for Palestinians.

“I would not cut off aid to Israel,” Trump said. “I can’t even believe we’re having this conversation. Five years, the concept of even talking about this, even three years ago, of cutting off aid to Israel because of two people that hate Israel and hate Jewish people, I can’t believe we’re even having this conversation.”

“Where has the Democratic party gone…. where they’re defending these two people over the State of Israel,” Trump said. “I think any Jewish people who would vote for a Democrat, I think it shows either a total lack of knowledge or great disloyalty.”

Israel granted Omar and Tlaib permission to enter in principle last month, but backtracked last week and banned them from visiting under a 2017 law allowing it to expel or deny entry to anyone who backs the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel.

The decision was made less than two hours after Trump tweeted that it would be a “show of weakness” if Israel gave them permission to come, and the reversal was widely seen as the result of pressure from the US president.

Banning the lawmakers fueled a partisan fire over the Jewish state that has been raging in the United States, and Trump has appeared eager to fan the flames.

After the ban was announced, Trump celebrated the decision on Twitter, framing the issue in decidedly political terms: “Representatives Omar and Tlaib are the faces of the Democrat Party, and they HATE Israel!”

- PM NEWS

Nigerian medical doctor killed in Ukraine

The Nigerian Embassy in Ukraine has petitioned the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Police Department in Kharkiv demanding full investigations into the circumstances surrounding the alleged stabbing to death of a Nigerian, Gbolade Ejemai.

NAN reports that Ejemai, a medical doctor, was allegedly stabbed to death by one Victoria Popravko, with the connivance of her father in Ukraine.

The Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM ), Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa who had been in touch with the family of the deceased and Nigerian Embassy in Ukraine, confirmed the petition in a statement on Tuesday.

The statement signed by NIDCOM’s Head of Media, Abdur-Rahman Balogun was made available to newsmen in Abuja.

Dabiri-Erewa said the petition was delivered to the Ukrainian authorities on behalf of the Federal Government.

She confirmed that the Nigerian Embassy in Ukraine had engaged with both the host Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Police department in Kharkiv, informing them of the concern of the Federal government over the death of Ejemai.

“We have requested for a full and thorough investigation into the circumstance surrounding his demise, with a view to ensuring that justice is carried out’’, Dabiri-Erewa said.

The NIDCOM Chairman added that the Nigerian Embassy in Ukraine had called a meeting aimed at having further discussions on the matter with the affected stakeholders.

She also confirmed that she had got in touch with the deceased’s family assuring them of federal government’s commitment to ensuring that justice is done.

Dabiri-Erewa described the killing of Ejemai as a sad one and prayed for God to give his family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

NAN reports that a family friend of the deceased, one Dr. Ajayi had reportedly said that Popravko and Ejemai were in a relationship.

He said the duo got into a heated argument on Aug. 8 in the suspect’s house.

Popravko allegedly stabbed Ejemai in his abdomen, which led him into a state of prolonged unconsciousness and he was taken in for surgery on the said date.

The deceased was said to have told his side of the story when he came out of coma almost 24 hours after the incident.

He alleged that when Popravko’s father discovered that he was still alive after the stabbing, he hit him on the head with a hammer.

- DAILY POST

It’s time to mobilise Nigerians for revolution – Falana

Human rights activist, Femi Falana on Monday said it is time to mobilise Nigerians for a revolution because of wanton insecurity and the poor state the nation’s economy has become.

Falana spoke at a symposium organised by pro-RevolutionNow activists in Ikeja, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

The police had earlier barricaded the venue of the symposium at 46 Ibijoke Street, Oregun area of Ikeja, but later allowed the activists after Falana intervened.

According to Falana, revolution is not a dinner party, but a serious, rigorous and consistent battle for the soul of a country like Nigeria.

“Therefore, what we have done is a mere declaration of our resolve. The struggle is going to be in pains and it will require time. But I believe that we have started and there is no going back. What we have done is to challenge the Nigerian people to appreciate the enormity of crisis of underdevelopment that is confronting the country.

“We do not have a revolution yet in Nigeria. But there is revolutionary pressure in Nigeria. We must seize the advantage of the moment and mobilise Nigerians on the need for revolution and tell them that it will come sooner than later. We all should have hope in the exercise. We have to go round the country and tell Nigerians.

“Nigeria occupies a prominent place globally. It is the only country with the largest concentration of black race. So, if we fail to get it right in Nigeria, the black race is doomed. That is why we all must declare our resolve to double our energy towards achieving the aim of revolution for the country,” he said.

Earlier, Falana commended everyone for insisting that their rights must be respected, saying that Nigerians had the right to assembly and associate peacefully in the country, assuring that “we are going to ensure that all the rights of Nigerian people that we have fought for and won will not be allowed to be eroded by any regime in this country.

“When we were told that we will not be allowed to meet, my mind went back 30 years ago when you have the Buhari, Babangida and other juntas. We defeated the regimes and I want to assure you all that any other dictator will not be allowed to raise their head again in Nigeria.

“I heard that about three persons have been arrested. But I want to assure you that after the programme, I will demand their release because they have not committed any offence. I want to assure you that all those that were arrested and charged during the RevolutionNow for unlawful assembly and peace will be given adequate defended at the court of law.”

Falana said the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration knew those that were breaching the peace of the country, which included terrorists, armed robbers, coup plotters and others.

He said those who went to the street to protest, in exercise of their right to assembly and complain against injustice, corruption and maladministration in the country could not be said to have breached the law of the country, adding that “the Man (Sowore) who was arrested and detained before the protest will be adequately defended at the law court. This is because he has committed no offence.”

“It may interest you to know that even under the colonial regime, Nigerians fought and defended their right. They organized lectures on the need for revolution and the first event was chaired by Chief Anthony Enahoro. After the lectures, they were arrested and charged by the colonial regime. They were not charged for treason felony but for sedition; that they were trying to embarrass the colonial regime. That experience mobilized Nigerians to kick against the colonial system.

“So, let the authority in Abuja knows that the call for revolution is not new in Nigeria. Political leaders in this country have over time call for revolution and they have never been arrested and prosecuted. So if there is a mistake now, such must be corrected. This country belongs to all of us. We are not a contract people. Before today, they claimed that we must not engage in any activity on the street. We are trying to gather inside the hall, they claimed that we cannot do that. But because of our resolve, we won,” he stated.

Former presidential candidate, National Conscience Party, NCP, Martin Onovo, said he was not satisfied with the current state of the country, saying that the nation had the worst police globally.

“We understand how herdsmen have become the greatest threat, overtaking Boko Haram. The problem of Nigeria starts with its leadership. In the UK, the former Prime Minister, Theresa May resigned because she failed with her Brexit plan and I expect the Present administration to tow the line of the former UK prime minister because it has failed and should resign like May did,” he said.

Also speaking, Seun Kuti said “Revolution now was expected to be freedom now. And the reason is that revolutionary requires action and reflection and I believe that AAC did not handle the reflection part of the struggle correctly.

“We all need to wake the people up and let them understand the need to demand their rights. Sowore is active. We are all actors in the act of Sowore. We all must go into the communities and share the revolution idea with the people. We all must act now. It requires that we all demand for freedom and until we all do that, no one can do such for us in this country.

“We all have the right to march on the street to express our displeasure against any policy in the country and the law enforcement officers do not have the right to arrest anyone that engages in such. We need to move into the communities and point out the contradiction in society for them to know why the need for revolution. We all must also demand the release of Omoyele Sowore now. We all must stand firm and ensure adequate mobilization across the country.”

- PM NEWS