2023 Presidency: Ohanaeze urges South-East Govs to join APC, laments continued marginalization

 

In its continued agitation for a Nigeria President of Igbo extraction in 2023, the Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council, OYC, has called on governors from the South-East geopolitical zone to join the governing All Progressives Congress(APC) in the interest of the people.

Ohanaeze hinted that there are no political benefits for the South East zone to remain in a political party that has no respect and value for the Igbos except milking their votes during elections through deceitful mediums and fake promises.

The call was contained in a press statement signed by OYC President, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro and Secretary-General, Okwu Nnabuike and made available to newsmen on Monday.

Ohanaeze youths further urged the South-East governors to save the political future of the Igbo nation and collapse three states into the All Progressives Congress(APC) before the party’s National convention to control their state structures.

The body said the development would serve as sanctions for the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to reverse their decision for an open presidential contest to zoning formula, as enshrined in its constitution.

According to the OYC statement, “Historically, Igbos had never remained in the opposition party since 1960. Igbos deserves better deals, and only through active roles in the mainstream political party will there be an increase in dividends of democracy and projects in the Southeast zone. The continuous exclusion of the South-East zone from the federal government’s crucial political appointments and landmark projects are attributed to Igbo’s absence in mainstream governance. Igbo youths want these unpleasant situations to end, and OYC urges South-East governors to embrace APC and decamp without further delay.

- DAILY POST

Protests in Kano over ‘killing of teenage boy in police custody’

 

Protests are currently ongoing in the Kofar mata area of Kano state over the reported killing of a teenager in police custody.

According to Amnesty International, the victim, identified simply as Saifullahi, was said to have been tortured to death.

Saifullahi, 17, was reportedly arrested on Saturday by the police during the pursuit of some suspects.

The protest was said to have started when the police took Saifullahi’s corpse to his parents’ house on Monday morning.

“Protest is currently going on in Kano around Kofar Mata area, following the death of Saifullah – a 17-year-old in police custody in the morning. The protest against police brutality erupted after it was learnt that Saifullah was allegedly tortured to death by the police, “Amnesty International tweeted.

“Protesters have barricaded the main Kofar Mata road and set tyres on fire chanting songs calling for an end to police brutality.”

Calls to Abdullahi Haruna, spokesman of the state police command, to speak on the development were not answered.

The incident comes amid nationwide protests against police brutality.

In the past 12 days, aggrieved Nigerians have been in the streets calling on the federal government to end brutality and extrajudicial killings by the police.

They are also calling for a comprehensive reform of the police among other demands.

- THECABLE

#EndSARS protesters shut down Lagos State Government Secretariat

 

Nigerians protesting against police brutality have shut down Lagos State Government Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, on Monday.

The protesters stormed the secretariat very early, chanting anti-government songs and wielding different placards as they blocked workers from accessing their offices.

The #EndSARS protesters locked all the entrance and motorists, pedestrians were turned back from coming out and going into the premises.

However, security operatives are on standby in case of any break out of violence.

- PM NEWS

Hoodlums break into Benin prison, set inmates free

 

There has been a jailbreak at the correctional centre in Benin, Edo state, with a number of prisoners escaping from the facility.

A witness confirmed the incident to TheCable.

There has been an outbreak of violence in the state following the #EndSARS protests.

Some hoodlums were said to have broken down the walls of Oko prison located on Benin-Sapele road, setting inmates free.

The witness said the hoodlums, who were in large numbers, gained access into the prison through a perimeter fence.

When TheCable called Chidi Nwabuzor, the Edo police spokesman, the officer said he would not entertain calls at the moment because the police were planning on actions to carry out.

The number of inmates who were freed by the hoodlums could not be ascertained as of the time of filing this report.

- THECABLE

Oyo creates platform for reporting police brutality

 

The Oyo state government says it has created an email account and dedicated a section of the state’s website for residents to report cases of police brutality.

Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo, in a statement on Sunday, noted that this was part of the state’s efforts to address the demands of the #EndSARS protesters.

Protesters are calling for justice for victims of police brutality.

According to the statement signed by Taiwo Adisa, chief press secretary to the governor, the state is making efforts to constitute a judicial panel to probe all forms of abuses by police officers in line with the directive of the federal government towards addressing the demands of protesters.

“The Government of Oyo State has created an email account and a section on the state’s website for residents of the state to report incidences of police violations and brutality,” the statement read.

“Residents of the state can report cases of police violations via the email address, reportpolice@mail.oyostate.gov.ng or through the link on the Oyo State website, https://oyostate.gov.ng/reportpolice/, where they can fill out a form.

“The platform is domiciled in the Office of the Governor and that it is aimed at demonstrating Governor Makinde’s determination to address the menace of police brutality, rights abuse and extortion, with a bird’s-eye view monitoring mechanism.”

Makinde has supported the #EndSARS protests, and also condemned the harassment of innocent citizens by police officers.

He had also asked the police “to take a back seat”, while other security agencies monitor the protests in the state.

“Peaceful protests are a big part of our democratic process. The right to freedom of speech and assembly are guaranteed by our Constitution, and I will never support any attempt to rob citizens of their fundamental human rights,” the governor had said.

- THECABLE

Pro-Biafra group kicks against scrapping of SARS, says Nigeria should break up

 Biafra Nations Youth League, BNYL, has faulted the disbandment of the Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS, by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu.

The BNYL said it was in total support of the calls by some Northern groups for transfer of SARS to the North.

National Leader of BNYL, Princewill Chimezie Richard, in a statement to DAILY POST on Sunday, said that the Inspector General would be appreciated if he had deployed SARS to Borno to fight the Boko Haram instead of scrapping the unit.

“Transferring SARS to the North especially Borno would have been the best decision to take, they needed to engage Boko Haram, only then they will understand that Kaki No Be Leather”.

BNYL said the End SARS protest is not the solution to police brutality, adding that the military has abandoned its external duty and now does the work of the police.

The Biafra group said Nigerians should drop the End SARS protest and begin to demonstrate for the end of Nigeria.

“It will be more sensible Nigerians start to demonstrate for #EndNigeria and not End SARS.”

- DAILY POST

Kill #EndSARS protesters, face International Criminal Court – Falana threatens Buhari, Buratai

 

Popular human rights lawyer, and Chairman of the Alliance for Survival of COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), Femi Falana, has warned President Muhammadu Buhari not to use the Military against #EndSARS protesters.

He also said the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, risks facing the International Criminal Court (ICC) if any of the protesters is killed.

The Army had said it would commence Exercise Crocodile Smile VI, which is usually conducted annually to checkmate the activities of criminals across the country during the ember months.

It noted that this time, the military operation which would run from October 20 to December 31, would carry out cyber warfare operations to counter negative propaganda by criminal gangs and groups in social media and across the cyberspace.

However, Falana in a statement issued by ASCAB advised Buhari to withdraw plans to engage soldiers for what is a purely democratic issue.

According to the statement, protests have commonplace across the world as seen in Hong Kong, US, France, South Africa, Belarus, and even in Sudan.

“It is unfortunate that the Nigerian government is sending a signal to the military that it has a role to play in a purely civil matter.

“The plan to deploy soldiers is dangerous. It will push Nigeria into the red light district of global reckoning,” the statement read.

It urged “Buhari not to use soldiers to quell a peaceful, civil protest. The protesters have been lawful. The few cases of violence were associated with armed thugs disrupting the protests coupled with the shooting of protesters by security operatives.

“The political class is isolating Nigerians from governance. State resources are squandered by a few, corrupt people who over the years have failed to address institutional rot that continues to fuel anger and desperation of the toiling people.”

Some CSOs, including Centre for Democracy and Development, CDD, Enough is Enough and Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, have also condemned the military exercise, saying it is unacceptable.

They allege that it was designed to crush the civil protests.

The CSOs unanimously warned that the Exercise Crocodile Smile VI would only serve to exacerbate the distrust of citizens and lack of confidence in the state and its institutions.

So, they urged the military to withdraw the operation and remain in their barracks to defend the territorial integrity of the country until the #EndSARS protests abated.

- PM NEWS