It’s s no longer about SARS – Seun Kuti reveals why youths are still protesting

 

Afrobeat musician and activist, Seun Kuti has said that the protests going on across the country is no longer about the Special Anti-Robbery Squad and reformation of the entire police.

He said the protests have gone beyond that as new agenda against government’s anti-people activities has emerged

The protests have continued across the country despite the government’s announcement of the scrapping of SARS and agreeing to meet the demands of the protesting youths.

The music artist noted it was necessary that the government addressed the protesters.

“People should not sit in their high offices in Abuja. Bring yourself off your high horse. Come and relate with the people that just voted for you. Come and really hear what is going on,” he said.

Speaking on the alleged hijack of the protest as some government officials may have believed, the Afrobeat star dismissed the claims and urged those in authority to rather view it as an opportunity.

“Don’t feel victimized, don’t think there is somebody trying to get you. No. These are your people trying to talk to you,” he said.

“This is actually a moment that we can actually build a bridge (between the government and the people), but they don’t want to hear that.

“The slogan might be EndSars but the mission is to change in the relationship we have with the government in this country.

“As soon as the government starts to really hear the people in terms of those things that we are demanding – in terms of good governance, in terms of bringing the things that really matter to us, to the front of their own preoccupation,” Seun Kuti said.

“We have a government in place and we believe that they should do the job; as some of the highest paid politicians in the world, they should be the hardest workers for their people. But we tend to have a country where the people continue to work to make things easier for those in government and it shouldn’t be that way; a country should work for the benefit of the people.

“So, what we are saying is that there must be a change in the relationship between the people, the government and our commonwealth; how it is distributed and those that benefit from it. This is what we the people are saying, and this is what we have always been saying.

“It is not just about police reforms; that is not all you owe us. You owe us good schools, livable wages, high standard of living – all the quality things that you and your family members enjoy in this country and outside of it. We, at least, deserve to enjoy it here.

“For me, personally I don’t want to back down and I think the people of Nigeria also don’t want to back down. I am a servant of the people and I follow the people,” he said.

- DAILY POST

#EndSARS: Abuja protester stabbed by ‘thugs’ dies in hospital

 One of the #EndSARS protesters who was attacked by suspected thugs in Abuja is dead.

Anthony Onome, the victim, was stabbed on Saturday when he and other agitators protesting against police brutality were attacked by suspected hoodlums in the Kubwa area of the nation’s capital.

TheCable had reported how the suspects attacked the protesters in Abuja.

Onome was later taken to the National Hospital, Abuja, where he died while receiving treatment.

Tayo Haastrup, the hospital spokesperson, confirmed his death to TheCable on Sunday night.

Haastrup identified the deceased as one of those in the hospital’s morgue but said he could not confirm where he had been brought from.

TheCable understands that Onome was admitted in the hospital and transferred to the intensive care unit before he passed on.

A source said he had lost so much blood before he was admitted to the hospital.

Several videos of him posted on social media showed how he was struggling to walk after losing so much blood from a wound on the head.

The protest is part of a nationwide #EndSARS movement which started as an opposition against the now-dissolved special anti-robbery squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police Force.

Now in its 11th day, the protesters are demanding a better welfare and improved governance.

While the protest has continued peacefully in most parts of the country, some of the agitators have come under attack in various places, including Abuja, Lagos, Osun and Edo.

On Sunday, after meeting President Muhammadu Buhari, Senate President Ahmad Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house of representatives, urged the protesters to leave the streets and give the government a chance to carry out their demands.

- THECABLE

302 Nigerians, SERAP sue Buhari, Lawan, Gbajabiamila

 

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and 302 concerned Nigerians have sued President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of the National Assembly.

The litigants are asking the court to “declare illegal, unconstitutional and unfair the recent hike in electricity tariff and fuel price”.

They contend that top level public officers cannot continue to receive the same salaries and allowances and spend public money to finance a life of luxury for themselves while asking poor Nigerians to make sacrifices.

Joined in the suit as defendants are the Vice-President Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President, Dr Ahmad Lawan, Speaker of House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, and the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).

President Buhari had while presenting the 2021 budget proposal of N13.08 trillion to the National Assembly reportedly stated that: “The new petrol pricing has freed up resources that were used for subsidy payments, while the new cost-reflective pricing in the electricity industry is meant to address the liquidity challenges in the sector.”

But in the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/330/2020 filed last week at the Federal High Court, Abuja, SERAP is seeking: “an order directing and compelling the RMAFC to cut the salaries, allowances and other emoluments payable to President Buhari, Professor Osinbajo, Dr Lawan and Mr Gbajabiamila, in line with the current economic realities, and principles of justice, fairness, equality and non-discrimination.”

SERAP is arguing that: “The Constitution of Nigeria 1999 [as amended] makes it clear that the authorities should harness Nigeria’s resources to promote and ensure the maximum welfare, prosperity, freedom and happiness of every citizen on the basis of social justice and equality. The country’s resources ought to be harnessed and distributed to serve the common good, and not to finance a life of luxury for politicians.”

“Increasing electricity tariff and fuel price in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic is antithetical to the public interest, the common good, and a fundamental breach of constitutional oath of office.”

SERAP is also seeking: “an order of injunction restraining the RMAFC from paying the same amount of salaries and allowances to President Buhari, Professor Osinbajo, Dr Lawan and Mr Gbajabiamila until the RMAFC comprehensively reviews downward the salaries and allowances and other emoluments of these top public officers and other high-ranking public officers, in line with Nigeria’s current economic realities, and consistent with the principles of the rule of law.”

Dr Lawan is sued for himself and on behalf of all 109 members of the Senate, while Mr Gbajabiamila is sued for himself and on behalf of all 360 members of the House of Representatives.

According to SERAP: “A public officer shall not put himself/herself in a position where his/her personal interest conflicts with his/her duties and responsibilities. Personal interest in this case is when top public officers like the Defendants continue to receive the same salaries and allowances while asking poor Nigerians to sacrifice and bear the burden of electricity tariff and fuel price hike.”

SERAP is also asking the court to determine “whether RMAFC can lawfully continue to maintain the same level of salaries and allowances for President Buhari, Professor Osinbajo, Dr Lawan and Mr Gbajabiamila, in light of Nigeria’s current economic realities, and constitutional provisions, and despite their apparent roles in the increase of electricity tariff and fuel price.”

“Public money is spent as security votes without transparency, and to pay for lavish lifestyles for top public officers including lawmakers, who continue to buy expensive new cars at the expense of taxpayers, the poor and socially and economically vulnerable Nigerians. The National Assembly is also set to spend N27 billion to renovate the National Assembly Complex, as proposed in the budget.”

The suit was filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare and Opeyemi Owolabi.

- PM NEWS

I may leave US if I lose this election, says Trump

 President Donald Trump says he may leave the United States if he does not win the upcoming presidential election.

The US presidential election is scheduled for November 3, with Trump, Republican candidate, contesting against Joe Biden, former vice-president of the country and Democratic candidate.

Speaking during his campaign rally in Georgia on Friday, Trump said he won’t feel so good losing to “the worst candidate in the history of politics”.

“I shouldn’t joke because you know what? Running against the worst candidate in the history of presidential politics puts pressure on me,” Trump said.

“Could you imagine if I lose? My whole life, what am I going to do? I’m going to say ‘I lost to the worst candidate in the history of politics.’ I’m not going to feel so good.

“Maybe I’ll have to leave the country? I don’t know.”

- THECABLE

‘Tinubu is not behind #EndSARS protests’ — spokesman tackles ‘fake news’

 

Tunde Rahman, spokesman of Bola Tinubu, a national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says it is incorrect to say his principal is among the sponsors of the #EndSARS protest.

In a statement on Saturday, Rahman said Tinubu could not have sponsored a protest that is affecting the economy of Lagos state.

He added that it is impossible for the APC chieftain to sponsor the protest in all the states where it has occurred.

“There is a need to set the facts and record straight for fear that such a fake story may be taken on its face value by some unwary and gullible persons,” Rahman said.

“Asiwaju Tinubu could not have sponsored the #EndSARS protest that has blocked one of the main entries into and out of Lagos and one of the economic arteries of the Lagos State Government. He could also not have sponsored such a protest where he too has been labeled a target by the organizers.

“Secondly, whereas Asiwaju Tinubu believes in the right of Nigerians to freedom of expression, assembly, and protest where and when necessary, he has always canvassed the need for people to explore peaceful channels to ventilate their views and demands.

“He believes the #EndSARS protesters have made their demands, which the Federal Government is studying. Like most Nigerians, Asiwaju believes that SARS’ brutality and untoward conduct against innocent youths and other Nigerians have gone on for too long and that security outfit ought to be disbanded as demanded by the protesters.

“Asiwaju Tinubu believes it’s now time for our youths to wait, exercise restraint for dialogue and reform to commence. It is therefore the height of illogicality to ascribe the sponsorship of the protest to Asiwaju. The sponsors of this fake news forget that the protest is so widespread and cuts across the country.”

- THECABLE

LaLiga: Zidane reacts as Real Madrid lose to Cadiz

 

Real Madrid manager, Zinedine Zidane, has said “there is no explanation” for their 1-0 defeat to Cadiz on Saturday.

Anthony Lozano scored the only goal of the game for the newly-promoted side in the 16th minute.

It was Zidane’s first LaLiga defeat in over seven months.

“There is no explanation. We have to accept the defeat.

“We can’t be happy, we are not happy. But it can happen in football. We didn’t start well, it was hard for us from the beginning.

“In the second half we were a bit better, but in the first half they could have scored two or three goals. When you can’t get into a game things get complicated and that is what happened tonight. There are no excuses,” Zidane said after the game

Madrid remain top of LaLiga table with 10 points.

- DAILY POST

I warned about #EndSars protest in 2015 – Oyedepo

 

Bishop David Oyedepo of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, has said that he warned Nigeria vehemently in 2015 about  the current crisis but was humiliated. 

The cleric attributed his reticence on the #EndSars protest to this experience.

Oyedepo spoke on Sunday at Canaanland in Ota, Ogun state.

” I kept quiet for a while because in 2015 I warned this nation, vehemently, consistently, because I saw the dangers ahead and you can tell.

Bishop Oyedopo also called on Christians to pray for God’s judgement on those behind the killings in the country.

He backed protesters saying that every man has the legitimate right to express his displeasure and pains.

The cleric described shooting peaceful protesters as sacrilege.

“It would be a sacrilege to shoot the protesters who are not looting, who are not ravaging.

“When you push a goat to the wall then you will know that goats have teeth to bite.

“It is a sacrilege to kill youths during a protest, this protest is legitimate,” he said. 

- PM NEWS