2023: We’ll have a rethink if Ndigbo fails to succeed Buhari – Ohanaeze youths

 Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council has vowed that the Igbos “will have a rethink” if major political parties fail to cede their 2023 presidential ticket to the South-East.

They told the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) not to deny the region, their desire to succeed President Muhamamdu Buhari in 2023.

Speaking to reporters in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, the Secretary-General, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, warned those plotting against the zone.

“It is our turn. Anybody destabilizing any party because of our interest is making a grave mistake”, Nnabuike warned.

On Governor David Umahi’s defection to the APC, he wondered why the development generated uproar.

The scribe noted that any one has a right to make a decision they consider appropriate.

“We want peace in the South-East region. The opinion of the Governor of Ebonyi State should be respected. He has chosen to go to APC, the stakeholders should allow peace to reign.”

Nnabuike disclosed that Igbo youths have agreed not to be used for political thuggery.

- DAILY POST

‘We want justice’ — Lekki shooting victims storm judicial panel

 

Some persons who said they sustained injuries during the shooting incident at Lekki tollgate in Lagos on October 20, 2020, stormed the Lagos Court of Arbitration on Friday.

Led by Adesina Ogunlana, a lawyer, the victims demanded justice just as the lawyer narrated their experiences on the day #EndSARS protesters were forcefully dispersed.

Ogunlana said he was forced to bring the victims to the court because of the suit the police filed against the panel.

A victim of Lekki shooting

“It beholds in us to present the fact we know to the world. There’s been a deliberate effort by the agent of the government, specifically Lagos state government to run #EndSARS protesters down, either by inducement or by quack scene and not allow them come out to the panel,” he said.

“There are frantic efforts, I can say authoritatively, even over the weekend to prevent this action (protest) by their agents and their lawyers

“They got to know that we’re coming here (court of arbitration) to present and do this demonstration to show the world that actually people were shot at, that actually people were severely injured and that people actually died.

“There are contacts made to prevent this particular action and we refused it and we are saying you cannot compromise this level of atrocity. People were shot and attacked by security agencies including the Nigeria military and the police.

“This is the truth and if not that this matter was adjourned till December 11, 2020, we might not have done this… in the magnanimity of the panel, they considered that it is good to adjourn and it created a lull.

“There was fear on our part and reasonable fear too. There’s a deliberate intention to scrap this panel and armstrong it but way of illegal process.

“We were proved right when a suit came up two days ago and that the police themselves are asking that these panels to stop.

“We are in this struggle not only for the people that died, or the people suffering now but for the future of our children. Government must not continue with the culture of reckless impunity.”

The suit was withdrawn after Mohammed Adamu, inspector-general of police, complained about it publicly.

A spokesperson of the victims said: “We have people with amputated legs; we have people with brain surgery in this van; we have dozens of them that are yet to be discharged. This is from Lekki tollgate massacre 2020. We want justice. We don’t want to be silenced; we don’t want to be marginalised even in our own country.”

- THECABLE 

Amotekun not setup for trivial issues – DAWN

 The Development Agenda for Western Nigeria, DAWN, has admonished the Western Nigeria Security Network, otherwise known Operation Amotekun from going against the rules setting it up.

DAWN, which is the coordinating agency for Amotekun in a statement on Friday, stated that the security outfit was not setup to address irrelevant issues.

The commission was reacting to the plan by some state commands of the Amotekun Corps to arrest persons with indecent dressing as well as those involved in the abuse of Yoruba language.

According to the commission, the creative expression, culture and language of people living in Southwest zone of the country are beyond the scope of the security functions of Amotekun.

While emphasizing that the function and responsibility of the security outfit had been enshrined in the legal framework which set it up, DAWN maintained that attempt to violate the rights of the citizens will be frowned at.

“This is to formally inform the general public that the Western Nigeria Security Network codenamed “AMOTEKUN” was not set up to address trivial issues outside the law establishing it.

“The creative expression, culture and language of people living in Southwest Nigeria are beyond the scope of the security functions of AMOTEKUN.

“The outfit was set up as a complementary structure to the Statutory Security Agencies to guarantee freedom of expression, protection of lives and property, and by extension, the prosperity of Southwest Nigeria.

“Any abuse or violation of any citizen living within the Region by any member of the AMOTEKUN Corps will not be tolerated by the relevant authorities in the States.”

- DAILY POST

Napoli name stadium after Diego Maradona

 

Napoli have named their stadium after late football legend, Diego Maradona who died last week at the age of 60.

The Argentine star had most of his exploit at Napoli, a club he played for between 1984 and 1990.

The Stadio San Paolo will now be known as the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, after the Napoli city council approved the resolution.

According to BBC, Napoli owner Aurelio de Laurentiis proposed renaming the stadium in an open letter after Maradona’s death.

The mayor of Naples, Luigi de Magistris, also backed the idea.

Maradona spent seven years at Napoli after joining from Barcelona in 1984, also winning the 1987 Coppa Italia and 1989 Uefa Cup with the Italian club.

Fans gathered at the stadium to pay tribute to him after his death on 25 November and Napoli honoured him before their Europa League match against HNK Rijeka, each player wearing a shirt with ‘Maradona 10’ on the back.

“The resolution was signed by the entire city council,” said the council in a statement.

They added that Maradona was “the greatest footballer of all time” who “with his immense talent and magic honoured the Napoli team shirt for seven years” and “receiving in exchange from the whole city an eternal and unconditional love”.

Maradona made 188 appearances for Napoli, more than he made for any other club in his career, and scored 81 goals.

- PM NEWS

CBN directs banks to close naira ledger dom accounts

 

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed banks in the country to close all naira ledger accounts opened specifically for the purpose of receiving proceeds from international money transfer operator (IMTO) with immediate effect.

The apex bank, in a statement released on Wednesday, jointly signed by Bello Hassan, director banking supervision of the CBN, and O.S. Nnaji, director trade & exchange of the CBN, said IMTO beneficiaries/recipients are to receive their proceeds in foreign currency (USD) or have it deposited in their domiciliary account in a Nigerian bank.

“It is the sole discretion of the recipients to either choose foreign currency cash or have the proceeds deposited into their domiciliary accounts in Nigeria.” the statement said.

This is coming days after the CBN relaxed rules on foreign remittances and dom accounts.

The CBN had said the changes are necessary to deepen the foreign exchange market, provide more liquidity and create more transparency in the administration of Diaspora remittances into Nigeria.

Under the new guidelines, operators of export domiciliary accounts will continue to operate based on existing regulations which allow account holders use their funds for business operations only with any extra funds sold in the import and export window.

Also operators of ordinary domiciliary accounts where accounts are funded electronically or wire transfer, would be allowed unfettered and unrestricted use of these funds for eligible transactions. And where accounts are funded by cash lodgments, existing regulation will continue to apply.

- THECABLE

Africa’s confirmed COVID-19 cases exceed 2.21m

 

The Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) says the number of confirmed Coronavirus cases in the African continent has reached 2,215,216.

Africa CDC made this known in a statement released on Friday.

The continental disease control and prevention agency said a total of 1,892,013 people infected with the virus have recovered across the continent, adding that the death toll from the pandemic stood at 52,824.

According to the Africa CDC, the most affected African countries with high positive cases include South Africa, Morocco, Egypt, and Ethiopia.

It also said the Southern Africa region is the most affected region both in terms of the number of confirmed positive cases as well as the number of deaths.

”The northern Africa region is the second most affected African region while South Africa currently has a total of 800,872 cases.

”The country also has the highest number of deaths related to COVID-19, at 21,803.

”Morocco has 368,624 confirmed cases and 6,063 deaths, followed by Egypt with 117,156 confirmed cases and 6,713 deaths,” Africa CDC said.

- DAILY POST

Over 100 Nigerians dead through illegal migration

 

Rarduja International, a group known for its campaign against irregular migration, said that over 100 Nigerians lost their lives through irregular migration in 2020.

It said that 74 persons out of the number drowned while trying to cross through Libya to Europe on the Mediterranean sea on Nov.12.

The leader of the group, Mr Eddy Duru, said this at a press briefing in Owerri on Friday while re-educating the public on the risks and dangers of unplanned journey abroad and reviewing the group’s activities in the year.

He advised individuals, especially the youths, against irregular travels outside the country, saying that they portended dangers, sufferings and loss of lives.

“74 lives drowned in the sea on Nov. 12 while trying to migrate. This figure may not have been reported. In all, we lost over 100 migrants this year to the sea who were trying to cross through Libya to America,” he said.

Duru said that his group had engaged in many activities in schools and NYSC camps and had visited some states to create awareness on the best way to travel without incurring pains and lost.

He said the media should be stakeholders in propagating the message that Nigerians should begin to do things right and differently to succeed.

Mrs Comfort Agboko, the Zonal Commander, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in South East, said the agency had been working with Rarduja as partners to sensitise people against irregular migration.

She expressed displeasure at the rate Africans, especially Nigerians, got themselves drowned in the Mediterranean sea and advised the people to travel properly.

''Victims of irregular migration are victims of trafficking, sexual exploitation, sexually transmitted diseases and death,” she said.

Cecilia Osakwe, the Special Adviser to Imo Governor on Diaspora Affairs, called on all stakeholders to come together with one idea and one mind to curb irregular migration, saying the government could not do it alone.

She said that 71 per cent of human traffickers were women and commended Rarduja for the good work it had been doing.

Osakwe said her office was absolutely committed to the objectives of Rarduja.4.

- PM NEWS