Breaking: Balarabe Musa Dies At 84 |The Source

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Akinwale Kasali

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November 11, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

Elderstateman, nationalist and former Kaduna State Governor, Alhaji Balarabe Musa is dead.

A strong critic of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, hr died early Wednesday morning.

His close associate, friend and political Son, former Senator Shehu Sani broke the news of his demise on his Twitter handle.

“Alhaji Balarabe Musa has died. May Allah forgive his soul and grant him Aljanna firdausi.Amin,” Sani wrote on Twitter.

Balarabe Musa was elected governor of Kaduna State in 1979 under the PRP, but was later impeached and removed from office, by the NPN controlled House of Assembly.

He is considered a progessive and worked with people of like minds to mobilise against the military junta of late Sani Abacha.

Aged 84 years, he was the poorest former ex-Governor in Nigeria.

Boko Haram: Zulum Challenges FG After UAE Jailed Nigerian Sponsors |The Source

By

Bayo Bernard

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November 11, 2020

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By Fola James

Governor Babagana Zulum has praised the conviction of some Nigerians believed to be sponsors of dreaded terrorist group, Boko Haram by an Abu Dhabi Appeal Court.

Zulum whose state is the epicenter of insurgency in the country said the federal government should liaise more with the government of the United Arab Emirates, UAE to find out more about the terrorists’ financiers.

His charge came amidst appeals by families of the convicts to the government to intervene to prove their innocence. The federal government said the convicts can still appeal to the UAE Supreme court for remedy after an Abu Dhabi appeal court upheld the conviction of the Nigerians for allegedly supplying almost N300m to fund Boko Haram.

The convicts, according to the court, allegedly used bureau de change operations to send $782,000 to Boko Haram in 17 separate transfers from Dubai to Nigeria between 2015 and 2016.

The Borno Governor said the conviction has opened a new vista to ending insurgency, but however, stated that the convicts can still prove their innocence by appealing to a higher court.

The statement by the governor’s spokesman, Malam Isa Gusau said, “Governor Babagana Umara Zulum is glad that for the first time in 11 years, there appears to be headway on tracking some alleged financiers of Boko Haram’s activities which has left thousands of citizens killed, millions displaced and private property and public institutions worth 9 billion dollars destroyed in Borno, other parts of the northeast and Nigeria at large.

“Zulum urged the Federal Government to consider setting up a multi-stakeholder team with trusted representatives from the Federal Ministries of Justice, Foreign Affairs, the Nigerian Intelligence Agency, NIA, the Defence Intelligence Agency, DIA, the Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad, and the ECOWAS Intergovernmental Action Group on Terrorism Financing in West Africa, to assiduously work with the UAE Government to look into the issues raised by families crying foul play, and more importantly, to follow-up on the findings by the UAE with the hope of using the intelligence, if authenticated, to expand search on other Boko Haram sponsors that may be helping in similar ways.”

Since he came into office last year, Governor Zulum has criticised the military’s handling of the insurgency, with the nation’s armed forces fighting back.

The governor who has also been attacked by the terrorists, at least thrice, and almost killed in one of those occasions, while moving around the state has vowed not to relent until peace retuns to the state.

Nigeria: The Stupidity Of Marching For Trump |The Source

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The Source

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November 10, 2020

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By Chioma Ugochukwu

I am home today nursing a torn muscle from my treadmill workouts and thought that I should comment on something that happened recently. I noticed that a video was trending on Twitter a few days ago.

It was a video of folks from a church in the Southeastern part of Nigeria holding a prayer walk for Donald Trump. We saw reports earlier that another church in the region also held a parade for Trump. Those of you who follow me know that I have written about this strange phenomenon of Nigerians, particularly the Igbo (my ethnic group), supporting and praying for Trump.

It started with the false meme that spread on social media that Trump supports Igbos (Biafrans). Some Igbos are pushing to secede from Nigeria due to their discontentment with the tensions between Christians in the North (Igbos are mostly Christians) and Muslims in the North.

Many of us Nigerians in the United States are dual citizens. We have often found it baffling that our brothers and sisters back home don’t seem to fully understand who Trump is. Most of them truly believe that Trump is a devout Christian and some even call him a God-sent. Those of us who know Trump better find the claim to be ludicrous.

Anyway, I have often tried not to be too critical of our folks back home, but seeing this video trending on Twitter and reading that Trump acknowledged it sent me over the edge.

While I understand that we are all entitled to our opinions, beliefs, and values, I find myself in a position of using my own voice to express my opinion and disdain for what I am seeing.

This is personal to me. I recognize that I am about to take a harsh tone here, but sometimes you’ve got to take a stand for your own values. I have no doubt in my mind that Trump does not give a damn about Igbo or Nigerians. In fact, he has blocked visas and family reunification programs for Nigerians. He has not spoken out against the issue of police brutality in Nigeria, which most of our Igbo folks are fighting against with the #EndSARS movement.

Trump has also blocked the appointment of Nigerians to leadership positions within some international organizations. So, if you are one of the Nigerians holding prayer vigils and parading for Trump, shame on you!

You are actively praying for a man who is doing his best to make life harder for your brothers and sisters in the diaspora. I have not seen a prayer walk from any of you for the various issues we’ve encountered. We’ve had mass shootings in the United States and none of you held parades or vigils to pray for our safety. You pray for Trump and shamelessly tell us that we need to return home if we find his policies unbearable.

Meanwhile, you are all too happy to receive the billions of dollars in remittances that we send to Nigeria every year. Your prayers for Trump are prayers against our welfare and the welfare of our children. So, shame on you!

I don’t comment too much on events happening in Nigeria and it’s not because I don’t care; it’s just that I left Nigeria decades ago, which means that I can no longer draw on my lived experience for commentary. I can rely on research, but that means that I will miss some nuances because one’s lived experience will always trump what one can deduce from reading.

Many of you Nigerians praying for Trump actually believe that reading memes and news articles make you experts on Trump and the American experience. You see the things you hear on the 700 Club and TBN as non-partisan and true. You are often dismissive of your brothers and sisters in the United States who draw on their lived experience to form their opinion of Trump. It will be nice if you would give us the benefit of the doubt and acknowledge that we may know this guy better than you do.

Trump does not give a damn about you or any other African nation! Trump is not a Christian, so shame on you for believing otherwise! Shame on you for supporting someone who saw a black man sitting in his lobby as an eyesore.

Shame on you for professing to be Christians even as you support a conman who defrauds workers, sleeps with porn stars, separates children from their parents, denounces refugees fleeing war-torn locations, takes away food stamps from children, and who is actively working to take away health insurance from millions. The Igbos pride themselves on being smart. Whatever caused you to parade for a man who is pushing the world toward anti-intellectualism?

Were we not taught that God is love? What does your Bible say about lust, greed, wrath, envy, and pride? Are they still deadly sins or not?

We have a name for people who sympathize with their abusers. We need to see if this is a case of the Stockholm Syndrome or just another case of the regular, everyday colonial mentality. I recognize that I am being tough here, but if you are willing to support a white supremacist who spends all day sowing division, then rest assured that I have no problem distancing myself from you and your values.

Ugochukwu wrote from Pennsylvania

What Killed Rev. Irvin Baxter? |The Source

By

The Source

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November 10, 2020

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By Charles Igbo

Life is full of ironies. And can make a mockery of one. This seems to be the fate of a conservative Televangelist, Rev Irvin Baxter.

Baxter was the founder of the Endtime Ministries, a firebrand Pentecostal Church.

A strong Donald Trump supporter, he had the same beliefs, like Trump, about COVID-19. He did not believe in the science aspect of the virus. He said it was punishment from God for fornicators. He said it was caused by a lifestyle of sin. Such sins, he said, included, pre-marital sex, fornication, and intercourse between people of same sex.

But in one of the ironies of life, Rev. Baxter died of COVID-19, after being hopitalised for a week. And the questions have been: How did he contract the virus? Was it through a sinful act? Did the Reverend Gentleman engage in any illegal sex, and so contracted the COVID-19 as punishment? Was he a fornicator? Hardly, most people chorus.

But he died on Saturday, of COVID-19, the same day Trump, the man he so much believed in, lost the Presidential election to Senator Joe Biden.

Bemoaning his death, Dave Robbins, his co- host on the End Of The Age programme, said:

“Irvin went on to his great reward. We celebrate his life, but at the same time, there is sorrow, there is grieving.”

Rev. Baxter was aged 75.

Falz Slams Buhari, Says He Doesn’t Respect Anybody’s Will |The Source

By

Akinwale Kasali

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November 10, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

Popular Entertainer and activist, Folarin Falana, known as Falz, has slammed President Muhammadu Buhari for not respecting the will of the people.

The lawyer turned rapper lambasted the President over his congratulatory message to Joe Biden, the projected winner of the US Presidential election.

Buhari in his congratulatory message had said, “Respect for the will of the people is the very reason why democracy remains the best form of government, despite its limitations from one polity to another, and from one society to another.”

But Falz queried Buhari’s motive for the statement, demanding to know who wrote the congratulatory message.

He claimed that the President knows nothing about respecting the will of the people.

In a tweet on his handle, Falz asked; “Who typed this? Because you clearly know nothing about respecting the will of the people, and it is surprising that you could say this.”

Falz’s statement is coming in the wake of the #EndSARS Protest against Police brutality and extra judicial killings of the citizens which was hijacked by hoodlums, leading to arson and loss of lives.

Incredible: DSIEC Propose N1.147 Billion For LGA Election |The Source

By

Akinwale Kasali

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November 10, 2020

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Independent National Electoral Commission

By Akinwale Kasali

The Delta State Independent Electoral Commission, DESIEC, has proposed the sum of N1,147,000,000 (One Billion, One Hundred and Forty Seven Million Naira) for the conduct of the forthcoming local government councils election in the State.

The Chairman of the Commission, Chief Mike Ogbodu who disclosed this while defending the 2021 budget proposal be the State House of Assembly Committee on Establishment, Ethics and Privileges, Chaired by the Minority Leader, Hon Innocent Anidi, said the election would hold early next year.

The DESIEC boss said N900,000,000 (Nine Hundred Million Naira) is proposed for the conduct of the elections, while two hundred and forty-seven million naira is for related activities, including legal matters, post election seminars, trainings among others.

Briefing the House Committee members on the activities of the Commission in the 2020 fiscal year as well as its projections for 2021, Chief Ogbodu said that the Commission was already putting measures in place towards achieving seamless local government election in the State.

He stated that the Commission is already considering possible date early next year for the proposed date for the local government election, hence the proposed amount to be captured in the 2021 Appropriation law.

The DSIEC boss said the N32.5million cap limit given to the Commission to spend as capital expenditure for 2021 was inadequate and stressed the need for increase amongst other demands.

The Chairman of the Committee, Hon Innocent Anidi, while commending DSIEC for its roles so far, urged it to sustain the tempo, particularly in the forth coming local government elections in the State.

For his part, a members of the Committee, Hon Reuben Izeze urged the Commission to continue to uphold its integrity as an independent institution in the discharge of its duties.

Hon Izeze also charged the officials to strive to maintain absolute independent of the Commission in its operations

The DSIEC boss was accompanied to the State House of Assembly Complex, the venue of the budget defense session, by Commissioners in the Commission and the Management team.

Atedo Peterside, Tackles Government, Says Economy Rigged To Favour Highly, Well Connected Persons |The Source

By

Akinwale Kasali

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November 10, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

Nigerian Entrepreneur and investment Banker, Atedo Peterside, has dropped a bombshell. He is accusing the President Muhammadu Buhari administration of favouritism in the administration’s business and financial policy. He alleged sentimental attachment, skewed to favour some, at the expense of others.

Peterside joined the league of other Nigerians who are kicking against the Federal Government’s decision to grant only Dangote cement access to export and import items across the borders that have been closed for about a year now.

The Federal government closed borders with neighboring countries including Benin Republic and Niger Republic to curb smuggling and boost local production.

It would be reclled that Bloomberg reports that the Buhari administration has given its authorization for Africa’s biggest producer to export cement to Niger Republic and Togo in the third quarter for the first time in ten months.

Reacting to the development via his Twitter handle, Peterside said such a move is why some Nigerians argue that the Nigerian economy is rigged in favor of a handful of well-connected persons.

”Allowing legitimate exporters & importers to move their goods across the border should be a no-brainer. Why refuse everybody else & allow only one company (Dangote)? This is why some of us argue that the Nigerian economy is rigged in favour of a handful of well-connected persons”.

The issue addressed by Peterside has been at the front burner of discourse, with economic, business and political observers demanding to know the rationale behind the decision of the Federal Government policies, allegedly, favouring Aliko Dangote and the likes at the expense of others.

However, Dangote cement may not be only company enjoying that privilege. Allegation is that BUA cement enjoys same privilege from the Federal Government.

Tinubu, Fashola, Jakande, Other Ex-Lagos State Governors, Deputies Set To Forfeit Pensions And Benefits |The Source

By

Akinwale Kasali

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November 10, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

In a bid to curtail the expenses of the Lagos State Government, the Lagos State Governor has proposed the forfeiture of Pensions, Entitlements and Benefits of past Governors of Lagos State and their Deputies.

With this development, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Babatunde Raji Fashola, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Akinwunmi Ambode and other past Governors of the State and their Deputies would be affected by this Development.

Governor Sanwo-Olu said this was necessary for the government to spend judiciously an prudently.

The bill to abolish the gesture being considered by the state Government got pass mark from lawmakers at the State’s House of Assembly.

It was learnt that the move to repeal the Public Office Holder (Payment of Pension Law 2007), which provides for payment of pension and other entitlements to former governors and their deputies, was part of efforts to reduce government expenses at this present time that the State is yet to get over the monumental losses it experienced during the #EndSARS protest Hijacked by hoodlums, leading to wanting destruction of Government and public properties.

Petrol Scarcity Looms |The Source

By

Akinwale Kasali

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November 10, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

There are indications that the nation may face scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, in the coming days as oil workers have been ordered to down tools nationwide.

Oil workers under the aegis of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, were ordered by the association to vacate their duty posts with immediate effect.

The order was issued in a letter, dated November 8, 2020, and signed by the General Secretary, PENGASSAN, Lumumba Okugbawa, which was also copied to the Central Working Committee Members of the association.

Okugbawa revealed in Abuja that the strike was to kick against the failure of the government to make any concrete move as regards the differences between PENGASSAN and government on matters bordering on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System.

It also stated that the government has always paid lip service to their demands, prompting PENGASSAN to take actions and show the Government that they aren’t pushovers in anyway.

AFCON 2022: CAF Bans Nigerians From Nigeria-Sierra Leone Cracker |The Source

By

Akinwale Kasali

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November 10, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

The Confederation of African Football, CAF, has announced that no journalists or supporters would be allowed into the stadium for Nigeria’s 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, Edo State.

The reasons for this order are due to the Covid-19 Pandemic that halted the funfair of the game this past few months.

In a statement, the Director, Communications, of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF,, Ademola Olajire, said that CAF instructed, under Media Operations, that there would be no mixed zone in the guidelines communicated to the NFF.

Olajire added that there would be a virtual news conference, if possible for media officers from both teams only, and that only the TV channels with the rights will be allowed flash interviews.

”Also, only photographers of participating teams would be allowed at the match venue.

”The above puts to rest all previous speculations regarding having spectators at the match venue, and whether members of the media would be allowed into the arena,” he said.

The statement further quoted NFF’s Director of Competitions, Bola Oyeyode, as saying that only individuals accredited by the NFF would be allowed inside the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium for the Day 3 qualifier, which will kick off at 5pm Nigeria time on Friday, Nov. 13.

The Super Eagles has, however, commenced training in preparation for the match, with the invited players arriving before the Tuesday deadline given to the players by Coach Gernot Rohr.