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Army Confirms Sanwo-Olu Invited Them; Denies Shooting |The Source

By
Uche Mbah
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By Uche Mbah

The Nigerian Army has  confirmed they were invited by the Governor of Lagos state, Babajiide Sanwolu to control the looting and arson going on in the state.They, however, denied shooting protesters.

The Army had previously  denied being present at the Lekki grounds on the night of the shootings,  questioning the trending videos, saying it may have been photoshopped.

But in a recent interview with CNN, Sanwolu said the shootings were done by the military, but again questioned the reported number of casualties.

There were earlier reports attributed to the army that they were invited by the governor, and that about eight #endsars demonstrators were shot and taken to Bonny camp. This has not been independently verified, and the Army denies it. Sanwolu had blamed the shootings on “forces beyond my direct control”.

But in a statement, Tuesday, Osoba Olaniyi, Acting Director, Army Public Relations, claimed soldiers stayed away from the protests until they were invited by the Lagos government to restore order. But he denied soldiers shot protesters.

Read the statement:

“The attention of Headquarters 81 Division Nigerian Army has been drawn to a viral video on social media in which it was alleged that civilian protesters were massacred by soldiers at Lekki Toll Plaza. This  allegation is untrue, unfounded and aimed at causing anarchy in the country.

“At no time did soldiers of the Nigerian Army open fire on any civilian. From the onset of the END SARS protest, there was no time personnel of 81 Division Nigerian Army Lagos were involved.

“However, the decision to call in the military was taken by the Lagos State Government (LASG) after a 24- hour curfew was imposed.

“This was as a result of the violence which led to several police stations being burnt, policemen killed, suspects in police custody released and weapons carted away. The situation was fast degenerating into anarchy. It was at this point that LASG requested for the military to intervene in order to restore normalcy.

“The intervention of the military followed all laid down procedures for Internal Security operations and all the soldiers involved acted within the confines of the Rules of Engagement (ROE) for Internal Security operations.

“Finally, Headquarters 81 Division Nigerian Army reiterates Nigerian Army in the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities did not shoot at any civilian as there are glaring and convincing evidence to attest to this fact.

“This allegation is the handwork of mischief makers who will stop at nothing to tarnish the image of the Nigerian Army. The general public is hereby enjoined to discountenance this allegation as there is no iota of truth therein.”

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has continued with stakeholders.

Buhari Extends Yakubu’s Tenure |The Source

By
Uche Mbah
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By Uche Mbah

Mahmood Yakubu, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Chairman, has got his term renewed by President Muhammadu Buhari. With the reappointment, he is expected to be screened and cleared again by the Senate.

With this, Yakubu becomes the first INEC chairman to do a second term.

With the expiration of his tenure on November 9, President Buhari was expected to appoint a replacement, or reappoint him.

The term is for another five years.

Yakubu is a professor of Political History and International Studies. He became INEC’s chairman  on October 21, 2015, after the president submitted his name to the Senate.

His first term tenure will come to an end on 9, November 2020.

#EndSARS Protest: NPO, PDP, SERAP Slam NBC Over Channels TV, Arise TV, AIT |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

The Nigeria Press Organisation, NPO, has slammed the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission, NBC, over the fines imposed on three Television Stations for allegedly airing what the NBC called inciting news items during the #EndSARS protest. The Television Stations so fined are Arise Television, AIT and Channels Television.

Nigerian Youths, in their thousands had embarked on a nationwide protest against Police brutality and extra-judicial killings.

But on October 22, the peaceful protest, which was gradually hijacked by hoodlums, went awry. Soldiers had used live bullets on the protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate, injuring many and allegedly, according to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, two fatalities.

But hoodlums had embarked on an unprecedented looting and destruction nationwide. Among the many business places looted and razed were The Nation Newspapers and the TV Continental both, allegedly owned by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, an APC chieftain.

On Monday, the NPO, made up of the Newspapers Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria, NPAN, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, and the Nigeria Guild of Editors, NGE, paid a solidarity visit to both Media houses.

 

Speaking the President of the NPO, Nduka Obaigbena, who is also the owner of ThisDay Newspapers and Arise Television said the attacks on Media Houses was deliberate, and has been worsened by the fine imposed on the three Television stations. He assured the media houses of the support of the NPO.

In the same manner, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in a statement released via its official Twitter account asked the NBC to rescind this rushed clampdown and handle its regulatory role more professionally.

The PDP condemned, in its entirety, the clampdown on the major broadcast stations over their coverage of the protedrs, alleging it is a witchunt  and a way of gagging the media from from performing its responsibility.

Noted the PDP:“The PDP asserts that the rush to impose monetary fines on the television stations by the National Broadcast Commission (NBC), smacks of a fresh attempt to further gag the media, suppress free speech and Nigerians’ access to information.

“Indeed, this clampdown on broadcast stations, if anything, has heightened widespread public apprehensions of attempts at concealments of details and suppression of material evidence relating to human rights violations during the protest.

“In fact, this display of high-handedness by the NBC has hugely detracted from the efforts being made by well-meaning Nigerians to douse the tension in the land and reassure Nigerians at this critical time

“The NBC should rescind this rushed clampdown and handle its regulatory role more professionally.

“Our party holds that, in the course of information handling, especially in a crisis situation as we witnessed in the last two weeks, where caution is required, draconian measures should not be an option. Rather, all efforts should be towards national healing.

“Instead of seeking to gag the media, Nigerians would rather expect establishments like the NBC to be on the side of the people by urging government agencies to come up with information, particularly, such that contain critical pieces of evidence that would guarantee justice for victims of brutality by unscrupulous security operatives

“While the PDP calls for caution by all Nigerians, especially in the handling of information, we urge agencies of government to be mindful of actions that are capable of acerbating the already precarious situation in which we have found ourselves.

“The PDP restates its call for calm and restrain in the general interest of the unity and stability of our nation,” the statement reads.

Meanwhile, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has condemned NBC’s action.

“This action by NBC is yet another example of Nigerian authorities’ push to silence independent media and voices. NBC should drop the fines and uphold Nigerian constitution and international obligations to respect and protect freedom of expression and media freedom. We will sue NBC if the unconstitutional fines are not rescinded within 48 hours,” a statement by its deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare read.

“This is a new low in Nigeria’s protection of freedom of expression, and the ability of independent media to function in the country. The fines are detrimental to media freedom, and access to information, and the NBC must immediately withdraw the decision.”

SERAP further said: “President Muhammadu Buhari should caution the NBC to stop intimidating and harassing independent media houses and to respect the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and the country’s international human rights obligations, including under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights”

Tanzanian Election: Jonathan Leads Continental Body’s Observer Mission |The Source

By
The Source
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Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan
Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan

 As Tanzania gears up to hold its General elections on Wednesday, 28 October 2020, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat has called for peaceful, inclusive and credible polls.

Former Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, is leading African Union’s Elections Experts Mission already deployed to Tanzania for Wednesday’s elections.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Chairperson urged all stakeholders, political parties and their supporters “to participate in the voting process peacefully and to refrain from any acts of violence. He further urged the authorities to ensure a conducive environment to enable citizens to cast their votes in a safe and peaceful manner.”

The Chairperson further recalled “the commendable journey that the United Republic of Tanzania has traversed thus far towards building democratic governance and sustaining peace, and urges that the 28 October 2020 General Elections offer a renewed opportunity to deepen democracy and peace in the country.”

Former President Jonathan is coordinating the activities of the AU team of expert observers who are already in Tanzania for the elections.

It is the third time Dr. Jonathan will be leading the AU election observation mission, and the second consecutive time he will be observing elections in Tanzania, having led the Commonwealth Observer Group to the East African nation’s last general election in 2015.

In a letter of invitation signed by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat, the AU commended Dr. Jonathan’s efforts towards democratic consolidation and peacebuilding in Africa

It said: “Given Your Excellency’s vast experience and commitment in promoting democracy and peace on the continent, I would like to invite you to lead the Mission to the United Republic of Tanzania.”

Since leaving office in 2015, Dr. Jonathan has been actively engaged in numerous international assignments, including leading Peace Missions and different Election Observer Missions to various African nations including Tanzania, Zambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Mozambique.

As the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Special Envoy to Mali, the former President has led several mediation missions to Bamako, a commitment that helped restore peace to Mali after a protracted socio-political crisis.

WTO: France, Germany 104 Others Back Okonjo Iweala For Top Job |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Ngozi-Okonjo-Iweala

By Akinwale Kasali

Nigeria and Africa is set to make history following the backing of Germany, France, and 104 other countries, including European  of  Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to head the World Trade Organization, WTO.

Earlier, the African Union, AU, had backed the former Nigeria’s Finance Minister, and urged all members of the WTO to back her.

An EU official made the position of the EU public on Monday, sending a signal of trust in Africa.

South Korean Trade Minister, Yoo Myung-hee, is the only stumbling block to the actualisation of Okonjo-Iweala’s dream, as she is also eyeing the  position to be the first female leader in the WTO’s 25-year history.

One of the last Two will replace Brazilian, Roberto Azevedo, who quit a year earlier than expected at the end of August.

The EU’s support for Okonjo-Iweala is considered a strong signal to reinforce the multilateral order and a sign of mutual trust between the bloc and Africa, the official said.

An European source told AFP that seven member states had asked that their preference for Yoo be recorded in the statement, but another said backing Okonjo-Iweala was “a clear signal to Africa and a sign of mutual trust.”

With the EU backing, Okonjo-Iweala has emerged as the favourite to replace Brazil’s Roberto Azevedo at the WTO, and to become the first director general from Africa and the first woman to lead the institution.

The WTO’s consultation process ends on Tuesday and the new leader is expected to be named in November.

The WTO faces dual challenges and criticism from United States of America’s President, Donald Trump, whose administration  froze its appeals body by blocking its appointment of judges, and worsening U.S.-China trade relations.

She wants the WTO to help poorer countries access COVID-19 drugs and vaccines.

EndSARS: Access Bank Empowers Youths, SMEs With N50 Billion, As Banks Count Loses

By
Bayo Bernard
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By Tosin Olatokunbo

Access Bank has taken the lead to address the problem of youth restiveness in the country following its announcement of N50 billion interest free-loans to youths, small scale businesses and community development in the country.

Coming on the heels of recent destruction of private and public property, including banks, by miscreants masquerading as EndSARS protesters, the bank said it is poised to supporting the nation rebuild and put businesses back on their feet.

Recall that the forward moving bank, last week, denied allegation that it aided soldiers who shot at EndSARS protesters in Lekki, Lagos state.

“We are deeply saddened to hear about the unfortunate loss of innocent lives yesterday at the Lekki Toll. We pray that the souls of the innocent rest in peace, noting that “We wish to address the statement by Arise TV alleging that Military Snipers were allowed access to our Head Office Tower for operations at the Lekki Toll Gate area.

“This is absolutely untrue. The video shared on Arise TV featured an employee of the bank conducting routine maintenance at the Tower location. It is unfortunate that this was reported as a sniper without any proof. As a corporate citizen with the purpose of impacting lives positively, we will never endanger the lives of Nigerians.” The Herbert Wigwe led bank said.

Putting the event of the last two weeks behind, the bank stated that “now more than ever, we remain committed to our purpose of impacting lives positively.  In the light of recent occurrences, we will be supporting Nigerian businesses with 50 billion Naira interest free loans and grants.”

Meanwhile, some banks are still counting their loses from the 14 days protests, as hoodlums damaged, looted and set on fire their business premises across the country.

The cost of the damage is still being estimated by investigators and will be known in the next few days or weeks, the magazine has learnt.

Various bank sources who spoke with The Source stated that the damage could run into several millions.

 

 

 

 

Ekiti APC, PDP Trade Words Over Attacks |The Source

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

The  Ekiti State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has  accused the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) of subversive activities.

The party, also, noted that a faction of the opposition was behind the recent looting and brigandage that attended last week’s peaceful protest by the youths in the state.

But PDP, in its reaction, pointed accusing fingers at Governor Kayode Fayemi as sponsoring thugs to unleash terror on members of the opposition in the state.

A statement in Ado Ekiti, by the Public Relations Officer, of APC, Mr Ade Ajayi reads:

“The attention of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been drawn to a statement credited to the (Fayose) factional Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ekiti State, and that of its failed gubernatorial candidate in the 2018 election, Olusola Eleka, alleging that Ekiti is not safe and that the looting of the silo containing seedlings preserved with chemicals  and the State Emergency Management Agency’s warehouse, is a failure of the Fayemi’s government.

“Even the least discerning in the state would confirm that the looting was masterminded by PDP leaders in Ekiti state in their failed attempt to discredit the Fayemi government.

“We wish to make it clear that Ekiti is safe for the law abiding citizens, but very unsafe for criminals and their sponsors.

“We also wish to alert the general public that Ekiti state government has no COVID-19 palliatives stored anywhere in the state, as they have been distributed long ago during the pandemic.

“The real motive of the PDP in Ekiti State after failing woefully at the 2018 gubernatorial elections has been to sneak back to power through the back door.

“We also recall that Ekiti was the only state in the southwest that enjoyed some level  of peace when other states went up in flames”. the statement added.

However in a statement by the PDP, it accused Dr Fayemi of unleashing armed thugs on Ekiti people, saying people being attacked will defend themselves if Government could not.

The party warned that  Governor Kayode Fayemi will be held responsible should there be further breakdown of law and order in the State,  alleging that “armed  thugs sponsored by the governor are now going about attacking people and destroying properties.”

The party alleged that a guest house owned by a musician and former House of Assembly member, Dayo Akinleye was invaded Saturday night by armed thugs led by one Marshal, where four persons were abducted and gun shots fired indiscriminately.

State Publicity Secretary of the PDP,  Raphael Adeyanju, in a statement on Sunday,  said it would get to a point that the people would be forced to defend themselves, if government that should protect them was the one unleashing thugs on them.

EndSARS: NEBPRIL Warns NBC Not To Muzzle Free Press |The Source

By
Bayo Bernard
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0

By Fola James

The Network for Best Practice and Integrity in Leadership, NEBPRIL has cautioned the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC against inflaming passions by seeking to truncate the free flow of information to the citizenry.

On the heels of fines imposed on the broadcasting trio of ARISE News Channel, African Independent Television(AIT), and Channel’s Television, NEBPRIL stated that the NBC could ill afford to act as complainant, prosecutor and judge in one fell swoop.

In a statement signed by the group’s chairman, Hon. Victor Afam Ogene, a former member of the House of Representatives, NEBPRIL wondered why the NBC did not query the television stations before arriving at the magisterial decision to impose fines on them, especially for carrying out their constitutional mandate.

“Like many Nigerians, we read with consternation the fines of between two to three million naira imposed on the stations over their coverage of the #ENDSARS protests which recently swept across the country.”

The current situation calls for sober reflection, NEBPRIL said, warning NBC that its action is capable of inflaming passion.

It stated that “These are tenuous times that require circumspection by public officials in the discharge of their duties; leaving many to wonder what the rush to fine the stations was all about, especially as the Panel of Enquiry and Restitution for Victims set up by the Lagos state government was yet to be inaugurated when the NBC slammed its hammer.

“The rationale for the sanctions, as announced by the NBC’s Acting Director-General, Professor Armstrong Idachaba, does not sound plausible to us and in fact, to every sane Nigerian who followed the protest via the media channels while it lasted.”

It said Nigeria cannot be an exception in the world where free speech is the norm, describing the sanction on the notable television stations as attempt to muzzle the press.

According to the group “From what we know, these sanctions by the NBC are an affront to the Journalism profession. We, therefore, view it as an attempt to muzzle free press and cow the media from informing the public about the goings-on in the society and to chiefly  hold the government accountable to the people.

“Recently, the world witnessed #Blacklivesmatter protests in the United States of America occasioned by the unlawful execution of a citizen, George Flyod, by a police officer.

‘Despite replaying footage gotten from the different sites of the protests, oftentimes from participants of the various marches, no station was fined for discharging their constitutional mandates of informing the members of the public.

“If indeed, Professor Idachaba was to do anything noble, he would have commended the Nigerian media for ensuring all-sides, all-angles coverage of the #EndSARS protests rather than imposing the infamous sanctions on the three TV houses.”

NEBPRIL, therefore called on the NBC to immediately withdraw the fines and also desist from acts that will gag free press and free speech in Nigeria.

 

Fayemi Presents 2021 Budget Proposals to Ekiti Assembly |The Source

By
Ayodele Oni
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Kayode Fayemi Presents 2021 Budget

By Ayodele Oni

Building of health centres in 174 wards and payment of the new minimum wage to some categories of workers, were some of the highlights in the over N110 billion 2021 budget proposal presented to the Ekiti state House of Assembly on Tuesday by Governor Kayode Fayemi.

The budget, christened Budget of  Recovery and Economic  Restoration, had an increment of  20 percent over that of the outgoing year.

According to the Governor, recurrent expenditure will gulp over N57 billion  while  Capital expenditure has N51 billion .

Addressing the house, Governor Fayemi  explained that the budget proposal was a product of consultation and meetings with members of the public through town hall meetings

Dr Fayemi explained that the budget was in tune the current economic realities occasioned by the global pandemic, corona virus and targeted at rebuilding the economic drive of the state.

He was confident that 2021 appropriation bill would lift the people of the state out of poverty through massive empowerment and social security schemes.

Sources of funds for the budget, he revealed are federal allocation, value added tax, Internally Generated Revenue as well as support from development partners.

Speaking on the implementation of 2020 budget, Governor Fayemi explained that  though the pandemic created a big challenge, his government was able to deliver on the budget through prompt payment of salaries, free education, free health care for the vulnerable members, inauguration of many noble projects among others.

The Governor, however, announced his determination to commence the payment of the consequential adjustment for the N30K thousand new minimum wage for workers from grade level eight and above, noting that the necessary requirements have been captured in the budget.

Earlier in his address of welcome, the Speaker of the house, Mr Funminiyi Afuye said the budget proposal would be thoroughly scrutinized and given prompt passage by the assembly.

Burutai, Army Chief Lied About His Military Career |The Source

By
Bayo Bernard
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0
Burutai

By Fola James

The claim by Nigeria’s chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai that he never traveled abroad until he became a general may be untrue after all.

Burutai, on Tuesday while speaking to top Army commanders claimed that “The first time I travelled outside of this country, I was already 50 years and a general, so I don’t mind if I live the rest of my life here.”

But facts check by the magazine has revealed that the four-star Army General who was made COAS by President Muhammadu Buhari when he became the leader of Africa’s most populous country in 2015, has attended several military training abroad since he joined the Army in 1983 as a cadet officer, including the Bangladesh University of Professionals, Dhaka and National Defence College, Mirpur, Bangladesh, according to Wikipedia.

Only a few past and present military officers in the country did not travel out of the country or attend  military schools abroad.

President Buhari and other top military officers attended various military schools abroad, including the Mons Officer Cadet School in Aldershot , United Kingdom, UK.

But speaking on Wednesday on the EndSARS protest and the need to beef up security across the country against miscreants and hoodlums, poised to hijack the protest for their own selfish ends, Burutai said nothing would stop the military from bringing peace to the country, even in the face of clamour for Visa ban on some military top brass, believed to have ordered soldiers the shooting of protesters in Lekki last week.

Before President Buhari became military heads of state in December 1984 he had attended several military trainings abroad. Not let out also, are other military leaders who have ruled the country, including Generals Aguiyi Ironsi, Yakubu Gowon, Murtala Muhammed and Ibrahim Babangida.

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