Burkina Faso Army Captain Ibrahim Traore has announced the ousting of military leader Paul-Henri Damiba, dissolution of the government and suspension of the constitution and transitional charter.
Mr Traore announced the coup in a statement on national television on Friday evening, saying a group of officers decided to remove Mr Damiba over his inability to deal with a worsening Islamist insurgency.
Mr Traore announced that the country’s borders were now closed indefinitely and that all political and civil society activities were suspended. More than 40 per cent of Burkina Faso is outside government control.
On Friday morning, multiple reports noted soldiers on the streets and heavy gunfire near the main military camp and residential areas of Burkina Faso’s capital. Explosions were also heard near the presidential palace.
This is the second coup seen by the African country since January. On January 22, police in the capital Ouagadougou clashed with protesters at a banned protest over the government’s handling of its insecurity concerns which it has battled since 2015.
On January 24, President Roch Marc Christian Kabore was arrested by soldiers after gunshots were heard near his private residence.
In February, Coup leader Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba was inaugurated as president on February 16 and in March, the military junta signed a charter establishing a three-year transition period before the country would hold its elections.
Last week, Mr Damiba travelled to New York where he addressed the United Nations General Assembly, defending his January coup as “an issue of survival for our nation,” even if it was ”perhaps reprehensible” to the international community.
Whenever I read any member of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), such as Ifeanyi Ejiofor or Emma Power[less], calling for “unconditional” release of Nnamdi Kanu, I know they are not reasonable and not realistic. Who told them that Governments release people accused of treason unconditionally?
Unconditional release means that Nnamdi Kanu should be allowed to continue to gather some people and continue to agitate for a separate country of Biafra. Then why arrest him in the first place if they could release him “unconditionally”?
So, both Ejiofor and Powerless are jokers. They are playing with themselves. The only release they can ask for now is a highly “conditional” one.
It has to be a release that will guarantee that Nnamdi Kanu will no longer tell our young men and women to go into the bush or to attack policemen. It has to be a release that will carry many terms and conditions.
Every competent lawyer representing a person in a criminal trial will apply for bail and ask the court to grant his client bail on “lenient terms and conditions”.
In fact, that was what Ejiofor tried, but failed woefully to achieve. After the court refused to grant bail on lenient terms and conditions, the same Ejiofor tells the same court to release him without any conditions whatsoever. How logical is that?
If these guys are serious-minded people, they should meet with Nnamdi Kanu and discuss the sort of compromise and concessions he will be willing to make without losing face, more than he already has. He has to make concessions if he wants to come out of detention. After all, this is a highly politically sensitive case.
One thing you should know about governments, especially African governments, is that they don’t like to lose face. They are dictatorial in orientation. So, to expect Nigerian government to swallow its pride, and lose face, and release Nnamdi Kanu UNCONDITIONALLY, you got to be joking.
Such call only shows Ejiofor and Emma Powerless as a bunch of idiots. They want Nnamdi Kanu to die in detention. That is why they are asking for unconditional release.
The only logical way Nnamdi Kanu will be released is when the next Government comes to power and starts some amnesty program. IPOB leaders, together with other militants’ groups will be considered for amnesty.
Earlier today 29th Sept. 2022, the Governor of Anambra Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo received in audience, the General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Major General U. T Musa at the Governors Lodge, Amawbia. Governor Soludo while welcoming Major General U.T Musa and his entourage who is barely two months in the Command also congratulated him for the new assignment.
“I am happy you came, and of full appreciation of the security challenges in South East and Nigeria and also very pleased to have identified very critical points where we have high intensity points particularly along the borders Towns and Local governments of Anambra, Imo, Abia and Enugu,from where they came and lunch their attacks.” Governor Soludo said.
Governor Soludo further described the activities of the group as lucrative criminality that has nothing to do with agitation.
“Anybody in any camp in Anambra state is a criminal, we consider the person as a kidnapper and we treat the person as such, there is no way light and darkness can co-exist. Without law and order nothing else will work”, Soludo concluded.
Governor Soludo further stated that Anambra people are very enterprising and law abiding and reiterates his commitment to do everything possible to contend with the criminal elements in the state. Governor Soludo also seized the opportunity to commiserate with the Major General for the death of the soldiers who have lost their lives in the series of attacks in the state and call for partnership for security and development.
Earlier in his speech Major General U. T Musa, said they came to pay a courtesy call as customary, having been busy since the assumption of duty in the command two months ago,studying the security situation in the zone and think of how to go about some of the challenges, but definitely studying the environment will not be complete without paying a courtesy visit to familiarize himselff with the chief executives of the state.
Major Genral U. T Musa further said that security can not be achieved without getting in contact with the chief security officer of the state and thanked the Governor for supporting them.
Major General U.T Musa is the General in charge of five eastern states and Delta state. Chief of Staff to the Governor; Mr. Ernest Ezeajughi, SPAD to the Governor on Security Air Vice Marshal Ben. Chiobi Mni Rtd., the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor Mr. Christian Aburime.
Road infrastructure is as basic as the air we breathe. It is a linear way for the conveyance of traffic which, to a great extent, has an improved surface for use by vehicles; both motorized and non-motorized, including pedestrians. Roads play the very vital role of aiding transportation.
Before now, Anambra State prides as a state with the best network of roads. This entails that nooks and crannies of the state can be easily accessed from community to community without hitches. Sadly, this may no longer be the case, as most roads in the state have become death traps, causing untold hardship to the populace .
During the campaign which ushered in the Governor Chukwuma Soludo-led administration, one resounding request across communities was the provision of roads. Thus, when Governor Soludo mounted the saddle of governance, one of the major thrusts and focus of his government centered on how to provide access roads across the state.
However, restrained by scarce resources, Governor Soludo has narrowed the focus and prioritized the construction of strategic roads. By this, the Soludo-led administration is constructing roads that link and open up communities, support economic growth and improve the lives of Ndi Anambra.
To achieve this target, Anambra State Government decided to ‘sprinkle’ roads in strategic parts of the state. For instance, Governor Soludo flagged off the construction of nine roads in Okpoko, Ogbaru Local Government Area that are approximately 14.3 kilometers. When these roads are completed, they will give the people of the area, who feel they have since been neglected, a sense of belonging.
Work has also commenced on the eleven kilometer Mmiata Anam-Nzam road. When completed, the road will boost agro-economy of the area in particular and Anambra State in general.
Also, Governor Soludo has flagged off construction and rehabilitation of about sixty-point-two kilometers of roads across the state. Works are already ongoing in the sites. These include the twenty-six kilometer Awba-Ofemili-Amansea road. The communities in this stretch who will benefit are as well agrarian communities. They are Amansea, Ebenebe, Ugbene, Ugbenu and Awba-Ofemili all in Awka North Local Government Area. Similarly, the 26.4 kilometer Amansea-Ndiukwuenu-Awa-Ufuma road which links the state Capital, Awka and Orumba North and South axis which is targeted to be completed within four months will not only improve economic activities, but drastically reduce travel time.
Other roads currently receiving the attention of the state government are: the six hundred meter stretch Isu/Igbo, Isuofia/Igboukwu section of the Ekwulobia/Nnobi Road popularly called Isu-Igbo river, the seven point-seven-nine kilometer Akpaka- Basilica road in Onitsha North Council Area, the flood control work at the Ogidi/Ogbunike road, and the rehabilitation of the failed portion of Mmili John road in Ojoto, Idemili South Local Government Area.
At the last count, Governor Chukwuma Soludo has flagged off over eighty kilometer roads across the state. This is out of the two-hundred and twenty kilometer roads he targets to complete in his first year in office. In his words, in no distant time, Anambra will become a massive construction site. According to the pact signed between the state government and contractors handling the different roads, it is expected that the roads will have a twenty year life span.
These projects are according to the People’s manifesto, Governor Soludo’s promise to Ndi Anambra. He assured that his administration will modernize and maintain existing roads, connect more communities with new roads, build flyovers, spurs and bridges, insist on durable roads, explore alternative business models including concessioning to provide more and better roads. So far, he is fulfilling the promise.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reacted to the N122.4 million bribing allegation against the Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) members.
The Party, in a statement by its spokesman, Hon. Debo Ologunagba described the report as misleading.
The party said: “The attention of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to misrepresenting reports in a section of the media alluding strange and unfounded motives to the Housing Allowance duly approved and paid to NWC members and staff of the Party
“The NWC has noted that this misleading report stemmed from an unfounded publication by a particular media outlet which suggested that the Housing Allowance, an entitlement duly approved and paid to national officials and staff of the Party amounted to bribery.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the PDP states in an unequivocal term that no funds were paid into the account of any member of the NWC as a bribe for any purpose whatsoever for that matter.
“To set the record straight, the Housing Allowance being referred to went through the Due Process of the Party in line with the Conditions of Service and Entitlement of the Staff and Principal Officers of the Party.
If any individual, for any reason decides to return money duly approved and paid, such does not in any way suggest that the money was paid as a bribe or indicate that it was illegitimate or unlawfully paid.
A bribe is defined as ‘money or any other valuable consideration given or promised with a view to corrupting the behaviour of a person, especially in that person’s performance as a public official…’. This is not the case in the payment of Housing Allowance duly approved for officials and staff of the Party.
“The PDP therefore urges all members, teeming supporters and the general public to disregard the report and misleading insinuation which are clearly designed to malign the PDP, cause disaffection and distract our Party from our mission to Rescue, Rebuild and Redirect our nation from the misrule of the All Progressives Congress (APC).”
One of the risks in adopting UTAS is that everybody will come and say give us our own salary.
The military is on IPPIS, the police is on IPPIS
Our heritage reporter reports that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has been urged to adopt the Integrated Payroll and Personnel information system (IPPIS) as a payment platform by the federation’s account-general, Sylvia Okolieaboh.
However, Okolieaboh asserted that the federal government will take into account the union’s unique payment requirements.
He made the appeal at a meeting that the House of Representatives’ leadership mediated to end the union’s protracted strike.
The Hon.Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila said the House leadership would meet with President Muhammadu Buhari next week to discuss resolving the continuing conflict between the federal government and the ASUU after consulting with all relevant parties.
If that will end the impasse, Okolieaboh stated his administration was prepared to address ASUU’s concerns regarding salary payments.
He claimed that adopting UTAS, as demanded by ASUU, may lead to improper requests from other agencies to be compensated with platforms of their choosing.
Okolieaboh said, “If there are peculiarities in the university salaries system, what we need to do is to sit down with ASUU and identify them and address them in IPPIS. We are willing to accept, if the answer is yes, then the whole of the issues will be resolved. What we need to do, in my own opinion, is to sit down with ASUU and know what the issues are and address them inside IPPIS.
Adopting UTAS carries some hazards, one of which is that everyone will demand their own compensation. Both the police and the military are currently using IPPIS. They each have unique quirks.
Yemi-Esan, the head of the federation’s (HoSF) service, reaffirmed that the platform would take into account the union’s unique characteristics while urging the union to embrace the IPPIS.
Yemi-Esan assuaged the fears of the striking lecturers that the government would not take away the responsibilities of the Governing Council of Universities in the administration of the schools in response to complaints about the government’s attempt to deprive the Governing Councils of Universities of their administrative power through the deployment of the IPPIS.
Ben Akabueze, the director general of the Budget Office, suggested that only one payment platform be used.
He claimed that the government couldn’t afford to have more than one platform because resources were so limited.
However, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, the president of ASUU, claimed that this was not the first time the government had made a commitment to look into the problems but had fallen short.
The IPPIS plan was not accepted by him.
Osodeke emphasized that the universities should have their own autonomy because it is what the statutes required, in his opinion. According to him, Nigeria is the only nation in which the office of the accountant-general is used to pay the wages of academics.
Osodeke questioned NITDA’s decision to withhold the results of the most recent test on UTAS and insisted that they should have access to the report so they could review it.
Dr. Chris Ngige, the minister of labor and employment, advised institutions to support themselves if they wanted complete autonomy.
Ngige said that while talks were still in progress, he had urged ASUU to accept the IPPIS, which could still account for their unique circumstances.
He praised the House leadership for taking the initiative and urged ASUU to continue working with IPPIS to resolve their issues.
He stressed that he would not accept the broken systems and expressed disappointment that ASUU went on strike while negotiations were still happening without his knowledge.
However, Gbajabiamila said that seeing the UTAS report is useless if the government is to address ASUU’s concerns in the IPPIS.
He stated that it is crucial for Varsities to restore operations as soon as possible so that students can return to their studies.
“We will give you the report. But we do not want delays. So, the issue of UTAS let us say we are waiting to study the report. What are we doing here? What is on ground now is that the government sits with you and asks ASUU what are the problems with IPPIS, we would fix those problems. They did it with the military, and the health sector and others.”
According to him, the House leadership would present a summary of its interactions with significant parties to the disagreement over the next couple of days and make recommendations that would allow the President to assess the issues at stake from an educated second perspective.
According to Gbajabiamila, the leadership will be helped in developing fact-based suggestions for handling the problem as a result of the information obtained from the extended conversations.
The House would invite the ASUU after the outcome of the meeting with the president, Gbajabiamila assured the lecturers on strike.
The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has deepened as six members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party returned N177.6 millions paid into their accounts as bribes by the party’s leadership.
Those who have returned the alleged bribe paid to them from the “proceeds of the N10bn sale of nomination forms” include the Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, who refunded N36m to the party’s account; National Vice Chairman South-South, Chief Dan Orbih (N28m) and National Woman Leader, Prof. Stella Effah-Attoe (N28m).
Others are: National Vice Chairman South-East, Dr Alli Odefa (N28m); National Vice Chairman South-West, Olasoji Adagunobi-Oluwatukesi (N28m) and Deputy National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo (N28m).
The money paid into the six people’s accounts were said to be for ‘house rent.’
The letters for the return of the money were conveyed to the party’s national chairman and leaked to the public.
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State had accused the PDP’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu of pocketing N1 billion in Lagos.
The presidential candidates for the 2023 presidential election converged in Abuja today September 29 to sign a peace accord. This came a day after the electoral commission INEC, granted approval to political bodies to begin campaigning for the elections.
Speaking at the peace accord signing ceremony, the Chairman of the National Peace Committee and former military head of state, Abdusalami Abubakar, appealed to the 18 political parties, their presidential candidates, and spokespersons to commit to issues-based campaigns, as fake news and misinformation are already creating a toxic environment that is capable of threatening the peaceful conduct of the 2023 general elections.
Some members of the National Peace Committee at the programme include Bishop Hassan Kukah, John Onayeikan, John Momoh, Aliko Dangote, as well as Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar. The Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, amongst others.
Some of the presidential candidates at the event include Labour Party’s Peter Obi, Peoples Democratic Party’s Atiku Abubakar, New Nigeria Peoples Party’s Rabiu Kwankwaso, Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress.
However, Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress was absent but his running mate, Kashim Shettima, was seen at the program.
Father Ejike Mbaka, the spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry, Enugu Nigeria (AMEN) has announced date for the reopening of the ministry, three months after it was shutdown.
The spiritual Director of AMEN had on June 18th, announced the shutting down of activities at his Adoration Ministry Indefinitely.
The action wasn’t unconnected to the backlash that followed his (Mbaka’s) criticism of the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi.
He said Obi is too stingy and that he can never win the presidency of Nigeria because a generous old man is better than a young wicked person.
After the sermon, the Diocese quickly disowned Mbaka stating that he doesn’t speak for the Catholic Church.
Fr. Mbaka himself, in a statement announcing the re opening said, “To the glory of God, Adoration Ministries starts on Sunday 2nd October , 2022 with 10am Mass. God bless you miraculously as you come Joyfully to worship God with us. Fr Mbaka Ejike Camillus”
The Enugu fiery priest had also apologised to the supporters of Peter Obi and blessed the former Anambra Governor. The Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Nigeria added that he never intended to malign Obi or any person
Prophet Isa El-buba of the Evangelical Bible Outreach Ministries International (EBOMI), he is moved to support the Presidential ambition of the former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi because of his competence and genuine commitment in salvaging the nation from its current woes.
El-Buba who is also the Convener of the Initiative for Better and Brighter Nigeria (IBBN), said as a preacher nothing is wrong with his political beliefs and conviction that Mr. Obi will deliver in his mandate, as demonstrated as a former governor.
El-Buba stated this on Wednesday in Jos, during the Middle Belt Unveiling of OBI-DATTI 2023.
I am not afraid to openly show my support for the Labour Party Candidate, Mr. Peter Obi,. We are tired of recycling old politicians who have led us to the woes we are currently facing today”, he said.
He called on Nigerians not to make the mistake of selling their votes, as 2023 will mark a new beginning for the nation.
However, the Middle-Belt Forum, drawn from the north-central States made a bold statement by endorsing the Obi-Datti 2023 Presidential candidacy.
President of the forum, Dr. Pogu Bitrus said the forum selected the best candidate from the south-east region.
According to him: “For equity, justice and fairness, a president from the southeast extraction should lead Nigeria in 2023, and based on this we picked Peter Obi as the best candidate from that rejoin as our candidate.
We are going to mobilise votes from the north-central States for him and to demonstrate this commitment, we have chosen to set today aside for his unveiling”, Bitrus said.
Responding, Obi thanked the region for their solidarity promising to end insecurity that has stopped the north central States from going to farm.
Obi said the previous government has mismanaged the resources meant for the protection of lives and property calling on his supporters to hold him responsible if he fails to fix insecurity, if elected into office.
The money that was supposed to be used to equip security agencies is what they will bring to buy your votes, when they come to ask them where they got money from.
Universities are on strike for almost eight months, and they don’t care because their children are all schooling abroad. There is hunger, and poverty in the land, everybody is hungry and the monies meant to solve these problems are what they have stolen to come and share for you to buy your votes”, Obi said.
He added: “It is the turn of Nigerian youths to take over power from those who have made their future look bleak.
“If you vote the Labour Party into power, you have voted for the right leadership that will solve the problems of the youths”, he said.
