Obasempire reports that the leading Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, has issued a firm warning against any planned assaults on Igbos in Lagos State and other South-West regions.
The organization was reacting to a post by an X user, Lagospedia, advocating for the forced displacement of Igbo individuals.
In a statement from the National President, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, the Council condemned the call as unpatriotic and menacing, asserting that any aggression towards Ndigbo would be met with strong retaliation.
The statement, titled “Enough is Enough,” cautioned that the Igbo community will not tolerate any efforts to provoke violence or undermine their presence in the nation.
Okwu Nnabuike assured that the Igbos are unafraid and should not be mistaken for weaklings due to their previous restraint.
He urged those spreading divisive rhetoric to stop immediately, emphasizing that the Igbo people are a vital part of Nigeria and deserve equal respect and protection.
“We want to unequivocally declare today that Ndigbo are not cowards; our forefathers were not cowards; they were brave, and so are we.
“We warn those fanning the embers of discord not to mistake the calmness of the lion for weakness; we are not afraid and should not be pushed to the wall by faceless miscreants.
“Any attack on Ndigbo by anybody will be met with unimaginable retaliation. We are not second-class citizens of this country. No one is more Nigerian than the Igbos,” the release stated.
Obasempire reports that former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has delivered a harsh critique of the Nigerian Senate, accusing it of being complicit in the nation’s economic and social decline.
In a passionate speech, Obasanjo did not soften his remarks as he criticized the legislative body for allegedly exploiting their positions to enrich themselves while Nigeria nears catastrophe.
In his address, Obasanjo targeted the self-granted salaries and allowances that he argues have driven up the cost of governance. He criticized the absurdity of the benefits senators award themselves—from “newspaper allowances” to “pant allowances”—while the country suffers under severe economic strain.
“It’s not right, it’s not right, it’s not right,” Obasanjo repeated emphatically, condemning the Senate for what he described as immoral and self-serving practices.
He also pointed fingers at the executive branch, accusing it of colluding with the Senate to siphon off funds, citing instances where exorbitant amounts were allegedly funneled to senators.
Obasanjo’s biting remarks have sent shockwaves through the political landscape, sparking debate over the ethics and responsibilities of those in power.
As Nigeria faces mounting challenges, Obasanjo’s words serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for reform and accountability at the highest levels of government.
Obasempire reports that President Bola Tinubu has once again called on Nigerians to stay calm and patient as his administration tackles the nation’s economic issues.
This appeal comes amidst ongoing protests in several states across the country.
Protesters are calling for the reinstatement of the fuel subsidy, which was abolished by Tinubu on May 29, 2023, following his inauguration as president.
In an official video released by the State House on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, President Tinubu acknowledged the challenges faced by Nigerians, conceding that the transition has been more difficult than anticipated.
He attributed the hardship to an “avoidable lag” between the subsidy removal and the execution of his administration’s plans.
Nevertheless, President Tinubu assured Nigerians that his policies would eventually bring positive outcomes.
He said, “Fellow Nigerians, this period may be hard on us and there’s no doubt that it is tough on us but I urge you all to look beyond the present temporary pains and aim at the larger picture. All our good and helpful plans are in the works. More importantly, I know that they will work. Sadly, there was an avoidable lag between subsidy removal and these plans coming fully on line.”
“I plead with you, please, have faith in our ability to deliver and in our concern for your well-being. We will get out of this turbulence and due to the measures we have taken, Nigeria will be better equipped and able to take advantage of the future that awaits her.
“For example, we shall fulfill our promise to make education more affordable to all and provide loans to higher education students who may need them. No Nigerian students will have to abandon higher education system because of lack of money.
“Our commitment is to promote the greatest good for the greatest number of our people. On principle, we shall never falter, I assure you, my fellow countrymen and women, that we are exiting the darkness to enter a new and glorious dawn. Now, I must get back to work in order to make this vision come true.”
This is the second time President Tinubu has addressed the nation amid the ongoing protests and unrest. He previously addressed the nation in a national broadcast on Sunday, August 4, 2024.
Obasempire reports that fugitive former Kogi State Governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello is seeking political asylum in Niger Republic, following an arrangement facilitated by Nigerian Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.
Bello, whose eight-year tenure in Kogi was marked by authoritarianism, violence, and alleged elimination of political rivals, has been evading capture since the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) issued a warrant for his arrest over accusations of embezzling over N80 billion.
Sources indicate that Matawalle has a close relationship with General Abdourahamane Tchiani’s military regime, which has assured protection for his investments in Niger.
Sources in Abuja and Niamey, the capital of Niger, reveal that Matawalle negotiated the arrangement to keep Yahaya Bello secure in Niger, with representatives of Tchiani’s military junta involved in the discussions.
“Part of the deal involves the former Kogi Governor investing in Niger Republic and paying millions of unspecified sums to support his asylum.
“The asylum will guarantee his free movement in Niger Republic, Burkina Faso and Mali, the three countries with military governments and bilateral relations,” a source privy to the development told our correspondent in confidence.
Recall that after Yahaya Bello was smuggled out of his home in Zone 4, Wuse District Abuja, by his successor, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo when officials of the EFCC arrived to arrest him, he has not been seen again in public.
Matawalle, a close friend of GYB as the ex-Kogi State is fondly known, arranged an asylum for him, allegedly using military personnel under his watch to smuggle him through Kebbi state via illela border with two dark tinted hilux pick up vans and a Land Cruiser Sports Utility Vehicle.
Credible intels accused Matawalle of aiding the military junta in Niger Republic with information from the Nigerian government in exchange for protection of his huge investment in the tiny country running into millions of dollars.
Some of the offshore investments are allegedly proceeds from the financial windfall from the office of ex- National Security Adviser, Col Ibrahim Dasuki, oil bunkering and looting of Zamfara State resources where he served as Governor for four years.
Obasempire reports that the House of Representatives is proposing a 25-year prison term, a fine of N15 million, or both for anyone convicted of attacking or disrupting schools, abducting or holding students or teachers hostage with the aim of undermining educational progress in the country.
According to the House, if the offence results in death, the convicted individual will face the death penalty.
This proposal is outlined in a bill aimed at criminalizing actions that damage public or private infrastructure due to sabotage against Nigeria’s security and national interests, among other issues.
The proposed legislation, titled the ‘Counter Sabotage Bill 2024’ (HB1651), is sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas. Introduced in parliament on July 23, 2024, the bill is currently awaiting a second reading to debate its general principles.
The bill also includes a fine of N10 million or a 25-year prison term, or both, for those convicted of aiding, funding, inciting, supporting, or procuring others to sabotage the Federal Government or a state.
Furthermore, the proposed legislation prescribes life imprisonment, without an option of fine, for any person convicted for intentionally setting “fire on a farm or plantation in Nigeria with intention to sabotage food security in Nigeria. While a person who rustles, destroys or kills animals commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of seven years or to a fine of N3 million or to both.”
According to the bill, “A person who sets fires on the road either with tyres or other inflammable materials to obstruct or for the purpose of celebration and causes damage to the road, whether or not the burning of fire was for an unlawful purpose, commits an offence of sabotage under this Bill and is liable on conviction to a fine of N5 million or imprisonment for a term of three years or both.”
It stated that in the event the action “causes injury to a person or damage to property, the offender shall be liable on conviction to a fine of N5million or imprisonment for a term of seven years or both, while the offender shall, in addition, to the penalty prescribed, be liable on conviction to pay adequate compensation to the victim of the offence.”
The bill added that if the action results in the death of a person, the offender shall, on conviction, be liable to death.
Similarly, Section 4(1) of the proposed legislation stipulates that “A person who engages in a conduct that destroys or affects any water treatment facility or causes the facility to shut down, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to life imprisonment without an option of fine.” However, when the offence results in the death of a person, the offender shall on conviction be liable to death.
Also, Section 5(1) of the bill prescribes a fine of N15 million or imprisonment for a term of 25 years or both for any person convicted for blowing up a gas pipeline, oil pipeline, electricity facility or water supply pipeline, and disrupting the supply of gas, oil, electricity, petroleum products, or water supply. Nonetheless, when the offence results to the death of a person, the offender, on conviction, shall be liable to death.
Section 6(1) of the bill provides for a fine of N25 million or imprisonment for a term of 20 years or both for a contractor or foreign company “that abandons work intentionally on a critical national infrastructure without reasonable cause in order to damage the facility or project and jeopardise the security and progress of Nigeria.
In addition, the contractor or foreign company shall be blacklisted from doing business in the country.
Furthermore, the bill in Section 7 states that: “A person who uses cyber means by hacking or corrupting data, or by installing malware that destroys critical national data or systems or prepositions a hostile activity to take place at a future date to the detriment of Nigeria’s national security and interest, commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to a fine of N10 million or imprisonment for a term of 15 years or both.”
Similarly, the proposed legislation prescribes life imprisonment, without an option of fine, for anyone convicted of hijacking or disrupting the flight of an aircraft, as well as disrupting the operation of a train. Nevertheless, when the action results in the death of a person, the offender shall, on conviction, be liable to death.
Sections 10, 11, 12 and 13 of the bill states that, “A person who destroys a ship or vessel belonging to the government of Nigeria or a private ship or vessel operating within the Nigerian waters, or a naval ship belonging to the Nigerian Navy, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for life without an option of fine.
“A person, who, with intent to prejudice the safety, security or defence of Nigeria (a) impairs the efficiency or impedes the working of any ship, vehicle, aircraft, arms, munitions, equipment, machinery, apparatus or atomic or nuclear plant; or (b) damages or destroys any property which is necessary to keep intact for the safety or health of the public, commits an offence of sabotage and is liable, on conviction to imprisonment for a term of 20 years, or to a fine of N15 million or to both.
“A person, who trespasses on, injures, or destroys any of the works, property or materials of any submarine, mine or torpedo, or fortification or harbour defence system owned, constructed or in the process of construction by Nigeria; interferes with the operation or use of any such submarine, mine, torpedo, fortification or harbour-defence system, or violates any order or regulation issued under an the Act of the National Assembly governing persons, or vessels within the limits of defensive sea areas for the purpose of national defence, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N5 million or imprisonment for a term of 10 years or both. Where the violation of subsection (1) results in the death of a person, the offender shall be liable on conviction to death.”
Obasempire reports that former President Olusegun Obasanjo has criticized the way President Bola Tinubu’s administration removed the fuel subsidy, cautioning about the increased difficulties it will create for ordinary Nigerians.
He issued this caution during an interview with the Financial Times.
Obasanjo argued that the government should have focused on alleviating the challenges resulting from the subsidy removal instead of rushing the implementation of the policy.
“There’s a lot of work that needs to be done. Not just wake up one morning and say you removed the subsidy. Because of inflation, the subsidy that we have removed is not gone. It has come back,” he stressed.
The former President stressed the need for investor confidence in Nigeria, advocating for a shift from a transactional economy to a transformational one. “You have to go from transactional economy to transformational economy,” he said.
Obasanjo also expressed deep concern over the growing restiveness among Nigerian youths, triggered by widespread unemployment.
“Our youth are restive. And they are restive because they have no skill. They have no empowerment. They have no employment. We are all sitting on a keg of gunpowder. And my prayer is that we will do the right thing before it’s too late,” he warned.
Obasanjo also said that sinister forces are working against the progress of the Dangote Refinery. He alleged that powerful cabals in the oil and gas sector are determined to frustrate the project because it threatens their lucrative business of importing refined petrol.
“Aliko’s investment in a refinery, if it goes well, should encourage both Nigerians and non-Nigerians to invest in Nigeria.
“If those who are selling or supplying refined products for Nigeria feel that they will lose the lucrative opportunity, they will also make every effort to get him frustrated,” Obasanjo stated.
Obasempire reports that despite President Bola Tinubu’s June declaration suspending import duties and tariffs on essential food items for six months, Nigerian importers report they are still being required to pay these fees.
The presidential order was intended to address rising costs of food, raw materials, and manufacturing inputs, and also included agricultural production inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides, pharmaceuticals, poultry feed, flour, and grains.
However, importers claim the suspension has not been enacted, contradicting the Executive Order titled “Inflation Reduction and Price Stability (Fiscal Policy Measures, ETC.) Order, 2024,” issued under the President’s constitutional authority.
Also, the order, effective from May 1, 2024 stipulates that “authorized millers would now import paddy rice at zero duty and Value Added Tax (VAT) for a period of six months in the first instance in order to improve local supply and capacity utilisation of rice millers.”
On importation of rice, it says that from the commencement of this order, the following measures and reliefs shall apply: “Value Added Tax, where applicable, is hereby suspended on the for the rest of the year 2024: basic food items and semi-processed staple food items such as noodles and pasta; raw material inputs for the manufacturing of food items, electricity and public transportation; agricultural inputs and produce and pharmaceutical products for a period of six months.”
Contrary to the Executive Order’s directive to fast-track customs clearance and reduce processing time by at least 50%, the Importers Association of Nigeria (IMAN) reports that its members continue to pay duties on all listed food items, agricultural equipment, manufacturing inputs, and pharmaceutical products, two months after the Order was issued.
The Nigeria Customs Service’s failure to implement the order’s provisions has resulted in ongoing delays and duties payments, contradicting the government’s aim to reduce inflation and stabilize prices.
Chairman of IMAN in Nigeria’s Northern region, Aminu Dan-Iya said, “Customs officials tell our members at entry points that they don’t have any written communication about the suspension.
Obasempire reports that the Bola Tinubu-led federal administration has introduced a new initiative to start providing monthly stipends to unemployed graduates across the nation.
The Education Minister, Prof. Tahir Mamman, revealed this recently while speaking with a group of young Nigerians at his office.
He stated that the federal government has allocated funds for the project but voiced frustration that the news was not adequately covered by the media.
“Also, something which hasn’t come out strongly in the media and people should know in a very robust way is that, every student who has graduated but has not secured a job is entitled to collect an allowance,” the minister said.
“The government has committed a certain allowance for every unemployed graduate in Nigeria. This is very important for graduates and every Nigerian to know,” he added.
Obasempire reports that civil society groups in Oyo State have criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration regarding the management of the #EndBadGovernance protests, including the deaths of unarmed demonstrators.
This was conveyed in a statement endorsed by Prof. Ademola Aremu on behalf of the Joint Action Front (JAF), Socialist Labour, All Workers’ Convergence, Centre for Popular Education (CEPED), CSATF, NATA/ITESIWAJU OYO, and PAM.
The statement observed that the government’s attempts to discredit the protests were unsuccessful.
“This is a victory for the Nigeria working but suffering people. It has clearly shown that Nigerians are not slaves who would be told to surrender their fundamental and democratic rights to resist anti-poor policies. It has also demonstrated that no elected office holder is greater than the citizens of the country,” the statement read.
The groups frowned on the killing of protesters in some states, saying the violence experienced in some places were “largely instigated and provoked by members of the capitalist ruling class in these states either with the security agencies or hired political thugs to drown the movement in blood like they did during the EndSARS”.
They lambasted President Tinubu for failing to address concerns raised by Nigerians in the protest.
They said, “This to us is another gain of the protest except that none of the demands of the protest was addressed in the president national broadcast.
“As far as we are concerned, the national broadcast is just a mere justification for all of the neo-liberal policies responsible for the huge scale of pain and pangs Nigeria working people are going through at the present time.”
The groups also argued that the projects listed by President Tinubu do not have the capacity to bring any significant relief to the masses.
The statement said, “Aside from this, we note that none of the planned projects enumerated in the national broadcast has the potential to bring any significant relief and respite to the masses of the Nigeria working people.
“All achievements highlighted in the national broadcast failed to individually and collectively translate into any meaningful improvement in the life of the working people across the country.
“This is an indication that President Tinubu-led government will not be willing to accede and attend to any of the demands of our coalition except if it is challenged with struggle which is well drawn, determined and well-coordinated.
“Beyond the current ‘end bad governance protest,’ we require a bigger, broader and disciplined movement of the working people and youths for a better Nigeria.”
They also vowed to work with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the media to form a movement aimed at ensuring that Tinubu’s administration accedes to the demand of the people.
Some of the demands listed are: “Immediate reversal of the pump price of petrol to N197, repositioning of all of the public refineries and end to importation of petroleum products.”
They also demanded an immediate reversal of the recent hike in electricity tariffs including renationalisation of the power sector “under the control and management of the elected representatives of the working people”.
Other demands include placing political office holders on the salary scale and allowances earned by the civil servants, free education at all levels and reversal of current regime of fee hike across public tertiary institutions.
The group also urged the national leadership of the NLC and the TUC to convene a Joint National Executive Committee meeting to declare a 48-hour nationwide strike and street protests to support the #EndBadGovernance protests.
Obasempire reports that the Imo State Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, accompanied by Onuimo LGA Sole Administrator Dr. Emeka Obi, Major AI Maikarifi representing the Commander 34 Artillery Brigade Obinze, Commandant NSCDC Comdt. Mathew Ovye, and other security personnel, visited Umucheke Community in Onuimo LGA on Saturday for an on-site evaluation of the tragic event that resulted in the deaths of over eight members of the Eze Umucheke Cabinet.
A statement issued Sunday by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Henry Okoye, indicated that the victims were brutally killed by assailants suspected to be members of IPOB/ESN.
CP Danjuma used the visit to extend condolences to the victims’ families and the community over their tragic losses.
He pledged that security forces in the state are collaborating to capture those responsible for the heinous act and ensure they face severe legal consequences.
It was noted that on Saturday evening, armed attackers killed Hyginus Ohazuruike, the President General of Umucheke Okwe Autonomous Community in Onuimo LGA.
The assault also resulted in the deaths of six village chiefs from the same community.
An unnamed local reported that the attackers, who arrived by vehicle, struck while the victims were meeting at the President General’s shop in the community market.
The source recounted, “The gunmen arrived and opened fire, killing the President General and six village heads, after which they set the location ablaze.”
The motive behind the attack remains unknown, as no one knew the agenda of the meeting. According to the source, the gunmen arrived, opened fire, killed the village chiefs, and set the place on fire before fleeing.
Following the attack, the village has been deserted as residents fled their homes in fear. Emeka Obi, the sole administrator of the LGA, confirmed the killings and urged residents to remain calm while condemning the violence.
