Category: Featured

By Alao Abiodun

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has said will get vaccinated against the Coronavirus (COVID-19) for the sake of preaching the gospel globally.

Adeboye stated this at the church’s monthly Holy Ghost convention monitored by The Nation.

He clarified that he has never told anyone not to get the vaccine.

Some prominent preachers such as Bishop David Oyedepo, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome and Dr Joshua Suleman have kicked against vaccination.

READ ALSO: Adeboye on Iya Adura’s new cathedral

But Adeboye said: “I never said to you ‘don’t be vaccinated’, you have never heard that from me,

“Rather than living in fear or doubt, get vaccinated. If you believe that getting vaccinated would put your mind at rest, then go ahead.

“If there are nations in the world that say I can not come to preach the gospel there because of vaccination, I will do anything for Jesus Christ.

“If vaccination is going to hinder me from doing the work that God has called me to do, if they ask me to get vaccinated 10 times, I would be vaccinated.”

By Oluwatomisin Amokeoja

National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has described his health condition as perfect.

Tinubu made the declaration yesterday when he received members of the northern caucus of the House of Representatives in London.

His personal statement followed months of speculations about his health condition, which his media aide and allies addressed after visiting him and declaring him hale and hearty.

READ ALSO: We’re undaunted in challenging times, says Senator Oluremi Tinubu

Among the individuals who have visited Asiwaju Tinubu in London was President Muhammadu Buhari who was in the United Kingdom for Global Education Summit on Financing Global Partnership for Education (GPE) 2021 to 2025 at the time.

The former Lagos State governor told the members of the northern caucus of the House of Representatives that he was in good health but only undergoing physiotherapy in London after a surgery in the leg.

“Because of God and people like you, I am well,” he told the visitors. “It is just the physio (physiotherapy) that is gruesome.”

By Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

• Southern govs mount pressure on ex-Senate President
• APC, PDP in cat and mouse game over 2023 plans
• Uncertainty over ruling party’s national convention
• APC governors may meet in Paris after official task

Few days after their party’s national chairman position was zoned to the North, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors are searching for a good candidate for the office.

Already, PDP governors from the South have held a meeting with a former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, in Abuja to persuade him to lead the party.

But the ongoing search has also thrown up other respected candidates including ex-governors Ahmed Makarfi, Sule Lamido and Babangida Aliyu.

It was however gathered that the Southern governors were strong on Mark who was yet to give any commitment at the time of filing this report.

But while the PDP was shopping for a chairman, the All Progressives Congress (APC) was said to be adopting “delay tactics” in conducting its national convention.

It was gathered that APC has been foot-dragging as part of the ongoing spy on developments in PDP.

There were speculations last night that APC may conduct its national convention in December or early 2022.

But some APC leaders and governors, a few of whom may meet in Paris this week after an official engagement, are opposed to the December date for the convention.

Also, some forces in the party are thinking of a Plan B by allowing Mai Mala Buni Caretaker Committee to oversee the conduct of the presidential primaries before the emergence of a new national chairman of APC.

Read Also; Another PDP governor will succeed me, says Wike 

According to investigation by our correspondent, some Southern PDP governors, most of who voted for a national chairman from the North, met with Mark behind closed doors in Abuja to offer him the office.

A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Immediately the zoning formula for party offices was released, the PDP governors initiated the search for a new national chairman of the party.

“Most of the Southern PDP governors, who dominate the party’s Governors’ Forum, have however held a secret session with a former President of the Senate, David Mark, to persuade him to run for national chairman.

“Apart from managing the Doctrine of Necessity which led to the emergence of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as Acting President in 2010, the governors at the session described Mark as a steady hand.

“The proponents of Senator Mark recalled his eight years of uninterrupted leadership in the Senate which brought stability to the polity and his unwavering commitment to the PDP.

“They said when PDP lost the presidency in 2015 and party stalwarts were defecting, it was only Mark that was unshaken.

“He was quoted as saying ‘I will be the last man standing in the PDP’.  This was the strong point emphasised at the meeting by the Southern PDP governors.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “Mark is yet to make any commitment to the governors on whether or not he will accept the offer to lead the party.

“I think he is still consulting and he must get his calculation right before plunging into the contest.”

But some governors, including one or two from the South, have also come up with some party leaders who can lead PDP.

A former governor said the affected PDP governors have recommended ex-governors Ahmed Makarfi (who was once a Caretaker Chairman of the party), Sule Lamido and Babangida Aliyu.

The ex-governor said: “For his peaceful disposition and capacity, these governors and party leaders are pushing for Makarfi to return the party to the path of glory in 2023.

“For Lamido, who is aspiring to be the presidential candidate of the party in 2023, they said there might be conflict of interest.

“Overall, Lamido is rated as an expert in party management as a former National Secretary of the defunct Social democratic Party (SDP) which won the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election.

“On the part of Babangida Aliyu, the unstable PDP structure in Niger State, especially the disunity between the leaders and other members, is counting against him.

“The number could rise, but we have four candidates the search has thrown up among the governors. Some of these leaders are not even aware.”

But while PDP was trying to get its act together, the All Progressives Congress (APC) was said to be adopting “delay tactics” in conducting its National Convention to elect a new national chairman and other members of its National Working Committee.

It was gathered that APC strategy revolves around “watching development in PDP” to guide its permutations for 2023.

Although it was being speculated last night that APC may conduct its national convention in December or early 2022, most governors of the party were uncomfortable that they have been kept in the dark about the national convention.

It was learnt that some APC governors, a few of who may meet in Paris this week after an official engagement, are opposed to the December date for the convention.

Also, some forces in the party have been thinking of a Plan B by allowing Mai Mala Buni Caretaker Committee to oversee the conduct of presidential primaries before the emergence of a new national chairman of APC.

A member of the NEC said: “Our greatest challenge is that not all party leaders, governors and state chapters are fully in the picture of the shape of our national convention and when it will be conducted.

“We have just heard that APC National Convention may either hold in December or early 2022. To us, it is still a guessing game because there is no concrete information from the party leadership.

“Some APC governors, a few who may meet in Paris this week after an official assignment, are also uncomfortable with the last two weeks of December for National Convention.

“All the national chairmanship aspirants have been slowing down their campaign because of the uncertainty surrounding the convention.  There is no openness at all for what some party leaders regarded as “strategic reasons.”

“Most ministers, who are regarded as party leaders in each state, are fully in the dark. They eavesdrop too. What we are preparing for is the state congress. So, we seem to be operating a Pay-As-You-Go method.

“The only disturbing trend is that we used to hear a refrain that APC is closely monitoring development in PDP. Some leaders have been saying that how can a man be at the top and be looking at what is going on at the basement.

“The bottom line is that APC and PDP are involved in a hide and seek game on their plans for the 2023 poll.”

By Innocent Duru and Emma Elekwa, Onitsha

• Like PDP’s Ozigbo, Uba postpones APC’s campaign flag-off
• No fewer than 30 innocent lives have been lost- ADC Chairman Nwosu
• There can’t be an election when nobody is safe – Chekwas Okorie
• What Igbo stakeholders must do for election to hold- Ohanaeze

Fresh anxiety is trailing the November 6 governorship election in Anambra following the worsening state of insecurity in the state.

Peoples Democratic Party flagbearer, Valentine Ozigbo, temporarily suspended his campaign rallies on Friday, citing the rising spate of killings in the state as reason for the suspension.

His All Progressives Congress (APC) counterpart, Andy Uba, also postponed the flag-off rally for his campaign scheduled for yesterday, Saturday, October 2, 2021.

Uba, in a statement issued on Friday, said his party would not play politics with people’s lives, adding that the decision was taken to honour those killed in recent attacks across the state.

There have been several attacks by gunmen in the state over the past weeks, leading to destruction of properties and killings, including the recent murder of Chike Akunyili, husband of the late Dora Akunyili, ex-minister of information and communications.

Decrying the dangers the killings pose to the forthcoming election, National Chairman of African Democratic Congress, ADC, Ralphs Okey Nwosu, told our correspondent that not less than 30 innocent lives have been lost to mindless killings in the state in recent times.

In a WhatsApp message he titled ‘Anambra as the Electoral War front’ and sent in response to our correspondent’s question, Nwosu said: “Not less than 30 innocent lives have been lost in Anambra State in what I must say has to do with November 6, 2021, Anambra governorship election. It started with the tragic incident involving two security personnel attached to APGA’s Charles Soludo.

“Since then, many more persons were murdered callously. Until the massive onslaught of this and penultimate weeks, most people had attributed the killings to IPOB and their Monday lock down promulgation. Some pointed fingers to state operatives and the herdsmen. But reflecting back to what transpired during the party primaries or candidate selection processes of the so called two major political parties and APGA, the picture seems to be getting clearer. The desperation of members of the ruling parties is painting our democracy in human blood not to talk of violation of court processes and the judiciary. The APC, PDP and APGA have brought a new form of Boko Haram to the Southeast and the judiciary. When Soludo’s security men were killed, everyone thought it to be a plot outside politics. But barely 5weeks to the election the war in APGA is still on with Soludo and Governor Obiano unperturbed while APGA members move in droves to the APC.”

Read Also; We’ve not declared no election in Anambra – IPOB

Within the PDP, the ADC chair regretted that there had been a series of court injunctions and free spree of dollars causing chaos. “Some of their heavy war chest contenders have potted to new platforms with their concocted chalice. The APC had settled their primary in hotels not in the wards as the direct primary process requires. Within the week of the PDP, APC and APGA primaries, gun men occupied most of the hotels and roamed the various wards and constituencies in Anambra state. Bullion vans stood by in the banks within the capital city of Awka doling out money for grand purchase of the entire process.

“All the war happened within those parties before and during their primaries and made the outcome of their events toxic. Now the toxicity has gone into the larger field of contestation and the pungency is so corrosive and has consumed about 20 lives in less than one week. There is no other way to explain what is happening in Anambra. It is APGA, PDP and APC desperados in a dangerous power war of a new sort.”

He further said: “I had listened to Profs Utomi, Jega and a host of very erudite others talk about electronic collation of polls results and the lukewarm attitudes of the National Assembly to electoral integrity. More than 98percent of the members of the National Assembly are members of the same parties. Electoral integrity means nothing to those who can murder for vote or those who give no hoot to fraudulent emptying of the nation’s treasury only because they are in public service.

“To correctly rejig our democracy rests on all of us, especially those truly pained by how low the nation has sunk under the illusion of democracy. To avoid further bloodshed in Anambra State, the Inspector General of police, DGs of all the security intelligence agencies, leaders of political parties and the candidates must hold a summit within the next couple of days. Also there should be an emergency judiciary meeting to take hard and patriotic decisions on APC, PDP, APGA and all that potted after their primaries. These are the people who are transferring their corrosive culture of win by gun, hook or crook to the larger environment. INEC has the records and can facilitate the peace.”

Speaking on the implications of the killings for the forthcoming election if efforts are not made to resolve the problems, All Progressives Congress chieftain, Chief Chekwas Okorie, said it is left to anybody’s guess. “How can there be an election when nobody is safe to go about? I am in the South East as we speak. All the roads that soldiers mounted road blocks in Igboland, those soldiers have disappeared because they lack the confidence and capacity to confront the suicidal attackers. These attackers are suicidal.

“The roads are now empty leaving all of us to be facing these non- state actors. That the Ohanaeze did not do the Igbo Day celebration on September 29 as planned, that campaign rallies are being suspended is not because of what they are saying that they are honouring the dead.  It is because the place is unsafe.  I am an APC chieftain. Look at the people that are in Andy Uba Campaign Organisation, practically all the governors of the APC and all the stalwarts, and it is expected that either the President or the Vice President would have been there today  but who will allow his own relation, or which wife will allow her husband to go to Anambra or any part of Igboland at this time?

“If those with all the security details  are afraid to come in, what then happens to the ordinary voters? He will stay in his house on the day of the election. If that happens, INEC has already said if there is no election in Anambra, there would be a constitutional crisis.”

He however expressed optimism that the crisis can be tamed.  “We can halt this thing. The Niger Delta militancy was handled. We are talking about dousing the tension  that is here before talking about the election.

“The elections should be held. If the election does not hold, then Nigeria would have surrendered to non- state actors. That is not to be allowed.  But there is something that is making the southeast a difficult place to do business or politics and that itself is the issue of secessionist agitation by the IPOB with its militant wing known as ESN. My suggestion to end that problem is for the government without further delay to engage the principal actors of this group in a dialogue. The Southeast caucus of the National Assembly led by Ekweremmadu made a unanimous decision to engage the government in a dialogue that will reduce the tension in the Southeast or if possible eliminate it.  I urge the President to take advantage of that offer being made. It is on record that no effort has been made before now by the Federal Government to engage the leaders of the separatist group in a dialogue. This is the time to do it.”

He further said: “The president has already shown tremendous capacity to forgive as a father. He has shown that in many instances, the most recent one being the one of Fani Kayode. If it was possible for someone to use word of mouth to bring down this government, FFK did all of that. If it was possible to use the word of mouth to destroy Nigeria and disintegrate it, he did all of that not to talk of personal attack to the first family yet the president did not only receive him into Aso Rock but he also gave him a red carpet  reception  in the presidency.

“I am confident that he has the capacity to authorise dialogue. Even if he is not going to be directly involved, he can authorize dialogue with the separatist groups namely Nnamdi Kanu and Sunday Igboho. That will give him a good legacy of leaving a less divided Nigeria.  Nigeria is almost at a brink of collapse and he can save it. It is an appeal and not an order that I am making.

“This is my candid, sincere, and dispassionate appeal to President Buhari. I am making myself available, if so desired by this government, to be part of that process of dialogue. I have the sufficient goodwill to do something but not without mandate. There must be a mandate to do so.”

Igbo stakeholders must meet to stop killings – Ohanaeze

National spokesman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Alex Ogbonnia told The Nation there is need for a reorientation about the need for everybody to cooperate for Anambra to hold the election. “Anambra is the most organized state in Nigeria.  The road network and everything about the state is organized and exemplary. Anambra is the economic nerve centre of the entire South East region and beyond.  What is happening in Anambra is painful not only to the Southeast but the whole Nigeria.

“There is the need for we the elders of Igboland to organize a seminar for a reorientation of Anambra youths and find a way to sort out these criminals so that they will face justice.  We need to come together so that what is happening in Anambra would stop, so that there would be an election to elect a credible person that will continue to develop the state.”

On the agitators’ claim they were not responsible for the killings, Ogbonnia said: “IPOB started the agitation but unfortunately, miscreants cashed in on it and hijacked it and gave it a criminal colouration.  Both the IPOB and everybody will have to come together now. When you talk about sit-at- home, IPOB has said no more to it but you see some people enforcing it.  It requires the collaboration of both the IPOB and other  stakeholders in Igboland to agree  that there is no longer sit- at -home, and need for violence. It is true that IPOB may not be involved in what is happening but it was what they started that miscreants have cashed in on and given criminal colouration.

“IPOB is saying the treatment of the Igbo is unfair and it is either you treat us well or we live. I remember one state in the north where they were bargaining with herdsmen and kidnappers and they were discussing how much they would pay them for them to stop what they are doing.  Ohanaeze is saying that if they could be bargaining with those people on how much you will pay them, you can as well dialogue with IPOB to know their problem and meet the solution halfway. The President in his Independence speech mentioned dialogue and unity. Let us embark on that one and dialogue with them so that we can meet them halfway. It is unfair for the President to keep quiet, leave IPOB and go on bargaining with terrorists. It is wrong and an injustice.  There can be peace without justice.”

Despite the odds, he said: “I am sure the election will hold. I don’t want to be pessimistic. The election will hold. Surely it must hold. We are Igbo. We will know how to solve the problem.”

The Chairman, Anambra Civil Society Network (ACSONET), Prince Chris Azor said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should go ahead with the election, arguing that any shift would further embolden detractors whose target was to cow the government into submission.

He also urged political parties to commit to violence free election by signing peace accords, just as he called on governments at all levels to engage stakeholders in dialogue and conflict resolution and management.

He said, “INEC should go ahead with Anambra Governorship election, 2021. This is because an official date has been fixed for the exercise. Again, it’s necessary in order not to acquiesce to the wishes of detractors who want to intimidate and cow us into submission and surrender.

“Moreso, the security Agencies have not indicated their inability to ensure adequate security and safety during the exercise. However, innovative security Strategies should be deployed to check the current obvious threats to the conduct of the election.

“INEC should work with other stakeholders to put security and safety measures in place for a free, fair, credible and peaceful election come November 6, 2021.

“All political Parties should commit to violence free, hate speech free and fake news free election, by signing Peace Accords. There is also a need for intensified Voter Education and information by all major stakeholders.

“Governments at state and federal levels should engage citizens and sundry stakeholders in dialogues/peace building and conflict resolution/ management.

“Civil Society and media should sensitize, set an agenda, educate citizens to ensure transparency and accountability and peaceful credible election.

“Security stakeholders should up their game and coordinate intelligence gathering and rapid response. Citizens should cooperate with the authorities in Election Risk Management (ERM)

On his part, State Coordinator, Not Too Young To Rule, Nonso Orakwe, said the call for shift of the exercise was unnecessary, insisting the exercise could still go on despite the prevailing circumstances.

Orakwe who is also the Executive Director, Catch Them Young Community Initiative called on the state government to rise to its responsibility of protecting the lives of the citizens, while the media should intensify its sensitization campaign.

He said, “There’s no point shifting the election. I suggest the media should raise more sensitization on citizens to own the election irrespective of the security threats everywhere.

“Our governor should bring back hope to the populace by taking drastic action. I’m not in support of shifting it.”

Agency Reporter

The Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has declared that she is not interested in vying for Nigeria’s presidency in 2023.

Reacting to rumours about her purported intent to contest at the polls and resign her position with WTO barely seven months into her four and a half-year term, Okonjo-Iweala described the rumour as “utterly ridiculous and not true.”

She said, “I just got here. I am enjoying what I’m doing. It is a very exciting job and I am trying to have some successes here.”

But New York-based Bloomberg News, reported that despite beginning the the year with “a plan to score quick negotiating victories that she said would help reboot the dysfunctional Geneva-based trade body;” insiders revealed that the WTO chief is threatening to walk away from the job.

Seven months into her 4 1/2-year term, Okonjo-Iweala has fully grasped the frustrating reality of the WTO’s historical inertia, even privately floating the idea of resigning if no headway can be found on critical issues, the medium stated, quoting five trade officials in Geneva who declined to be identified.

Read Also; Nigeria needs new constitution before 2023, says NADECO

This year, Okonjo-Iweala has reportedly told ambassadors and staff that she could easily walk away from the job, reminding them that she hasn’t bought any furniture for her temporary home in Geneva, the officials said.

Okonjo-Iweala’s early departure  would add yet another layer of chaos to an organization suffering from an existential crisis that may lead governments to conclude the WTO is not a credible forum for addressing their shared challenges, the medium stated.

Deep divisions and a lack of trust are not new for the WTO, which requires consensus agreement among all 164 members to finalise multilateral accords.

The organisation’s rigid negotiating structure and disparate interests of its diverse membership have precluded the organisation from delivering anything substantial for the better part of the past decade.

Last year, Okonjo-Iweala’s predecessor — Roberto Azevedo — cited the lack of progress at the WTO as his primary reason for resigning from the organisation a year before his tenure was scheduled to end, according to Bloomberg News. `

Some Geneva trade officials told the medium that they suspect Okonjo-Iweala wants to run in the 2023 presidential election in her native country of Nigeria.

Okonjo-Iweala didn’t comment about her threats to resign but denied any interest in running for the Nigerian presidency, calling such speculation “utterly ridiculous and not true” in a statement to Bloomberg News.

“I just got here. I am enjoying what I’m doing,” she told Bloomberg News in a television interview. “It is a very exciting job and I am trying to have some successes here.

The true test of Okonjo-Iweala’s leadership will come in November, when she hosts the WTO’s 12th ministerial conference — a gathering of the organisation’s highest decision-making body, Bloomberg states; noting that, to date, WTO members have failed to make significant headway on the three priority areas Okonjo-Iweala identified for potential outcomes at the biennial meeting.

By Gbenga Aderanti, Lucas Ajanaku, Gbenga Bada and Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf

• Welcome development – Oluwo, telecoms operators chair

• Twitter may not shift ground – Telecommunications expert

Mixed reactions have trailed Federal Government’s conditional unbanning of the microblogging and social networking platform, Twitter.

President Muhammadu Buhari, during the October 1st Independence Day anniversary, on Friday, ordered that the four-month ban on Twitter, be lifted with some conditions.

He listed the conditions to include that Twitter must pay attention to national security and cohesion; registration, physical presence and representation in Nigeria; fair taxation; dispute resolution and local content.

Reacting to the development, a First Class traditional ruler in Osun State, the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi, described the unbanning of Twitter as a welcome development.

According to him, President Buhari should be commended for taking a step in regulating the activities of Twitter in Nigeria.

“The government is trying to remedy what has been shattered for a very long time. This is a good one. I commend him for that.

“I think Twitter is ready to do business, that is why Buhari is lifting the ban and it is a welcome development. We want Twitter to be on, but they have to pay what they have to pay as a business concern.All social media platforms that are making money in Nigeria should also be paying,” the monarch said.

Also commending the development, the Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Engr Gbenga Adebayo, hailed the development but regretted that losses have been made. He commended the government for demonstrating courage in the step it took.

“It’s a good development and I hope that lessons have been learnt by all concerned. First the platform owner which is Twitter has learnt lessons that Nigeria is not a country where anything can happen or anything goes. What others might not be able to do by this action, the government has demonstrated a measure of boldness which many western governments have not been able to do. That is the first point.

“The second point is that the victims of all of these are the users of Twitter; the reason being that when the government suspended Twitter, there were significant losses to the economy. Some businesses have suffered losses; some small scale businesses that the government was trying to promote have significant impact on their resources due to the impact of the ban. So there’s that loss on the part of the economy.

“So while the government has demonstrated boldness in doing what they did, it has cost the government and the economy losses. It also tends to send a wrong signal particularly to the hi-tech community, especially other platforms that provide similar services like Twitter that if this could happen to Twitter, then it can happen to them. So, it could also impact the confidence of foreign investors. No doubt but whichever we look at,” he said.

Also speaking, immediate past president, Association of Licensed Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Olusola Teniola, said it is not yet Uhuru as the lifting of the ban is still predicated on the conditions set by the Federal Government.

Read Also; Seven major takeaways from Buhari’s Independence speech

Teniola while nothing that it was good to hear from the President over the lingering issue which has lasted for four months now, said: “From the look of things, it is very clear that the government has not exactly lifted the ban. There are certain conditions attached to the lifting of the ban. The real issue is that the Federal Government wants to regulate social media. But what it fails to realise is that the digital world cannot be controlled, because it is a global platform,” he said.

Expatiating, he said, “Methinks the focus on one social media platform is unhealthy and may set a bad precedent for the fate of others which may not help the country’s desire to achieve a digital economy. We expect the free adoption and usage of the platform for citizens to be able to connect to their loved ones, business and Nigerians. So if we are consistently left to believe certain social media platforms can be banned at the whims and caprices of the government it may be difficult for us as a country to ensure that the Nigerians can generate the much expected FDI from the digital space. The digital future requires some level of freedom.”

On what to expect from Twitter as an organisation, Teniola said it was within Twitter’s right to accept or do otherwise.

Former Head of Digicomms, Oyo State, Babajide Fadoju, said he was excited that Twitter and the Federal Government had reached an amicable agreement.

“It is delightful because Twitter has become one of the platforms for exchange within the country where young and old alike can freely interface – it has come to stay as one of the proponents of our freedom of speech. It is therefore a welcome development to see that the ban has been lifted in the end.”

Gbenga Sesan of Paradigm Initiative, a digital rights advocacy group, agrees with Teniola. In his Twitter handle, he posted: “Just to be clear, @MBuhari didn’t lift the #TwitterBan. What you heard in his speech is the government’s attempt at downplaying their illegal action, laying a foundation for how to exit the hole they dug themselves into and trying to make it sound like it’s up to Twitter.

“I think Twitter has a strategy for their business and I encourage them to realise that while Cloud Nations are increasingly powerful, even compared with nation states, it means there’s much more responsibility. They must ensure that harmful content is discouraged, the process for making platforms safe is transparent, and that human dignity (rights) is not sacrificed for being seen as a compliant institution

“The rule of engagement should go to nation states and cloud nations to include the third sector because civil society is closer to citizens and is able to help maintain a balance between respect for rights and achieving the objective of effective content moderation.”

A digital media expert, Mr. Taiwo Akande, said Nigerians would remain the greatest losers if Twitter fails to yield grounds.

According to him, should Twitter fail to acquiesce to the demands, there is no other option for Nigerians.

“Twitter has its own rules of engagement which anyone ready to access their services must adhere to. Twitter didn’t force the government to access its services and cannot expect preferential treatment from the social media platform. They (Twitter) made their rules and the Federal Government joined voluntarily. But with the conditions set by the government, I foresee a situation where Twitter may not comply. But then, let’s wait and see.”

A security expert, Mr. Lekan Jackson Ojo, who was unimpressed with the development, described the Federal Government’s decision on Twitter as ‘an academic statement’, saying unbanning of Twitter now is not important to Nigerians.

“Lifting ban on Twitter is just an academic statement because they didn’t have enough backing to really enforce their banning of Twitter because during that period, almost 80 per cent of Nigerians were still operating on Twitter.

“Majority of the celebrities, religious leaders, and politicians were using Twitter.

“You can ban Twitter and let the economy grow. You can ban the Ttwitter and let the high level of insecurity reduce. You can ban Twitter and give value to naira.

“To me banning and unbanning Twitter is not an issue to me now. It is not important to many Nigerians.

Before Twitter, Nigerians were living. Without food, who can live? Without a good security system, who can operate any business? It doesn’t make any sense. Unbanning Twitter is nothing.

“I think the president and his handlers didn’t know what to say, that was why they said they unbanned Twitter. It is meaningless to Nigerians.

Also reacting, a lawyer and human rights activist, Mr. Tayo Douglas, said the ban on Twitter was unnecessary in the first instance.

According to him, Nigeria gained nothing by the ban, rather, the ban had affected the businesses of many of the Nigerian youths that depended on Twitter.

How I wish President Buhari knew the number of businesses that this ban on twitter had destroyed for the past few months.

“Majority of the unemployed youths in the country depended largely on Twitter to ventilate or conduct their businesses and you can imagine what they must have lost. It is a pity that the ban was ever placed in the first instance. What has the president or the country gained by the ban on twitter?

“Nothing and absolutely nothing,” Douglas said.

A filmmaker and Founder Abuja Film International Film Festival, Fidelis Duker, described the ban as a total embarrassment to all Nigerians.

He said he was not excited with the lifting of the ban.

According to him, there was no basis for the ban in the first place and even after the ban, most of the active users were able to find other methods of using the platform which in my opinion confirmed the government failed.

“However, we must realise that the lifting of the ban is conditional, which is not different from what the government has been saying in four months. Therefore there is nothing to be excited about because the fallout coupled twitter response to the lifting of the ban shows ego tripping by the parties.

“My advice is that the government should just allow the telecom companies to open the platform for genuine users to do their legitimate business and engagements.

Another lawyer, Santoma Joel Ibeneche, said the lifting of Twitter was strategic and intended to deflate the fears and worries of many Nigerians in the areas of economy, security and the weakness of our currency.

Abraham Great of Straight Record Limited,  while commending the president for unbanning Twitter, however, advised that internet security should not be the responsibility of Twitter, adding that Twitter should have physical presence in Nigeria.

” Taxing social media companies would only be possible if they have a physical presence in our country. The revenue should largely go into research and development for Nigerian youth to be able to thrive in the ever evolving and innovative age we live in. We need to take a global lead in innovation. The talents are in abundance.

“Overall, Twitter ban lift would end up being the most discussed aspect of the president’s speech today, although there was an opportunity to use the 37 minutes to do more in connecting with the bleeding nation.”

Also reacting, a lawyer and social development analyst, Olutunbosun Osifowora, said the initial ban on Twitter by the President was an unfortunate event.

“Listing conditions for unbanning of Twitter is a subtle way of further eroding the right to freedom of speech which is given without conditions under the present laws. What is more annoying is the president restricting the people to how they should use the social media platform. The citizens are at liberty to use the platform without being subjected to unwholesome conditions by the president, who very much does not take kindly to criticism.

The Nigerian government on June 4, 2021 suspended Twitter in Nigeria, after it deleted a tweet by President Buhari.

Twitter had accused the President of breaching the site’s rule.

Though the government was not happy with what Twitter did with the president’s tweet, it also alleged that Twitter was being used to undermine “Nigeria’s corporate existence.”

By Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

… despite committee’s decision zoning national chair to North
• Southern governor sneaks into Atiku’s residence at night
• Ex-VP, Saraki, Tambuwal, Lamido, Kwankwaso fight for last chance

PDP may throw its presidential ticket open despite the decision of the Governor Ugwanyi committee to zone the position of the national chairman to the North.

Top leaders of the PDP told The Nation on Friday that the Ugwanyi committee took the decision it announced two days ago to douse tension in the party and preserve what they call “its precarious unity.”

Recanting its earlier decision that the existing zoning structure should suffice for 2023, the committee on Thursday announced that the current positions be swapped between the North and the South with effect from October this year.

This means that the national chair currently zoned to the South will go to the North. Observers interpreted this to mean that the presidential ticket will be zoned to the South in line with the convention on zoning of offices.

Party leaders, however, said this assumption is wrong. They said the popular belief in the party is that its presidential candidate should come from the North if it wants to wrest power from the APC.

They said Atiku Abubakar, Governor Tambuwal, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Sule Lamido and Bukola Saraki, all from the North, who are scheming to fly the party’s ticket, are not precluded from the race.

Indeed, a governor from the South was said to have sneaked into the residence of Atiku to explain the permutations behind the zoning of the party’s national chairmanship to the North.

The Southern governor, who left under the cover of the night, was said to have had some soothing words for Atiku.

It was also learnt yesterday that some of the supporters of the aforementioned presidential hopefuls have shifted the zoning battle to the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party, which may hold anytime next week.

Read Also: 2023: The zoning controversy

The PDP NEC is mandated to ratify the recommended formula for party offices and decide the power sharing principles for presidency and other key national posts.

Some Northern PDP leaders have been pushing for a PDP national chairman from the South and the presidential candidate for the 2023 poll from the North.

Findings revealed that the report of the Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi Zoning Committee might be ratified by the NEC for strategic reasons.

It was gathered that NEC may adopt a “technical module” to leave the presidential ticket open to the North and the South.

Investigation revealed that Northern PDP leaders had been grumbling about marginalization in the party.

They alleged that out of the 16 years the PDP had occupied the nation’s presidency, the South was in charge for about 14 years, including those of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo (eight years) and ex-President Gooodluck Jonathan (about five and a half years).

They said they were not bound by the Northern slot conceded to President Muhammadu Buhari by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “From the look of things, the zoning politics is not yet over in spite of the report of Ugwuanyi’s committee.

“I am aware that some PDP governors visited some power brokers on why they zoned the office of the national chairman of the party to the North.

“A governor from the South was with a presidential hopeful on Thursday night. This is to underscore the fact that zoning intrigues are still in place.

“We are going into strategic level on variables to dislodge APC from power.

“Our plan is now to throw the presidential ticket open to the North and the South. If the North clinches the presidential slot, whoever emerges as the next national chairman of PDP from the North may have to step down for a candidate from the South.

“So, while Ugwuanyi’s committee may have submitted its report, no aspirant or zone has been ruled out of the presidential ticket of the party.”

Responding to a question, a former governor said: “We are floating Plan B because politics is fluid. We promote the unity of Nigeria more than any other party. So, our guiding principle is fairness to the North and the South.”

But some aggrieved Northern PDP leaders, who wanted zoning of the office of the National Chairman to the South may still shift the battle to the next NEC meeting.

No date has been fixed for the NEC session which will ratify the report of Ugwuanyi’s committee.

“These Northern leaders have been making a strong case for the retention of the presidential slot in the North.

“They saw the Ugwuanyi Committee’s report as a booby trap which fitted into the agenda of Southern governors at their recent meeting in Enugu.

“The leaders, who are backing Atiku, Saraki, Tambuwal, Kwankwaso and Lamido, see the NEC meeting as a window to upturn the report of the committee.”

A PDP governor however said: “I don’t think anything will change at the NEC meeting. We can only improve on the report by making the presidential ticket open to the North and the South.

“Wherever the presidency is zoned to by the party may make us to alter the zoning formula for party offices. If the presidential ticket goes to the North, the office of the national chairman will return to the South.”

It was learnt that Atiku, Saraki, Tambuwal, Kwankwaso, Lamido and their strategists have also retreated to their political cells on how to secure PDP presidential ticket.

“It is going to be a battle royale in PDP. There will be more politics ahead to the recommendations of Ugwuanyi’s committee.

“I know the bigwigs from the North will go ahead to create upset. By virtue of age, some of them are on the verge of their last chance to aspire to the office, ” a member of NEC added.

APC will destroy your reputation, Wike warns Jonathan

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has told former President Goodluck Jonathan not to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He said that if the former president must seek another term in office, he should do so on the platform of the PDP instead of falling for the bait the ruling party is dangling before reputable members of the opposition party.

Wike, who spoke in an interview aired on the Pidgin service of the BBC, said: “If I see the former President, I will tell him what I heard. I will tell him don’t go anywhere because these people want to destroy your reputation. They don’t like you.

“What APC is doing now is to bring reputable people from PDP, and when they bring them, they destroy them so that they won’t have anywhere to go again.

“I respect the former President because he is a man of integrity. But if I am to advise him, I will tell him, ‘Sir, don’t make that mistake. If you want to run for President, run under PDP. Nigerians cherish you more than this government. They have seen that all the things the government promised them are lies. So, please don’t join the APC for the sake of your reputation.’

“He (Jonathan) has the right to decide whatever he wants to do. But like I said before, if my former President runs for President in APC, I won’t be able to vote for APC in the election, because that would be anti-party. But if he runs in PDP, I will work to ensure he wins the election.”

By Sunny Nwankwo, Umuahia, and Chris Njoku, Owerri

Commercial banks and other corporate offices operating in Enugu and Abia States on Friday removed Nigerian flags in their premises in compliance with an order by the leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), that they didn’t want to see Nigerian flags anywhere in the southeast on October 1, 2021.

Sources told our reporters that most organisations in the states removed the Nigerian flags in their premises at the close of work on Thursday.

Checks within Abia State revealed that the Nigerian flags at Okpara Auditorium and some government offices along Library Avenue in Umuahia were still standing at the time of filing the report.

Our correspondent who monitored the compliance of residents of the state to the IPOB sit-at-home order reports that there was a total compliance as markets including popular Ariaria International Market, Eziukwu, Cemetery, Shopping Center, among others were deserted by traders.

A few commercial tricycle operators were seen on the road. Many people trekked to their locations after waiting endlessly for taxis and commercial tricycles to convey them to their destinations.

Read Also; Seven major takeaways from Buhari’s Independence speech

Filling stations in the state did not open for business as many that had needs for fuel resorted to black market sellers, causing some motorists to hike fares.

The story was not different in Enugu State as markets, fuel stations, departmental shops and eateries did not open for business.

In Imo State, arsonists on Friday attacked the house of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and former leader of Orlu Legislative Council, Hon. Nwagba Gozie, in Orlu.

Hoodlums on Thursday equally set ablaze the palace of HRH Eze Obi Ralph Ekezie, the traditional ruler of Obor Autonomous Community in Orlu Local Government Area. .

No life was lost in the incident which occurred at about 4pm as the monarch and his family members were in Owerri, the state capital when his palace was engulfed by the inferno.

An eyewitness, who spoke to newsmen in confidence, said the arson caused some damages to the monarch’s property and two other buildings around his community, a neighboring community to Omuma, Governor Hope Uzodimma’s hometown.

He also said the fire was later put out by the combined efforts of good-spirited individuals in the community.

The monarch, who spoke to newsmen on the phone, confirmed the incident but blamed those he called enemies of progress in his community for the burning of his palace.

The monarch further said he was monitoring the development from his abode in Owerri,

He expressed sadness, saying “the level of damage can’t   be ascertained now but when he gets home tomorrow.”

Residents in the state stayed at home on Friday to observe the sit-at-home order issued by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in their demand for a Biafra nation.

The situation virtually paralysed both economic and social activities in the entire state. All the markets, shops, and motor parks remained closed. Even artisans did not go out as usual for their daily business activities.

There were no vehicular movements in different parts of the state including Mbaise, Okigwe, Wethedral, Duglas, Port Harcourt, Onitsha and Aba Road. Streets in Owerri were practically empty as motorists and commercial vehicles were nowhere to be found to convey few stranded passengers on the roads to their destinations.

The situation at the premises of hotels, filling stations, eateries, motor parks, commercial institutions, business centres in Owerri was the same as their gates were also locked up.

Our correspondent who monitored the situation also gathered that a bus driver yet to be identified was burnt alive inside the bus at Mbaise area of the state by gunmen.

Also set ablaze by the gunmen at the same Mbaise was a truck heading to Owerri.

It was learnt that the bus loaded with passengers was coming from Owerri before it was attacked and set ablaze at Oboma Nguru Mbaise, while the truck heading to Owerri was equally burnt at Ahiara junction.

Contacted, the Police spokesman, CSP Michael Abattam confirmed the burning of the traditional ruler’s palace, saying “it is true.”

Our Reporter 

The Nigeria Police has honoured the late Chief Superintendent Kazeem Abonde with a colour parade, on Friday, in Lagos.

The lying-in-state was held at the State Force Headquarters in Ikeja before the body was transported to Oyo State.

The officer was buried at Baale Abonde’s House along Akanran road, in Ona Ara Local Government Area (LGA).

Abonde was killed on September 23 in Ajao Estate, when he led operatives to implement the Lagos government’s ban of okada riders.

Read Also; ‘How #ENDSARS protest turned us to widows’

The motorcycle operators fought back, burnt police vehicles and chased away the personnel.

But Abonde was isolated, allowing the attackers the chance to strike. The CSP, whose head was smashed, died in a pool of blood before emergency services reached him.

The Centre for Social and Economic Rights (CSER) condemned the murder in strong terms and demanded a thorough enquiry.

Abonde was reportedly preparing to retire from active service in 2022. Having bagged a law degree, he planned to open a law firm after he retired.

Lagos governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, assured that the perpetrators will face justice.

He said, “Such display of savagery as the one in which CSP Abonde died will not be allowed no matter the circumstances. The law is there for us all, should there be a need to redress any perceived wrongdoing.

“Citizens who take the law into their own hands are promoters of jungle justice, which will not be allowed to take root in our dear Lagos.”