The Nation Newspaper

Tag: protest

  • Protest unfortunate, says PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) described as unfortunate the street protest by police officers on duty in troubled Borno State, over unpaid allowances.

    In a statement on Monday signed by the spokesman of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said the incident was an ugly epitaph of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.

    According to party, the development was a confirmation that the administration has not been committed to providing security for the troubled states, despite huge resources at its disposal, but has only been paying lip service and giving false assurances to the people.

    The statement said, “Is it not disconcerting that policemen, who daily risk their lives at the fronts, are denied their allowances for months; left unaccommodated, without basic needs and kept forlorn in the face of battle, while their commander-in-chief and top officers enjoy the comfort of their huge offices in Abuja, from where they grandstand about their non-existent commitment to security?

    “Nigerians can now see that this administration is overtly deceitful, thrives on propaganda, lies, false claims and is never committed to the good of the people even as it blames everyone else for its failures.

    “The PDP strongly believes that the situation is more than has met the eyes. We therefore demand an urgent investigation to get to the root of this pathetic situation and stress that findings of such investigations must be made public.

    “Finally, while we urge the aggrieved policemen to exercise restrain, we charge the police high command to ensure their immediate payment and do all to restore the morale of all our men at the front”.

  • Protest rocks Oyo over alleged ward relocation

    Leaders of Oke Ogun area of Oyo State yesterday protested the alleged relocation of electoral ward and refusal of the State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) to recognise the duly elected councillor for the ward.

    The aggrieved leaders from Ofiki town in ATISBO South Local Council Development Area (LCDA) issued a seven-day ultimatum to OYSIEC to re-allocate the substituted Ward 5 earlier located to Ofiki community instead of Ago-Are.

    The indigenes declared as illegal and a breach of the Electoral Law, the substitution of Ito/Koso Ward 5 in ATISBO South LCDA with headquarters at Ito in Ofiki for Isale Aganna with headquarters in Ago-Are.

    They noted that the failure of OYSIEC under the chairmanship of Mr. Jide Ajeigbe to reverse the ward to Ito/Koso with headquarters in Ito in Ofiki will push the residents to institute a legal action against the commission and its chairman.

    Ofiki community’s spokesman Sunday Olaewe, who addressed reporters yesterday in Ibadan, the state capital, accused OYSIEC chairman of raping democracy by shifting the already allocated Ito/Koso Ward 5 in Ofiki to Isale Aganna in Ago Are to satisfy the wish of his wife, who is said to be an indigene of Ago Are.

    Olaewe, who was accompanied by a former Ogun State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Akogun of Ofiki, Mr. Niyi Ogungbola, as well as other community leaders, said it was annoying that Ito/Ofiki Ward 5, which had a councillorship candidate, Olusegun Awakan, was reallocated to Ago-Are.

    He recalled that till date, OYSIEC had not recognised Awakan as the duly elected councillor for the area, after he had been certified and given necessary screenings in line with the commission’s stipulations.

    On behalf of the community, he issued the ultimatum to OYSIEC to recognise Awakan as the Councillor for Ito/Koso Ward 5 in ATISBO South LCDA and reverse the substitution of Ito/Koso in Ofiki to Isale Agannna in Ago Are.

    Olaewe said: “We are giving OYSIEC a seven-day ultimatum, starting from today, to reverse the substitution of Ito/Koso Ward 5 to Isale Aganna in Ago Are and recognise Awakan as the councillor for the area; failure to do so, we will approach a court of law to claim our mandate.”

    He added: “Gentlemen of the press, we want to draw your attention to the illegalities, fraudulent practice and breach of electoral laws of Oyo State perpetrated by the OYSIEC under the leadership of Mr. Jide Ajeigbe during the Oyo State local government and LCDAs election on May 12.

    “We, the indigenes of Ofiki community, Into Quarters in ATISBO South LCDA, wish to categorically state that OYSIEC under Mr Ajeigbe criminally deleted the name of Ito/Koso Ward 5 during the just-concluded election and substituted the same ATISBO South LCDA Ward 5 to Isale Aganna with headquarters in Aganna compound in Ago Are without the approval of either the committee set up on ward delineation or that of Oyo State House of Assembly.

    “It may also interest you to know that in the build-up to the local government and LCDA election, ATISBO South LCDA, Ward 5 already had a councillorship candidate, Awakan, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who worked hard toward winning the councillorship election even without opposition. He obtained the form, duly filled the form and submitted same to the commission. OYSIEC under Ajeigbe screened him and declared him suitable to contest the Ito/Koso Ward 5 seat of ATISBO South LCDA…”

     

  • Plateau Killings: Protest turns violent in Govt House

    A peaceful protest organised by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Plateau North chapter, yesterday turned violent at the Government House, Rayfield, Jos.

    The protesters had gathered at the Old Airport Junction in the city before heading to the Government House to lay their compliants before Governor Simon Lalong.

    The Nation learnt that security agents at the gate barred the protesters from the facility.

    While the protesters were at the gate, the Director of Press, Emmanuel Nanle, was said to have been sent to tell them the governor was out of the Government House.

    The protesters were not pleased with the “cold” reception at the gate. In anger, they forced their way into the premises, scaling the fence and chasing the security men away.

    Hoodlums were said to have hijacked the protest, which turned violent. They smash vehicles at Government House.

    A source from Government House said: “The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) tripartite joint protests led by Rev. Canon Nenman Gowon, Northern Zone, Plateau State, The Pharmacy Markus Kanda Youth Wing (CAN), Plateau State and Evangelist Jerry Dating, Arewa Pastors Forum on the killings was hijacked by thugs, alcoholics, hoodlums who broke into Government House, Little Rayfied, destroying properties, breaking windscreens, smashing cars and throwing stones at the Government House building, resulting into breaking of glasses and hurling stones at security operatives.

    “It is the leadership of the church against the Christian leadership of the state affairs as CAN-led women and youths’  protest turned uncontrollable, violent.

    “At the last count, about seven cars were destroyed and the frontal entrance of the Government house was destroyed.

    “The police shot in the air to disperse the rampaging protesters.”

     

  • Protest over racial bias against Nigerian student at Yale University

    THE Nigerians in the United States (U.S.) have protested over the racial bias incident against a Nigerian, Ms Lolade Siyonbola, a graduate student at the Yale University.

    The Organisation for the Advancement of Nigerians (OAN), in a letter addressed to the President of Yale University, Peter Salovey, and signed by OAN President, Solomon Bakare, demanded strong actions over the incident.

    Siyonbola had on May 8, posted two videos of the incident on Facebook, alleging a ‘white’ student found her sleeping on a couch in Yale’s Hall of Graduate Studies, and called police officers.

    She said she was woken up by Sarah Braasch, a Philosophy PhD student, who told her she was not allowed to be there and called authorities.

    The Nigerian organisation called for more direct action to condemn Sarah’s behaviour, to send a strong message against any future occurrence.

    “To ensure incidents of this nature is not given breathing ground in the Yale community, we would like to see more direct action taken to condemn Sarah’s behaviour, to send the message that it is against what Yale stood for and the community you have the vision to build.

    “While we commend the initiative of hosting a listening session for the Yale community to share their thoughts on how to prevent such incident in the future, we strongly believe a direct statement condemning Sarah’s insensitive action is warranted at this time.

    “We trust you will use your good office to change this unfortunate narrative and make Yale a leading example for other institutions to emulate,” OAN said.

    The organisation said it would continue to monitor the event and take appropriate actions if and when necessary.

    OAN said, however, that the incident was not an indictment of Yale, but an unfortunate narrative of our broader society.

    “We know of many African students and Nigerians in particular, who have passed through the prestigious Yale community without dealing with similar overt racist student.

    “This is why we are convinced that this is more of an aberration and not the norm at Yale,” the Nigerian organisation said.

    Founded in 1989, OAN has taken actives roles in engaging appropriate institutions to change any perceived negative stereotypes of Nigerians in the U.S.

     

  • Anambra youths protest against Senate’s comment on IGP

    YOUTHS numbering over 300 yesterday in Anambra State staged a peaceful protest against the Senate’s declaration of the Inspector General of Police, (IGP) Ibrahim idris , as an enemy of democracy and one who is unfit to hold public office.

    The protest was done by youths under the aegis of Anambra Youths Forum. The state’s Commissioner of Police, Garba Umar, passed a vote of confidence on the IGP. The Senate’s pronouncement on the IGP, followed his continued refusal to honour the lawmakers’ invitation to explain the spate of killings in the country and the alleged inhuman treatment meted out to the Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye.

    The protesters carried placards with various inscriptions like: “Is Senate for crime”, “Senate: the public is watching you”, “Vote of confidence on IGP,” among others. The youths asked the lawmakers to go ahead to enjoy their huge take home salaries and leave the IGP alone.

    They said they were satisfied with the level of successes he had recorded since he assumed office,especially in Anambra State, “where kidnapping and armed robbery had become a thing of the past.” Addressing reporters yesterday, the leader of the group, Anthony Ogbu, wondered why the Senate was taking the case of the IGP and that of the embattled Senator Melaye personal. According to him, “The IGP is the Chief Security Officer of the country after the President. They should allow him to perform his duties. The Senate should be more concerned in promulgating laws. “The IGP has no time. His hands are full fighting all manner of criminality everywhere- Fulani herdsmen, Boko Haram, armed robbery, kidnapping, among other crimes,”he said.

  • OSUSTECH students protest colleague’s death

    STudents of Ondo State University of Science and Technology (OSUSTECH), Okitipupa have protested the death of their colleague.

    They reportedly blocked Okitipupa-Igbokoda Road, disrupting traffic.

    The deceased, identified as Rotimi Olabisi, a 500-level student of Ekiti State University, who came to visit his friend at OSUSTECH, was said to have been knocked down last weekend by a vehicle while attempting to cross the road in front of the school gate.

    The students were said to have expressed dismay over the alleged nonchalant attitude of the institution authority over the security of the students.

    They vowed to continue the protest until something drastic was done to reduce incessant deaths on the highway, which the students described as too many in recent time.

    The students called on the school authorities to erect a speed limit breaker in front of the school main gate, to prevent recurrence.

    They also demanded among other things, a police post, improved transport system, accommodation facilities and others.

    The Registrar, Philip Akinlusi, sympathised with the students, but described their protest as mischievous.

    He said the school authorities would begin the erection of speed limit breakers latest today, which he believed the Students’ Union Government was aware of.

    Akinlusi said the students should go home for two weeks to allow the completion of the speed limit breakers.

     

  • Pan Yoruba movement group holds protest

    Pan Yoruba movement group, ‘Yoruba Koya’, has held a peaceful protest to sensitive the people of south west to demand without equivocation, the restructuring of Nigeria’s political, economic and social cultures, and, as well, reject heinous activities in Yoruba land, such as killings and destruction of farm lands by herdsmen, youth unemployment, food insecurity and infrastructural decadence.

    The protest which was held last week will remain a memorable day in the lives of many as thousands of people from the six south western states of Nigeria took part in it.

    The group enjoin Nigerians, especially all Yorubas and their lovers, to support the agitation for restructuring of the country and to reawaken the consciousness of Yoruba people to the hidden agenda of some ethnic oligarchy’s plan to dominate and enslave the Yoruba nation.

    The pan Yoruba group is made up of professionals such as artisans, students, business men and women, bankers, retired police and military top-notch.

    Speaking during the protest, secretary of the group, Mr Maxwell Adeyemi Adeleye, said it is no doubt that the Yoruba nation is lagging in the political equation of the country and this situation has made the economy of the states in the south western states, especially, to be in comatose with attending worrisome states of high insecurity, youth unemployment, infrastructure decadence, corruption in public service, farmers/herdsmen clashes, amongst many others.

    All wearing customised t-shirts, with placards that had various inscriptions, marched from Ikeja Shopping Mall to the State House of Assembly, Alausa, Ikeja, where they submitted a protest letter to the office of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, while in Ibadan they walked peacefully from Ring Road, to Agodi-Gate, Government House, Ibadan where they sang solidarity songs to the admiration of road users.

     

  • Falana to Shi’ites: continue your protest

    ACTIVIST lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has urged the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), also known as Shi’ites, to continue its protest for release of its leader, Sheik Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky.

    Falana, who addressed members of the sect during a rally in Abuja yesterday, said: “I am impressed with your courageous and peaceful protest. Your action is justified under the Constitution, which guaranteed the fundamental rights of every citizen to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. Your action is legitimate because it is a protest against impunity arising from the executive lawlessness of the Federal Government. Your demand is in order because it is in line with the tenets of the rule of law. Please keep it up.

    “When we were fighting for the restoration of democratic rule under brutal military dictators, I never thought that court orders were going to be treated with disdain by elected governments. It is particularly painful for me that court orders are disobeyed under the current political dispensation, whereas under the Buhari/Idiagbon military junta, court orders for the release of victims of the obnoxious Decree No 2 of 1984 were complied with.

    “I urge you and other lovers of democracy not to allow the Buhari administration disobey the judgments of competent courts. As you know, the Federal High Court, presided over by Justice G. O. Kolawole, ordered Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky’s release, and his wife, and awarded them N50 million damages. Since the Army and the Nasir El-Rufai regime demolished and burnt their home on December 15, 2015, the court ordered the government to provide them with a suitable accommodation. Those orders which were granted on December 2, 2016 have been ignored by the Muhammadu Buhari administration, which claims to operate under the Rule of Law.

    “Having been subjected to illegal arrest and detention, I can imagine the mental and psychological agony the El-Zakzakys’ are going through in the illegal custody of the State Security Service (SSS). It is an irony that President Buhari is in charge of a civilian government that is detaining people without trial.

    “I laud you for your resolute and principled determination to secure the release of your leaders and others. Please continue the protests until you succeed in compelling the government to comply with court orders.”

  • Protest as Buhari arrives in London

    •Presidency: looters behind it

    SOME Nigerians living in London yesterday protested against President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The protesters stormed the Abuja House in Kensington London, where the President is staying, blaming him for the nation’s ills.

    In a swift reaction, the Presidency said looters were behind the protest.

    The protesters said they would take their action to the venue of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) next week, which the President will attend.

    The protesters were said to have accused the President of not addressing the herdsmen-farmers attack, and not doing anything about the citizens’ welfare.

    The President’s Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said his boss won’t be distracted from his mission in London.

    A presidential source, who does not want his name in print, insisted that the protest was corruption fighting back.

    He said: “Barely 24 hours after President Muhammadu Buhari declared his intention to contest for another term in office, the camps of alleged looters and corrupt elements within and outside the country have been jolted, forcing them to push panic buttons including renting a motley crowd of professional demonstrators to protest against the President on his arrival in the United Kingdom”.

    The source claimed that extremely corrupt Nigerians who are custodians of slush funds stolen from Nigeria, and hiding in UK or are resident cronies of such elements, have colluded to form a league of protesters with a singular aim of distracting and disorganising the scheduled state visit of the President to England, for bilateral talks with Prime Minister Theresa May and other dignitaries.

    He said: “Esteemed Nigerians home and abroad, friends and business investors in Nigeria, should please see through the veil of the motive behind the Abuja House, Kensington London demonstration.

    “It was an orchestrated act of desperation and a ploy to blackmail and hoodwink the President from concentrating on his anti corruption campaign , which is fast gaining grounds locally and internationally.

    “This unpatriotic act is not unconnected to the Federal government policies to name and shame corrupt citizens and looters; to collate database of Nigerians with homes in UK who are not paying the right taxes, and the hot drive to prosecute all financial defaulters through bilateral and multilateral means.”

    Another source said: “The protest was benchmarked on an assemblage of local grievances and national challenges which the government is already tackling head on.

    “Such as the herdsmen versus agrarian farmers clashes, fuel scarcity which no longer exists and trumped up charge of hunger in the land at a time when prices of food items are beginning to drop and inflation on the decrease,” he said

    Another presidency source said: “It is obvious that this is a clear cut incident of corruption fighting back. Many of the beneficiaries of corruption and slush funds cannot withstand another devastating blow of Buhari’s anti corruption sledge hammer.

    “Hence, they are resolute to derail the apple cart in order to save their ugly faces and sit back to enjoy the loot in their personal banks. Some of the protesters  are not even Nigerians but hired hatchet men paid to do the dirty job,” he said

    Some security sources disclosed that the protesters were bent on embarrassing and humiliating the President throughout his stay in the UK.

     

  • Varsity students protest tuition fee hike in Akure

    Students of Ondo State-owned Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), yesterday marched on major streets of Akure to protest hike in tuition fee.

    Over 1,000 students blocked major roads, preventing vehicles and movement for hours.

    The protest affected commercial activities, as shop owners closed.

    Commercial drivers shun roads.

    The students, who converged on Oja Oba junction, Akure, condemned the hike in tuition fee from N25,000 to N180,000/N200,000.

    They accused the government of being callous, alleging that its action was against economic realities.

    The protesters were at the popular Adegbola Newspapers Distribution Centre, Fiwasaye, Cathedral and Adegbemile, among others, chanting anti-government songs and carrying placards.

    They were later dispersed by anti-riot policemen, who fired teargas canisters.

    The demonstrators were led by the Chairman, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Ondo State branch, Adewumi Adebowale, who insisted that the students would not pay the fee.

    He said it was outrageous, adding that they will resist the hike.

    Adebowale urged the students not to resume academic activities until the government reversed the fee.

    President, Students’ Union Government (SUG) Ijanusi Olawale said no student would pay the new fee.

    He said the university would not be opened for academic activities unless the government reversed the fee, adding that parents and guardians cannot afford the fee.

    Ijanusi enjoined students to remain calm.