Gabon Coup: China Calls For Safety Of President Bongo, Says It's Monitoring Developments

The Chinese foreign minister, however, appealed to all parties to "guarantee the personal safety of President Bongo, and uphold national peace and stability."

The Peoples Republic of China has called on the relevant parties in Gabon to resolve their differences through dialogue, restore normal order as soon as possible, and ensure the personal safety of Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the appeal during a press conference on Wednesday, according to Indian outlet, Wion News.

"China is closely following the developing situation in Gabon," Wenbin said, adding that, "We call on all sides in Gabon to proceed from the basic interests of the country and the people, resolve differences through dialogue, (and) restore normal order as soon as possible."

The Chinese foreign minister, however, appealed to all parties to "guarantee the personal safety of President Bongo, and uphold national peace and stability."

Wion reports that Bongo, who visited Beijing in the month of April this year, was greeted by Chinese President Xi Jinping as an "old friend".

Xi also hailed Bongo's "significant achievements" in development.

Bongo, in turn, thanked China for its "valuable assistance in promoting Gabon's economic diversification and industrialisation," a readout from state news agency Xinhua said.

Five Nigerian Stowaways Trying To Flee Country Over Hardship Arrested In Lagos

The Nigerian Navy has arrested five persons who hid on a vessel, while trying to flee from what they described as “the hash economic reality” in Nigeria.

The stowaways who were arrested onboard the vessel, MRC NARTHA, were identified as

Efiong Okon (44), Ayewuni Daniel (27), Ajagboma Asiko (29), Adebanjo Ayewumi (23) and Christian Joseph (25).

They were arrested by naval officers from the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT at the Lagos anchorage on August 26, 2023.

According to Daily Trust, the Commander NNS BEECROFT, Commodore Kolawole Olumide Oguntuga, who confirmed the arrest, said the five stowaways were evacuated from the vessel by a naval patrol team deployed to provide security at the Lagos anchorage.

Commodore Oguntuga said the operation was carried out at about 11.50 pm on August 26, 2023, following a tip-off.

“Their arrest took place within the vicinity of the Lagos anchorage, while they were attempting to clandestinely exit the country via the vessel.

“Found in their possession are three mobile phones, personal effects and cash sum of N7,900. These confiscated items are now under official custody as evidence in the ongoing investigation.

“The NNS BEECROFT patrol team’s swift and efficient response underscore the Navy’s dedication under the watch of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral EI Ogalla, towards maintaining the security and integrity of the country’s maritime borders,” he added.

Commodore Oguntuga said the apprehended stowaways were under the custody of the navy, insisting that the Nigerian Navy was cooperating with relevant authorities to prosecute the suspects. 

No fuel, you want go fight war. How do you want to reach the battle field - Burna Boy shades Nigerian government

Superstar singer, Burna Boy has taken a swipe at the Nigerian government following a proposed military intervention in Niger Republic after a military junta took over the country's affairs. 

Appearing on a live feed on Instagram, Burna Boy said “Fuel no dey, you wan go fight war. How you wan take reach battlefield". This led to laughter among his friends. 

Watch the video below…

We may be pushed to invade Niger — US tells coup plotters

The United States of America has warned the Niger junta that they may be pushed to be involved militarily if the country’s military rulers do not return to constitutional order.

The US acting Deputy Secretary, Victoria Nuland, in a special briefing on Niger disclosed this via a teleconference on Tuesday, August 8.

She said: “…There is still a lot of motion here on many sides with regard to where the governance situation will go.

“So we will be watching that closely and there are a number of regional meetings coming up and consultations with allies and partners that we need to make.

“So we’ll be watching the situation, but we understand our legal responsibilities and I explained those very clearly to the guys (Niger junta) who were responsible for this and that it is not our desire to go there, but they may push us to that point, and we asked them to be prudent in that regard and to hear our offer to try to work with them to solve this diplomatically and return to constitutional order.”

Nuland noted that US President Joe Biden has been in constant touch with President Tinubu, the ECOWAS Chairman as well as many other European allies.

“He’s also been in regular touch with President Tinubu of Nigeria, who is currently head of ECOWAS, with AU Chairperson Faki, and with a number of European allies with whom we work in Niger, particularly on counterterrorism.

 

“And all of this has been rooted in our shared values, including the sense of democracy, which was why it was so difficult, and remains difficult, to see the current challenge to the democratic order which began on July 26,” she stressed.

Emefiele to be arraigned on Tuesday over 'illegal possession of firearms

Suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele will on Tuesday, July 25, be arraigned by the Department of State Services before a federal high court sitting in Lagos. 

Hearing notices have been sent out by the court to counsels involved in the matter and it's been gathered that Joseph Daudu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) will be leading the defendant’s case while Nicholas Oweibo will serve as the presiding judge.

Emefiele has been slammed with a two-count charge bordering on alleged possession of firearms.

TheCable reported that in the first count, Emefiele is accused of possessing a single-barrel shotgun (JOJEFF MAGNUM 8371) without a license, which is contrary to Section 4 of the Firearms Act, and punishable under Section 27 (1b) of the same Act. 

In the second count, the suspended CBN governor is accused of having in his possession 123 rounds of live ammunition (cartridges) without a licence, which is contrary to Section 8 of the Firearms Act and punishable under Section 27 (1)(b)(il) of the same Act.

We will survive all challenges confronting us - Shettima promises Nigerians

Vice President Kashim Shettima has assured Nigerians that President Bola Tinubu's administration is working tirelessly to tackle all challenges bedeviling the country. 

The Vice President who visited the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Ibn Garbai El-Kanemi, noted that the Monarch told him about “poignant issues facing the society, especially with regards to the infrastructural deficit”.

Shettima went on to promise Nigerians that “all the challenges confronting us, we will survive it as a people”.

He said; 

“We went with His Excellency, the Governor, to pay homage to the Royal Highness, the Shehu of Borno. He raised some very poignant issues facing the society, especially with regards to the infrastructural deficit. 

“We conveyed to him the best wishes from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The Shehu talked about issues concerning the roads that should be immediately addressed, especially the Gamboru Ngala and Dikwa roads. Certainly, it would be addressed. That of Damboa will also be addressed.

“I am here to assure the Shehu of the maximum support of President Tinubu.”

Nigerian student st*bbed to d3ath during a fight in Canada

Police in Toronto have identified a 28-year-old student from Nigeria as the victim who was fatally stabbed during a fight in a Scarborough plaza, over the weekend.

Police in Toronto have identified a 28-year-old student from Nigeria as the victim who was fatally stabbed during a fight in a Scarborough plaza, over the weekend.

The victim, Ifeanyichukwu Oseke, was rushed to the hospital, but succumbed to his injuries on the way there.

The incident is now being treated as a homicide.

Police said the fight broke out on Sunday, June, 25,  shortly after 7 p.m., in the area of Eglinton Avenue East and Brimley Road.

Toronto Police Service Duty Inspector Jeff Banglid told reporters at the scene that two people were fighting in the plaza, which left one with serious injuries.

 Police said the male suspect was last seen getting inside of a dark-colored sedan, heading south on Brimley Road.

The unnamed suspect is described by police as a man with medium-length dark hair, wearing a light-colored tank top, pants, and shoes.

“It was very populated at the time and we understand there was a number of people that actually had seen this event,” Bangild said, adding police believe it to be an isolated incident with no risk to public safety.

Many feared dead as gunmen invade Kogi community

Some residents of Ejule town in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State have been feared dead after gunmen invaded the community around 3.am on Thursday, June 22. 

Daily Trust reported that an Okada rider (commercial motorcyclist) was said to have been hit by a stray bullet while the wife of a youth leader in the community who was looking for her husband died after being hit. 

A family house in the town was reported to have been set ablaze by the hoodlums.

An eyewitness told the publication; 

“I cannot tell you the number of the dead now. Two have been identified, an okada rider and a wife of a known youth in the town have been confirmed dead as a result of the early morning attack.

“The situation is still tense, but more dead bodies are sighted on the streets. No one can go out now,” a resident told our correspondent on the telephone.

Commander Jerry Omadara (retd), the Security Adviser to the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, confirmed the incident but said he's yet to get the details.

“Someone just drew my attention to the incident. I am yet to get the details. I will get back to you shortly.” 

The increment should be reversed immediately - Peter Obi reacts to alleged 114% increase in salaries of Tinubu, VP, governors

Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 presidential elections, Peter Obi has reacted to reports of an alleged 114% increase in the salaries of the President, Vice president, senators and lawmakers.

On Tuesday, June 20, Rakiya Tanko-Ayuba, a Federal Commissioner who represented Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, Muhammad Shehu, at the presentation of the reports of the reviewed remuneration package to Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, in Birnin Kebbi, had reportedly said that the salaries of politicians, judicial and public office holders would be increased by 114 per cent.

However the RMAFC Public Relations Officer, Christian Nwachukwu, denied the reports saying  President Bola Tinubu has not given approval for the increment of salaries of public servants.

Obi on Thursday morning, June 22 reacted to the development via his Twitter handle, saying such a move was insensitive at this time and should be reversed.

"I learnt with great reservation, the approval of a 114% increase in the salaries of elected politicians, including the President, vice president, governors, lawmakers as well as judicial and public office holders by the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC). This is not the appropriate time for such salary increment if it is at all necessary. We are living in a time when an average Nigerian is struggling with many harsh economic realities, and with over 130 million Nigerians now living in poverty. This is a moment when recent reform measures by the government have increased living costs astronomically.
One would expect the leaders and public officeholders to focus on cutting the cost of governance, alleviating the sufferings of Nigerians. This moment calls for creative ways of pulling the majority out of poverty.

In the immortal  words of Shakespeare’s Julius Ceaser, “What touches us ourself shall be last served.”   The leaders, therefore, should prioritize what affects the masses and those on the lower strata of society over themselves.

The sacrifice, at this time in our nation, should be borne by the leaders. The increment should be reversed immediately, and the savings should be devoted to fixing education, healthcare and poverty alleviation especially in the remote rural areas. -PO

15-year-old boy killed as building 'marked for demolition' collapses in Minna

A 15- year-old boy identified simply as Sallah has been killed when a storey building marked for demolition collapsed in Minna, the Niger State capital. 

The incident occurred along Shiroro Road on Tuesday morning, June 20, 2023. 

According to Daily Trust, the staircase of the building fell on the boy’s head. 

Sallah, a student of an Islamic School in the area, was said to be resting with two of his friends when the incident happened and he died instantly while one of his friends sustained injuries.

One of the residents, Jabir Ayuba, told the publication that the building which had been under construction for the past one year lacked standard specifications.

"We have been concerned since the beginning of construction of this storey building. The boy that was killed was with us this morning; he even told us that he wanted to buy a recharge card to call his mum at the village. He’s our neighbour. He was sitting here with two of his friends when the staircase of the building collapsed on his head and he died instantly.

Niger State Urban Development Board had already marked the building for demolition before it collapsed.