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Obi Arrives UK on Air Peace, Preaches Support for Local Businesses

Obi Arrives UK on Air Peace, Preaches Support for Local Businesses

Chuks Okocha in Abuja 

The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has again reiterated his call for necessary support and encouragement to local businesses.

Obi, who flew into the United Kingdom at the weekend on a local airline, Air Peace, wrote in his X handle that the flight was smooth and lively.

He appealed to Nigerian elites to always support and patronise local businesses as it’s not easy to establish and sustain a viable business.

“I just arrived in the UK this morning, on Air Peace from Lagos to London. I have now taken almost a dozen flights to or from London on this airline. I want to sincerely thank the management and staff of Air Peace for their professionalism, consistency, and competence on this route.

“Once again, I use this opportunity to appeal to Nigerian elites and political leaders to give strong and deliberate support to indigenous businesses.

“It is never easy to run any business in our difficult environment, let alone highly capital-intensive sectors like air and land transportation, especially given the challenges of competitiveness and rising operational costs.

“Nigerian businesses need our encouragement and patronage, not harassment or unnecessary intimidation.

“Supporting local businesses, particularly those that create massive employment, is critical for job creation, economic growth, and sustainable national development.”

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Chuks Okocha in Abuja  The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has again reiterated his call for necessary support and encouragement to local businesses.

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The Compelling Courage of Iran

The Compelling Courage of Iran

Femi Fani-Kayode

The Islamic Republic of Iran has finally hit back and struck the Jewish state with missiles and drones. This was inevitable and it is just the beginning.
The attack on Iran by Israel was not only unprovoked but is also a condemnable violation of international law. It is indeed a declaration of war.
The Israelis have not only targetted and bombed key Iranian infrastructures but they have also killed Iranian civilians, including women and children, and key Iranian military and civilian leaders and nuclear scientists.
Israel has attacked Gaza, Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Yemen and now Iran in the last one year.
The attack on Iran was carried out whilst the Iranians were still in negotiations with the Americans.
Simply put, the Iranians were lured into a false sense of security by the Americans whilst Israel was preparing for war. This makes Americans complicit in this attack despite their denials.
This is confirmed by the fact that Netanyahu has said that he told the Americans before the attack took place and Trump has confirmed that he knew that the attack was coming.
To those nations that say Israel felt sufficiently threatened by Iran and has a right to self-defence, I ask the following question: does Iran not have the same right after being attacked? Are the Iranians not entitled to defend themselves too?
Iran MUST and WILL retaliate and they will do so in a dramatic fashion. The retaliatory attack that Iran launched this evening is just the beginning and by the time this is all over there may be no Zionist state left.
Worse still, the conflict could escalate beyond the Middle East.
To those that are applauding Israel for this unprovoked attack I say this: it is Iran today, it may well be your country tomorrow.
Those who bend the knee to the Israeli bullies and who believe that might is always right are nothing but cowards who fail to appreciate the fact that the beast that they are applauding will eventually turn on them.
Whether Christian or Muslim we ALL have a duty to stand up to the slaughter, barbarism and carnage that Israel has unleashed on the Middle East, Iran and the world.
In the name of God, humanity must RESIST this great evil.
Permit me to add the following. I cannot understand how Nigeria can maintain diplomatic ties with an ethno-fascist, apartheid, racist, child-killing, mass-murdering, ethnic- cleansing, genocidal state like Israel which has levelled every standing structure in Gaza and killed thousands of innocent civilians, including women and children, in one year, slaughtered and incarcerated thousands in the West Bank, bombed and killed thousands in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen in one month, committed genocide and ethnic cleansing, starved innocent civilian populations, bombed defenceless refugee camps, imposed a blockade and starved innocent Gazans and now initiated a brutal and unprovoked attack on Iran, killing military commanders, nuclear scientists and innocent civilians, whilst that nation was still in peace negotiations with America.
Israel considers itself above the law and has no respect for or fear of God, places no value on human life, seeks to conquer and occupy the whole of the Middle East in the name of establishing a Greater Israel, which is interested in plunging the entire world into WW3 and which believes in religious and racial supremacy and hegemony.
Nigeria has no business maintaining diplomatic ties with such a pariah state and vile entity which feeds on the blood and souls of the innocent, the weak and the vulnerable and which has now launched an unprovoked war against the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The good news is that it appears that the Jewish state is getting far more than it bargained for from the Persians and has learnt the hard way that bombing and butchering helpless and defenceless women and children in places like Gaza and Lebanon is a far cry from taking on a powerful and sophisticated nation with a rich and noble history and a strong army that is capable of not only hitting back in equal measure but also inflicting maximum damage to those who test its will. Bullies and tyrants always learn the hard way.
Kudos to Iran for showing courage and proving to the world that even monsters and genocidal maniacs can suffer losses, bleed and shed tears!

•Chief Femi Fani-Kayode is the Sadaukin Shinkafi, the Wakilin Doka Potiskum, a former Minister of Culture and Tourism and a former Minister of Aviation

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Femi Fani-Kayode The Islamic Republic of Iran has finally hit back and struck the Jewish state with missiles and drones. This was inevitable and it is just the beginning.The attack

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Outrage As Wanted Terrorists’ Kingpin Engages Katsina Communities in Peace Deal

Outrage As Wanted Terrorists’ Kingpin Engages Katsina Communities in Peace Deal

• It’s wrong for govt to fight repentant terrorists, says commissioner 

Francis Sardauna in Katsina

Residents of Katsina State were aroused by anger and resentment on Sunday following the engagement of a wanted terrorist kingpin, Ado Aleru, in a peace deal with residents of Danmusa Local Government Area of the state.

Aleru, who was declared wanted by the Katsina State Police Command in 2020 for terrorising Katsina and Zamfara communities, attended a meeting in the Bichi community of Danmusa with other terrorist leaders to explore ways of ending terrorism in the area.

The Saturday peace meeting, which sparked outrage and concern among residents of the state, was also attended by the personnel of the Nigerian Army, Danmusa Local Government officials, traditional and religious leaders, as well as farmers in the area.

During the peace parley, Aleru was seen in a video clip addressing the gathering on measures to be taken by the government, herders, farmers and other communities to ensure peaceful coexistence in the banditry-ravaged local government.

But a top government source, who is against negotiations with terrorists in the state, described the resurfacing of the terrorists’ kingpin, who has been on police watchlist for over four years, as an attempt to evade justice.

In a chat with THISDAY, the source added that involving the renowned terrorists’ leader in a peace deal may undermine the government’s ongoing efforts in tackling security challenges in the state “because he is not sincere in all his dealings”.

“Ado Aleru was declared wanted by police in this state under the leadership of CP Sanusi Buba. The command even placed a N5,000,000 bounty on his head for anybody with useful information that could lead to his arrest.

“He (Aleru) has made himself available now, they should go and arrest him to face the wrath of the law, but certainly not to negotiate with him because he is not sincere,” he said.

However, the state Commission for Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Nasir Mua’zu, told BBC Hausa Service that Aleru and seven other terrorist leaders had voluntarily renounced terrorism and surrendered their arms to the security agencies. 

He said the terrorist kingpins denounced their nefarious activities during the peace parley and had since released 17 hostages who had been handed over to their relatives.

He added that the terrorist leaders have also vowed to release all the abductees in their custody for peace and development to thrive in the local government. 

According to the commissioner, it would be very wrong for the state government to continue fighting the terrorist leaders because they have accepted peace and surrendered their arms.

He said: “We spent two years fighting these criminals and the governor has made it clear that he will not negotiate with the criminals, but anyone of them who genuinely denounces banditry will be accepted and reintegrated into the society.

“But now that they have renounced banditry, surrendered their arms and made themselves available for peace and dialogue, the government cannot continue fighting them. 

“Islamically, it is wrong for the government to continue fighting them since they accepted peace. And going by the Geneva Convention, it is also wrong to extend the fight against the criminals after they came for dialogue.”

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• It’s wrong for govt to fight repentant terrorists, says commissioner  Francis Sardauna in Katsina Residents of Katsina State were aroused by anger and resentment on Sunday following the engagement of

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Benue Youth Protest Killings, Block Highways in Makurdi

Benue Youth Protest Killings, Block Highways in Makurdi

Hundreds of youths in Benue State on Sunday took to the streets to protest the continuous attacks, killings and displacement of people in the state.

The protest followed the killing of scores at Yelwata community in Guma Local Government Area Friday night.

The protesters, who converged on the Wurukum Roundabout in Makurdi, called on the Federal Government to live up to its responsibility, which is to protect all the citizens within its sovereignty.

They also urged security agencies to redouble their efforts to ensure that all displaced people return to their ancestral homes and continue with their normal lives.

Speaking to newsmen, one of the protesters, Mr Brahms Ikuan, said the state was under siege for a long time and there were not sufficient efforts for the government to address the menace.

Ikuan regretted that even when they had useful information about the movement of the attackers and reports to authorities, nothing was still done to avert the attacks.

He further accused the authorities of maintaining a conspiratorial silence on the ongoing genocide, adding that Benue may cease to exist if urgent steps are not taken to end the killings.

“We cried, sent messages and opened letters, but nobody listened to us. Nobody came to our aid. At this moment, we are not sure if there will be any place called Benue tomorrow.

“Despite the attacks and killings in Yelwata yesterday, up till now, no word from the government or any prominent person. They have abandoned us.

“We want the world to know that Benue is being wiped out on the face of the earth and nobody cares about what is happening,” he said.

Also, another protester, Mr Gideon Inyom, accused the government of giving the herders unfettered access into the Benue communities by relaxing the state anti-open grazing law.

Inyom said all they wanted was security of lives and property, adding that such was the primary responsibility of every government worldwide.

However, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Emenari Ifeanyi, told newsmen at the scene that the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Kayode Egbetokun, has taken over the security of the state.

Ifeanyi said that the IGP has already deployed special forces in the state to end the attacks and killings.

The CP added that security agencies were on top of the situation and urged the youths and Benue people to give the new forces a chance.

“What you saw happening in Yelewata yesterday is because we have taken over Apa, Gwer West, and are moving seriously in Agatu. They just want to do something to show that they are in control while they are not and will never be.

“We are feeling more pain than you. We are here to protect lives and property. We have security everywhere now; even in Yelwata there are tactical teams in the bush even before the attack.

“Give the special forces and tactical teams a room to work. If you prolong your stay here, you are giving the enemies more time to plan.

“We have intelligence reports of their movement, and we are blocking them, and you will see the end result,” he said.

Ifeanyi further disclosed that Governor Hyacinth Alia has given them all the logistics support needed to restore peace in Benue.

A military helicopter was spotted in the sky at Wurukum Roundabout as the protest against herdsmen killings intensified.

The protesters turned down the Deputy Governor, Dr Sam Ode’s request to address them. (NAN)

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Hundreds of youths in Benue State on Sunday took to the streets to protest the continuous attacks, killings and displacement of people in the state. The protest followed the killing

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Lagos Enforces E-call-up for Truck Traffic 

Lagos Enforces E-call-up for Truck Traffic 

The Lagos State Government has said rising traffic from articulated trucks on the Lekki-Epe corridor has prompted enforcement of a technology-based electronic call-up (e-call-up) system.

The Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, disclosed this on Sunday in a statement by Mrs Bolanle Ogunlola, the Deputy Director of Public Affairs, Ministry of Transportation.

Osiyemi revealed that enforcement of the e-call-up system will begin from Monday, June 16, to manage truck movement in the affected corridor.

The Lekki-Epe axis hosts major investments including the Dangote Refinery, Lekki Deep Sea Port, and key oil and gas infrastructure.

Due to the presence of only one major exit route, Osiyemi noted that industrial growth has intensified congestion in the area.

He said urgent and proactive traffic management measures are required to address the worsening situation on the corridor.

According to him, between 360 to 400 trucks currently operate daily, but this figure could increase significantly with full operations at the Dangote Refinery.

The refinery alone could dispatch between 3,000 and 4,000 trucks daily, Osiyemi said, highlighting the need for regulation.

He said the e-call-up system will help regulate truck movement through structured scheduling and reducing chaos on the roads.

“Truck operators will be required to register online and upload their Authority to Load (ATL) documents for verification.

“Only validated and cleared trucks will access designated parks, awaiting an electronic call-up notification before proceeding to their loading points,” he said.

This system, Osiyemi said, is designed to reduce illegal parking, improve traffic flow, and protect road infrastructure along the corridor.

The commissioner described the initiative as a bold step towards transforming logistics and transport management across Lagos, especially in fast-developing areas like Lekki-Epe.

He called for voluntary compliance from all stakeholders to ensure the system’s success and reduce traffic challenges in the region. (NAN)

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The Lagos State Government has said rising traffic from articulated trucks on the Lekki-Epe corridor has prompted enforcement of a technology-based electronic call-up (e-call-up) system. The Commissioner for Transportation, Mr