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ECOWAS Plans Life Without Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali

ECOWAS Plans Life Without Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali

–         To hold summit on community future 

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The Economic Community of West African States on Sunday announced plans to organise a summit: “the Future of the Community,” to strategize on life without exited member states – Burkina-Faso, Mali and Niger Republic.

This move trails the exit of the three francophone countries, who have since formed Alliance of Sahel States,

Relations between the three countries and other members of ECOWAS got broken following the rejection of undemocratic change of government in the now AES states.

Already, the Committee on Administration and Finance of the commission has commenced a three-day, mid-term evaluation of the sub-region’s implementation of the programmes and activities of the Community’s institutions.

The committee which is sitting in Abuja will also look at the difficult financial situation of the Community and the state of recruitment within the institutions.

Speaking at the opening of the 37th ordinary meeting of the CAF, on Sunday, the Vice President of the Commission, Madam Damtien Tchintchibidja, called for speedy reforms needed to adapt to the current reality of the withdrawal.

Tchintchibidja said: “Today’s meeting is part of a twofold dynamics: on the one hand, that of the commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of ECOWAS and, on the other, that of the official withdrawal of three of our member states.

“One of the lessons learnt from the commemoration of our fiftieth anniversary and those learnt from the departure of the three member states is that it is essential and imperative for us to speed up the institutional, organisational, political and security reforms needed in order to adapt to the new realities. I therefore appeal to your sense of responsibility so that together we can undertake the necessary reforms.

“It is in this spirit that I am pleased to announce the forthcoming organisation, in accordance with the decisions of the Heads of State and Government, of a Summit on the Future of the Community.”

She further said that “prior consultations will be organised, including with young people and women, to take into account all the needs for the future of the Community.”

Speaking on the importance of the CAF meeting, she said: “As you know, our organisation is currently going through an existential crisis and in such circumstances, we must sit down together, pose and examine the problems and challenges facing us without complacency and together redouble our efforts to find appropriate solutions.”

Tchintchibidja noted that ECOWAS is currently “at a crossroads, and this calls for a strong capacity to overcome the obstacles that stand in the way of integration and to project ourselves into the future,” stressing the need for the regional body to recognize the importance of unity.

She added that: “But beyond all that, we must be aware and recognise that our strength lies in unity, solidarity and fraternity. Indeed, moving forward together on the road to development, in peace and stability, is priceless.”

She also emphasized that “In many ways, this Golden Jubilee has been a time for collective reflection, introspection and assessment of our achievements, strengths and challenges. It has also enabled us to start looking to the future.”

She said: “I would like to remind you that ECOWAS is all of us: you here today, me, and all the citizens of our community space. It lives through our collective commitment, our solidarity, our fraternity and our shared desire to build a more prosperous and forward-looking region, hence the theme of our Golden Jubilee: ‘Stronger together for a better future’

On his part, Chairman of the ECOWAS Committee on Administration and Finance, Ambassador Olawale Awe, called on ECOWAS to fast-track the process of filling the gaps left behind by the three departed states.

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–         To hold summit on community future  Michael Olugbode in Abuja The Economic Community of West African States on Sunday announced plans to organise a summit: “the Future of the Community,”

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LGA Autonomy: Do Not Blame Tinubu, NASS for Non-Implementation of Supreme Court Judgment, Says Sen Karimi

LGA Autonomy: Do Not Blame Tinubu, NASS for Non-Implementation of Supreme Court Judgment, Says Sen Karimi

Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

Senator Sunday Karimi representing Kogi West has disclosed  that President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly should not be held responsible for the slow or near-non implementation of the Supreme Court judgement granting local government financial autonomy.

Karimi who disclosed this while speaking in a chat with journalists in Lokoja yesterday noted the presidency and National Assembly are not culpable for the slow process of the local government autonomy .

He said President Tinubu’s vision leading to the favourable judgement of the supreme court is aimed to free the people from slavery and underdevelopment, which starts with financial autonomy for the third tier of government.

He urged Nigerians to continue to support the president in his effort to bring good governance close to the people at the grassroots.

“The provisions of Section 235 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, (As Amended) within Chapter 7, Part 1, deals with the finality of determinations by the supreme court.

“It states that no appeal can be made to any other body or person from a decision of the supreme court, except for the powers of the president or a state governor regarding the prerogative of mercy.

“In essence, this section establishes the supreme court as the final arbiter of legal disputes within the country, with its decisions being binding and unappealable.

“Without prejudice to the powers of the president or of the governor of a state with respect to prerogative of mercy, no appeal shall lie with any other body or person(s) to revalidate the already  determined matter or dispute by the supreme court”

Responding to question on why the senate has not deemed  it fit to give any legislative backing to the supreme court judgement of the 11th July, 2024 on local government autonomy, Senator Karimi  described the supreme court judgement granting full autonomy to the councils as the president’s trump card to legally and holistically address the local government challenges once and for all.

“That was why the Attorney General and  Minister of Justice of the Federation went to supreme court to institute that case”, he said.

He emphasized the importance of local government autonomy, stating that case instituted by the attorney general at the supreme court, and mid-wived by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, demonstrates the federal government’s commitment and support for a functional local government system in the country.

He further stressed that “As a means of solving local government problems, the president wants autonomy for local government. If the Federal Government of Nigeria doesn’t want local government autonomy, it wouldn’t have instituted the case in the first place.

“And for us in the National Assembly, we are fully in support of local government autonomy and the steps so far taken to restore proper governance at the local level in Nigeria.

“I don’t want to say much about it before when I came in. But we will talk about it. Local government autonomy must come to stay. It’s not for National Assembly alone but for the good of every Nigerian, therefore, it is a fight for all of us, because if we keep quiet, that autonomy will not stand.

“But if we talk, it will stand. I am not the one who brought this question in. Somebody brought it, but I have to speak to it. And I have to speak the truth always. Some people are not interested in this local government autonomy”.

Senator Karimi noted that the leadership of the National Assembly, including the Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker, House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, were in full support of the Local Government Autonomy.

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Ibrahim Oyewale in LokojaSenator Sunday Karimi representing Kogi West has disclosed  that President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly should not be held responsible for the slow or near-non implementation

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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