Shi’ites vow to resume ‘Free Zakzaky’ protests

Following the gradual easing of the lockdown imposed on the FCT, Lagos, and Ogun states, members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, IMN, also known as Shi’ites, on Tuesday, vowed to resume protests in demand for the release of their detained leader, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, and his wife, Zeenat.

In a statement signed and issued in Abuja by Abdullahi Musa, the Secretary of IMN’s Academic Forum, the Muslim sect maintained that they are involved in an ideological pursuit which, according to them, cannot be derailed by the security forces.

While accusing the Federal Government of seeking to eliminate El-Zakzaky, the Shi’ites said they would certain individuals operating within the corridors of power responsible should anything untoward happen to him at a Kaduna correctional facility.

The statement reads in part, “The phantom claim that IMN is armed is completely ludicrous; weapons are for the foolhardy. Ours is a conceptual struggle that gun never makes nor mars; and it cannot be put off with a gun; gun can only make it stronger.

“An ideological movement of more than forty years standing without a record of violence is indeed a movement that improves lives and makes them better. If it ameliorates, it cannot turn out to be that which aggravates or destroys.

“It is high time the regime aligned with substance and stop chasing shadow. Incessant killings merely make us resistant to deterrence.

“Over 40 years now, Sheikh Zakzaky and his followers have been detained and still are being detained, but we always follow the lawful approach in securing the release of our brothers and sisters.

“On the current illegal detention, the Sheikh has employed the services of Barrister Femi Falana, SAN to pursue the case at Kaduna State High Court and Court of Appeal, Abuja.

“From December 2015 to date security agents have arrested thousands of Sheikh Zakzaky’s followers.

“We employed the services of lawyers in both Kaduna and Abuja. In the two above-mentioned cities alone, more than 1,000 brothers and sisters have been acquitted and discharged by different courts.

“Is it not criminal for a state to weaponize its detention of a citizen and be aiming at his life? How on earth would someone think it feasible for a cabal in the power corridor to kill a man it has so much oppressed and get off scot-free?

“This is, of course, too expensive a joke to crack. We are in the know of all those accomplices involved, and they alone will squarely be held responsible for whatever happens to our leader.

“Finally, despite deliberate provocations and intimidations, we are determined to continue with our protest demanding for the unconditional release of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky and his wife, Mallama Zeenah.” (Nigeria Vanguard News)

Nigeria records 148 new COVID-19 cases, total now 2,950

Confirmed cases of coronavirus have increased to 2,950 in Nigeria

This is after 148 new infections were recorded in the country on Tuesday.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control made this known via its Twitter handle.

148 new cases of #COVID19:

43-Lagos
32-Kano
14-Zamfara
10-FCT
9-Katsina
7-Taraba6

6-Borno

6-Ogun
5-Oyo
3-Edo
3-Kaduna
3-Bauchi
2-Adamawa
2-Gombe
1-Plateau
1-Sokoto
1-Kebbi

2950 confirmed cases of #COVID-19in Nigeria
Discharged: 481
Deaths: 98

Yar’Adua a patriot with passion for the masses – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday extolled the virtues of late former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and saluted his honest and sincere service to the country.

The President in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity,  Garba Shehu,  marking the 10^th anniversary of the ex-President’s death, described Yar’Adua as a patriot with a passion for the masses.

He said: “Despite our political differences, President Yar’Adua was unarguably a patriot because of his passion for the masses and his reversal of policies he believed were hurting ordinary Nigerians.

“Every leader should be given the credit that he deserves, whether you agree with President Yar’Adua politically or not, I must say that history will always record his honest and sincere service to the country.

“As we remember President Yar’Adua today, let us emulate his patience and gentle nature so that we don’t introduce toxicity into our politics where opponents perceive each other as enemies.

“Let me also use this occasion to extend my prayers and goodwill to his family, and Katsina State Government on the 10th anniversary of his demise. May Allah continue to bless and comfort his gentle soul.” (NAN)

Ganduje appoints new Emir of Rano

The Kano State Government, on Tuesday, approved the appointment of Kabiru Muhammad Inuwa, as the new Emir of Rano.

Before his appointment, Inuwa was the District Head of Kibiya Local Government Area of Kano, which is under Rano Emirate.

His appointment followed the demise of Emir of Rano, Alhaji Tafida Abubakar Ila, Autan Bawo.

Bawo died at the age of 74 on Saturday, May 2, 2020 at a hospital in Kano.

Four kingmakers viz. Rt. Hon. Kabeer Alhassan Rurum, member representing Rano, Kibiya and Bunkure Federal Constituency at the National Assembly (Turakin Rano), Dr. Yahaya Isa Bunkure (Makaman Rano), Hon. Justice Wada Umar Rano (Madakin Rano) and Malam Ada’u Isah Rano (Magajin Garin Rano) recommended his appointment to the governor.

Infectious Diseases Bill Conceived In Public Interest – Gbajabiamila

Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila

 

Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila on Tuesday said the Control of Infectious Diseases Bill was conceived in the best interest of the Nigerian people and no one else.

Gbajabiamila while addressing his colleagues at the resumption of the plenary session said since the introduction of the Bill a week ago, there has been a barrage of criticisms against it, with allegations of sinister motives.

The Speaker said the allegation that the Bill is a sinister attempt to turn Nigerians into guinea pigs for medical research while taking away their fundamental human rights was far from the truth.

“None of these allegations are true. Unfortunately, we now live in a time when conspiracy theories have gained such currency that genuine endeavours in the public interest can quickly become mischaracterised and misconstrued to raise the spectre of sinister intent and ominous possibility.

“This House of Representatives will never take any action that purposes to bring harm to any Nigerian here at home or abroad. As we have thus far shown by our conduct, the resolutions and actions we take in this 9th House of Representatives will always be in the best interests of the Nigerian people who elected us, and no one else.

“In the recent uproar, certain fundamental truths have been lost and are worth remembering. Our current framework for the prevention and management of infectious diseases is obsolete and no longer fit for purpose. The current law severely constrains the ability of the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to take proactive action to prevent the entry into Nigeria of infectious diseases and the management of public health emergencies when they occur,” he said.

The Speaker added that he disagrees with the NCDC boss that this is not the ideal time to seek reforms and create a bill, noting that the present health system in the country is weak and it has already manifested in the inability of the government to hold to proper account those whose refusal to adhere with Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) guidelines led to the further spread of the coronavirus in Nigeria.

“It bears restating that we do not have in our country, a healthcare system or for that matter, a national economy that is sufficiently robust to withstand the dire consequences of a sustained infectious disease pandemic. We cannot tie our own hands in the fight against this disease.

“Whether we choose to accept it or not, the world we live in has changed irretrievably. There is no ‘normal’ to return to as this present crisis has laid bare the fundamental weaknesses in our systems of law and policy and left our nation at risk of devastating outcomes on all sides.

“Our current task is first to survive and then to set about building a new world. Inevitably, this demands that we should be willing to consider new ideas, explore novel possibilities, rejecting those ancient shibboleths we have long adhered to without benefit,” he added.

The Speaker notes that citizens may sometimes disagree with the how and the why of policy proposals, but that the parliament of the people is not an echo chamber.

He said the House will subject the Bill to a public hearing where Nigerians from all walks of life would be given the opportunity to contribute to the draft law.

“The Control of Infectious Diseases Bill will be put forward to a public hearing where stakeholder contributions will be sought to make improvements to the Bill before it is reviewed and debated by the Committee of the whole.

“It is from the accumulation of these myriad views, suggestions and good faith critiques from within and outside the House that we will arrive at final legislation that meets the present and future needs of our country, and which we all can support in good conscience,” he said.

The Speaker added that the social distancing guidelines that the House and the whole country operate for the time being would not allow for a usual format of a public hearing, but that if a socially distant public hearing becomes workable, it will be explored.

Channels Television 

STATEMENT ON THE RETURN OF THE ABACHA STOLEN MILLIONS FROM THE UNITED STATES

STATEMENT ON THE RETURN OF THE ABACHA STOLEN MILLIONS FROM THE UNITED STATES

On Monday, May 4, 2020, some $311 million US Dollars - stolen from the citizens of Nigeria during the Abacha regime - were safely returned to our country from the United States.

These funds have already been allocated, and will be used in full, for vital and decades-overdue infrastructure development: The second Niger Bridge, the Lagos-Ibadan and Abuja-Kaduna-Kano expressways - creating tens of thousands of Nigerian construction jobs and local skills, which can then be useful in future projects.  

Part of the funds will also be invested in the Mambilla Power Project which, when completed, will provide electricity to some three million homes - over ten million citizens - in our country.

The receipt of these stolen monies - and the hundreds of millions more that have already been returned from the United Kingdom and Switzerland - are an opportunity for the development of our nation, made far harder for those decades the country was robbed of these funds.

Indeed, previous monies returned last year from Switzerland - some $320 million US dollars - are already being used for the government’s free school feeding scheme, a stipend for millions of disadvantaged citizens, and grain grants for those in severe food hardship.

Without these funds, the fight against Covid-19 would be even tougher.

The latest return is a testament to the growing and deepening relationship between the government of Nigeria and the government of the United States.

Without the cooperation both from the UK Government, the US Executive branch and US Congress, we would not have achieved the return of these funds at all.

For years many countries deemed successive Nigerian administrations as too corrupt, too venal and too likely to squander and re-steal the stolen monies - so they did not return the funds.

Today, US, UK and other jurisdictions have found the partnership with the nation of Nigeria they can finally trust.

The Buhari Administration is committed to - and is enacting - total and zero tolerance to corruption in politics and public administration.

The days when government was seen and used by the political class as their personal ATM to empty are over.

The time of better governance and clean hands in the affairs of state is here to stay. 

Garba Shehu

Senior Special Assistant to the President

(Media & Publicity)

May 5, 2020