SR SahelReporters

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja. Immediate past Chairman of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers, Mr Felix Obuah, has pleaded with the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo to forgive and rescind plans to expel Mr Adams Oshiomhole from the party. Obuah made the plea in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Jerry Needam, on Wednesday in Port Harcourt. He said the call became necessary as the clamour for his expulsion gathers support. “As true and evident as it has shown that the APC lost the Edo governorship election, largely because of Oshiomhole’s intransigence and arrogance, expelling him at this material time could only translate to political suicide for the already beleaguered Edo-born politician. “As an elder statesman and core politician, I can discern the degree of regret and remorse that goes on in Oshiomhole’s mind and he should, therefore, be forgiven,’’ Obuah said. The former PDP boss also said that as a state PDP stalwart and elder statesman wh...

By Doris Nnaji   Proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has declared October 1, 2020 as sit-at-home across Biafraland. The group said the decision followed credible intelligence alleging terrorist groups plan to slaughter people of the region who intend to celebrate the Independence day. In a statement by the Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB said its members would join its Yoruba bretheren agitating for Oduduwa Republic, in public protests to mark the day. The pro-Biafran group stressed complete and total lockdown of Biafraland and other terror ravaged areas of the Middle Belt come 1st of October 2020 was sacrosanct, irreversible and non-negotiable. It enjoined all Biafrans and every conscious Nigerian to boycott every government organised ceremony designed to eulogise Nigeria. The statement partly reads: “We the global movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by our great Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, wish to announce to all Biafrans, friend...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja   Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has finalised its plan to stage a nationwide rally on September 28 to protest the increase in the prices of petrol and electricity tariff. The National Executive Council (NEC) of the NLC Tuesday endorsed the decision of the Central Working Committee (CWC) which resolved to commence a nationwide protest on September 28. It is not yet clear if the meeting resolved to have a nationwide strike after the September 28 rally with officials saying a communique will be released soon to journalists. Addressing journalists at the end of its meeting on Tuesday in Abuja, the NLC President said the NEC condemned the increment of the tariff and advised the federal government to urgently repair Nigeria’s refineries. Nigeria’s four refineries are currently under repairs and produce virtually no petrol. However, even if they work optimally, they cannot produce enough petrol to meet the local demand of Africa’s largest economy. The government h...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja   President Muhammadu Buhari says if the United Nations system cannot mobilise the world to marshal out an effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic, then the organisation would have failed in its core mission. Buhari said this late Tuesday while delivering Nigeria’s National Statement via video-message, on the first day of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly Debate. The theme of this year’s General Assembly is ”The Future We Want, The United Nations We Need: Reaffirming Our Collective Commitment to Multilateralism- Confronting Coronavirus Through Effective Multilateral Action.” Buhari promised that Nigeria will continue to partner with the World Health Organisation and some countries to ensure accelerated development and manufacturing, as well as the uninhibited supply of safe and effective Coronavirus vaccines to all. He also pledged Nigeria’s commitment to working with member states in the spirit of global cooperation and solidarity to promote ...

Edo elections: US govt reacts to Obaseki’s victory By Aviashima Toom, Abuja   The United States Government has praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security personnel, for the roles they played in the just concluded Edo governorship election. In a statement issued by the US Mission in Abuja on Wednesday, it, however, expressed concern over reports of vote-buying, some violence and intimidation of voters and civil society domestic observers during the election. It also recognized the critical role that Governor Godwin Obaseki and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu played in promoting peace. “We thank the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigerian security services on the positive role they played in the election and commend their work in strengthening Nigeria’s democracy. “The United States remains concerned with reports of some violence that did emerge during the election and by reports of vote-buying and intimidation of both voters and civil...

By Biodun Alao A new born baby wrapped in a polythene bag was found dead in a gutter near Aku Village, Mararaba, in Karu area of Nasarawa state. Residents were shocked to discover the baby in the gutter. The incident which happened on Tuesday, drew a large crowd to the scene after a young man entered the gutter filled with water and refuse. An eye witness who would not want his name of print told our reporter that a similar incident happened in 2019 on the other side of the same gutter. ”I think the mother must have given birth to the baby in the night and dumped her in the gutter. ”I wonder why a mother, who carried a baby fro nine months, would behave in such a wicked manner. ”The woman should have taken the child to the motherless babies home. This is sad,” hesaid. Another resident, Amina Abubukar, said:” I have read about these kind of acts. But I have never seen it. ”I am very shocked and angry with the woman who did this. Women are supposed to caring. ”I don’t think I can sleep t...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja Obaseki during campaign The Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the Edo State Election, Godwin Obaseki, has faulted claims made by the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in a televised broadcast on Tuesday. Obaseki said this in a press statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie. The statement was titled ‘You can’t extend your political empire to our state – Edo govt tells Tinubu’. Obaseki boasted that Tinubu cannot extend his political empire to Edo State, noting that Edo people were determined to end the godfatherism in the state. In the broadcast, Tinubu had said Obaseki does not deserve a single vote in Saturday’s election, asking voters to reject the PDP candidate. Reacting, the statement read, “Our attention has been drawn to a television broadcast in which a former Lagos State Governor and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinu...