Connect with us

News

AU Suspends Guinea-Bissau After Coup

Published

on

ADVERTISEMENT
Zoom Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Zoom Ad

The African Union (AU) has suspended Guinea-Bissau following the coup in the West African country that overthrew President Umaro Embalo.

The AU decided “to suspend Guinea-Bissau from its bodies with immediate effect,” chairman Mahamoud Youssouf told AFP on Friday.

The regional body’s decision came hours after the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) suspended the West African nation from its decision-making bodies over the coup.

ECOWAS’ Mediation and Security Council (MSC) took the decision after an emergency meeting late Thursday.

Advertisement

“The MSC decides, in accordance with the provisions of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance 2001 (A/SP/12/01), to suspend Guinea-Bissau from all ECOWAS decision-making bodies until the restoration of full and effective constitutional order in the country,” it said at the end of the virtual meeting under the chairmanship of Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone and chairperson of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government.

Military officers took over power in Guinea-Bissau on Wednesday, about three days after the country’s disputed presidential and legislative elections.

The officers immediately suspended the nation’s electoral process and closed its borders.

They also stopped the announcement of the election results and appointed the chief of staff of the army, General Horta N’Tam, as the country’s new leader for one year.

Advertisement

After initially being arrested by the military, Embalo fled to Senegal on Thursday.

Opposition presidential candidate Fernando Dias, who claims to have won the election, told AFP that he was “safe” and in hiding in the country.

International Response

The military takeover has been widely criticised.

Advertisement

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres denounced the “unacceptable violation of democratic principles”.

Sandwiched between Senegal and Guinea, Guinea-Bissau has already experienced four coups and numerous attempts since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974. Its election results are often contested.

Among the world’s poorest countries, it is also a hub for drug trafficking between Latin America and Europe, a trade facilitated by the nation’s long history of political tumult.

Guinea-Bissau joins a number of other countries that suffered suspension by the AU following coups across the continent, including in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Sudan, and, more recently, Madagascar.

Advertisement

Sanctions were lifted in April against Gabon, a Central African country, that had been suspended after the overthrow of President Ali Bongo.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

News

2027: Ogor visits IDU, Monarchs, declares intention to contest Delta South senatorial district

Published

on

ADVERTISEMENT
Zoom Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Zoom Ad

The immediate younger brother of Hon. Leo Ogor, Barr. Jay Ogor has officially declared his intention to contest as Senator for Delta South senatorial district in the forthcoming 2027 general elections.

Barr Jay Ogor made this declaration during his official consultation visit to Isoko Development Union (IDU) leadership headed by Prof. Chris Akpotu and some Isoko traditional rulers at Chief Iduh Amadhe Hall, Oleh.

The consultation visit which occured on the 16th of April attracted a mammoth crowd of IDU delegates, Clan PGs, including women and youth groups, has been the single-ethnic consultation so far in his 2027campaign.

While addressing the leadership of the IDU and traditional rulers, Barr. Jay Ogor, restated the message he first delivered at the NUJ, Warri chapel, where he, Ogor emphatically noted that, the Delta South senatorial district was vacant due to poor representation.

Advertisement

“As far as am concerned, the Delta South senatorial district is vacant” as he echoed his earlier declaration to the audience.

He noted that, his mission is rooted in inclusiveness and people driven-policy.

Barr. Jay Ogor observed that, one of the things millitating against the progress of Delta South senatorial district is lack of understanding and unity. He identify disunity as the greatest problem of the district.
“One of the major thing that bothers me most about Delta South is unity. We lack unity. We can not develop without unity”.

Barr. Jay Ogor, while speaking about the issues affecting Isoko Nation and entire Delta South senatorial district, he promised to adopt a different style of representation built on the tripod of accessibility and constant engagement with the people he represent.

Advertisement

“I want to say that, in my first 30 — 60 days in office, I will hold town hall meetings with the Ijaws, the Itsekiris, the Urhobos and you, my Isoko people, so that everyone will understand the unique challenges, we all face ” Barr. Ogor while criticizing the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), he noted that the IOCs have taken advantage of it, while the Communities remains underdeveloped. ” I intend to correct this because I know how to go about it as a lawyer “.

On the issues of federal presence and empowerment, Barr. Jay Ogor promised to engage and attract federal presence to Delta South senatorial district with meaningful empowerment deals from federal agencies such as the ministry of women affairs, NELFUND, BOI, NNPC, NDDC, and many others for infrastructural development, especially in the areas of electricity distribution and noted that the current deficit in women and youths empowerment shall be redressed.
While still speaking, he used the medium to appeal to the media houses and traditional institutions to always as point of duty to vet aspirants first, noting that, if an aspirant does not have a good character, such aspirant should not be encouraged as he can not represent the collective interests and aspirations of the people.

The president -General of the Isoko Development Union World-wide, Prof. Chris Akpotu, while appreciating Barr. Jay Ogor consultation visit entourage for the recognition, he wished him success in his political journey, while reminding him and other aspirants that Isoko Nation expects more than promises, stressing that “actions are louder than words”.
Prof. Akpotu referenced the Union’s standing demand for greater involvement in “Oil and Gas” governance, infrastructure and resolution of Land disputes affecting the 19 Kingdoms —– from Uzere, Oleh, and OZORO to Irri, Ellu, Ofagbe, Okpe-Isoko, Emede, IGBIDE and others.

The Chairman of the Isoko traditional rulers council, HRM, (Barr.) Uvietobore Anthony Ogbogbo of OZORO Kingdom led other traditional rulers to pray for Barr. Jay Ogor, the prayer urged him to always remember home.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

News

INSULT! Boko Haram Faction Picks 68 Girls From Over 400 Captives For Distribution Among Fighters –Borno Group

Published

on

ADVERTISEMENT
Zoom Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Zoom Ad

A faction of Boko Haram, officially known as Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS), has reportedly selected 68 women from a group of 416 abducted victims, with plans to distribute them among its members.

The alarming disclosure was made on Thursday by the President of the Borno South Youth Alliance (BOSYA), Samaila Ibrahim Kaigama, who told SaharaReporters that he was directly contacted by one of the insurgents detailing their next line of action amid what they described as government inaction.

According to Kaigama, the contact occurred around 8:00 PM on April 23, when individuals identifying themselves as members of JAS reached out regarding the abducted Ngoshe victims.

“During the communication, they claimed that they have selected 68 women out of the reported 416 captives and intend to distribute them among their members, similar to previous abduction cases,” Kaigama said.

Advertisement

He added that the insurgents issued a threat, indicating that some of the captives could be harmed or killed based on their internal selection process.

The terrorists also indicated that between 50 and 60 individuals could be targeted for execution.

The development has heightened concerns over the fate of hundreds of women, children, and other vulnerable individuals still held by the insurgents in Borno State.

Kaigama described the situation as a grave humanitarian emergency, urging immediate intervention from Nigeria’s security architecture, including the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Department of State Services (DSS), and military authorities.

Advertisement

“Given the seriousness of these claims and the immediate danger to innocent lives, we strongly believe that all relevant security agencies should urgently become involved,” he said.

He called on authorities to deploy all lawful means to gather intelligence, verify the threats, and secure the safe release of the captives.

“This is beyond politics. This is a humanitarian emergency involving innocent citizens whose lives may depend on urgent intervention,” Kaigama stressed.

The BOSYA president reaffirmed the group’s commitment to advocating for the safe return of all abducted Southern Borno indigenes through lawful and peaceful means.

Advertisement

As at Thursday at least 12 of the victims had reportedly escaped captivity following a military offensive on the insurgents’ hideout.

Out of the 416 abducted persons, 404 are still believed to be in captivity.

A community source from Pulka said the escapees, 10 men and two women, regained freedom amid the chaos triggered by the bombardment.

Kaigama also confirmed the development, noting that the victims escaped on Wednesday and were safe

Advertisement
Continue Reading

News

Ibadan declaration: Opposition standing on quick sand– Presidency

Published

on

ADVERTISEMENT
Zoom Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Zoom Ad

The presidency has said that opposition political parties are standing on a quick sand while President Bola Tinubu is standing solidly on the rock of competence.

Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, stated this on Sunday in an interview on Arise Television.

The presidential spokesman, who was reacting to the Ibadan declaration by the opposition to field one presidential candidate, described the summit as a collection of recycled politicians.

He said they are people who have been ministers, governors, and political actors for years, stressing that a closer look at their recent performances, whether in executive or legislative roles, there is little evidence of fresh thinking.

Advertisement

According to him, the individuals have nothing new to offer Nigerians.

He said, “They are free to field five, seven presidential candidates. But I said they’re standing on the sinking ground.

“That is the beauty of democracy. You have the opposition, you have individuals, political leaders decide on what they want to do.

“But that does not diminish the fact that there is a government in place that is functional, that has measured outcomes in what it has been doing. It does not take that away.”

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2024 Naija Blitz News