News

#EndHunger protest erupts in Lagos, Abuja, Benin

Published

6 months ago

June 13, 2024

Amid the commemoration of Democracy Day celebration, activists in Lagos and Abuja, took to the streets to protest against the deepening hunger crisis gripping the nation.

In Lagos, the demonstrators assembled at the Ikeja Under Bridge, with their voices crying out against the backdrop of tightened security measures.

Holding banners emblazoned with slogans like: “This hunger is too much” and “Reverse anti-people policies”, they demanded immediate action to alleviate the plight of the starving populace.

The protesters, comprising members from civil society groups such as the Take It Back Movement, the Education Rights Campaign, the Coalition for Revolution and the Socialist Workers League, declared June 12, 2024, as a national day of action against hunger and hardship.

Their message resonated nationwide, as similar protests erupted in Abuja and other major cities.

Speaking on behalf of the groups, Sanyaolu Juwon, the National Coordinator of Take It Back Movement, asserted that Tinubu’s administration had exacerbated the crises confronting Nigeria, pushing millions of Nigerian workers, youths, students, farmers, traders, artisans and the impoverished masses into deeper levels of suffering, hardship and acute hunger.

In Benin, Kola Edokpayi, leader of the group, said the protest was to vent their frustration over the state of the nation.

“We reject totally this brand of democracy being practiced in the country. This our democracy is not for the people, it is against the people. We cannot continue to be silent in the midst of poverty, hardship and unemployment.

“The masses are suffocating due to iron grip of hunger, poverty and economic downturn under President Bola Tinubu,” he added.

Meanwhile, ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) condemned the arrest and detention of peaceful protesters in Abuja and Lagos, labelling the crackdown as a suppression of constitutional and democratic rights.

The abduction of Juwon Sanyaolu, a prominent protest leader in Lagos, and the arrest of activists from Activista in Abuja were cited as egregious violations.

Andrew Mamedu, AAN’s country director, demanded the immediate release of all the detainees and called for an end to the repression of peaceful protests.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, ActionAid urged President Bola Tinubu to align his government’s actions with the democratic values he espoused, emphasising the need for accountability and respect for citizens’ rights.

“We draw inspiration from the leadership of the late Khalifa Muhammad Sanusi who refused to be swayed by personal interests and declined reinstatement after his dethronement. We, therefore, urge Khalifa Muhammad Sanusi II to follow his grandfather’s footsteps and prioritise the peace and stability of Kano.

“We kindly call on everyone to put the people’s interests first and work towards a peaceful resolution that is legally accepted. We pray for divine guidance and wisdom for our leaders and for peace to reign in Kano State and Nigeria.”

News

Speaker Abbas Mourns Victims Of Ibadan Funfair Stampede

Published

21 minutes ago

December 20, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

Speaker of the House of Representatives Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, has expressed sadness over the death of children as a result of a stampede at a funfair in Ibadan, Oyo State. and described the incident as unfortunate.

Speaker Abbas, in his condolence message issued through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, commiserated with the government and the people of Oyo State, especially the families of the victims.

The Speaker, while calling for a thorough investigation of the incident to forestall a recurrence, called for caution during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Speaker Abbas prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased.

Naijablitznews.com recalled that the Oyo State Police Command has confirmed 35 children dead and six others sustaining varying degrees of injuries, following the pandemonium.

News

NUJ FCT Council Mourns Sudden Death of Former Council Secretary, Rafat Idris

Published

26 minutes ago

December 20, 2024

Naijablitznews

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Council FCT Council has mourned the sudden demise of the former Secretary of the Council, Mrs. Rafat Idris.

Mrs Rafat died in the early hours of Friday, December 20th 2024, in Abuja after a brief illness.

In a statement signed by the Secretary of Council, Comrade Jide Oyekunle described the untimely death of the former Secretary as a huge shock to the Union.

According to the statement, “The Nigeria Union of Journalists ( NUJ ) FCT Council received the news of sudden death of the former Secretary, Mrs Rafat Salami today, Friday, December 2024, with a rude shock and disbelief.”

“Rafat is a great asset to journalism and a quintessential journalist who has served the union meritoriously in many capacities at different levels.”

“ She is a friend and mother to all.”

“She served the union with unwarranted dedication and commitment, contributing significantly to the growth of the profession during her tenure as Secretary of Council. She is a peace-loving and easygoing person who has remained a strong member. “

“She was not only a remarkable leader but also a cherished friend to many people in the profession. Her passion for professionalism and excellence will always be remembered. “

The council expresses its deep condolences to the immediate family she left behind, the NUJ Voice of Nigeria (VON) Chapel, the NUJ, and the entire VON management in this time of grief.

Rafat was the Assistant Director of Digital Media I Voice of Nigeria (VON). She was the former Assistant Secretary of the International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria and re-elected as the Treasurer of the Institute last week.

She was the founder of the Okenite Foundation for Special Needs Children and a Media Personnel of Habbabiya.

She hails from Ihima in the Okenne Local Government Area of Kogi State, and she is survived by three children.

She will be buried today at the Gudu Cemetery according to Islamic rite.

News

Non-Kinetic Approaches Boosting Southeast Peace Efforts – Deputy Speaker Kalu

Published

30 minutes ago

December 20, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, has affirmed that non-kinetic strategies aimed at tackling insecurity in the South-east region are showing promising outcomes.

Kalu made stated this while receiving the Outstanding Peace Ambassador Award from the House of Representatives Press Corps on Thursday, in recognition of his leadership in the “Peace in the South East Project” (PISE-P).

The event, held at the National Assembly Complex, also featured the unveiling of the fourth edition of the Press Corps’ magazine, “Green Sentinel”, alongside the launch of its website.

Kalu who represents Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State, reaffirmed his dedication to fostering sustainable peace in the southeast and commended security agencies for embracing non-violent solutions to insecurity challenges. While acknowledging progress, he stressed the need for sustained efforts to achieve lasting peace.

Kalu also lauded the Press Corps, led by Comrade Gboyega Onadiran, for its professionalism in delivering accurate and timely reports on parliamentary activities to Nigerians.

He said, “Before now, I was the spokesperson of the House, and I worked with you. You have not changed. You remain consistent in ensuring that you do the right work with regards to the ethics of your profession.

“You’ve been feeding Nigerians with the right information. You’ve been unbundling what we do here, we want to be more transparent. You know what that has done for us is that it has increased the confidence level of Nigerians in the workings of the parliament, more than it used to be.

“And today, launching the Green Sentinel, this Green Sentinel started when I was with you. And you’ve not allowed a dream to die. And I’m so proud of you to support you to make sure that you keep telling the story.

“You’ve also gone ahead to give me an award, not just as one of you, but as one of you who is interested in peace and motivation. The motivation has been nothing but the fact that we only have one country. We don’t have two. All this division. North, South, West, doesn’t matter to people like us.

“In fact, the more it is dissolved, the better. The more we remove all these North, South, East, West, the better for us because we are one. Because we are one, we must preach peace to sustain that oneness. That is the truth. We must preach it starting from home and from the Southeast, and they say charity begins at home. There’s no how I would preach peace outside to the rest of the rest of Nigeria, while leaving what is in my area.

“You know, Southeast has been, you know, there’s been a crisis there for some time, even though it’s going down now a little bit through our various interventions, and through your own intervention, the way you report the stories there, it’s going down. But we started the Southeast Peace Project, which the President was there to launch on the 29th of December barely a year now.

“And with that, we lobbied for the South East Development Commission, we reached out to people and we are beginning to speak to those who are radicalized and say, please come. There are better ways of achieving what we want to achieve through the non-kinetic approach. We spoke to the military and the security forces and they have given their support and they are ensuring that the kinetic approach to resolving problems is not the only approach.

“It’s working. Are we there yet? No. Are we going to get there? Yes. Especially now that the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in his magnanimity approved the Southeast Development Commission Bill to become an Act and has gone ahead to make a budget proposal. So he’s not just talking the talk, he is walking the talk.

“What this would do for the peace project we are doing is that it’s going to calm the nerves of so many people who are agitating for one marginalization or the other. The President has now said this is the fund from the federation account to develop your place. What other excuse do you have to carry arms? What other excuse do you have to destroy your place? This is a peace tool that the President has given to us. And the President has taken that also to other regions of the country.

“The regional development agenda of Mr. President is a wonderful agenda because you see Northwest has received funds that are going to be used to calm the nerves of those there who are carrying out the insurgency and the rest of them. Northeast is working. Very soon, Southwest will start. South-South, and the rest of them. Before you know it, it would be every man to your own camp, develop your place. That is a regional agenda which worked for us before which is coming back again in the spirit of federalism and I’m sure it is going to work.

“So all this is because if we don’t pursue peace, there will be no unity. And if we don’t have unity, there will be no progress. Check our coat of arms. It says, peace, unity and progress. So if Nigeria wants to progress, the foundation is peace. Thank you for recognizing our work, and we pledge to partner with you to make sure that we achieve more within that space.”