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Let’s Call On Obasanjo To Advise President Tinubu On How To Get Debt Relief For Nigeria – Afe Babalola

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Legal icon and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Afe Babalola, has stressed the need for President Bola Tinubu to seek debt relief for Nigeria from the country’s international creditors.

He emphasized the need to seek a reduction in the interest of the loan and the loan itself in order to save Nigeria’s economy from collapse.

Recalling how former President Olusegun Obasanjo got debt relief for Nigeria, Babalola said it is time to call Obasanjo to advise the Tinubu government on how to get it done.

Speaking on Sunday in Ado-Ekiti during the 6th Induction Ceremony of the 2023 graduating set of the College of Medical and Health Sciences of ABUAD, Babalola, if Nigeria does not seek debt relief, the country’s economy may be crippled with the way things are going.

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The legal luminary also lamented that the loans accrued by the government have unfortunately been embezzled by some private individuals.

He emphasized that the sorry state of the economy and the frustration of the people are responsible for the protests across some major cities in the country.

He said, “Nigeria is one of the heaviest debtors in the world, I have written articles about it, let us investigate how we came to several trillions of dollars, what do we spend it on? I can assure you, these money are pocketed by those who said they collected it.

“Let us call on Obasanjo again to advise the present government. When we were in serious trouble in the 90s, after he took over, he went round all the creditors and begged them, one, to peg the interest, two, to even reduce the indebtedness and today, we are better for it.

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“Unless we do that, this indebtedness will cripple this country and it will lead to anything. I have seen people especially, in the North who are agitating because of the fact that the naira is getting worse, food prices are high, no employment, and those who get it are not paid. Something has to be done about it.”

Speaking further, Babalola condemned the recent killings of two traditional rulers in Ekiti State and the hike in food prices.

He urged the government to intensify efforts at tackling insecurity so that farmers can access their farms without fear and enable all Nigerians to be producers of crops by investing in Agriculture.

Babalola also advocated an increase in the salary of teachers in the country to bolster their teaching delivery towards achieving and sustaining quality education in the country, as it has been in the 20th century.

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His words, “Monarchs are killed, it is an unusual development, so, what is behind all these is the fact that we have no money, our money has no value, our currency is as worthless as toilet paper, something has to be done about naira and productivity.

“Farmers have left their farms now because of kidnappers, something has to be done about kidnapping and farmers have to be encouraged to go back to their farms.”

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China Reaffirms One-China Principle, Commend Support From Nigeria

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…caution against engaging Taiwan’s unofficial representative office in Lagos
 
By Gloria Ikibah 
 
The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, has strongly reaffirmed China’s long-standing stance on the Taiwan issue, urging media professionals and the general public in Nigeria to continue supporting the One-China Principle as a matter of international law and diplomatic integrity.
 
Speaking during an interactive session, Ambassador Yu offered a detailed historical context behind the Taiwan question, tracing it back to the 1895 Treaty of Shimonoseki when Taiwan was ceded to Japan after China’s defeat. 
 
He emphasised that Taiwan was returned to China in 1945 following Japan’s defeat in World War II, citing two major international treaties. 
 
He said: “Which is not an equal agreement because China was defeated. So, according to the agreement, Taiwan was ceded to Japan in 1895. So that’s why, if you go to Taiwan, many people speak Chinese, even nowadays.
 
“Taiwan was returned to China in 1945, after the Second World War, because Japan was defeated. There are two international treaties. The first one is the Post-Taiwan Declaration. The second one is the Post-Taiwan Proclamation. According to those two international declarations, Japan should, under no condition, return Taiwan, and its adjacent islands, including Penghu and Jinmen and other islands, back to China. So it’s specified in international laws”.
 
The Chinese envoy also referenced the 1971 United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758, which recognised the People’s Republic of China as the only legal representative of China in the UN. 
 
Yu praised Nigeria for its consistent and clear support of the One-China Principle.
 
“The UNGA took the Resolution 2758, which got the support of African countries, and that restored China’s seat in the UN, and expelled the Kuomintang from the UN, Taiwan from the UN. And recognized that Taiwan is part of China.
 
 “For Nigeria, Nigeria has followed, has abided by the One-China Principle very strictly. There is no ambiguity, no other room, there is no other interpretation. So we appreciate that,” he added.
 
He further noted the joint statement issued by President Bola Tinubu and Chinese President, Xi Jinping, reaffirming Nigeria’s support for China’s reunification efforts. 
 
“When it comes to the Taiwan issue, you know, he said that Nigeria recognizes Taiwan, there is only one China in the world. Taiwan is part of China. The People’s Republic of China is the sole legal representative of China. And it also adds that the Nigerian government opposes any form of Taiwan independence. And the Nigerian government supports all the efforts of the Chinese government to achieve its reunification.”
 
 
He stressed that the Taiwan issue is 
“the core interest of China” and called for caution in how the issue is handled by Nigerian media and institutions. 
 
“It’s a red line. I would ask all of you, number one, you know, to follow this One-China Principle, as the government has done. That means that you will be very careful when it comes to the Taiwan issue. For instance, how do you use the name? You will see that Taiwan-China, or Taiwan-Province-China, or Taiwan-Region. It’s all fine. But not, you know, see Taiwan as a country.”
 
Ambassador Yu also warned against engaging with Taiwan’s unofficial representative office in Lagos. 
 
“Because there is still a three-representative office in Lagos, which was actually moved out from Abuja to Lagos. But still, the representative there is trying to make troubles. From time to time, you know, he tried to advocate the separation of Taiwan and Taiwan independence. So that’s why I would ask all of you to be very careful not to engage in any, how to say, activity with the government. Because he will try to use particular media as a platform to expand his, you know, ideas”, he warned.
 
This statement from the Chinese envoy comes as Nigeria and China continue to deepen bilateral ties under the framework of a comprehensive strategic partnership.
 
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Senator Natasha on FB listed 3 politicians that should be arrested if anything happens to her

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The Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial district, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has taken to her verified Facebook page to raise a serious alarm, alleging that her life is in danger following a reported attack on her family house in Kogi State.

In the strongly worded post, the Kogi-born lawmaker fingered some high-ranking political figures in Nigeria, declaring that should anything happen to her, the Nigerian Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello, and the current state Governor, Usman Ododo, should be held accountable.

“Nigeria Police, I reiterate, should any harm befall me, Nigerian Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Ex Gov. Yahaya Bello & Gov. Usman Ododo of Kogi state should be held responsible,” she posted.

Her statement comes, hours after her family home in Kogi was attacked, although details surrounding the incident remain sketchy as of the time of filing this report.

Recall that this is not the first time the Kogi senator is making such allegations against the trio. She made the same statement few weeks ago during her homecoming to Kogi State where she accused the senate president, Akpabio and Yahaya Bello for plotting evil against her.

Senator Natasha has been a vocal political figure and critic of the ruling establishment in Kogi, and this latest development adds to the growing tension in the state and national political landscape.

Authorities are yet to issue an official response to her recent allegations.

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Emergency Rule: We should be thankful to President Tinubu -Wike

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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has backed President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers, saying he wanted the removal of Governor Siminalayi Fubara of the oil-rich state.

In a move that has continued to divide opinions, Tinubu suspended Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the House of Assembly following months of political crisis in Rivers State.

But Wike said the president’s move saved Rivers from implosion, arguing that the decision to appoint a sole administrator following Fubara’s suspension was a step in the right direction.

The former Rivers governor said this on Friday in Abuja during a media parley with select journalists.

“As a politician, I am not happy with the declaration of Emergency Rule in Rivers state. I wanted the outright removal of the governor. But for the interest of the state, the president did the right thing to prevent anarchy in the state.” Wike said.

However, people must tell the truth. The governor was gone. He was gone, yes… so when people say the president did this, I say they should be praising him.

“Every morning, they should go to the president and ask, ‘Can we wash your feet for saving us?’”

In February, the Supreme Court waded into the months-long political crisis in Rivers State, asking the Martin Amaewhule-led members of the state’s House of Assembly to resume sitting.

The apex court also barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to stop releasing funds to the Rivers State government over what it labelled as disregard for court orders. It dismissed the cross-appeal filed by Fubara challenging the validity of the House of Assembly presided over by Amaewhule as the Speaker and asked the governor to re-present the budget to the lawmakers.

After weeks of back and forth between Amaewhule and the lawmakers over the budget re-presentation and moves to impeach Fubara, President Tinubu stepped in.

He suspended Fubara and his deputy and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months, citing security reasons. Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the state and appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd) as the sole administrator, a step Wike said saved Rivers.

“Mr president came in and saved the situation, saved Rivers people from that calamity and anarchy,” the FCT minister argued.

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