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Insecurity: Presidency warns non-state actors
The Presidency has issued a stern warning that non-state actors causing hardship, misery, violence and hostage situations would face consequences for their actions.
President Bola Tinubu, who delivered the keynote address at a two-day summit organised by the Alliance for Yoruba Democratic Movement (AYDM), a coalition of 130 pan-Yoruba-Itsekiri groups, in Ikeja, Lagos, addressed the role of non-state actors in Nigeria’s political landscape.
The president, represented by Mr. Tunde Rahman, senior special assistant on media, said non-state actors responsible for inflicting suffering, injury, and hostage-taking should be condemned.
“Those who use force to commit evil and cause chaos, including bandits, kidnappers, militia groups, and armed robbers, do not represent us and should face the full force of the law.”
He added that the groups must be eradicated.
Conversely, Rahman acknowledged that some non-state actors contribute positively, such as those protecting pipelines from vandalism.
He said: “While some criticise their actions, we must recognise their positive contributions.”
On Nigeria’s economic situation, Rahman acknowledged the challenges but expressed optimism of gradual improvement.
He cited the National Bureau of Statistics’ report that Nigeria’s headline inflation rate decreased to 33.4 per cent in July 2024 from 34.19 per cent the previous month, suggesting progress.
“Our economic indicators are showing improvement,” he said, highlighting that inflation is declining and the Central Bank of Nigeria has stabilised the financial sector.
Chairman on the occasion, Adewale Adeoye, said the summit was coming at a time when the country was facing a very difficult and unpredictable future and when the three main indices of development, notably food, human and environmental security and leadership with good conscience that brings hope to the long suffering people were threatened.
He, however, cautioned that democracy cannot just be destroyed because of its errors, saying there was the need to confront the “challenges and work towards improving the economic and social conditions of our people.”
This was just as he decried the call for subversion of democracy, describing such as irresponsible and, therefore, “a major reason non-state actors must come together speak with one voice against such self-serving demand.
“Supporting democracy is not about those in power, but about the right of the people to choose, question and democratically engage their leaders. I am aware that the process of even choosing the right leaders by the people in Nigeria is flawed, nevertheless, it does not, in any way, justify the call for military intervention in Nigeria,” he said.
Adeoye insisted Nigeria cannot continue to go this way, saying it must address the hydra-headed problem of food scarcity, insecurity, and leadership deficit.
According to him, “the best way to lay the foundation for the resolution is for Nigeria to go back to the dream of the founding fathers who had opted for a country where each ethnic group would be able to develop on its own terms.
“The greatest pathway to this goal is to restructure Nigeria to stem the violent clashes of civilisations.”
Kudu Abubakar representing Arewa community, in his remark, described democracy as a fraud being perpetrated by some people from the North and South for their own selfish interest, declaring pointedly that democracy as practised by people in power had damaged the country.
Abubakar hailed President Tinubu, as then governor of Lagos State over his achievements which, he said, made him and others throw support for his election into office.
“That does not mean we should not point out where he has failed,” he said.
He particularly decried the security situation in the country, recalling that that was not the situation when he was growing up and the community was able to identify security threats and address such, but stopped short of calling for establishment of a state police.
“Democracy has damaged everything in the country, while we were growing up, we were open to each other. We could easily identify strange people in our communities, but, now, insecurity is ravaging the land.
“Let us tell ourselves the truth, we fought for this democracy under the military, but how many of us that fought for democracy are enjoying it now. We love Tinubu, we fought for his victory, but we cannot reach him again,” he said.
Also, Dare Adesope, decried high level insecurity in the South West region, even as he noted that the Yoruba that regarded farming as their mainstay could not go to farm as they could have loved to do due to the menace.
He, however, urged political leaders in the country to work towards promoting good leadership for the betterment of Nigeria and its people.
By Mario Deepromoter
Ukraine on Friday restricted the use of Telegram for its government, military and security officials, citing “threats” to national security on the app founded by Russian-born Pavel Durov.
“The National Security and Defence Council decided to restrict the use of Telegram in government agencies, military formations and critical infrastructure facilities,” the council said in a statement on Facebook, saying it was a “matter of national security.”
By Mario Deepromoter
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, on Thursday, announced the commencement of the 2024 Olojo Festival, revealing the event’s ancestral and spiritual significance.
Ogunwusi spoke at his palace during a news conference on the 2024 Olojo Festival with the theme “Evolving Transformationaly Domestic Tourism With Community Festivals.”
According to him, the festival is significant because of the spiritual exercises that characterise it and the testimonies it attracts.
He said the celebration of the revered cultural event was held annually in the ancient city to celebrate the day of the first dawn.
The Ooni said the festival was in remembrance of “Ogun,” god of iron, who is believed to be the first son of Oduduwa, progenitor of the Yoruba people.
He added that the festival marked the birth of the “Aare Crown”.
Ooni said that several prayers rendered to Olodumare through the iconic “Aare crown” during the Olojo festival had been answered with so many testimonies.
He stated, “Olojo is the festival of dawn and the birth of the crown, “Ade Aare”, the crown of all crowns. The crown that gave birth to all crowns all over the world with all the colours of the rainbow. It is called the spectrum of rainbow crowns.
“The crown does everything humans do, it is a very spiritual crown, very sacred. I am a living example and witness. I have actually charged the crown, I have prayed with it, that I want this done, this particular time.
“This is my ninth year on the throne, going to my tenth year by the grace of God, I have seen a lot of testimonies.
“I will pray with the crown worn on my head, I pray to the almighty God, Olodumare through the crown. I have never seen any failure in it. It is our strong heritage, our strong culture and tradition and we will continue to uphold it forever.
He added that they were not idol worshipers, but rather custodians of their ancestors’ legacy, which continued to benefit them.
“These are things we should not joke about, It is our heritage, we should not compromise it with anything. It is created by nature, by God Almighty who is the supreme being,” he said.
Explaining the nature of the “Ade Aare”, Ooni described the crown as a sacred, mysterious being which bears the nature of humans.
According to him, the crown functions like humans.
He said, “Olojo is the time when the crown comes out for blessings. This is a crown that has life in it till date, right from time immemorial.
“The crown changes the weather, it does not see the atmosphere except once in a year, during Olojo festival.
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“In the crown, we see everything complete, we see the day, night, four corners of the world, the northern, southern, eastern and western poles.
“The birth of the crown is actually the first dawn pathfinded by Ogun, which is linked to our celebration.”
The Ooni added, “Olojo is the main new year celebration and this dovetails to everybody’s new yam festival all over because what is used to bring out yams are cutlasses and hoes made with iron.
“This is the time we get beautiful harvests, the time we get wallnuts, bitter kola. For us in Ile-Ife, we still uphold our heritage and that is why we celebrate the first dawn.”
Ogunwusi appreciated the sponsors for the festival.
“I want to appreciate you all, our sponsors, for everything you have been doing. For always responding to my calls. May God bless you and may our ancestors guide you all. I appreciate the state government as well,” he added.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Osun, Abiodun Bankole-Ojo, appealed to sponsors of the Olojo festival to look into the possibility of developing some tourism sites within the state, like the Oranmiyan Groove.
“Please corporate bodies, stop giving us monetary and material gifts, come and develop the Oranmiyan site as a tourist site. Government will not be able to do it all,” he said.
The Olojo Festival Chief Consultant, Ayo Olumoko, urged Nigerians and international tourists to grace the festival.
NAN reports that the Grand Finale for the 2024 edition of the annual Olojo Festival in Ile-Ife, will be held between September 26 and September 30.
On September 26, there will be Ayo Olopon Traditional Game, Festival Cultural Talent Hunt (Audition) and Olojo Festival Colloquium.
On September 27, there will be Ojo Ilagun, Iwode Ile-Ife (Community cleansing) and Oonirisa’s terrestrial message to the world.
September 28 is the festival’s grand finale official ceremony, Ojo Okemogun, and the Aare cultural procession.
September 29 is Ojo Ajoyo (Asekagba), Grand Royal Reception – Invitational, Adire Oodua Cultural Exchange Exhibition and Oonirisa’s Ife Award for Community Service, 2024.
September 30 would be for the Ojo Ibile (Oonirisa’s ancestral traditional propitiation) and cultural talents hunt.
By Mario Deepromoter
Trump expressed concern about his polling numbers among Jewish voters, lamenting his current standing compared to Harris, the Democratic candidate.
President Donald Trump suggested that Jewish-American voters could bear some responsibility if he loses the upcoming presidential election to Vice President Kamala Harris.
Trump expressed concern about his polling numbers among Jewish voters, lamenting his current standing compared to Harris, the Democratic candidate.
Reuters reports that Trump claimed that Israel could face extinction within two years if Kamala Harris wins the election, suggesting that Jewish voters who support Democrats would share some responsibility for that outcome.
Speaking to a crowd, Trump stated, “If I don’t win this election, the Jewish community will play a significant role in that. If 40% or even 60% of people are voting for the enemy, Israel, in my opinion, will cease to exist within two years.”
He referenced a poll indicating that Harris had 60% support among American Jews.
Although he didn’t specify which poll he was citing, a recent Pew Research survey showed American Jews favouring Harris over Trump by 65% to 34%.
Trump also expressed disappointment over winning less than 30% of the Jewish vote in both the 2016 and 2020 elections.
Trump reiterated similar sentiments earlier at a summit in Washington aimed at combating antisemitism in the U.S.
The Trump campaign has prioritised appealing to Jewish voters in critical battleground states, where even a small shift in support could influence the election outcome.
In Pennsylvania, for instance, there are over 400,000 Jewish residents, and Biden won the state by just 81,000 votes in 2020.
In response to Trump’s comments, Morgan Finkelstein, a spokesperson for the Harris campaign, criticised him for his past associations with individuals accused of antisemitism.
Trump has consistently denied allegations of antisemitism, noting his Jewish son-in-law during his speeches on Thursday.
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