Connect with us

Latest News

Suspend Children’s, Democracy Days – HURIWA Tells Buhari

Published

on

How I Escaped Bomb Explosion - Buhari

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to suspend this year’s celebrations of Children’s and Democracy Days.

In a statement, HURIWA said it had decided to petition the United Nations Education and Scientific Organisation (UNESCO) and the Secretary General of the United Nations to demand that these international bodies put pressure on President Muhammadu Buhari to put an end to the incidents of violent kidnapping of Nigerian students by different armed non-state actors.

The group said:  “We suspect that some members of the Federal Government  agencies and security forces are benefiting from the kidnapping of students through ransoms payment. We also think that Nigeria will appear hypocritical in the eyes of the international community if the nation under this government goes ahead to celebrate the forthcoming Children’s Day celebration and Democracy Day either on May 29th or June 12th  without rescuing the kidnapped Greenfield University student within 24 hours from today.

“The federal government should attend to the emerging news that a 400 level student of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta(FUNAAB),Toyinbo Nathaniel Olayinka has been abducted by suspected kidnappers in a private farm at Abule, Itoko, Odeda, Ibadan Road.

“Abule Itoko where the student was reportedly abducted around 8:00 a.m. on Saturday is about 25 minutes drive from the university’s permanent site at Alabata Road, Abeokuta.

“According to the friend of the abducted student and a nursing mother who witnessed his abduction, he was kidnapped by gunmen at a private farm in Abule Itoko,a  village in Odeda Local Government where he’s been living and  working as a practising livestock farmer  for the past three years to sustain himself as a self- sponsored indegent student of the university.

“The management of the university has reported the abduction at Ogun State Police Command headquarters, Eleweeran and it’s working earnestly with the command to ensure the safety and release of the kidnapped student.”

In the statement by its national coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA said that in the light of such Kidnapping, it was calling for the celebration of this year’s Children’s Day and the Democracy Day.

It said : “Nigeria will look like banana republic in the eyes of the world if we go ahead celebrating while Nigerian students are constantly  being kidnapped and their fundamental human rights are being violated on a daily basis and the government shows a lack of interest to protect these rights. Also, constitutional democracy suffers when government is incapable of defending the citizens because the primary legal obligation of government is the protection of lives and property of the citizens.

“It is shameful that the government has serially failed to rescue the remaining kidnapped Chibok Secondary School girls for so many years even when that was the first promise Muhammadu Buhari made to win the election in 2015 which he has failed to deliver.

“Aside from failing to rescue Chibok schoolgirls the government failed to stop the kidnap of Dapchi Yobe State schoolgirls. Although government went ahead and rescued some of the girls and left the only Christian girl named Leah Sheribu with Boko Haram terrorists till date, this government has failed the credibility test to defend Nigerian children/students. So it cannot be seen hosting a celebration of the commemoration of the Nigerian children nor does it make sense marking Democracy Day when the government can’t defend the fundamental freedoms of the citizens. This is because it makes no sense celebrating children you refused to protect.

“If we may ask, why has Muhammadu Buhari’s administration failed to arrest and prosecute the armed Fulani militants who kidnapped students in Zamfara, Kastina and Niger States? Why is the government promoting impunity and lawlessness? Why the selective enforcement of the law by Muhammadu Buhari’s Administration?

Why has this government refused to arrest Fulani kidnappers of students in the North, but has sent troops armed to their teeth to the South East to shoot on sight suspected members of IPOBS just for setting up Eastern Security Network (ESN) and for allegedly going after armed Fulani herdsmen terrorizing farmers in the South East?

“So this is an apartheid policy. Remember that students of Greenfield University were kidnapped over 34 days today.”

 

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Latest News

BREAKING: Tinubu Gives Hint On Tax Reform Bill, Says No Regret Over Fuel Subsidy Removal

Published

on

By John Michael Ojo

President Bola Tinubu on Monday night, maintained that there is no going back on the current tax reform bill which is before the National Assembly for consideration.

The former Lagos State Governor, stated this in a nationwide broadcast while addressing Nigerians during his first presidential media chat monitored by NEW TIMES.

Despite the misfeeling being expressed by national leaders particularly those from the Northern part of the country over the bill, President Tinubu maintained that the reform was in accordance with his RENEW HOPE mantra which seeks to favour the poor.

He added that the responsibility of a true leader is doing what is necessary at the right time

According to President Tinubu, “The tax reforms are here to stay. The reform is pro-poor and it is to widen the tax net, so we can have more people paying.

“The hallmark of a good leader is the ability to do what you have to do at the time it ought to be done.”

He said, “We are spending our future. We are spending our generation’s fortunes. We are not investing. We are just deceiving ourselves.

“Why should you have expenditures when you don’t have revenues?

The President also disclosed that despite the economic hardship being faced by Nigerians as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy, he has no regrets over his actions.

Tinubu said his actions became mandatory in order to save the nation from impending doom.

“I don’t have any regret in removing the fuel subsidy. We cannot spend our generation investment.

”We have no choice. Otherwise, we are headed for the slippery slope… financial disaster, not just for us but our children.

While addressing the recent palliative stampedes in Oyo, Anambra and Abuja which claimed nearly 50 lives with several others sustaining various level of injury, Tinubu blamed the organizer of the events for poor management.

Tinubu said, “It is very sad that people are not well organised. We just have to be disciplined. My condolences to those who lost their family members,” he said.

Continue Reading

Latest News

BREAKING: President Tinubu To Address Nigerians Tonight

Published

on

Why I Stopped Using Social Media - Tinubu

By John Michael Ojo

Ahead of this year’s Christmas celebration, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will on Monday address Nigerians in a media chat.

This was made known in a statement by the spokesperson to the president, Bayo Onanuga, who disclosed that the media chat will hold by 9pm.

Onanuga added that this will be the first presidential media chat since Tinubu assumed office in 2023.

“The first presidential media chat with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will be broadcast at 9 pm on Monday, December 23, on the Nigerian Television Authority and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria.

“All television and radio stations are requested to hook up to the broadcast,” he stated.

Continue Reading

Latest News

Black Saturday As 10 Confirmed Dead, Others Injured In Abuja Church Stampede

Published

on

By John Michael Ojo

No less than ten individuals have been confirmed dead following a stampede which took place in an event organized by Holy Trinity Catholic Church, situated in the Maitama area of Abuja on Saturday morning.

It was stated that the church had intended to distribute rice as palliative to the people during the event before the tragedic incident took place.

While confirming the development, in a statement signed by the Abuja Police Command Force Spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, the Command said ten individuals died, while eight others sustained varying degrees of injuries.

The statement reads: “This tragic event, which happened at about 6:30 am, led to a stampede that claimed the lives of ten (10) individuals, including four (4) children, and left eight (8) others with varying degrees of injuries. Four (4) of the injured have been treated and discharged, while the remaining victims are receiving medical care.

‘’To prevent such unfortunate incidents in the future, the Command hereby directs that all organizations, religious bodies, groups, or individuals planning any public event, charitable activity, or large gathering in the FCT must notify the Police Command in advance. This will allow the deployment of adequate security measures to ensure public safety and prevent avoidable tragedies.

“Failure to comply with this directive will result in the organizers being held liable for any incident or loss of life resulting from their negligence.

’The FCT Police Command remains committed to safeguarding lives and property in the Territory. Members of the public are encouraged to collaborate with the Police by adhering to these guidelines and promptly reporting emergencies through the FCT Control Room via 0803 200 3913 or 0806 032 1234”

In a similar vein, an unspecified number of people mostly woman have reportedly lost their lives in Okija community of Anambra state in a stampede.

New Times gathered that the stampede was said to have occurred on Saturday morning during an event for the distribution of rice organized by Obi Jackson Foundation.

Saturday’s stampede comes barely 72 hours after a similar occurrence took place in a funfair event organized by a former queen of Ooni of Ife in Ibadan, Oyo State capital where nearly 40 children have been confirmed dead by the state authorities.

The repeated stampede is a testament to the current economic hardship being faced by the masses as a result of the economic policies of President Tinubu in recent times.

Continue Reading

Top Stories