The Federal Government of Nigeria strongly rejects allegations made in a viral video by the military leader of Niger Republic, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, claiming non-existent collusion between Nigeria and France to destabilize his country.

A statement by Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, on Thursday said the claims exist solely in the realm of imagination.

He stressed that Nigeria had never engaged in any overt or covert alliance with France – or any other country – to sponsor terrorist attacks or destabilize the Niger Republic in the wake of the undemocratic change in the leadership of that country.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), as Chairman of ECOWAS, has demonstrated exemplary leadership, keeping the doors of the sub-regional body open to re-engaging Niger Republic despite the political situation in the country. Nigeria remains committed to fostering peace, harmony, and historic diplomatic ties with Niger, according to the Minister.

The statement adds, “Nigeria’s Armed Forces, in collaboration with partners in the Multinational Joint Task Force, are succeeding in curbing terrorism within the region. It is, therefore, absurd to suggest that Nigeria would conspire with any foreign power to undermine the peace and security of a neighbouring country.

“Neither the Nigerian government nor any of its officials has ever been involved in arming or supporting any terror group to attack Niger Republic. Furthermore, no part of Nigeria has been ceded to any foreign power for subversive operations in Niger Republic.

“We reiterate our full support to senior Nigerian government officials for their untiring commitment to fostering peace and security between the government and people of Nigeria and Niger, and for their efforts towards stronger cooperation in the ECOWAS region.”

Indeed, Nigeria has a long-standing tradition of safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Unlike some nations, Nigeria has never permitted foreign powers to establish military bases on its soil. This demonstrates the country’s commitment to national independence and regional leadership.

Mr. Idris described the accusation that Nigeria seeks to sabotage Niger’s pipelines and agriculture as both unfounded and counterproductive.

He said Nigeria has consistently supported Niger’s economic development through joint energy and infrastructure projects, such as the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline and the Kano-Maradi Railway Project. “It is illogical to suggest that Nigeria would undermine initiatives it has actively promoted,”

The claims about the alleged establishment of a so-called Lakurawa terrorist headquarters in Sokoto State, purportedly orchestrated by Nigeria in collaboration with France, are baseless, he added.

Note that Nigeria has been a regional leader in combating terrorism, dedicating significant resources and lives to ensure stability in the Lake Chad Basin and beyond.

Recently, the Nigerian military launched Operation Forest Sanity III, specifically addressing the Lakurawa threat, Code Named Operation Chase Lakurawa Out.

The Nigerian government thus wonders how a government actively fighting the Lakurawa menace can now be accused of harbouring the same group within its borders.

The government insists these accusations lack credible evidence and seem to be part of a broader attempt to deflect attention from Niger’s internal challenges.

The statement further read: “The public is urged to disregard these false allegations. Those making such claims, particularly the Military Leader in Niger Republic, must provide credible evidence to substantiate them. Any attempt to blackmail Nigeria over ECOWAS’s principled stance against the unconstitutional seizure of power in the Niger Republic is both disingenuous and doomed to fail.

“In conclusion, President Tchiani’s allegations are not only unfounded but also a dangerous attempt to divert attention from his administration’s shortcomings.

“Nigeria remains committed to fostering regional stability and will continue to lead efforts to address terrorism and other transnational challenges. We urge Niger to focus on constructive dialogue and collaboration rather than peddling baseless accusations.”

[businessmetricsng]

Nigerien military leader General Abdourahamane Tchiani has raised fresh allegations against the Federal Government of Nigeria.

But the Nigerian government has countered the claims, saying they were nothing but tissues of lies.

The recent development has further strained the delicate relationship between Nigeria and its closest neighbour, Niger, and by extension, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Tchiani, in an interview with Radio-Télévision du Niger, the country’s state media, on Wednesday night, accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of conniving with France to destabilise Niger Republic.

But the Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the allegations as baseless.

Earlier last Friday, the Nigerien authorities had alleged that the Lakurawa terrorist group, with the help of foreign security forces, including Nigeria’s, were responsible for the attack on the Niger-Benin oil pipeline on December 13, 2024 in Gaya, Dosso Region of Niger Republic.

But the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had debunked the allegation and assured that Nigeria would continue to explore peaceful means to maintain its cordial relationship with Niger for the benefit of the people of both nations.

Nigeria and other members of the ECOWAS had imposed sanctions on Niger and mulled a military action to restore constitutional order in the country following the overthrow of President Mohamed Bazoum in July 2023.

New claims

Tchiani, in his fresh allegations, some of them so grievous to be mentioned, said France promised to give Tinubu a certain amount of money in exchange for him ceding an area in Borno State for French military deployment.

He said: “President Tinubu should come out and tell Nigerians how much he collected from France. If he refuses to do so, there will be a day of reckoning. Allah is watching.

“ECOWAS has been out of control. It has merely become a puppet of the French authorities. France dictates to it as it pleases. This is because the leaders of ECOWAS countries are power-hungry people.

“From the Nigerian president to those of Benin, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire — they all go to France whenever elections are around. They go and bow before Macron to ask for funds to contest again. Do you have the temerity to say no to the person who gave you money?”

Tchiani also alleged that French military personnel were present on an island known as Kurnawa, as well as in places like Tangarwa and Dogon Chuku.

“We repatriated two French officials who had relocated to Nigeria. They were warmly accepted by Nigeria. They provide training to terrorists,” he alleged in the widely circulated videos.

He also alleged that France designated an area as ‘Canada’, recruited many Nigerians and enlisted them with the tacit knowledge of Nigerian authorities.

Tchiani accused France of arming Boko Haram fighters in the Lake Chad region with anti-aircraft weapons in order to combat Chadian forces.

He alleged that when France realised that Chadian forces were using airstrikes against Boko Haram, they armed the sect members with ground-to-air weapons so that they could bring down Chadian military aircrafts.

“The weapons were delivered on October 16. France has a base in Lake Chad. The reports we gathered from high-profile terrorists in our detention facilities revealed a sinister plan.

“And by the way, Nigerian authorities are not unaware of this underhanded move. It is near a forest close to Sokoto where they wanted to establish a terrorist stronghold known as Lakurawa. The French and ISWAP made this deal on March 4, 2024.

He also mentioned names of some high profile government officials, including those not government. Daily Trust could not reach out to them for their side of the story.

The Nigerien leader said: “We explained the French’s sinister tactics to him (a former official of Nigerian government). He promised to send a team of intelligence officers, who arrived in Niger, and we financed their entire operation. They had interactive sessions with various terrorists detained in our facilities. The terrorists revealed French motives against Nigeria. He, himself, was involved in financing terrorist training in different locations, including in the Central African Republic.”

Tchiani further alleged that another key figure in Nigerian government was also aware of the situation, but they remained silent and refused to act.

“We did all of this out of brotherhood with Nigeria. Alas, we didn’t realise that Nigeria’s decline came from the leadership, until later.”

He said Niger decided to take “decisive action against the French conspiracy, as well as deal with the Lakurawa group, which was reportedly positioned in neighbouring countries to launch attacks on Niger’s oil pipeline facilities.”

They’re tissues of lies – FG

Reacting yesterday, the Information Minister, Idris, said the allegations by Tchiani existed solely in the realm of imagination as Nigeria had never engaged in any overt or covert alliance with France or any other country to sponsor terrorist attacks or destabilise the Niger Republic in the wake of the undemocratic change in the leadership of that country.

He said President Tinubu, as chairman of ECOWAS, had demonstrated exemplary leadership, keeping the doors of the sub-regional body open to re-engaging Niger Republic despite the political situation in the country.

Idris said Nigeria remained committed to fostering peace, harmony, and historic diplomatic ties with Niger.

He said Nigeria’s Armed Forces, in collaboration with partners in the Multinational Joint Task Force, were succeeding in curbing terrorism within the region.

According to the minister, it is, therefore, absurd to suggest that Nigeria would conspire with any foreign power to undermine the peace and security of a neighbouring country.

He also said neither the Nigerian government nor any of its officials had ever been involved in arming or supporting any terror group to attack Niger Republic.

He also emphasised that no part of Nigeria had been ceded to any foreign power for subversive operations in Niger Republic.

“We reiterate our full support to senior Nigerian government officials for their untiring commitment to fostering peace and security between the government and people of Nigeria and Niger, and for their efforts towards stronger cooperation in the ECOWAS region.

“Indeed, Nigeria has a long-standing tradition of safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Unlike some nations, Nigeria has never permitted foreign powers to establish military bases on its soil. This demonstrates our commitment to national independence and regional leadership,” Idris stated.

The minister said the accusation that Nigeria sought to sabotage Niger’s pipelines and agriculture was both unfounded and counterproductive.

“Nigeria has consistently supported Niger’s economic development through joint energy and infrastructure projects, such as the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline and the Kano-Maradi Railway Project. It is illogical to suggest that Nigeria would undermine initiatives it has actively promoted,” he added.

He also said the claims about the alleged establishment of a so-called Lakurawa terrorist headquarters in Sokoto State, purportedly orchestrated by Nigeria in collaboration with France, were baseless.

He noted that Nigeria has been a regional leader in combating terrorism, dedicating significant resources and lives to ensure stability in the Lake Chad Basin and beyond.

“Recently, the Nigerian military launched Operation Forest Sanity III, specifically addressing the Lakurawa threat, Code Named Operation Chase Lakurawa Out. How can a government actively fighting the Lakurawa menace now be accused of harbouring the same group within its borders? These accusations lack credible evidence and seem to be part of a broader attempt to deflect attention from Niger’s internal challenges,” he said.

Urging the public to disregard these false allegations, Idris said those making such claims, particularly the military leader in Niger Republic, must provide credible evidence to substantiate them.

The minister warned that any attempt to blackmail Nigeria over ECOWAS’s principled stance against the unconstitutional seizure of power in the Niger Republic is both disingenuous and doomed to fail.

He said Tchiani’s allegations were not only unfounded but also a dangerous attempt to divert attention from his administration’s shortcomings.

He said Nigeria remained committed to fostering regional stability and would continue to lead efforts to address terrorism and other transnational challenges.

The minister said Nigeria urged Niger Republic to focus on constructive dialogue and collaboration rather than peddle baseless accusations.

Foreign affairs ministry speaks

Similarly, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, Acting Head, Crisis Monitoring and Public Communication, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, described Tchiani’s allegations as completely false.

“We share a lot of common history and Nigeria is committed to resolving the withdrawal from ECOWAS by Niger, Mali and Burkina-Faso. So, we don’t want any additional issues that will strain that process. Nigeria has never been known as a terrorist sponsor. We have been fighting Boko Haram for many years now and we have been committed to peacekeeping efforts in different parts of the world.

“There has been no instance whereby Nigeria has been linked to any terrorist group all over the world. We condemn the activities of terrorists within our boundaries and we can’t support the activities of terrorists outside the borders of Nigeria. So, the allegations by the Nigerien government are not true at all,” he said.

Northern group urges N/Assembly to probe Tchiani’s allegations

Earlier yesterday, the League of Northern Democrats (LND), led by former Kano State Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, urged the National Assembly to, as a matter of national concern, immediately constitute an investigative committee to probe the claims thoroughly.

The LND, in a statement by its spokesperson,   Ladan Salihu, said notwithstanding the poor diplomatic relations between Niger on the one hand and France and Nigeria on the other, the allegations by Tchiani were too significant to be ignored as mere international politics.

It said a transparent investigation would address the concerns of Nigerians citizens and demonstrate the nation’s commitment to honest leadership, peace and the preservation of its security, sovereignty and integrity in the international arena.

“Considering the severe impact of Boko Haram’s insurgency on Northern Nigeria, these claims demand a transparent and immediate response from the Nigerian government to uphold national security and restore public trust.

“More so, with the current unusually close and intense personal and governmental relationship between President Tinubu and France, including signing of bilateral agreements, there are reasons to believe these accusations.

The league urged the government to provide the nation-especially the North that is bearing the brunt of the insurgency – with concrete, cogent and verifiable evidence refuting or clarifying these allegations.

“Their silence risks further eroding the confidence of the people, most especially northerners. The government must clearly articulate its position, ensuring that no Nigerian official is unfairly implicated in activities undermining our nation’s sovereignty and stability,” he said.

[DailyTrust]

Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed insisted on Thursday that President Bola Tinubu’s tax policies are anti-northern Nigeria and will not favour the region.

The governor made this known when he received the Christian community in Bauchi State, who visited him at the Government House.

Mohammed, who doubles as the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governors Forum, said the tax reform bills that are currently before the National Assembly are skewed to favour only one section of the country.

According to him, the President should drop the tax reform bills.

He noted that the bills are not good for Northern Nigeria because they will not guarantee inflows to pay salaries and build roads.

“That is why the presidency must listen to the cries about tax reform.

“It is not a good policy for northern Nigeria because we are not going to get money to pay your salaries or to do roads.

“They must listen; otherwise, they are calling for anarchy. And that is not good.

“We voted for the presidency in this state and other states; they must listen to us. They must not come up with policies that favour only one section of the country or even one state in the country.

“It is not about religion; it is not about tribe; it is about national unity; it is about national hegemony, and this is what we are all about: good leadership,” he said.

DAILY POST reports that President Tinubu, during his first Presidential Media Chat, insisted that the tax reform bills have come to stay.

According to him, the tax reform bills are necessary to retool the country’s economy.

Recall that the tax reform bills were rejected by Northern governors and the National Economic Council.

Since its transmission to the National Assembly, the bills have continued to generate mixed reactions.

[DailyPost]

All DStv customers will have free access to all DStv channels from Dec. 27 to 29, regardless of their current subscription package.

This is contained in a statement on Thursday by MultiChoice Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the seasonal offer is open to all DStv subscribers.

The statement read in part: “No Subscription, No Problem! Switch on your DStv decoder for a gift like no other this festive season, 72 hours of all content, all channels, all on us!

“As we wind down the year and celebrate the holidays, DStv is happy to announce that we are making this December one to remember.

“From Friday, Dec. 27, to Sunday, Dec. 29, we’re giving all DStv customers, connected and disconnected, regardless of their current package, access to every channel and every show at no extra cost.

“Whatever package you’re on, connected or not, this is your chance to unlock the full power of DStv Premium and revel in a world of endless entertainment and authenticity.

“For 72 hours, the only thing standing between you and the best in sports, kids’ programming, movies, and local dramas is your decoder. No payments or calls required.”

(NAN) 

The Independent National Electoral Commission is contemplating a policy to withdraw and destroy Permanent Voter Cards that remain uncollected for a decade, The PUNCH has learnt.

This recommendation was among 208 proposals arising from the commission’s review of the 2023 general elections.

The move stemmed from the persistent issue of unclaimed PVCs, with over six million cards still uncollected as of the 2023 elections, including many issued as far back as 2015.

Stakeholders in the post-election review recommended that INEC address the backlog of uncollected PVCs by implementing a policy to withdraw PVCs that remain uncollected for extended periods, starting with cards issued in 2015. 

“Following the publication of the Register of Voters, the commission made available the PVCs for collection by voters on December 12, 2022. The exercise was initially planned to end on the 22nd of January 2023. However, the fact that a huge number of registered voters had yet to collect their PVCs forced the commission to extend the deadline to the 5th of February 2023 after devolving the collection to the ward level between January 6-15, 2023 to ease the process.

“The low rate of PVC collection and other related challenges are illustrative of the problem of processing and managing voters in Nigeria. To increase the rate of collection of PVCs, the commission implemented a policy that made it possible for voters to locate their PVCs online and subsequently pick them up. Several CSOs supported the commission’s drive to increase PVC collection by working with INEC’s state/FCT Offices to record all uncollected PVCs and to inform their owners where and how to collect them.

“With support from the development partners, some of the CSOs also created information centres in selected states and the FCT to assist voters locate and collect their PVCs. Despite these efforts, over six million PVCs remained uncollected, many of them dating back to 2015.

Consequently, one recommendation from the review was that the commission should consider withdrawing PVCs issued in 2015 since it is not clear if the owners will ever collect them,” INEC said.

Also, the commission proposed plans to modernise Nigeria’s electoral process, including the gradual phase-out of PVCs and the introduction of diaspora voting.

It was explained that with the adoption of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, PVCs may no longer be necessary for voter accreditation. Instead, voters could use computer-generated slips or credentials downloaded from the commission’s website.

“Unlike the SCR, the voters’ register is now resident in the BVAS. The new device does not read and extract voters’ details from the PVC. Moreover, the Electoral Act 2022 has made biometric accreditation (fingerprint or facial) mandatory for voting.

“The utility of the PVC is now limited to voter identification. It is therefore possible to identify voters using their registration slips which obviates the need for PVCs, the cost of producing them, the logistics for their distribution and the fact that voters without them are unable to vote, thus raising serious issues of disenfranchisement. With the BVAS, voters can be identified using their registration slips otherwise known as the Temporary Voter’s Card and accredited biometrically without the need for a plastic PVC.

“However, such a step requires the amendment of Section 47(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 which makes the presentation of the card (PVC) to the PO at the PU mandatory before accreditation and voting,” the recommendation said.

Political parties divided

 Political parties in the country hold differing opinions about INEC’s plan to destroy uncollected PVCs.

In an interview with The PUNCH,  the National Legal Adviser of the Labour Party, Kehinde Edun, believed that the initiative was in order, stressing that there was a need to declutter the voters register, especially if it is confirmed that many of those registered have died.

He said, “I am sure most of those uncollected PVCs must have been as a result of irregularities in the process of registration and all that. If truly people register to vote and register as eligible electorate, they must have collected over a long period, after being given enough time.

“But I believe no system is perfect. So I think destroying them may be in order. If people have not collected over a long period, there is a likelihood those lapses were the result of some irregularities in the process of registration.”

But the Peoples Democratic Party raised a concern that destroying uncollected PVCs could be another ploy by INEC to distract Nigerians.

The PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, who spoke to The PUNCH, said INEC had given Nigerians enough reasons to be suspicious.

He asserted that people refused to collect the PVCs because they had lost faith in INEC to make their votes count during elections.

Osadolor said, “How do you contemplate destroying cards produced with billions of taxpayers’ money because INEC has failed the credibility and integrity test that has made millions of Nigerians lose faith in the commission’s ability to organise free, fair and credible elections?

“I urge INEC to, as a matter of immediate action, begin an image laundering and rebranding campaign to convince Nigerians and stakeholders that the commission is ready to be truly independent in spelling, actions and character.”

Also,  the New Nigeria People’s Party advised INEC to reconsider the plan to destroy PVCs.

The National Publicity Secretary of the NNPP, Ladipo Johnson, said destroying over six million voter cards would amount to sheer waste of money.

He said, “If people register and haven’t come to collect over a long period of time unless they know those people have passed on, I think the cards should not be destroyed as long as they are in safekeeping.

“If you destroy about six million PVCs, and all of a sudden, some of the owners show up and want to vote, it will cost God-knows-how-much to register them again. It’s a waste of money.”

SANs back INEC

However, some Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who spoke to The PUNCH backed INEC to destroy the uncollected PVCs, asserting that there are no legal impediments.

A former Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), said some of the uncollected PVCs were likely products of double registration.

“They (uncollected PVCs) are taking space. My suspicion is that the owners don’t exist. It is double fraudulent registration by a lot of people. Just as I am sure that we are not up to 200 million neither do I believe that we are up to 90 million registered voters when only 20 percent of that is always voting. There is a lot of fake information and fake facts in this country and I’m sure this is part of it. So, let them destroy the uncollected PVCs,” he said.

Sharing a similar view, another SAN, Sam Erugo, said, “The PVCs have been uncollected over time, so I don’t see anything wrong in them destroying them because not collecting them means something is definitely wrong with the owners. Either they are dead or they are duplication. Now, that brings the question whether eligible voters have voters card or that will will impede their right to vote or not. That is a different question altogether but if they have uncollected voter cards, of course, they have a right to destroy them because that will help stop people from using them to rig elections. Given that they are uncollected, they are useless already and money has been wasted already.”

But Paul Obi (SAN) differed, calling for greater awareness instea of rushing to destroy the PVCs.

“What is the basis for destroying six million voters cards?” he queries. “Even if they are uncollected, they belong to Nigerians who are also supposed to use them in the next election and they spent money in producing them.

[Punch]

The New Year 2025 promises to be full of conflicts, most of them avoidable. The hottest spot might be in the Middle East where fierce proxy conflicts are going on with Israel at the centre. Only the naïve would think that the wars Israel has been involved are entirely fought by it, whereas that country is a proxy of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, NATO.

It is backed by the war machine of the West mainly run by the United States, US, United Kingdom, UK and France. They provide Israel with intelligence, embedded soldiers, missiles and anti-missile shields, military hardware and, of course, funds. On August 13, 2024, the Department of State announced that the US alone had approved a $20 billion weapons package to Israel which includes advanced airto-air missiles and fighter jets.

Those countries also have their warships on the side of Israel. Such warships include the American USS Wasp, USS New York and USS Oak Hill while the UK has its Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. On its part, France, has the Languedoc and Alsace warships in the area which can come to Israel’s aid as it did when Iranian missiles were fired at Israel. This is why Israel is enabled to carry out genocide in Gaza and the West Bank, and attacks in Lebanon, Yemen, Syria and Iran.

There is the senseless war in Sudan in which troops from the same armed forces, nationality, religion, language and culture are engaged in a siblings conflict. Its only parallel, in terms of stupidity, is the 36-year conflict in Somalia. Another that comes a bit close is the 13-year civil war in Libya ignited and controlled by NATO. In West Africa, the conflicts are mainly against terrorists and bandits with Nigeria being the main centre. Some of the countries, namely Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have entered into a military and economic alliance to fight the criminals.

They have also expelled France which not only exploits the situation in those countries, but also plays a double game. Partly for these reasons, countries like Chad and Senegal have joined in expelling the French military, while, disturbingly, Nigeria is getting closer to the same France. The conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, which became complicated when the USA, UK and Belgium organised the ouster and execution of founding Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba on January 17, 1961, are still raging.

The DRC’s main sin is that it has huge mineral resources. The low intensity combats in the Central African Republic, CAR, took ethnoreligious dimensions in 2013. It is still simmering. One country that has strenuously tried not to be involved in armed conflicts is China despite having territorial disputes with countries like Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, India, Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines. It has also refused to take the bait of the US to draw it into an economic war. China’s strength lies in this and advancing its economic interests and powers as is evident in the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, BRICS+ alliance.

A unique country that has strenuously avoided war and has tried to be friends with all humanity is Cuba. Apart from the April 1960 Bay of Pigs Invasion in which it defeated mercenaries from the US, and its unique sacrifice in fighting the Apartheid armed forces to free Africa from colonialism, Cuba has, since its 1959 revolution, avoided war. The only unique wars it has fought in many countries have been against diseases and pandemics like Ebola and COVID-19.

But the main challenge of Cuba is that the US treats it like a mortal enemy. Its primary sins include the fact that it is a mere 151 kilometres from the US city of Florida. Now, the US regards Cuba as its backyard and believes it must always control it. This, Cuba has heroically rejected, insisting on its sovereignty and freedom to run its own affairs. Secondly, Cuba in pre-revolutionary times was the playground of the US Mafia and the rich. The American elites have insisted on returning Cuba to that status.

Thirdly, Cuba in carrying out its revolution and insisting on its maintenance, is seen by the US establishment as a bad example in the hemisphere which must not be allowed to stand. Fourthly, the US sees Cuba as an inspiration to revolutions across the world. Fifthly, it sees Cuba as being very dangerous because it is socialist and, an ally of radical governments across the world. So, since 1962, the US has tried to squelch tiny Cuba which is a mere 109,884 kilometres or the size of the US state of Tennessee.

One of its main weapons against Cuba is to impose a blockage against it, stopping it from trading freely or running its business. On October 30, 2024 the United Nations General Assembly voted for the 32nd time that US ends its illegal 62- year economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba. The resolution, passed by 187-Member States, with only the US and Israel voting against, and Moldova abstaining, again reaffirmed the total support of the international community for the just struggle of the Cuban people and government.

But as it has done since 1992, the US continues to ignore the rest of humanity. This Christmas week marking the birth of Jesus Christ, known as the Prince of Peace, the Cuban nation decided to march in its capital city, Havana, to demand that the US brigandage and injustice against the Cuban people must be brought to an end. The peace march led by Cuban President Miguel Díaz Canel Bermudez and his successor, Raúl Castro Ruz, passed in front of the US embassy.

During the march, President Bermudez said: “We do not profess the slightest feeling of hatred against the American people. To the noble citizens of that country, we offer our full respect, and our hand is always extended to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood between the two peoples…but if the US persists in its efforts to undermine our sovereignty, our independence, our socialism, they will only find rebellion and intransigence.” The US message to Cuba is clear: when chosen by war, you’ve no right to choose peace.

There is no denying the fact that for many Nigerians, this is their bleakest Christmas ever. It is not because they have lost the zeal to celebrate. No! They simply cannot afford to even contemplate, not to talk of actually making merry in this triumphant season. Happiness has become a luxury in the land. Rather than celebrating, many Nigerians are mourning. That, in itself, is a tragedy.

But the bigger tragedy is the fact that despite the obvious sad realities, President Bola Tinubu continues to live in denial, refusing to accept the truth of our unpleasant circumstances. He has perfected the art of playing the ostrich, burying his head in the sand rather than face the reality which is a direct consequence of the policies of his presidency. Granted, the fact that he continues to deny the consequences of that reality is typical, yet his feigned pretence during his media chat on Monday is amoral.

It is difficult to say with any measure of certainty if Tinubu’s denial of the stark realities is a defense mechanism, a way of protecting himself from a truth that is too bitter to accept or if he truly believes that Nigeria is at the cusp of redemption. In his perfunctory ripostes to the questions thrown at him, he came across as an impervious leader who is disconnected from the prevailing sad realities.

Fielding questions from journalists at his Lagos residence on topics that included subsidy removal, tax bills, economic reforms, size of governance and corruption, Tinubu displayed an unbecoming cavalier attitude, pretending not to see a correlation between the policies of his administration, particularly the sudden removal of fuel subsidy, floating of the Naira and hiking of electricity tariff, and the country’s dire straits. These are policies that have led to an unprecedented cost of living crisis.

What is most disconcerting is the hypocrisy. He blamed the citizens for their financial woes, accusing them of ostentatiousness. Just like his Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, who on April 6, 2024, accused Nigerians of lacking the culture of power consumption management, Tinubu chastised fellow citizens along the same line. “It is not negative to learn to manage. You learn to control your electricity bill, switch off the light, let’s learn to manage,” he said on Monday.

But good leaders lead by example, demonstrating the behaviours and values they expect from others. People are more likely to follow leaders who practise what they preach. Tinubu has not demonstrated that capacity. For instance, Nigerians agree on the need to cut the cost of governance. Tinubu has the largest cabinet ever. Yet, he would not countenance any idea of reducing the size of his bloated cabinet. “I am not prepared to reduce the size of my cabinet,” he told his interviewers. “I saw the need when I put them together. Don’t give someone an assignment they cannot fulfil.”

One of the areas he saw a need was in the creation of Ministry of Livestock Development. Before now, livestock development used to be a department in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security that already has two ministers. Creating another ministry out of the parent ministry is superfluous. It is like creating a Ministry of Football or Ministry of Lawn and Table Tennis as a substantive standalone ministry out of the Ministry of Sports Development. The President knows this for a fact. Yet he had to fritter away scarce resources on the altar of prebendal politics.

It is needless talking about his take on corruption because I doubt if there is any discerning Nigerian that will expect him to wage a vigorous war against corruption. Suffice it to say that it is highly disingenuous for the leader of a political party that made a song and dance of prosecuting former top military officers, including a former National Security Adviser, for allegedly stealing public funds while in office, to now say that he will not probe “any service chief,” because doing so will be tantamount to disrespecting the military institution.

But what I found most distasteful was the attempt to deflate the criticism of his government’s harsh economic policies for the fatal stampedes that occurred in Oyo, Anambra and Abuja last week claiming the lives of scores of hapless citizens mostly women and children.

On December 18, 35 children were confirmed dead during a stampede at a funfair event in Ibadan, Oyo State capital; on December 21, ten people, including children, also died in another stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in the Maitama district of Abuja during the distribution of palliatives; at least another 22 people died during a rice distribution event in Okija, Anambra State, on the same day. 

Blaming the organisers of the charity events for the fatalities, Tinubu said he has been sharing palliatives in his Lagos residence for 25 years without an incident. “It is very sad that people are not well organised. We just have to be more disciplined in our society… I have been giving out foodstuff and commodities, including envelopes in Bourdillon, for the last 25 years, and I have never experienced this kind of incident because we are organised and disciplined. If you know you won’t have enough to give, don’t attempt to give or publicise it.”

That is most uncharitable. While it is true that he has been giving out foodstuff, commodities and money to his cronies for the last 25 years without any ugly incident, it is also true that the Catholic Church through the St. Vincent de Paul society, Chief Ernest Obiejesi and his ObiJackson Foundation, and even Queen Naomi and her Wings Foundation have also been organising such charity events without fatal stampedes.

The Catholic Church is, perhaps, one of the most organised groups in the world. There was the presence of policemen and local vigilante at the Okija event. The difference between what happened this year and previous years is that Tinubu’s administration has pushed many more people into the poverty loop, orchestrating extreme hunger in the land. The uncertainty has made the desperation worse. Poverty has a way of robbing people of their dignity. When possible starvation is added to the toxic brew, life becomes meaningless.

The difference between what happened in previous years and what is happening now is captured in the lamentations of Amarachi Nwosu, a 32-year-old woman, who miraculously survived the stampede with his three-year-old son Obinna at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church grounds on Saturday.

“It has been hard. The cost of food is unbearable. Even a cup of rice is now a luxury for us. I didn’t even know what was happening. I just wanted to get food for my children. I thank God we survived. But what do we eat now?”

Eighteen-year-old Terngu Nyam, who survived with a broken arm, went there for the sake of his starving family. “I just wanted to help my mother. We’ve been struggling to eat one meal a day. I didn’t think this would happen.”

Tinubu should not talk down on organisations, churches and individuals who are helping to clear the mess he has made of governance by seeking ways of easing economic hardship caused by a cost-of-living crisis.

What is leading to these tragedies is not lack of organisation. It is the sheer number of people who are now turning up for palliatives because of the mass poverty and starvation. Some of these people had waited overnight to get food. For instance, Amarachi arrived at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church grounds in Maitama from her Mararaba home, a distance of about 25 kilometres around 5am. That is desperation.

These deadly crowd crushes have become a recurring decimal under Tinubu’s watch. In March, two students died and 23 were hurt as thousands of people gathered for bags of rice being handed out by authorities at Nasarawa State University. Four women were killed later the same month outside the office of a wealthy businessman in Bauchi, where they were waiting to collect a cash gift of N5,000 to help pay for food during Ramadan.

In any other country where almost 70 people, mostly women and children are trampled to death, the government will declare a day of national mourning and the national flag will fly at half-mast. Not in Nigeria. Instead, Tinubu said: “I see this as a grave error on the part of the organisers, but things are improving. It doesn’t kill our happiness for the season; we should just get on with it.”

Which things are improving? And where is the happiness when over 70 families have been thrown into deep mourning as a result of circumstances beyond their control?

Tinubu and his supporters may continue living in denial, but the fact is that these fatal stampedes are a direct consequence of the cost of living crisis in the country caused by the fiscal and monetary policies of his government in the last 18 months. Living in denial will not take away that fact. 

From the second stint in the White House for Donald Trump to a turbo-charged football calendar, here are five things to watch in 2025:

– Trump 2.0 –

On January 20, Donald Trump will be inaugurated as 47th president of the United States, 11 weeks after his convincing win in the election against Democrat Kamala Harris.

The Republican’s swearing-in ceremony in front of the US Capitol in Washington comes four years after the attack on the seat of US democracy by Trump supporters, who did not accept he lost the 2020 election.

Trumps’ return, at the age of 78,  comes despite four indictments and a criminal conviction and after a campaign that also included two failed assassination attempts on him.

With a list including vaccine sceptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary and Elon Musk co-heading a department of government efficiency, there is concern at what his second term could mean for the United States, and the world.

He has vowed to Make America Great Again, retreating from multilateralism in favour of power politics.

In late December the president-elect pledged to “stop the transgender lunacy” on day one of his presidency, and to immediately begin “the largest deportation operation in American history” of illegal migrants.

– Climate –

Could 2025 be the year when our greenhouse gas emissions stop their steady climb around the world?

Researchers are pointing to signs from the world’s biggest polluter China, responsible for 30 percent of global emissions, where fossil fuel carbon dioxide emissions are projected to tick up only marginally this year.

Glen Peters, of the Global Carbon Project, says overall CO2 emitted by burning coal, oil and gas across the world could peak in the next few years.

This carbon pollution is the main driver of increasingly dangerous climate change.

But even if there is a peak, Ignacio Arroniz Velasco, of the E3G think tank, said countries cannot afford to “relax”, and should then quickly decrease their emissions to aim for carbon neutrality.

– Football frenzy –

In 2025 the question of football overkill and player burnout will likely dominate amid a supercharged calendar.

There is the expanded 32-club Club World Cup awaiting players in the summer, when usually they would have had time to recover from national leagues.

And this coming after a particularly busy season that sees a much-anticipated extended Champions League — the leading European club competition — in a new format.

All this is part of a trend in football to ramp up the number of high-profile matches — the next World Cup in 2026 will welcome a whopping 16 more countries, resulting in 104 games rather than 64.

The spectre of Saudi Arabia will also loom large as the host of the 2034 World Cup pumps more money into the game, with potentially transformative consequences.

Other controversies likely to cause sparks include the continued use of VAR technology, currently locked in a love-hate relationship with players, fans and pundits.

– Kumbh Mela –

The largest gathering of humanity on the planet will take place from January 13 to late February when 400 million are expected to attend a spectacular Hindu festival on India’s sacred riverbanks.

Held every three years, rotating between four different holy places, the Kumbh Mela takes place at the site where the holy Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers meet.

Classified by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage, the mega-festival will involve a makeshift city in the northern city of Prayagraj. The last time the festival took place there, in 2013, it drew 120 million people. 36 people died in a stampede.

Hindus believe that taking a dip in Sangam, the confluence of the rivers, will cleanse them of their sins and help them attain “moksha”, setting them free from the cycle of birth and death.

– Oasis and BTS comebacks –

On the one side, the grisly bad boys of Britpop, on the other the fresh-faced darlings of K-Pop.

Both Oasis and BTS are set to return in 2025, much to the delight of their fans, after stints off the stage for very different reasons.

Led by the Gallagher brothers Liam and Noel, Oasis will return after a high-profile bust-up in 2009 — one of many — led to a 15-year split.

The band behind “Wonderwall” and “Champagne Supernova”, songs that achieved anthem-like status in the 1990s, go on a world tour kicking off in Britain and Ireland then heading to North and South America.

In the initial scramble to buy tickets from official sites, many fans who missed out sought alternative sources — leading to a landslide of ticket scams.

It will be a very different vibe in South Korea, where wildly popular K-Pop boy band BTS promises to reunite in June after its seven members finish their mandatory military service.

It is the comeback millions of fans and an entire multibillion dollar industry has been waiting for.

Experts say the megastars’ return to performance and public life could lift South Korea’s cultural exports juggernaut even higher.

eab-rap-ico-ot/jmy/giv

© Agence France-Presse

South Korea’s parliament has voted to impeach Han Duck-soo, its acting president — two weeks after it voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol.

Han, who was prime minister, took over as acting president after Yeol was impeached by parliament following an attempt to impose martial law in the country.

Opposition lawmakers first filed an impeachment motion against Han on Thursday after he blocked the appointment of three judges chosen by parliament to oversee Yeol’s case.

They argued that he was stalling Yeol’s impeachment process.

There was chaos in parliament as the vote held on Friday.

Woo Won-Shik, speaker of the assembly, announced that only 151 votes would be needed to pass the impeachment bill. This meant that votes from the ruling People Power Party (PPP) were inconsequential.

The announcement elicited a protest, with the PPP lawmakers who gathered in the middle of the chamber chanting “invalid!” and “abuse of power!”

They asked the speaker to step down, with most of them boycotting the vote.

A total of 192 lawmakers voted for Han’s impeachment. The acting president will be suspended from his duties as soon as he is officially notified by parliament.

Like Yeol, his impeachment would have to be confirmed by the constitutional court, which has 180 days to rule on whether the vote should be upheld.

Reacting to the impeachment, Han said “I respect the decision of the national assembly,” adding that he “will wait for the constitutional court’s decision”.

[TheCable]

In line with the recommendations of the State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy, Governor Ademola Adeleke has exercised prerogative of mercy towards 53 convicts serving various convictions within the Nigerian Correctional Service.

The letter of commutation dated December 24th, 2024 and which has since been received and acknowledged by the relevant prison authorities read as follows:

"WHEREAS: the inmates whose names are set out in the schedule to this order have been convicted to various terms of imprisonment to wit.

(i) Simple offences and have served substantial portions of the sentences, 

(ii) Convicts sentenced to death

"(having spent a minimum of 10 years in custody.)

"AND WHEREAS: following the recommendation made to me by the state advisory council on the prerogative of mercy that I should exercise my power in relation to the said inmates in order to mark the 2024 Christmas celebration.

"AND WHEREAS: in the case of the 30 (thirty) inmates convicted of simple offences, I have decided in accordance with the said recommendation to remit and forgive the remainder of the said sentences in whole.

"AND WHEREAS: I have decided in accordance with the said recommendation to grant outright pardon to 12 (Twelve) inmates convicted of simple offences.

"4 (Four) Convicts have their sentences commuted from death to outright pardon. AND WHEREAS: I have decided in accordance with the said recommendation to commute the sentences as follows;

"1 (One) convict has his sentence commuted from death to 15 (Fifteen) years imprisonment.

"6 (Six) Convicts have their sentences commuted from death to outright release.

"Now know ye therefore that, I Senator Ademola Jackson Adeleke, the Governor of Osun State of Nigeria, in exercise of the power conferred on me by paragraph (a), (c) and (d) of subsection (i) of section 212 of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as Amended), I am pleased to extend my grace and mercy unto the said inmates.

"My will and pleasure thereof, is that you commute the death, life and years of imprisonment as indicated herewith in the schedule"

Those in the schedule are as follows:

CONVICTS RECOMMENDED FOR OUTRIGHT PARDON (SIMPLE OFFENCES)

1. OLABOMIJI NURUDEEN

2. MUSTAPHA ISAH

3. OLALEKAN ABDULLAHI

4. AYOMIDE OLOJEDE

5. AKEEM RAPHAEL

6. ADEYEMI ABIODUN

7. OLADIPUPO SEGUN

8. OMISAKIN SUNDAY

9. ADEMOLA ADIO

10. TUNDE OLAPADE

11. LATE CHIEF WOLE OLA

RUFUS OJO

12. OMOLOYE OLAJIDE

OLAYEMI

CONVICTS RECOMMENDED FOR OUTRIGHT RELEASE (SIMPLE OFFENCES)

1. OLUBO SUNDAY

2. ISAH UMAR BIODUN

3. FAWAS KAREEM

4. OMIRIN TEMITAYO

5. OLARENWAJU AYOMIDE

6. DARE SUNDAY

7. OLADAPO TUNDE

8. GANIYU SAHEED

9. ADEWUMI SODIQ

10. ADEBAYO ADEOYE

KEHINDE

11. LASIS KAZEEM

12. DAUDA OJO (59 YEARS)

13. ISMAILA RAJI

14. OSENI MICHEAL

15. AJAYI KOREDE

16. ABIONA NURUDEEN

17. OSHI SAMUEL

18. SHEU YUSUF OLATUNJI

19. OJO AANU

20. MUSTAPHA KEHINDE

21. LASIS ABEEB

22. ALEXANDRA IORLAHA

23. OJO TAIWO

24. AZEEZ MUJEEB

25. AKINYEMI DAVID

26. ADEOSUN ADEKUNLE

27. OLAOBAJU SAMUEL

28. ADURA ADEFEMI

29. PAUL BASIL

30. KUNLE DAVID

CONVICT RECOMMENDED FOR OUTRIGHT PARDON FOR GOOD CONDUCT (CAPITAL OFFENCES) - 4 (FOUR)

1. SUNDAY MORAKINYO

2. SEGUN OLOWOOKERE

3. TUNDE OLAPADE

4. DEMOLA ODEYEMI

CONVICT RECOMMENDED FOR OUTRIGHT RELEASE ON HEALTH GROUND, (CAPITAL OFFENCES) -

1 OLUWAFEMI FAGBEMI

2 BEWAJI SUNDAY

3. AMEHIN GEORGE

4. AYOMIDE ARULOGUN

5. TAIWO OLUWATOBI STEPHEN

6. ABUBAKAR ABDULAZEEZ

CONVICT RECOMMENDED TO BE COMMUTED FROM DEATH TO 15 YEARS IMPRISONMENT HAVING SPENT AT LEAST 10

YEARS IN CUSTODY

1. OJEKUNLE TIMOTHY

Signed

Mallam Olawale Rasheed,

Spokesperson to the State Governor.