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Actor and filmmaker, Femi Adebayo, has revealed that the inspiration behind his latest film, ‘Seven Doors’, came from the life of a king he was close to.
Speaking in an encounter with Saturday Beats, he said, “It is extremely important to preserve our culture. Creating content— films— (woven) around the beauty of our culture is one of the ways of preserving it, so that the generations yet unborn can also enjoy it and be educated.
“I was fortunate to be close to a particular king, and it was what he went through that provoked the idea and concept of ‘Seven Doors’. Many people see our kings as mini-gods, which they are, but they forget that they are humans with blood running in their veins too. So, they(kings) face a lot before and after they get on the throne. And, that is what we displayed in the movie.”
Adebayo added that beyond the theme of culture, the acclaimed movie series is a “love story”.
“I also want to preach that love is above all. So, where we have a conflict between love and tradition, automatically it is love that wins,” he said.
Commenting on the kissing scene with his co-actor, Chioma Chukwuka, he stated, “I was just interpreting the role; getting the character analysis and interpreting it.
“For me though, the best scene was where they had to lay the chiefs on the floor and beat them. I was not even in that scene.”
Peeved by the reported move to introduce Sharia law in South-West, traditional leaders in the region have warned that any attempt to initiate such a law will cause anarchy, division, and instability.
According to them, Sharia law, in any form, is unsuitable for Yorubaland.
Earlier, PUNCH Online reported that a flier went viral on Tuesday, inviting guests from across the country to the inauguration of a Sharia court scheduled for January 11, 2025, at the Muslim Community Islamic Centre, Oba Adeyemi High School Road, Mobolaje Area, Oyo.
The flier listed the Bashorun of Oyo Land, High Chief Yusuf Akinade Olayinka I, as the Royal Father of the Day; the Mufairu of Oyo Land, Alhaji Abdullateef Eleyele, as the Spiritual Father of the Day; and the Aare Musulumi of Oyo Land, Alhaji Tajudeen Kamorise, as the Chief Host.
However, the event drew criticism from a cross-section of Nigerians, with many arguing that the predominantly Yoruba South-West is distinct from the northern region, where Muslims are in the majority.
In 2021, the President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Bishop Wale Oke, cautioned the Senate against covert attempts by certain groups to introduce Sharia law to the South-West through the ongoing constitution review.
In response, the Director of the Muslim Rights Concern, Ishaq Akintola, urged the PFN to “mind its business and stop opposing Muslims’ right to operate Shariah.”
The push for Sharia law in the region faced resistance and was ultimately dismissed at the time.
Addressing the recent call for the introduction of Sharia law in the South-West, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde acknowledged the proposed Sharia court and the controversy it had sparked.
“Regarding the establishment of a Sharia court in Oyo town, people may try, but as for me, I swore to uphold our laws and the Constitution of Nigeria. If their actions are within the law, fine; if not, they should expect that I will insist the law must be followed,” the governor stated in a broadcast.
Meanwhile, the announcement has ignited heated debates, with critics warning that introducing a Sharia court could disrupt the state’s religious harmony.
Rejecting the proposal, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, told Saturday PUNCH that introducing Sharia law in Oyo State would create significant problems.
He argued that implementing Sharia law in Yorubaland, a multi-religious region, would be extremely challenging.
“I am not against Sharia law; it is a good law. But it is easier to implement in the North. Even in the North, Sharia law is not deeply enforced in the Middle Belt, because the majority there are Christians.
“We have been running the South-West with the modern constitution, promoting coexistence among religions. We do not want religion to divide us,” Adams stated.
He advised the Oyo State Government to tread carefully, as religion is a sensitive issue in Yoruba land.
Gani Adams added, “Sharia law has been in place in the 19 northern states of Nigeria, based on the penal code. Since Nigeria’s inception, the southern part has been using the modern Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. For anyone to want Sharia law introduced to Yorubaland is to plan for division, disunity, and anarchy.”
He highlighted the region’s unique social fabric, saying, “In Yorubaland, there is intermarriage; you’ll see a Muslim marrying a Christian, and a Christian marrying a traditionalist. I was born a Muslim. Today, I am a Muslim, Christian, and traditionalist. We do not define ourselves based on religion.”
He also noted that in Oyo State, the Muslim and Christian populations were almost equal, as they were in Ogun and Lagos states, whereas Christians remained the majority in Ondo and Ekiti states.
Also speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon in Oyo State, Oba Francis Alao, Akinbola I, noted that the type of religion practised in northern Nigeria was not applicable in the southern part.
He explained that in the South-West, people drank alcohol, which is prohibited by Sharia law, and enforcing such a law would be anti-people.
The monarch stated, “This will not work in Yorubaland. Our strength is our social life. If we accept Sharia law, how many people will conform to it? This will later bring chaos and instability. It will also interfere with the peaceful coexistence in Yoruba land.”
He added, “This will not work in the South-West because of our way of life. I don’t foresee Sharia law happening now. Our diversity in religion is our strength. Irrespective of our religions, what matters most is that we live in unity and love. I don’t have anything against any religion as long as the public accepts it. The government needs to carry the people along and sample their opinions.”
The Eselu of Iselu kingdom, in Yewa North LGA of Ogun State, Oba Akintunde Akinyemi, kicked against Sharia law in the South West and called on other traditional rulers in Yorubaland to reject it.
He said, “Nigeria is a multi-religion country for Muslims, Christians and traditionalists, so bringing Sharia to Oyo and the South West is imposing a religion on others and we have to respect ourselves.
“It is a way of fueling an unnecessary crisis in the South West. We have enough problems already in the region; we should not allow religion to bring another civil war into this country.
“The constitution of the country should be paramount to all of us, including traditional rulers; they should not bring religious law into the constitution of the country. Everybody should rise against this, irrespective of religion.”
Law threatens secularity – CAN
The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Daniel Okoh, said the Christian body was working on a reaction to the matter.
He said, “We are working on it. At the appropriate time, we’ll come out with our position.”
But the Oyo State Chairman of CAN, Apostle Joshua Akinyemiju, dismissed the initiative, describing it as unconstitutional and a threat to the state’s secular nature.
He stated, “This should not happen in Oyo State, where Christians and Muslims coexist in nearly every family. There’s no law to support this, and the government is not aware. We won’t allow anything that jeopardises the peaceful coexistence we enjoy.”
It’s not a court – Shari’ah committee
Amid the growing tension, the organisers of the event postponed the inauguration indefinitely.
Speaking to Saturday PUNCH, the Chairman of the Sharia Committee of Oyo land, Rafiu Bello, said he had nothing further to add.
In a statement shared with our correspondent, the committee clarified that it was not inaugurating a Sharia court, but an arbitration panel.
The statement read in part, “The postponement is informed by the inadvertent reference to the programme as the inauguration ceremony of a Sharia Court in Oyo town and its environs instead of the Independent Sharia Arbitration Panel.
“Such an arbitration panel, which already exists in many parts of the South-West, is only meant to settle family disputes among willing Muslims, without any power of enforcement. It is not a court.”
The statement concluded by noting that a new date would be announced for the inauguration ceremony.
Also, an Islamic cleric and lecturer of Islamic Studies at the Lagos State University, Ojo, Dr Sidiq Uthman, explained that the establishment of a Sharia court was intended to allow Muslims to resolve their issues in accordance with Sharia principles.
He clarified that such a court would only be relevant for committed Muslims.
He said, “The court is a place where Muslim families can come for adjudication or reconciliation in matters of inheritance, divorce, or child custody. These are the issues they want to address, not what is being sensationalised on social media. This has nothing to do with any religion. When they wanted to introduce Islamic banking, it was the same misunderstanding that people thought it was about Islamising Nigeria. Everyone has the right to practise their religion, and there’s freedom of association.”
Similarly, the National President of the Islamic group, Jamaat Taawunil Muslimeen, Sheikh Daood Imran, emphasised that Sharia law is a system Muslims use to settle disputes within their community.
He said, “There are three groups of believers in Nigeria: Muslims, Christians, and traditionalists, each with their own belief systems. This is not a court. The Christians own the High Court, traditionalists own the Customary Court, and Muslims follow Sharia law.”
Nigeria’s imported food inflation surged to 42.29 per cent in November 2024, according to the Consumer Price Index report released by the National Bureau of Statistics.
This represents a significant rise from 23.74 per cent recorded in November 2023, marking an 18.55 percentage point year-on-year increase.
On a month-on-month basis, the inflation rate increased from 40.96 per cent in October 2024, a 1.33 percentage point rise in just one month.
The data highlights the relentless upward trajectory of imported food inflation throughout 2024, which began at 26.29 per cent in January.
By October, the inflation rate had crossed the 40 per cent threshold, and November’s figure of 42.29 per cent is the highest recorded in the past two years.
This sharp rise has been attributed to multiple factors, including currency devaluation, global supply chain disruptions, and inefficiencies in domestic policies.
The Federal Government’s attempt to address the situation through a duty waiver on imported food has been fraught with delays.
In July 2024, the Federal Government announced a 150-day duty-free import window for food commodities as it stepped up efforts to tackle rising inflation, which had impoverished many Nigerians.
The commodities include maize, husked brown rice, wheat and cowpeas. Under this arrangement, imported food commodities will be subjected to a Recommended Retail Price.
It was designed to reduce import costs and make staple foods more affordable. However, the implementation has stalled due to bureaucratic delays.
The PUNCH earlier reported that the average price of imported high-quality rice has surged by 144.77 per cent year-on-year as the Federal Government delays implementing its duty-free food policy.
Since the announcement of the policy, the price of one kilogramme of imported rice has risen by 3.21 per cent, climbing from N2,329.05 in July to N2,403.86 in September.
FULL LIST: Wale Tinubu, Aliko Dangote, Ademola Lookman, Others Named Among 100 Most Influential Africans Of 2024
AFOLABI
In 2024, Africa continues to showcase its influence on the global stage through trailblazers in politics, business, science, sports, and the creative industry.
The London-based New African magazine unveiled its prestigious list of the ‘100 Most Influential Africans of 2024’, celebrating individuals who have significantly shaped narratives and driven progress both on the continent and internationally.
Among the prominent Nigerians featured are Wale Tinubu, nephew of Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Aliko Dangote, Africa’s wealthiest man; and Nigerian football sensation Ademola Lookman.
Highlighting the importance of this recognition, the magazine’s editor, Anver Versi, stated: “We need this because I cannot recall the world being so polarised, so divided, so stone-faced in the face of terrible man-made atrocities.”
The statement read, “The 100 Most Influential Africans of 2024 edition of New African offers an in-depth look at the lives and achievements of the extraordinary individuals shaping the African narrative on the continent and abroad.
“Their stories serve as a source of inspiration and a testament to the resilience and ingenuity of the African spirit.”
The 2024 List: A Breakdown by Category
Politics and Public Service
1. Bassirou Diomaye Faye
2. Kemi Badenoch
3. Muhammad Ali Pate
4. Claver Gatete
5. Ali Mohamed
6. King Mohamed VI
7. Ronald Lamola
8. Yemi Osinbajo
9. Nardos Bekele-Thomas
10. Ibrahima Cheikh Diong
Business
11. Robins Tchale-Watchou
12. Fatima Tambajang
13. Dr. Sidi Ould Tah
14. Samaila Zubairu
15. Thierno-Habib Hann
16. Akinwumi Adesina
17. Tariye Gbadegesin
18. Adebayo Ogunlesi
19. Wale Tinubu
20. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede
21. Prof. Benedict Okey Oramah
22. Moulay Hafid Elalamy
23. Olugbenga Agboola
24. Alain Ebobissé
25. Tunde Olanrewaju
26. Nassef Sawiris
27. Aliko Dangote
28. Ismael Belkhayat
29. Hassatou Diop N’Sele
30. Jeremy Awori
31. Manuel Moses
32. Hassanein Hiridjee
33. Rene Awambeng
34. Joseph Moses Oleshangay
35. Mohamed Adow
36. Michael Kakande
37. Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli
38. William Asiko
39. Eva Omaghomi
40. Nelson Amenya
41. Helmy Abouleish
42. Binaifer Nowrojee
Science & Academia
43. Elhadj As Sy
44. Chinasa T. Okolo
45. Tshilidzi Marwala
46. Prof. Colleen Masimirembwa
47. Prof. Moses Obimbo Madadi
48. Rediet Abebe
49. Rachid Guerraoui
50. Abdoulaye Diabaté
51. Joy Buolamwini
52. Abeba Birhane
Opinion Shapers
53. Miatta Fahnbulleh
54. Olajide Olatunji
55. Carlos Lopes
56. Zain Verjee
57. John-Allan Namu
58. Vera Songwe
59. Nesrine Malik
60. Tayo Aina
61. Thebe Ikalafeng
62. Mavis Owusu-Gyamfi
63. Hannah Ryder
64. Ayman Mohyeldin
65. Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard
Creative Industry
66. Zineb Sedira
67. Rita Mawuena Benissan
68. Iansmith Mwenda
69. Idris Elba
70. Ken Wakia
71. Adejoké Bakare
72. Ayra Starr
73. Selma Feriani
74. DJ Edu
75. Eugene Mbugua
76. Chigozie Obioma
77. Kamel Daoud
78. Tesfaye Urgessa
79. Mehdi Qotbi
80. DBN Gogo
81. Yinka Ilori
82. Amina Lola Shoneyin
83. Ekow Eshun
84. Zhong FeiFei
85. Mati Diop
86. Hassan Hajjaj
87. Koyo Kouoh
88. Mo Harawe
89. Victoria Kimani
Sports
90. Patrice Motsepe
91. Letsile Tebogo
92. Imane Khelif
93. Tunde Onakoya
94. Gelson Fernandes
95. Oumar ‘Reug Reug’ Kane
96. Biniam Girmay
97. Ademola Lookman
98. Ruth Chepng’etich
99. Omar Berrada
100. Sifan Hassan
This year’s list celebrates African excellence across diverse fields, reaffirming the continent’s role as a global powerhouse of talent and innovation.
Nigerian activist and humanitarian Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as Verydarkman (VDM), has painfully taken to social media to disclose a devastating setback in his ongoing mission to transform lives.
In a shocking announcement, he revealed that his NGO account, which had recently amassed over ₦200 million in donations for his noble cause, was hacked, and a staggering ₦160 million stolen in what he described as a move beyond his comprehension.
This heart-wrenching revelation comes just weeks after Verydarkman shared his ambitious plans to build schools for underprivileged children who lack access to basic education.
His vision captured the hearts of many, including celebrities, who rallied behind him, contributing generously to the fund. The NGO account became a beacon of hope, symbolizing the promise of a brighter future for countless children.
In a video shared on his official Facebook page on December 27, a visibly distraught VDM recounted the chilling moment he discovered the breach.
Despite the overwhelming sense of loss, he declared that he would not rest until the stolen funds are recovered.
True to his word, Verydarkman shared that he has already launched a full-scale investigation into the cyber heist. In the video, he was seen with a security operative assigned to the case. He disclosed that the duo were en route to Jos, a critical location in the ongoing hunt for the suspected perpetrators.
VDM also revealed that before making this public announcement, he had already taken measures to secure the account, including shutting down the app in hopes of resolving the issue quietly. However, circumstances forced him to update his supporters, as the situation demanded urgent transparency.
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.”
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, says he would pitch his tent with President Bola Tinubu again if the opportunity arises.
This is even as he said he had no regret for supporting Tinubu in the 2023 general elections.
Before his ministerial appointment, Wike was the governor of Rivers State for eight years under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Tinubu later appointed him into his cabinet to serve as FCT Minister in the All Progressives Congress, APC-led Federal Government.
While many observers continue to cast doubts on his loyalty to the PDP and wonder why the party has not expelled him despite his egregious anti-party activities, Wike has insisted that he remains a staunch and loyal member of the PDP.
While speaking at a thanksgiving service in Ochigba organised by the PDP in Ahoada East and West Local Government Areas of the state, Wike thanked President Tinubu for believing in him.
Wike said that he was threatened before the presidential elections for supporting Tinubu, adding that he would do the same thing if another opportunity comes.
“I have no regrets, I have no apologies. If the opportunity comes I will do the same thing,” he said.
The Minister also denied allegations of land grabbing levelled against him by some residents of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, describing the allegations as laughable.
The Minister stated that those in possession of government land must do the right thing or risk having their plots of land revoked, adding that he was unmoved by the actions and remarks of his detractors.
“I am in charge of lands in Abuja, how will I go and grab what I am in charge of” he said
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]
More...
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.
The rationale is that these cards are unlikely to be claimed, and their retention clogs the voter management system.
“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]
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]