Politics

Nigeria’s ruling party, APC National Convention in disarray as thugs besiege venue

Published

2 years ago

March 26, 2022

The much anticipated National Convention of Nigeria’s ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), held at the Eagles Square in Abuja, the nation’s capital on March 26, was thrown into disarray and choas as political thugs loyal to different politicians, threw caution to the wind and besieged the venue.

They were ably aided by hoodlums of all shapes who took advantage of the slack security and unleashed mayhem on the party delegates and journalists, snatching phones, laptops, tablets, jewellery, handbags, wallets and whatever valuables they could lay their hands on.

Reminiscent of the choas that also characterized the party’s convention in 2018, eyewitnesses say the delegates who were attacked by the thugs, could not gain access into the venue through the main entrance as it was marked ‘out-of-bounds’ for non-VIP delegates, which forced some accredited but non-statutory delegates and journalists, as well as staff of the APC Convention Electoral Committee, to use other alternative entrances which made it possible for the thugs to have a field day.

The confusion, according to a journalist who witnessed the chaotic situation first hand, led to the metal barriers surrounding the alternative gate being brought down as the delegates tried to force their way into the venue.

“The tumultuous situation led to chaos and disorder which opened the door for the thugs and hoodlums, leading to many being robbed of their personal effects.

“It took some reinforcement from security operatives to regain control of the situation or it could have degenerated into something much worse,” the journalist said.

The police and other security operatives, however, worsened the already charged atmosphere when they dispensed canisters of teargas at the crowd in a bid to disperse them.

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Politics

Coup: Regional bloc, ECOWAS might intervene in Sierra Leone ‘if need be’

Published

11 hours ago

November 29, 2023

Ifeoluwa Dada

Amidst a wave of military coups in the West African sub-region, a delegation of the ECOWAS Commission has hinted at likely bloc intervention in Sierra Leone following a failed coup over the weekend.

A chief of the commission and officials of the Nigerian government were received by Sierra Leone’s President, Julius Maada Bio, after Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the head of the 15-member sub-regional bloc, sent a message to Bio through Omar Alieu Touray, the head of the Ecowas Commission.

Gunmen last week exchanged fire for several hours with security forces in what the government attributed to “renegade soldiers.” Meanwhile, the police promised a “reward” to anyone providing information leading to the capture of 34 suspected fugitives.

“ECOWAS is ready and committed to supporting the people of Sierra Leone, including to strengthen their national security and the deployment, if need be, of regional elements,” Touray said.

The visit by the envoys appears to be a show of support for the government of Sierra Leone in the wake of the fatal attack that rocked the country’s capital, Freetown, on Sunday.

ECOWAS commended Bio’s and his government’s leadership in putting an end to what he described as a “very unfortunate incident.”

Concern has been raised by the wave of coups that have swept through Africa in the last three years, particularly in the West African bloc. The bloc has seen military takeovers of democratically elected governments in 2023 in Niger and Gabon, where troops removed Mohamed Bazzoum and Ali Bongo, respectively.

Politics

Another Tunisian opposition leader, Moussi begins hunger strike in prison

Published

11 hours ago

November 29, 2023

Ifeoluwa Dada

Another Tunisian opposition leader, Abir Moussi has begun a hunger strike in prison to protest what her lawyers described as a violation of her rights to freedom and political activity.

Moussi, who is a prominent opponent of Tunisian President, Kais Saied, was last month sentenced after police arrested her at the presidential palace entrance on suspicion of assault intended to cause chaos, viewed as part of a crackdown on opposition politicians by some watchers.

In a statement, her party, the Free Constitutional Party (PDL), cautioned against “attempts to fabricate legal obstacles to remove her from participating in the presidential elections” that are anticipated to take place the following year.

In a statement, her attorneys said that Moussi would go on a 16-day hunger strike to draw attention to the issue of violence against women in Tunisia. She is an advocate of the late president Zine El Abidine ben Ali, whose overthrow in 2011 was brought about by widespread demonstrations; an uprising subsequently extended throughout the Middle East, dubbed “the Arab Spring”.

In a similar move in September, embattled Tunisian opposition leader, Rached Ghannouchi, who has been a political prisoner since April, also threatened to begin a hunger strike in captivity.

Moussi faces charges of plotting against state security alongside other opposition figures who are in jail. She had accused Saied of staging a coup in order to close the elected parliament and impose rule by decree.

President Saied has been accused of suppressing dissenting voices in the nation since taking office. This year, the police has detained over 20 political figures, including Ghannouchi, on suspicion of trying to compromise national security.

More than 20 prominent politicians have been detained by police this year; some are a accused of being involved in plots against state security. “Terrorists, traitors, and criminals” is how Saied has characterised the people under arrest.