Connect with us

Musings From Abroad

Nigerian separatist, Adeyinka Shoyemi jailed in UK over inciting social media posts

Published

on

London-based Nigerian, Adeyinka Shoyemi, the acclaimed President of the Young Yoruba for Freedom (YYF), will be cooling his heels in a London prison as he has been sentenced to four and a half years’ imprisonment for posting messages on social media encouraging violence in Nigeria.

Shoyemi was first arrested in August 2019 after members of the public raised concerns to the police about social media posts that contained comments aimed at particular ethnic groups based in Nigeria.

Shoyemi in his many social media posts, some of which africanewswatch.com confirmed online, especially on YouTube had declared that the Nigerian government must return “to true and fiscal federalism that is based on regional autonomy on or before the election.”

Another source quoted him saying “The Young Yorubas for Freedom will declare for Oduduwa Republic and start a war with the use of chemical, biological, and even radiological weapons against the Federal Government of Nigeria if its President orders an attack on the sovereignty of the Yoruba people whenever we declare for the Oduduwa Republic.

“The days our parents were protesting with their fists in the face of armoured tanks and being killed, arrested, imprisoned, and exiled by the Hausa/Fulani are over. Our generation has learned from their mistakes. It is Oduduwa Republic or organized violence.” The source concluded.

The Met’s Counter Terrorism Command arrested the Yoruba agitator after his social media account, Adeyinka Grandson, was traced to him. He was found guilty on 30 November 2021 of eight counts of inciting racial hatred after a trial at Southwark Crown Court.

Nigeria has had a number of separatist agendas spring up since her political independence in 1960, but the cry for self-determination amongst various ethnic-based groups has been more amplified in the heterogeneous West African country since the current President Muhamadu Buhari came into power in 2015.  From Sunday Igboho led Yoruba-Nation agenda to Nnamdi Kanu’s adventures with The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), one thing is sure, the peculiar plural nature of the Nigerian state must be better managed.

Musings From Abroad

Uganda turns to China for $150 million loan after World Bank halts funding

Published

on

East African country, Uganda will now seek to borrow $150 million from China’s Export-Import Bank (Exim), following lending restrictions by the World Bank for its anti-homosexuality law.

The action highlights the country’s growing dependence on Chinese lenders after the World Bank’s decision earlier this year stopping all new loans to the country.

Uganda is negotiating a loan to finance the construction of a pipeline to help export its crude oil to foreign markets with the Chinese export credit organisations SINOSURE and Exim Bank.

The money, the finance ministry says, is “to finance the supply, installation, commissioning, and support of the national data transmission backbone infrastructure.”

A law prohibiting LGBTQ was passed by the Ugandan legislature in May. Several stringent regulations were incorporated into the legislation, which drew strong criticism from the international community, including the United States, the European Union, the United Nations, and major corporations like the World Bank.

Before lending to Uganda was suspended by the World Bank, it was the country’s largest development partner.

The Anti-Homosexuality Act imposes severe penalties, including death, for a variety of homosexual offences.

Continue Reading

Musings From Abroad

Russia’s free grain to hit 6 African countries this week

Published

on

Following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s promise to send free grain to six African countries in July, Russian shipments of donated grain are due to begin landing in Africa within days.

The supply will give fresh impetus to Russia’s bid to bolster its influence on the continent after criticism over its invasion of Ukraine and withdrawal from a deal that facilitated the export of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea linked to pushing up global food and fertilizer prices.

The Russian Agriculture Ministry stated earlier this month that the shipments would amount to 200,000 metric tonnes by the end of the year, with Somalia and Burkina Faso scheduled to be the initial recipients. According to Putin’s July statement, Zimbabwe, Mali, Eritrea, and the Central African Republic are also expected to receive between 25,000 and 50,000 metric tonnes of grain each.

Two of the top exporters of grain and vegetable oil worldwide are Russia and Ukraine. Russia’s bombardment of Ukrainian ports and stores has affected the world’s supply of both commodities during the war. Russia in July also quit a year-old agreement that had allowed Ukraine to ship grain from its Black Sea ports, which, according to a study by a South African agency, helped feed about 95 million people but fell short in ensuring that fertilizer-originating from Russia could flow freely to global markets. Had that happened, food could have been produced to feed about 199 million people.

However, Putin, in order to fulfil what he claimed was Moscow’s crucial role in ensuring global food security, stated that Russia was prepared to replace Ukrainian grain exports to Africa on both a commercial and assistance basis.

While most African countries have adopted a non-aligned posture in the war, Russia’s influence in the continent has been on the rise lately, particularly with regard to defence relations.

Continue Reading

EDITOR’S PICK

Metro2 hours ago

Nigeria set to begin passport automation 

Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has announced that the automation of the country’s passport application is in its final...

Metro2 hours ago

Nigeria: Former election commission boss calls for total unbundling of electoral body, political party reforms

The immediate past Chairman of Nigeria’s electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, has called for...

Musings From Abroad3 hours ago

Uganda turns to China for $150 million loan after World Bank halts funding

East African country, Uganda will now seek to borrow $150 million from China’s Export-Import Bank (Exim), following lending restrictions by...

Video18 hours ago

Video: Aviation Minister, Keyamo faults ‘suspicious’ deals with Ethiopian Airlines over Nigeria Air project

In this video, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, lamented “suspicious deals” the Nigerian government, under former...

Politics18 hours ago

Kenya: Senior ICC prosecutor drops probe into 2007 post-election violence

A senior official of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Nazhat Shameen Khan has announced an end to all further investigations...

Tech18 hours ago

US collaborates with AfDB to accelerate Africa’s digital transformation

The United States Commercial Service has announced a strategic collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB) to drive a massive...

Culture18 hours ago

South Africa announces inaugural Creative Arts Awards

The South African Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Zizi Kodwa, has announced the inaugural South African Creative Arts Awards...

Sports19 hours ago

Namibia qualifies for 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup

Namibia has qualified for the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup which will hold in United States and the West Indies,...

Politics22 hours ago

Sierra Leonean govt finally labels weekend attack ‘failed coup’

The Sierra Leonean government has finally labelled attacks on several locations in the capital, Freetown, on Sunday as failed attempt...

Metro1 day ago

South Korea sets date to re-open Zambian embassy

The South Korean government has announced its decision to re-open its embassy in Zambia after it had closed down operations....

Trending