Metro

‘You were elected to end poverty, not to increase it,’ Atiku tells Tinubu

Published

6 months ago

June 19, 2024

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has told President Bola Tinubu that Nigerians elected him to end, or at least, reduce poverty in the country and not increase it.

Atiku, who was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 presidential election, was reacting to Tinubu’s Sallah day comments that Nigeria was not the only country undergoing poverty and suffering, urging Nigerians to stop complaining.

Tinubu, who gave the admonition when he recieved a delegation of members of the National Assembly led by its leadership, Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Benjamin Kalu.

While addressing the delegation who came to felicitate with him on the occasion of Eid-el-Kabir, Tinubu said:

“Yes, there is poverty; there is suffering in the land. We are not the only people facing such but we must face our challenges,” the President said.

“We must find a way to eliminate banditry and terrorism so that farmers can bring out food from the farmlands.

“If you do not have good roads to bring the food to the population, even if you grow the food and you are losing 60-70 per cent to damage, you will pay the price,“ he added.

But the comments from President Tinubu has continued to elicit strong criticism from Nigerians who believe the President should concentrate on revamping the economy instead.

In his reaction to the comments, Atiku said Tinubu was elected to tackle, instead of amplifying poverty, and should stop making excuses for inflicting multidimensional poverty on Nigerians.

In a statement through his Special Adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku said:

“There’s a saying that the baby goat watches the mother goat eating grass and consequently learns to eat grass.

“There are little or no values nurtured and promoted by Tinubu and his administration. What Nigerians are seeing manifest is insensitivity, bigotry, nepotism, corruption, and wastefulness.

“For the President to speak about us finding a way to eliminate banditry and terrorism is an acknowledgement of failure.

“What we expect to hear from him are the measures and the strategy to deal with the menace and not to regale us with the problems we are all well aware of.

“The poverty in Nigeria is multi-dimensional. It was exacerbated by the policies of the Tinubu administration that did not prioritise production and cutting costs.

“Policies that were not well-thought-out and are only aimed at pauperizing the citizens. Tinubu’s trial-and-error policies have continued to dig the country deeper into economic degradation.

“His government is characterised by a lack of transparency and accountability. For example, his administration is paying for subsidy, contrary to the claims that it is gone for good.

“According to his minister of finance, last year (the very same year they allegedly stopped payment of subsidy), Tinubu paid a subsidy of N3.6 trillion and this year, he is projected to pay a subsidy of N5.4 trillion.

“Why are they lying about this other than to divert money away from the federation account? Truth be told, Tinubu is the one causing the deepening poverty in the country.

“May be this administration needs to be reminded that it was elected to reduce if not eliminate poverty, hunger and disease but what we have seen is an obsession with opulence.

“We are yet to get over the billions appropriated for the renovation of the President and Vice President’s lodges, now we hear they want new jets to join the Presidential fleet.

“Our schools and health institutions are on their knees, the same government claims it cannot afford to pay public servants a living wage but has enough to make itself comfortable at the expense of the suffering masses.

“Mr. President, we implore you to uphold the constitution you swore to protect. The constitution says the security and welfare of the populace shall be the primary purpose of the existence of your government. Enough of this mockery.”

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Metro

Outrage over murder of Nigerian beaten to death by South Africans inside estate security office

Published

1 hour ago

December 22, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The Nigerian community, under the auspices of Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa (NICASA), has raised the alarm over the murder of a 37-year-old Nigerian, Julius Chukwunta, who was beaten to death by four South Africans inside an estate.

According to the association, Chukwunta, a native of Aninri Local Government Area in Enugu State, was reportedly attacked on Saturday, December 7, while driving to his residence in Midrand Protea Estate.

In a statement issued on Saturday by the President-General of NICASA, Dr Frank Onyekwelu, Chukwunta was blocked by the four men while approaching his residence.

Onyekwelu stated that information available to the association noted that after attempting to pass through, Chukwunta was met with resistance by the assailants, prompting him to seek help at the security office of the estate.

“At that moment, the four men allegedly attacked him, leaving him severely injured with a head wound,” the PG said.

“His female companion, who was sitting in the car, rushed to the security office and discovered him bleeding on the ground.

“In spite of attempts to call for help, the security office and residents did not assist in calling the police or an ambulance.

“After an hour, Chukwunta’s partner contacted her father, who, along with other family members, took him to Tembisa General Hospital.

“Chukwunta was placed on life support but later succumbed to his injuries and died at the Tembisa General Hospital on December 10, 2024.”

Onyekwelu also confirmed that the case was reported to the police by Chukwunta’s partner at the Midrand Police Station and was registered under file number 262/12/2024.

The NICASA President said the four suspects, aged 20, 24, 27, and 28, were arrested, and the case was presented in Alexandra Magistrate Court on December 13, 2024, where they were charged with murder.

“The court proceedings on December 18, 2024, saw three of the suspects granted bail of R10,000 each, while the fourth had not yet applied for bail. The case was adjourned to February 3, 2025.”

Onyekwelu however, expressed disappointment at the proceedings, wondering why three of the suspects were released on bail and vowed that the Nigerian community would continue to demand justice for Chukwunta and support his family.

He emphasised that the community would not rest until justice was served and the value of Nigerian lives was upheld in South Africa.

Metro

Nigerian activist remanded in prison for threatening President’s son

Published

1 day ago

December 21, 2024

Isaac Dachen

A Nigerian court has ordered a female activist, Olamide Thomas, to be remanded in prison custody for allegedly issuing a death threat to President Bola Tinubu’s son, Seyi Tinubu.

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday delivered the ruling after Olamide was arraigned by the office of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, before Justice Emeka Nwite on a three-count charge.

The police team of lawyers led by A.A. Egwu told the court that Olamide was arrested on allegations bordering on harassing and threatening Seyi Tinubu, IGP Egbetokun and the country’s Police force spokesman, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, in a viral social media post back in October.

The police prosecutors told Justice Nwite that the activist had made a live video posted on Facebook in October, where she allegedly made threatening remarks cursing the President’s son, Egbetokun ahd Adejobi.

According to the police, she had live-streamed the video on the fourth year anniversary of the Lekki toll-gate massacre of Nigerian youths during the #EndSARS protest of 2020 where she said she and other protesters were brutalised by police officers during the memorial procession.

In the video, Thomas had reportedly accused police officers of harassment, claiming that they had been bullying and threatening her. She was also said to have rained curses on Tinubu and his family, Egbetokun and Adejobi, expressing deep grievances, invoking divine powers and issuing severe condemnations and predicting tragedy against them.

The police added that in the video, she stated that Seyi Tinubu would die this year, and misfortune and calamity would befall the Tinubu family, with intent to bully, threaten, harass the person of Mr Seyi Tinubu.

Reading out the charges, the police said that in count one, Olamide was alleged to have, “knowingly and intentionally transmitted communication in the form of video recording through computer system or network on her social media platforms wherein she made remarks in Yoruba Language.”

“In the video, she stated that Mr Seyi Tinubu would die this year, and misfortune and calamity had befallen the Tinubu family, with intent to bully, threaten, harass the person of Mr Seyi Tinubu.

“The communication placed Seyi in fear of death, violence or bodily harm. The offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 24 (2) (a) of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.

“In count two, the defendant intentionally transmitted communication in the form of video recording wherein she made remarks in Yoruba Language to bully, threaten, harass the person of Mr Egbetokun.

“The communication placed Egbetokun in fear of death violence or bodily harm. The offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 24 (2) (a) of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.

“In count three, Olamide intentionally transmitted or cause the transmission of communication in the form of video recording wherein she made remarks in Yoruba Language, stating that the children of Adejobi would all die before his eyes.

“She was quoted to have also said that he (Adejobi) will bury all his children in a single day, with intent to bully, threaten, harass the person of Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi. The communication placed Adejobi in fear of death of his loved ones.”

After the counts were read to the defendant, she pleaded not guilty to the charge while her defence lawyer, T J. Aondo, SAN, sought to move an oral application on his client’s behalf but the request was turned down.

Justice Nwite therefore directed Aondo to file a formal bail application and adjourned the matter until December 30 for commencement of trial.

He consequently ordered the activist to be remanded in Suleja Correctional Centre pending the hearing of her bail application.