Negotiate with Kanu, Obasanjo tells Buhari
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has advised President Muhammadu
Buhari to dialogue with the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra,
Nnamdi Kanu.
Obasanjo in an interview with the Newsweek Magazine, said,
“I don’t see anything wrong in that (Buhari meeting with Kanu). I would not object to that; if anything, I would encourage it.
“I
would want to meet Kanu myself and talk to people like him, people of
his age, (and ask) ‘What are your worries?’ Not only from the South-East
but from all parts of Nigeria (sic).”
He said,
“Those who fought in the war in Biafra will not want to fight any other
war. I fought in that war and it was an unfortunate war and I said I had
fought one war too many in Nigeria; I don’t want to see another.
“The
heavy boot is not the solution. I believe also whatever may be the
frustration of any youth in any part of Nigeria; I believe secession is
not the solution.”
Hate Speech, Quit Notices Will Hurt The Nation, Remi Tinubu Begs
The lawmaker representing Lagos Central Senatorial District in the
National Assembly, Oluremi Tinubu, has said that hate speech and quit
notices will only playhate-speech-quit-notices-hurt-nigeria-tinubu/”>hurt the nation.
The senator spoke at a town hall meeting with her constituents on Friday at Arcade Hall, Eko Club, Surulere, Lagos.
She described Nigeria as a complex country, but noted that her
greatness lies in the diversity of the different groups that make up the
country.
A coalition of northern groups, popularly called Arewa Youths, had
earlier issued an ultimatum to Igbo in the North to leave the North by
October 1, 2017, but following widespread condemnation, the group later
rescinded the quit notice.
Tinubu commended the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, one of the member
groups that formed the coalition, for prevailing on the youth to
withdraw their call.
“I also appeal to others to follow suit and take back any statements
capable of leading to hostilities and apprehension,” she said.
The town hall meeting, with the theme, “Embracing our Complexity and Diversity,” is the 23rd of its kind.
She called on Nigerians to re-evaluate themselves and those around them
to adequately benefit from the diversity of ideas and experiences.
According to her, other states have a lot to learn from Lagos State.
She said that Lagos “with all the different ethnicities that make up
Nigeria residing within her boundaries, has proven that it is possible
to coexist peacefully.”
Cholera Outbreak In Borno: 44 Dead So Far, 2000 Cases Recorded
The number of persons that have been killed by a fresh cholera outbreak
in Borno State has risen to 44. Commissioner for Health in the state,
Dr. Haruna Mshelia, who made the disclosure on Friday while addressing
journalists, said that to combat the disease and prevent future
outbreak, vaccination would immediately commence in the four local
government areas worst affected.
He said that the vaccination was to ensure the disease did not spread to
other areas of the state after nearly 2,000 cases were reported in the
last two weeks. The early record of hose who died was put at 23.
My Brother Initiated Me Into Confraternity With Gin – Suspect Arrested In Lagos Cult Murder
At 28, Sani Rilwan has been a member of the Black Axe Confraternity for
five years but the law caught up with him recently when a clash with a
rival cult group, Eye Confraternity in Badagry, led to the death of two
members of the latter group.
According to Rilwan, he was passing through Eiye territory in Badagry a
few days before the incident when some of the members of the group
threatened him with a gun.
He left the scene and few days later mobilised the members of his own
cult group to the scene. But Rilwan, a computer graphics designer,
denied knowing who did the shooting once they got to the scene.
He said, “After the threat I received, I informed a member of my group
named Nami, who mobilised other members and told me to take him there.
“I know six of the eight of us who went there. The remaining two were
brought by Nami. When we got to the Eye boys’ base in Vlekete, Badagry,
shooting started and I ran away.”
Saturday playmy-brother-initiated-me-into-confraternity-with-gin-suspect-arrested-in-lagos-cult-murder/”>Punch
learnt that by the time dusts settled, two members of the Eye
Confraternity – Ajilero Idowu (22) and Anweto Adebayo (28) – had been
shot dead by members of Rilwan’s group on August 27.
But Rilwan insisted he was not one of the shooters.
He was arrested four days after the incident alongsides six others –
Adewale Kazeem (23), Olajide Zanu (21), Adebisi Adekunle (35), Tunde
Adekanbi (32), Ogunlade Femi (28), Olufemi Babatunde (30).
They were paraded with other suspects by the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Mr. Edhal Imohimi on Thursday.
Explaining how he became a member of the confraternity, Rilwan said he
was invited to a birthday party without knowing it was a cult
initiation.
“On our way, the vehicle diverted to a bush and we were all told to
disembark at a point. They started beating us. After the beating, they
told us we were now Aiye (Black Axe) members,” he said.
Two other members of his gang told journalists that they were initiated in similar fashion.
But Adekunle, who is a member of the Eye Confraternity, which lost two
of its members in the clash, said his elder brother initiated him in
their living room 10 years ago.
He said, “One day, he called me into his living room and told me to
kneel and close my eyes. He slapped me hard across the face. Then he
told me to stand and open my eyes.
“He drank gin and spat it in my eyes and announced that I had now become a member of the Eye Confraternity.
“Shortly after I was initiated, my parents relocated to Badagry and I
joined up with other cult boys in the town. I have never killed anybody
in my life.
“I was in my shop when the police arrested me because someone had pointed me out as a cult member.”
The commissioner of police said the suspects would be charged to court as soon as possible.
Imohimi said over the last one week, five kidnapping suspects were
arrested in the state while six guns and 16 live cartridges were
recovered from criminals.
According to him, his men also arrested members of a gang which distributed cocaine, heroin and Indian hemp in Surulere, Lagos.
He said, “At about 7.15pm on September 11, the gang members were going
for a robbery when they were spotted by members of the local security
who alerted our men.
“The prompt information we received allowed our operatives to move in and arrest the suspects.
“Investigation showed that the group led by Saidi Kuku specialised in the distribution of hard drugs, cocaine, heroin, codeine.
“Those arrested are Saidi Kuku (43), Jennifer Njagua (22) Abibat Fatai
(32), Lola Oladunmoye (25), Michael Ogunferem (37) and Segun
Badmus(27).”
Imohimi said one of the main thrusts of his policing plans would be to go after drug dealers.
He explained that there is a close connection between crimes and drug abuse.
“That is why I have charged all area commanders and divisional police
officers to identify kiosks and locations where they sell cocaine and
heroin rather than sit in their offices,” he said.
Nnamdi Kanu’s Lawyer Speaks To The World On BBC About The Situation With His Client
Watch to see What He Said…
The spoke person to the Nigerian Army also gave his speech to the BBC.
Early
on Friday, September 15, the Nigeria Army denied withdrawing its troops
from the South East, they even announced that the exercise (OPERATION
PYTHON DANCE II) officially begins on Friday, September 2017.
Hit play below..