News

Stop Seeing Acts Of Terror As ‘Religious War,’ Buhari Tells Nigerians

Published

5 years ago

January 7, 2020

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday charged Nigerians to be united in their resolve to fight terrorism and ensure peace reigns in the country.

The President also said that citizens must ensure they do not subscribe to the terrorists’ message of division, adding that doing the contrary would embolden what the terrorists wish, which is for “Nigerians to see their beliefs as a reason to turn against one another”.

The President’s statement came in the wake of the allegation of religious persecution by the Christian Association of Nigeria.

The group, reacting to a U.S. report, alleged that Christians have been victims of persecution and killings in States like Kaduna, Benue, Plateau Adamawa and Taraba.

Also, on 26 December last year, the Islamic State group released a 56-second video, produced by the IS “news agency” Amaq, claiming to show the killing of 11 Christian hostages. The group said its action is to “avenge” the death of itseader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who was killed during a US raid in Syria in October.

Analysts believed the video was aimed at flaring religious tension between Muslim and Christians, two major religious groups in the country.
Buhari, through his Spokesperson, Garba Shehu, urged Nigerians not to give in to the plot of the terrorists.

“As we fight Boko Haram on the ground, so too must we tackle their beliefs: stability and unity in (the) face of their hatred is itself a rejection of their worldview,” the Presidential statement reads.

Buhari also condemned the killings which occurred during the festive period.

“To continue to see these happenings solely in religious terms – removed from social, economic and environmental factors – simplifies complexities that must be heeded.

“Not seeing them as they should be is exactly what the terrorists and groups wish: they want Nigerians to see their beliefs as a reason to turn against one another,” the president said.

“On the contrary, Christians and Muslims alike are united in their opposition to Boko Haram and the hatred for decency that the infamous group stands for.

“This government shall never tolerate religious intolerance. We clearly and unambiguously restate our support for the freedom to practice whichever belief you wish. The politicisation of religion – as forbidden by the constitution – has no place in Nigeria”.

News

Electricity, telecom tariffs increase unconscionable, should be stopped – Shehu Sani

Published

15 hours ago

February 3, 2025

Seyi Babalola

Former lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, has described the planned increase in electricity and telecom tariffs as unconscionable.

The statement comes after the telecoms regulator last week approved the increase in mobile tariffs.

The federal government also recently said that plans were ongoing to increase electricity tariffs “over the next few months.”

However, Sani, who said the government’s plan is unreasonable, insisted that it should be halted.

The ex-lawmaker also expressed his support for the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over the scheduled protest against the government’s proposal, calling it a welcome development.

“The planned increase in electricity tariffs in the midst of poor power supply and the proposal to increase telecom tariffs is unconscionable and should be halted. The scheduled labour union protest is a welcome development,” he posted on X.

News

Trump to cut off funding to South Africa, gives reason

Published

15 hours ago

February 3, 2025

Seyi Babalola

The United States President, Donald Trump, has revealed his decision to cut off all future funding to South Africa, citing poor treatment of “certain classes of people.”

Trump made this known on Sunday in a post on Truth Social, his social media platform.

According to Trump, South Africa was seizing land and mistreating some citizens without concern for the violations of their rights.

“South Africa is confiscating land and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY.

“I will be cutting off all future funding to South Africa until a full investigation of this situation has been completed!” Trump wrote.

Reports suggest that the American leader may be defending White South Africans, some of whom have alleged that the South African policy is unfair to them.

News

Telecoms tariff hike: Nigerian govt in last-minute move to avert NLC shutdown

Published

15 hours ago

February 3, 2025

Seyi Babalola

There are indications that the federal government will on Monday meet with the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, to stop the planned Tuesday nationwide protest against the 50 percent telecommunications tariff hike.

A reliable source familiar with the matter, who preferred anonymity, disclosed this on Monday morning, noting that the meeting between the NLC leadership and the federal government is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Monday.

The source said the meeting was a “dialogue on matters of national interest as it affects Nigerian workers.”

According to the source, it will be an inter-ministerial meeting with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), purposely to resolve issues raised by the NLC concerning the federal government’s approved upward adjustment to telecommunications tariffs, which the NLC, its allies, and others are vehemently opposing.

This comes as the NLC is already mobilizing workers for a mass protest tomorrow (February 4) against the 50 percent tariff hike approval.

On Thursday last week, in a letter to affiliate unions and state councils, NLC General Secretary Emma Ugboaja urged them to mobilize other Nigerians to send a serious message to the government.

The planned protest follows the 50 percent telecom tariff approval by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on January 20, 2025.

The approval had sparked widespread rejection among telecom subscribers.