Folarin Kehinde

Despite high level of insecurity in Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari will today receive the Abu Dhabi Peace Forum’s ‘African Award for Strengthening Peace’ for his “leadership role in promoting peace on the continent”.

The organisers of the award said Buhari has promoted peace in Africa through regular interventions, counsel and conciliatory position.

Incidents of kidnapping for ransom, political violence and terrorist attacks have become common occurrence in Nigeria in recent times.

Terrorist attacks rank top among five risks identified by the Executive Opinion Survey (EOS) capable of hampering Nigeria’s growth and development, as contained in the 18th edition of the Global Risks Report 2023 released last week by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

The award conferment which will take place in Nouakchott, Mauritania, is reportedly in line with the Abu Dhabi Forum’s work in fighting religious extremism and promoting peaceful coexistence and dialogue amongst all religions.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity Femi Adesina, said that the peace award being given to Buhari was worth its weight in gold.

“Without peace, there can’t be development, there can’t be economic development, there can’t be corporate progress.

“This is a man that has spent his entire life fighting for peace so to speak. He fought for the war of unity for the country. After that he intervened in the political affairs of the country, just to restore cohesion and after that, he contested for the president of the country and all towards guaranteeing peace and development.”

Adesina added: “This award coming at a time like this is a very good one, it is one of the parting gifts our president is having from his own continent.”

The Abu Dhabi Peace Forum is an assembly of leaders established in 2014 to pursue new ways to embrace inclusive citizenship, promote lasting peace, and work towards a safer and more sustainable world for everyone.

The award ceremony which is usually hosted by Abu Dhabi and is one of the most important forums in the Islamic world.

According to the Forum’s website, the event serves as a space for the discussion of humanitarian problems and intellectual and religious conflicts in Muslim societies.

Hundreds of Islamic scholars and thinkers participate in the forum in order to establish a unified position to address unrest and acts of violence in the Islamic world.

With several armed conflicts raging, more than 100 million refugees, according to UNHCR, and growing food and energy insecurity threatening the world’s poorest regions in particular, the forum’s attendees face one of the most complex meetings since the forum was established.

The Lagos State Deputy Governorship Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Funke Akindele says the party will make the Ikorodu area attractive to local and foreign investors if elected in the forthcoming election.

She stated this during a Thanksgiving Service organised to appreciate God for putting her on the ballot, at the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC), Ibukun-Olu Parish Aleke Circuit Headquarters in Ikorodu, Lagos.

The candidate, who noted that it was only God that could solve man’s numerous problems, said that if elected, she and the flag-bearer, Dr Abdul-Azeez Adediran, would rule with the fear of God to alleviate the masses’ suffering.

Akindele, who urged people to have faith in God and do the needful on election day, added that she remained a testimony by not giving up on life, having gone through hard times in life.

“Today; I am very happy and want to thank God for the successes achieved in life.

“I did not come here today for the campaign but to thank God and worship with you as family and members of CCC.

“Just help me thank God and pray for me not to experience challenges that will be more than my capacity,” she said.

Earlier, Evangelist Paul Adelaja of the Church, who appreciated God, commended the PDP governorship candidate running mate for her resilience as well as putting smiles on people’s face.

Adelaja prayed for Akindele to triumph in all her life endeavours.

Meanwhile, Akindele proceeded to Imota Local Council Developmental Area (LCDA), where she was given a rousing welcome by a crowd of her fans.

She promised to revamp the health sector and increase the number of Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) for quality healthcare service delivery in all the local governments in the state.

“It is high time people should allow another government to take over and solve the current hardship in Lagos.

“We have different programmes ranging from free education, women empowerment and so on.

“What you need now is to start to canvass for votes so that we can win the election,” she said.

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, on Friday came under fire on social media after he condemned the murder of a Nigerian man, Abdulsamad Lawani, in Germany.

The former vice president’s action angered Nigerians, who referred to the gruesome killing of Deborah Samuel, a Christian 200-level student of Shehu Shagari College of Education Sokoto, who was killed by fellow students in May 2022, for allegedly blaspheming Prophet Muhammad.

Atiku had condemned Deborah’s death but later deleted the tweet hours after and took to his Facebook page to justify his actions.

Condemning Deborah’s death, a tweet via Atiku’s verified page had read, “There cannot be a justification for such gruesome murder. Deborah Yakubu was murdered and all those behind her death must be brought to justice. My condolences to her family and friends.”

Atiku’s deleted tweet condemning Deborah’s murder
However, in a message on his verified Hausa page, the former Vice President distanced himself from the deleted tweet. He also stated that any message on social media without the initials “A. A.” was not his.

“This evening I received information that a post was made that doesn’t agree with my orders. I use this to announce that any post without A. A. is not from me. May God protect us,” he wrote in Hausa language.

In a swift turn of events, Atiku on Friday, took to both his Twitter and Facebook pages to condemn the death of the German-based Nigerian, Lawani, although the circumstances surrounding the death were not revealed.

The former vice president wrote, “It is with deep pain that I learnt of the gruesome murder of a young Nigerian in Germany, Abdulsamad Lawani. My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends and the Diapora at this time of grief. May his soul rest in peace, -A.A.”

Following his condemnation message, a tweep, S.Kabiru wrote, “Every four year looking for votes empathy. Once you lose now you’ll shut down again like Ajaokuta. May the soul of the faithful departed find repose.”

Another tweep, Sochi, wrote, “What about the gruesome murder of Deborah?? Your account is usually active every for years.”

A tweep, Akparawa Wilson, wrote, “I personally cant take you serious except you bring back this tweet (the deleted tweet condemning Deborah’s death),” sharing a picture of the now deleted tweet.

Another tweep, Savage God, who wrote in Pidgin English said, “Make una dey see hypocrite of the highest order. See…way dey form him care, same man who deleted tweet about the murder of DEBORAH some few months ago. Baba…Nigerians eye don open reach back.”

However, Atiku during the Channels Television people’s town hall meeting in December, explained why he deleted the tweet where he condemned Deborah’s murder.

He again stated that he deleted his tweet condemning the murder of Deborah because the tweet was shared without his approval.