Nelson Ugwuagbo

Shehu Atiku Abubakar, the son of the former Vice President and current opositon leader, Atiku Abubakar was spotted among the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protesters in Lagos, adding a high-profile presence to the movement.

The #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria protest gained widespread attention and momentum through online campaigns, sparking concern among Nigerian authorities who feared a potential escalation into violence, similar to the recent protests in Kenya that forced the government to withdraw newly introduced taxes.

Lagos residents turned out in large numbers to protest what they describe as “bad governance,” with demonstrations taking place at Ojota, Ikeja Underbridge and Lekki despite stern warnings from government officials and a heavy police presence, particularly at the Lekki Tollgate.

While major roads, including the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, were largely deserted earlier in the day, Ojota became the epicentre of the Lagos protests.

The government had designated Ojota as the official protest site, prompting many demonstrators to walk from Ikeja Underbridge to the Gani Fawehinmi Park in Ojota.

Reports from social media platforms indicate that the police have been actively discouraging protests in other parts of Lagos, including Badagry, where officers reportedly told demonstrators to relocate to Ojota or face consequences.

One user shared their experience, stating, “We were peacefully protesting in Badagry when the police interrupted us, demanding we go to Ojota if we want to protest. They also threatened to deal with us if we refused to leave”

In a dramatic turn, a protester was seen undressing as a symbolic act to draw attention to the dire situation many Nigerians face. The protest at Ojota has also seen confrontations between demonstrators and counter-protesters, leading to tense scenes as both sides clash over the future direction of the country.

The impact of the protests is being felt across Lagos, with many shops shuttered in anticipation of unrest. Traders who managed to open their stalls reported little to no foot traffic, reflecting the widespread disruption caused by the ongoing demonstrations.

A 24-hour curfew has been imposed on Dutsinma Local Government Area by the Katsina State Government.

According to a statement issued on Thursday in Katsina by Alhaji Abdullahi Garba-Faskari, the secretary to the state government, the decision was made to address the current security situation in the area.

According to him, the government under the acting governor, Malam Faruq Jobe, has also banned unusual gatherings and all types of protests across the state.

He explained further that the decision followed an emergency State Security Council meeting convened on the report of breakdown of law and order in some parts of the state as a result of the nationwide protest.

“The acting governor had earlier received a group of Civil Society Organizations who were on a peaceful demonstration at the Government House and pledged to deliver their messages to the appropriate authority.

“However, later government received reports that some miscreants had hijacked the protest and unleashed their ulterior motives of shopbreaking, looting, and vandalisation of public and private properties.

“Therefore, the government found it necessary to impose these measures to safeguard people’s lives and properties in the state,” he said.

According to him, people are therefore warned to remain calm and law-abiding, as the security agencies have been directed to arrest any individual or group of persons for violating the orders.

He said that the acting governor has appealed to the people in the state to continue with their legitimate activities within the free movement period.

Kastina becomes the fourth state to declare a curfew since the start of the protest. Other states which imposed

J.K. Rowling has condemned the Olympics for allowing Algeria’s Imane Khelif, a biological male to compete in the women’s boxing competition at the Paris 2024 games. Khelif was disqualified from last year’s Women’s World Championships after she failed a gender eligibility test due to elevated levels of testosterone in her system.

At the Paris Olympics, Khelif’s boxing match against Italy’s Angela Carini ended in 46 seconds after Carini decided to bow out of the fight after taking some punches from Khelif.

Carini fought back tears as she ended the match and later told the BBC: “It could have been the match of a lifetime, but I had to preserve my life as well in that moment.”

The Harry Potter author shared a picture on X(twitter), of Carini in tears and Khelif trying to comfort her after the match was cut short, and wrote: “Could any picture sum up our new men’s rights movement better?” Rowling wrote on X while sharing. “The smirk of a male who’s knows he’s protected by a misogynist sporting establishment enjoying the distress of a woman he’s just punched in the head, and whose life’s ambition he’s just shattered.”

Elon Musk, Founder of SpaceX and Chairman of Tesla also slammed the Olympics for allowing Khelif a biological male to compete in the women boxing category.

Musk shared a post from swimmer Riley Gaines that claimed “men don’t belong in women’s sports.” The X owner co-signed the message by writing: “Absolutely.”

Carini told press that she would not criticize Khelif’s placement in the women’s competition, saying: “I wish her to carry on until the end and that she can be happy. I am someone who doesn’t judge anyone. I am not here to give judgements.”

A woman can be pictured protesting with an empty pot at Kudirat Abiola way, Ikeja, Lagos as Nigerians across the country have taken to the streets to protest against hunger and bad governance in the country.

The lady told reporters that she brought the empty pot to depict the level of hunger and starvation in the country.

The protest which gained momentum on social media with the hashtag #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria has seen positive turn up from Nigerians across the 36 states of the federationa and Abuja.

The protesters have come up with various demands and solutions to fixing the rot in the country. Their demands include:

1. Reverse Fuel price to May 29. 2023 price of N190.
2. Reverse Electricity tariff to May 29 2023 rate of N60.
3. All elected and appointed officials should be on same minimum wage as civil servants.
4. Criminalize the use of brutal force on citizens by security agents.
5. Stop the direct and indirect funding of first lady’s office, among others.

The protesters have called on security operatives to corporate with them as they are fighting for a better Nigeria.

A review of the budget performance documents of Kano State revealed that, Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State had spent a total of N10 billion on furniture and equipping offices within the initial six months of 2024.

While office furniture and fittings gulped N10.4billion, capital expenditure for water resources took only N4.2 billion in the first six months of 2024.

The state had budgeted N3.9 billion for office furniture and fittings for the whole of 2024 fiscal year, however as of the second quarter of the year, N10.4 billion was already spent.

This is in contrast to Rural and community development capital expenditure which stood at N179 million, N2.5 billion was spent on capital expenditure for the education sector, higher education was N323.6million, health expenditure capital expenditure stood at N959 million, rehabilitation of hospitals/health centres was N1.3 billion.

All of these expenditures are less than the money spent on office furniture and fittings.

The allocation of funds for office furniture and fittings by the Kano State government raises concerns, especially considering the state’s numerous developmental challenges, such as inadequate healthcare infrastructure, recurring water shortages, and other essential needs that require immediate funding and support.

It also comes at a time where there are calls for cut for cost in governance.

Weeks ago, a Northern group, the Northern Patriotic Agenda (NPA) had advised Governor Abba Yusuf, to focus on his administration of the state and delivery of democracy dividends to the residents of the state.

The group had also criticised Governor Yusuf for neglecting his gubernatorial duties and engaging in political grandstanding, perpetuating the suffering of the people of Kano.

Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President, advocates for a comprehensive and long-term strategy to address Nigeria’s economic hardship, emphasizing that temporary solutions like grain procurement are insufficient.

Atiku, in a post on his verified Facebook page, noted that he was disheartened by the “escalating hunger crisis engulfing millions of Nigerian children, a number that has now swelled to approximately 4.4 million, as reported by the World Food Programme (WFP).”

The opposition leader also stated that the federal and state governments must act decisively to address the cause of this crisis, added that “short-term measures, such as grain procurement, are mere band-aids and fall woefully short of the comprehensive action needed.”

He therefore called for a “more holistic and sustainable approach, including bolstering security measures to ensure safe access to food.”

“The government must prioritize long-term strategies to curb food inflation, enhance security, and stabilize the forex rate, thereby safeguarding food security for all Nigerians.

“In particular, the government of Katsina State must heed expert advice, invest in agricultural development, support our farmers, and implement measures to prevent further displacement of communities.

“It is also vital to collaborate with humanitarian organizations and the international community to mitigate the impact of this crisis and work towards a brighter, more secure future for all Nigerians,” he added.

In a heartfelt reflection shared three years ago, Nigerian music legend and actress Onyeka Onwenu opened up about her legacy and final wishes. She expressed her desires for how she would like to be remembered and laid to rest after she passes on.

The iconic artiste, died on Tuesday night at the Reddington Hospital in Lagos after slumping at the birthday party of Mrs Stella Okoli.

“Do it quickly, quietly and privately,” Onwenu wrote in an opinion piece on Premium Times in 2021, emphasising that her burial should be devoid of unnecessary fanfare.

She urged her loved ones to “mourn, yes but not excessively,” and to instead focus on celebrating her life with prayers and light-hearted moments.

“Celebrate me with prayers, lunch or dinner afterwards. Share some jokes about me and laugh.

“Make merriment and then go about your business. If my friends want to celebrate me, they should do so while I am alive, so that I can enjoy it with them, not when I am gone and have no idea about this. That is me Onyeka Onwenu,” she said.

Onyeka Onwenu was a legend with an iconic personality. She had a career spanning music, movies, advocacy, journalism, and politics..

She also held various roles, including chairing the Imo State Council for Arts and Culture and judging on the X Factor series.

Her music and writings have been widely recognised, with notable songs including ‘One Love’ and ‘You and I’. She is also the author of the book ‘My Father’s Daughter,’ an autobiography.

“Kamala Harris has wiped out Donald Trump’s lead across seven battleground states, as the vice president rides a wave of enthusiasm among young, Black and Hispanic voters,” according to a Bloomberg News/Morning Consult poll.

These states include: Georgia, Arizona, Michigan, Nevada and Wisconsin.

“Harris was backed by 48% of voters to 47% for Trump — a statistical dead heat — in the swing states that will likely decide November’s election. That’s a stronger showing than the two-point deficit for President Joe Biden before he dropped out of the race. The Democratic vice president overtook her GOP rival in Arizona and Nevada, and more than doubled Biden’s lead over Trump in Michigan.”

“The numbers suggest Kamala Harris has a shot at reassembling the voter coalition that propelled President Barack Obama to the White House — and a clearer path to victory than Biden, who’d struggled to galvanize the Democratic base”.

The race still remains a toss-up. Across the surveyed swing states overall — Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — the gap between the candidates is within the poll’s statistical margin of error.

What’s more, Harris may currently be enjoying a “honeymoon phase” — in the words of Trump’s top pollster — and she faces a challenge to win trust on some issues vital to voters, notably her ability to manage the economy and immigration.

The governor of Abia state, Dr. Alex Otti has expressed displeasure over the planned protest and it’s resulting implications for Abians and Nigeria as a whole.

In a statement he said that, “Some economic policies of the federal government, including the removal of the fuel subsidy, may not have yet produced the desired results as initially intended, but I urge our youths to pursue peaceful means to express their grievances rather than resorting to violence,”

“What Abians need now is a strong sense of peace and sustained development, not chaos.”

Our administration has made significant investments in infrastructure in Aba and Umuahia, and such infrastructure should be protected from those who may attempt to hijack the protest and cause mayhem.

Abia State civil servants have received the April tranche of the Wage Award, as promised by our administration, among other commitments. Therefore, I plead with Abia people to shun violence.

Simone Biles made her long-anticipated return to the women’s gymnastics team final at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday, where she is in pursuit of a fifth Olympic gold medal for the United States, and dispel memories of her abrupt withdrawal from the event at the Tokyo games.

A poised Biles began on the vault and soared high through the air as she performed the Cheng to earn 14.900 points, the highest score on the apparatus during the first rotation.

Biles, the most decorated gymnast of all-time, made a dazzling comeback on the Olympic stage on Sunday when she propelled the U.S. to the top of the team qualifying standings. The American also topped the all-around qualifying standings as well as for the floor exercise and vault apparatus finals.

Biles is set to compete on all four apparatus in the team final alongside teammate Jordan Chiles, who recorded a solid 14.400 points on the vault.

Sunisa Lee, who won the all around title in Tokyo, will appear on uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise.

Jade Carey, the reigning Olympic floor champion, would normally have been on the apparatus instead of Lee but the 24-year-old struggled in her qualifying performance as she was feeling ill. On the vault, Carey recorded a solid 14.800.

The 27-year-old Biles is competing in her third Olympics after she unexpectedly pulled out from the team final at the Tokyo Games as she was suffering from the “twisties”, a condition involving temporary loss of spatial awareness experienced by gymnasts while performing high-difficulty elements.

Biles also withdrew from the all-around and a number of apparatus finals in Tokyo, raising questions about whether she would ever set foot in an Olympic arena again.

Reuters.