Today's Headlines: I Stand With Tinubu On Niger–LP Chieftain, Doyin Okupe; Pressure mounts on Niger coup leaders as deadline nears

I Stand With President Tinubu On Niger Republic – Labour Party Chieftain Doyin Okupe

Aformer Director-General of the Labour Party (LP)/Peter Obi-Datti presidential campaign council, Doyin Okupe, has expressed his support for the President Bola Tinubu-led Economic Community of West African Countries’ proposed military intervention in Niger Republic against the military junta who took over power in the country.

Okupe on Friday on his Twitter handle used the hastag #WeStandWithTinubuOnNiger while responding to the political situation in Niger Republic.

He noted that irrespective of who the president was, Nigerians and political leaders must unite in defence of the country.

According to Okupe, President Tinubu is fighting for the enthronement of democracy in West Africa, and it is a commendable act.

He said, “I did not ask that Nigeria should go to war. I condemn the military leadership in Niger; they disrespected the Nigerian President, and demeaned our country by breaking diplomatic relationship with us; despite the fact that we initiated a peace move by sending a high powered delegation consisting of a highly globally respected former Head of State.

“They had the audacity to rebuff our peace negotiators and went ahead to break diplomatic relations with Nigeria! Who are these unknown elements? I have no apology for this position. I have always spoken my mind on all matters of national interest. And freedom of speech allows me so to do – Fact. I am too old to change that just to please people or friends.

“That was why I stood out boldly to support Obi against the run of play and against all my friends and political associates in the South-West. Obi never solicited for my support, neither did he lobby me. I did not ask for a kobo and I received none.

Pressure mounts on Niger coup leaders as deadline nears

Pressure on the leaders of a coup in Niger mounted Saturday on the eve of a west African bloc’s deadline for the military to relinquish control or face possible armed intervention.

Former colonial power France, with which the junta broke military ties shortly after taking power, said it would “firmly” back whatever course of action the ECOWAS bloc took after the expiration of the Sunday deadline.

Military chiefs from the grouping said they had agreed a plan for a possible intervention to respond to the crisis, the latest of several coups to hit Africa’s Sahel region since 2020.

“All the elements that will go into any eventual intervention have been worked out,” ECOWAS commissioner Abdel-Fatau Musah said after the talks finished.

These included “the resources needed, and including the how and when we are going to deploy the force”, he added.

“We want diplomacy to work, and we want this message clearly transmitted to them (the junta) that we are giving them every opportunity to reverse what they have done,” Musah said.

Paris said “the future of Niger and the stability of the entire region are at stake” as tension ratchet up over the future of one of the world’s poorest countries.

Niger played a key part in Western strategies to combat a jihadist insurgency that has plagued the Sahel since 2012, with France and the United States stationing around 1,500 and 1,000 troops in the country, respectively.

Photo credit || Google

Anti-French sentiment in the region is on the rise, while Russian activity, often through the Wagner mercenary group, has grown. Russia has warned against armed intervention from outside.

Rivers: Policeman shoots father of three dead, command begins probe

An operative attached to the Police Mobile Force, 43 Squadron in Gombe State has allegedly shot dead a father of three near a popular bar in Elekahia, Port Harcourt Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The incident occurred when the deceased identified as Olafuro Peterside went on an outing with his family.

It was gathered that the policeman who was in company of another (both from PMF 43-Squadron, Gombe) was on special duty in Rivers.

Spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on Saturday morning.

She however said from information available to her, the operatives shot into the air following an alarm raised by some residents that armed robbers were operating in the area.

Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, further said the two operatives at the scene of the incident had been arrested.

She further said the matter had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department of the command for proper investigation.

GSK’s exit from Nigeria, job losses saddens me- Peter Obi

The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the February 25, Presidential election, Peter Obi has expressed sadness over the exit of the Pharmaceutical giant, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), from Nigeria after 51 years of operations.

Obi, in a series of tweets, Saturday, said the reason given by the company for leaving portends a gloomy future for the country’s investment climate.

He said, “Today, I was saddened to hear that GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), is exiting Nigeria after 51 years of operations. 

“Their reason for leaving Nigeria is even more disheartening, that they are no longer perceiving any future growth of the country, which will be anchored on productivity.

The former Anambra state governor, equally said its that we’re at the point in our nation’s journey where multinationals are leaving the country and the local ones are closing down.

This, he said, were all consequences of poor management of our economy, as a result, millions are losing their jobs and our poverty index is worsening despite our already being the world poverty capital.

Obi also said, “These multinationals leaving our country, not only create jobs but create immeasurable training that contributes immensely to our human capital development.

“GSK which has a manufacturing facility set up in Agbara, on over 25 hectares of land in Agbara, had directly employed over 400 highly technical workers like pharmacists, microbiologists, biochemists, chemists, dentists, doctors etc, and also employed over 1000 other staff. It indirectly provided jobs and business opportunities for thousands of Nigerians across the nation. They are now leaving all these behind, and pushing more people back into unemployment”

The LP standard bearer recalled his consistent position that “in turning our nation around, we must move the economy from consumption to production, part of which included encouraging and supporting local and foreign investments, like GSK, in the country.

Obi also stressed the importance of creating an environment that creates and sustains multinationals to invest in our country is key to our dream of greatness. In the new Nigeria that we seek to create, the emphasis on production will encourage investors to stay and expand on our shores.

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