Today's Headlines: Expect more bandits in Nigeria if Niger is attacked — Abdurrahman Ahmad, Jonathan arrives in Zimbabwe ahead of general elections

Expect more bandits in Nigeria if Niger is attacked — National Missioner, Abdurrahman Ahmad

National Missioner, Ansar-ud-Deen Society, Abdurrahman Ahmad, led a delegation of Islamic scholars from Nigeria to meet the Niger junta leader, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, as part of the efforts to peacefully resolve the efforts to restore President Mohamed Bazoum who was toppled on July 26, 2023.

Source: Vanguard

The Economic of West African States (ECOWAS), led by Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, had threatened to remove the junta by military force if diplomatic options failed. As part of the diplomatic options, Tinubu had raised a team of eminent Nigerians, led by a former Head of State, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar, to meet and negotiate with the coup leaders in Niamey, but the coup leaders failed to meet with them even after they had arrived the country.

In an interview granted to a television station last week, Ahmad spoke on his team’s trip to Niger and meeting with the junta leader and the findings. According to him, the Niger coup leaders refused to meet the Abdulsalami team because they felt short-changed after Niger electricity was disconnected by Nigeria without listening to them. “He (Tchiani) said it was under the heat of the anger that they reacted the way they did and asked for forgiveness repeatedly”, Ahmad said.

Jonathan arrives in Zimbabwe ahead general elections

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has traveled to Zimbabwe ahead of the nation’s general elections. Zimbabweans would on August 23 go to the polls to select new leaders.

Source: Daily Post Nigeria

Jonathan, in a post on his verified Facebook page, said he arrived HinAraree on Saturday ahead of the elections.

The former President said he led other members of the Joint African Union (AU), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Mission to Zimbabwe to observe the polls; stressing that he was looking forward to a fulfilling experience. “I thank the Zimbabwean Government, the AU, and COMESA as well as Ambassador Zachariah Ifu and other officials of the Nigerian High Commission, for a warm reception,” he stated.

Nigerians must accept S’Court decision on elections – Onaiyekan

The Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, has said he was surprised that the Federal Government led by President Bola Tinubu has not been able to ‘perform well’ since it took over office on May 29, adding that all is not well with the country.

Source: Punch papers

He urged Nigerians to pray for the country, noting that the ‘relative peace’ presently enjoyed in the nation must not be taken for granted. He made these remarks on Saturday at the 10th Convention of the Catholic Men Organisation, Lagos Archdiocese, held at St Gregory’s College, Ikoyi.

In his homily culled from the general theme, ‘Fan into flames the gift of God which is in you’, Onaiyekan said, “It is not surprising that the so-called victorious new government has not been able to perform well and has not been able to muster the trust and co-operation of the vast majority of the people of Nigeria.

We Are Set To Harness Abia North’s Economic Potential – Dep Gov

Abia State deputy governor, Ikechukwu Emetu, has said the present administration in the state is set to aggregate, harness, and maximize the economic potential of the Abia North zone.

Source: Leadership

Emetu stated this when leaders of the Abia North Forum visited him in Umuahia, saying the move was aimed at developing and creating job opportunities in the zone. “Our mission is to industrialize and build lasting infrastructure in the zone as in the others. By so doing, we’ll be attracting investors and improving the revenue base of the state,” he said.

He added that in the same vein, the administration had commenced moves to flush out criminal elements who have been operating along the Umunneochi and Isuikwuato local governments’ axis. Earlier, the president of the forum, Ituma Okereke, appealed to the administration to prioritize the economic development of the zone by exploiting the natural and human resources it is blessed with.

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