Today's Headlines:Niger: I’m Managing Very Serious Situation—Tinubu; Niger Coup: Tinubu has Sent us Back to Military junta — Islamic Clerics

Niger Coup: I’m Managing Very Serious Situation —Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu revealed that he is currently managing a serious situation and is actively restraining the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) heads of State and government. As the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, he urged a delegation of Islamic scholars (Ulamas) engaged in discussions to expedite their ongoing dialogue with the military junta, aiming to restore constitutional democratic governance in Niger Republic.

The Islamic clerics, operating under the umbrella of Ulama’a, briefed President Bola Tinubu on their discussions with the military junta. They conveyed that the President has directed them back to Niamey to further their diplomatic efforts in resolving the political crisis in the Sahel country.

After the meeting, the Islamic clerics, representing various Islamic sects, emphasized their preference for a peaceful resolution over military action in the country that shares borders with Nigeria.

Led by Abdourahamane Tchiani, the military deposed the democratically elected Niger President on July 26 in a bloodless coup. However, the ECOWAS heads of State and government, led by President Tinubu, have insisted on the reinstatement of the deposed President. ECOWAS announced multiple sanctions, including military action if the democratically elected government isn’t restored.

During their second meeting with President Tinubu, the Islamic clerics, under the leadership of Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, reiterated their commitment to resolving the political crisis without resorting to military force. President Tinubu authorized them to return to Niger for further negotiations with the junta.

The delegation, led by Sheikh Bauchi, met President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja to update him on their dialogue with the military junta on behalf of ECOWAS. After the meeting, Sheikh Bauchi expressed gratitude for the opportunity to meet with the President.

Alhaji Mohammed Malagi, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, also confirmed that the Ulama’a had briefed President Tinubu on the situation and that the efforts were ongoing. He noted that President Tinubu was keen on exploring peaceful solutions and encouraged the Islamic clerics to continue their dialogue.

Niger Coup: Tinubu has Sent us Back to Military junta — Islamic Clerics

Islamic clerics on the Ulama’a platform stated that after briefing President Bola Tinubu about their meetings with the military junta and fellow Islamic clerics in Niger Republic, the President instructed them to return and continue their dialogue efforts for a peaceful resolution to the political impasse in the country.

These clerics, representing various Islamic sects, emphasized their aversion to war or military action in the country that shares borders with Nigeria.

Since the bloodless coup on July 26, which saw the military junta overthrow the democratically elected Niger President, Mohamed Bazoum, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Heads of State and Government have consistently called for the reinstatement of the deposed President. ECOWAS, led by President Tinubu as its Chairman, imposed several sanctions on the junta-led government, including the threat of military intervention if the elected government is not restored.

During their second meeting with the President, the Islamic clerics, led by Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, maintained their stance of resolving the political crisis amicably without resorting to military force. Consequently, the President authorized them to return to Niger and continue negotiations with the junta.

Sheikh Bauchi led the delegation in meeting President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja to update him on their dialogue with the military junta on behalf of ECOWAS. President Tinubu, as the Chairman of ECOWAS’ Authority of Heads of State and Government, approved their return to Niger for further dialogue with the junta.

After the meeting with President Tinubu, Sheikh Bauchi told journalists, “What we want? We don’t want war, we want peace to reign in our region. So may Allah continue to bless the President for giving us this opportunity.”

Tinubu ‘Blames’ Clerical Error for Discrepancies on Chicago Varsity Certificate

President Bola Tinubu has said a clerical error was responsible for discrepancies on the certificate issued to him by the Chicago State University.

According to filings by Oluwole Afolabi and Christopher Carmichael, Tinubu’s lawyers, an unidentified clerk of the university made the error about the date the school stated on his recently-issued certificate, thereby creating “the appearance of differences.”

The claim is in their response to a suit by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar seeking the disclosure of Tinubu’s academic records from the university.

A US court had given Tinubu until August 23, to make a formal filing on why his records should not be released to the former vice president.

The president claimed that he holds a bachelor of science degree in business administration from the Chicago State University.

But Atiku Abubakar, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the February presidential election, alleged that Tinubu’s academic records were forged.

“Unfortunately, in responding to the illegal and invalid subpoena, CSU made several errors.

“CSU issued a new diploma for Bola A. Tinubu, but incorrectly wrote the date of graduation as June 27, 1979.

“The correct date was June 22, 1979, but that scrivener’s error – along with a change in the CSU logo, the font on the diploma, and leadership at CSU who signed the diploma created the appearance of differences between an earlier issued diploma and the one issued in response to the 2022 subpoena,” the president’s lawyers said.

The former vice-president is also seeking the credentials Tinubu submitted to CSU before he was admitted into the university.

Zimbabwe Opposition Leader Claims ‘Rigging’

Zimbabwe’s opposition leader Nelson Chamisa has accused the ruling ZANU-PF government of plunging the country into crisis by “rigging” in a tense election marred by long delays and reports of voter intimidation.

“This is a clear case of voter suppression, a classic case of Stone Age, antiquated, analog rigging,”, 45-year-old Chamisa, the head of the leading opposition party, the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), told reporters in Harare, the capital city.

Less than a quarter of polling stations in the capital opened on time on Wednesday, according to electoral authorities, which blamed the problem on delays in the printing of ballot papers.

Voting at one polling station in Harare’s Warren Park suburb, only opened 12 hours late — the same hour the polls were scheduled to close, an AFP report said.  

Chamisa blamed ZANU-PF, which has ruled the country since independence in 1980, for the delays, saying it said was “desperate” to cling to power.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa, 80, who came to office after a coup that deposed late ruler Robert Mugabe in 2017, is seeking a second term in an election that came to a backdrop of widespread discontent at the southern African country’s economic troubles.

Ballots at a polling station in Kambuzuma township on the outskirts of Harare, arrived only after 2:30 pm (1230 GMT) whereas polling had been scheduled to start at seven am.

He said: “I am very frustrated and disappointed,” said Linda Phiri, 53, an angry mother of three, who had been queuing since six am.

“But I am going to sleep here, I am not going home… I want to cast my vote, my children are suffering with no employment, no education, we cannot afford it.”

Tipi Mvere, an 81-year-old man with a white beard who stood at the front of the queue with the help of a walking stick, said he also had been waiting more than eight hours to vote.

“My vote is my right,” he said, explaining his determination to stay.

The poll is being watched across southern Africa as a test of support for the ZANU-PF party, whose 43-year rule has been battered by an economic slump and charges of authoritarianism.

The opposition has been hoping to ride a wave of discontent over corruption, high inflation, unemployment and entrenched poverty.

Chamisa also alleged voters have been “terrorised” in rural areas, where rights groups said an organisation linked to the ruling party intimidated voters.

Chamisa is not new to disputed elections, having narrowly lost to Mnangagwa in 2018, a poll that he condemned as fraudulent and was followed by a deadly crackdown on protests.

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