Beware the Coup Belt – Fani-Kayode

Despite the hysteria about who has been made a Minister and who has not and the euphoria about which portfolios they have been given or not been given, let us remain focused on the major issues of the day and not take our eye off the ball.

And other than our economic and security challenges, the weighty issue is the conundrum that we are presented with in Niger Republic and the challenge of military governments in our backyard.

The facts are as follows: Sudan, Chad, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali and Guinea have all been plagued with coup and military governments over the last three years.

They have formed a formidable and intimidating ‘coup belt’ of unelected military rulers which stretches from Guinea on the westernflank of the West African subregion right on the Atlantic ocean up across the southern flank of the North African Sahel and the Lake Chad region all the way to East Africa and the Pacific ocean.

Pope Calls For Peace In Coup-Hit Niger

Pope Francis on Sunday urged a diplomatic solution to a political crisis in Niger, sparked by a coup that threatens stability in the region.

“I am following with concern what is happening in Niger, and join the bishops’ call in favour of peace in the country and stability in the Sahel,” said Pope Francis, addressing the faithful in St Peter’s Square after his Angelus prayer.

“I join with prayer the efforts of the international community to find a peaceful solution as soon as possible for the good of everyone,” said the 86-year-old.

Army officers ousted President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26, making Niger the fourth West African nation to suffer a coup since 2020.

Isese Day: Traditionalists free to exercise human rights, Adeleke tells Oluwo

Amidst the controversy sparked by the ban on traditional religious practices in Iwo land by Oluwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun state, has cautioned that traditionalists are free to exercise their fundamental human rights.

The Nation recalled that Oluwo had banned some practices of traditional worshippers in his domain indefinitely, stating that it does not align with civilization.

The traditional worshippers, however, dared the monarch by insisting that they would continue their activities especially to mark 2023 “Isese Day.”

In the recent development, Governor Adeleke has intervened in the impending crisis by advocating for peaceful coexistence among all religious groups.

In a statement by Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, it was explained that the governor deployed his special adviser on security, Samuel Ojo, to Iwo for urgent interface with both sides.

The special adviser at the palace at Iwo met various stakeholders, including a telephone conversation with Oluwo who was out of town.

Ibadan taught me to turn everything into opportunity – Shettima

Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has described the ancient city of Ibadan as a home where he learned to turn everything that comes his way into opportunity.

The Director, Information, Office of the Vice President, Mr Olusola Abiola, in a statement, said Shettima spoke at a wedding reception at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.

The wedding was between Ibukun Okunmadewa, the bride, and Obafemi Omitiran, the groom.

The bride, Ibukun, is the daughter of Prof. Folusho Okunmadewa, whom the Vice President described as ‘my beloved teacher’.

Shettima, who laced his speech with the lines from ‘Ibadan,’ a poem by one of Nigeria’s greatest poets, John Pepper Clark, said that he was in Ibadan, not as a guest, but as a member of the bride’s family to receive guests at the wedding.

“So, I’m here to receive you as guests in this ancient city of memories. Ibadan is a home to me, a home that formed me and taught me to turn everything that comes my way into an opportunity.

“This would not have been easy without the patience of my beloved teacher, Prof. Folusho Okunmadewa, whose daughter, Ibukun and her groom, Obafemi, we are here to celebrate as they embark on a beautiful journey of discovering the essence of life.”

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