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Abia PDP Chieftain Warns Against Plot to Re-Admit Kalu Into The Party

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An Abia State chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Isaac Nkole, has cautioned the party against re-admitting the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Uzor Kalu.

This call came on the heels of a visit by a high-powered PDP delegation led by the incoming National Secretary of the party, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, at his Aso-Villa, Abuja home.

Nkole alleged that Kalu, “Is in a desperate move to return to the PDP having discovered that his days in the All Progressives Congress, are numbered.”

The PDP chieftain alleged that the Senate Whip has been reaching out to key party stakeholders at both the state and at the national levels, begging them to allow him to return to the party.

He, however, said Sen. Kalu’s return to PDP “is not in the best interest of the party.”

Nkole advised the leadership of PDP both in Abia and at the national level to be careful not to allow the senator to return to the party “because his return will destroy PDP”.

Earlier, a delegation of newly elected members of the National Working Committee of the PDP who paid a courtesy call on Kalu, in his Abuja residence within the precincts of Aso Rock, urged him to make an informed choice regarding the 2023 general election.

Leader of the delegation and National Secretary-elect of the party, Senator Sam Anyanwu, gave the advice after a closed-door meeting with the APC chieftain, on Thursday.

The delegation also commended Kalu for visiting the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, who is in the legal custody of the Department of State Services on Monday.

Anyanwu said, “In taking a decision concerning the 2023 election, we want you to look left, right, back and forward and take a wise decision that would end the sufferings of Nigerians.

“I came to your house today with the leaders of my party to pay you homage as the leader of the South-East which you rightly deserve. There is no doubt the fact that you are a critical stakeholder and founding member of the PDP.

“Today you are in APC temporarily. We know by tomorrow; we may find ourselves in the same political party. What is important is about Nigerian’s. As a leader in this country, you should try as much as possible, to remove tears in the eyes of Nigerians.

“We need you to cushion the effects of some wrongdoings of the current administration. We have all paid our dues in this country. I believe that with you, the southeast should have a pride of place. I commend you for visiting Nnamdi Kanu at the DSS custody. It is a good move. He is our own and we should never deny him. He is not fighting for his selfish interest but for the interest of all south easterners.

“I, therefore, implore all Igbo leaders within and outside the country to come together and let us ask the president to temper justice with mercy and free Nnamdi Kanu. He is not a criminal. He is not a kidnapper. He is not a bandit and he is never a terrorist.

“He was only agitating for his people to have an equal share of the national cake. As brothers, we want to work with you.”

 

 

 

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Nigeria: chibok abduction anniversary spurs demands for justice

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Militants, alongside relatives of victims of the infamous abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls that sparked global outrage in 2014, gathered in Lagos on Sunday, April 14, to renew calls for the release of the remaining girls in captivity.

The Sunday meeting was organized to mark the 10th anniversary of the abduction that affected 276 schoolgirls from the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State, northeastern Nigeria.

“What I would ask the government is to find a way to work towards bringing back our sisters because I know it is only the government that can help us bring back these girls,” said Grace Dauda, a rescued Chibok schoolgirl.

Another rescued schoolgirl, Rebecca Malu, added, “They should stay safe. They should stay strong, one day, they will be released like us.”

While some girls managed to escape on their own, others have been freed over the years through intense campaigns by civil society organizations and government negotiations. But this human rights activist, Ayo Obe, is calling for more action from the authorities.

“We know that we started with missing persons numbering two hundred and fifty-six; it is already an improvement that we are down to 91. But of course, 91 is 91 lives unaccounted for. We appreciate the fact that so many of them escaped during the abduction itself. We appreciate the fact that the government has brought back so many more of them, but we say that we don’t stop here. We need the momentum that has happened since the mass return during the Buhari administration in 2016-2017 to be maintained. We expected that the remaining girls would have been brought back,” she said.

Mass school children kidnapping in Nigeria has continued nearly unabated since Chibok. Around 1,700 students have been kidnapped in raids since 2014 according to Amnesty International.

A member of the Bring Back Our Girls movement and convener of the 10th-year anniversary in Lagos, Opeyemi Adamolekun, lamented this as unfortunate.

“Unfortunately, it became political between 2014 and 2015, part of the amplification of the movement was part of the 2015 presidential campaign. And we saw the effect of the first batch of 21 that were released with the help of the Red Cross and the Swiss government. The second batch of 82 that were released with the help of the Red Cross and the Swiss government as well. But unfortunately, it seems that energy sort of dissipated because the government doesn’t feel as much pressure as they used to feel,” she said.

For this group of Nigerians, the government must match words with more action to stem the tide of mass school kidnappings in the country.

According to the Murtala Muhammed Foundation, a charity that advocates for the Chibok schoolgirls, about 90 girls still remain in captivity while dozens of the schoolgirls freed over the years are living inside a military-run rehabilitation camp with surrendered Boko Haram fighters they married in the Sambisa forest, Boko Haram’s main hideout.

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Nigeria suspends permit of 3 private jet operators

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Nigeria’s Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has taken action against private jet operators flouting regulations by suspending the Permit for Non-Commercial Flights (PNCF) of three operators caught conducting commercial flights.

This crackdown follows warnings issued in March 2024.

Acting Director General Capt. Chris Najomo stated that increased surveillance at Nigerian airports led to the grounding of three operators found violating their PNCF terms. Specifically, they breached annexure provisions and Part 9114 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations 2023.

In response, the NCAA announced a thorough re-evaluation of all PNCF holders to ensure compliance with regulations, to be completed by April 19th, 2024. PNCF holders have been instructed to submit necessary documents within 72 hours to expedite the process. Najomo emphasized these actions highlight the NCAA’s commitment to enhancing safety in Nigerian airspace.

Furthermore, the NCAA warned the public against using charter operators without a valid Air Operators Certificate and urged legitimate industry players to report any suspicious activities promptly.

This crackdown comes after the NCAA’s stern warning in March against PNCF holders engaging in commercial operations.

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Senator Cory Booker Leads a Congressional Delegation to Nigeria

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Photo: Senator Cory Booker (In the back) and a Diplomat from the US Department of State, joins with members of the Academy for Women Alumnae Association including Mercy Ogori of Kokomi Africa and Adebisi Odeleye of Moore Organics.

Senator Cory also met women entrepreneurs from the Academy for Women Alumnae Association

Last week, US Senator Cory Booker from New Jersey led a congressional delegation to Nigeria, which included House of Representatives members Sara Jacobs and Barbara Lee from California. The purpose of the visit was to discuss a partnership on sustainable development. During the talks, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu expressed his administration’s dedication to strengthening democracy through upholding the rule of law and ensuring good governance, justice, and fairness for all citizens. Senator Booker emphasized the shared values of democracy, the rule of law, and commitment to peace and good governance that bind Nigeria and the United States as partners.

The delegation also met with women entrepreneurs from the Academy for Women Alumnae Association, who had participated in US-sponsored exchange programs. Led by Adebisi Odeleye of Moore Organics, the businesswomen shared their experiences and discussed their entrepreneurial endeavors. Other Academy members were Mandela Washington Fellow, Nkem Okocha of Mama Moni, Inemesit Dike of LegalX, and Mercy Ogori of Kokomi.

The partnership between the United States and Nigeria has lasted over six decades, focusing on addressing security challenges, enhancing health security, and responding to global health crises. Despite obstacles like corruption, poverty, and insecurity, the US remains dedicated to supporting Nigerian institutions and promoting free, fair, transparent, and peaceful elections.

During the visit to the State House, Senator Booker reiterated the shared values of democracy, the rule of law, and commitment to peace and good governance that unite Nigeria and the United States as partners.

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