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We’ll Lead 5 Million Man Protest

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 …If Buhari Gives Ex-Minister, Fani-Kayode Political Appointment— Coalition

The group said the former minister lacks honour and character and should not represent the interest of the country in any capacity whatsoever.

A coalition of civil rights organisations has vowed to lead a massive protest against the former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani Kayode if appointed to occupy any position in the country.

The group said the former minister lacks honour and character and should not represent the interest of the country in any capacity whatsoever.
In a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja on behalf of the coalition, the President of One Love Foundation, Chief Patrick Osagie Eholor urged the Nigerian government to tread with caution and resist any temptation that could make it give the ex-minister an appointment.

He said, “This man cannot represent anything noble in this country. He has denied his estranged wife access to her four little children. A woman that carried her children for nine months.

“FFK has so many cases of corruption with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and he must answer for all his crimes.”

“Adams Oshiomhole (A former Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)) once said that once anybody joins the party, their sins are forgiven. But it will never happen in this case. We will battle it and ensure this man does not get a pat on the back for his many crimes.

“Are you aware he has had cases of corruption running with the EFCC since 2008? There is a case of N2 billion Port Harcourt runway, and he allegedly collected N26 million from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in 2014.

“The EFCC also arrested him in 2014 for the misappropriation of $2.1 billion earmarked for the fight against Boko Haram, he also has a N4.9 billion fraud trial, as well as another N4.6 billion money laundering charge. The man is notoriously corrupt and such men should never be seen near the corridors of power.”

He urged Nigerians not to take Fani-Kayode seriously, saying that a man who molested his staff members, locked them up, and humiliated his wife does not deserve any political appointment in the country.
He alleged that Fani-Kayode destroyed the aviation industry due to his misadventures and malfeasance.

He said, “Minister of Transport, Chief Rotimi Amaechi said that ‘former Rivers governor, Peter Odili’s government gave Femi Fani Kayode, former Minister of Aviation N2 billion to fix the runway of Port Harcourt International Airport. It is nowhere in the record of Aviation. I’m the Minister of Transportation, I have that record, it is not there, he went away with the N2 billion’.

“He was asked if it was an allegation against Fani-Kayode and he said ‘I’m not making an allegation, this is a statement of fact. Dr. Peter Odili in writing, the cabinet approved, and handed over N2 billion to Fani-Kayode to fix the runway at the Port Harcourt airport road that was close for two years and Femi Fani-Kayode left with the money’.

“We know he is good for nothing, we know he doesn’t deserve any position.

“A lot of people had thought he was a human being but we now know that he is a disgrace to humankind.

“So we are going to tell President Muhammadu Buhari that if in any way he considers this good for nothing man for a position in his government, it means that he is totally finished, and we are going to do a 5 million man protest to tell them that we cannot continue to allow Buhari to fix (sic) some failures from the South to his government so that he can support his grazing and banditry.

“We are not going to let him continue doing that. We are also expecting President Buhari to tell us who has stolen our money. To tell us about Ikoyi fund, tell us about the money recovered from the airport that they have refused to talk about.”

Culled from the Sahara Reporters

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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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