EndSARS: Respect rights of protesters – UK tells FG

The United Kingdom has told the federal government to respect the rights of protesting Nigerians amid the ongoing EndSARS protests.

Catriona Laing, British high commissioner to Nigeria who commended the federal government’s decision to disband the special anti-robbery squad (SARS), stated that the IGP’s commitment to ensure accountability for human rights violations is essential to restoring public confidence.

She asked the federal government to respect the rights of protesters while also urging them to remain peaceful during the protests.

NAIJA NEWS NG brings you Laing’s tweeted;

Welcome the government announcement on the future of #SARS – an important first step. The IGP’s commitment to ensure accountability for human rights violations is essential to restoring public confidence in @PoliceNG

Hearing reports of violence affecting ongoing protests. Urge authorities to respect the right to protest and protestors to remain peaceful. @UKinNigeria . READ MORE >>>>

Atiku Reacts To Disbandment of SARS

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, on Sunday said that the dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) has offered Nigeria the opportunity to envision a police and policing system that will fulfill the interest of Nigerians.

In a statement issued by his Media Office and signed by Mr Paul lbe, in Abuja on Sunday, Abubakar said that the envisaged comprehensive overhaul of the police should take into consideration the needs of regional, state and council components.
He, however, observed that redeploying the bad eggs from the disbanded SARS to other units of the Police may not augur well as they are capable of polluting those units.

Abubakar said that the affected officers need to be properly screened and retrained to ensure that they do not come into their new assignments with the same mindset for which the disbanded unit was notorious for.

He proposed an independent judicial inquiry into the activities of SARS that would ensure “justice for victims of extrajudicial killings and punishment for officers involved in such dastardly acts.” READ MORE>>>>>

SARS: Senate President reacts, says Buhari listened to peoples voice

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has reacted to the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad by President Muhammadu Buhari, saying he listened to the voice of the Nigerian people over their dissatisfaction with the operations of the operatives of the Nigeria Police Force.

Lawan said with the courageous decision to dissolve the police unit, the President and his government have shown themselves as responsive to the feelings of the people.

“I am applauding the President because it is a demonstration of good leadership to yield to the demand of the populace in difficult situations like this,” Lawan said.

He also commended the Inspector-General of Police for the decision and challenged him to come up with measures for the transformation of the Nigeria Police into effective law enforcement and crime-fighting agency that is also a true and respected friend of the Nigerian people.

The Senate President said the measures should fully address all the issues that earned the dissolved SARS the odium of the Nigerian people, and in particular of the articulate Nigerian youths. READ MORE>>>

EndSARS : Lagos Gov, Sanwo-Olu advises Buhari on how to reform police

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, needs a strong reform.

Sanwo-Olu said the police can be adequately reformed through proper funding.

The governor stated this while commending President Muhammadu Buhari for ensuring that the demands of Nigerians are met, in the wake of protests against the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS.

President Buhari had ordered the Inspector General of Police to dissolve the SARS unit of the Force.

In his response, Sanwo-Olu, in a tweet wrote: “A week ago, I spoke to the IGP and there has been a lot of work going on behind the scenes.

“We thank the FG for listening to the voice of the people via peaceful but powerful protests showing the people’s commitment to protecting each other irrespective of gender or tribe.

Hike in petrol, electricity tariff: Keyamo gives update after FG, Labour meeting

Festus Keyamo, Minister of State, Labour and Employment, has given an update on the meeting between the Federal Government and labour unions over the new price of fuel and electricity tariff.

Keyamo disclosed that representatives of government and labour adopted resolutions in the area of VAT being used to temporarily subsidize tariffs.

According to Keyamo, the new agreement involves using Value Added Tax (VAT) from Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) to give relief to customers within the Bands A, B, and C affected by the recent cost-reflective electricity tarrif.

It would be recalled that as part of the agreement between the organized labour and FG on the 28th of September, a committee chaired by The Minister of Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo has been meeting on the electricity tariff.

In a tweet by Keyamo on Sunday, the committee which has representatives of Labour, government and Electricity Distribution Companies, has now reached the new agreements.

According to the agreement, the relief will be for a period of 2-3months, where customers will get N10.20 per KWh which will be sourced from the proceeds of NESI VAT. READ MORE >>>

The people are saying you’re full of sh*t – Trey Songz calls out Buhari

American superstar singer, Trey Songz who lent his voice to the #EndSARS protest days ago has lashed out at President Buhari.

Reacting to a tweet in which President Buhari revealed that he met with the Inspector-General of Police Adamu Mohammed amid the ongoing protest, the singer told Buhari that the people say “he is full of shit”.

Also commenting on the disbandment of SARS, Trey Songz expressed shock of same police officers being re-employed following their deployment to other police units.

Bisi Alimi, others call out Aisha Yesufu for being a homophobe as she is praised by others for bravely championing end SARS protest

A powerful photo of Aisha Yesufu facing armed police officers, her fist raised in the air, has been making the rounds after she bravely stepped forward during the end SARS protest despite threats from police.

But not everyone is impressed with her bravery, especially members of the LGBTQ community and allies.

As Nigerians on Twitter retweeted Aisha Yesufu’s iconic photo and praised her, gay rights activist, Bisi Alimi dug up old posts where the social activist was being homophobic.

In one such tweet from 2019, Aisha Yesufu referred to homosexuality as a “menace” that needs to be “eradicated.”

Resharing Aisha’s tweet, Bisi Alimi wrote: “To many Aisha Yesufu is a hero! I understand that, but to me and people like me, she is nothing but a raging homophobes who is developing strategy to eradicate homosexuals in the north.

“Yes #EndSARS but I will not join in hero worshiping Aisha.”

READ MORE>>>

End SARS: Ganduje’s aide, Tanko Yakasai reacts to suspension after attacking Buhari

Salihu Tanko Yakasai, Media Adviser, media, to the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, has reacted to his suspension.

Recall that Ganduje had suspended Yakasai for criticising President Muhammadu Buhari over the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, unit of the Nigeria Police Force, NPF.

Yakasai, while responding to the anti-SARS protest had said the Buhari-led government had zero empathy for citizens.

This led to the governor ordering his suspension.

Yakasai’s suspension was made public by the state’s Commissioner for Information, Muhammad Garba.

Garba, in the statement had said the aide was suspended for his unguarded utterances, adding that the suspension was with immediate effect.

However, Yakasai, in a tweet thanked all those who reached out to him, following his suspension.

“I want to sincerely extend my heartfelt appreciation to all those that supported me yesterday, particularly those that called, or sent messages through several platforms, and those on the Time Line. I was overwhelmed and I tried to reply to all but couldn’t. Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” he tweeted . Source 

Ondo Election: I’m shocked Akure people turned against me – Akeredolu

Less than 24 hours after his emergence as winner of the governorship election held on Saturday, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has expressed shock over the number of votes he received in three of the 18 local government areas of the State.

According to Akeredolu, who described the election results of Akure South, Akure North and Ifedore local governments where he lost as a shock, he had thought that he would win across the 18 council areas of the State.

The governor disclosed this during an interview on Channels Television.

Recall that Akeredolu who was the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, defeated his rival, Eyitayo Jegede who is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as well as his deputy, Agboola Ajayi who flew the flag of Zenith Labour Party, ZLP at the polls.

Akeredolu maintained that he worked in the three local governments situated in the Central Senatorial district where the PDP candidate, Jegede hails from.

“When it comes to the issue of winning 15 local governments, it’s just a slight improvement of what I did the last time. The last time I won 14. Talking seriously, I thought I was going to win the 18 local governments. READ MORE >>>