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Tag: aisha yesufu

  • Harassment: Activist Aisha Yesufu defends Natasha for ‘taking long’ to speak up

    Harassment: Activist Aisha Yesufu defends Natasha for ‘taking long’ to speak up

    Advocate for justice and good governance, Aisha Yesufu has come to the defence of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently suspended from the Nigerian Senate.

    The Senate said the Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District was suspended for six months over “total violation of the Senate Standing Orders, 2023 as amended”.

    This follows her allegations of sexual harassment levelled against Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

    Speaking on Arise TV’s Perspectives on Saturday, Aisha Yesufu said the Senate cannot take away what they did not give to Senator Natasha while stressing that she was elected by her constituents.

    “One of the things that we must understand is the fact that sexual harassment is not something to be condoned. It has gone on for ages but it is not acceptable.

    “And we all must understand that the silence of our mothers and our elders is not our silence. And also our own silence is not the silence of the younger generation. They are pushing back and they have a reason to.

    “On the issue of the sexual harassment, at any time that a victim feels comfortable or have had enough, and speak out.

    “We must understand that a lot of times, there are always remote causes to something. You take it in; you keep quiet, and there are some moments where you just cannot take it anymore.

    “I think Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan got to that stage. It was like enough is enough for her. I cannot keep being harassed.

    “We all live in Nigeria and we know the kind of environment that we live in, and the fact that women are not protected. So, you find women and even little children are being harassed sexually.

    “And now we have someone at the level that she is speaking and yet they are sort of like trying to silence her.

    “I think what is most instructive, having seen this from the Senate, is the fact that there needs to be an independent investigation. Nothing is being said about this. The focus is more on technicalities,” Yesufu said.

    She went further to say: “On the issue of her writing her petition, when you have a case, you are supposed to be the one to write you petition.

    “There are certain rules, if they do not make sense, if they are not about equity, if there is no justice to it, sometimes, you have to challenge those rules.

    “Beyond that also, the biggest travesty of it all is the fact that the accused was also the judge in this case.

    “If you are talking about the Senate being an institution that is so well-respected, that is supposed to be of members, who are distinguished, even though they have not distinguished themselves, you would expect they would have had the courage to have said to the Senate President, step down on this issue.

    “And if the members of the Senate were unable to have the courage to do this, then you would have thought that integrity would have made the Senate President to recuse himself. None of that happened.

    “For me, the question is this: what right does the Senate or members of the Senate have to take away something that the constitution of this country has given someone.

    “Senator Natasha was not made a Senator by her fellow Senators in the Senate. She was made a Senator by her constituents, who voted for her. When there were issues with the election, she went to court and she got her mandate back.

    “So, they cannot strip her of something they were not the ones that gave her. And I do not think it makes sense to suspend somebody for six months. They do not have the right.

    “This is a travesty that we should all stand up against. Senator Natasha was not humiliated. The Senate humiliated itself. It shows that it has men and women who do not have courage”.

  • Aisha Yesufu advises Nigerians men to secretly conduct DNA tests

    Aisha Yesufu advises Nigerians men to secretly conduct DNA tests

    Frontline activist Aisha Yesufu has urged men to consider conducting DNA tests on their children, particularly if they have paternity doubts.

    Her comments came in response to an X user who faced criticism for publicly sharing that he had conducted a DNA test on his newborn, which confirmed his paternity.

    In a post on her X account, Yesufu wrote, “Every man, especially those with doubts, should get a DNA test done on their children. Unless the result shows that the children are not yours, keep it to yourself! Nobody needs to know you did a DNA test!”

  • I’m not Labour Party member, says Aisha Yesufu

    I’m not Labour Party member, says Aisha Yesufu

    Popular Nigerian activist, Aisha Yesufu has denied being a card-carrying member of the Labour Party, (LP).

    Yesufu, a member of the 2023 LP presidential campaign council, made the declaration on Seun Okinbaloye’s podcast, Mic On.

    She also denied ever looking for an appointment because she works for her financial independence.

    According to Yesufu: “For me, I worked on my financial independence before I started speaking on the Nigerian issues.

    “I am not a member of the Labour Party. I have never been a card carrying member of any party.

    “I dare anybody; living or dead to say that I, Aisha Yesufu, have ever been to your place to look for appointment, contract or whatever. I am a trader! I buy, I sell, I distribute, build and sell houses.”

     

     

  • Aisha Yesufu lists Obaseki’s sins after PDP’s failure at Edo guber elections

    Aisha Yesufu lists Obaseki’s sins after PDP’s failure at Edo guber elections

    Aisha Yesufu, a renowned activist and vocal supporter of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Peter Obi in the 2023 election, has criticized the incumbent Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, following the emergence of Monday Okpebholo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, as the winner of the Saturday election.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) earlier reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday night declared Okpebholo as the winner of the governorship election held in Edo State on  September 21 after securing victory in 11 local government areas.

    On the other hand, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo, only won 7 local government areas, while Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP) failed to win any.

    In reaction, Obaseki, in a statewide broadcast on Sunday described INEC’s declaration as a tragedy and travesty of democracy.

    The Governor further expressed dismay over how institutions that were charged with the protection of democracy are killing democracy.

    Reacting to Obaseki’s broadcast, Yesufu via the microblogging platform, X formerly Twitter questioned Obaseki’s grievances regarding the election outcome, urging him to accept the democratic process.

    She wrote on X, “I am looking for a video where Obaseki was speaking about the principles of democracy. Please share if you have it.

    “Obaseki that refused for 4 years to swear in 14 Edo House of Assembly members.

    “Obaseki that refused to swear in judges. He swore in 5 out of 8.

    “Obaseki that got his deputy Governor impeached. He is talking about democracy under attack.”

  • Nobody created Obidient, Obi only benefited from it – Aisha Yesufu

    Nobody created Obidient, Obi only benefited from it – Aisha Yesufu

    Co-founder of Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) movement, Aisha Yesufu has said the 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi did not created the ‘Obidient’ but only a beneficiary of the movement.

    Yesufu said the Obidient movement was formed due to the fallout of the EndSARS killings.

    Posting on X, Yesufu wrote: “Nobody created Obidient movement. After the #EndSARS killing by APC government many became interested in politics since they were mocked and told to vote those who killed the protesters. There was a collective anger to vote out APC. Peter Obi was a beneficiary of that collective anger of the people.

    “When he made his intentions to run for presidency many with that collective anger supported him and from there the name was coined to fit the candidate following the habit of naming supporters after a person supported in Nigeria. There was already a movement before the name OBIdient was coined.”

  • Presidency reacts to Aisha Yesufu’s claims of Tinubu being ‘disgraced’ in South Africa

    Presidency reacts to Aisha Yesufu’s claims of Tinubu being ‘disgraced’ in South Africa

    The social media is awashed with drama between activist Aisha Yesufu and Presidential aides of Bola Tinubu over Yesufu’s criticisms of Tinubu at a recent international event.

    Trouble began when Yesufu via the microblogging platform, X formerly Twitter alleged that President Tinubu was snubbed by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa during an inauguration.

    Yesufu claims that President Tinubu had been “disgraced and shunned,” sparked a range of mixed reactions on social media amongst netizens.

    Reacting to Yesufu’s statement, the presidency through its presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, quickly issued a response, describing Yesufu as “an uncouth horde of pessimists,” further accusing them of bitterness stemming from their candidate’s third-place finish in the 2023 elections.

    Onanuga berated Yesufu for her judgment and consistently negative attitude toward President Tinubu, contrasting this with the behaviour of supporters of the second-place candidate in the elections.

    Likewise, the Senior Special Assistant on New Media to President Tinubu, O’tega Ogra, who joined the rebuttal, accusing Yesufu of “crass ignorance” and of actions aimed more at gaining social media traction than engaging constructively.

    Onanuga stated, “Aisha and her uncouth horde of pessimists are always quick to rush to judgment with any whiff of what appears to them to be negative to the leader of Africa’s biggest democracy. More than a year after the 2023 election, in which their candidate came third, they remain incurably bitter and toxic, more than the supporters of the man who came second.”

    Similarly, Ogra said, “Aisha, have the constitutionally guaranteed right to express yourself, but your consistent display of crass ignorance and shameful behavior, seemingly aimed at garnering likes and retweets, in the name of your disdain and hatred (which you profess at any given opportunity) for Nigeria is shameful to say the least.

    “For the record: 1. That first row at today’s inauguration was reserved for South African kings/royalty. 2. The South African President wasn’t expected to start greeting dignitaries at the time of the video you shared and he was respectfully recalled to the podium by the inauguration compere (see video below). 3. Immediately after President Ramaphosa finished the anthem, he went ahead to greet the visiting presidents who were all seated in the second row (similar to the way visiting presidents were seated in the third row during Nigeria’s own inauguration on May 29, 2023…).”

  • Aisha Yesufu reacts to South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa ‘ignoring’ Tinubu during his inauguration

    Aisha Yesufu reacts to South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa ‘ignoring’ Tinubu during his inauguration

    Co-founder of Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) movement Aisha Yesufu has reacted to a video of President Bola Tinubu seemingly being overlooked by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa during his inauguration.

    The video that surfaced social media is captioned “Ashiwaju looking lost as Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa ignores him while thanking others for gracing his inauguration!”

    The perceived snub has sparked outrage on social media, with many expressing frustration and dismay, whilst others took to social media to berate President Ramaphosa for ignoring the president of Africa’s most populous nation at his inauguration.

    Reacting the 50-year-old via her microblogging platform, X account, wrote: “Everyone knows Nigerian does not have a President. We can fool ourselves all we want. No Nigerian President that is President will be relegated to the second row seat in an African context!”

    One commenter sarcastically remarked, “They will come back with a video that they greeted earlier on o,” hinting at potential damage control. Another simply shared laughing emojis, suggesting disbelief or amusement at the situation.”

    A more critical reaction came from a user who stated, “Avoiding ex-convict,” reflecting a harsh judgment of Tinubu’s past.”

    Another commenter noted, “Might be an interesting oversight tho, cos he was at the back,” suggesting “the incident could be unintentional due to Tinubu’s seating position.”

  • Cost of governance: Aisha Yesufu wants Nigerian Senate scrapped

    Cost of governance: Aisha Yesufu wants Nigerian Senate scrapped

    A renowned political and civil rights activist, Aisha Yesufu, has called for the  scrapping of the Nigerian Senate to reduce cost of governance.

    Yesufu, Co-founder, Bring Back Our Girls Movement, made the call in an interview with NAN on Sunday in Lagos.

    She was reacting to calls in some quarters that the country should jettison its bicameral legislature and adopt a unicameral legislature to reduce cost of governance.

    NAN reports that unicameral legislature is a system with one chamber or house, as opposed to  bicameral legislature which has two chambers(Senate and House of Representatives).

    Some countries with unicameral legislatures include China (National People’s Congress), Sweden (Riksdag), Norway (Storting), Denmark (Folketing), and Portugal (Assembly of the Republic).

    The activist said Nigeria could, alternatively, consider re-introduction of the parliamentary system of government to reduce the heavy funds spent on the National Assembly.

    According to her, until something is done about  the cost of running government and corruption, Nigerians would not feel the dividends of democracy.

    “We need to really and critically examine our democracy and look at what fits us and serve the ordinary people and the masses. The one that will not be too expensive.

    “What we have now is too expensive. We need to cut cost and not just continue what we have that has not been working for Nigerians.

    “I totally support the call for us to have a unicameral legislature. It is very important because the kind of governance that we are practising is very expensive.

    “As a country, we really don’t have that kind of money. Apart from this, the fact is that both Senate and House of Representatives end up duplicating functions in terms of what they do,” Yesufu said.

    She said the Senate had been turned into “a retirement home for a lot of incompetent and failed governors who didn’t do anywhere well for the people in their state”.

    She said that Nigerians had continued to bear the brunt of the hit on resources annually allocated to these political ‘retirees’ in the Senate.

    Yesufu added: “It (Senate) is a joke ground; we cannot say what Senate does is in a really sense different from what the House of Representatives do.

    “They (Senators) do nothing special and at the end of the day, they are paid humongous amount of our money and such huge allowances for doing nothing different.

    “We found out that a good number of them, especially those that are former governors, while they get this humongous salary, they are as well collecting pension from their respective states.

    “There is no way democracy can work for the masses  with this kind of waste of public funds that could have been directed to put happiness to the face of the common man.”

    According to her, Senegal is practising a unicameral legislature, after abolishing Senate for the second time in September 2012.

    She said : “The House of Representatives is capable of taking care of the law making aspect of the nation, oversights and other things that the legislative arm of government does.

    “Unicameral legislature should be adopted in Nigeria because bicameralism is too expensive apart from the fact that it slows down business of lawmaking.

    “It is not working for us, we don’t have the kind of money to run it and maintain this, especially at a time the masses are suffering.

    “Having a single legislative arm will pay us better in terms of reduction of cost of governance,” she said.

    Yesufu decried that Nigeria had not in real sense been practising true federal system of government.

    Speaking further, the activist said the country could also adopt the parliamentary system of government to also reduce cost to governance.

    She said that Nigeria could not longer sustain the current presidential system of government.

    “This will also pay us in terms of reduction of the cost of governance because whoever is leading the country is the one that is the first among equal.

    “Ministers in this system are selected from members of the parliament that are elected.

    “So, that reduces the cost of governance drastically and better than what we have now where separate people are brought in as ministers,” she said.

    The activist said that both bicameral legislature and presidential system of government had brought a lot of pressure on the nation resources.

    “We can have a parliamentary system of government, we shall be reducing cost of governance drastically well.

    “The Prime Minister would not be this powerful and exercise control over everything, including the appointed ministers, because ministers are also members of the parliament,” she said.

  • Aisha Yesufu, Joe Igbokwe clash over activist’s refusal to recite national anthem

    Aisha Yesufu, Joe Igbokwe clash over activist’s refusal to recite national anthem

    The co-founder of Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) movement Aisha Yesufu has slammed a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Joe Igbokwe for criticizing her over her refusal to stand and recite the new national anthem.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Yesufu had via the microblogging platform X, formerly Twitter publicly rejected the old national anthem.

    The 50-year-old posted a video where she opted to sit while others stood to recite the national anthem.

    She captioned the video;  “#NotMyNationalAnthem” on her X account on Friday.

    The activist’s resistence comes after President Bola Tinubu sign the National Anthem Bill 2024 into law, reinstating the anthem “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” composed just before independence in 1960 and used up until the 1970s.

    Reacting on Facebook on Saturday, Igbokwe described Yesufu’s behaviour as “nonsensical”, adding that she was doing damage to herself and her family.

    He wrote, “Aisha Yesufu cannot respect the National Anthem. Let us see where all the nonsensical behaviour will take her to. She may not understand the damage she is doing to herself and her family. Continue.”

    Responding to the post, Aisha quoted Igbokwe saying, “Joe Igbokwe should please call a family meeting and ask them to speak freely and tell him if they are not ashamed of who he is.

    “A desperado who goes about licking every behind no matter how smelly to be considered worthy of a morsel from the National cake.”

  • Mixed reactions as Aisha Yesufu refuses to recite re-introduced old national anthem at event (video)

    Mixed reactions as Aisha Yesufu refuses to recite re-introduced old national anthem at event (video)

    A video of the co-founder of Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) movement Aisha Yesufu sitting during the recitation of the newly adopted national anthem at an event has stirred reactions on social media.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Yesufu had via the microblogging platform formerly Twitter publicly rejected the old national anthem.

    The 50-year-old posted a video of her protest with the caption “#NotMyNationalAnthem” on her X account on Friday.

    The activist’s resistence comes after President Bola Tinubu sign the National Anthem Bill 2024 into law, reinstating the anthem “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” composed just before independence in 1960 and used up until the 1970s.

    Yesufu’s action has stirred diverse reactions from netizens, while some accused her of disrespecting the country, others say it is her right to choose not to recite it.

    Watch video below;

    https://x.com/AishaYesufu/status/1796619141752730056

    @Mayordavid_9 wrote: “See the people that want good governance and a society where rule of law is respected.  We can clearly see that the Obidient movement is that of a Gbajue movement. They don’t hate disobeying rule of law.”

    Victor Onyibest wrote: “Tinubu leads we follow.”

    @Kellybonito_ wrote: “You all are criticizing her for not respecting the rule of law and disrespecting the nation. Meanwhile, your politicians who make the rules are stealing and embezzling, which is a greater disrespect, yet you still vote for them. Make una go find eba warm abeg.”

    Ghosthurt wrote: “This is a disrespect to the country though. Sorry to say.”

    VERIFIED homie wrote: “This is wrong no matter what you have to respect our nation anthem and the president order.”

    Pst Okezie wrote: “The National Anthem will outlive you…. You think you’re doing Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR?”

    jegede Jumoke wrote: “Imagine the way the people over there are looking at you…. those two women age the back were telling each other “are you sure that woman over there is alright?”

    @thebeeperfumery wrote: “Chapter 2. Section 24: Duties Of The Citizen of the Nigerian Constitution provides that every citizen regardless of political power/financial status respect, obey, & abide the national anthem of the federation. Failure leads to criminal charges, civil penalties, & govt response.”